#King Max is an asshole

[lovebugism]

hi angel! I have a little fictober request … can I pls get holding hands for the first time from the prompt list with steve harrington and shy!reader? maybe they’re in a busy place and steve doesn’t want to lose r so he grabs her hand, not realising how ridiculously flustered she gets <3333

ty for requesting angel :D this can be read as a part two to this fic!

summary: steve takes you to a mall in the city in a desperate attempt to spend time with you, fending off freaks, douchebags, and your anxious tendencies alike (shy!reader, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers cw for mentions of anxiety, 3.5k)

fictober leftovers (㇏(•̀ᵥᵥ•́)ノ)

Steve idles between the X-rated horror and thriller sections for several long minutes until he works up the courage to talk to you. You’re a pretty little thing behind the counter, hand in your palm as you scribble into the journal Keith threatened to confiscate from you earlier that morning.

He’s never been this nervous to talk to you. Things are different now. Post-first date, and Steve’s still toeing that wretched line between friends and something more. The puppy love is so painfully mutual, but it’s equally hard to navigate. He can’t come on too strong — not with someone as soft as you — but he’s still got some King Steve left in him. He’s still learning how to be gentle.

With sweaty hands, he walks up to the counter and tries to be subtle about the whole thing. Stealthy, like a ninja. He leans on his folded-up arms and blurts before he means to, “So you’re, like, totally coming tomorrow, right?”

You lift your chin and blink at him with wide eyes. You hadn’t heard him come over, too busy doodling a bunch of nothingness in your notebook. Your stomach whirls at the sight of him. It takes you a moment too long to answer.

“Coming… where?”

“To the mall,” he reminds, then corrects himself with a shrug. “The one in the city— not the shithole we have here.”

“Oh. Uh, I don’t— I don’t know,” you stammer. Steve invited you earlier that week, and you promised to think about it. You did. And you want so desperately to go, but your brain’s too mean, and it just won’t let you.

The disappointment that flashes on his face is fleeting, but you don’t miss it. The hurt softens his features in an unbearable way. It makes your chest ache.

“C’mon,” Steve presses in a gentle lilt. He leans closer to you, eyes twinkling and lips curling. “It could be fun, you know? I mean, everyone’s gonna be there.”

He’s trying his best to persuade you. He has no idea that that’s exactly what’s keeping you from going. Crowds are always stress-inducing, even those of the familiar kind.

“Everyone as in…?”

“Robin, obviously. Dustin, too,” Steve answers, counting on his fingers as he goes. “Max is coming, but Lucas has a basketball thing, so he can’t. And the rest of the little shits are in California, so that’s definitely a plus.”

It’s a dumb joke, but it makes you laugh anyway — a quiet giggle of a thing that makes him grin.

“Uh… Eddie’s coming, too, I think— but don’t let that dissuade you, alright? I promise I’ll protect you from that freak. You don’t have to worry about him.”

You smile because you know he’s joking. You’ve met Eddie a couple times now. He’s always been really sweet to you. Him and Steve just have a strange complex that forces them to be assholes to each other.

“And also, I’m gonna be there. Obviously. So…” he trails off with a wavering smile. So if you don’t wanna come for them, maybe you can come for me, is what he’s really trying to tell you.

“I don’t know,” you repeat, quieter now as you shrink into yourself. You try and fail to meet Steve’s honeyed gaze. “I just feel like I’ll make everything all weird.”

His bushy brows pinch, almost in offense that you’d think you’re anything less than totally perfect. “Why would you think that?”

“‘Cause… I don’t know,” you murmur in a quiet sigh. You don’t want to lie to him, but telling the truth feels so much harder. “They don’t really know me, you know? And I feel like… like I’ll just ruin everything if I’m there…”

It takes Steve a couple of seconds to answer you. He doesn’t know how you could say something that — like you don’t light up every room you’re in. “Well, that’s… that’s just not true,” he argues with a shrug. “They like you. They love you, actually— they just wanna get to know you. And the only way they’re gonna get to know you is if you come hang out every once in a while.”

Your heart flutters. You want to believe him. It’s hard for you to comprehend that anyone could care so much about your presence, so you just nod and don’t say anything further. 

Steve is quick to comfort you, almost like he can read your mind. “But if you think it’s gonna be too much, you could always just stick with me. I’ll fend off the freaks for you, no problem.”

His cinnamon eyes glimmer with honey. He looks at you far too fondly to say no.

—————

There’s six of you crammed into Steve’s 733i. It’s already a tight fit, but it’s more suffocating when it’s full of a million different conversations. Almost all of them are pointed your way. Steve tries to bat everyone off of you, but it’s hard to yell at everyone and drive at the same time.

You’re being a pretty good sport about it despite how anxiously helpless you feel. 

You wring your clammy hands in your lap and try to regulate your bated breaths, nodding to whatever Max is telling you. It’s hard to hear her because Eddie’s talking to you, too. You’re too scared he’ll think you’re mean if you stop him.

You watch Robin reach for the radio, complaining about all the yelling as she turns up the volume. The cheesy pop song is all you can hear. The conversations around you become a monotone buzzing. You feel like you could just about explode.

“Jesus, you guys are acting like you’ve never seen another person before,” Steve shouts over it all, the only definite thing you can understand. “Let her breathe before she thinks we’re all a bunch of lunatics, alright?”

He’s met with a bunch of muffled complaints, but the noise quietens nonetheless.

Steve glances at you in the rearview, a quick check to make sure you’re still okay. You catch him doing it and try your best to give him a smile. It looks more like a wince.

“Well, it’s your fault for finally bringing someone cool around,” Max argues with all her practiced teenaged ambiguity. “I have to spend all day surrounded by freaks— at least now there’s someone halfway normal to talk to.”

“I’m normal!” Steve insists, face twisted in offense.

“You’re a jock.”

“Hey. C’mon, Red,” Eddie scolds, so obviously playful. “Let’s not go throwing the j-word around—”

The brunette boy huffs. “Thank you!”

“—Jock would imply that Steve’s still cool,” the wild-haired boy continues. “Which he isn’t.”

Poorly hidden laughter fills the small car. Steve nods and mutters beneath it all, “Yeah. Okay. Thanks for the clarification, Munson.”

He glances at you again and finds you cracking a halfway sincere smile. He shoots you a light-hearted glare. “Don’t laugh! You’re just encouraging him!”

“Sorry,” you apologize, hiding your giggle behind your fist. “’M sorry.”

Steve smiles at you, silently tells you he doesn’t really mean it. He’d let Musnon make fun of him all day if he thought it meant he’d get to hear you laugh like that again.

—————

You take your first good breath in an hour when you step out of the car. 

Steve shuts it off and gravitates towards you on instinct. His honey eyes are wide as they dart across your flustered features. You see his hands reach towards you, to grab your elbows maybe, but he decides against it.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” you nod, quicker than you mean to. “I’m good.”

“Okay. I’m sorry. I really tried to—”

“I know,” you cut him off with a sweet, still quiet smile. “It’s still okay.”

He sighs heavy, like a deep breath of relief. “Okay. Good,” he hums, almost to himself, nodding with a pink grin you could stare at all day. He would’ve let you, but neither of you get the chance. 

Your friends start messing around, and the chaos melts into the buzzing crowd surrounding you, and you realize the two of you aren’t the only people on earth. Bummer.

You gather around the large map at the entrance of the bustling mall. “Where should we go first?” Dustin chirps from the front of the crowd. His eyes are as wide as his smile. “Game Player? Sam Goody? Oh, look— they have a RadioShack! I’ve been looking for a new supercomm. It’s on the other side of the  building, though, but we can just work our way around, I guess—”

“Jesus, Dusty-Bun,” Robin interjects with a gritty laugh. She stands on the outside of the group, arms crossed over her chest, effortlessly too cool for it all. “Take a breath, buddy.”

“Don’t call me that!” the boy gripes over his right shoulder.

Steve shrugs. “Go wherever you want to. I don’t care.”

Dustin looks to his left, shooting the older boy a glare. “Aren’t you supposed to be the babysitter?”

“You’re fourteen!”

“Well, what if I get kidnapped?”

“No one’s kidnapping you, alright? Trust me,” Steve jokes, only smiling when he sees you trying to hide yours. He puts his hands on his waist and cocks his hip to the side. “They’ll send you right back where you came from. You have nothing to worry about.”

Dustin squints. “Rude.”

“We’ll just meet back at the food court in, like, two hours. And if you don’t get yourself killed, you’ll be fine,” Steve reasons with a nonchalant shrug and a jutted-out lip.

“Oh. Wow. Thanks, Steve. What would I ever do without you?”

He rolls his cinnamon eyes at the boy’s monotone. “Alright, smartass.”

When the rest of the group dissipates, he leans over to nudge your shoulder. It knocks you from your stupor — so deep in your own head you were practically drowning. You blink at him with wide, glassy eyes. “Hm?”

“Do you wanna go anywhere?” he asks with a wavering smile. His laugh is equally forced. “You’re kinda staring a hole into the map there…”

“Oh. No. I was just…” you trail off with a shake of your head. You’re not entirely sure what to tell him, how to make him understand your easily overstimulated mind. “I was just distracted. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. No big deal.”

“Where did everyone else go?” you wonder with a furrow to your brow, noticing the lack of familiar chaos around you.

“Eddie and Dustin went to some movie store, and I think Robin and Max are on the hunt for cassettes.”

“Okay...” you nod with a tremble in your voice. 

You’re still not totally used to being alone with Steve. Your friends are usually good distractions. They fill your awkward silences with something funnier and talk loud when you get too quiet. When they’re not around it’s just… awkward silences and quiet air. 

You get too in your own head, so eager to impress the pretty boy beside you, that you end up putting your foot in your mouth.

Steve doesn’t seem nearly as apprehensive. Instead, he’s beaming at the fact that he’s finally got you alone. He doesn’t have to worry about quieting Dustin when he gets too loud or shoving Eddie away when he forgets what personal space is. It’s quieter with just the two of you — warmer, cozier, easier.

“Wanna go down to the food court?” he wonders, honey eyes sparkling when he looks your way. “I know you haven’t eaten anything yet, so…”

Your eyes narrow, accusing and playful. “How would you know that?”

“Uh, ‘cause I know you,” the boy scoffs like it’s obvious. “I basically have to force you to eat every morning.”

“That’s not true!”

“It so is!” Steve giggles and it’s heaven to your ears, the exact sound of honey. “That’s why I hate not opening with you. ‘Cause if I’m not around to force you to eat the other half of my Poptart, I’m just, like, worrying if you’re withering away or not.”

Your face burns hot. Your heart swells with a similar warmth that borders on painful. You didn’t think he cared so much about you — or that he ever thought about you outside of work or the occasional hangout.

“Fine,” you concede with your arms crossed over your chest, trying not to seem as flustered as you feel. “Let’s go to the food court.”

Steve grins. He follows you in stride when you start to head that way. “Cool. We can go get one of those disgustingly good burgers or something.”

“For breakfast?” you wonder with a light-hearted laugh.

“Yeah! Like, one of those crazy huge ones, you know? The patties are, like, the size of your fist— make a fist.”

You do. You ball your fingers and hold them up between you. Steve holds onto your wrist for further inspection, fingers long and warm and soft. You swallow.

“Bigger than your fist,” he corrects with a laugh. The sweet sound is drowned out by the swell of yelling teenagers. They talk so loudly and over one another that their conversations become a meaningless drones.

Two in particular shove at one another, laughing loud like it’s fun. One of them almost barrels into you — long blonde hair, tight shirt, tighter jeans, and cologne so potent it stings your nose. He just narrowly misses you, mostly because Steve’s there to yank you out of the way.

The boy’s gentle grip on you tightens. He pulls you close until you’re stumbling into his side. With a strong arm wrapped around you, he shouts at the roughhousing teens — “Watch where you’re going, assholes!”

The scrawny boys walk on ahead of you. They seem apologetic, halfway scared at first. When they realize Steve’s not rushing to beat their asses, they chuckle about the whole thing and keep punching each other.

You’re still frozen in shock — not so much of fear anymore, but of how tightly Steve’s holding onto you. It’s an embrace of the firmer kind, a touch so solid you feel immediately safer inside it. You don’t think you’ve ever been this close before. The teenage girl in your heart starts to spin.

“You okay?” Steve asks when the anger ebbs.

“Yeah,” you nod, swallowing tightly and forcing an awkward laugh. “You don’t have to keep asking me that, you know?”

He nods rapidly, then notices how close he’s holding you. Fearful that he’s made you uncomfortable, he uncurls his arm from around you and takes a small step back. “No, I know! I just wanna— I just wanna make sure, you know? ‘Cause I know you don’t like… all this.”

He waves his hands vaguely out beside him.

You’re immediately cold without him holding you. You wrap your arms around yourself to compensate for the lack of him. 

“Yeah, but… It’s not the rest of the world’s fault that I’m scared of everything,” you say with another forced laugh, shifting your weight on your feet. If you could melt into your oversized sweater, you would. “It’s mine. So I can deal with it. I have to deal with it.”

Steve nods, slower this time and with a silent sense of understanding. He steps closer to you and shrugs. “I think the least I can do is make it a little easier on you… And I feel like I’ve been doing the exact opposite of that all day.”

“That’s not true,” you argue with the shake of your head.

His chocolate eyes widen. You’re rarely so assertive. “No?”

“No,” you answer, softer this time as you grow sheepish all over again. Your unsure gaze darts from your dirty sneakers to his twinkling eyes until it makes you dizzy. “You’re actually making it more bearable for me, so…”

“Oh. Okay. Good,” he nods with a smile, breathless because his chest is swelling with pride. He knows the world can be a little much for someone as soft as you. It’s good to know that he’s the exception to all that. 

He gets lost in the way you look at him for a moment too long. He clears his throat and stammers, “Uh, do you still wanna go get food?” he asks, pointing off beside him. “We can find somewhere quiet to eat so we don’t have to deal with teenage douchebags the entire time.”

Your heart lurches into your throat. It’s practically your love language — spending time alone in a quiet space, with no overt need for conversation or people to fill the void. 

You nod, trying and failing to hide the beam on your face. “Yeah. That’d be nice.”

—————

The quiet place in question is a photo booth on the halfway vacant, furthest end of the mall. Closed curtains, small spaces, and entwined breaths. It smells like his deep cologne, your perfume, and a freshly cooked meal. It’s too easy to forget that there’s a whole world outside of here.

You sit twisted on the bench, facing Steve with your burger trays in front of you. You pluck salty fries from the plate with a trembling hand, distantly fearful that you’re not supposed to be eating here. You think being so close to Steve is worth the risk.

“Is this the day you were expecting to have?” Steve asks with a lopsided grin. He takes a big bite of his burger right after and gets mustard on the corner of his mouth.

“No,” you answer, giggling as he swipes the stain away with his tongue. “But not because it’s bad.”

“Hm?” he hums to egg you on. He’s got too much of a mouthful for anything else.

“Mm-mm,” you shake your head, equally nonverbal as you chew on a handful of fry crumbs. You swipe your palms together to dispel the grains of salt. “I’m having more fun than I thought I would, actually.”

Steve scoffs in disbelief. “Spending time with me? Alone in a photo booth? That’s a good time to you?”

His tone makes you self-conscious. You feel a little shameful, like a child, because you don’t need much to be entertained. You get all warm with embarrassment, too. Being alone with Steve has always felt like climbing mountains — something short of an adrenaline rush that makes you think you could conquer the world. Maybe you’re too small in comparison to do the same for him.

“Yeah,” you shrug in an inaudible murmur. “I don’t know— I just… I like spending time with you, you know? I don’t really care what we’re doing.”

Steve’s chest swells. From a girl who too often keeps to herself, inherently nervous and incessantly frightened of being a burden, it’s more of a proclamation of love than he ever thought he’d get from you.

