#and eddie helping steve make a character and play in the future

[steviesummer]

inspired by and as a direct follow up to this post by @strangersteddierthings:

Eddie is horrified. He remembers the day Steve is referring to, though clearly not as well as Steve does. He calls out as Steve raced up the stairs and hears his door slam.

“Fuck.” He stares blankly at the wall in front of him. He can’t believe things went so bad so quickly. He’s been trying to get to know Steve better, get closer and damn if he didn’t just blow the hole thing. He’d shown up early, told Steve he needed to prepare as an excuse to spend some time with him. Despite everything that happened over spring break, Steve had remained guarded, standoffish no matter what Eddie tried. At least now he knew why. He’d fucked things up before he’d known there was something to fuck up.

He feels even worse about calling him a bully. Sure, Steve had looked the other way and even laughed at some of the mean jokes others had made, but he was far from the worst. That dubious award went to Billy Hargrove, but even without him, there was plenty of people who did far worse than Steve did. Especially because Steve is right. He did hit first, metaphorically at least. He can justify it all he wants as trying to protect himself, but that doesn’t make it right. Steve all but admitted that as he said the same thing. He feels nauseous at the realization that maybe he was just as bad as those he decried. That for all his talk about accepting outcasts and defying convention, he was just as prejudiced. Swallowing hard, he heads back to the dining room and looks at the clock. There is no way he is going to be able to run the campaign today. He’s not going to be able to focus or even play without thinking about how things might have been if he hadn’t driven Steve off all those years ago. He grabs the phone and dials Gareth’s number. “Emerson house, Sheryl speaking.” “Hi Mrs. Emerson, it’s Eddie.” Eddie is proud that he manages to keep his voice even. “Is Gareth there?” “Oh, yes! Let me go get him for you.” “Thanks Mrs. Emerson.” Eddie focuses on breathing while he waits. “Eddie? Hey man, what’s up?” Eddie breathes out. “Hey Gareth. Look, I know its last minute, but we’re gonna have to postpone Hellfire. Something came up.” He could hear Gareth’s frown through the phone. “Postpone? What happened, did Harrington do something?” As if he couldn’t feel worse. “Nah. I’ll explain later, but can you call Jeff and Frank, let them know? I gotta call the freshman, too.” “Alright, but I’m going to hold you to that.” “Fair enough. Talk to you tomorrow.” Eddie promises before hanging up. He weighs his options for how to tell the Party. Eventually, he decides on calling Mike, know that the younger teen won’t push too much. He’s dialing the Wheeler home before he can second guess his decision. “This is Mike.” Eddie feels a rush of gratitude that Mike is the one who answered, rather than Nancy or one of their parents. “Hey Mike, it’s Eddie. Listen, Steve’s not feeling great and having Hellfire here isn’t going to help. Can you call the rest of the Party, let them know we’re gonna move it to another day? I’ll keep an eye on Steve.” Eddie knows Mike is a confused, given how adamant he’s been in the past about not canceling or moving Hellfire, but as he expected, Mike accepts what he says at face value. “Sure. Need us to bring anything?” “Nah, I’ve got it. Pretty sure he just needs some peace and quiet so he can rest. But thanks.” They say their goodbyes and Eddie puts the phone back on the hook.  With that done, he checks that the door is locked and faces the stairs. Now for the hard part. He’s not sure what he’s going to say, if there is anything he can say that will fix this, but he has to try. Even if doesn’t change things between him and Steve, Steve deserves at least that much. Every step feels like it takes effort, chest heavy with guilt, but it only takes him a few moments to get to Steve’s door. It’s closed, which doesn’t surprise him. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts before knocking. Nothing. “Steve?” If it wasn’t for the quiet sound of Steve’s breathing he could hear through the door, Eddie would think he had left. He glad that he at least didn’t drive Steve out of his own home. He rests his forehead on the door. “I’m sorry.” Eddie hopes Steve can hear how much he means it. “You’re right, I fucked up. I made an assumption and took out my anger at other people on you. And that wasn’t fair and it’s not okay. But I want you to know that I’m sorry. Even if it wasn’t you, I shouldn’t have done that.” He lets out a hysterical laugh as he realizes - “And despite that, you still humor the kids when they talk about D&D and agreed to let us play here and didn’t punch me in the face, which makes you a better man than I.” He falls silent, listens as Steve’s breathing slows. He isn’t sure how long he stands there. He wonders how many other people he hurt this way, without even realizing. Knows he wants to do better, be better. He sighs, feeling his shoulders slump. “Anyway, I canceled Hellfire for today. I told everyone something came up, don’t worry about that. I’ll make up some story, make sure they know its not your fault. And uh,  let me know if you want to hang out again or something. I know I’ve been around a lot; didn’t realize that I was making you so uncomfortable, which is probably another thing I should apologize for. Anyway. Yeah. I’ll see you around, okay?” He waits a moment for an answer, but when none comes, he backs away from the door and walks downstairs to gather his stuff. It hurts, but he knows Steve deserves space and to be the one to initiate contact. He has some thinking to do, anyway.

[steddieas-shegoes]

pine avenue

for @steddiemicrofic december prompt 'pine' wc: 508 rated: t cw: mention of minor background character's deaths tags: light angst, happy ending, teacher steve, future fic (barely), eddie is so in love with steve he buys him a whole house

🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡

The house on Pine Avenue was the only place Steve ever felt happy. His grandparents made sure he felt loved, and cared for, and special, unlike anything he ever felt when he was home.

It wasn't big, but the yard was. He was never really allowed to play outside at home unless it was in the pool, where he couldn't get dirty. But here, his Grampy let him run in the grass before he mowed it, pick the wildflowers so he could bring a bouquet inside to his Grammy to make her smile, play in the puddles that collected in the gravel driveway after an afternoon storm.

He got to sit out on the porch and help his Grammy peel potatoes for a soup that she always made two pots of, one for them and one for the soup kitchen in town.

His parents were gone for the summer, and he was too young to stay alone for more than a week at a time, so he got to be a kid with them.

It was the best part of his childhood.

His Grampy died right before Christmas when he was 11. His parents were stoic, somehow distant from something that hurt Steve like a bullet wound to the chest. They traveled all the way to Pine Avenue for his funeral, his insistence in being buried in the woods of their property the only reason they bothered to make the trip.

On Steve's 13th birthday, his Grammy died. She'd been sick for nearly a year and hadn't told anyone, didn't want anyone to take her from her home, from the love of her life buried in the dirt nearly a half a mile from the house.

The house on Pine Avenue went up for sale, his parents not wanting to deal with upkeep or renters.

Steve's only reminder of his time there was the family album his Grammy kept on the bookcase in the living room full of their times together every summer.

When Steve is 23, he graduates from college with a teaching degree and quickly finds that he doesn't want to stay in Hawkins.

Eddie just smiles and agrees, like he'd been waiting for Steve to come to the conclusion himself.

They search high and low for teaching jobs in the city, try not to be too upset when the only ones available are the lowest paying ones.

Then Steve sees a listing for the house on Pine Avenue.

Tears fall as he realizes that the previous owners never touched it, barely even lived in it. It was the same as it was when he was little.

Eddie sees it circled later that night.

He finds a job listing for a gym teacher in the area only a few days later.

Eddie takes a risk, uses up every cent of his savings to put an offer on the house. Knows this is important.

Steve moves into the house on Pine Avenue with the love of his life when he's 24, and he feels happier than ever.

[laundrybiscuits]

“It’s happening,” crows Dustin. “Eddie, it’s happening, it’s happening, she said yes!”

Eddie blinks up at him from the blankets. “Is…this about your little girlfriend, Henderson?” Is there a school dance coming up or something? Wait, it’s the summer, school’s not happening.

In a just world, Eddie Munson would never have to think about high school again; in a just world, Dustin Henderson would not have woken him up by breaking into his trailer at ass o’clock in the morning.

“No, man, Erica! Erica Sinclair! She’s gonna run a My Little Pony game for us!”

“Okay.” Eddie turns over to bury his face in his pillow. “Lock up when you leave,” he says, muffled.

———

He honest-to-god thinks it’s just a weird dream for the next few days. He’s almost completely forgotten about it when Mike corners him at work.

“You have to make her stop,” Mike says.

“Okay, Wheeler, two things. First: who am I making stop what? Second: I’m not making anyone stop anything. Really not my style, and also, I don’t wanna get involved in whatever this is.”

“You’re already involved! We’re all involved! We’re all, like, liable.”

“Right.” Eddie wipes his hands on a rag and ambles over. “Kid, you have got to start giving me some context here. What are we talking about?”

Mike gives him just the absolute bitchiest eyeroll any human being has ever mustered in the history of the world, and sighs noisily. “Erica wants to run a stupid game, and Dustin keeps encouraging her. Tell Erica and Dustin that we play Dungeons and Dragons with like, cool monsters and shit. Not some stupid game about ponies. It’s not even D&D, it’s a whole new stupid system that she’s making us learn.”

“Oh, shit.” There’s—a few things to unpack in that little speech, but Eddie can’t help the delighted grin spreading over his face. “That’s for real? The pony game? Shit, this is going to be the best thing ever. What system is she planning to run the campaign in?”

“Oh my god,” says Mike, and storms out of the garage.

———

“GURPS: Generic Universal Role-Playing System,” announces Erica, slamming the books down on Steve’s kitchen table. “A flexible, multi-purpose, setting-agnostic system that can accommodate any conceivable type of story or play style. This is the future of role-playing games, not your broke-ass fantasy bullcrap.”

Eddie wonders how complicated it is to file paperwork for adoption.

“Some of us like D&D,” says Will.

“Yeah, we don’t want your stupid generic whatever. We’re not playing,” Mike snaps.

“That’s not what I said.” Will looks annoyed with Mike, which has been happening a lot lately. Eddie’s glad the kid seems to be growing more of a spine; you can’t just let your tragic heterosexual crushes walk all over you, but that’s the kind of lesson every young gay needs to learn the hard way. “I’m fine with trying something new. I’m just saying, the next campaign after this should be D&D.”

“Sure, what-ever, nerds,” drawls Erica. “We’ll see how you feel after you experience the magic of Ponyland.”

Lucas puts his face in his hands when she says the magic of Ponyland and lets out a pitiful groan.

“Whoo!” cheers Dustin. “Let’s get started!”

———

It takes them a solid two hours to make their characters. Even Eddie, who’s been vaguely aware of GURPS since it was released a couple years ago, is struggling a little to adapt. It’s just been a while since he played anything but D&D, but he’s enjoying the change of pace. He likes this kind of challenge; it’s like figuring out how to play a familiar song in an unfamiliar genre.

Erica is not especially patient with them, but she’s clearly done her prep work, so Eddie thinks they all manage to get through the character creation process more or less the way it’s supposed to be done.

Steve gets back from work right when they’re putting the finishing touches on their characters. The way he blinks all sweetly confused makes Eddie think that Dustin was definitely lying about having permission to play here, and also that Dustin probably has a very troubling stash of keys to all their homes squirreled away somewhere.

“If I may, Lady Sinclair, I’d like to humbly suggest a ten-minute break?” Eddie says, before Steve can decide whether or not to be mad about this whole thing.

“Sure, go ahead and rest up while you still can,” says Erica. “Steve, I hope you got good snacks around here.” She makes a beeline for the kitchen, and the boys trip over themselves to follow her.

“I would die for that child,” says Eddie.

Steve laughs, low and a little tired. “Yeah. Um, me too.”

“So, I’m gonna go ahead and guess that Henderson didn’t actually clear this with you?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Steve runs a hand through his hair. “He might’ve said something last week? Sometimes when he’s on a tear, I just kinda let him talk.”

“Y’know, we’re at a pretty good stopping point for today, if you want us to clear out so you can get some rest.” Eddie can see the smudgy shadows under Steve’s eyes from halfway across the room.

“No, it’s fine.” Steve peels off his vest. He’s wearing an entire perfectly normal shirt underneath, so there’s no reason for Eddie to hastily avert his eyes like Steve’s doing a damn striptease. “I might go take a nap, though. Gonna trust you not to let them burn down the place, got it?”

Eddie does a silly little salute. “Aye aye, cap’n. No hint of flame shall breach these walls.”

Steve laughs again, a gravelly chuckle, and musses Eddie’s hair on his way to the stairs.

“Why do you have that dumb look on your face,” says Erica suspiciously, standing in the kitchen doorway and clutching the biggest bowl of ice cream Eddie’s seen in his life.

“What look, there’s no look,” says Eddie. “Let’s play some GURPS.”

Edit: now a complete fic on AO3!

[steddiebang]

(You got me) in the palm of your hand

Author: @just-my-latest-hyperfixation l Artist: @jul2ja l Artist: @peachypurr Posting on Wednesday, October 4

"Fortunes told, futures unfold." The sign at the local ren faire looks tempting. After all, Steve is one year out of high school and has no idea where his life is going. Sometimes he wishes someone could just gaze into the future and figure it out for him. In the fortune teller’s tent, Steve has a run-in with his past. And if he doesn’t turn on his heel and leave, it has absolutely nothing to do with how pretty Eddie Munson looks in his costume, all gleaming jewelry and dark tendrils of hair spilling out from under a patterned headscarf. He lets Eddie read his palm, because why the hell not? It’s all bogus anyway! Except, as the summer goes on, Steve finds that Eddie’s cryptic predictions somehow, inexplicably keep coming true. As they keep running into each other, almost as if orchestrated by an invisible force, Steve can’t help but be intrigued with the other boy. He also can’t seem to forget how pretty Eddie’s eyes look in black liner, or the way his fingers feel on his skin, but that is an entirely different problem.

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

Eddie gasps in mock-offense and clutches a hand to his chest. His bracelets jingle with the movement. 

"So he's a non-believer, our king. Nevermind, I shall convince you of my skills yet." That smile turns just a little sly. He leans forward slowly, eyes shining with mirth. His rings gleam in the light of the lanterns as he lays his hands out on the table, palms up. “Give me your hands.” 

Steve can practically feel himself blush. 

“I, erm .. what?” he sputters. 

Eddie quirks an elegant eyebrow at him and the corner of his mouth curls up into a toothy grin. 

“Don’t fret, my liege, no uncouth intentions here. I’m merely going to introduce you to the ancient art of palmistry.” 

"Palmi- what now?" 

The question has made its way past his lips before he can think better of it. Steve gulps down the embarrassed lump that threatens to clog his throat and steels himself for the inevitable eye roll, maybe an exasperated explanation. 

Eddie merely smiles, a hint of that sweet, genuine thing from before, and fucking winks at him. 

"Our fate is written in the lines of our hands," he claims. "It is but an open book to those who know how to read it. If my king would ever-so-graciously allow me to demonstrate?" 

On the table, his fingers wiggle invitingly. 

A strange feeling flutters in Steve’s chest. He's tempted to say it's fondness, but that would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it? He hardly knows the guy. He undeniable is weirdly charming though, with his theatrical mannerisms and big brown eyes framed in black liner. Before he can think better of it, Steve finds his own hands reaching out to meet Eddie’s. 

The other boy makes a small pleased sound and gently turns Steve’s hands so that the palms are facing up, Eddie's hands cupping his from beneath, fingers lightly brushing his wrists. And fuck, even his hands are nice. Smaller than Steve’s, but lean and slightly calloused, with long, nimble fingers. Steve wonders fleetingly if it's from all the guitar playing. His rings are not cold as he thought they would be, but warm from his body heat. 

"Now …" Eddie’s voice pulls him out of his thoughts. "Which one would be your sword hand?" 

"I, um…" says Steve. One hand tries to twitch up to run through his hair awkwardly, but Eddie holds it in place with gentle pressure. "I'm right-handed, if that's what …" 

Eddie nods and lifts Steve’s right lightly, lets go of his left so that he can point out what he is looking at. 

"See, your dominant hand tells me all about your character," he explains. "This, for example, would be your life line." 

The pad of a slender index finger runs a barely there touch along one of the lines close to Steve’s thumb. He jolts reflexively and snorts a laugh at the ticklish sensation. Eddie glances up at him and tuts in mock-admonishment. 

"From what I garner here," he then says, focusing back on Steve’s hand, and Steve catches himself leaning forward curiously, so that their foreheads almost touch. "You are very energetic. Strong of body, quite obviously, but also of head and heart. There's not much one can do to deter you from a decision once made. Some may call you stubborn, obstinate even. Others will say you are exceptionally determined, and loyal to those you hold dear."

Steve scoffs and glances up to give him a look, flinches back just slightly when he realizes how close they suddenly are. 

"Uh-huh, impressive. And you read all of that from my palm, of course." 

Another toothy grin. 

"Of course," Eddie says seriously. "Just like your heart line - that's the one over here - tells me that you tend to fall in love quickly, but deeply. You're no stranger to heartbreak, are you?" 

Steve rolls his eyes. Sure. Just about every single student at Hawkins High must know this much about him, especially after the absolute car wreck that was his break-up with Nancy.

"Whatever," he mutters and tries to conceal his embarrassment behind a careless shrug. "I already know all that. What about my future, then?" 

"Now this," says Eddie and takes a hold of Steve’s left with a soft sound of his bracelets, "is where we turn to your other hand, Your Grace. Let me see what I can divine from here." 

He regards Steve’s palm for a while and in the meantime, Steve watches his face. How his brow wrinkles in thought. How a few tendrils of dark hair slip out from under the headscarf to curl around his shoulders. How his bottom lip juts out in concentration. How the tip of a pink tongue comes poking out to lick it, leaves a shining trail of moisture. 

"Interesting," Eddie concludes at length. "Very interesting indeed. You have quite the exciting summer ahead of you." 

"Y- yeah?" Steve blinks out of his trance, forgets to sound cocky for a second. 

