#THEYRE SO ENDGAME

[taeiris]

and we kiss as though nothing could fall

part 2 to this post

this is canon to me.

[mydairpercabeth]

CUZ I LOVE YOU FEELS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL AND FOREVER AFTER THAT

[hypezombies]

The way i was on the edge of my seat for the next byler scene when watching s4, but then when they were actually happening i wanted to look away cause i felt like a i was intruding on things i wasnt meant to see/hear lmao. Like all the scenes were filled with so much tension and intimacy

[willbyersabyss]

Mike is going to hang up the painting and admire it forever. The painting is a physical representation of Will’s feelings. He will always love how Will loves him. Putting up the painting means he’s not afraid to love Will.

[brettsey-two-tts]

Brettsey prompt - Sylvie showing up to surprise Matt, she’s got a lot more luggage and it turns out she’s here for her extended visit

Sylvie stared at the plain walnut door. She had seen it many times on her previous visits, but this time, it hit her differently. Her stomach was in knots from all the thinking she had been doing for the last twelve hours. There was no easy way to say it. She missed Matt. She really did; hearing his voice almost every day and seeing his handsome and charming self through FaceTime made her realize just how much she missed him. Most times when she woke up in the morning, she’d instinctively reach out beside her for him only to come to the harsh realization that he was no longer in the same state as her. As hard as it was for her to learn to come to terms with his temporary move, it still hurt nonetheless. She tried to ignore the pang in her chest, the small cracks in her heart, but after one particular FaceTime with him at the firehouse, she realized it was only going to get worse. The good-byes were only going to get harder.

She told Matt she was going to visit him. He didn’t ask how long and she didn’t tell him as she felt that was a conversation they should have in person. If there was any distinction for how long she desired to stay, it was by how large her suitcases were. She had two with her; both a darker shade of blue and both having protruding fronts where the zippers were stretched out and barely kept together by the seams.

She held her breath for a moment before letting it out. She was excited and anxious at the same time.

She knocked a couple of times on the door and waited.

She wondered if Matt was sitting near the door with his leg bouncing up and down, eagerly anticipating her arrival, because It only took a moment for the door to open.

And it was like the door opened to heaven itself. Matt’s hair was considerably longer than she last visited him and even though she’d seen it when they FaceTime’d, it was definitely better in person. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark green short-sleeved t-shirt, both of which fully complemented his firefighter physique.

His charming blue eyes lit up and a beaming smile was plastered all over his face making the corners of his eyes crinkle. She missed his smile so very much.

“Hi,” he said in a gasp as if her very existence took his breath away.

Sylvie felt her emotions pour all at once; her heart thumped loudly in her ribcage and the overwhelming feelings of missing him so dearly nearly turned into a quiet sob. She launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. The motion nearly knocked him off his feet.

He let out a short laugh at the sudden force, but his smile disappeared when he noticed how much she was holding on to him, how tight she was hugging him, and how much she dug her nose into his neck. Something wasn’t right. He looked behind his girlfriend and saw her suitcases.

“Sylvie?” he murmured into her ear, trying to coax her into her comfort zone.

“Sorry,” she replied with a short gasped laugh. When she pulled away, he held onto her waist; he just got her back and a part of him didn’t want to let her go. “I’m just really excited to see you.”

“Me, too.” The suitcases behind her were still puzzling him. “That’s twice the amount of luggage you brought last time. I know I said I forgot my sweatshirt on your bed, but I don’t think it needs its own suitcase.” His joke was lighthearted and he thought it would at least elicit a chuckle, but Sylvie’s reaction was a very small smile, almost a frown. It made worry quickly wash over him. “Honey, is everything okay?”

She gave a small nod, but he didn’t buy it. He nonetheless gestured inside and helped her move her suitcases. As soon as he put her suitcases in the corner and closed the front door, he saw her twist around her wristwatch out of the corners of his eyes.

“I’m not just staying for the weekend, Matt,” she finally confessed.

He looked surprised but also elated.

“The other day after we FaceTime’d, saying goodbye to you was probably the hardest thing I had to do. I’ve missed you so much. I missed your smile, your laugh, your hair.” She reached up and carded her fingers through his longer-than-usual hair. He laughed at the gesture and then sighed comfortably at the serene feeling. Their adoring and loving gazes met as he held her. “I missed all of you, Matt, so much so that I don’t think a few days will be enough.”