“Well, I’m glad we’re on the same page,” he confesses with a crooked pink grin, internally praying his cheeks aren’t as red hot as they feel.

He holds his half-eaten burger out towards you. You knock yours with his, clinking them together like champagne glasses. He takes another too big bite. You go to do the same but get a whiff of the sleeve of your sweater before you can. 

“God, I smell like a teenage boy,” you groan, only half-playful. The nose-burning musk from the kid from before has seemingly stuck itself onto you. Like fruit and sage and wood and vanilla, every scent ever made combined.

“I wasn’t gonna say anything, but you definitely smell like bodyspray,” Steve affirms, scruffy cheeks jutted out from the burger in his mouth.

“I think I’ve been tainted,” you giggle, a quieter sound compared to his boyish laughter. “Thanks for saving me, by the way.”

You’re saying it to be nice, but you watch him get all shy about it when you take a bite of your sandwich. He shifts on the bench, like he suddenly can’t get comfortable. When he rubs his palms on his thighs, you can’t tell if it’s because of the salty fries or because they’re clammy.

“Yeah— I didn’t mean to— I didn’t mean to grab you like that,” he stammers with an apologetic twinkle in his eye and a gaze that can’t quite meet yours. “Just so you know. I was just trying to—”

“Save me?” you interject.

Steve smiles when he sees how softly you’re looking at him. He shrugs. “Well, I was gonna say ‘pull you from the line of fire,’ but sure.”

“It’s okay,” you repeat for perhaps the thousandth time that day. “I didn’t mind. It felt nice, actually— you have really warm hands.”

“That’s ‘cause yours are always ice cold.”

“Well, maybe that’s because you’re not holding them,” you blurt before you mean to. 

You freeze mid-bite, eyes wide in distant horror as your blood runs cold. In a desperate attempt to break away from the awkwardness you caused, you muster a trembling smile. “I’m kidding,” you murmur, halfway hidden behind your burger.

You weren’t.

Steve knows this, too, so he smiles. 

He’d been thinking about it all day, in truth — how he was gonna get to hold your hand without having to stick his foot in his mouth to ask you. Turns out, a series of unfortunate events and an impromptu date in a photo booth was all it took. And he’s grateful. For all of it.

“No, you weren’t,” he teases, fingers as warm as his smile when he wraps them around yours. He holds gently onto your hand — even though it makes eating a little harder, even though your fingers are cold, even though you tremble.

[stevesbipanic]

Steddie headcanon that Eddie being someone with not a lot of money to go out and do things a lot spent a lot of time wandering the new Starcourt since wandering is free. This leads him to discovering the old King Steve now works in a little sailor costume at Scoops Ahoy. Picture this though, he's all ready to go crack a joke at Steve, maybe get a bit back on him for being an asshole in high school (Steve never got him but he didn't stop it either), when Max, El and Lucas come into the shop. Steve seems super happy to see these kids that can't be more than 13 and he sneaks them ice cream when, who he recognises from band as Robin, isn't looking. It's so strange that he decides to leave Steve alone for today.

But a few days later he's all ready to go back after window-shopping the music store when two boys (Will and Mike) are chatting to Steve at Scoops. One of the boys seems nervous about something while Steve and the other kid seem to be hyping him up.

This keeps happening whenever Eddie visits the mall and slowly he starts to think maybe King Steve isn't King Steve anymore, and without fully realising it he starts developing a crush on him.

This crush is all for nothing when soon after Starcourt burns down (He was thankful to see Robin and Steve's name weren't on the list of dead) and Eddie goes back to school without the graduated Steve.

When he sees Steve's kids start high school with him he makes sure to keep them under his wing, and when it's Steve and his kids that come to rescue him, well that crush didn't exactly fizzle out the way he thought.

[tartarusknight]

The Fallen King and the King of the Freaks | Part 1

Ao3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Steve didn't have the heart to tell the kids about how Billy didn't back off after Max's threat. Not when they seemed to look up to him for some reason. So, instead, he stayed out of Billy's way as much as he could. But it seemed like the man was hunting him down. It got to the point that Steve dropped basketball.

Steve got used to being slammed into lockers and taunts from the people he used to friends with. So what if he wasn't top dog anymore? So what if he didn't have any friends his own age? So what if Nancy dumped him (ripped his heart out and stomped on it with bullshit)? So what if Billy left bruises on his body with well time jabs and kicks? Steve was an adult he could handle this...

However, as he was shoved into the janitors closet and hearing the lock click behind him, he thought maybe it was getting worse. He slammed his shoulder to the door but it didn't budge and he heard Billy's stupid laughter outside. "Enjoy your alone time, princess," Billy taunted.

Steve slid to the ground and tried not to panic. He wasn't going to freak out just because it's dark and he doesn't have anything to protect himself. He really wasn't going to. He wasn't that much of a loser that he was scared of the dark.

Then he started to cry. He normally was a silent crier, but normally, he wasn't struggling to breathe. He curled around himself and tried not to think of creatures with mouths that took up their entire head and opened like flower petals. Really, he was trying. But Steve just couldn't focus.

There was a soft voice outside the door that shook him from his isolation. "Hey man, you alright?" A dude questioned, and Steve tried to focus so he could answer. "Imma pick the lock, just gimme a minute. I've got ya," the voice was smooth, and Steve squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't really want to be seen at the moment, but he wanted out more.

The door clicked, and Steve crawled back so it could open. Eddie Munson was crouched there, a few things in his hands that he probably used to pick the lock. The known drug dealer looked frozen in shock at the sight of Steve, and Steve basically plowed into him to get out of the room quickly.

His brain was fried, and he really wanted to cling to Munson and let the calm voice focus him. Instead, he backed off and pressed his back to the wall, hanging his head between his thighs. "Thanks," he mumbled and hid his tear stained face from the other.

"Uh, it's um, not a problem... Usually, I'm helping others after you pick on them, though," Eddie's voice wasn't as soft as it had been. It made Steve wince and curl up tighter on himself. Of course, Munson would hate him...

"Never shoved anyone in janitor closets before," he said instead.

"Ahh, lockers then."

Steve shook his head, "You could really hurt someone doing that. What if no one found them? Or if they passed out or something?" He pointed out and finally looked up at the other boy. Eddie was just staring at him like he's never seen Steve before. "I never wanted to hurt anyone," Steve breathed out, but it came out more snappish than he meant it to.

"Right... so how come King Steve was shoved into the closet?" Eddie questioned and Steve looked away from him. "Did you sleep with someone's girl-"

"Jesus man, I get it! You hate me but can you fucking stop? Not everything that happens to me is my fault, okay?" Steve snapped, and Eddie flinched back. "Fuck, stop acting like I'll hurt you, Jesus. Billy's just an asshole who needs a punching bag, okay? And he learned that he can take he down, okay?" He gestured to the slowly healing bruises on his face.

Eddie was staring at him, "why you?"

Steve scoffed, "cause he can't take it out on his sister anymore? Cause he's an asshole with mommy issues? Or maybe just because he knows I won't fight back! I don't know, I'm not in his brain! I don't know what he thinks when he trips me in the hallway or throws a ball at my head in the gym!"

Eddie blinks and gets up to his feet, but then he holds out his hand in offering. "Come on, man." Steve takes it and lets Eddie pull him to his feet. He's still a little shaky, but he manages to stay on his feet. "I've been known to adopt lost sheep," he's guided away towards the exit and he's so shocked he doesn't fight it.

"Thought you hated me," He points out.

Eddie laughs, "eh, you can just buy me dinner." Eddie pauses for a moment, but Steve is already nodding. It makes Eddie grin, and he throws an arm around his shoulder. "Welcome to the land of the outcasts. Here I'm the king." He gestures to the group of people smoking by one of the picnic benches outside.

"You'll lose a few cool-dude points if you're seen with us," Eddie smiles like it's funny but Steve just feels bad. These were the people he never stood up for. These were the people he never looked at, just ignored.

Steve smiles and looks at Eddie, "you inviting me into the Munson cult?"

Eddie's grin goes sharp, "You gotta earn that. I'm offering you a starting point."

Steve thinks about how lonely he's been and how kind Eddie's voice had been. "So, how do I climb up the ladder? My only skills are giving rides, basketball, and hair."

"Don't forget the Harrington charm," Eddie grins and it's kinder. "Show us yourself, and we'll see from there." He whispers before turning to the group of people.

"Gentlemen, we have a traveler from the halls of royalty! He's come to bless us with his presence!" Eddie's voice is filled with so much emotion. Steve almost misses the way the group tenses up.

Steve might have a while to go before they trust them. But he thinks maybe it could be worth it. Especially as Eddie looks back at him with a smile that makes Steve's stomach flip. "Uh, hey," he smiles awkwardly, wiggling his fingers in greeting.

[passivenovember]

Billy knows he's pregnant because he has a double whopper with no cheese on the way home from Loch Nora.

Billy hates the Burger King. It tastes like cardboard and the cheese burns noxious holes in his stomach, probably, but things change when you're gonna be a mom.

A dad. Whatever.

Steve Harrington shoots his wad and, like magic, like Steve Harrington's spunk has turned everything inside him into stardust, Billy can't get enough of the shit. He'd buy cologne made of BK's burger fat, if he could, and spend all day sucking on his wrist like a dog.

So. Billy's pregnant. It's obvious. Among other things.

And no one ever said Steve Harrington was smart, not in any way that matters, and Billy can't learn his lesson. They fuck on Thursday night because apparently this is a middle-of-the-week kind of arrangement, now, and Harrington comes apart inside of Billy because you're on the pill, Malibu, it's okay.

Billy likes it. Lets him. Thinks, there's probably no harm in it now that he's no longer the Virgin Mary. It feels immaculate, anyhow, that this could happen.

Steve fucks into him sloppy, losing his rhythm until he spills, and tears swamp Billy's vision so he misses the whole fuckin' thing. The main show.

He wants to keep the baby. No one ever said Billy was smart, either.

But there are things in this life he'll keep to himself. He's allowed that. He shares so much with Max and Steve, and by association all the other fucking people that love Steve, and it gets old.

He can have this.

Billy thinks that this could be just for him.

"Fuck, Billy," Steve pulls out, but not before peppering Billy's face with soft butterfly kisses. His breath smells like them. Like blueberry seeds, underneath it all, "Goddamn, your pussy's magic."

Billy's hole runs sloppy. Too fucked out to hold anything in.

Billy almost laughs out loud, because. It's magic. It's a joke, right, his pussy swallowed and now there's--

"Love that thing you do with your hips. Love the sounds you make when my shaft rubs--"

"You're a fucking pervert."

"I was normal, before you let me hit," Steve trails damp, sticky fingers through Billy's chest hair. "You hungry?"

I'm pregnant. "No."

"Sure?" Steve rolls closer on the mattress, nosing Billy's damp, pillow-squashed curls out of the way, "You smell like you could eat a fucking village."

"I'm fine."

"Orphans and all, baby."

"So fucking weird."

Steve hums. Pulls on Billy's earring with his teeth and then licks a wet, fat stripe over his bonding patch. Teasing. "If you're hungry I could get us food."

"I'm fine."

"Really, I just need to put some shorts on and I'm outta here, fuckin'. Pedal to the metal--"

"Jesus Christ, I said I'm not hungry so fucking drop it, asshole," Billy shoves away, sitting on the edge of the mattress. He feels around on the carpet for his jeans, his t-shirt, his converse.

Steve runs out of him, gluing him to 500 count Egyptian Cotton. Pisses him off.

"Billy," Steve says.

Billy tugs his socks on. He was freezing, apparently. Never realized it. His teeth chatter so he stoops, reaching for the closest hoodie shaped thing in their heap of discarded clothes, and then.

"You don't have to go, baby," Steve pokes him between the shoulder blades, gentle as a falling leaf. "Please stay."

"You're pissing me off."

"What else is new."

"I'm gonna--"

Steve wraps around Billy like a blanket, cock soft and sticky against Billy's tailbone. His legs are lean and strong, all muscle and good intentions, just like the rest of him.

Billy hates it.

He melts back against Steve's chest, anyway, vision swamped again.

"You gonna tell me what's wrong, or do I gotta beg?"

"Little manners might be nice."

"Billy Hargrove. Please tell me what's got you smelling like a sugar factory caught fire." Steve pets through his hair. Knows how it turns Billy to putty. Has to. "Omega troubles?"

Billy bites down on the inside of his cheek. Tastes blood. "You wouldn't get it."

"I could try," Steve tells him. His lips are soft against he back of Billy's neck, at his ear lobe, on the tense knob of his shoulder. "Please. Tell me so I can fix it."

"You can't," Billy says, traitor voice cracking open, raw, "You can't fix it. It's mine."

My life. My baby.

"Okay," Steve says easily. Kind and good and sweeter than anything Billy could ever deserve, "Stay the night, so I can cook for you before you fall asleep, and again in the morning."

Billy swallows, throat clicking like a dead lighter. Can't breathe, can't--

"It's alright," Steve kisses his neck, "Everything will feel better in the morning."

"We never should've started this bullshit," Billy sits up, heart lurching at the soft, pained noise Steve lets out into the air between them. He can't handle this shit. He can't do this, he can't--

"Billy--

"I'm pregnant," Billy says to Steve's Duran-Duran poster. Can't believe how young he feels, in this moment. Can't begin to wrap his head around the fact that he's twenty years old, and he's in Hawkins, Indiana, and he's going to have a fucking baby with someone who's got such a shitty taste in music, and--

He wants it.

More than he's ever wanted anything. Billy opens his mouth to say it, to scream it at the popcorn stucco, watching like a trillion angel eyes overhead.

But Steve breathes, like an old car trying to start. "You're sure?" He asks.

Billy's shaking even though Steve is a warm, solid weight against his back, burning them up. "Yes."

"How?" Steve asks, full of wonder, and Billy has to get away.

The carpet is heaven under his feet. "I've been. Eating a lot of Burger King."

"Burger King."

"Yeah. Cravings for shit I never liked before. Double whoppers with no cheese," Billy wrings his hands, "And. I didn't have a heat this month, so Joyce took me to the clinic. They said I'm only a few weeks along, but everything is good with her."

Steve makes a wet, heavy sound.

"I dunno. It kinda. Feels like one," Billy rubs a palm over his belly, quick as lightning, "I think it's a girl."

"Billy, please look at me."

Billy does, horrified but swallowing it, one bitter mouthful at a time. He plants his feet and everything bubbles up inside him. This is his life, his body, his baby, and he's going to to this for himself. Steve doesn't have to worry or fork out any cash or put his life on hold just because he knocked up some desperate omega--

Steve's crying. "We're having a baby."

Billy didn't expect this. He falters, mouth working in shocked silence.

But then Steve moves.

He pulls Billy to him, chest heaving as he laughs, high and bright. "Holy, shit we're gonna be parents," Steve twirls them, hooping and hollering like they just won the NBA championship. "Goddamn, your pussy really is magic!"

Billy giggles, in spite of himself. All the other shit melts away, for now, shadows receding under the blinding light of Steve Harrington.

"I can't fucking believe this," Steve says, pulling back to hunt over Billy's face, full of wonder. "Do you think she's gonna have your eyes?"

"I. I don't--"

"I feel like in high school science class we learned something about the brown eyes gene kicking the blue eyes gene's ass? But I would fucking die if our baby comes out looking like you."

"You're not," Billy swallows, choking on tears. "You're not mad at me? Or disappointed?"

"Disappointed?" Steve repeats, his face falling. "Billy, are you serious? No. No, I've fucking. Ever since I met you I've been sitting in this room every night twirling my hair around one finger and kicking my feet because, I--"

Steve's thumb rubs soft, soothing circles against Billy's cheek.