Eddie nods. "Certainly. I see conflict here. A former friend may step back into your life, but they will have turned against you, so watch your steps." 

"Huh," says Steve. "Sounds like a fun time. Lucky me, I guess." 

Eddie glances up at him and smiles coyly before turning back to his hand. 

"Speaking of lucky … I do see adventure, too. You will get to know someone. Someone who intrigues and excites you. You may even make a conquest, if you play your cards right. And then … I see something more profound, even. A new love."

Read more on October 4!

[londondziban]

I'll forever be confused over the writing of Steve's character in season 4. Like, what was the thought process behind the choices that were made for him?

In season 1, he was shown to have a change of behavior, felt remorse for his actions, attempted to apologize to not just Nancy but also Jonathan, and bought a camera for Jonathan to replace the one he had broken. Not only this, but he had turned back around to help Nancy and Jonathan–after having a gun pointed at him and nearly getting eaten by a creature he probably couldn't fully comprehend at the time–despite the fact he was scared shitless cuz, hey, that's his girl in there and a guy he may not know very well but he's not going to let them fight the monster alone.

In season 2, we watched him grieve his relationship with Nancy and form a bond with Dustin and the other kids. Though he was clearly upset about the breakup, he never once truly blamed Nancy for it. We saw him respect not only Nancy's feelings but her choice as well. He knew he wasn't the one she chose, he knew she was struggling and turned to Jonathan. He was heartbroken but he did his best to move forward and keep his mind on the mission at hand.

In season 3, we watch his bond with Dustin develop further and we see him make his first friend that's (close) to his age since he dropped his previous friends in season 1. He was actively looking for a new girl to date and developed feelings for Robin; We were led to believe he'd moved on from Nancy. In this season, though he was fairly removed from the other kids for most of it, we were once again shown he has a selfless nature when it comes to them, even Erica whom he barely knew. We saw that at the end of the day, he's simply a good friend through his instant support of Robin rather than lashing out over the rejection or being flat-out homophobic. He's selfless and loyal to those he cares about. His character in this season was wonderful (not talking about how his injuries were constantly played for laughs though, that's for a future post).

So in season 4...what happened? Yeah, I still loved him because he's Steve and I've become attached to his character over the years. But he just felt so off? I'm glad his friendship with Robin was still there and I loved them together throughout the season. But he's 1. suddenly in love with Nancy again, 2. doesn't seem to respect her actual feelings nor her relationship with Jonathan (because if he did he wouldn't be actively flirting with her and telling her he wants to have kids with her, hello?), 3. he complained about being with the kids despite being shown to deeply care for them over and over again (it could've been a joke of course but it just felt mean spirited when compared to his behaviors in prior seasons. Like he sighed when being paired with Dustin?), and 4. he just felt kind of weird and a little creepy at times.

It felt like they didn't know what to do with him this last season. It felt like all the development he'd gone through suddenly took a left turn and then backtracked out of nowhere. Instead of finding ways to discuss the way season 3 events affected him (and Robin) or maybe showing him form a genuine bond with Eddie (someone else his age that he never would've previously been friends with), they made him a little mean spirited, they made the other characters be meaner to him and treat him as if he's stupid (more than usual), and they made him be in love with Nancy again. They could've done so much with his character that wouldn't have contradicted all of his growth, and yet.

I say this all with good intentions, of course. I love Steve. He was one of my favorites when I first started watching the show. Which is why I was so upset about the way they wrote his character in season 4. He just didn't feel like the Steve I'd loved anymore. Was it a conscious decision? Is there a specific reason behind it we just haven't been shown yet? Or was it just poor writing? I hope whatever is going on with his character is either fixed or simply explained in season 5 (and I'm so excited to see he'll have at least one interaction with Jonathan!). I'm just a little worried they've run out of ideas for his character and are just going to kill him off next season without any explanation as to why his character took the turn it did.

TLDR: I love Steve but the way his character was written in season 4 confused me.

[icyharrington]

Cat and Mouse- Billy Hargrove X Reader

whats up yall, i am finally back for the first time in like a million ass years with some content!!!! if it wasnt obvious already yes, i am going to be writing for stranger things now. y’all can thank @wroteclassicaly for getting me into it lmaoo. but yea since i havent written something in a while i’m gonna be doing something a little shorter and more to the point lmaooo. so yea anyone who knows me from my icylangdon days knows that i <3 fuckboys that are mean. so naturally i kinda fell in love with billy when i first saw him okay. i KNOW he’s a bad person and shit but like he’s not real and he’s also sexy so. plzzz don’t be offended by this, if you don’t like billy simply scroll past!! but if you AREEEE a slut for billy, well then you just might wanna stick around for this one 😛 also dont judge me if this sucks i havent written in a million years ok. PS i am planning to write for eddie and steve in the future too so stay tuned for that if ur more into those characters!! ok i’ll shut up now teehee

description: billy hargrove decides to seduce you at a party; you decide to let him.

contains: mean/fuckboy billy, fingering, cunnilingus, dirty talk, face slapping, brief choking, degradation/humiliation kink

wc: 3.3k

He smells like musk and whiskey and cigarettes, like a grown ass man, and from this proximity it’s dizzying. He’s sitting beside you, thigh-to-thigh, right arm outstretched across the back of the couch just behind your shoulders. You will yourself not to turn your cheek, knowing that if you catch sight of his stormy, heavy-lidded eyes, you won’t be able to resist him any longer.

Billy speaks slowly, allowing the velvet sound of his words to simmer in your ears, rosy lips nearly brushing against them.

“You look so sad,” he’s saying, and the hair on the back of your neck stands up. “Why’re you so sad, hm?”

You keep your gaze fixed on your palms, feeling a prickling warmth flood your face. You can feel the danger emanating from his pores, hanging around him like a dark, bulbous cloud, but somehow that only tempts you more. “What makes you think I’m sad?”  

“You’ve been sitting here by yourself all night,” he mutters, his large hand finding your bare thigh, testing the waters. He doesn’t grope you, just trails his calloused fingertips down against your skin with a feather-light touch, and you don’t stop him. “Did your boyfriend dump you or something? Broke your heart?”

He’s mocking you, but it doesn’t register; all you can focus on is his skin against yours, his fingers tracing invisible patterns back and forth until you can no longer think straight. “I just don’t really like parties.”

He lets out a snicker. “Yet here you are.”  

“I know, it’s stupid.” You occupy yourself with taking a couple sips of your drink, which is lukewarm by now, but the accompanying buzz helps to dull your nerves slightly. “I honestly don’t know why I came.”

“Wanted to try playing cool girl this year, huh?” It’s like a power line has been cut when he draws his hand back from your leg, the absence of contact almost palpable. Finally you allow yourself to meet his eyes, stomach dipping at the smirk he has plastered across his picturesque features.

“No, it’s not that at all,” you say sternly, a little embarrassed he would assume that. You don’t want him to think you’re a try-hard, even though you know it’s stupid to care about his opinion of you. He’s just some douchey guy trying to get in your pants, after all. “I guess I just wanted to try something different.”

“Oh?” he says with a tilt of his head, tongue darting out to wet his lower lip. He doesn’t take his attention away from you for even a second, now spreading his hands out across his denim-clad knees. You can’t help but follow them with your eyes, wishing hopelessly that he’d put them back on you. “So you’re adventurous, then?”

“I mean, in some ways, maybe…” Your vision darts away from his face once more, not noticing how suggestive the phrase sounds until it’s too late. Clearing your throat, you attempt to regain composure. “But I don’t want to go crazy or anything.”

“I think I know how to drive you crazy in a way you’ll really like,” Billy chuckles, beginning to stand up from his spot on the sofa. Your heart skips a beat, almost like you’re panicking at the mere idea of him moving away from you. It’s jarring, and so unlike you—what the fuck kind of spell does he have you under?

You watch him move into an upright stance, his muscular frame casting a looming shadow over your head as he extends a hand before you. “I can show you. If you’re not scared, that is.”

You squirm in your seat, eyes zeroing in on the greenish blue veins that run  from his knuckles to his forearms like rivers on a map. You have to remind yourself that you aren’t special, that he probably does this same routine with a different girl every weekend, but the thought doesn’t stop your body from making the decision for you.

His hand is significantly bigger than yours, and rougher in texture; he gives you a leisurely once-over as he pulls you to your feet, yanking you forth with little grace until your chest is nearly flush with his. He leans forward, sending a pleasant waft of whatever product he’s sporting in his overgrown hair directly to your senses. “C’mon.”

It’s difficult to ignore the other kids at the party who are witnessing the situation unfold, entertaining themselves with other peoples’ business in true Hawkins fashion. You’re sure some uppity bitch will call you a slut for letting Billy seduce you come Monday, but for some unfathomable reason, you really can’t bring yourself to care.

Billy walks in front of you, leading you into a dim wood-paneled hallway. It’s not his house (you’re not entirely sure whose house it is, to be honest), but he moves like it is, his steps lingering but purposeful.

His jeans are worn-out and ripped in some spots, and they’re form fitting enough that you can easily see the prominent curve of his backside. He peers back over at you as he uses one toned shoulder to nudge open a door at the end of the hall, catching you ogle him, which he appears to take rude delight in.

“I see you’re assessing the merchandise,” he snickers with a shake of his head, guiding you into the shadowed bedroom. This remark causes your cheeks to flush deep red, which becomes apparent to Billy when he switches on the light. His smile grows, eyes glinting deviously. “Aw, don’t be shy, sweetheart. I see you looking at school all the time.”

Your chest tightens at this reveal, which honestly, you hadn’t been anticipating. Is it really that obvious, or is Billy Hargrove a fucking mind reader or something? Do you really stare at his ass that much?!

You sputter out something nonsensical before you’re simultaneously rescued and pushed further into insanity- he takes your chin with a firm grip and directs it upwards, pressing his lips against yours. The kiss becomes rough in a matter of seconds, his teeth sinking into your lower lip, backing you up until you’re in front of the bed. You pull at the white beer-stained fabric of his shirt and whine against his mouth, having to stand on the tips of your toes just to reach him properly.

He’s laughing when he pulls away, shoving you back onto the pale blue comforter. You narrow your eyes irritably, offended that he apparently found your kissing techniques to be amusing. “What’s so fucking funny?”

Billy’s expression sterns at this, taking hold of your jaw so you’re unable to break contact with him. “I’d suggest watching your tone with me, sweetheart.”

He lets go, leaving you panting like a dog, but you manage to contain yourself before he notices. You lean back on your palms, crossing your leg to show off the underside of your thigh as you survey him with doe eyes. “Then explain why you were just laughing at me!”

“S’nothing, really,” he says, the corner of his lips twitching upwards as he tries to stifle a smirk. He knocks you onto your back with a quick prod to your shoulders, bowing down so he’s looking at you from above. He pets your thigh where the seam is currently hiked up, “I just love it when bitches get all worked up for me.”

You scoff, but your brain seems to have short-circuited, leaving you without any ideas for a witty comeback. His statement should have offended you, but instead it ignites a warm, tingling sensation in the pit of your stomach and somewhere else familiar to you.

Clearing your throat, you choke out a puny, “I wasn’t worked up.”

As if on cue, the tips of his fingers make abrupt contact between your legs, where arousal has apparently begun to seep through the fabric of your underwear. Your face flushes when you hear him gasp lowly, his fingers stroking you up and down to assess the damage for himself; your hands fly to your face to hide yourself in shame, but Billy doesn’t make any effort to hide his smugness. “I mean, I dunno, (y/n). I think your panties beg to differ.”

You close your thighs around his hand instinctively, which he obviously doesn’t like, because he grabs both of your knees and forces them apart again.

“You’re gonna fucking lie to me, huh?”

He’s awaiting a response, his nostrils flaring menacingly as his head cocks to one side. You’re intimidated but insanely turned on, even more so when you see his jaw clench at your immediate silence.

“I didn’t mean to lie, Billy,” you say slowly, keeping close watch on how his expression changes (it doesn’t, not really, and somehow that’s more unnerving than any other way he could’ve reacted). “I guess I just didn’t like how cocky you were being.”

“Oh, you didn’t like it.” His tone drips with sarcasm, threading his fingers through your (texture) hair to jerk your head up sharply. “Then why the fuck is your pussy so wet?”

Oh, fuck. You struggle a little under his tight grasp, but not enough to actually make a difference. He stares you down coldly as his hand returns to your underwear, reaching inside this time to actually touch you without a barrier of cotton in the way.

He starts to rub your pussy in unceremonious patterns, and your breath catches in your throat when his palm presses hard against your clit.

“Hear that?” He pushes one finger inside of you and pumps it in and out lazily, producing a crude, wet noise. “That’s the sound of a bitch that’s worked up.”

He laughs, letting your head drop back down against the bed. You’re humiliated, but some part of you wants to see how far this will go, how far he’ll take you from reality. Billy is bigger than you, and stronger than you by far, but even still as he manhandles and overpowers you, you strangely don’t feel unsafe. In fact, you feel almost euphoric.

“Nothing to say? Huh?” He adds a second finger and quickens the pace of his thrusts, sitting down beside you. “Nothing at all?”

You’re too busy moaning to make any sense of what he says, eyes going vacant and glassy as they fix on the ceiling above. You’ve never been fingered like this before- it’s evident he knows what the fuck he’s doing, despite the lack of grace within his demeanor. He places his lips to your neck for a brief moment, teeth scraping the sensitive skin there until you let out a yelp, his free hand snaking up underneath your t-shirt and bra.

“It’s okay to admit that you’re a slut, you know. You really aren’t fooling anyone, anyway,” he continues cruelly, licking his lips as he palms and squeezes at your breasts. When he notices that your eyes are on the ceiling and not his face, he smacks your cheek. “Look at me.”

He stretches his fingers inside you, groaning inwardly at the feeling of you wrapped snugly around him, and you do what he says.

“Say it.” He moves his arm faster, curling his fingers with expertise to thrust against your tight inner walls.

You only get wetter viewing his stern features, the way his brows furrow in a mixture of focus and indignation. You poise a brow, though you’re really only half-lucid. “Say what?”

He takes his hand off your breast and slaps you once again, a little harder this time. It stings, and you huff in frustration, not knowing what you did wrong. “Say that you’re a slut.”

“Wha- no! I’m not!” Why you’re trying so hard to preserve a sense of pride that ceased to exist the second you agreed to accompany Billy to the bedroom, you aren’t completely sure. You don’t have the chance to figure it out either, because in the next moment his fingers are fitted around your neck.

His lips turn up at the corners, but he doesn’t really look like he’s smiling. “We spoke for the first time not even a half hour ago, and now you’re letting me finger fuck you in a stranger’s bedroom. You know what type of girl does that?”

You blink, fairly confident what his answer will be. “A slut?”

“That’s right,” he practically spits, releasing you from his hold on your throat. It hadn’t been enough to restrict your breathing at all, but if he’d applied just a little more pressure, you would’ve been totally at his mercy. It should be a frightening idea, but secretly, it arouses you. “A fucking easy, dirty, dime a dozen slut. So say it.”

“I-I’m a slut,” you say half-heartedly, which is a struggle, considering that he hasn’t slowed his pace at all between your thighs.

“Yeah? And what else?” He keeps his momentum going, at the last minute deciding to add a third finger with a satisfied grin. You cry out, hips wiggling as you attempt to adjust to the intense feeling, which hurts in a way you never want to end.

“I- I’m easy? And filthy, Billy.” His breathing seems to grow slightly more ragged when you say his name, but he doesn’t let himself falter; still, the lapse fills you with a triumphant sensation, and you’re encouraged to continue. “I’m so lucky I came across a man like you, Billy. Somebody who can teach me a lesson for being such a dumb little slut.”

You stretch the word man, assuming it’s a title he’ll appreciate.

He takes in a breath, eyelashes fluttering so subtly you almost miss it. You know you got him, even if he’s not letting it show. “You’re goddamn right about that.”

He adjusts himself so he can run his tongue over your swollen clit, pumping his fingers in and out of you as he does. Your fingernails grasp at the covers underneath your writhing body, back arching as your chest rises and collapses, a long and pitiful moan escaping the back of your throat. He continues until your head is spinning and you don’t know who or where you are, latching his lips around your clit to apply needed suction there. In your moment of incoherence, you still are able to steal a look at the man who has made you come undone with the smallest of efforts; he’s eyeing you from underneath a veil of dark lashes, and though his mouth is hidden between your parted legs, you can see traces of a smirk reflecting in his dilated pupils.

“O-oh fuck. Billy…” you reach out and grab a fistful of his styled waves, your hips pushing against his face shamelessly. He grunts at this action, using his spare hand to swat yours away.

“Don’t fuck up my hair,” he snaps, your arousal glistening on his chin. “And you better not cum without asking me first, bitch.”

You can hear the hot blood pumping through the veins in your neck when he says this; you grind yourself against him, not caring how desperate it makes you seem. “I-I’m gonna, Billy.”

He stops, screwing his face up like he’s deep in thought. “Here’s the thing, (y/n). I don’t see the point in making a bitch cum if she doesn’t do something for me in return. And you haven’t exactly done anything for me, have you? Besides whine like a little cunt.”

You gape back at him, but truthfully, you're not actually that shocked he would pull something like this. Why would a guy like Billy Hargrove give in so easily anyway? Especially when it’s apparent that he takes great pleasure in seeing you squirm.

“I can! I can do whatever you want, Billy.” You bat your eyes at him sweetly, sinking your teeth into your bottom lip in a display that you hope is seductive. “I’m a slut, remember?”