“You’re always welcome here, Sylvie,” he reassured her. “You could stay here forever if you wanted.”

She smiled at the thought. Forever with Matt sounded picture-perfect.

He held her closer against his chest and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead. As he basked in her presence, her sweet underlying scent combined with the wonderful fruity scent of her shampoo, and the familiar and addicting feeling of her soft skin against his, he realized the bubbling feeling in his chest was because of her. The warmth that spread throughout and the utterly content feeling he felt whenever he thought about his life - it was all her. “I’ve missed you so much you have no idea,” he murmured under his breath. Even though the boys were out and it was only the two of them in the house, he still said it as if the words were only meant for her.

His bangs brushed against her forehead as he lowered his lips to meet hers. His heart thumped loudly in excitement as he felt her smile against his. Into each and every kiss, his smile grew and grew. There weren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how happy he was. 

He lowered himself a bit and reached behind her thighs to pick her up. The repeat action, one that she absolutely loved from him, sent her loins ablaze. With her legs wrapped around his waist, her lips against his, and her hands lightly scratching at his scalp and carding through the longer hairs behind his neck, he carried her through the living room and toward his bedroom.

Blissful in their happy bubble, Sylvie went to bed that night with Matt’s bare chest pressed against her bare back and his arms around her waist, hugging her lower half to his and tangling their legs together. She wore a very wide and beaming grin as she easily fell into a deep slumber. There was nothing quite like falling asleep next to the man she loved with her whole heart. No matter what hurdles came their way, she knew they’d figure it out together.

[sp0o0kylights]

Part One

The drive's short one. 

Steve gets out of his car, opening the passenger door for Chrissy and escorting her up to the house, quietly envisioning what Jason would look like if a real monster got him.

What would he say, staring down the crazy, five-starred head, filled with teeth and drool? Would he turn back? Or run?

(Steve swears he doesn't take great pleasure in imagining Carver getting eaten, but he'll admit to taking a little.)  

"Chrissy do you have any idea--oh." Mrs. Cunningham startles, grasping her robe at the front as she spots Steve standing next to her daughter.  

"Hi Miss Cunningham." He says.

"Hello." She says suspiciously. "And who are you?"

"I'm Steve Harrington, ma'am." He watches as her mother straightens immediately at his name, and sinks right into the ol' Harrington charm, knowing instantly it will work. "I know you were expecting Jason, but I'm afraid he wasn't able to drive Chrissy home." 

"Oh, Steve! It's so late I almost didn't recognize you." She titters, suspicion gone. "Your mother and I are on the same charity board." 

Of course they were.

"I thought you were dating that nice Nancy girl." She says with a squint that mimics Chrissy's, because even in the midst of a crisis he can't escape the gossip that is Hawkins upper echelon. 

"Nance is waiting in the car." Steve lies smoothly. "I just wanted to make sure Chrissy got home safe." 

"What happened?" Chrissy's father appears, ushering them both in while blatantly peering around them, eyes sweeping the street before closing the door.

Steve recognizes the move. He's checking for nosy neighbors. 

"Jason and I broke up." Chrissy admits.

"What?" 

"We..." She falters in front of her parents. 

"What happened to Jason?" Her father asks, tuning back in once they're safely away from peering eyes.

"I'm afraid Jason and some of his friends brought beer to the party." Steve steps in to explain.  

"Oh Chrissy, it's a high school party. That's no reason to break up with him." Her mother fusses, face flushing in embarrassment. Her eyes dart from her daughter to Steve and back, and Steve knows he needs to start damage control. 

If he plays it right he can burn Jason while he's at it. 

"He was horrible, mom. Just awful." Chrissy says, but Steve can tell she's shrinking under her mothers gaze. 

"He drank quite a lot, Miss Cunningham." With a theatrical wince, Steve turns to face Chrissy's dad, lowers his voice and says "I'm going to have to talk to Coach about it." 

He gets the intended response, which is a raised eyebrow. "That bad, huh?" 

Steve nods once, painting a pained smile on his face. "He made a real fool of himself tonight, Sir. The basketball team has a reputation to uphold." 