"Billy, I love you," He says gently, "I love everything about you. You're smart and you're hilarious and you're so beautiful--"

"--Steve--"

"--You make my heart feel like it's gonna beat out of my chest. I can't believe you let a loser like me climb on top of you, much less--"

Billy kisses him, eating up Steve's next words.

They don't matter, when Steve leads them back to the mattress. He eats every soft, gooey whimper out of Billy's lungs, swallowing them down and tasting the damp running between Billy's legs.

Makes love to him, while they talk about the future.

Steve only makes one joke about his dick hurting the baby's head, and Billy thinks they should sign up for a class or two.

[afewproblems]

Season Two Halloween AU Part Six

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Synopsis: What if Eddie had been at Tina's Halloween Party in Season Two? Featuring Steve!Whump, Stancy Breakup, and Eddie just trying to keep up with all these new revelations about who King-Steve actually is...

As always, thank you thank you to the lovely Jess @strangersteddierthings for letting me inundate you with spoilers and general Stranger Things/Steddie screaming!

[CW: Period Typical Homophobia from the antagonist, violence, gore, bodily injury, Billy Hargrove is his own warning.]

***

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit. 

Eddie takes a step closer to Steve, but Dustin is faster. 

He pulls on the jacket sleeve, taking Steve to the window and Eddie can't even find the words to say to make him stop.

He wants to tell Dustin to give them a second, he wants to press pause on this whole horrible night and ask Steve to explain.

Because in what world did this make sense? 

There is no possible way Steve is gay, and even if is, the guy is fresh off of being dumped by his girlfriend just days before. 

On top of that, they're all running on fumes from a day searching for Dart, fortifying an old school bus, laying the Demodog trap in the junkyard, and finally coming back to the Byers to make their plan. 

Eddie's stomach growls at the sudden thought and he realizes just how hungry he actually is after all the adrenalin and running around they've done.

If Eddie is this tired and hungry, he can't imagine Steve is faring much better, he's not thinking straight. 

He can't be. 

Because if he was, if he had meant it, and Eddie just--

"Oh shit," Steve says lowly from the edge of the intact window. He presses against the wall, keeping himself out of sight as much as he can, "what the fuck is Hargrove doing here?" 

"That's what I'm saying," Dustin hisses, his eyes wide, he sticks close to Steve's side, away from the window and turns to Max, "what the hell is your brother doing here".

Max shoots Dustin a look and for a second Eddie thinks she's going to tell Dustin off before her face suddenly pales.

"He can't know I'm here, he'll kill me".

Lucas shifts closer to Max, knocking his shoulder into hers before turning his attention back to Steve, "he almost ran us over once, we were on our bikes". 

Their bikes…Jesus.

It hits Eddie suddenly that they're just kids, all of thirteen years old, with an unpredictable asshole standing just outside their door.

Steve sighs suddenly and squares his shoulders, his big hazel eyes move from Max, to Lucas, to Dustin, and Mike, before finally landing on Eddie. His brow pinches in the middle as his expression shifts into the same determined one from the day before.

But this time there is no nail bat in his hands. 

Shit.

"Steve, dont," Eddie says, darting across the room towards him, but Steve is too quick for him.

He reaches for the door and unlatches the bolt, "stay out of sight, all of you, I'll be right back".

It's a promise Eddie isn't sure Steve can make.

The kids immediately move towards the edge of the window before Eddie whispers out a sharp, "Go to the boarded one shitheads, he's going to see you". 

Eddie shakes his head at the four identical eye rolls, but the kids do as he says and make their way to the far window he and Steve just closed up. 

There are enough gaps between the wood slats that they can see Steve make his way to the path as Billy steps around his car. 

"Am I dreaming or is that you Harrington?"

The cherry of his cigarette glows in the dark as Billy takes a long drag before flicking it into the street. 

"Yeah it's me, don't cream your pants," Steve's voice is steady, the smooth lilt of his 'King' voice takes over and it's so different from what Eddie has come to realize is Steve's normal speaking voice that it throws him for a bit of a loop. 

Just how much has Steve been pretending all this time.

Moonlight casts shadows over half of Billy's face but it doesn't hide the way his lip pulls over his teeth or the dark glint in his eye as he pulls off his jacket and tosses it through the open window of his Camaro.

"I'm looking for my step sister, little birdy told me she was here," Billy says, a sneer pulling at his mouth as his eyes scan the house before landing on Steve again, "which would already be weird enough, and now I find you here". 

"I'm doing a favour for Mrs. Wheeler and Byers, babysitting, I don't think I've seen your step sister, what's she look like?"

Eddie can't see Steve's face from this angle but the words come out smoothly, no stumbles with the lie.

But Billy stares just a little too long for it to have properly landed.

"You do favours for people like that huh," Billy laughs, ignoring the question entirely as he takes another step closer. He and Steve are similar heights but Billy has a good twenty to thirty pounds of muscle on Steve and Eddie begins to sweat at the manic look on Billy's face.

"You're something else Harrington, I don't think I'd be able to stick around if my girl fucked someone else--"

"Your sister's Not Here," Steve bites out through gritted teeth. He steps into Billy's space, his shoulders high with tension and anger, "leave". 

Billy laughs, a low dangerous sound, "you know, this whole night's been giving me a weird fucking feeling Harrington".

Billy tips his head back and leaves it there for just a moment and Eddie watches as Steve relaxes for just a second too long, tilting his head in confusion.

"And I think you're lying to me".

Billy punctuates the words by slamming his hands into Steve's shoulders, knocking him clean off his feet.

Steve hits the concrete hard, managing to roll enough for his shoulder to connect with the ground first rather than his head. He manages to sit up slightly, looking at Billy now with a mixture of surprise and fear in his wide eyes as he shifts to look back at the house.

Billy smirks and leans over Steve, "I'm just going to see for myself, told you to plant your feet pretty boy".

He stands up to his full height again and kicks Steve in the ribs. Hard. 

Eddie curses quietly as Steve curls in on himself and makes a horrible retching sound, but there isn't time to worry about Steve as Billy comes lumbering up the front path towards the Byers front door.

Which is unlocked.

Eddie hadn't even thought to latch it.

"Hide. Now!" Eddie hisses at Max, she opens her mouth to argue but Lucas gives her a push to the shoulder and looks at her with pleading eyes.

"Just go okay?" Lucas whispers, pushing her again towards the kitchen.

She shoots Lucas a fierce glare over her shoulder and disappears around the corner. 

Eddie steps back towards the kids, putting himself between them and the door, just in time for it to crash open. 

Billy looks around the room, frowning slightly at the boarded up window and all of the drawings covering nearly every inch of the place like vines, before his gaze lands on Eddie and the kids behind him.

"Well, well, well, this is quite the party here huh boys," Billy sneers, kicking the door closed behind him.

"A private one," Eddie manages to keep his tone even as he takes a step closer, drawing Billy's eye away from the kids, "what do you want Hargrove".

Billy scoffs and tries to step around Eddie, yelling at the top of his voice as he moves, "Maxine! You got three seconds to get you skinny ass out here before I bring you out myself". 

Eddie mirrors his path, blocking his movement.

"Who the fuck are you talking to man, I guess thats what happens when you take too many balls to face huh?" Eddie says with a mocking laugh in his voice, he lets the corner of his lip rise in a cold sneer.

Billy glares, "that's rich coming from a queer like you," he lifts his hand to shove Eddie's shoulder roughly, but Eddie's dealt with assholes like Billy time and time again and he’s expecting the push. 

He stays standing, keeping himself between Billy and the kids.

Billy shakes his head, "I don't know why you're involved in this, are you revenge for Byers or something? I ain't here for you or your little boyfriend out there, freak". 

"Just leave us alone!" Dustin shouts, drawing Billy's eye for the first time. 

"Yeah fuck off!" Mike screams as Lucas stands up, glaring venomously at Billy. He has his wrist rocket raised, armed with a piece of jagged wood from the broken window. 

"Sinclair," Billy's eyes narrow as they land on Lucas, "if I find out Maxine is here because of you--"

"You'll what?" Eddie growls, he hears a door open softly behind them but keeps his eyes on Billy, not taking any chances.

Billy seems to hesitate, his eyes dropping down to Eddie's fisted hands before rising again to meet his gaze, "Max already knows what happens when people don't listen, but I guess I'll have to show you the hard way Munson". 

Billy moves like a viper, his fist rears back and swings forward so quickly that Eddie barely has time to react, catching the punch in the jaw as he tries to move out of the way. 

"Sonovabitch," Eddie hisses, cradling his face. His vision swims as Billy reaches for his shirt collar, but the second blow never comes.

Billy's hand falls as Steve appears, barreling into Billy, shoulder first like a linebacker, sending them both crashing into the floor. Billy's head smacks into the linoleum, forcing a low groan out of him.

Steve recovers quicker, rolling off the other teen before rising to his knees. He’s breathing hard and holding his ribs with one hand while the other braces on the coffee table as he stands up.

"Holy shit," Dustin laughs out breathlessly as Steve limps closer, moving into Eddie's space.

"You guys okay?" Steve asks softly, he lifts his hand up towards Eddie's aching jaw but stops just shy of touching him. He blinks once and moves away again before turning to the kids.

They all freeze at the sound of a wild laugh behind them.

Billy runs a shaking hand through his mullet, slowly sitting up, scoffing when his fingers come away red. 

"Finally!" Billy crows, "the King Steve I've been hearing about shows his face, where was he when I gave you that black eye yesterday huh?" 

Billy wipes the blood from the side of his head on his jeans and laughs again, a horrible cackle that seems to echo around the small space of the living room. He paws at something on the floor as he manages to roll over onto his knees, breathing hard.

"Let me give you some advice Harrington,” Billy says through gritted teeth, bracing one hand on the coffee table while the other remains strangely hidden behind his back.

Steve says nothing, moving himself to stand in front of Eddie and the kids. Billy stumbles slightly and shakes his head as he manages to get his feet back under himself. 

"If you're gonna hit someone, make sure they don't get back up".

By the time Eddie sees what Billy has clenched in his hand it's too late. 

Billy swings his hand out and catches Steve in the temple with an ashtray, the ceramic shatters on impact sending pieces of pottery in all directions and embedding several into Billy’s hand. 

Eddie's heart nearly stops at the wet crunch it makes as Steve's head whips back at the impact. He crumples limply to the floor, his head bouncing once against the linoleum before Steve lays still on the living room floor.

Eddie feels like he's underwater. Like time has slowed down and he's sinking.

He doesn't realize he's moving until he's in front of Billy, until he's gripping the edges of Billy's shirt in his hands, until he's shaking him like a ragdoll.

Eddie's never felt such overwhelming rage and fear, its coursing through him, burning him up from the inside out.

Steve isn't moving.

There's only coherent thought playing on a loop in his head. 

He's dead, he's dead, he's dead.

"Billy!" A small voice cuts through Eddie's yelling, when had he started yelling, from the kitchen door.

Billy's face tips towards it, his dazed eyes widen slightly and his lip curls back in a feral smile.

"I fucking knew it," Billy slurs out as Eddie throws him to the floor. 

He laughs again and again, his head bleeding freely now, red lines drip down his face.

Max takes a shaky step into the living room; she ignores Lucas yelling at her to run and continues forward, Will's second dose of sedative clutched in her left hand. 

Max pushes past Eddie, drops to her knees and plunges the needle into Billy's neck with a roar. Eddie watches as Billy flinches at the impact and lifts his hands to frantically rip the needle out.

"What the fuck?!" He whispers, trying to sit up but his shaking arms only drop him back to the floor, "what did you do?"

"Made it so you can't hurt my friends," Max says lowly, she trembles as Eddie helps her stand and directs her towards the boys who immediately fold her into a hug between the three of them. 

Eddie keeps his eyes on Billy until his breathing smooths out and his unfocused eyes finally close before he’s on his feet. He crosses the room in two strides and drops to his knees in front of Steve, letting his uncle's voice run through everything he ever taught him about first aid.

Don't move them, keep them talking, keep them warm.

Eddie's hands shake as he reaches out for Steve's neck and feels for a pulse, trying not to look at the blood coating Steve's face or the shards of ceramic in his hair.

"Is he…" Dustin says beside Eddie, startling him. The whole house has gone eerily silent as the kids finally make their way towards them, they don't crowd him the way Dustin has though.

Eddie swallows and moves his fingers slightly until he finds it, a thin reedy pulse. 

He's alive. 

Eddie feels his eyes sting and a wet hysterical laugh falls from his mouth. Steve is nowhere near okay, but he's alive.

He's alive.

Part Seven!

Tag List:

@eriquin @luvinthefreaks @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @goodolefashionedloverboi @ellietheasexylibrarian @bambibiest @sadboislovebeans @howincrediblysapphicofyou @coleys-a-nerd @whycantiuseunderscore @airconditioning123 @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @corrodedbisexual @starman-jpg @ilovecupcakesandtea @yoriposts @clumsiluni @pelinelin @phantomcat94 @lololol-1234 @anaibis @airconditioning123 @steveshairspray @hellfireone @sunswathe @eddielives1986 @tentativeghost @robin-not-batman @estrellami-1 @manda-panda-monium @tinyplanet95 @perseus-notjackson @queenie-ofthe-void @rainbowsaw @sp0o0kylights @littlebluejane @hi-im-eff @phantypurple @just-ladyme @thoroughlycollected @justrandomfandomstm @swimmingbirdrunningrock @finntheehumaneater @dynamic-powerm@nightmareglitter @genderless-spoon @zaddipax @thebiblesays @amerikanskaya-krassavitsa @pyrohonk @emly03 @geekymagicalpotato @sidebarre

and for some peeps that I think may be interested! @steddierthings @steddie-there @steves-strapcollection @henderdads @stevesbipanic @spooky-brakers

[estrellami-1]

Steddie Week 2023

May 25th Prompt: Hurt/Comfort

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7

@steddie-week

Eddie’s waking up when Steve bursts into the room. Dustin, already at his bedside, excitedly waves Steve over.

Eddie groans, coughs twice, then opens his eyes, looking blankly around. His eyes sharpen in recognition when he sees Steve, and a small smile cracks his face when he looks at Dustin. “Hey, dude,” he mutters, trying to lift a hand to reach Dustin.

Dustin meets him halfway, grasping his hand, practically bent in half with emotion. “You asshole,” he gasps. “You- that’s- not fair, I thought you-” he bites his lip, shakes his head, and bursts into tears.

“Oh, hey,” Eddie says, trying to pull Dustin closer. “C’mon, man, it’s alright, I’m okay.”

Eventually Dustin calms down, moving away just long enough to drag a chair close enough to keep hold of Eddie.

Eddie looks up at Steve. “King Steve,” he says. “To what do I owe the honor? Or are you here to finally finish me off?”

To his surprise, Steve backs up, eyes suspiciously glassy. “I- sorry. Um. I’m gonna… check on Max.”

“Steve!” Dustin calls.

“Stay here,” Steve responds, not looking as he quickly walks out of the room.

Dustin turns an unimpressed eyebrow on Eddie. “I know you’re in pain and all that, but that was a dick move. I thought you and Steve were okay.”

Eddie laughs, then just as suddenly winces. “I haven’t talked to the dude since he was in high school, little buddy.”

“What? No, but you- he- the gates, Lover’s Lake- wait, holy shit-”

“Language.”

“-do you remember why you’re here?”

Eddie shrugs. “I heard something about an earthquake? And I vaguely remember trying to keep you safe.”

“Oh, fuck,” Dustin breathes, and runs out of the room yelling for Steve.

“What, what, what?” Steve asks, irritated.

Dustin pauses to catch his breath. “Eddie doesn’t remember,” he tells Steve, whose eyes widen. “He thinks you haven’t spoken since you were in high school. He thinks he’s here because of an earthquake.”

Steve’s head drops to his chest as he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Okay,” he says. “So what do we do?”