“You think I don’t know that you’d suck my cock?” He sits upright again, and you’re forced to hold in a full-on tantrum. All you want is to cum on his tongue, call out his name until your voice is hoarse and raspy. Why did he have to be such a fucking asshole!? “Every slut I’ve ever met loves to suck me off. They fucking beg me for it. But I don’t think every slut deserves that, y’know?”

“You’re saying I don’t deserve to suck your dick?” you ask in sheer disbelief. He can’t be serious right now, can he? It doesn’t seem like he’s joking, and all he gives you is a prolonged shrug of his shoulders.

“I dunno, (y/n). Do you?”

You figure what he wants you to say- he wants you to degrade yourself, submit all your self-worth over to him for the night. You start to shake your head, and he nods once, ushering you onward.

“N-no, Billy, I don’t. But I really, really want to, Billy. I would do anything to make you cum. I’d be honored to.”

He apparently approves of your choice in words, returning to the former harsh rhythm of his thrusting. He follows this up by nudging your thighs open further and dipping his head to align with your most sensitive area, rolling his tongue effortlessly against your clit.

You’re on the brink of an orgasm within a minute, gasping and bucking your hips in total desperation. “Billy- Billy, I’m…”

You cum, and right then, whatever you were going to say disintegrates into  a thousand pieces right in front of your rolled-back eyes. It’s loud, and embarrassing, probably, but you’re not in the frame of mind to think about anything other than the tsunami of an orgasm that’s encompassing every inch of your trembling body. Only when you’re limp and temporarily braindead does he remove his fingers from you, getting off of the bed and stretching his muscles like he just got back from working out.

“You definitely aren’t sucking me off tonight,” he says flatly, bringing his slick fingers up to wave tauntingly in your face. “Except for this.”

You wordlessly take them into your mouth and taste yourself, not resisting when he purposely pushes them back far enough to gag you. “Maybe some other time, if you’re good, I’ll let you. But right now, you’re still just a cheap whore in my book.”

He retracts his fingers from your mouth, dragging the mixture of saliva and cum down your chin before giving your face a chaste pat. “See you around school, (y/n).”

Then he leaves, shutting the door with one last devilish look behind him. You’re still on your back, barely having recovered from the orgasm Billy inflicted upon you mere moments before, but your mind spins wildly in the wake of his absence. You want him bad- to taste him, to be fucked by him. You don’t care if he treats you badly, or if he even cares for you at all; it’s illogical, but undeniable, the way your body reacts so naturally when he’s nearby.

If you were of sound mind, you’d probably be worrying about whether or not he was telling his friends about you, or wondering if anybody had heard your unabashed cries of ecstasy while Billy was doing his number on you. But you aren’t of sound mind; that much is clear as day.

You roll onto your side, limbs aching. You don’t have it in you to leave the bedroom yet, so you remain in this position for several minutes, merely existing.

For the first time in your high school career, you can’t wait for Monday to come. You have to see him, make him want you; it’s a game of cat-and-mouse that he’s strategically unleashed upon you, but you’re more than willing to play.

All you have to do now is plan your next move.

[boogiewrites]

Seeing Stars Pt. 23

Part 1 if you missed it!

The first half of the infamous third date. Eddie plans a romantic date for Star at a place that holds special meaning for them. They talk about their feelings, their rights, and wrongs and Star confesses her deepest wants and fears about their future and falling in love. Eddie'll be there to catch her.

CW: None really, this is fluff, confessions of love, two young people in love and being joyful and terrified at the same time. (This chapter was over 20k total originally so I decided to split it up.)

After Hellfire, the club stood under the awning in the dark, seeing the rain in the parking lot lights pour down. Eddie had very eloquently observed that it was pissing rain outside as they’d emerged from their D and D cave after their session. They stood and sighed, muttering about making a run for it or waiting it out.

“Steve’ll be here soon. He should pull up so we don’t have to get soaked.” Dustin sighed.

“I’m not in a hurry.” Star shrugged, sitting down the spare backpack of Eddie’s she was helping carry.

“We can wait it out, wait 'til you guys get picked up.” Jeff added, the technical owner of the car that brought the older three members who weren’t in a relationship together to the meeting.

“You can’t get wet or you’ll melt, witch.” Eddie teased Star with high brows.

“I think you’ve proven that harmful stereotype to be untrue many times.” Star snickered, leaning towards him as he snorted back and pulled her against his chest.

“Ew, guys.” Mike gave them a judgemental glare.

“No one listened to me when I said it would be annoying.” Gareth rolled his eyes and mocked. “Now we have to deal with her asking if she can seduce the DM every session.”

“I still think it’s funny.” she giggled.

“It is but,” Dustin shrugged. “I think trying to seduce a dragon would be funnier.”

“I can take one for the party. I’ll try seducing the enemies before we attack next time.”

“You’re gonna die.” Jeff cackled. “A lot. You’ll be 5 characters deep before the end of the campaign.”

“Oh no, you’d have to help me fill out a bunch of character sheets, Eddie.” she said with fake woe. “You haaaate that.” she lilted and smiled up at him, her chin on his chest as he met her gaze, both arms hugged around her as he leaned on the brick wall of the building.

“I hate it as much as I hate you.” he grinned and kissed her forehead.

“Ugh.” from the audience.

“That wasn’t even gross!” Star squeaked and mushed her cheek into Eddie’s chest.

“It’s the principle of the thing.” Gareth shrugged.

“I could make it so much worse.” Star threw her head back and laughed maniacally.

“You’re riling up the troops, sweetheart.” Eddie shushed her and stroked her hair, pushing her face back into his chest to shut her up.

“Fine.” she mumbled, content to feel the heat from his body against the cold air outside, her fingers messing with the hem of his worn Hellfire shirt under the jacket he’d held out and partially wrapped around her. The conversation kept moving around them. Star shushed and let the feeling of Eddie playing with her hair comfort her.

The familiar beemer jostles into view through the sheets of rain. The headlights bobbed over potholes in the parking lot to light up the night around it.

“Hey, how are my favorite nerds?” Steve rolled down his window, pulling as close to the overhang as possible. He was annoyingly charming with his white teeth glinting in the lamppost light and rubbing his fingers through thick unruly locks.

“Triumphant it would seem tonight my fair, simple Steve.” Dustin said perkily, walking towards the car.

“Good so I don’t have to listen to you whine about losing the whole drive home in this…. hurricane.” He motioned to the rain broadly.

"We're too far inland for a hurricane Steve." Dustin corrected.

“He's already found something else to whine about.” Mike joked.

“Well don’t you two look cozy?” Steve wiggled his eyebrows at the snuggled-up couple against the wall. They both waved in unintentional tandem.

“Because we are.” Star said with a smile.

“You good?” He nodded toward them.

“Never better.” Eddie grinned.

“Did they annoy the shit out of you guys with their little back and forth this whole time too?” The three members of Hellfire who weren’t well acquainted with Steve outside of going to school with him in previous years looked at each other confused by the whole intervention.

“Not so much annoying as frustrating.” Jeff shrugged.

“They’re more annoying now that they’re together, to be honest.” Gareth added with a nervous chuckle.

“Yeah, we have to deal with them flirting during sessions now.”

“I can’t be judgemental, flirting is my favorite pastime.” Steve grinned.

“We know how much you love to flirt with Eddie, Steve.” Star snickered. “Only person better at it than I am.”

“Did you do the thing I said?” He added with high brows.

“What thing?” Eddie looked down at Star amused.

“I told her she should say some cheesy stuff when you guys do your… rolling the dice stuff. The activate seduction spell or… whatever it is.”

“YOU told her to make that lame ass joke?” Garrett looked confused but amused.

“I told her to seduce the enemies. Might be a more fruitful endeavor.” Dustin added now settled into the backseat.

“That's kinda gross man” Steve muttered.

“You’ve been mad at me and it was the least suspecting person the whole time.” Star said proudly.

“Steve, you’re a nerd.” Eddie grinned. “Join the alliance and come play some time.” He sounded genuine and not as teasing as he expected to. “You’re already giving tips to Lady Sandys here, you might as well.”

“No way.” He shook his head. “I can help her come up with pick-up lines but that’s where my expertise ends.”

“I’ll get you one day Harrington. I’ll make you admit you’re one of us.”

“Not in your wildest dreams, pal.” He cheesed with a smile. “We still on for next week?”

“For sure. I’ll be sure to break the table this time when I give ya a big boot.”

“Please don’t.” He said with his signature arched brow, rolling up his window before bickering with the backseat audience and moving away.

“What the hell just happened?” Gareth asked, all heads turning to Eddie and Star. “I knew you were somehow friends with him,” he said speaking to Star. “But why are you watching wrestling with Steve the king Harrington?”

“Turns out he’s a pretty decent dude. She convinced me.” He motioned his head down to Star.

“I found out he was a good guy, and Eddie did too when he called him to pick me up when I got blackout drunk months ago. Then I have Robin in music class and they’re like attached at the hip. They come into the diner after work and we started hanging out. I don’t know how he was before but he’s a really nice guy.”

“That seems like the opposite of what he’d do to a girl at a party when he was in school.”

“After Wheeler, he did start slowing down. He quit hanging with Tommy and Carol, the pricks.”

“Yeah he got involved with the kids through Mike's sister somehow and they hit it off. He’s a good time.” Eddie added.

“He’s a reformed asshole from my understanding. I didn't expect a guy that pretty to not be a garbage person.”

“You’re gonna call another guy pretty in front of your boyfriend?”

“Eddies prettier.” Star giggled and turn to him, mushing his cheeks in her hands. “Aren’t ya my pretty boy?”

“It’s also just a fact.” Eddie mumbled from squished cheeks. “Believe me I wanted to hate him too.”

“Besides you’re not jealous are you babe?”

“Not really, no.” He shrugged. “You turned him down and not me so as far as I’m concerned that’s a big win for the nerds and a big fat goose egg for the yuppies.” He squeezed her tight.

“Of course I did.” Star said sweetly. “I’d say why but the baby-eared boys over there would boo me again.” She laughed.

“We’re gonna head out anyway. This is as light as it’s gonna get tonight. You two have your little date night now or whatever. We’ll see you at practice.”

“I’ve got some ideas for new stuff too! I’ve been working on those lyrics I brought last week.” Eddie added as they pulled their jackets and bags over their heads to run across the parking lot to their getaway vehicle.

“Sounds good!”

“Speaking of… when are we going on that date?”

“During the full moon.” He smirked.

“The full moon?” she hummed happily, melting into his chest.

“That’s when I wanted to do it.”

“During the…” she swallowed and took a noticeably deep breath. “ You’re planning things by the lunar cycle now?” She openly swooned, a shakey exhale with a batting of lashes.

“Mm-hmm.” He nodded, smirking as he watched her become flustered. “Big night. Big emotions. Big moon. Makes sense.”

“That’s… true.” She nodded biting her lip and looking at his. “You’ve never been more attractive.” She whispered her lips wet and open as she gazed up at him. “I have a man who takes the moon phase into account when planning a date?” She whimpered. “Jesus Christ I need to calm down.” She looked away as Eddie chuckled. “I didn’t think that would turn me on so much.” She said a bit high-pitched. “Need to save all that energy I suppose.” She looked back at him as he nodded. “What are we…” she shook her head to clear it. “Doing again?”

“It’s a surprise.” He said with a playful lilt.

“I needed to be comfy? Or wear shoes that wouldn’t hurt.”

“Dress warm, for outside. And yeah some good walking shoes.”

“We’re going on a walk somewhere?” She seemed genuinely interested in the idea and it eased his concern about her enjoyment of his idea.

“It’s a surprise.” He said again leaning in to press his forehead to hers.

“Eddie.” She pouted. “I don’t like surprises.”

“You trust me don’t you?”

“I do.”

“Then trust you’ll love it.” He grinned.

-

The nights now moving into April we’re still cold but manageable. The days were pleasant and bright when the rain wasn’t coming down. Luckily for them, the rain would hold off for tonight.

Star has been determined to stay cute and still be warm for the date. She had to wear some big boots because of the rain, knowing if they were outside she’d get muddy. But she wasn’t going to dress in something shapeless for a night like tonight. She wanted to feel pretty, to believe him when he called her so. As much as it was about them having a moment to truly reflect and talk, the physical manifestations of those emotions being out in the open were still very much on Star’s mind. She found herself wanting Eddie differently since they’d been together. She’d gotten her sustenance from cuddles and almost make-outs. But she had a new urge to want to crawl inside him. To be as close to him as physically possible. She wanted to kiss him and have them swallow each other whole. She felt a little weird, like some horny Leatherface who wanted to live in her boyfriend's skin. It was even entirely about sex! That was the wildest thing to her. She felt as if she couldn’t be close enough, couldn’t get anywhere near physical enough to properly convey how much she wanted to be with him. She was hoping she could have sex tonight. Not sex as she'd come to know it, but the words make love still made her nose twitch a little in embarrassment. But that’s what it was. She hoped her boyfriend would make love to her tonight. She chuckled, cracking a joke to herself about saving it for the honeymoon. Then she pouted, a happy one full of whimsy thinking about marrying Eddie. She shook her head, surprised at herself every time she thought about the things she’d made fun of before. She was hopeless and no better than any girl in a romantic comedy now. It felt too good to care.

She was still floating and giddy, hearing the hiss of tires on the damp road outside as she bopped around her trailer turning off lamps and gathering her bigger crossbody bag. She opened the trailer door and bound out, her hair and chest bouncing in her tight sweater before she came to a stop.

“What the hell?” She said with a crinkle of her face. “What are you doing here?” She squeaked out.

Steve Harrington was standing by his car, surprised at how quickly she left the airstream upon his arrival.

“Well don’t you look pretty all dressed up and excited.” His genuine compliment caught her off guard with batting lashes.

“I thought you were Eddie. We’ve got a date tonight. Wait, you know that.” She held out her hands in confusion.

“I do. That’s why I’m here. He sent me.”

“He… sent you?”

“I know what he’s up to. And I was tasked with picking you up and dropping you off.”

“And he can’t do that why?”

“Part of the surprise.”

“I ha-“

“Hate surprises. We know! Get in the car, we’re losing daylight.” He snapped his fingers. She obeyed and trotted in her layers of thick opaque tights under her corduroy pinafore. She ditched the puffy jacket in the car as the Harrington chariot was beyond toasty inside compared to the cavernous van Eddie drove.

“Can I get a hint?”

“Open the glove box.” Steve grinned. She popped the handle to find a map.

“I know we’re a bit out of town but are we going that far?”

“Nah.” Steve shook his head. “Or I’m not anyway.”

“I hate these riddles. This is real life, not D and D. I don’t want to be chauffeured by some bridge troll whose riddles 3 I must answer.”

“Good to know you’re not as big of a nerd as I thought.” Steve grinned.

“I’d be into this if I knew what was happening. I don’t play well with the unknown.”

“Relax. He had a cute idea. I gotta give the guy credit. Under my wing, he’s turning into a real lady killer.”

“We’re driving in the middle of nowhere so maybe saying he’s a lady killer isn’t the best choice of words?”

“Good point. He’s turning into a real charmer.”

“He’s always been charming.” She gave a blushing smile, looking down.

“Different strokes, different folks.” Steve shrugged.

“He charmed you out of your clothes you have no room to talk.”

“I told you, I let him borrow some clothes! That’s the weirdest way to say that.” He complained and Star laughed.

“He charmed me out of mine too Stevie doesn’t worry. No shame. You’re in good company.” She snorted. “We’re going on a hike?” She tapped her fingers over the highlighted path on the park's map.

“You are.”

“Alone?” Star frowned.

“It’s a walk it’s not even a hike.” Steve clarified. “You’re barely going a couple of miles and it’s all a well-beaten, marked trail. You’ll be fine.”

“I can navigate a city without much issue but throw me in the woods and I might as well just have bear food written on my forehead.”

“There aren’t bears around here.” He laughed.

“When you have to call out a search party tonight when I don’t show up to whatever this end point is you won’t be laughing.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. You and Eddie were made for each other I swear. The only two who could put up with your theater kid level energy.”

“It’s a lot like jock energy. Both very high-level and physical. Both involve a lot of handling balls.” Star chuckled.

“Except jocks do it in public and you do it in private.” Steve joined in on the joke.

“You handle plenty of balls in private, I'm sure Steve.”

“Oh, my Wednesday nights?” He snorted out a dorky laugh that made Star wanna pinch his cheek.

“I’m really glad you and Eddie became friends, you know.”

“Aw shucks.” He goofed. “He’s a good guy. A little weird but then again he thinks I’m a little weird so what does weird even mean anyway?” He Shrugged. “I’m glad you two are together too. For what it’s worth. You make sense together.”

“And we can do stuff like this now too. Him getting you in on his little schemes. Maybe we can all three hang out. Or four I should say, Robin would be furious if we left her out.” Steve laughed and nodded.

“You two can have the time you need alone tonight and once you come up for air from your nasty little love nest I’m sure you’re gonna disappear into this weekend you can call me up and we’ll plan something, alright?”

“I take it your part of this date is coming to an end?” She felt the car slowing, Steve pulling off the paved road.

“Afraid so.” He sucked his teeth. “That trailhead is the path on that map. This.” He grabbed a flashlight from the back seat and handed it to her. “Is for you just in case it starts getting dark. It shouldn’t be more than a half hour.”

“He better have something special at the end of this. Making me walk alone for hours.”

“Again with the theatrics. You like being out in nature. Get a good pace and enjoy the scenery. It’s really beautiful out here. Give it a chance.”

“Man, you can get a girl to agree to anything.” She pinched his cheek and he smacked her hand away making her laugh. “You’re right. I just hate not knowing.”

“Don’t worry. Don’t think about it too much. You two will have a great night. Use the walk to think of what you wanna say, you know? Get in the right headspace.”

“That’s the plan. Thanks, Steve. For driving me and helping him out with this.”