"Oh." Mrs. Cunningham says, hand fluttering in front of her face. "I never would have thought…"

"He's normally a good guy. I don't know what got into him." Steve has them both eating out of the palm of his hand, attention neatly off Chrissy and onto the story he's feeding them. 

Its worth it to see her shoulders relax. 

"I couldn't let him take Chrissy home in the state he was in Sir, and he got very…" 

Steve pauses. 

Fills his voice with tempered disappointment, channeling his dad. "Belligerent. Said some nasty things."  

"Really?" Mr. Cunningham says, with a low whistle, and Steve knows by his tone alone that he's bought in.

Hook, line, sinker.

Steve nods once. "I have to get back to my girlfriend, but Chrissy'" He turns earnestly here, to let her know he's not faking this next bit. "Let me know if Jason bothers you at school. I'll set him straight again if I have to." 

"Thank you Steve." Mr. Cunningham says, as Chrissy's mom hustles her daughter towards the kitchen. 

Steve shakes his hand, then waves at Crissy as she calls her own thank you over her shoulder, before disappearing out the door and back to his car.

The same one where Nancy very much isn't. 

That's a problem for tomorrow Steve.

xXx

Tomorrow Steve gets into an argument with Nancy. 

She can't recall that Jonathan took her home, or that he's bullshit, their whole relationship, bullshit--

But she also can't tell him she loves him.

So Steve snaps at her. Storms off.

 Play’s more basketball.

It takes less than two hours for him to get mopey and another three for him to spiral into deciding he was wrong somehow.

That's what his mom said all the time anyway, wasn't it? The man's always wrong Steven, and he's the man here so…

He gets flowers, chocolates, and fucking waylaid (by Dustin Henderson with his Grow a Monster) and things go sideways from there.

 Train tracks and a junkyard and demodogs make time speed up. An encounter with Billy and a dinner plate causes Steve's recollection of the evening to be fuzzy. 

He just knows that in the middle of dodging death, he has the realization that Nance wants to break up with him.

That he should let her. 

Even if it hurts, even if he doesn't want to. 

She wants to be let go.

So Steve does. He respects her, and when he has a moment after its all over, he tells her to go with Jonathan.

(At least he permanently gets the squirts out if this. Or at least everyone but Mike.

Even if most of them are shitheads and one of them's Hargrove's step sister.

It's--something.

But when Dustin keeps pestering him, demanding Steve drive him all over Hawkins and then drags him to the movies, well.

It might be the best something Steve's had in his life so far. )

xXx

"Oh shit. Is that from Caver?" Eddie asks, popping up near Steve's car like the clown in a jack in the box. 

"Carver can't hit for shit. This was Hargrove." Steve replies, attempting an eyeroll before remembering that his entire face is a bruise. 

One, giant, never ending bruise. 

"I guess his step sister gave him the slip to come hang out with these kids I watch sometimes. I didn't know she wasn't supposed to be there." Steve shrugs, because it's the technical truth. 

If you turn it sideways and squint anyway. 

"Asshole tried to threaten the kid Max is into by slamming him into a wall and screaming shit, so I stepped in, and--" He waves at his face. 

The same one he's already getting looks for. 

"I was winning." Steve sighs theatrically. "He broke a plate over my head."

The story seemed to freeze Eddie but he recovers with a quick shake of his head. 

"You poor thing." He tuts. "Let me guess--you were more worried about the hair than the wound?" 

Eddie's hands flutter like he's going to touch Steve's head but he seems to contain himself at the last minute.

The hospital threatened to buzz it for stitches." Steve says darkly, playing into the bit. 

(He had not gone to a hospital. 

None of them had.)  

"What would our King be without his crown of hair?" Eddie laments, in a falsetto that was half insult half oddly sincere. It was jarring in that it was hard to get a read on, but the more Steve was around the guy the less it seemed malicious and the more it came off  as just….goofy.

Eddie Munson, Steve decided, was not a freak.

 He was a dorky little weirdo, just like all the other kids Steve now hung out with. 

Just older, and with slightly better hair. 

"Hey Eddie." Another boy calls out, approaching cautiously. 