“We have to tell him,” Dustin says. “He’s still wanted for Chrissy. He needs to know what’s happening.”

“Okay,” Steve says, taking another breath. “Alright. Let’s go then.”

They make their way back to Eddie’s room, where he’s looking out the window. “Eddie?” Dustin asks.

“Henderson,” Eddie responds, smiling. “What was all that about?”

Dustin sighs, sits heavily in the chair. “Do you remember Chrissy?”

Eddie frowns. “Cunningham? The queen of Hawkins High?”

“Former queen,” Dustin says softly. “She died.” Eddie’s eyes widen. “In your trailer.”

Eddie’s eyes are saucers. “What?”

Dustin nods. “We know you didn’t do it, but a lot of people think you did.”

“Jason Carver,” Steve cuts in, scoffing. “Fuckin’ prick.”

Eddie raises a brow. “I woulda thought you two would be friends.”

Steve makes a face. “Maybe back when I was in high school. You do remember Byers beating the shit outta me, right?” He smirks. “I deserved it. Actually thanked the guy, if you can believe it.” He shrugs. “I haven’t been king of anything in a while, and I’m fine with that.”

“Well, shit,” Eddie says. “Sorry about what I said, then.”

Steve offers him a half-smile. “Considering you have no memory of what landed you in the hospital, you’re forgiven.”

Eddie frowns. “But I do remember. Or- not remember, per se, but while I was out I heard people talking. There was an earthquake.”

Steve screws his face up. “That was a cover up,” he says quietly. “The real story is way harder to believe.”

Eddie looks between Steve and Dustin. “Okay. You have my attention. What’s the real story?”

They slowly tell him, trading points, adding details when the other forgets.

“We were just about to separate,” Steve’s saying. “Me, Robin, and Nancy, and you and Dustin. You said my name, so I turned back around, and you said-”

“Make him pay,” Eddie whispers. “I remember. Holy shit. Holy shit.” He takes a few deep breaths. “Henderson?” He asks, not taking his eyes off Steve. “Give us a few minutes?”

Dustin looks between the two of them, but must see it on their faces, because he simply walks out without a word.

“Eds?” Steve asks, tearing up.

“Stevie,” Eddie answers, wiping his face. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“Oh, thank fuck,” Steve mutters, curling into Eddie. “Eddie.”

“‘M right here,” Eddie murmurs. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Steve leans up, brackets Eddie’s face in his hands. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispers. “I was so scared-”

Eddie grimaces. “And then I scared you even more, huh? I’m so sorry, babe.”

Steve shakes his head. “You didn’t know. It’s okay. I just-” he sniffles. “I thought you’d finally wisened up, y’know? I thought you finally realized I’m always gonna be that douchebag I was in high school.”

“You’re not,” Eddie whispers, trying to tilt his face up. “Hey, give me a hand, here, I’m trying to kiss my boyfriend.” Steve laughs wetly, but seals their mouths together. “You’re not him,” Eddie whispers into Steve’s mouth. “You’re so much better.” He starts to grin. “You’re still bitchy, though, which personally I love.”

Steve looks at him hopefully. “Yeah?”

Eddie softens. “Yeah, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Steve whispers, pressing a last chaste kiss to Eddie’s lips. “What’re the odds Henderson’s right outside and heard everything?”

“It’s not my fault you’re not being quiet!”

[dear-ao3]

who are the 20 f1 meow meows?

max verstappen (fast but an asshole on the track. lives in fear of his cats. winning everything.)

checo perez (might lose his spot. had two separate did not finishes in the same race. kissed another car at the hairpin)

sir lewis hamilton (fashion icon, classiest mother fucker you’ll ever see, knighted, just wants a comeback and to win his 8th world championship)

george russell (walking meme, looks like he belongs in the window of a tommy bahama, says crikey and blimey unironically, the most british person ever)

charles leclerc (the poorest little meow meow, is a millionaire but has a cracked back of his phone, either is fighting for the podium or crashes on the first lap, please dear god let this man win something he has the worst luck i’ve ever seen)

carlos sainz (smooth operator, dunks on everyone’s golf game especially landos, aparently doesn’t eat his pancakes with toppings, drives a volkswagen golf at least sometimes)

lando norris (usually getting told by carlos he sucks at golf, chronically online, has a blanket with george russell’s face on it, gets in trouble for being too sarcastic, please give him a win it’s been 5 years)

oscar piastri (has never once looked like he’s having a good time but almost did once while building a house of cards, hates horoscopes, almost got sued by alpine when he said he wasn’t signing with them after alpine announced he was signing with them, has an iconic mom)

fernando alonso (old man, retired and then came back for some reason, tad villain and he knows it, don’t mention taylor swift around him)

lance stroll (still waiting for his tennis career tbh, his dad bought aston martin to guarantee him a seat, rage monster)

esteban ocon (french, monster of a teammate aparently, once got beat up in the garage by max verstappen, besties with stroll and mick schumacher)

pierre gasley (also french, terrible awful haircut, did i mention he’s french, had his brain chemistry permanently altered by being teammates with yuki, photo dump king)

nico hulkenberg (looks like that one penguin with the weird hair from penguins of madagascar, dad, has raced in over 200 races and never been on the podium)

kevin magnussen (was kicked off haas because they wanted younger drivers only to reappear the next year after they fired one of the drivers for probably funding the russian ukrainian war, once fok smashed a door, has the cutest child)

valtteri bottas (unproblematic king, cyclist, makes his own alcohol, is ass out on netflix and has his own naked calendar called bott ass, mullet mustache man)

zhou guanyu (baby fashion icon, trying his best in a medium shit car, first chinese driver ever in f1)

daniel ricciardo (class clown, made the worst career mistake of leaving red bull and is now trying to get back in, from australia but is a texas cowboy, usually fucking shit up, just wants to tickle his scrotum and touch his nutsack)

yuki tsunoda (wants to chef, was forcibly moved to italy by his team cause he didn’t want to work out with his trainer, short king, usually gets sacrificed to the luck gods, cursed radios)

alex albon (so insanely barbie coded, filmed a cereve commercial in his hotel room with his girlfriend, definitely dyes his own hair with box dye, incredible oldest sibling energy, single-handedly carrying williams)

logan sargeant (what the fuck is a kilometer!!!! only american in f1, usually found in dead last or kissing walls, one of his essential items is heinz burger sauce, says mate with an american accent)

[marvelsswansong]

I could be your new spring

summary: you spend an entire year doting after Billy Hargrove, who toys with and eventually breaks your heart. You're sobbing by yourself on a cold spring day when someone coughs and awkwardly offers you his jean jacket - it's Eddie Munson, staring at you with such foreign yet genuine warmth.

"I wasted an entire year on him, Eddie. One whole year I'll never get back." "I could be your new spring, if you'd like."

tags: Eddie x fem!reader, toxic and complete asshole Billy x fem!reader, best friends Robin/Nancy/Steve, hurt to comfort, heavy angst, fluff towards the end, happy ending dw, oneshot

☆ word count: 5.3K+ (whew) ☆

-> a/n: read this as a submitted ask on another writer's account and I knew I had to write it! I hope you angels enjoy <;3 Reader's discretion is advised that Billy is really mean in this and treats reader very poorly.

⚠️ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞.⚠️

Spring in Hawkins was cold, but nothing was colder than Billy Hargrove.

He'd strolled into Hawkins High with his slicked back hair and ocean scented cologne on the first week of August, and the moment he'd picked up a book you'd dropped and winked at you - you were never the same again.

Steve didn't like him from the outset. Your best friend was quick to pull you backwards from Billy the moment the blonde boy winked at you, shooting you a worried glance and warning you that he didn't like "the look of the new guy." Nancy had muttered agreements behind him, and normally, you would've listened to your friends in a heartbeat.

But you were instantly entranced. Billy was awfully charming. Cocky, the type to know that he was handsome and to exploit it. He walked with a certain city swagger, one which only a surfer boy from California could carry, the musk of sandalwood and salty sea water emanating from his copious jackets. You were far too shy to speak to him properly - particularly when crowds of popular girls and boys followed his every move - so you got accustomed to admiring his features from afar.

Steve pretended to hurl a few weeks later into the first semester when you'd confessed on a late night drive that the new kid from California had caught your eye. Your best friend's eyes widened in shock, irises burning with disgust as he looked over from the steering wheel.

"You know as your best friend I support all your decisions but Hargrove?" he spat out, his face scrunched up. "That asshole has two brain cells, max."

You rolled your eyes playfully, kicking your legs up on the dashboard.

"Of course you wouldn't like him, Steve. People are saying he might be coming for your 'crown' as the King of Hawkins High." you teased, poking him in the shoulder. That made his lips twist into a scowl, though his sour expression quickly melted into a soft grin when looking back over at you.

"Well, whatever the case, he's bad news. Just stay away, okay?"

He muttered it so tenderly as he pulled over in front of your house, speaking to you the same way he spoke to the kids when trying to protect them. Smiling, you waved his concerns off, slinging your backpack over your shoulder.

"Relax, Steve, it's just a puppy crush. I'll be fine."

And it probably would've been, had the seating chart for your biology class not been shifted the Monday after. On top of that, a new group assignment was on the agenda. You were jittery with pure anxiety when you'd walked into the classroom that day to see Billy sitting next to the spot you usually sat, his name written in cursive next to yours on the blackboard.

"Joanne, right?" he'd asked you, casting you the briefest glance out of the corner of his eyes.

"No, uh... my name's (Y/n)." you'd meekly corrected, bag slowly dropping to the floor as you refused to even match his gaze.

Billy paused then, eyes shifting to look you up and down before a smirk slowly appeared on his face.

You didn't know it at the time, but he'd been subtledly watching you. Sure, he'd already slept with a good amount of girls - girls more popular than you, girls who were outgoing and loud... Cheerleaders, class presidents, varsity athletes of the sort. It was good for status and for one night stands, but they reminded him too much of the girls in California.

A bit ditzy. Vapid. Superficial. Annoying as soon as the sex was over and the type to want him to 'hang' around afterwards and be domestic. It disgusted him - Billy Hargrove did not do domestic.

But you...

At first, he'd written you off as Steve's little friend. The quiet loser who was gifted the seat at the popular table because you and Steve had grown up with houses right next to each other's. He couldn't lie, a part of your appeal was how much Steve kept you close, eager to keep you away from Billy's reach.

But a bigger part of your appeal, Billy thought, was how different you were from the other girls who fawned over him. Whilst they would dress up and scream loudly for his attention during basketball games, you'd sit by yourself to the side with another girl - Billy believed her name was Robin - with a book and a shy smile on your face.

And whilst other girls tried to seduce and sweet talk him at every party, you stood by your friends, conservatively taking sips from your red solo cup and avoiding Billy like the plague.

You didn't seek attention. You were a good girl, Billy noticed, the type that his father would scream at for him to find: quiet, dutiful, submissive. Gets all the homework done on time, volunteers at an animal shelter every weekend, plays the 'sober driver' for your friends on most night outs.

You're different, and to Billy, it feels like a challenge. A conquest to be won. Getting to piss off 'the hair' is just the cherry on top.

"...Is everything alright?" you meekly asked, noticing that he was just staring at you absentmindedly, not uttering a single word. Billy shook his thoughts away, a devious idea popping into his mind. He was going to toy with you - his little lamb - and you would be none the wiser.

"Everything's perfect. Just peachy, doll."

Becoming Billy's biology partner meant seeing him every two days. He reeled you in slowly during those boring lectures. He'd ask you nonsensical questions, just to get you talking and to have you move closer towards him when he'd complain not being able to read your notes. He'd purposefully mess up the experiments so you two would have to stay after class, your hands shaking as they guided his towards the correct vial.

The regular classes also gave him an excuse to pry into your life. Your hobbies, your friends, your likes and dislikes... The faux interest and 'small talk' stage of love, laid out one by one. He was toying with you and you were oblivious to it all, following dutifully behind him like a puppy.

"You're so different from most other girls here." Billy once said, running a hand through his hair. "You're so... Hawkins-esque."

Your pen paused mid-scrawl, eyes hesitantly peering up at the blonde boy with trepidation.

"Is that a... good thing? Or not?"

You were staring at him with so much hope, doe eyes overwhelming with unadulterated innocence that it made his gut churn with nausea.

"It's a good thing." he'd responded. And the moment you flashed him a brilliant smile in response, giggling softly under your breath, he knew you were hooked.

Hook, slink, reel.

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

The end of summer came soon enough, also marking the end of the biology project. And as soon as the project was turned in, Billy went back to ignoring you. He dodged your friendly waves and greetings in the hallways, made it a point to sit as far away from you in class. You didn't think too much of it, wholly convinced that he was just busy preparing for the upcoming basketball championships.

Your friends weren't as convinced, with Nancy tapping your shoulder impatiently as you moped around your locker one chilly autumn day whilst hoping to catch a glimpse of Billy before third period.

"I don't think you should be hanging around Billy so much." she'd gently pleaded, lightly pulling at your lower arm.

"Hm?" you weren't really paying attention to her, head far too preoccupied with thoughts of Billy and his gorgeous head of curls.

"Billy Hargrove. He's an awful person, he's been taking advantage of you." she muttered quietly, gently smoothing over your hair.

Suppressing a sigh, you closed your locker shut and forced on a smile.

"I get why you and Steve think that Billy's an awful person but he's different around me, okay? Like when we're together, he's actually kind of nice to me." you breathed out, unsure if you were trying to convince your friend or yourself. "And yeah, maybe we're not talking all the time anymore, but... sometimes people are busy, okay, Nance?"

A look of pity spread across her face and you could feel the impending speech rolling in, making you throw your hands up to stop her.

"It's fine, okay? Just drop it."

She opened her mouth to argue but you were already walking away from her, heels frantically clicking against the floor.

And just as you were giving up hope, you were leaning against your car - red orange leaves scattered across the driveway, the smell of rain soaked grass tinting the autumn air - and Billy was back to winking at you in the hallways and asking you to tutor him after school.

He always arrived late and sometimes never even showed up (giving you vague apologies the next session), but you never minded. Especially not when he'd slouch in his seat, roll up the cuffs of his sleeves to expose his biceps and shoot you that charismatic wink.

"You're real smart, you know that? I could never get my fucking head around math." he'd once said, speaking up to the ceiling. Heat crept onto your cheeks at his compliment, butterflies fluttering in your abdomen.

"Thanks, Billy. I don't know, it's just... I work hard, I think that's it."

He hummed quietly, left hand reaching into his back pocket for a cigarette and a lighter, the sight of which immediately made you tense.

"Uh, I don't think we're allowed to smoke in here-"

Holding up his pointer finger to shush you, he lit the cigarette quickly before inhaling deeply, a slow exhale of toxic smoke being released from his wet lips.

"Relax, babygirl. We won't get caught."

All arguments died in your mouth when the word 'babygirl' reached your ears, a fuzzy haze settling over your confused mind. Billy noticed with an internal smirk that the nickname clearly got you flustered as you quickly uncrossed your legs under your skirt and began to stutter awkwardly, attempting to get back to the lesson at hand.

You were just too easy to control, he thought. Shy, goody two shoes, innocent disposition - on top of fierce loyalty that meant you'd never question him.

The perfect toy.

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

By the time winter had begun to descend onto the town - blankets of white snow covering the grey pavement and barren trees lining the roads - it was undeniable. You were utterly, totally infatuated with Billy Hargrove.

It was the week before winter break when you were flicking snowflakes off from your jacket, shuddering in the cold before a familiar car rolled to a stop before you. It was Billy, lowering his window and asking you if you wanted a ride back home.

"I'm on my way to the mall, so as long as your house is that way-"

"Oh actually it isn't-"

"Great, then you can just walk from the mall. Now get in."