“Eh, worst case scenario I get to be the last person who sees you alive.”

“Steve!” She squealed and laughed.

“Now go on! Get!” He slapped her thigh and unlocked the door. “Go make that freaks dreams come true.” He shot her a wholesome smile before she watched the expensive car shrink to nothing as it drove away.

She looked at the map in her hand after snuggling into the puffer coat that had protected her from a couple of Chicago winters. The flashlight that could double as a weapon was shoved into her bag, barely room left in it as it was. It was near dusk, still plenty of light, and the moon would be bright if the clouds stayed away, she wasn’t entirely concerned about her ability to do this, but she was partially convinced she’d get lost.

Luckily for her, the path was well laid out, as promised. There were intermittent signs when paths forked or connected and although it was far darker sooner under the thick canopy of evergreens she was still managing alright. She noticed the trail stopped right at the water, wondering if she’d end up having to get wet. She wondered if rain boots would’ve been a better choice. As the sky turned into a watercolor painting, it grew colder and she could hear what took her a while to convince herself was music being played up ahead. She figured she was getting close.

Over the small hill, she saw the trees drop off, as she made her way with slower steps, being sure to not breathe so heavily when she finally got to Eddie. The sky came into view, a backdrop of mountains and a skyline that immediately looked familiar. She sidestepped down as the trail ended, the thick trees stopping for sandier earth to break through to a small clearing with a picnic table and a valley view of the far side of the lakes.

Eddie stood in his layers, one of the many scarves Star had made him on but not wrapped around his neck. He swayed as he took his handful of rocks, slipping them across the surface of the water. Star took it in for a moment. The beautiful view, both of the landscape and Eddie letting out small grunts and noises of approval or dissatisfaction at his skipping attempts. She was pulled back to the chilly night in October they'd run from the cops and ended up here. It felt like a lifetime ago now, but it’d only been mere months. A song from the mixtape she made was playing softly from a boom box on the seat of the table. An old camping heat lamp sat on top with a glowing light around it. Blankets covered the seats and tabletop, and another stuffed into the bags under the table. He’d made a cozy little spot for them, one with a fond memory attached. Any annoyance she’d had for having to walk alone was quickly forgotten, being touched by the effort he’d put in.

Eddie spun all the way around with a throwing attempt, stopping himself and stumbling a bit when he saw Star's appearance against the tree line.

“Star! Hey! You made it!” He lit up like a Christmas tree at the sight of her, making her smile go soft, tipped with pinked cheeks from her brisk walk and the nippy air. A few strands of hair fell out around her face, her beanie snug on her head.

“It took a little longer than I expected.” She stated in place as he jogged the short distance toward her to bring her into a hug.

“I figured we’d be here a while don’t worry about it. I was prepared no matter how long you took.” He said supportively, pulling away to have his hands rest on her arms. “Leave it to you to find a way to make comfortable warm clothes cute.” He dropped his fingers to the buttons on her dress, a cream turtleneck under a burnt orange corduroy pinafore paired with layers of thick knit tights. Her black jacket went past her waist, long and sturdy to hold up against the Chicago winter wind. She was perfectly warm and had made many attempts to look cute while doing so.

“I’m not gonna lie, I tried very hard to.” She gave a light laugh as she looked to study him in his layers of knit, leather, and denim. He was wearing long johns under his jeans, she could see the soft material instead of his knobby scarred knees that usually glimpsed through the worn and styled holes.

“You were very successful.” He said with a warm smile, kissing her cheek. His lips were warm, but his nose was cold. “You sure you’re warm in a dress? Let’s get you by the heat.” He took her by the hand to lead her toward the table.

“I’ve got thick tights and then these knit ones over top. Not to mention shorts under the dress.” She lifted the almost knee-length hem to show spandex shorts creating another layer of protection.

“If I wore dresses I think I’d always wear shorts under them. Otherwise, I’d be giving everyone a show for free.” He chuckled and gently directed her to sit on the bench seat, already feeling her face begin to thaw. He hopped to the other side of the table to sit across from her.

“That’s why I wear so many long skirts and keep the short ones for you.”

“And it never goes unappreciated.” He shakes his head, his hair bouncing to frame his broad smile. “I’ve got blankets if you want them too.” He looked under the table and she smiled at his almost nervousness, tending to her.

“I’m okay right now. The lamp is doing the job.” She nodded tightly. “But there is one thing I’d like.”

“What?” He looked with high brows, hands on the table ready to jump when she said.

“I’d rather you sit next to me.” She pushed her chin to her shoulder in a sweet addition to her words.

“Yeah?” He gave a crooked smile as if he were touched by the simple request. “I brought some food I didn’t wanna crowd you.”

“You couldn’t crowd me even if you were inside me, Eddie, c’mere.” She lightly laughed and pat the bench by her. He clumsily threw his long legs over and jumped to her side like an excited puppy.

“It gets a little crowded inside you sometimes.” He joked with a big smile as he slid in next to her, straddling the bench and putting her leg over his to get closer, wrapping his arms around her from the side.

“And whose fault is that?” She scolded playfully, tapping his pink nose. He took her hands into his.

“It’s hard being gods favorite.” He pouted and sent Star into a laugh. She sat and watched as he dutifully tended to her cold hands, rubbing and blowing in cycles. He kissed her bare skin and breathed with a hiss into his hands to warm hers. “You find the place okay?”

“Well enough. I wasn’t the happiest about not knowing where I was going but now that I’m here I get why you didn’t tell me.”

“So you DO remember it?”

“Of course I do, not every day you get to run from the cops.” She nodded to the quickly turning navy sky. “Or that view.”

“I thought it’d be nice to go somewhere where we couldn’t be disturbed. That had some meaning for us.”

“It was very clever. I see why you came before I did. You brought enough stuff you probably broke your back carrying it all you poor thing.” She doted on him, turning to face him more head-on with a leg bent onto the bench. She rubbed his arms and squeezed his lean but strong arms in an attempt to soothe them.

“It wasn’t too bad.” He looked at her hands bashfully, the act of being loved on still something that he wasn’t used to. “I did bring us some food. I figured you’d be hungry after that walk.”

“You thought of everything.” She leaned in and pecked his lips and his lashes fluttered for a moment at the sudden contact.

“Didn’t want you cranky.” He leaned in and teased.

“Me? Cranky? Never.” she raspberries her lips.

“Uh huh sure.” He raise his brows, voice cracking as he sold the insincerity. He leaned down to open the small cooler he’d put bowls into. “I will agree with you only to keep to the terms of the boyfriend contract I agreed to.” He grinned. “Hell yeah, they aren’t cold yet.” He muttered, handing her a plastic butter container that still felt warm to the touch.

“The great mystery of what’s in the leftover butter container.” She chuckled as he pulled out another. She reached down to pop the lid and he put his hand over hers suddenly. Star blinked up confused.

“I tried it and I don’t think it’s bad but if it is you can tell me. If won't hurt my feelings.”

“Yes, it would.” Star teased and Eddie bashfully looked away.

“I would get over. I could use some constructive criticism. From you. Because I love your food. I want to be able to make you food too.” He almost mumbled it, as if he were ashamed.

“I’ll start waiting until you come over to cook. That sound good? You can help me.”

“I’d like that.” He nodded with big sweet cow eyes that watched as he released her hand and she popped the lid to find spaghetti and meatballs. “I didn’t make the meatballs! But I mean I heated them up. They were frozen and I didn’t make the sauce like you do, it’s from a jar but I didn’t burn anything.” He gave a nervous smile.

“Don’t sell yourself short, babe. You gotta start somewhere.” She insisted, plucking a fork from his hand and stabbing into the steamed food. She was starving, and that might’ve factored into how good she thought it was. It wasn’t from scratch like he said but she was touched by the gesture nonetheless. She wiped some sauce off his cheek as he noisily slurped up saucy noodles. “Thank you for making us something. It was very sweet.” She smiled and gave him a soft short kiss. “It’s good too. I was starving. I’ve been too nervous to eat today.”

“Nervous?” He asked with a mouthful of mashed meatballs. “Why?”

“I know we’re gonna talk and I know it’s not like the ‘we need to talk’ sort of talk but it means me having to talk about my feelings and that still makes me as jittery as a virgin on prom night.” She chuckled. “I’m just as inexperienced when it comes to sharing real feelings you know? Talking about things that matter. They mean a lot and it comes with a lot of baggage but I promise I’ve been practicing and thinking about it and writing it all down so I can properly convey the things I want to.” She had a serious face all wide-eyed and severe with the lantern light becoming a harsher source of main light between them. His turn to give her a kiss for comfort.

“It’s just me. If there's anyone you shouldn’t be nervous around it’s me.” He offered with the idea that he wasn’t precisely that for her.

“Just you?” She chuckled, digging through her spaghetti. “Just the one person I care about most in the world. The one person whose opinion I’ll take into consideration over my own. The one person that has the power to make or ruin my life with one word.” She looked amused as she gathered another load of noodles onto the fork. “Just you.” She shook her head meeting his eyes, and a sigh before shoving another fork full into her mouth.

“You mean that?” It hurt her heart to see he even considered that she might be sarcastic about those facts.

“Of course I do Eddie.” Her voice was soft, keeping the conversation just between them even if there was possibly no one around for miles to hear. “I’m taking this whole thing. Us. Very seriously. Even though I act like it doesn’t mean everything to me sometimes for the sake of being funny, it’s always true. That’s why I’m so nervous. Do you have any idea how nerve-wracking it is to find yourself feeling things you didn’t think were real? Or that if they were, that you would certainly never experience? I may have a lot of life experience packed into my 19 years but I don’t have any experience when it comes to things like this.” She kept eating and talking, Eddie subtly smiling at her the entire time as she mumbled and munched, her words and face serious but the red splatters of sauce around her mouth made him find her adorable beyond her words.

“Neither do I.” He offered with a one-sided shrug, another mouthful.

“Are you as scared as I am?”

“More.” He said with a mouthful and it made her laugh.

“That helps”.

“I’m scared all the time.” He admitted.

“I am too.” She nodded. “I can’t believe I thought I could not care and be fearless. I thought I had it, I really did. I was stupid. Well, in denial. Now that I’m feeling my feelings and not ignoring them everything is so much. All the time.”

“It never ends.”

“Constant state of what the hell?” They shared a mutually understanding laugh at themselves.

“Well. I got us some pop for energy. And a couple of beers for bravery if we need them. But I’d rather do this sober, to be honest.”

“I would too.” She nodded quickly. “We can smoke later back at my place. You are staying tonight right?”

“If you want me to.”

“Always assume I do.” She smiled and took another oversized bite.

“I can do that.” He grinned sheepishly and turned his face back to the almost empty container.

“Did you have anything specific in mind? That’s a dumb question of course you do.” She pursed her lips.

“Hey, not a dumb question.” He reached out and put his hand over hers, making her look at his face. “I was going to see where the conversation led us. Did you want to start with something?”

“We never have a hard time rambling do we?” She gave a much more reassuring smile. “We can start with the bad part, the fight. I know we’ve talked about it a little but… we’ve had a lot of time to think so I figured it was worth revisiting.”

“Totally agree.” He sat his container aside, a hollow scrape across the tabletop. “You know I’m sorry. I approached the whole thing wrong. I had an expectation. Which was dumb. I didn’t understand what you were going through. But I thought I did. So I thought if I forced you to see things from my perspective maybe you’d agree. Or that by baring my soul you’d be moved to see that you felt the same way or… something.” His face winced. “I hate to admit how very little thought went into what I said.” He rubbed his nose. “I was scared. I don’t remember half of what I said.”

“ It’s fuzzy when I think about it. Did I hear you right or did I turn it into something else that I thought you were saying?”

“Exactly.” He said with relieved eyes.

“I’m sorry too. As you know.” She muttered in addition. “When you’ve been through things like I have, you do things that don’t make sense to anyone on the outside. Sometimes they don’t make sense to you either but it’s something my brain does because it makes me think it’s keeping me safe. Not saying it back was that for me. If I said it, now logically I know this isn’t true, but if I didn’t say it then it couldn’t hurt me because it wasn’t “real”.” She did air quotations. “It was my way of protecting myself from how much it scared me to feel the way I do about you. If I made it real, then I’d have to figure out all these terrifying emotions you make me feel and deal with them. That’s closer to the real reason anyway. On the surface it was Bobby. That voice in the back of my head told me I’d fuck it up. That I didn’t deserve it. All that. That was my excuse, to live in that version of myself that I knew already. I know how she works. She runs on fear and hides and is stunted and therefore things don’t change and if they don’t change then she can’t be caught off guard or hurt because she knows what’s going to happen. But… people are supposed to change. And I was holding onto someone who was holding me back. And I see that now. I mean I did then too I just didn’t have the balls to believe things could be good for me.” He reached out after scooting closer to her to hold her hands in his.

“I think I weirdly understand what you mean. Where it applies to me, anyway. The staying the same because it’s comforting almost.” She nodded in agreement. “I’ve liked people before, thought I might be falling for them in one way or another but when I’d tell them I’d be met with a no. In whatever form that was. Getting laughed at, patronized, ignored, rejected. I felt so strongly about you, that you… that we were different and that it couldn’t possibly go that way again. That I’d fix you by telling you how I felt or something. That was my ego, I guess.” He rolled his eyes at himself. “Then when you didn’t reciprocate in the way I thought I got defensive. And I’m sorry. For whatever it said that hurt you, I’m sorry.”

“You did hurt me.” She admitted with tight lips. “More than I thought possible.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you. I can’t keep saying sorry like it fixes everything I know I-“ she put her fingers to his mouth to shush him.

“I do forgive you. We were both wrong. I’m sorry too. I should’ve been more open with you but I was afraid.”

“Me too.” He had sad eyes but a small tight smile. “I mean, I had to forgive you. With the card.” It grew and turned contagious. “I’m but a mortal man. I cannot forgo the rules of the card.” Eddie watched as she hid her face in her hands and laughed.

“It was a last-ditch effort. Did it work?” She laughed, peeking from behind her fingers.

“It did. In more ways than one. The fact that you kept it at all told me a lot.”

“I put it in my bedside table. I didn’t want to lose it. I kept it close the entire time.”

“The fact that you remembered some silly little game that me and Wayne played…” he shook his head and smiled. “The action said more than your words did with that one.”

“Especially since I was precisely lacking in the words department.” She poked fun at herself.

“Except you didn’t!” He perked up and leaned in, taking her hands again. “The songs. Your note was simple. I heard what I needed in the songs. The tape was really what made me realize you loved me. Everything made so much sense.”

“I was hoping it would.” She rubbed her thumbs on his hand. “I feel better prepared now to explain how you make me feel but at the time I used what I knew. Which was music. Something we both love.”

“How long did you spend making that tape?”

“Oh god, days. Hours and days.” She laughed. “I ruined so many tapes trying to make it.”

“It was perfect, by the way. It felt so you.”

“Yeah?” She said shyly. “I put my heart and soul into it. Sweat, blood, tears, the whole thing.”

“I did want to know why you picked some of the songs, some were obvious but others I wanted to see from your perspective. I want to know how your brain works.”

“I can talk about 'em if you want.” She gave a hug of her chin toward him, offering a closed-lip smile.

“C’mere.” He motioned soft her to come closer. He stretched to bring the portable stereo closer. “Sit back and let's dissect your hard work.” He pat his chest and she gave him her back, letting his head crane over her shoulder.

“This is like when you ask me about your dungeon builds.” She smiled, him kissing her temple as she fidgeted with the buttons.

“Show me the method behind your madness, milady.”

“Not as intricate or clever as your builds, that’s for sure.”

“Made this hardened black heart cry.” She felt him shrug and she turned to see his face watching her.

“You’re the softest man I’ve ever known, Eddie there’s no hard black heart in there.” She teased.

“For as mean as I was to you, I disagree.”

“I hurt you, you reacted. At least it was honest. And now we can talk about it. You could’ve held it all in and lied and we’d still be where we were.”

“I like where we’re going now.” She put her arm over his wrapped around her middle.

“I couldn’t fit all the songs you’d played for me on here, but I tried to get the main ones. I had so much to say, ironically enough, that I couldn’t take up space with filler. You know what songs you played for me, you don’t need a reminder.” She clicked down buttons with her non-Eddie petting hand.

“You got the best ones.” He agreed, cheek to her temple. “You got the one that I played the night I realized I was in love with you.” He added softly, gently as if the information might upset her. Instead, she turned in his arms, grip tightening with an unintentional plea in her eyes as they looked up at him.

“Which one?” She whispered.

“It’s always Fleetwood Mac with you isn’t it?” He grinned, a slow rise into deep dimples.

“Has to be Make Lovin Fun.” She giggled a smile to match his in its childish joy. “You remember the night you realized that?”

“Hit me like you hit that guy with your car. Probably harder.” He chuckled.

“It’s funny because…” she opened her mouth to shut it and look away, a blush rising to her cheeks. “That’s the night that I realized it. With you, I mean.”

“You would choose the night I got beat up.” He wrinkled his nose playfully and bit her cheek lightly. “If I got you out of it. Totally worth it.” He smiles into her blushing cheek.

“Stop.” She whispered out a whine of embarrassment. “I don’t know how to respond genuinely to that.” She laughed. “I wanna make fun of you for being so corny but I like it. A lot. It’s very warm and fuzzy and I don’t want you to stop being all gushy about me like that. Ever. It’s the best.”

“Then I won’t.” His voice was light and easy and soothing for her fluttering stomach. “Why that night?” He asked with an uptick in his chin.

“Why was it the night you played that song?”

“I asked you first.” He stuck out his tongue.