He's got a leather jacket on, and if Steve thinks hard enough he can sort of conjure up a memory of the guy at Eddie's lunch table, throwing a piece of bread at a pale sophomore decked out in plaid. "You good man?" 

"Yeah Jeff, just checkin' in on the Hair here." Eddie sticks a thumb towards Steve, who raises his hand and waves. 

The falsetto comes back, somehow higher as the older boy swoons over Steves arm. "Soothing his poor soul after that brute Hargrove almost killed him." 

"Has anyone ever told you you're a lot like Bugs Bunny?" Steve asks, the thought leaving his mouth the instant he had it.

(He doesn't care, it's a legitimate question.) 

It has the effect of making Munson look downright chuffed. "I have actually, but only by my Uncle." 

"Why are you checking in?" Jeff interrupts, before seeming to realize he said it out loud. " Ah, I mean--"

"Oh he didn't tell you?" Steve says, as casually as he can muster. "Eddie claimed me and Chrissy at a party last weekend." 

See Munson? Two people could play the weird bit game. 

They've attracted more of Eddie's friends now, two more boys in leather jackets edging closer like frightened deer. 

(One of which is the aforementioned younger man Jeff threw bread at, and Steve vaguely thinks the guy's name starts with a g.) 

"Apparently we're his minions now." Steve tells Jeff in a rather put upon manner. 

"It was just you, the fair maiden chose otherwise." Eddie counters dismissively, voice dropping down low. 

Steve snorts. Hums a sarcastic; "Like you'd let us choose." 

Eddie finally abandons whatever voice that was supposed to be (a villain, Steve thinks, and wonders if it hurts Eddies throat to drop from a false high to a deep low that quickly.)  to say:

 "Mock me all you like, Harrington, but you can't deny the bit worked." 

Steve automatically went for another eye roll, and gets a flash of pain for it. "Who said I was mocking you, you dork? Just stating facts." 

Yet again, Eddie reacts weird to the comment. He looks almost bashful for a second, before he recovers, tugging his hair in front of his face as he plays with it.

The bell rings once in warning, and Steve makes a face towards the doors. 

"I gotta go, Mrs Clicks out to fail me. See you around, Eddie. Jeff." The way his eyes are bruised up he can't quite make out the face Jeff makes at that, but Steve's pretty sure the guys mouth was open. 

"She's a nasty one, my minion, best stay on your toes around her." Eddie calls, and Steve waves a hand in the air to show he heard. 

"What just happened?" Jeff asks, far too loudly for how close Steve still is. 

It makes him chuckle a bit, even as one of the other guys says something in a far quieter voice that has Munson squawking and flapping his arms like a bird. 

The winding little feelings in his chest squeeze his heart, and Steve shakes his head, refusing to be fond of Eddie Munson. 

xXx

College rejection letters come in, one after the another.

Steve could have made it into a few schools he's certain, except he hadn't really applied to any.

Not that any college other than Penn Hurst mattered. His dad wanted him to be a legacy, come hell or high water.

Steve's punishment was hand picked by his parents, and he gets the sailor outfit his new minimum wage job requires is supposed to be a part of it--that his dad made him apply because it was the most embarrassing thing he could think to subject Steve too-- but honestly? 

It's not that bad. 

Not even with Robin, the manager he met yesterday, and who positively, completely and totally, hates Steve’s guts.  

He figures he has time to win her over. 

All the time in the world, now that demons aren't trying to eat his, or any of the kid's, faces. He can focus on the small things. Build himself back up.

Figure out the person he wants to be, now that he's no longer King Steve. 

It’s the thought that kept him from attending any graduation parties. To go felt like backsliding into old habits. 

‘If the kids--if it comes back again--’ 

Getting drunk at night in a random house seemed almost irresponsible.

Particularly not with people Steve has history with, without anyone he really cares about being present. Certainly not Nance and Jonathan, who he wishes he didn’t know are at some end-of-year game night one of Nancy’s friends is hosting. 

(Steve can’t think about that for a number of reasons. 

When he does--because of course he does-- he makes sure to focus on the weirdness that is Jonathan Byers being someone he cares about, instead of the fact he can’t seem to kill his love for Nancy. 

Or that he's horrifically jealous of their relationship. 