You shrugged, figuring that it would beat walking the extra fifteen minutes on foot in this freezing cold. Strapping yourself into the front seat, there was an awkward silence that hung in the air before you worked up the nerves to ask him the question that'd been plaguging your mind.

"Are you staying in Hawkins for the winter break?"

The truth was that the thought of not being able to see him for weeks on end over the winter break made your stomach twist with discomfort and sadness, even if the company Billy currently gave you was questionable. Weeks alternated between him doting over you, following you around and calling you sweet names, and then weeks of him ignoring or slyly insulting you in front of his friends.

It was incredibly confusing and frustrating. But there had to be something behind it all, you reasoned. Why you were the only girl that Billy kept around for the entirety of the school year.

At your sudden question, Billy pulled over his car, an unreadable expression on his face as he gave you an unceremonious shrug.

"Not sure. Why'd you ask?"

The seatbelt around your body suddenly felt too tight, the winter coldness seeping in through the heat being blasted in the car.

"I was just wondering if... you know, you're going to be around here in town we can like... hang out? I'll be working part-time at a cafe but other than that I'm quite fr-"

"Yeah, yeah, sounds great, babe." he dismissed you with a quick wave, but you were content so long as he called you babe.

His heart twisted with erotic satisfaction with the way you flashed him that hopeful smile, so kind and trusting, before you kissed his cheek and hopped out of the car.

You ended only seeing him once during the break: it was a complete accident too, not that you noticed. Him and his friends just happened to stroll into the cafe you worked at and you perked up immediately, all gloomy thoughts being washed away in an instant. He'd flashed you that charming smile, apologized for not calling - "things are crazy busy back home, you know?" - and you accepted it.

"Anyways, can I get these for free?" he'd asked, holding up a few bags of pastries up in the air.

"Sure."

Robin had watched the entire interaction play out from the back of the store and was quick to approach you as soon as they left.

"What did that asshole want?" she growled, side eyeing the direction where Billy had just left. You frowned at that as you re-adjusted your apron.

"You really have to stop calling him that, Robin."

"Why? He's the biggest asshole this town's ever fucking seen. (Y/n), he's been doing nothing but toying with you - treating you hot and cold, all over the place." she pleaded, following you around the store as you attempted to dodge the conversation. Noticing your silence and stern straightforward gaze, she sighed, cutting your footsteps off by standing in front of you. "I'm - Nancy and Steve too - worried about you. Billy's been nothing but horrible to you for almost two semesters straight and you still haven't cut him off-"

Robin jumped at the sudden loud sound you made when you slammed your serving tray down onto a nearby table, a shaky breath leaving your lips before you slowly re-composed yourself. You didn't even bother to look up at your best friend as you gathered up the stack of dirty plates.

"None of you have any idea what's actually going on. I get that you all worry, and I'm grateful that you all care, but this is between me and Billy, okay? There are just some things you three can't understand because you're just looking in from the outside." you hurriedly explained, anger bubbling to the top. "I just, I need-"

An uneasy sigh escaped your lips.

"I need you all to support me instead of fighting me all the time on things like this. Please."

Robin looked like she wanted to say more, hands clenched by her sides. But one hopeless look from you and she caved, shutting her mouth.

"Alright, fine. Just... be careful, okay?"

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

It takes until spring time for you to finally see the truth.

All the memories of your friends warning you about Billy throughout the year now play like a broken record in your head. You're leaning against the chipped wooden wall of a huge surburban house, your frantic breaths coming out in white whisps of air.

It was a house party. You'd come along at the request of Steve and Robin but quickly lost sight of them when you saw Billy smoking with a few of his basketball friends by the balcony. All thoughts of having a great night by your best friends dissipated at the glorious sight of him sitting there, legs spread, his lips toying with the lit cigarette.

"I'll catch you guys around, okay?" you'd yelled over the music, pushing through the crowd before either of them could protest. Wiping your palms on your jeans, you carefully trodded towards the group of boys, feeling Billy's friends all turn their judgmental gazes at you.

"Hi Billy." you managed to whisper. He shot you half a glance, an amused smirk on his face which you mistook for genuine interest.

"Hey."

He turned around to continue his conversation with his friends, making your shoulders deflate in disappointment. You'd been after him for almost a year now and he couldn't even spare you more than one word? Suddenly feeling brave, you tapped on his shoulder again, to which he audibly groaned.

"Why the fuck are you still bothering me?" he spat out, eyes blazing with anger. It hit you then all at once, how you were never anything but gentle and kind with him, but he was at times so... unnecessarily cruel and mean.

"Why... why are you being so mean to me?"

The question slipped out of your mouth instinctively, unconsciously. The loud chatter amongst the basketball players stopped and Billy's posture shifted, his expression morphing from one of boredom and annoyance to... pure evil. He let out a long chuckle, blonde trussels of hair covering his eyes as his head shook with laughter.

"God, are you that fucking dense?" he growled, stubbing his lit cigarette against an ashtray.

He sounded angry. No, furious. His entire body was tense and your first instinct was to comfort him, one hand reaching out to him. But he was quick to grab you by the forearm and back you up against the wall, the loud house music now muted in your ears.

"You still don't get it, do you? What, I call you 'babygirl' and 'babe' a few times and hang out with you after school and you think I'm gonna get on one knee and propose? Huh? Think I’d go home with you to meet mommy and daddy?"

His friends bursted out into a chorus of obnoxious laughter at that comment, Billy's ego on fire as he leaned in even closer. At this proximity, you could count the freckles dotting his cheeks and smell the stench of cigarattes on his lips.

"Listen. You’re just a brainless slut who needs to learn her place. Maybe when you learn to shut up-" he growled, pausing ever so slightly to look down at your top. "Then I’ll fuck you, like the charity case you are."

He shoved off of you after that, hands already turning to his back pocket to light another cigarette.

"Now piss off."

And here you are now.

You don't really know how you managed to get out of that room - feet stumbling, chest heavy, heart crumbling in between pained gasps. What you do know is that the freezing winds clawing at your exposed skin feel like nothing compared to the crushing weight you feel on your chest.

Your legs practically give out from pure exhaustion and you fall down onto the front steps of the porch, head immediately falling to your knees.

You feel pathetic. You feel embarrassed. You feel angry.

And yet, above all, you feel heartbroken.

You can practically hear your best friends' responses in the back of your mind - "see, we told you!""you should've listened to us!". They're right, of course. They were right all along.

But the last thing you want right now is a lecture.

So even if walking back inside and finding Robin and Steve is the smart thing to do, you decide against it, gritting your teeth. It's freezing out here, sure, but you much prefer it to the sweltering, body to body heat of the house party raging inside.

You're not even sure how much time passes before you feel someone else's presence behind you. Your head is still in your lap, tears falling faster than rain, shaky hands grasping and ungrasping your knees in discomfort.

The figure awkwardly clears their throat, making you flinch and pick your head up. Your first immediate thought is that it's Billy, coming to take a victory lap and make you feel worse.

But it's not.

It's Eddie Munson. Infamous repeat senior and D&D enthusiast. You've shared, at most, two classes with him: but you always sat in the front and he always sat in the back, loitering and doodling into his notebooks. You know of him, but you've never really spoken to him.

Nonetheless, right now, he's standing in front of you, holding his hands up in a mock surrender.

"Relax, it's just me." He then lowers his hands ever so slightly, before moving to take off his jacket. "It's super cold out here, could I, uh-"

He gestures with his hands, indicating that he wants to know if it's okay to drape the fabric over your exposed shoulders. You nod slowly, the warmth in his eyes too fierce to decline. It feels foreign, you think, having someone look at you like that when Billy's never looked at you with any warmth.

Eddie grins at your response, moving to sit down next to you on the steps before carefully wrapping the jacket over your figure.

Warmth floods your body - much needed warmth - and you subconsciously find yourself burrowing further into the fabric. It carries a comforting, earthy smell: a mix of rain soaked dirt, fresh wood and a bit of weed. The weight's also nice against your shoulders, grounding you back towards reality.

"Thank you." you quietly mutter, cautiously peering up at his face. You don't really know what he's feeling - is it pity? Is it another prank? Is he out here to smoke and you just happened to be in the way? But he simply leans back, ring clad hands waving away your concerns.

"Nah, it's nothing. Least I can do, when this shithole town plunges into fucking Siberian winter every spring."

His joke makes you laugh a bit, tension loosening from your chest. He's practically a stranger to you but there's an inviting aura around him, a calm energy bubbling under the surface that makes you lower all your inhibitions.

It also helps, you suppose, that he's actually really attractive. Up close, you can survey his features much better under the dim house light hanging above. His well sculpted jawline, doe brown eyes, his slender fingers clanking with metal accessories as he runs a hand through his curly dark hair.

"So, uh... I know this is a dumb question but are you okay? I mean, relatively." he lamely adds, wincing at how he ends his question. Your eyes widen in alarm.

"D-did you see-"

"Billy fucking Hargrove being his usual douchebag self? Yeah." he counters, venom dripping from his voice. You bite your tongue, anxious at the prospect of having so many people witnessed that humiliating scene, which the metalhead seems to pick up on immediately. "But don't worry, not many people were looking. I just happened to be passing by. Promise."

He holds out a pinkie finger towards you, a boyish smile on his face. The gesture is kind of silly and immature, but his childlike joy is so contagious that you can't fault him for it, carefully wrapping your finger around his.

"I just... god, I feeling really fucking stupid right now." you confess, groaning into your hands. He clicks his tongue at that, raising his eyebrows.

"Miss straight A's, stupid? I hardly think so."

Lifting your head from your palms, you pause. Maybe it's the way he's handling you tonight - fragile, delicate, wrapping you in his jacket as if you're the most precious antique at a museum. Or maybe it's the way he looks at you so intently as you speak: nodding along to every word, smiling in between breaths, brushing his knees closer to you with every sentence exchanged.

But you feel safe. And as if you can tell him anything.

"If I tell you something, can you promise it stays between us?" you shakily ask, this time offering your pinkie finger towards him. His eyes switch between staring at your finger and your face, before he nods enthusiastically and wraps his finger around yours.

"Absolutely. I love secrets." he teases, making you roll your eyes.

"Okay, well... I know it's dumb but I... I really thought Billy liked me. I thought it all meant something, you know? All the time we spent together. Him calling me all those pet names. Him driving me back home that one time and promising to hang out with me over winter break..." you swallow nervously, toying with the zipper of Eddie's jacket. "The worst part is I really liked him. Even when he showed up late. Even when he ignored me."

You let out a shaky breath, sucking in cold air.

"And even right now, I can't find it in myself to totally hate him. I know that's pathetic." you curse, wiping away a stray tear angrily. Eddie shifts closer towards you at that.

"Hey, no, it's not pathetic at all. Stop being so mean to yourself. The only person at fault is Billy." he reassures you, his knees now brushing directly up against yours. His presence is quiet but comforting, a steady hand placed alongside your shaky ones.

"I wasted an entire year on him, Eddie. One whole year I'll never get back."

The statement hangs heavy in the air, your voice filled with pure grief and rage. You don't even realize you're crying again until his cool fingers brush against your cheeks, wiping away your tears tenderly as his eyes survey your face - hazel orbs burning with care and compassion.

"So fuck him. You start this year brand new, that's the whole point of spring, right? Cut Billy out completely and focus on spending time with people who love and care about you, people who actually know you. Whether that's King Harrington or Wheeler or a repeat senior/devil-worshipper with a jean jacket."

A giggle escapes your lips at his joke.

"And what could you possibly know about me, Eddie Munson?" you tease, sniffling. Eddie looks offended, placing a hand on his hcest.

"Hey, we might not have ever officially talked, but I'm more perceptive than I look!" he argues. "For example, I know that you like sunflowers and dogs. I know that you volunteer at an animal shelter every weekend and you prefer rainy days over sunny days. I also know that you're really sweet, smart and hardworking. But above all... I know that you're an incredible, super beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime girl who doesn't deserve to be wasting tears on a dickhead like Hargrove."

You blink slowly at the metalhead, not having expected such a heartfelt and detailed response. His final sentence lingers in the air as Eddie then awkwardly laughs, scratching his neck. He's staring at you, trying to gauge your reaction, internally panicking that he's just crossed the line.

"That's... the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." is all you can manage to say. Eddie blushes lightly at that, shooting you a small wink.

"Well, you deserve it."

Wiping at your wet eyes, you chuckle, hands gripping the wooden beams on the side as you shakily stand up.

"You wanna go back inside?" Eddie questions instantly, straightening up in a protective stance.

"Not really, to be honest. I'd rather be anywhere but the party right now." you confess, licking your lips to wet them. Eddie's eyes lights up at that, a mischevious smirk spreading on his lips.

"Then come with me. I drove here in my van, so I can drive you to your place. Or, even better, but only if you want, I can drive you to my hideout spot."

He's wiggling his eyebrows and teasing you, enticing you to join him in ditching this party. He extends one of his hands, waiting for you to take it, and you do instantly.

"That sounds great, Eddie."

The two of you shove through the crowds of drunk people relatively easily, the loud house music combined with your carefree laughter a heavenly sound to Eddie's ears. He can't believe you've just said yes, he can't believe the girl he's been silently crushing on for the past year has just agreed to sit in his van and go to his hideout spot with him-

Spotting Billy by the keg stand, a murderous rage fills Eddie's veins before he stops.

"What is it?" you question, confused. Eddie lets go of your hand, but not before giving your hand a comforting squeeze.

"Wait here for me for a bit, will you?"

Before you can even question what Eddie's going to do, he's walking away from you and making a bee-line towards Billy and his friends. You can't even make out what Eddie's saying over the music - all you see is Eddie saying something, Billy rolling his eyes and retorting something with an obnoxious smirk, before Eddie chuckles and throws a hard right punch at Billy's face.

The crowd around the two disperse, a chorus of "ooh" and "holy shit" erupting as Billy tumbles to the floor with a nasty thud. Eddie doesn't even look phased, a satisfied smile on his face as he turns around and walks up to you once more.

"Ready?" he asks you, holding your left hand again. You look back and see that Billy's been knocked out cold - which was surely going to bruise his ego for weeks to come. Shocked, you're speechless as you nod, not uttering a single word until Eddie's van door shuts behind you and the car pulls into the road.

"I'm sorry." Eddie then blurts out mid-drive. "If you're mad about me punching Billy, I totally understand, but I-I just had to do it, he hurt you and-"

You place a gentle hand on his leg, stopping him mid-rant.

"Eddie. I'm not mad at all. I was just silent because I was shocked that you'd punch THE Billy Hargrove for me."

Eddie chuckles at that, raising his eyebrows.

"Well, yeah. To be honest, I don't think there's much I wouldn't do for you, pretty girl."

Pretty girl.

You like that, you realize. It's wholly different from Billy's infamous 'babygirl'. Even better, it's genuine and believable coming from Eddie.

When the van eventually lulls to a stop, you stop him from getting out, hands desperately flying on top of his on the steering wheel. He glances at you, confused, before you swallow nervously.

"Did you, uh... mean what you said back there? About me being able to start over this year? A new spring and everything, without Billy?"

You're so close to him that you can individually count the droplets of water adorning his hairline from the spring rain, his lips suddenly mere inches from yours. Your eyes subconsciously flicker down to stare at his lips before quickly snapping back up to look into his eyes, a movement which doesn't go unnoticed by Eddie. He hides the revelation with a slow smile.

"I meant it wholeheartedly. You deserve a life without Billy. New year, new spring."

Eddie then slowly leans in, giving you ample time to back out. But your lashes flutter shut and he takes it as the sign to close the gap completely. His lips are slightly bitter and cold against yours, one of his hands flying up to cup your cheeks as you lean in even closer. He tastes like a mix of lukewarm beer and your peach chapstick, a tangy sweetness lingering in your mouth once you pull away.

"I could be your new spring, if you'd like." he teases lowly, brushing away strands of hair from your eyes. The affectionate gesture sends a chill down your spine, head fuzzy with adoration.