“Dammit. Okay.” She acted as if she was annoyed to answer but he only squeezed her tighter. “I felt that connection and that was a lot. Finding you and following my gut. Then feeling so strongly I blacked out at the idea that someone had hurt you. That was also a lot to take in. But…well there’s a song for it, actually”

“One of the songs was about that night?”

“Yeah, the Todd Rundgren one.”

“Saw the light in your eyes.” He muttered as she found it on the cassette. “I thought that one was oddly spot on. Not just for that night but in general. I figured it happened to you like me, where you suddenly had it hit you. And you realize you knew it all along.”

“A feeling hit me oh so strong, about you. Then you gazed up at me and the answer was plain to see. Cause I saw the light in your eyes. Fuckin Todd out here making the best albums in history and a song that sucker-punched me right in the feelings. He said it better than I could.” She pursed her lips at the music playing. “I can still see it. I don’t even have to close my eyes. You all woozy and unfocused, me begging you to look at me and holding you.” Her eyes seemed far away as he watched her. He kissed her cheek lightly to not distract her. “You were lit in a Rembrandt light with the headlights. God, you were beautiful.” She sighed. “I saw your eyes focus on me, you saying my name, the lights bright and making those big doe eyes look impossibly wet and large. You looked at me like I was the only thing you wanted to see at that moment.”

“Cause you were, baby.” He said softly into her hair, nuzzling his nose at her. Remembering how she’d been crying and calling him the same pet name.

“The thought of losing you hit me like my car did Greg. I felt it in my whole body. I was faced with the fear you could’ve been… you know... dead or comatose or something terrible I just…” she took in a sharp breath and he saw her eyes shining in the full moonlight. “I realized I couldn’t live without you.” She looked down, her fingers picking at the cuff of his jacket absent mindlessly. “The way you held my hand in the car, kissed it. Caring about me during all that. It was too much for me. Scared the shit out of me. Even though it was exactly what you should’ve done. I mean, if me loving you was your goal. Which I’m guessing it was.”

“Always has been if we’re being honest.” His smile was oddly smug.

“Even though I told you from the first time you tried to ask me out that it wouldn’t happen?”

“There’s a thin line between stupidity and optimism. I like to think I move between the two seamlessly.” He grinned. “From that night at the party I was hopeless. Even if you were a little mean.”

“You like it when I’m a little mean.” She snickered

“You’re good at it. You haunted me for what felt like months and then you finally appeared and I knew I couldn’t let you slip away again. I didn’t expect all this, to fall in love and be forced into this… growth and learning all this about myself, they’re perks, really”.

“Really shitty perks.”

“But necessary” he laughed

“True.” She nodded. “You said you were okay with being my friend though. Were you really?”

“Like I said, what’s stupid and what’s optimistic? I was willing to be anything to you. If you didn’t change your mind I’d live. I’d have an amazing badass friend out of it and that’s a win too. I never bargained for all this.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.” He shushed her.

“It’s all turned out exactly how it was meant to.” He reassured her.

“You know. On Maggie May. Eddie May.” She chuckled. “I always thought the bit about you led me away from home, just to save you from being alone was about you.”

“How?” He asks with a snort.

“That you were lonely before I showed up here. That you asked the universe to not be lonely. And that led to the things that brought me right to you. You led me away from home. So you didn’t have to be alone. It all worked out how it was supposed to.”

“I love the way your mind works. I don’t think I tell you that enough.”

“You don’t.” She smiled. “But it’s true. I remember singing it and feeling it and it was like I was talking to you.”

“You DO remember it?” He asked, but shocked

“I remembered from the moment I woke up.” She admitted with a frown. “Sober me wasn’t brave enough to admit it. I cried so much that day.”

“You started acting weird after that. I had a suspicion you remembered.”

“You were right. I was just being a pussy." he planted a long kiss on her temple.

“It led you to be here with me. Tonight. Under a full moon talking about our feelings like two people who know a damn thing.” His voice held laughter. Star gazed up at the moon. It reassured her.

“I don’t know much but I know I love you.” She said willingly. Her voice was calm and sweet as if she’s said it 100 times before.

He turned to face her, his hand a light suggestion to her chin to have her face him.

“Let me hear it again?” His voice was a whisper but his face held back glee.

“I love you.” She said with the same calmness and ease. “I do. I mean it. I wish I’d said it sooner but I can say it more to make up for it now. I’m ready. I want to be able to bare my soul to you. I want to do these things that scare me because it makes me dependent on you. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life figuring out what that means with you.”

“You really do love me.” a statement not a question.

“So much it scares me. I don’t have an option anymore. I’ve given up control and given myself over to the gods about it. I’m here to simply love you as best I can while we’re here.”

“You want a life with me?“

“You sound like you have a hard time believing it.” her brow creased, head tilted as she looked over his face.

“I am.” his large eyes grew with a sweep of his head.

“Why?”

“Why? Exactly! Why me? I can hardly stand being around myself for too long, the idea that someone would want to be with me forever on purpose is a bit baffling.”

“I’m not you. I don’t see you how you see you. I see you how I see you. And that’s as someone worthy of my devotion.”

“I need to work on that.” he mutters with furrowed brows, looking away from her giving face.

“I think me being honest with you about how I love you will help. Help you love yourself by seeing you how I see you. There are so many moments that have passed where I wanted to say something to you but I didn’t. Like, a compliment. Or having a moment of being overwhelmed with how much I love you. I’m looking forward to being able to tell you these things.”

“I am too. I get so stupid sometimes just watching you. And I’ve wanted to tell you how gorgeous you are.”

“Like when?” She snuggled closer.

“Like the night we came here.” She hummed happily and shook her head up at him as he put his arm back around her, crowding them together.

“That was a fun night.”

“I didn’t have the nerve to tell you then but you were beyond gorgeous that night. Ethereal. Arwen level beautiful.” He gestured broadly and she moved as he did, jostled slightly with his exaggeration.

“Thanks.” She smiled softly. “I enjoyed the dancing. It meant a lot to me.”

“I won’t lie to you, I didn’t.” He chuckled and winced. “BUT because I knew it made you happy I didn’t really mind. But having you mad at me is the worst feeling ever. I had to step up and do something that night. Robin talked me into it.”

“She’s weirdly good at that when she isn’t trying.”

“Right? Sometimes I guess I need someone to kick me in the ass and tell me to stop being such a pussy.” He laughed. “Especially when it came to you.”

“I needed the same.” Star shrugged away his concern. “I remember we had really good sex that night.” She giggled, looking down.

“It’s always really good.” he said leaning into her ear and kissing her cheek again. “But seeing you in lingerie was… attempted murder.”

“Good.” She grinned. “I like it when you’re all gooey and grabby over me like that.”

“Noted.” He promised. “For as good as the sex was and as sexy as you were in lingerie and that nerdy role play we had going on, I think when we were here might’ve been the top of the night for me.”

“Here?” She asked with a tilted head.

“You remember what you said?” He asked with a kind tone, lifting a piece of the blanket on the tabletop. “About all these markings?” She looked for a moment, her fingertips doing just as they had then, and explored the untold love stories adorning the weathered wood.

“I was really in my feelings wasn’t I?” She grinned at her past self. “Talking about romance when it was happening to me right at that moment.” She shook her head, amused at her frightened self. “You were so nice to me about it.” She met his eyes, black and large in the now navy sky reflected in them.

“It hit me. What you said. It was poignant, really. I saw how soft you were for a fraction of a second and I didn’t want to lose her.”

“You don’t have to worry about that now.” She let out a happy sigh, feeling his grip on her hand tighten. “You’re not gonna lose me. I’ll keep trying to be her, that soft girl. Promise. She just scares me a bit sometimes is all.” She let out an amused huff.

“She’s a poet.” He said supportively. “Talking about immortality through love and life after death through being remembered. It was beautiful, Star.” His earnest tone had always cut her down so quickly. She was weak to it, the tenderness of his hard appearance juxtaposed. “I might’ve stolen some of it actually?” He let out a grin with a wrinkled nose and rubbed his thigh nervously before returning his hand to hers.

“Stole it?” She laughed.

“For a song. I’d been sitting on it for a while. I didn’t want the guys giving me shit for writing a love song, you know? But being immortal because of love? That sounds metal as fuck.”

“Do I get to hear it?”

“Sometime.” He nodded. “It needs a lot of work. But there are lots of songs you inspired I’ve been working on. I have a journal too, ya know. It’s not a diary like yours but it’s got my more artistic stuff in it.”

“You wrote songs about me?” Her voice was higher pitched as her eyes gave away how much the gesture touched her.

“Of course I did. Most of my first album is gonna be about you you know.” He grinned and kissed her head.

“Do I get a cut?” She teased.

“I mean if we were married you’d be getting the benefit and money from it anyway.” he spoke with less confidence for his first statement, still a bit squirrelly and shy of saying the idea out loud. The next was far more confident and cocky. “Since it’ll be a platinum record.” He put on a big cheesy grin to hide the desire he had for both things to be true for him. She was soft and silent for a moment, looking over his face and letting out a happy sigh.

“You know?” She paused before meeting his eyes again. “I believe that.” She said with a single nod.

“Believe it?”

“I think you could go platinum.” She said seriously. He laughed and blushed, shoving her away slightly and muttering.

“C’mon Star.” He mumbled and hid behind his hair.

“I mean it.” She said, turning his face back toward her. “You’re special. You’re talented. You’re a hard worker and you’re a good person. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”

“You… seriously?” She saw the fear and hesitation.

“I wouldn’t lie to you about it. If I thought you weren’t good I’d say so. I couldn’t stand to watch you get heartbroken over it. But you’re really good. I mean you’re just starting, so you’re good for how much experience you have, but you have so much potential. You love the music. It’s not a money and chicks gig for you. I mean I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.” She smirked and he shoved her with his shoulder. “But you have to be a little crazy to make it. You have to love it. And you’re both of those things.” She chuckled. “I felt like I should say that. Since we’re together, you know. I don’t want you to write about me in your autobiography later on and say I didn’t support you.”

He looked like he might cry. One thing Eddie always needed was validation. He’d never admit it. But having someone build him up instead of tearing him down, to offer their support and love was all he ever needed from anyone. For Star to make him feel important and special. Not to mention non jokingly give him hope for his deepest desires and pipe dreams? He felt the prickle of tears.

“You don’t have to-“ he swallowed audibly. “Thank you.” He decided on, meeting her eyes and having her put her hands on his cheeks.

“I mean it, baby.” She whispered. He closed his eyes and a tear fell, a smile kissing her thumbs as she rubbed it away. “I know it means a lot to you. I have big dreams too. Nothing's harder than making a living off your art. We can be delusional together, yeah?”

That’s a hard way to live. You sure you want that?” He rasped out, his hands on her wrists.

“I do.” She nodded and leaned in close. “When you love someone you have to love all of them. And I mean when you really love someone. The kind that makes you feel even crazier than you are and want to believe in your wildest dreams because if something this good can happen to you then why couldn’t everything else you want? The kind of feeling that’ll make you believe in…” she stopped and gulped, feeling her mother in the back of her head as she let it all tumble out unfiltered. The tears warmed her eyes, beginning to match his. She’d promised. “I’m willing to believe in a fairy tale kind of love, a tall tale of a life now, Eddie. That doesn’t mean I’m not still terrified. But if you can promise me that you’ll be just as crazy as I am, to believe in this, in us. that we’ll be insane but we’ll be insane together, then…” she fluttered her lashes feeling warmth in her chest bloom.

She paused and took a deep breath and he lovingly doted on her, letting her take her time. He’d have waited years to hear these words from her and he was giving her the patience to let her do it how she needed.

“In Chicago, I went to see my mentor, a friend of my mom's. She’s a psychic medium and I asked her about the things I was afraid of. About you, and us. Because my cards have been telling me we were made for each other and I felt like you were too good to be true and I couldn’t believe something so picturesque could happen to me. But she told me you were a gift and my mom…” Star let a sob leave her and Eddie kissed the tears on her cheeks as they fell, feeling as caught up as she was. “My mom came through to talk to her and she said you were a gift and that I should believe every sign I'd been shown because it was all true.” She started to cry, shaky breaths as she moved him back to meet his eyes. “And if it’s true then we’re as made for each other as two people can be. And I want it to be true, Eddie. I want you to be it for me. My first and last and everything between. This has to be more than me being young and in love for the first time and being blind to logic or reason. Because I love you so much I don’t think I could handle us being anything less than soulmates.” She cried, she broke and let it out, a release that had been building for months.

He cried with her, grabbed her up, and kissed her hard. She stuttered and shook, lips trembling as they fought to kiss him back. When they failed to grip his back, she spoke with the rest of her body. She pulled his neck down as he kissed her cheeks. She moved to sit in his lap, legs to either side of his as they held each other. He kissed her tears away, everyone that had slipped past the guard of his mouth and trailed down her jaw and throat he caught each salty fear as it was released and took it away from her. He held her as she was, so brave and bold to confess her deepest wants and fears to him. He let her cry and snuggle, whimpering into his neck as she regulated herself, having gotten swept away and raw with emotion. Her breathing settled, a rise and fall with the occasional stutter, his lips to her ear as she’d sank into him, a warm hand to her head and his arm around her body to keep her close and comfort her.

“I want those things to be true more than anything.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to the shell of her ear. “We both love fantasy, right? But we love it because it’s about lives we can’t live. People like us don’t get those fairy tale lives, do we? But there you were. Thrust into my arms from the moment I saw you. And I've never wanted you out of them for a second since. And I don’t ever want you to not be in them. If you… someone as brave and strong and cynical as you can believe we’re special, that we’re really some cosmic pairing then, baby I’ll believe it too. With every part of this jaded, cynical, black heart of mine I promise you I’ll be just as crazy as you.” As he spoke she raised, face warm from his hair and neck and now his hands as they wiped away the last of her tears. She returned the favor, soft small kisses to his temples and cheeks as he spoke softly but full of conviction. He rasped and whispered, fighting the urge to be overtaken with emotion. He wanted to be strong for her.

“I love you so much.” An angel sighing out a love spell couldn’t have sounded more perfect to his love-starved heart. With closed eyes from her kisses landing on his lids, he kept them shut to bask in the glow of it. She kissed his forehead and his cheeks. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I’m sorry… to you and myself that I was so afraid of it. It’s still scary, loving you this much. It feels like my chest might explode when I think about it too much. Like there’s so much love there my body can’t contain it. It had to be this way so I couldn’t deny it I suppose. But I love you. So much.” She kissed his lips and felt him smile.

“Say it again, sweetheart.” He then felt her return the smile.

“I love you.” She kissed him again and he groaned. “I love you, Eddie. You and only you.”

“I love you.” He smiled and kissed her back. “I love you so much it makes me crazy, baby.” He overtook her in his arms, tightening around her like she might get pulled away. His hand held her head, keeping their lips from parting as anything except becoming one singular entity wasn’t acceptable.

“I’m.” She spoke between overtaking of her lips by his. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize, it’s okay.” He whispered am into her mouth.

“I feel like I have so much to tell you. I'm sorry is just one of a million things.”

“That’s why we’re here.” He put his forehead to hers. “I'm all ears.” He promised. “And all yours.” He saw a smile grow and overtake her whole face, turning into a girlish giggle as she hid her face away from him, the heat in her cheeks visible and vulnerable. “You’re the cutest thing I've ever seen. You know that?”

“Eddie.” She whined and his her face into his neck.

“Get used to it baby, you’ve got a lifetime of dealing with me telling you these things now.”

“I won’t.” She kissed his head. “But I’ll try to not let it make me all embarrassed.”

“You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed.”

“You’re so sweet.” She huffed it out like she couldn’t believe him.

“Something about you makes me want to be.”

“I’ve never felt like this before.” She giggled again. “You make me want to run away and hide but in a good way?”

“I don’t know what the hell I'm doing.” He gave her a big grin and it made her smile before she planted another kiss on him.

“Me either.” She shrugged.

“We can figure it out together.” He nuzzled his nose to hers. She sighed into him, letting her body go slack except for the muscles it took to kiss him back. “According to you we’re immortal so there’s no rush to figure it all out tonight.“

“Did I make us vampires in a session and forgot?” She giggled.

“No.” He said softly, “It’s a big reason I brought you here.” He moved to pull back a corner of the blanket on the table. “You were talking about love living on through the carvings on here that night. And I saw a spark of romance and hope in you I hadn’t before. Maybe it was from running from the cops or how beautiful you looked with the moon lighting you, but I got to thinking while I sat here by myself and I thought, you know what I want? Her. I want her forever. The idea of being immortal through time travel because of our love was one, metal as hell but also something that felt like such a pipe dream that I had to take the leap.”He scoots them down, pointing to an EM + SR on the table. She could tell it wasn’t fresh as she touched it. The winter months having worn the etching down.

“You did this back in October?”

“I knew I loved you even before then.” She swallowed audibly. “I thought why the hell not take a chance? Carve this here so I could show you again someday. Or just be a testament of my love for you for someone else to think about. Make it real just for a little while, like you said.”

“I think I love you is going to be the new I'm sorry for me because it’s all I know to say.” She confessed quietly, clearly touched by the gesture. “You’re such a goober but then you do shit like this and I’m floored. You keep people at a distance and they don’t get to see this depth and I’m so excited to get to know this man better. This bold man who declares his love with knives and a story when it wasn’t supposed to be spoken yet. You are ahead of your time Eddie Munson. I’m playing catch up to how brilliant you are.”

“The way you talk about me makes me want to believe everything you say about me.”

“Good. I’m not going to stop until you love yourself as much as I Love you.”

“I’ll work on it.” He promises with a small nod.

“I know you will.” She kissed his cheek and wrapped herself around him again.