That the best sleep he had ever had was between them, two nights after the lab, when they crammed themselves into Jonathan's bed because they all couldn't quite believe it was over.

That night had been so incredibly weird, but grouping together felt safer. Smarter.

Better.

Not in a way Steve wants to put into words. 

Not in a way he wants to confront at all.) 

His parents hadn’t been able to make it home to watch him walk at his graduation--his father landing a last minute meeting with some important person or other. 

Faked apologies were given, money transferred, and Steve, not wanting to sit in his too-huge house, had meandered to Family Video. 

Tried to forget his father’s cold voice in the background of his mother’s call, loudly announcing he’d have made it a priority to see Steve graduate-- if he’d gotten into Penn Hurst. 

Steve just shakes his head. Pushes those thoughts into the back of his head, into the same place all his other weird thoughts live.

The glare he gets from the tall, pimple-ridden guy working the rental counter was expected.

Chrissy Cunningham, was not. 

"I thought you’d be at one of the parties.” He tells her, when he turns down the romance aisle and finds her staring blankly at a shelf. 

She startles, before recognition flits over her face and a warm smile is directed his way. 

“I'm honestly not a fan of parties." She confides in him, hand clutching a tape in her hands."Not those kinds, anyway.” 

"More slumber parties, less keg stands your speed?" Steve guessed, blatantly turning his head sideways in order to read the title.

She awards him with a wider smile. "Exactly." 

"Chrissy Cunningham. Are you renting Jaws?" He teases, leaning in just a touch.

She flushes, but turns and squares up to him. Steve's delighted to see it. 

"Why yes I am. I'll do you one better and even admit it's one of my favorite movies." 

Steve grins at her, and sees the way she lights up on response, eyes bright. 

This is the Chrissy that Carver had tried to kill. The strength and pure fun that radiates off her enhances the beauty she has to something almost otherworldly. 

Steve has seen enough beauty in his life to recognize when it will stay. That Chrissy wil one day be 80 years old, with gray hair and knit sweaters, and she'll still be able to light up a room. 

"Like sharks killing people that much huh?” He teases. And it’s easy, slipping into this part of himself around her. The part he’s been trying to get back. 

The confidence that he walked with, before monsters crawled out of the ground, and Nancy put a hole in his heart.

"I'll let you in on a secret. ." Chrissy leans in, dropping her voice low enough that Steve has to lean in a bit too to hear. "My favorite character is the shark." 

Steve playfully gapes at her, and for the first  time in a long time, feels like things will be okay. 

He’ll be okay.

He won’t be King Steve. He’s not Nancy's Boyfriend Steve either--but someone else. Himself.

A Steve who exists outside of Hawkins High, outside his family name. 

He likes it.

"I told you that was his car. Steve!" A too familiar voice calls and Steve can't mask the despair that hits him as he turns to his (now least) favorite shithead, whose storming through Family Video’s doors. 

"Dustin." He identifies, with an edge to his voice he can only pray Chrissy doesn't pick up on. "Other brats. What are you doing?" 

Mike stands stubbornly at Dustin's right, Lucas nervous at his left. 

Will Byers is situated next to Mike but Steve's not as familiar with him, and has no idea how to interpret the kid. 

If he had to guess based on the face he’s being sent, Will’s more nervous then the rest--but equally determined. 

(This does not make Steve feel better. It in fact, somewhat convinces them they’ve run headfirst back into trouble.) 

"Well we were going to go to Lucas’s, but now, we're bumming a ride from you!" 

"I'm busy." He says flatly. 

"Ste~eeeve!" 

"I didn't know you had a brother." Chrissy says, hand covering her mouth. 

Looking back at her, Steve's pretty sure she's trying to physically hold back laughter. 

If one could shoot lasers with their eyes, Steve would be nailing Dustin for ruining--whatever it was that was happening here. 

"He's a rescue" Steve says flatly. "It’s not working out though. We're planning on returning him to the shelter.” 

"Wow Steve." Dustin returns, offended. "First of all, if anyone's rescuing anyone I rescued you, or did you suddenly forget that you show up to family dinner every Thursday at my house like a sad orpha--mmpphh!" 

‘Mmpphh’ because Steve had taken several long strides across the store to smack his hand over Dustin's mouth. 