"I'd like that."

[sleighhethereal]

abandoned oc's for camp camp. they're supposed to be new campers with my teen!AU- but lost motivation i guess?

the full body references is them supposed to be teenagers, but they look 11 with advanced bodies lol

➢ the story i made up for them was that they were all adopted as babies from different families by a once-loving couple— that had a falling out, leading to them being left at an orphanage.

➢ they hated it there. they stuck with each other and just bullied the adults that weren't fond of them.

➢ these three are kind little troublemakers, something like the original trio in camp camp (Max, Nikki, and Neil).

➢ however, they don't just go causing it whenever they want, unless they have a reason.

➢ when they were very young, many adults tried to adopt them. but numerous times are all failures since most adults wanted only one of them, and that resulted in the eager parent's pants going missing and their car painted in different colors.

➢ wonder what did that, hm.

➢ though, they're very giving, affectionate, and fun to be around when you set aside the chaos they start from time to time.

➢ if you wanna learn each of their personalities, or just appreciate art, then press more ⤵

➢ Jolene is the most responsible of the three.

➢ she sleeps at reasonable times, makes schedules, knows her manners, and shows respect to most adults (at least those who respect her too).

➢ she cares deeply for her siblings, and sets them straight if they're doing stupid shit.

➢ she has a good reputation being the goody-two-shoes and she uses that to her advantage sometimes.

➢ thinking her voice would resemble Alessia Cara (Jane from The Willoughbys or her normal voice really, she's so soothing to listen to🙏🏼)

➢ Jazlyn is the perky one, always energetic and giddy. she's the first to introduce herself out of the three.

➢ she's quick to make friends and quick to lose them too, since she can be too much for most people.

➢ she treats everyone equally, unless they're an asshole.

➢ very oblivious and runs into stuff without thinking much of the consequences. she's very apologetic, however, and willing to make up for her mistakes and learn.

➢ thinking her voice would resemble Erika Henningsen or Taylor Louderman (referencing Charlie from Hazbin Hotel and the song Little Miss Perfect)

➢ Jesse is the most protective, and severely loyal to those he trusts.

➢ he's sort of a mix of the two sisters— he's responsible like Jolene, but forgetful. he's chaotic like Jazlyn, but knows when shit gets real.

➢ he's the one starting fights, always taking the first punch. he's known for his anger outbursts.

➢ he's emotionally intelligent, spending his time mostly around women and rarely around men- stating that they're way more complex (which is a joke... or is it?)

➢ thinking his voice would resemble Wayne Brady (reference is King Dice from the Cuphead Show, probably not as dramatic though but the more i listen to it, the less i disagree)

[apomaro-mellow]

King&Prince 12

Right after breakfast, Steve went to the first part of his schedule, which turned out to be music practice. His actual duty was just corralling the more stubborn ones and making sure they went. After that, he was to be with Nancy. She brought him to her study, which seemed equally devoted to academic knowledge and weaponry.

"What exactly are your intentions here?", she asked, point blank as she sat behind her desk.

There was a chair, but Steve wasn't sure if he could sit. "I don't really have any. I just...I can't go home."

"Bullshit. Even if your dad is some kind of asshole, he wouldn't let his heir just sit and rot here." Nancy's eyes were as sharp as her tongue and it clashed with her soft face.

Steve looked away. "He doesn't give a damn about me. If I go back, I'll just be another prisoner. Maybe even worse off than I am here."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Nancy looked him up and down. "Even if you have the king's protection, there are plenty in this castle and out who see you as an enemy."

"Does that include you? You think I have a secret plan to assassinate King Edward?"

Nancy stood up and walked around her desk. "I know you couldn't lay a hand on him. My issue is having a royal from a nation we've been fighting against walking free around the people I love. People who don't know how to defend themselves." She stepped up until she was nearly toe-to-toe with Steve. This close, he could see how small she was, and yet that didn't diminish how intimidating she was.

"So let me say this one time. If you touch a single hair on their heads, you better hope that Eddie gets to your first. At least he'll make it quick."

Warned sufficiently, Steve was dismissed and the next thing he was tasked with doing was being extra help in the kitchen. Dustin's mother, Claudia, had him on vegetable peeling duty.

"My spells can do the trick most of the time but the potatoes I like to leave some of the skin on. And the enchantment either does it completely or not at all."

Steve's only experience in kitchens had been the food that came from them. He was never really involved in the process of making the meals. Which meant by the end of kitchen duty, he had a few cuts and scrapes on his hands.

"How are you so good with a sword but you nicked yourself peeling carrots?", Lucas asked, doing some warm up stretches.

"Two different skillsets", Steve said, doing some of his own stretching. "By the way, why do we have an audience now?"

Just outside of the training arena, sat Will and Max, looking far too interested in it for people not at all interested in combat. Steve had already asked if they wanted training too and they denied.

"We're just here for the show", Max said.

Done with stretching, Steve began to teach Lucas some basic forms. In his head, he was already thinking of matching Lucas with different weapons. Swordplay was always the go to but not everyone was meant for it. It was a good place to start though.

After that first session, he could already see the promise in him. And there was a spark to be better too, even when he fell or dropped his sword. Steve didn't know what was driving him, but it must be important.

Once that finished, they washed up and went down to the kitchens to meet up with the others for lunch. Mike had been late to the meal, barging through the doors in his excitement to give the news.

"You're not gonna believe this! Eddie's actually performing at the Sunrise Festival!"

"No way!", Dustin exclaimed.

"This is big", Will said.

"Do you think this is why he's making us take music lessons?", El asked.

At that, many of them groaned, the loudest of all being Dustin. He'd made it very clear his opinion on playing music. But it was also true that he appreciated it.

"I think it's great we'll get a chance to play with him", El said.

"Nothing's set in stone", Max said. "And Eddie's not going to let us play if we're not up to par with him."

"Is he really that good at playing music?", Steve asked, speaking up finally.

"He's like a musical genius", Lucas said.

"Like a god", Dustin seconded.

It was hard to imagine someone like the king playing an instrument. He couldn't imagine any one fitting him, he didn't seem musical at all. After lunch, his schedule was to basically be Robin's assistant and it turned out she was a jack of many trades. In addition to being the one teaching the kids music, she was also in charge of the library, and was taking the lead on some of the activities for the Sunrise Festival.

As far as Steve could tell, it was to celebrate the coming of spring, which was difficult to think that this place had after only hearing of it being a dark, desolate wasteland. But he saw the sun everyday and even got to feel some of its warmth on his face. He couldn't deny it anymore. At the end of the day, he had dinner with the king and his inner circle, which included Nancy, Jeff, Robin, and two others he hadn't met until now, Gareth, and Franklin.

"So", Eddie started as he sat down at the head of the table. "How was your day, little prince?"

"It was...busy... My schedule's pretty filled up." Steve was sure he had Nancy to thank for that.

"Get used to it", Nancy said.

Eddie grinned. "She's right. It only gets more busy from here. Mark your calendar, Harrington. The festival is in two weeks."

Part 14

Tag Team

@thesuninyaface @only-evanescent @snakeorsquid @ignoremyworld @theclichefortunecookie @goodolefashionedloverboi @just-a-tiny-void @0body0disphoria0 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @samsoble @jamieweasley13 @y4r3luv @xtkxkrzrizir @un-knownperson @greekgeek24 @justdrugsformethanks @potato-of-the-lord @notaqueenakhaleesi @swimmingbirdrunningrock @queenie-ofthe-void @nebulainajar @lil-gremlin-things @nicememerino @robininblue @hornedqueenofhell @anne-bennett-cosplayer @moomkin77 @here4thetrama @bookworm0690 @autumncrocusandladybug

[nburkhardt]

There might be a lot of them but I mean, how could I not try my hand at this? Especially after watching this and going “yep that hurts”. Granted, I ended up just using the line (“I know he used to be an asshole but…”) instead of going off the sound a whole lot.

Anyway….timeline is all screwed, don’t think about it too hard. Also clearly not canon. Obviously. Only hints of steddie.

~~~~~~

Look, he knows okay? It’s pretty well known across town. It’s no secret and he’s ashamed of it all, it’s something he doesn’t want to reminisce anymore. He’s grown and he thinks he’s better, hopes he’s better. Swears he hasn’t been like that for a few years now, so why does everyone keep bringing it up?

Why does he have to keep proving himself? What does he have to do for them to stop bringing it up?

The first time it happens, he brushes it off. Mostly because it’s true, he was an asshole and he was still learning and breaking himself from who he was. So, it makes sense for Nancy to say it to Barb and then again weeks later to Jonathan. Truth be told, he thinks neither of them believed Nancy.

(it’s a stab straight to the heart when she calls him bullshit)

It’s months before he hears it again, that he nearly forgot the words. It makes him freeze when he hears it from Dustin as he’s cleaning the Byers’s kitchen. The kid is arguing with his friends about why he’s even here. It’s like he’s hit with a bucket of cold water to hear, “sure, he can be an asshole but he’s here to help!”

Sure those words work to help the other kids lay off Dustin’s back, helps make them grumble less about him. But to him? The words sting and it feels worse coming from the kid who he actually likes, thinks they could be close. Clearly there’s a line between them.

He does forget the words, not even an hour later when Billy fucking Hargrove smashes a plate against his head and beats the shit out of him.

Almost a year later and who he was is thrown directly in his face on his first day of work at Scoops. It’s such a slap to the face, not even a full week after his dad cuts him off.

“Thought an asshole like you would on his way to college with daddy’s credit card”

The smile he had on his face just barely falls, mostly because he forces it to stay in place. It also stays because he’s frozen mid-step to introduce himself. Instead, he drops his hand and moves around her and starts working. The words swirling in his head all day, making him stay quiet and just do the job. Even when girls flirt with him, he ignores and works through it.

The “You Suck/You Rule” board came to be a few days later and he sucks it up and is civil with Robin over it, gives it his all to be friendly. If only just to make this job easier and so he doesn’t get fired for being rude. It isn’t until Dustin comes back from camp and the whole Russians and drugs on the floor for Robin to say it again

“You were such an asshole…”

He doesn’t fully hear what she says, it’s hard with the ringing in his ears and his brain froze the minute the word came out.

After it all, even with his brain screaming at him to run away to lick in his wounds, he doesn’t. Forces himself to see one of the EMTs and to help Robin find her parents and promises that she can call whenever she needs something. It’s only after that, that he makes his way home to have a breakdown over it all.

Despite it all, he does call Robin and Dustin his best friends. (Probably his only true friends, if he’s honest.) And he regularly hangs out with them, and sometimes drives Dustin and his friends around. It stops only because he and Robin get jobs at Family Video and the kids start high school.

He breathes easier now, he thinks. He’s been out of high school for a while now, hasn’t been “King Steve” since ‘83. Robin and him are close enough now that he doesn’t freeze anymore, only overthinks their friendship a little bit.

Spring Break rolls around and the moment Dustin and Max storm into Family Video, he’s immediately on edge. Doesn’t show it, of course. The whole search for Eddie Munson, he’s on edge.

He can’t tell if it’s because of the upside down or if those words will make itself known, again.

Everything is a blur, to be honest. Especially after he’s dragged under water and choked by the bats. Nothing really processes for him, it should worry him, actually.

What he does remember is thanking Eddie and being called metal and Eddie saying, “I guess I couldn’t accept the fact that Steve Harrington was actually a good dude”

That somehow swirls in his head after and he doesn’t get it. He’s spiraling over it, to be honest. Even if he’s also on autopilot making sure no one dies. After it all, rushing everyone to get their wounds checked and to make sure Max is alive, Eddie’s words are still swirling and he’s still confused.

He thinks about it every single day that he visits Eddie in the hospital. The other man isn’t awake, much like Max. He doesn’t speak much during the visits, too busy in his own head. Sometimes he mumbles the words back to a too-still Eddie, sometimes he questions the words and in turn, questions Eddie. Never getting any answers to his questions.

If he’s being honest, he doesn’t actually want answers. Maybe Eddie didn’t mean it, maybe he was just being nice in the moment. And he doesn’t want to hear Eddie say “thanks for saving me, but you’re still an asshole”

If he heard that, he’d probably break.

So, he stays quiet. Much like all those other times his friends called him an asshole.

Weeks go by and he doesn’t bring it up. Doesn’t even mention anything that happened in the upside down, even after Eddie wakes up and they’re friends now. Even after Max wakes up, nearly three months later.

They all regularly hang out together, including Eddie’s band mates. Who he can tell definitely don’t like him. So when they’re around, he doesn’t even bother Eddie. Even if all he wants to do is be near the metal head. But he can see it on their faces when he does stand close to Eddie, they never say anything in front of him and he can’t tell if he feels better about that or if he’d rather they do say with him near.

Ultimately, he hears the words again and causes him to actually have that breakdown he knew was coming.

It’s like the world hates him. Because he was having a good time, he was starting to actually believe Eddie’s words and was inching his way to the man, and of the places it happens at his house.

He’s sitting on a lounge chair watching Dustin try and fail at pushing Lucas into the water. Eddie’s curled up in the lounge chair pushed next to his, they’re talking about nothing in particular and he’s hyper aware of how close they’re getting right now.

“I don’t know, man, maybe-“ Eddie had started to say when someone else’s voice is louder and catches his attention.

“Oh, I know. Steve’s definitely an asshole”

And he freezes immediately, his body going rigid and growing hot, tears well up in his eyes. He can’t hear anything else and his eyes are blurry now but he has to get away. This is too much, he can’t breathe anymore.

He nearly falls into the pool in his rush to get up and away from everyone. He doesn’t even know who said it, not that it mattered right now. All that matters is getting away, he can’t be near them anymore. Needs to be alone, to breakdown by himself.

Why do it in front of all of them when they so clearly think it’s true?

“Steve’s definitely an asshole” swirls in his head as he forces himself to rush to his room. Clearly, they were just keeping him around as a buffer- because why else would any of them keep him around? Better to let the asshole get beat up instead of kids, right?

He falls onto the floor as soon as his door is shut and let’s out the sob that was stuck in his throat.

~~~~

Well that hurt 🥲

(Part two) (part three) (part four) (part five)

[kiralisa]

BABYSIT GONE WRONG??

probably two parts, sukuna being sukuna. You gotta an attitude, masochist if you squint, not proofread bc I’m silly like that. MDNI

Abt: you’re a special grade sorcerer, second to Gojo. Ofc you had an ego and a bit of an attitude but who would’ve guessed it would be you watching the king of curses…and who would’ve guess it would be him fixing ur attitude.

You wouldn’t say you’re a brat. You’re more like a sarcastic smartass that’s all…you’re a special grade sorcerer, second to the Gojo satoru. So of course your ego would be a bit high for someone who’s had all the odd against them. After yuji itadori was able to abstract sukuna and his soul apart from eachother, sukuna was placed in confinement and his new cage was being isolated with wraps and wraps of talisman. Of course someone would have to “babysit” him to make sure he didn’t cause any mess people wouldn’t be able to clean up and of course…that would be you.

“B…babysit?!!” You yelled clearly shocked and annoyed, you turned to Satoru while grabbing his clothes (your curse technique allows you to disable any curse technique or any attack that has curse energy, enabled in it.) “Look we need someone to keep him on a leash…if you do it I’ll let you use my black card to buy whatever you want.” Ur eyes soon shine with excitement. “Perfect!!! Show me where the ancient grandpa is!!!” You said clearly excited that you’ll be maxing Satoru’s card (which is impossible.)