A feeling of their compatibility being on show through a comfortable silence made them both lose the tension they’d held for the intense emotions they’d marathoned. They sat and looked out at the lake, music soft and filling the voids between conversations. Everything felt calm like the surface of the lake. Their future felt bright like the moon and both warm and cuddled together despite the cold that surrounded them. Once a yawn escaped Star, Eddie suggested they pack up and head back home.

He had an efficient system, everything fitting in or on the backpacks. The lamp was held by Eddie who held Star's hand and pretended to be wandering through a dangerous forest filled with monsters. He used a mix of a goofy voice and his DM voice, both of which Star was a fan of for different reasons. He made her laugh and he hopes the creatures in the woods appreciated the bubbly sound as much as he did. It wasn’t hard to pretend to be in another world that night for him. The whole thing felt supernatural. The way she played along, scurrying up to him and gasping dramatically when he acted as if he’d heard something. Then going on to squeal and scream through the paths as he jumped and grabbed at her sides, a cue for her to act scared. It passed the time quickly, both out of breath from not only exertion as they threw everything into the back of the van. She insisted they listen to some of his music, claiming he needed some balance. Listening to her stuff over and over would make it less special, even though Eddie disagreed, he popped in the first tape that’d been in his holder between the bucket seats of his van surrounded by crumbled notebook pages. She said they could listen to her tape again when they got back to her place. For now, they could cut the intensity of their conversations and simply enjoy the night be two stupid kids in love for a brief moment.

Part 24

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[epicsteddieficrecs]

Epic Steddie Fic Rec (January 9th-15th 2023)

Here are the fics I read last week! I hope you enjoy! :)

Complete

Refinancing Your Mortgage For Dummies (or: How To Fall In Love Like An Idiot) by Humanities_Handbag/ @humanityinahandbag (Future Fic | 4K | Teen): Eddie and Steve have been together for twenty plus years and married for one. No one told Eddie.

it's enough to make a girl blush by judasofsuburbia/ @judasofsuburbia (PWP | 3K | Explicit): or steve has a wet dream about eddie and a sinful blow pop and eddie finds out.

take a slice by infiniteorangepeel/ @infinite-orangepeel (Post-S4 | 11K | Explicit): Or, Eddie soft doms Steve into taking care of himself after the events of vol 2 & it accidentally becomes more than just a one time thing

🖤 Call My Number (and Call Me Yours) by novacorpsrecruit/ @novacorpsrecruit (No Upside Down AU, Parent Steve & Parent Eddie | 53K | Mature): “Fire department is on the way. Stay on the line with me, okay?” A buzz of a radio came over the headset. “Fire station 3 responding.” “Damn,” Eddie whistled. Chrissy looked over at Eddie. “This guy’s voice is hot.” Chrissy’s eyes grew wide. The voice cleared his throat. “Just wait until you see my face. It’s not too bad either.”

WIP

🖤 Steve Harrington's Radical Fun Time Babysitting Service by Humanities_Handbag/ @humanityinahandbag, Invader_Sam (No Upside Down AU, 90's | 22/? | 83K | Mature): Alternatively: Steve accidentally starts a babysitting service, falls in love, panics [in bisexual], and gets himself a boyfriend. (Part 1 of 90's Music Store AU)

🖤 Find Me a Find (Catch Me a Catch) by Humanities_Handbag/ @humanityinahandbag (Post-S4, Wayne POV | 7/11 | 52K | Teen): Eddie fawns over Steve from a hospital bed, Steve has a Grade-A crush, and Wayne is wondering if there's a way to ask someone to be your son-in-law without making it weird. Or: Wayne decides that playing matchmaker between a band nerd and a royal jock might not be the most glamorous job, but someone's got to do it.

🖤 PTA Shouldn't Stand for Pretty Tight Ass by Humanities_Handbag/ @humanityinahandbag, Invader_Sam (Modern AU, Dad Steve, Teacher Eddie | 13/? | 47K | Mature): Or: What happens when your former high school bully raises two absolute nerds, joins the PTA, helps run the bake sale, makes the best cupcakes in Indiana, and may or may not be having a bisexual crisis.

🖤 Same As It Ever Was by QuokkaFoxtrot (Canon Divergent, Time Loop | 10/12 | 50K | Explicit): “Deja-vu? Like you feel like you’ve done this before, because-” “No!” Steve snaps, feeling everyone’s attention snap to him. He lowers his voice, aiming it so that only Nancy can hear. “I mean I’ve carried Eddie’s body back to the rift in the trailer. Twice.”

here be dragons by pukner/ @pukner (Canon Divergent, Autistic Steve & Eddie | 2/? | 12K | Explicit): Eddie Munson has kissed a boy, and now he has to handle the fallout. He's got to grapple with the fact that he likes boys, likes a boy, and the harrowing fact that he may have inadvertently broken said boy's heart. (Part 3 of off-script)

you probably couldn’t see for the lights, but you were staring straight at me by ruinations (Future fic, Friends With Benefits, Rockstar Eddie | 1/6 | 7K | Explicit)

Reboot by plutosrose/ @plutosrose (Modern AU, Actor Steve & Eddie | 1/10 | 3K | Explicit): In 2012, Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson film a scene in the teen drama Normal Stuff that launches a popular ship on ao3. By early 2013, they aren't speaking anymore. In 2024, Robin calls Steve with an offer to reprise his role as Andy Hartley in a reboot of their old show, with one important update--his character gets together with Eddie's.

If you know someone that I haven't tagged, please tag them in the comments!

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Hairspray Flamethrower - Eddie Munson X Female (Future) Reader

Title: Hairspray Flamethrower

Eddie Munson X Female (Future) Reader

Additional Characters: Vecna (Mentioned), Dustin, Demo-Bets, Steve, and Robin

| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 6 |

WC: 1,650

Warnings: Mention of death, deep thoughts, Reader cries, cursing, killing of Demo-Bats, yelling, fire, and an alternate ending

While everyone was getting ready to fight this Vecna character, you sat by yourself, thinking. How did it all come to this? You never expected to end up here. If you hadn't jumped into the hole, you wouldn't have been here. But, if you didn't, you wouldn't have met Max or Dustin... Or Eddie. He was so funny and sweet.

Your somewhat happy thoughts went sour. You couldn't help but frown. What if you died? What if after all of this, if you did defeat whatever you were going to fight... What if after all that, you still couldn't get home. It seemed so impossible.

"Hey, are you doing okay?" A voice asked from beside you, snapping you out of your thoughts.

Eddie sat beside you, and looked worried. "Yeah, I'm fine," You said quickly.

He smiled at you shyly. "Are you sure?"

You nodded. "I'm just thinking."

"Can I ask what about?" He asked and you blushed.

You weren't going to tell him that you were thinking about him.

"I was thinking about how this was going to end." You said quietly, hoping he wouldn't press on the subject.

Eddie's smile faded slightly. "Me too,"

You looked at him, a bit surprised by how close the two of you were to each other. "Really?" You asked.

Eddie nodded. "It would be nice if we could go back to the way things used to be." He whispered.

"What do you mean?" You asked.

"Well, when you first came to our world, I thought you were pretty cool." Eddie smirked, nudging you in the side softly.

Your eyes widened, "Wait, how did you know?"

He gestured to your bag with his eyes. "When I first met you, I saw that device you had... The one that played music."

You nodded, understanding. You forgot to put it away when he first came. Laughing lightly, you looked back towards Eddie.

"So you're saying you wish we could go back to the ways things used to be... Aka, three or something days ago?" You asked.

He nodded. "Exactly,"

You sighed and looked down at your feet. "That's not possible..."

Eddie reached out for your hand. "Why not?" He asked. "I mean you did time travel... Maybe we could do it again." He joked a bit.

You laughed nervously.

You turned his hand over and looked at it. "I can't do it," You said as you fidgeted with his hand, playing with the rings on his fingers.

Eddie watched as you played with his hand, smiling quietly at you, blushing.

"Let's change the subject, what's the future like?" Eddie asked, trying to distract you.

You bit your lip, trying to contain your smile. "Well, do you want the bad news first or the good news?"

"Good news," Eddie spoke and you nodded. "Then the bad news."

You rolled your eyes, "Well, Metallica is still touring." You said, trying not to laugh at Eddie's shocked face.

Eddie shook his head, eyes wide. "Really?"

You nodded, "Yeah, and the bad news is that mullets are so out of style where I'm from."

His eyes grew wider. "Mullets?!" He exclaimed, then burst out laughing. You joined in, giggling to yourself.

"So, you're telling me you hate my hair." He concluded but you shook your head.

"On the contrary, I love your hair. Just some people from my time... Most of them think it's out of date or whatever."

Eddie felt like his face was on fire, and his cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

"You love my hair?" He asked.

You nodded and smiled brightly at him. "Yes, very much. Your hair makes you look badass."

Eddie gave you a sly grin, "And you, make me feel like I can take on anything."

You blushed, "I'm glad." You leaned in closer to him.

He hesitated at first, unsure if you meant it or not. You pressed in closer to him, feeling his warm breath against your skin.

"Hey! You guys! Stop flirting and come on, we got our weapons ready." Steve called out to you two.

You sighed and Eddie frowned, slightly annoyed.

"You owe me..." You spoke to Eddie softly, before standing up and grabbing a makeshift spear.

Eddie stood up and grabbed his spear and shield with nails. "Come on!" He said and you followed him with the others as you waited to go through the hole in the ceiling.

Steve raised an eyebrow at you two. "Can't you two keep your hands off each other?" He asked you as he stood beside you.

You rolled your eyes, ignoring him.

"You should probably stop flirting because you'll get killed." Robin spoke with a smirk.