"Sorry Chrissy, it would appear the asshole children I am paid to babysit escaped whoever is supposed to be watching them." He shakes Dustins head, in lue of strangling him. “Hit me up later we’ll discuss the shark’s best kills.” 

“Will do.” Chrissy says, as Steve begins the process of shoving his four smaller friends out the door. “Drive safe!” 

“No you don’t, and you’re gonna prove it by swinging through McDonalds for us.” Dustin sing-songs, swinging himself into the passenger side of the Beemer. 

“You assholes owe me, big time.” Steve hisses, as Lucas and Mike instantly begin making kissy faces the second they’re out into the parking lot. "I had plans tonight!"

“Do you have McDonalds money?” Steve asks, only to immediately wince at himself because fuck did he just sound like a soccer mom. 

“I have money I took out of my mom’s wallet.” Mike says as he settles into the car with his friends.

“Fine.” Steve sighs in defeat, starting the car. 

He determinedly does not ask if the idiots walked here, because there is a suspicious lack of bicycles, if only because he hit his mom quota for the day and Steve refuses to say anything else that might edge out his cool persona.

The one he swears he still has.

Supposedly. 

("Does my mom really pay you to watch me?" Dustin asks a while later, when the other brats are distracted. His voice is painfully honest, and softer than it normally is. 

"In food, yes." Steve says, because he’s not that much of an asshole--and maybe, because Dustin is truly his only friend right now.

Steve honestly looks forward to those Thursday dinners, helping Ma Henderson and having her fuss over him in a way his parents never had. 

In a way no one ever had. 

Dustin lands a solid kick to his ankle, making Steve curse. "That's not payment you ass!"

"Ow, God Dustin--" 

"Just admit you're my actual friend, you dick!" 

"Language! I swear your mom stole you from wolves, you animal--" Steve swatted at him. 

Maybe, possibly later, he will go on to admit that yes, Dustin is his friend. 

He will even agree to making up a stupid handshake for it. 

It involves lightsabers and gore at least, which Steve insists is very cool.)

[babydarkstar]

so many griddlehark doomers on this website. smh my head…….theyre doomed by fate AND the narrative to be intrinsically intertwined no matter what. i cannot conceive of a finished locked tomb series where theyre not lying dead in each other’s arms or existing together in some fugue state of unbeing. not even death can separate the lesbians that scratch each other bloody and then cry in each other’s arms. they have been fated to orbit one another literally since their conception. one flesh one end, bitch.

[shahareen]

never has there ever been a ship that goes through this cycle like asaden does

[kiirotoao]

No okay but if my best friend called me the “heart” of anything. If someone makes me feel that loved and important. I’m anything for you. Take me. I’m yours.

[roykeeleys]

We’re both busy now.

How so?

Keeley’s got her own company now, so that takes up a lot of her time and focus. And we had a coach quit, so it’s now my responsibility for tactics and strategies and shi—

[symphonypikachu]

"hey sy-on boy come here, i need to copy your notes from class today!"

(damian is so in love with her.)

[mydairpercabeth]

RINA CAN I HAVE THIS DANCE IM FREAKING OUT

[ghostlycleric]

itd be so funny if mike had an arc where he was trying NOT to tell will he loves him in s5

like the irony of going from struggling aggressively to tell his gf he loved her and only saying it in the heat of the moment when hes not sure if she can hear

to a blushy geniuenly in love mike who is afraid to say ily because he doesnt want to put will in the position he was in. even though theyve been best friends for so long he feels like it has extra weight to it and doesnt know when “too soon” is so hes constantly tripping over his words.

(will definitely notices too but he doesnt say anything. hes afraid to be presumptious but also he thinks mike is adorable. everytime it happens will just gets all smilely, and when mike finally does say it will says it back almost immediately.)

[bericas]

I won't say a word, but I think he knows that I've hardly slept since the night he left; his body always kept mine inside of it.

[alliebirb]

shoutout to this chap 127 asaden comic i never finished

[kiwioala]

BAGI TOLD TINA THAT IF SHE HAD TO SAVE ANYONE ON THE ISLAND ITD BE HER OR PAC AND TINA WENT “awwww i’d save you too” <3