Skipping your way to the locked door with what looks like a thousand talisman but you didn’t have a care in the world. You simply opened the door easily before pushing the two doors making a loud shoosh almost confusing you because of how easy they were to open from the outside. you soon saw the four armed monster who blankly stared at you making it almost impossible to read his expression. “Great another brat.” He stated before deeply sighing. “Oh calm ur tits babes, I’m only here to ‘babysit’ you~” you said in a sarcastic tone. He turned to look at you clearly pissed off, if Satoru was gonna make you watch him you’ll do it your own way…

“So….why are you uh….that.” You said trying to make small talk. “What do you mean woman.” He said in a deep voice, you couldn’t tell if he was deepening it on personal. “Well I mean you have 2 arms…4 eyes…hey do you have 2 di-“ You were quickly cut off when Sukuna slammed into the cage full of talisman. “Oh..?” You said a little shocked clearly off guard. “You speak to much.” He said while grabbing the cage to were his knuckles turned white. “Aww what are you gonna do about it~” you said clearly laughing because he isn’t able to do anything to you because he’s stuck in the cage.

“If I got out of this…hellhole of a cage you would regret every word you said to me.” Sukuna stated with a scowl on his face. “Awww is Suki flirting with sweet lil me~~~” you said tapping his nose…big mistake. He quickly grabbed ur arm and dragged it in his cage making your body hit the cage with a loud bang. “O..ow asshole..” you yelped trying to get up before he stepped on your arm making you stream in pain.

Sukuna smiles before grabbing ur arm and dragging you even closer into the cage. You quickly tried to get away from Sukuna. “Hah…you can’t even get me in that cage….weak bastard..” you said weakly getting up trying to wipe your bloody nose. “You know…you act all tough but I know the only thing you’re good for is babysitting.” He said in a deep chuckle, of course your ego couldn’t let him say that. “Oh really bitch?! Try me asshole.” You said while angrily walking towards him. He watches you weakly stand while looking at him through the cage.

“Heh…and the only good thing for us being in a cage like the dog you are.” You said before walking away from him. You knew he was getting under your skin on purpose, you were doing the same but it’s only ok when you do it. You turn around and smirk sarcastically at him while he was still deadpanning you due to your comment. It make you chuckle. “So sukuna. Still being pissy?” You questioned with a laugh. “Keep laughing until I actually break your arm.” He stared deep into your eyes.

“What’s the matter old fossil, are you done being a big baby?” You couldn’t help but chuckle, after all the king of curses. Sukuna was helpless against you. You enjoyed his attitude although he almost broke his arm and made you bleed you still couldn’t help but be intrigued by the curse. “Hm..woman I need to tell you something.” He said before getting up walking towards the cage again. “Ugh what could it be king of curses.” You scoffed, 8 more minutes and you could finally leave, you soon heard a jingle of a lock. “Did anyone ever tell you…” you quickly turned to look behind you before u felt a large hand roughly grab you. “There’s a reason why the doors were locked. Because after all…you didn’t think a tiny cage would be able to keep me in?”

Should I make a part 2…?😍😈

Please do not copy, plagiarize, or steal my work!!

But please be inspired by this fanfic and make ur own!

[rogueddie]

Canon Divergence Steddie Fics

Important: READ THE TAGS! Also, leave a comment and kudos! These fics are amazing and I love them and I hope y'all do too 🧭

save it for a rainy day

Unoriginal_Username

In which Steve Harrington has to walk home in a torrential downpour, and happens to find Eddie Munson without an umbrella.

Words : 5,166 Chapters : 1/1 Rating : General Audiences

AO3 : x

Haunting

AnnetheCatDetective

Steve gets dragged to a haunted house… little does he know he's about to be a whole other kind of haunted.

Words : 8,890 Chapters : 3/3 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

I think I like them too

melonalemonade

Eddie was expecting to feel the sharp knuckles of a hand colliding with his jaw any second but the only thing colliding was a pair of soft lips … with his own.

Words : 2,035 Chapters : 1/1 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

off the beaten path

pukner

Post season 3, Steve manages to figure out that he's bisexual, despite his best efforts to repress it, comes out to Robin and Jonathan Byers of all people, and figures himself out. Also, there's a cute guy who might be actually insane running the kids' dnd club and he's got his eye on him. And his bandana.

Too bad Eddie Munson hasn't had a similar revelation. He's still under the impression that he's a straight man obsessing over Steve Harrington for normal, extremely heterosexual reasons.

Words : 34,208 Chapters : 6/6 Rating : Explicit

AO3 : x

you make it feel like christmas

oceanwaves23

Steve somehow ends up celebrating the Christmas of 1985 with Max and Eddie 'the Freak' Munson and it just might be his favorite Christmas yet.

Words : 9,122 Chapters : 3/3 Rating : Mature

AO3 : x

I wave goodbye to the end of beginning

LittleMissKnowItAll

Steve and Eddie properly meet for the first time in the middle of Family Video, somewhere during the summer of '85.

It's the start of a friendship, maybe even the start of something more.

Words : 19,814 Chapters : 2/2 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

kickstart my heart

inspectorabed

Eddie sighs and leans back in his chair. The plastic groans in protest under the weight of him. “You know, what sucks about all of this is that now I have to re-examine my biases. If Steve Harrington is actually, deep down, a decent guy, that means any of those asshole preps might be hiding a secret heart of gold. I mean, who’s next, Jason Carver?”

This makes Ant laugh rather hysterically. Eddie can’t tell if he’s doing it for dramatic effect or if he really thinks Eddie is that funny. “Okay, maybe not,” he concedes. “But you get my point.”

Words : 14,236 Chapters : 2/2 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

it's his party (and i'll fall if i want to)

formosus_iniquis

"Steve?" She nods, but even death couldn't stop him now,

"Harrington? Steve Harrington? King Steve? Steve "the Hair" Harrington? Steve "Big House, No Parents" Harrington? Steve "Sex God" Harrington?"

"I am certain you made at least those last two up. Yes, Steve "Lady Killer" Harrington invited me to his party."

"Are we about to be Carrie'd?"

Words : 25,411 Chapters : 2/2 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

I'm Beginning to Understand, There's No Mystery to This Man

senoritablack

Four times Eddie thinks Steve Harrington’s fucking with him, plus one time he accepts the compliment. Alternatively, the one where Steve’s been blatant since freshman year and Eddie’s really thick.

Words : 5,428 Chapters : 1/1 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

don't you know you might find a better place to stay

Anonymous

Eddie works the night shift at Hawkin's local grocery store. Somehow, Steve can't stop coming.

Words : 6,780 Chapters : 1/1 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

King Steve Buys Weed

StepfordSnarker

When Steve promises to get Robin high over the weekend, and his usual weed guy goes out of town, he needs to find a replacement. Eddie's grungy, and nerdy, and weird, but he'll have to do.

Words : 4,488 Chapters : 1/1 Rating : Mature

AO3 : x

undue

meglimeg

Steve and Eddie knew each long before Vecna, before Hellfire, before the Upside Down.

Words : 6,301 Chapters : 1/1 Rating : Teen And Up Audiences

AO3 : x

The Enormous Upside to Losing Everything

Stressed_Depressed_Lemonzest

Steve gets his heart broken in two and promptly trips over Eddie Munson. Then that school freak Steve usually wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole offers him weed to forget his troubles.

Words : 35,886 Chapters : 5/5 Rating : Mature

AO3 : x

[gorgeousgreymatter-x]

CW: descriptions of blood and violence, period typical homophobic slurs/language, possessive behaviors. Maybe a little bit dark!Steve because he’s not sorry about the violence lol

For @thorniest-rose my beloved 

It’s not like a switch that’s flipped when they make it out, when Nancy gets them all out. When Steve carries Eddie, pulse barely thrumming but still, somehow, gloriously alive, through the gate. When he remembers feeling like he was practically holding Eddie’s insides in until they’d made it to the hospital. When he saw Max lying there in that bed. Dustin’s broken ankle. The ugly bruising on Robin’s neck he sees on his own throat in the mirror for days afterwards. 

He doesn’t remember ever thinking it, let alone saying it — enough. Something about it though. Something about after. It changes him. Steve’s been in fights, has rarely run from them in the last four years, even if maybe he hadn’t come out victorious too many times. But this time it’s like something breaks. Turns him feral. Makes it impossible for him to walk away, turn the other cheek, do all the things he knows he should probably be doing now that he’s firmly in the ranks of the town freaks. 

But he can’t do it anymore. Can’t ignore it when he hears the whispering about Eddie when he’s finally cleared and free and at least able to limp around the trailer without falling over. When someone gives Robin and Nancy a dirty look when they’re sharing a milkshake while sat together in a booth at the diner with Steve and Eddie on the other side. When he hears those words. Those familiar, ugly words that taste as bad as Upside Down ash in his mouth:

Dyke. Queer. Fag. Murderer. Freak. Freak. Freak.

The first time someone spits at Eddie, Steve’s got them on the ground in seconds, fists pounding into soft flesh, blood roaring in his ears and staining his knuckles. He doesn’t stop until Dustin and Lucas physically pull him back, and even then he’s thrashing and swinging until his vision clears. 

The other boy, the asshole — he ends up with a broken nose and two black eyes, a split lip and a healthy fear of King Steve (the guy still crosses the street when he sees Steve coming, when he’s trailing behind Eddie as they walk down the street together like his personal guard). 

There are two more incidents in the weeks that follow, one of which ends up with Steve in cuffs and Hopper bailing him out of jail.

Charges are mysteriously dropped when Hopper finds out that the guy with the shattered orbital socket had said some choice words to Will and El before Steve had finally snapped. 

It’s stupid and reckless and probably doesn’t fix anything in the long run. Steve knows that. But he also doesn’t care. Because for the last four years he’s seen too much of his friends’ blood on other peoples’ hands. He doesn’t want to see it anymore. 

“I just can’t do it anymore, Eddie,” Steve explains one night on the floor of Eddie’s room, his hand braced on the older boy’s bony knee while Eddie winds bandages around Steve’s bruised knuckles for what feels like the hundredth time this summer. 

“Do what?”

“Let it go.”

He can’t really explain it anymore than that. 

Eddie’s brow furrows. “I know — I mean, I can guess why them. The kids. Nance — Robbie. They’re — they’re yours. I think I get it now. But why — why me? Why are you always doing this shit for me?”

That. That one’s easy, Steve thinks. “Because you’re mine too,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. For whatever reason, to Steve, it kind of feels like that. Maybe it means something bad that the revelation barely even rattles him at this point. 

It feels different though from the others. That much is sure when Steve’s eyes flutter shut when Eddie leans forward and presses a simple, nervous kiss to Steve’s bruised lips. 

When Steve’s hand comes up to cradle Eddie’s jaw, it’s as gentle as ever, even though when he finally licks into Eddie’s mouth, he tastes blood. 

[pink-tea]

txt calling you spanish pet-names

☆ rating: sfw, fluff

☆ headcanons !!

☆ hispanic/spanish-speaking! reader

☆ i just did what txt would get called, how could i not write this aaaah. also i just found out that hbo max has say yes to the dress, i love this show so fucking much oh my god (update:) i am on season 5

☆ slight use of hispanic lingo/slang, if you need the context to any let me know in comments <3 (translations at the end!!)

other version ♡

yeonjun

ღ mi reina/rey

yeonjun seems like the type to call you some form of royalty lmao. something in my brain just sees him pronouncing the "r", smiling proudly when he says it successfully, kissing the back of your hand like a tease. really the type of guy to really just treat you like his queen/king, adoring you soso much even though he's the kind of asshole who will tap his cheek instead of straight up telling you to kiss him. i can just imagine trying to get ready, looking at yourself in the mirror while yeonjun sneaks up from behind, pressing shy kisses along the side of your neck before catching your eye in the reflection and mouthing the words "mi reina/mi rei" into your skin.

ღ amor

yeonjun's a romantic, i have nothing off the top of my head that i can use as proof of this but i feel it in my gut 100% it's such a classic but that's what makes yeonjun like using it, it's sweet, it's romantic, it makes your heart flutter and yeonjun says it at the most random yet perfect times. he has a habit of saying it mid-makeout, lips red and bruised and wet with your spit. he smiles into the kiss, pulling back just to tell you, "te amo, mi amor" because he really does :( you're the love of his life, his amor.

soobin

ღ tesoro

tesoro bc soobin treasures you <3 it's sweet and you tease him for the pet-name being a little old fashioned, but soobin just genuinely thinks of you as his treasure :( you're something lovely and bright that's come into his life, and it feels like he's searched for so long just to find you, a red 'x' marked in the sand. there was probably a time where you asked him if he calls you treasure bc he plays a lot of looting video games and the color just drains from him face. "oh my god i never thought of that," and he looks so panicked that you have to fuss and reassure him that you like it. "no! no, it's ok, it's cute, i like being your tesoro, promise <3" (he's still a little worried).

ღ bebe

soobin seems like such the type of guy to call you "babe" or "baby", but he also wants to make it special by copying the way you call him pet-names in spanish. "qué quieres comer, bebe?" he asks you one day, scrolling through the menu of whatever take-out option the two of you had settled on for that evening. "mmm, that's cute," you comment on the pet-name, coming up behind soobin from where he sits on the sofa. he twists his body to look at you, bunny lips quirked up into a relieved smile. "te gusta?" he asks, and his broken accent is cute enough for you to plant a playful kiss on his cheek. "mhm, me gusta."

beomgyu

ღ mami/papi

this is so him. at first it started out as a joke, something to tease you with whenever he's trying to get your attention. "mami, pleaseee," he whines into your ear. "quiero sentirme bien," he tries, hands dangerously close to slipping underneath your shirt when the two of you are literally supposed to be out the door. "gyu, please don't do this right now," you scold, words getting caught in your throat when he kisses the pulse-point on the side of your neck. "want you right now, mami," he persists, cold hands settling on the skin of your stomach. "please," he begs, and fuck you're weak </3 needless to say it became more than just a joke.

ღ guapísimo/guapísima

wants matching pet-names with you, but he always has to one up you so he adds "isimo" or "isima" at the end. it's like, at first you're so endeared by it because matching pet-names are always so cute, but then you find out the truth behind it when you call him guapo and he turns it into a competition. finally being able to win by shutting him up with a tug of his hair and a kiss. "callate, guapo," you hush into his lips, already feeling the way his lips curl into a pout. "callate, guapísima," he shoots back, laughing at your exasperated sigh.

taehyun

ღ mi alma

at first i wanted to make taehyun's "mi vida", but also taehyun is just so loving. when taehyun falls in love with you, he feels it in his soul. he feels it in the way you give him butterflies with every peck on the cheek, the way his heart stutters when you press your lips against his. it feels like you're his other half, the reason he loves to wake up in the morning. you're the other part of his soul, and it makes sense to call you just that. "soy tu alma?" you ask teasingly, cradling taehyun's face in your palms while he nods. "mi alma," he confirms, eyes bright with adoration.

ღ ángel

the things i would do for taehyun to call me his angel oh my god </3 i see myself falling into a sort of theme with the pet-names taehyun picks, but it just makes so much sense. taehyun who constantly comes home tired, vocal cords on the verge of being sore because of how many ad-libs he's recorded :( collapsing on top of you when you're laying on the bed, giving you his best smile when he's so close to passing out. "i missed you," he admits softly, wrapping his arms around your waist, weight suffocating you. "get off me before i die," you whine, pushing at his arms. "you'll die and become an angel," he hums, leaning up to press a kiss to your lips. "mi ángel del cielo," he continues, proud of himself when he catches sight of your grin.

hueningkai

ღ chikibby

think chikibaby but kai makes it a point to pronounce it like the 'a' isn't there. kai who's just six feet full of adoration for you, cradling your face in his palms/squishing the absolutely fuck out of your cheeks and cooing. thinking of his pretty heart-shaped smile, the way he’d absolutely beam as he shakes you around and talks about how much he loves his chikibby. you cant even get mad at the fact that he’s kind of hurting you bc the way he says it makes his lips end up some kind of puckered up pout and it’s so cute </3 breaking his concentration by kissing his pout and making him trail off into shy giggles, stop I’m in love </3

ღ fiu fiu

"mi bebito fiu fiu" stop because that song would get on my nerves so much, but I feel like hueningkai would absolutely love saying "fiu fiu". and like, it's supposed to imitate a whistle, but hueningkai says it so fucking much that it ends up becoming your pet-name. "mi fiu fiu <3" "kai please stop saying that i'm begging you." but he doesn't listen. he also finds it adorable because he literally can't whistle, so whenever you ask him to sit put on your bed and tell you his opinion on some random outfit online, it's his default response. "what do you think about this one?" you ask, smile already creeping on hueningkai's face when he gives you a thumbs up. "fiu fiu!" it's almost like a pun, he loves it.

mini-not-so-mini translation section:

ღ mi reina/mi rey meaning my queen/my king

ღ amor meaning love

ღ "te amo, mi amor" meaning "i love you, my love"

ღ tesoro meaning treasure

ღ bebe meaning "baby" or "babe"

ღ "qué quieres comer, bebe?" meaning "what do you want to eat, babe?" and "te gusta?" meaning "you like it?"