You rolled your eyes, you knew she was joking, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's do this."

~~~

While the others fought Vecna, you, Dustin, and Eddie fought what looked like freaking Facehuggers from the movie Aliens; that could fly. You felt cornered, back to back with Dustin and Eddie as you made sure those Demo-Bats didn't get the others. Breathing heavily, you tried to calm down, holding your spear with both hands as you looked frantically around the room as you three could hear the bats outside.

Then, suddenly, it felt oddly quiet. Then you heard screeching and flapping, the three of you turned towards a vent, eyeing it carefully.

"They can't get in through there, right?" Dustin asked, Eddie shrugged.

Just then, the bats burst through the vent, attacking all of you. Eddie, Dustin, and you did your best, trying to fend off the beasts, but when one had cut your cheek, you snapped.

Glaring at the bats, you tossed your spear away. You quickly looked around the room as Eddie and Dustin killed the bats one by one. Spying

"Dustin, could you hand me that hairspray right there?" You asked the boy, who quickly grabbed the hairspray for you.

Reaching in your pocket, you grabbed your lighter, flicked it open, swerving away from on-coming bats, you weaved your way in front of the vent and lit the lighter, holding it in front of the hairspray can. And, combining hairspray with fire, you made your own mini flamethrower, shooting the flames into the vent, setting fire, and killing any bats coming through.

Out of breath, you stopped the flames. Turning around Dustin and Eddie looked at you shocked and impressed.

"Wow..." Dustin muttered.

"Now... That was badass." Eddie complimented.

"Thanks," You breathed, rubbing your forehead.

Then, you took the fire extinguisher and sprayed it all over the room, putting out the little fires.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" Eddie asked and you shrugged.

"The future taught me some things..." You murmured to yourself.

"Huh... Well, you saved us." Dustin said, looking relieved.

"We're safe... For now," Eddie added.

You nodded, before hearing the bats again. "It only bought us a moment of time."

"We should go, the others will be fine," Dustin spoke and the three of you rushed to the rope hanging down from the ceiling.

"Come on! Hurry!" Dustin called, already into the real world.

Eddie hesitated. You looked at him, worried.

"Eddie, come on." You spoke, gaining his attention.

You couldn't tell what it was, but Eddie had a strange look in his eyes. Placing his hands on your checks, weary of your cut, you shook your head.

"No, Eddie." You begged, tears already in your eyes, but he shook his head back.

Leaning down, Eddie kissed you deeply on the lips. It was short, you didn't want him to pull away. Pulling away, Eddie licked his lips and grinned at you.

"You make me feel like I can do anything." He repeated your conversation before.

Stepping back, Eddie called up to Dustin, "Buying you time!" He yelled before he ran out of the trailer.

Oh, no... You were not going to let Eddie die. Not like this.

"Dustin!" You called up to the boy, who was freaking out above you.

"Yeah!?" He called down.

"Toss me the other hairspray." You said with determination.

You only had pure seconds to do this and go out there. Catching the can midair, you grabbed tape from your bag and duct-taped your lighter to the spray can. Dustin dropped another lighter down, catching onto what you were doing, as you did the same quickly to the other lighter and spray can. Stuffing both in the pockets of your jeans, you grabbed Dustin's spear and yours before going out into the madness.

Running, you followed your gut, until you came across Eddie fighting off tons of bats.

"Eddie!" You called out, surprising him.

"Y/N!? No! Go back! I'm not letting you die!" He yelled, but you didn't care.

"Well, I'm not letting you die, so I think that's fair." You spoke, going back to back with him, piercing bats with your spear as he hit and knocked bats away.

"You think you could just kiss me like that and pull a self-sacrifice card?" You asked with a smirk.

"I wanted to be the hero." He spoke stabbing bats with his spear.

"You don't have to die to be a hero, Eddie."

The two of you fought together, destroying bats with your spears, knocking them out of the sky. Grabbing the two hair spray cans, you held them up in the air and opened the lighters, creating sparks, and shooting the flames. The bats flapped their wings wildly, burning, and falling dead from the sky. You continued to hit the bats with all that you two had, until finally, the leftover bats in the air, just fell to the ground dead.

Eyes widening in realization, you sighed in relief.

"They defeated Vecna. It's over." You sighed, dazed, as Eddie caught you, pulling you into his arms.

Sighing, you leaned your head against Eddie's chest, listening to his heart beat loudly in your ear. He smelled of smoke and sweat, but it was comforting.

____________________________________________________

Taglist:

@girl-with-an-orange-cat @mrs-billyrussooo @readers-posts @fentyreligion @emelieh99 @pure-fvcking-hatred @eddiemunson4ever @fuzzy-purple-crayon

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist for the last chapter

[sherifftillman]

An Unambiguous Love [2/10]: Meeting Munson

1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 :: 5 :: 6 :: 7 :: 8 :: 9 :: 10 ::

alternate AO3 link

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson x f!Reader

Genre: fluff

Summary: Your favourite customers really make it easier returning to the town you never went to school in. If only your friends at work would stop trying to play matchmaker between you.

Chapter 2 word count: 2288

A/N: Thanks for the love on chapter 1! This chapter also introduces my favourite non-shippable character to write, see if you can guess who that is lmao. I'll be updating these daily, thank y'all for sticking with it! &lt;3

It’s the morning after your first shift on the shop floor, and you’re getting yourself ready for your next one this afternoon. You’re really being thrown in at the deep end with a triple threat: new issue day, D&D supply launch day, and your first ever closing shift out on the floor. Thankfully, as long as your schedule still aligns, you’re paired with Ralph, who certainly wouldn’t abandon you no matter how quiet the day may be. You consider getting to the strip mall a little early so that you can perhaps get some extra encouragement from your new friend(? Can you call him that already?) Steve, but you realise that perhaps food is more important. Besides, when you do finally park up, you don’t see him directly in the window anyway. Perhaps he isn’t even working.

You head on in and see an already-exhausted Ralph tidying the comic crates. As you cause the doorbell to chime, Ralph looks at you with a resigned smile. You grit your teeth. “It’s been that bad, huh?”

Ralph shakes his head. “Ahh, it’s helped the time go quicker. Thankfully, we’ve got a little calm period now before the next storm… The after-school rush. Now, I’ll take the register for that, if you could just try and keep on top of keeping things as organised as possible.” You nod and take a deep breath in. Ralph notices and calls, “Hey.” You look up at him and he smiles reassuringly at you. “We’re gonna do great today, alright?” You nod again, more relaxed than your first. Ralph continues, “And I promise I won’t get a random migraine as soon as it’s convenient for me.”

Your eyes widen. “How did - Did Jesse get in trouble? I swear, I didn’t want that to happen, I didn’t mean to squeal -”

Ralph laughs, “Relax, kid.” Bold words from someone only three years older than you. “It didn’t come from the top. Not that Cam would risk having to punish his friend. Word travels fast amongst us here, just a heads up…” He walks over to you to bend down to your ear level and murmur, “Future Mrs Harrington.”

“Okay,” you step aside and hold up a finger while Ralph laughs. “That one, I am nipping in the bud. If a man being nice to someone one time means they’re bound romantically, then I feel sorry for all the women of Hawkins.” Ralph’s laughter intensifies.

The next couple of hours are an absolute flurry of teenage chaos. Comics are being thrown around, as are tantrums over the lack of issue 200. One kid, with curls falling out of his baseball cap, is instead parading around the brand new D&D section proudly, while loudly reassuring his friends that they can read his copy when he is done with it. A red-haired girl asks through stone-cold eyes how he could have possibly gotten a copy early, to which he simply shrugs and says, “I got connections. What can I say? I’ve been telling you all, I basically run this joint.”

The group surrounding him scoffs in disbelief. Remembering the names Steve used yesterday, and putting two and two together, you decide to have a little fun amongst the madness. You tap him on the shoulder, “Sorry, Dustin Henderson?”

He whips around and looks at you like a deer in headlights, swallowing hard. “Y-yes?”

“I take it that our exclusive deal for our most prestiged customer yesterday was to your liking?” you ask, raising your eyebrows slowly, silently willing him to play along.

He shows silent understanding by copying your expression. “Yes! Very much so. You’ll continue to have my patronage for a long time yet. Especially with this new section! I can’t wait to make new characters to use these dice on.” He takes handfuls of them and holds them up gleefully.

You interlock your fingers and place your hands on your heart. “Everyone here is thrilled to hear that you’re satisfied, Mr Henderson. Please, do not be afraid to call on me for any of your needs. I promise, I will deliver to you myself if that is what's needed.” You look around at all the flabbergasted faces of Dustin’s group, then once more at him to catch him mouthing a ‘thank you’ before he turns to face his friends again.

As you walk away, you hear him gloat, “You see? I am the nerd king! Bow down, bitches!” You take extra care in making sure the rest of the kids don’t see you accidentally laughing at the crack in his voice at that last part.

Eventually, things die down a little again, around the time most of the kids are going back home to their parents for dinner. Ralph looks almost completely wiped out, and you frown, “When was the last time you ate?”

Ralph shakes his head. “It’s fine, I told you I’d stay, I’m a man of my wor-”

You interrupt him, “You can’t teach me if you’re passed out. Just go grab a burger and some fries from the diner, as long as you’re back to teach me how to close up, I’ll be fine for a while yet.”

Ralph thanks you profusely as he leaves to go eat. Having to switch between tidying and ringing up really isn’t as bad as you were anticipating. A few angry people demanding certain issues that have already sold out don’t even phase you too much. 

As if by fate, you have a split second where it is just you and the stock out on the shop floor. You bask in the silence, the sheer amount of space without so many people crammed in every aisle… And then, in he walks. Grungy style, long dark hair, rings adorning every finger. He makes a beeline for the D&D section, immediately picking up a Player’s Handbook and skimming the pages delightedly. You watch him gleefully explore the store before eventually emptying his arms onto your checkout counter. His vibe is somehow nothing you’d expect from someone with his aesthetic, but also it all seems to… Fit him, somehow. He’s got the book, several dice sets, and a tray. “Just a few things, then,” you muse.

He chuckles, “Yeah, well. My old tray has not been holding well over my last campaign. The Hellfire club sure know how to cause total destructive mayhem even in this realm.”

“Ooh, Hellfire. Sounds official. You guys play for like, any special reason, or…?” You ask, but he shakes his head.

“Nope, I’ve just had waaaaay too much time to run my little old high school campaign. Being held back a couple years sure has its perks!” He takes a long, lingering look at you, and the tip of his tongue pokes out to lick his lips. “Sorry, uh, should probably introduce myself since you’ll probably be seeing me a lot around here now. I'm -”

You cock your head in curiosity, narrowing your eyes and smirking smugly as you figure out who he must be. “Eddie Munson?”

Eddie’s face falls. “Uh-oh. You don't know of Hellfire but you know of me? That can’t be good.”

Your eyes widen, “Oh, no, no, no! I promise it’s nothing bad, I - You helped Steve Harrington create a D&D character here the other day, right?”

The corners of Eddie’s lips twist into a smile, “I don’t think you could quite say that. I certainly tried to, but with little success.”

“Oh, well, yeah, but I - I found the sheet and I got bored so I…” You pull out your sketchbook you’d left tucked in the drawer beneath the counter and show Eddie your drawing.

He takes the book from your hands and starts running around the store, basically pressing his face into it. “Oh my god! This is incredible! And you did that based on what Stevie gave you? Oh, wait until we talk about my current party - Would you do commissions? Could you draw my current party’s characters and then also every one of my NPCs? I need your art to bring this campaign to life, now!”

Your cheeks flush a dark pink. “Oh, well… I’ve never been paid for my work before, and even then, this was just a bit of fun… I even had to get him to pose to get the hair just right since he wanted that in the drawing, too.”

Eddie stops his pacing and returns to you at the counter. He slides the sketchbook back over to you, rests his elbows on the counter and his chin on his fists as he looks to you. “And how much would it cost to have you draw me, then, huh?”

You finally get to talk to him undistracted long enough to get a proper look at his face. His eyes are dark brown, almost black, but not in a cold and uninviting way. His smile is infectious, crinkling the corners of his eyes as he does so. You eventually snap out of your daydream, clear your throat and say, “It wouldn’t be fair to charge you and not Steve… But then technically I didn’t draw Steve himself, just basically him as a half-orc, based on a few things he wrote.”

Stil resting his head on his fists, Eddie gently rocks his head from side to side, “So what’s my D&D alternative?”

“Hmm… You take your pencil out and tap it on your lower lip in thought. “I wanna say… Half-elf fighter who eventually becomes a bard. You got that sort of energy.”

Eddie grins. “Are you sure you haven’t done your research on me? You can’t have just guessed that I’m a musician.”

You gesture up and down in front of you, “I mean, look at you, dude.”

“Touche,” Eddie nods, moving to hold onto the counter with both hands and lean on it. “Yeah, I’ve got a band. Corroded Coffin. We’ve rocked the hell out of venues such as Gareth’s garage…” His tone suggests he’s about to list a number of venues, as does the way he taps one finger with the other, but he trails off after the first while pulling a face to show there’s no more. You laugh, and that goddamn smile of his returns. “Nah, we also have a regular spot, I shouldn’t complain. Suppose I should probably pay for all this, huh…” Eddie squints to read your nametag out loud.

You slap your palm to your face. “I've got to stop forgetting to introduce myself.”

“Hey now, I didn’t even get to, so now we're even!” Eddie points out. He looks at the dice towers situated next to you and lets out a low whistle. “Man, I’ve always wanted a tower, just for like… Real dramatic rolls. But I don’t know if I can justify paying that much in one go.”

A smirk creeps along our face as you come up with an idea, “How about a little bet?” You take out a random d20 from one of the jars on the other side of the counter, and pull a dice tower up in front of you, between you and Eddie. You hold the die between your finger and thumb, hovering it over the tower. “If this crits, you have to buy it right now.”

Eddie’s smile returns, “And what if it’s a natural one?”

“Then I pay for it for you,” you shrug. “Anything else, we leave it here.”

“I like those odds,” Eddie nods. “Let’s do it.”

You drop the die. It clatters between tiers of wood until…

“20?! No way.”

Your eyes widen. “Oh no, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to put you out of pocket! Let’s just forget the whole thing, it was just a joke -”

Eddie shakes his head. “I’m a man of my word. Guess I’m finally upping my game today.” He gives you a reassuring smile as he takes his wallet out. “So, uh, the party’s kinda full now, but if you ever wanted to just come watch a Hellfire game, we’d be more than happy to have you. We could even put you down as a reserve in case someone can’t make it, if you ever wanted to play!”

“We’ll see,” you give him a small smile. While this Eddie guy does seem sweet, you're still a little apprehensive from the last campaign you were in. 

“I’ll just keep coming by every day, as long as it takes to convince you,” Eddie singsongs, in a tone you’re comfortable enough with believing that it’s got friendlier intentions rather than insistent.

“That’ll be a waste then, since I’m not in every day,” you point out.

“Eh, then I just get to visit my good pal Stevie at the video store instead, I’m still good,” Eddie smiles before handing you an entire wad of cash. Your eyes widen, but you don’t ask any questions. You simply ring him up, give him his change and bag up his items for him. He grabs the bag and lifts it up in a farewell greeting. “See you ’round!”

You sigh wistfully to yourself, and hear a familiar voice pipe up next to you. “Alright, I believe you, perhaps Harrington’s not your man, after all.”

You jump at the sound of Ralph’s presence being so close before shaking your head, your face turning a deep shade of pink. “Shut up, so I’ve made conversation with two separate guys. That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. I’ll remember that one at your wedding,” he smirks.

“What is it with all of you and assuming I’ll find my future husband while working here?!” you ask exasperatedly before noticing some comics that had fallen behind a shelf that clearly need your full and urgent attention.

[mytragedyperson]

Honestly kind of excited about stranger things season 5. I saw a post that said they were going back to S1 groups in S5, which is probably just kids, teens, adults, or I guess teens, young adults, older adults. I'm kind of lowkey excited to see how the other characters react to Argyle, if he's there which I'm pretty sure he will be.

I'm pretty sure Steve and El are going to die this season, Steve because they've wanted to kill him since S1 and El because Millie wants to die or wants more deaths in the show but also I feel like the Duffer brothers would definitely do something that ends the show as it began. We see a scene of the kids, now teenagers playing D&d before the show ends as it began, with will saying goodbye to Mike before going home, only now they're boyfriends. The show arguably began with the party and particularly will and Mike. It would be kind of beautiful if the show ended with them too.

Speaking of Will, kinda want a scene where he and Robin talk. Maybe Robin realises his feelings for Mike and talks to him about it. Robin adopts will and takes him under her wing.

Also I feel like, if Steve died that would be the thing that encourages the characters, all of them to fight back harder. Robin losing her best friend, the kids losing their older brother figure, all of them losing someone who's always been there, always been reliable, always put himself between them and danger, and if he dies tyring to protect one of them, maybe protecting Jonathan, that would not only encourage them to fight back, but also be a beautiful end to his character. And stancy don't get back together because that wouldn't really make sense for either of their characters or arcs. Also extra shootout to Dustin finding out he's dead or seeing him die and having a "not you, I already lost Eddie, I can't lose you too" moment.

Dustin doesn't die. I'm sorry if Dustin dies that will be too much for me personally.

I've seen people saying Mike might get vecna'd, makes a lot of sense. If baler is endgame, kinda want a scene where Mike is getting vecnad and El is trying to help him, it's not working, will tries and Mike manages to fight it and has a Max escaping Vecna moment. This would be pretty good evidence that it truly is requited and would show what the endgame is.

Will plays a big role in helping kill Vecna, maybe we find out why he was allowed to live. I know Vecna may have wanted a spy but why Will? When he was taken El wasn't known yet. When Vecna took Barb he killed her pretty soon after. Will survived, was allowed to live and later escape. He was used as a spy but after that the ficus shifted to El, stopping her. Either way El and Vecna probably will fight again and either El will kill him but destroy herself in the process by using her powers to much, or she'll lose and be killed.

Jancy will discuss their problems. Haven't decided if I think they'll break up or not but I do think they'll be endgame so even if they do break up canonically I'd imagine they'd get back together in the future.

Also possibly Mike and Will getting Murrayed in some way or Mike and el depending on which is endgame, preferably byler, because if they're not endgame it makes very little sense for him to be in live with Mike for 4 seasons

Also a scene where Mike either talks to El about the painting she apparently commissioned and El is like "I didn't commission a painting" or Mike rereads El's letters and realises the painting is the one El thought was for a girl Will liked. This could leads to Will and Mike having an argument about Will lying about the painting and Will blurting out that he likes Mike. However if this did happen, I think I'd be happier if Will was the one getting vecnaed and Mike trying to save him. Mike has another monologue but there's a clear difference between this monologue and the El monologue in that it seems more genuine and personal to their relationship, he references their meeting mentioned in S2, their fight in S3, how will showing him his painting in S4 gave him courage, how losing him in S1 felt like his world got ripped out from under him, maybe he mentions the jumping off the cliff to save Dustin scene in S1 in some way, maybe he apologises for forgetting his birthday, or maybe he didn't forget, maybe he had a present for him but never gave it to him because he was too busy arguing with him. Maybe he reminds him they're supposed to go crazy together, that it's up to them like always. Basically a big monologue mentioning events from last seasons and ends with Mike admitting he loves him too, he was just scared to admit it. Before this event him and El broke up because of the problems in their relationship that were never truly addressed or understood. And Mike saves will.

OK sorry it appears my predictions for S5 turned into a mini fanfiction so let's try and bring it back.

Idk what will happen with max but el will try to save her and, if she succeeds, lumax will be endgame.

Joyce or Hopper could die but I really hope they don't.

I feel like Robin could die but they wouldn't have much reason to kill her so probably won't, thankfully.

If el doesn't die and mileven is endgame, somehow, I feel like will could die, but this feels like it would be a less satisfying ending to me personally.

Obviously these are all just my opinions on what I think will happen. I could be wrong, they could just kill Mike or Nancy or Jonathan. Or they could decide to have Nancy and Robin get together. But these feel less likely and wouldn't make as much sense to me as the rest of what I've said

I hope we'll see more rockie but if we do it will probably be short scenes between all the action.

[decimalpointed]

ST Fic Prompts because while I love to write, there's a very good chance I won't get around to finishing anything I've started.

Ghost AU - Steve can interact with ghosts but knows better than to mention it or really talk to them much cause once you help one ghost out one time they all wanna chat. The ghosts can't do much more than be verbally annoying so it works out. Except then Barb dies and it turns out people killed by weird Upside Down bullshit can do a little more than talk to him. They can basically interact with Steve like he lives on their plane of existence. Barb saves him from the bear trap in the Byers house and they get along well enough because Barb is smart and doesn't blame him for what happened. She mostly still just hovers around Nancy and her family but occasionally comes and hangs out with Steve when she is bored and its nice. Bob is the same way when he dies, pops up at Steve's house to talk about Joyce and is overall unobtrusive. Billy and Eddie are both assholes who are not unobtrusive and instead love to mess with Steve. At first with Billy its annoying but then Eddie comes into the afterlife and their antics just build from there. (Originally saw this as BillyxStevexEddie but honestly it'd be great however really)