ღ mami/papi meaning mommy/daddy but meaning more "my woman" or "my man" in this context

ღ "quiero sentirme bien" meaning "i want to feel good" and callate meaning shut up

ღ guapísimo/guapísima meaning very beautiful/very handsome

ღ mi alma meaning my soul

ღ ángel meaning my angel

ღ "mi ángel del cielo" meaning "my angel from heaven"

ღ chikibaby derived from the words "chiquita/chiquito" and "baby"

ღ fiu fiu as something meant to mimic the sound of a whistle, used as a term of endearment

[worksby-gabriella]

Overbearing, Protective, Dick Head Older Brothers

Pairin: Eddie Munson x Harrington!reader

Summary: Y/N is Steve's younger sister, and dating Eddie Munson. She believes to have been hiding her and Eddie's relationship well but that's obviously not true. It seems to her all her close friends know besides her older brother... until he eventually does.

Warning: cursing, talk of religion, terrible title, bad summarizing 😬 I think that's it.

fem!reader

Request for: @floralentry

“Okay, so I was thinking.” I start to say as I walk next to Eddie on our way to the cafeteria.  

 “Oh, well that’s never good.”  

 I laugh with non-existent humor, “Very funny, asshole.”  

 As the cafeteria starts to come into view, I feel Eddie rest his hand on my lower back and nuzzle his face into my neck, or at least try to before I gently push him off.  

 “Eddie, not here.” I say giggling.  

 “Why? I don’t know about you, Y/N, but I don't see any over-bearing, protective, dick head, older brothers around.” He pretends to glance around as he starts to open the cafeteria door for me.  

 “Hey, don’t say that! He just cares, is all, maybe a little too much but it’s still something. And you’re right, Steve isn’t around but someone might tell him.”  

  “Oh yeah? Like who?” We’re entering the lunch line, when I start to get cautious of who’s around.

 “I feel like you’ve forgotten no one knows about us, Eds. And even if they did Mike, Lucas, Dusty, Max, and Robin could still snitch. Remember he used to be King Steve? You’d be surprised whose loyalty still stands.” I lower my voice just slightly, and add dramatic air quotes to the words, “King Steve.”

 “Come 'on do you honestly think they don’t already know? If there’s one thing, I’ve learned this past year it’s that those kids aren’t stupid. I mean, it’s not like they would rat us out even if they did know.”  

 I grab my lunch tray and look behind me to see Eddie following me as I walk over to a lunch table that Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Max are occupying. Robin is usually also at the table; some people might find it a little weird that seniors sit with some dorky freshmen at lunch but after about a month we got used to the stares.

 “Why is it that you don’t want Steve to know again?” Eddie starts to walk a step ahead of me, and turns toward me, walking backwards.  

 “First of all, you’re going to trip. Second of all, he’s been through a lot, he’s got a ton on his mind, and lastly, you guys aren't exactly two peas in a pod.”  

 “Bullshit! You’ve been through a lot too. Listen, Harrington’s a big boy I’m sure he can handle some surprising news.”  

 I pull out a chair next to Max with my foot and Eddie sits next to me, “We’ll talk about it later.” I tell him.  

 I see Eddie glance around the table, which causes me to also glance at our friends around us. I find myself turning to see them already looking at me, and well, Eddie.  

 I smile awkwardly and try to search for something to say to distract them from me and Eddie, when I catch a glimpse of Robin walking with her lunch tray. I wave my hand at her so she can see where we are sitting.  

 They all break their focus from me and Eddie when Robin, she plops down across from me, “You guys won't believe the day I’ve had!”  

 Robin starts ranting, and I try to open my can of coke, but I find myself struggling a bit.  

 “Fuck.” I’m getting frustrated when Eddie pulls the can from my hand and pops it open the first try.  

 “Language, sweetheart.” He says, handing me my soda and winking at me.  

  I push my tray a little bit forward since I have no plans on eating any of it and open my backpack.

 “So, you never told me what you were thinking about.” Eddie’s voice is hushed and his mouth is slightly tilted to my ear.  

 “hmph, yeah. I was thinking we should go see a drive-in movie for our date tonight. I never would’ve thought about it but Nancy was telling me about when she went with Johnathan before he moved.”  

 “Ah, I like that idea, Y/N. What movie would we be seeing?”  

 I finally found what I was looking for in my backpack, when I start explaining, “I was pretty set on watching Pretty in Pink, it came out a couple months ago but I never got the chance to see it-”  

 I pause mid-sentence and waver a sandwich bag with two chocolate chip cookies in front of Eddies face, “want one?”  

 He nods so I hand him one and continue on, “But they also have The Nightmare on Elm Street if you don't want to watch some girly chick flic.”  

 I watch as Eddie takes a glance over at everyone in the corner of his eye and smugly places his hand on my thigh. I freeze in place, still eating my cookie however, when Eddie says, "No, no, it’s all good. I’m fine with seeing Pretty in Pink.”

 “Are you sure? I know how much you like Nightmare on Elm Street.” I tell him, raising my brows.  

 “I’m positive. Besides, as long as I’m with you, I don't care what we do.”  

 “You’re too sweet, Eds.”  

 In a matter of milliseconds, Eddie sweeps both of my legs over his lap, and uses his arm to pull me closer, putting his nose in my neck and pretending to smell me. I’m still sitting in my chair but Eddie’s hair is tickling me so I start to squeal and laugh, trying to push him away from my neck. I throw my head back giggling when Eddie finally stops and tells me, “Nope. That’s all you, Y/N.”  

 I’m catching my breath when I can practically feel eyes burning into my soul so I look up to see Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Robin staring at us. I straighten faster than I ever had, smoothing down my hair and dusting of my shirt. Eddie is looking down, with a shy smile on his face, pink is blooming all over his cheeks. I clear my throat when Robin starts, “Were you guys even listening?”  

 “Of cour-” I try to cover up our mess.

 “Jesus!” Max is looking away, rubbing her temples with her hand.

 “For Christ sakes! Get a room!”  

 “Could you be any more obvious!”  

 “Just friends, my ass.”  

  “It’s not what it looks like. We’re seriously, just friends.” I try to explain, desperately looking at Eddie.  

 “Uh yeah... Like we didn’t just hear you guys plan out your stupid cheesy date night.” Dustin states, giving us both an incredulous look.

And then I hear Mike burst out laughing, holding onto Lucas's shoulder for support, "As long as I'm with you my sweet baby." His voice is dropping a couple octaves as he mocks Eddie, pretending to coo in Lucas's ear.

I crumple up my napkin and hurdle it at Mikes head, as Eddie comes back at Mike and Dustin, "hey, hey, Mikey Man and Dusty Bun, don't be jealous just ‘cus your little Scarlet Witch and your Amish homesteader live states away from you."

 As soon as I realize that Eddie has practically admitted our secret ardor, my eyes widen as big as saucers, “Eddie!”  

The table starts to chuckle as Mike and Dustin look away rolling their eyes and Dustin says, “She’s Mormon you idiot.”  

"Aw, you guys. I actually think they're really cute. It’s adorable really.” Robin is smiling from ear to ear.

 “Ha well, you have to hand it to us, we’ve been doing a pretty great job at hiding it.” I point out proudly.  

 Everyone besides Eddie goes into a fit of laughter, “Uh- What?” I’m completely oblivious to whatever it is that I said to make them laugh.

 Max stops, trying to catch her breath, “Ha, you can’t honestly think that we didn’t know about you guys.”

 Eddie raises his brows at me as if to say, “I told you so,” My jaw falls open as I ask, “How long have you guys known?”

 Mike rolls his eyes, “Please we’ve all known since the week after spring break.”  

 “Uh- you’ve got to be kidding me. That’s what when we started dating.” I say, finding this unbelievable.

 Dustin and Lucas scoffs, “yeah, we know.”

 Eddie rubs his hand up and down my thigh, in a much more innocent manner than before, trying to give me a piece of solace. I didn’t think to mention Steve because no one else did. I mean they’re not stupid, it isn’t like they would’ve told Steve either way, right?

 “Have fun on your date tonight though.” Lucas says right when the bell rings.  

 Me and Eddie are the first to get up, and as we’re turning our back to them, we hear Mike, Dustin, and Max start moaning in a high-pitched manner, “oh ah oh, Eddie. Oh my god, Eddie!”  

 I whip my head around so fast, in time to see Robin chuck her soda can at them, “Hey! Shut up you little pervs!”  

 I hide my face in Eddies, neck groaning in embarrassment, and he seems to find this amusing because he just chuckles.  

 “It isn’t funny, Eds.” I give him a light shove on the chest.

  “Sure, it isn’t, sweetheart.” Eddie tells me, pressing his lips to my forehead.  

 I give Eddie a quick goodbye kiss on the lips and open the passenger side door to his van, as we had just gotten back from our date, and he was dropping me off at my house. I was fulling expecting Eddie to stay in his van and watch me walk to the front door and then drive away, so when he also gets out of the van, I give him a questioning look, “What’re you doing?”  

 “Can I come in?” He asks me, I figured he’s asking because it’s quite late and my parents are home. Steve was probably asleep or out anyway.  

 I grab his wrist to look at his watch, to see it’s about to be eleven, so I nod and say, “Yeah, Steve is most likely sleeping or out with Robin. We’ll have to be quiet though.”  

 I’m jumbling with my keys at the front door, and finally open it only to see that the kitchen and living room light is on. I thought that maybe I felt the lights on so I continue leading Eddie to the living room. As we’re nearing the room, I hear laughter and snorting. The realization hits me that Steve is home and apparently has friends over.  

 “Fuck!” I whisper yell, pushing me and Eddie against the wall, where we can’t be seen.

 “You’re really starting to take a liking to that word, Y/N.” Eddie tells me, smirking.

 I roll my eyes at him, “Steve’s home.”

 “Oh really? I thought it was the boogeyman. Who is he even with? It’s not like he has friends.”  

   I elbow him when I hear a familiar voice, “Man! You should’ve seen their faces when we told them that we knew!”  

 My eyes widen with horror as I turn to Eddie, still against the wall in the hall, “Shut up. It’s Dustin.”  

 I hear more familiar voices. Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Max and Robin are laughing while sixteen candles plays on the T.V.  

 “Who’s faces?” Steve asks them.

 “Y/N’s and Eddie’s.” Max answers.  

  I can only imagine Steve’s confused, crooked smile as he asks, “W-Wait... What is it that you knew?”  

  “That they’re dating, dingus.” Robin answers.

  “What?!? What do you mean that they’re dating, Robin?” Steve asks scoffing.  

  “I’m taking it that you didn't know...”  

  I grab ahold of Eddie’s hand and tug him after me as I try to silently walk back to the foyer and tip toe up the stairs but I see Steve round the corner, and stand there with his arms crossed. I swear he looks just like our dad that one night he caught me and Steve sneaking back into the house.  

 “Y/N get your ass down here right now! It’s too late, I already saw you.”  

 My shoulder’s slump in defeat and I’m practically pouting like a child as I walk back down the stairs, leaving Eddie on the steps.  

 I walk past Steve and into the living room as he stands, taking the stillness of a statue.  

 “You too Eddie.” He says in a stern voice.  

 I can see from the corner of my eye that he looks hesitant to do as Steve tells him but I just roll my eyes and motion with my head for him to follow me.  

 I do a once over at the little traitors in my living room and tilt my head so they know I was irritated with them.  

 “So.” Steve starts.  

  “What Steve?” I ask, my tone harsh and short.

 “Hey. Don’t take that tone up with me young lady.” His finger is pointing down at me like a father scolding his angsty teen. I hear Lucas and Mike try to hold in their laughs behind me, I bet this is funny too them, seeing an eighteen-year-old get a stern talking too by her nineteen-year-old brother.  

 “God Steve, you’re not dad, you’re barely a year older than me. You act I’m seeing some forty-year-old, it’s just Eddie.” I say scoffing, motioning my hand to Eddie at that last part.  

 “Just Eddie? You've been lying to my face, to mom’s, to dad’s for almost two months now. You stay out late; I hardly see you on the weekends anymore. Don’t you see what he's doing to you? At first, I didn't understand, fuck, I didn’t even notice but now it’s perfectly clear. He’s not good for you, Y/N.” Steve says, his voice raising. I could almost swear I heard a crack in his voice.  

 I see Robin get up from the corner of my eye, motioning for the rest of them to follow her, they exit the room, and go to the kitchen. Eddie stays but tries to make it look like he's picking at his clothes. I feel bad because obviously he's in an awkward position right now.  

 “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is why I lied to you, because I knew you’d react badly. I knew you didn’t like Eddie, still, even after all he's done for Dustin and during Vecna. I have a boyfriend, Steve. So what? Am I not allowed to spend time with him? Why is it that I have to be at arm's length at all times? The only thing Eddie has ever done for me was be there. I’ve changed, for the better. Weren't you the one always telling me I should get out more, interact with people, experience things?” My voice matches Steve’s, going up multiple octaves.

 “Why?” He asks.  

 “What do you mean?” I sound frustrated and it’s because I am.  

 “Why didn't you tell me? We tell each other everything, Y/N.” He’s rubbing his temples and I’m having a hard time deciphering what he’s making out of all of this.  

 “Steve... for one, I know you and Eddie had never been the best of friends, and I didn’t want you to worry. You’ve been through so much.” I tell him, grabbing at his hand.  

 Steve pulls me into a sudden hug, “Y/N, you’re my sister. My baby sister. I’m always gonna worry about you. You’re right, me and Eddie tolerate each other, but I don't hate him. All I want is for you to be safe and happy, you’ve been through so much too. If Eddie’s making you happy then I can deal.” He says into my hair.  

 I sniffle and blink away tears, “He does make me happy, Steve.”  

 Me and Steve jolt up when we hear a deep voice clear his throat, “Eddie.” Steve says, his voice and manner returning to normal.  

 “Ha. Steve...” Eddie says cautiously, a nervous smile on his face.  

 Steve reaches his hand out to Eddie and Eddie takes it, they pull closer together as Steve pats his back and says, “hurt my sister Munson, and it’ll be the last things you do.”  

 “Steve.” I say laughing, shaking my head as Eddie walks over to me, “I wouldn't dream of it.”  

 We all start to walk over to the kitchen with everyone else.

 “Oh, and by the way Steve, I’m not a baby, I’m eighteen.”  

 “Yeah? Well, you sure act like one.” Steve answers.  

 “Says the one getting all sappy back there.”  

 I feel Eddie’s hand slide off my shoulder and go to my lower back, resting right above my butt, he must have forgotten that my brother was behind us because he gets startled when Steve sternly says, “Hands, Munson.”  

 I laugh as Steve furrows his brows and Eddie laughs nervously once again when we enter the kitchen.