Modern Sugar Daddy Steddie AU- Eddie is a small time drug dealer who makes some extra money from playing shows with his band around the city. He has never been wealthy and is okay with that, but then Wayne gets cancer and suddenly he really needs cash. So he finds himself a sugar daddy because it seemed easy and quick and he is a high school drop out who was once upon a time accused of murder. Steve Harrington is his age, good looking,funny, and ridiculously wealthy so he keeps waiting for the catch. The catch is that Steve keeps a nail-bat beside his bed (which is scary as fuck), has a group of 6?7? teens that come and go from his house as they please (which every time Steve makes him slip out the balcony window and leave like a creep in the night so they don't see him), and when they are blissfully alone and uninterrupted sometimes Steve will just get up for no reason and stalk through the house with the bat in hand checking every window and door lock like 4 times like a man possessed. Eddie finds it weird and frustrating but he is literally getting paid to put up with it so he can't complain. Then when he is sneaking out one of the little gremlins catches him and suddenly he is thrown into this strange codependent family unit that really is a bit charming. (For this one I figured no supernatural stuff and maybe the kids got like kidnapped or trafficked by Russians and Nancy went to look for Mike and Steve and somehow Robin got involved and they were all captured (except El who grew up with the evil people) and a bit fucked up about it after they all escaped. Then the Russians could come back and Eddie could somehow get involved in it too and they falllllll in looooovvvveeeeee. )

Time-travel Hopper POV - Any combination of characters (preferably like 3 or 4) time travel back to the end of season 2 and they end up saving Bob (though they try to go back further but missed) . They are there physically instead of going back to like their old bodies and when they all get to the Byers house everyone is freaked out by these older doppelgangers who just kicked ass like it was nothing. Because it was nothing and they are from a post s4 where demo beasts have overrun everything and almost everyone is dead and a few demodogs feels like a walk in the park. This future group is hardened and missing limbs or eyes (like max blind but still badass) and they are quiet and disturbing. (Originally had this idea with Nancy, Steve, Max, and Vamp Kas Eddie being the travelers but super fucked up. Like Eddie killed a bunch of the group before he had control again, Max is obsessive compulsive about her Walkman always playing and is always holding onto someone, Nancy puts her back to a wall every time they get to a room and has way too many weapons, and Steve being a drug addict to the high he gets when he let's Eddie take blood cause then he doesn't have to think about shit)

[steddiebang]

I Wanna Be THE Guitar Hero  | Teen and Up  | 33,540

Author: @abbididathing (AO3, Twitter) / @theroundeviloftable (Tumblr) Artist: @hextotal (Twitter) Beta Readers: @songstone, @finalmoondragon, @sefestis, @teeniestbabbles

Steve surprises Eddie with the newly-released video game that he thinks is perfect for him: Guitar Hero. Shenanigans ensue, the game isn’t as perfect for Eddie as Steve once thought, and some tension develops. But then, Eddie gets a tip from the kids that changes his whole outlook on the game and he forms a plan to surprise Steve this time around. Or: a long-form prose love letter to established-relationship Steddie and their domestic chaos.

Fic  |  Art

Pairings: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Chrissy Cunningham, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper Tags: Guitar Hero: World Tour, xbox 360, brief mentions of Halo and Call of Duty, playing video games with your boyfriend, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, sorry only a bit of angst to break up the sweetness, just two dudes being bros (stupid in-love heart-eyed idiots), Alternate Universe - further future than canon, Not Canon Compliant, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down (Stranger Things), set when the game came out in 2008, brief arguments, some spicy make outs and implied spice but nothing too graphic overall, Smoking, steddiebang23, Dustin and Will helping the boys out as they do, mentioned Robin/Chrissy but not a main pairing, referenced smoking addiction and withdrawals from quitting, Making Out, domesticity remains my bread and butter  Trigger Warnings: smoking and references to addiction/withdrawals

[notsopersonalcharlie]

Scarred Hearts

Eddie Munson x Reader - Angst

Warnings: MAJOR STRANGER THINGS 4 SPOILERS, partner death, general trauma, mentions of being high

Note:  - Ya know.... I'm sad.... anyway please enjoy this, we will see where it goes together.  - This is just part one. Comment things you want to see for the reader and Steve’s future. Also what you want to see out of the reader and Eddie’s past.  - I am not 100% sure of the exact timeline that the season takes place over, so bear with my number of days, it truly doesn’t matter - I am also aware of the theoretical age difference, but this is a story and I like it so uhhh if you don’t like it don’t read it. - Also in my head this character’s name is Melissa (Mel) so do with that what you will. - Gif isn’t mine (gif also made me extremely depressed you all have to share my pain). 

“Eds, please tell me what the fuck is going on,” you were pleading through the phone. 

“I can’t baby, I swear I will call you later.” 

“Eddie, people are saying you’re a murderer. I saw you with Chrissy, we talked about this. I know you didn’t do anything, but Jason and the basketball team are looking for you. I just... Eddie, what the fuck is going on.” You could hear trucks in the background. He must have been at a payphone at one of the truck stops on the interstate. 

“Angel, I promise I will call you when I can. I need to go. I need to get off the road. I love you.” The line clicked and you stared at the phone. 

“Honey? Was that Eddie? Do you know where he is?” Your nose wrinkled at the way your dad asked. He had never disliked Eddie, but he had gone to that stupid meeting and he came back insisting he know where Eddie was. 

“No, dad. It was just Beth, she was checking on me.” You anxiously played with the ring hanging on your necklace. It was one of Eddie’s. He had given it to you months ago, for your two year anniversary. It had your names engraved on the inside, and he had a matching one on his finger. You tried to remember more about the morning Chrissy died. 

You laughed as Eddie stalked around the table. He was shouting, making faces, you were rolling your eyes. Beth was sitting across from you, face going red from the embarrassment. You would have been too if it had been a few years ago, but dating Eddie meant there were always eyes on you. He was always taking the attention off you though, making faces, blocking doors. He was always so sweet. 

“And you, m’lady,” he said, bowing and offering you a hand. 

“How can I help you, Sir Edward?” He loved it when you played along with his shenanigans. He admitted to you once when he was crossed and laying on the floor in his van, that it always made him feel warm when you did that because it reminded him that you didn’t think he was weird, or a freak. You had laughed, kissed the top of his nose, and reminded him, “Oh I think you’re weird and a freak, but that is what I love about you.” 

“Well, perhaps we could promenade.” You rolled your eyes. He just wanted to go outside and smoke a joint, maybe try to get you to have sex. He almost got you with those big brown eyes, bottom lip partially pulled between his teeth. 

“Sorry, Eds, I gotta study for my test. I want to graduate this year, remember.” 

“Hey! I told you eighty-six would be my year.” You smiled. He had indeed said that. 

“I know. I gotta study though. I’ll see you later.” He leaned down and kissed you, wrapping you in his arms before you could pull away. He squeezed tight. 

“I love you.” It was quiet, whispered in your ear, away from where the rest of Hellfire could hear. 

“I love you too, but I wouldn’t want to ruin your demonic image, so you better let go before someone sees you’ve got a girlfriend in a pink skirt.” He laughed. The whole school knew you were together, the whole town maybe.

“Wouldn’t want that.” He kissed you again, sliding his lunchbox off the table and disappearing outside. You didn’t see him till later. You had left the library during your study period to go find him, starting at his van. You were getting close to the picnic tables when you heard his voice, and someone else’s. It took a few quiet moments for you to realize it was Chrissy Cunningham. 

“I see you, pumpkin.” You twisted your face in a frown at the petname and stepped around a tree. Eddie smiled at you. 

“Chrissy was just looking to buy something off me.” 

“Eddie!” Her cheeks had gone red. 

“Oh, don’t worry. Y/N can keep a secret. She's kept all of mine.” You rolled your eyes. 

“Quit being so ominous. I was just looking for you to see if I could get a ride home before Hellfire.” He frowned at you. 

“I thought you were coming to watch the end of the campaign.” You normally played in his party, but this year you had chosen not to, just observing when you could. You were trying to go to college soon, not far and not without Eddie moving with you, but you still wanted to graduate with good grades. 

“Of course I am, I just don’t want to be wearing this,” you gestured to your outfit, you had your own Hellfire shirts at home, “and I wanted to drop off my bags. And remember, I have to go home tonight.” He always tried to get you to stay over, without fail, when his uncle was working late which was always. 

“Fine. Yeah. I’ll come find you later. In the liiiibrarryyy.” He dragged the word out. 

“Yes, in the library. I’ll see you later, handsome,” you said, tweaking the top of his ear and leaving a kiss on his cheekbone. Chrissy looked surprised at the sweet, knee-weakening smile Eddie always gave you right before you left him.

You couldn’t remember anything else. It had all been so normal. You had gone to Hellfire, Eddie dropped you off at home, saying hello to your parents and kissing you goodnight on the doorstep before going home. 

“Are you okay, honey?” You jumped at the sound of your mom’s voice, dropping the necklace back against your chest. It felt heavy. 

“Yeah. I’m just worried about Eddie s’all. I know he didn’t do this. Everyone is just scared.” She squeezed your arm. 

“I know. How about you go to bed early. I’ll let you know if he calls.” You frowned a little bit, wringing your hands in the shirt you were wearing. It was one of Eddie’s, too big so you wore it was a sweatshirt over your own clothes most of the time. 

“Could I take the phone in my room? Just in case?” She was slow to nod, but she did, and you quickly unplugged the phone from the front hallway and plugged it into the phone port in your room, before your dad could catch wind and take it back. You laid down on the bed and stared at the photo of you and Eddie framed on your white nightstand. He was making devil horns but looking at you with the most loving smile you could imagine. You were smiling right back at him tongue sticking out. Beth had taken the photo upon your request, but Eddie had made a joke and you turned to look at him. She’d caught your favorite moment on film.

You woke up to the phone ringing. It was dawn, the sky barely light pink

“Hello?”

“Hi, pumpkin, I’m okay. Found a place to lay low.” You sagged in relief hearing Eddie’s voice.

“Where?”

“Baby, I can’t tell ya. I know they’re gonna come and wanna talk to you. I don’t want you to be in danger.”

“Eddie, please. They’re saying so many things.” You could feel tears growing in your eyes.

“I know. You’ll be safer if you don’t know and I promise I’m safe. I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, Eds.”

“I’ll call again later, once I know what I’m going to do.”

“Please… just come home.” You knew he couldn’t.

“Bye, angel.” Both of you stayed on the line for a few moments longer before Eddie hung up. You sighed, burying your head in your pillow, before rolling yourself off the bed and onto your feet. You were in the kitchen looking through the fridge, leftovers that you hadn’t been able to stomach for the last two days that your mom left for you were stacked in bowls on one side, when the phone rang. You grabbed it while still looking through the fridge. 

“Y/L/N residence.” 

“Is this Y/N?” 

“Yes. Who is this?” 

“Hawkins Police, we need to speak to you about your boyfriend, Edward Munson. Can we come and pick you up for an official interview?” You frowned, closing the fridge and leaning around the corner to check the street. You could see a few boys in green varsity jackets asleep in a car in front of your neighbors house. They had been there since the morning before, rotating once in the late evening. 

“Would you be able to do it here?” 

“Why?” The officer sounded indignant. 

“Because there’s vigilantes parked outside my house waiting for me to walk out so they can bombard me.” Silence proceeded, and muffled talking like someone had covered the receiver to have a conversation. 

“We can get them to move along.” You rolled your eyes. 

“Hasn’t been working so far for the people of Hawkins. Can you do it here?” There was a sigh. 

“Yes. We can do it there.” You rattled off your address and they promised to be there at 10 AM. You reheated some leftovers and sat on the couch, staring out the back window into the forest. You and Eddie always sat there, watching movies. You would play with his hair when he sat on the floor, sometimes braiding it. He always pretended to hate it, but he always leant in when you did, eyes closing as you ran your fingers through his curls. 

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

It was 6 days. 6 days of the police coming by and asking questions. 6 days of you not leaving the house, just staring at the phone waiting for Eddie to call. There was two murders so soon after their first visit, and the police came back both times. Eddie stopped calling after the third kill, the one by Lover’s Lake. Beth came by twice, but the second time Jason’s goonies followed her home and she stopped. You couldn’t blame her. 

Your parents were just about ready to cart you off to New Jersey to “visit family”, but then the earthquakes happened, the ground opened and swallowed so much of Hawkins and the varsity jackets stopped coming to look for you. It was clear Eddie was on the list of the missing, but no one was looking for him. 

“Mr. Munson, are you su-”

“Y/N, I don’t know where he is. I wouldn’t hide him from you if I did.” His uncle looked sad, his sunken and red. He looked defeated. You were standing outside his motel room door, dressed in a skirt with Eddie’s shirt and his black jean jacket. He kept staring at the jacket.

“Listen, kiddo,” he sighed, squeezing your shoulder lightly, “People aren’t going to look at either of us the same way anymore.” 

“I would never stop looking for him.” He gave a weak smile and stepped back into the room, closing the door. The helplessness that had been blanketing you for the last week was back twofold. You were looking at one of the giant rifts, telephone wires hanging down into the smoking ground. You could feel it squeezing your heart. So you did what you thought would be most useful, you went to the high school gym. They immediately put you to work, helping direct people to the correct areas of the school to find amenities and donated items. 

You had been there two days when you spotted the kids from Hellfire.

“Can you take over for a sec,” you said, handing off the clipboard to one of the other volunteers. 

“Henderson!” Dustin turned at the sound of your voice. He’d been looking for you for the entire day and was starting to lose hope that you were one of the people that were right along the lines as they caved into the ground.

“Y/N, hi, I…” Tears were already welling up in his eyes as he began rummaging through his pocket. You frowned, your heart starting to beat faster. You had already been panicking, and the kid’s behavior was making it worse.

“Where’s Eddie? He said he was going to help you with something in his last call. He wouldn’t tell me what.” Now, watching tears roll down Dustin’s cheeks, you couldn’t tamp down the anxiety that was shoving its way through your stomach and working up to your throat, which was starting to feel tight. You thought you might throw up. 

“I can’t… I can’t explain what happened here. But… He told me to give you these.” When the kid opened his hand, the light caught dirty silver, an entire handful of Eddie’s rings. They had dried blood on them. 

“He… what?” You reached back, finding the cot behind you to sit down as Dustin transferred the rings into your hands. All of them were there, including the one with your names etched onto the side with a flaming heart with devil horns between them. How was he gone? Where? You had so many questions, but looking up at Dustin you couldn't do anything but ask, “Why?”

Eddie had made Dustin promise that they wouldn’t tell you what happened when he was first accused, what he had seen. Dustin scratched his head, using his shirt to wipe the tears. He knew you deserved to know. 

“Can you meet me by the picnic table in a half hour? I need to finish this shift.” 

“Dustin, wha-” 

“Please, just- There is a lot to explain. And I can’t do it here.” He hobbled off and you looked at the rings in your hand. They were cold. Eddie would always take them off before bed, hand them off to you so you could put them on the nightstand. They were always warm. They felt too cold now. You pressed the one that matched yours onto your thumb, but it was too big. The rest of them clattered together in your lap as you worked to put the matching ring on your necklace. It slid down the chain and crashed into yours with a soft clang. His was so much bigger than yours. As you put the rest of the rings in the pocket of Eddie’s jacket you frowned at the spots that had appeared on your skirt. It took a moment to realize they were from the tears that hadn’t stopped rolling down your cheeks. 

“Hey, Y//N, you okay?”  You looked up to see Steve Harrington of all people. He looked genuinely concerned, a child’s shirt thrown over his shoulder. He was holding a mismatched pair of socks. When he spotted the rings you were shoveling away his eyes widened a little bit and, to your surprise, he quickly sat next to you.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Dustin must have told you.” You were even more surprised when he put an arm around you and squeezed. It was strangely comforting, but it could have been the fact that the person who had come nearest to you in days was Eddie’s uncle for a squeeze on the arm. 

“He said-” you hiccuped through your tears, “He said he couldn't tell me here. He said he’d meet me outside.” Steve looked around, spotting Robin who was watching wide-eyed, knife covered in jelly hanging midair. Steve jerked his head toward the door and helped you up. 

“Come on, I can at least start.” Your eyebrows knit together, looking at him. What could Steve Harrington tell you? You didn’t have any heart to stop him from guiding you out the doors and to the picnic table. Seeing it made you double over with a sob. It was almost the last place you had seen him. You had so many memories with him right there at that picnic table. The first time you had gotten high had been with Eddie, before you were dating, your knees touching under the picnic table. He had asked you out the very next day. He was the sweetest sometimes, big brown eyes showing every emotion and flitting around to try to capture every moment. 

“Can you grab her some water?” Steve asked to someone over your shoulder. You could hear footsteps going away and you continued to sob, Steve leading you to sit down and squatting in front of you. He wrapped his arms around you, your forehead against his shoulder. You could see your tears dripping onto his jacket and some finding their way straight down into the dirt or to his jeans. 

“Wh-” you broke through the sob, “Why are you-?” You looked up now and found true sadness in Steve’s eyes. Dustin had appeared, along with a few of the other kids from hellfire and Robin Buckley. You looked around at them out of confusion. Steve caught your eyes and again and licked his lips before taking a deep breath. 

“Y/N, it really is a long story, but the first thing you need to know is Eddie Munson was a hero and we’re all alive because he was. And second, you need to know he loved you so much.” 

[carolinahope]

Stranger Things S4 vol. 1

I was really excited about S4 and Vol. 1 left me ... underwhelmed. It is as though they were juggling too many story lines and quite a few were just dropped. The appeal of previous seasons was in the different story lines that ultimately came together in quite a satisfying way. Here it didn’t happen. I do hope the next two episode will be able to remedy this. 

I was glad to see Hopper but this story line seemed as such a filler. As though they wanted to bring him back but had no idea how. As much as I appreciate bossy Joyce and Murray, it could have all been done in half the time it actually took. 

And what about the future Republican senator in the making? The character was so well written and played, and it was interesting they showed this part of the decade but this was another ball that was dropped in the last two episodes. I mean, where were they through this all? Where was the angry mob?

And what about the Byers Boys and Mike? It was as though they have forgotten about them, suddenly. Though I did enjoy their visit with Suzie. 

I really enjoyed Max this season and also having the Scooby gang back in action. But I’m not sure what they did with Robin. It was like she had a personality overhaul over the summer. And don’t even get me started on the Steve and Nancy and the senseless push from innocent bystanders for them to get back together. Who thought it would be a good idea? Why does Steve need a romantic partner? Is that all you can come up with for his character to do? I would much rather they explored his friendship with Robin than whatever it was we’ve gotten. 

I love Eddie. Such an interesting and well played character. He fit right in. I hope he stays. I need to see more of his interactions with the kids. 

It seems as though the Duffers are really good in coming up with characters but once introduced they suddenly have no idea what to do with them. 

Eleven’s story was heartbreaking on so many levels. The bullying. The fact they brought her back to her abuser and called it help. The flashbacks were interesting and Jamie was excellent and the reveal was interesting. But it all felt a little disconnected. A little abrupt. And a little for a wow effect. I would have expected a little better. Story wise it was done pretty well. I think pacing of it all is more my issue. 

There were parts of the season I really enjoyed. Parts that felt redundant. And parts that were just missing. Honestly, for me, Dustin was carrying the majority of the season on his shoulders. With a little help from Eddie. And Max. 

[ambrossart]

Roadmap for the Future

All right, now the finale is up, and Dancing with Myself is finished, I want to give everyone a heads-up about the plan for all of my upcoming writing projects.

Starting Monday, I will resume working on Paper Men. That will be my main priority moving forward. First, I'm going to be doing a massive re-read to refamiliarize myself with all the characters and teeny tiny plot points that I might've forgotten. I'm also going to clean up the formatting and fix any grammatical errors that I find because I found tons when I was just glancing through it the other day, and it's going to bother me until I fix it. That should take a few days, and then I will start on the new chapter. My goal is to have that up by the end of January or early February.

Once Paper Men is updated, I will be ping-ponging back and forth between that story and the DWM shorts. The latter will be released sporadically until I run out of ideas. Some of them will be super short, some will be long; some will be set in past, some will be set in the future; some will be set in the canon timeline or even an alternate timeline. For convenience, they're all going to be compiled into a giant master list so that it's super easy to find them all.

I know I posted this before, but here's a list of all the DWM fic concepts I have planned so far. Please note, some of these ideas might not make it to the page. They may get incorporated into other fics or disregarded entirely.

POST DWM FICS  

“Post Prom” - After leaving prom, Eddie and the reader go to The Hideout to reminisce and listen to some really shitty music. One thing leads to another and they end up going back to his trailer

First date - The reader is anxious about her first official date with Eddie and goes to Chrissy for a pep talk. 

A very awkward double date with Chrissy and Jason

Eddie and the reader rent a movie, and Eddie gets jealous because Steve Harrington knows his girlfriend's movie preferences better than he does

Eddie finally gets his “tryst” in the janitor’s closet

The reader gets high for the first time / the first “I love you”

“Handcuffs” - the reader tries to spice up their relationship, but overlooks a very critical detail

Scott Sloman gets released from jail and runs into Eddie and the reader 

Eddie tries to take the reader out on a movie date and has his plans foiled by the rest of Hellfire 

Eddie lets the reader join Hellfire’s final D&D campaign of the year and immediately regrets his decision 

The reader decides to write her own wacky D&D adventure

Graduation

Jason and Chrissy come to watch one of Corroded Coffin's performances

“One Last Sleepover” - the reader helps Chrissy pack for college and struggles to say goodbye

The reader leaves for college 

MIDDLE SCHOOl/EARLY HIGH SCHOOL FICS

The Shrieking Queen's Catacombs - a small collection of shorts set during Scott Sloman's massive summer campaign. This will feature a lot of inaccurate D&D gameplay.

Eddie finds out that Scott Sloman plans to ask the reader out on a date 

Eddie’s dad is out on probation and forces Eddie to quit playing D&D

Scottie invites the reader to watch one of Corroded Coffin's rehearsals

The reader finally gets to high school and sees Eddie for the first time in almost two years

AU FICS

Vecna Lives! - a collection of fics retelling season 4. Get your tissues ready, folks, because there will be no happy endings here 💔

“Four Phone Calls” - a Chrissy x Reader fic