#and he already has a family and Eddie realizes then that he doesn’t need a mother figure for Chris when they already have a Buck | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kennahjune · 3 months

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Jealous?

Thanks so much to the amazing @rogueddie for letting me write this!!!! Hope it lives to standards :)

Eddie had a problem.

A Steve Harrington sized problem.

Said problem was standing behind the counter at Family Video while the woman in front of him blatantly flirted with him.

It wasn’t the woman Eddie was worried about— she had at least five years of age on Steve, so maybe there was cause for concern— but Steve wasn’t paying her the time of day.

Instead, he was glancing over the woman’s shoulder at Eddie, who lurked in the aisles, and kept making faces and blabbling his mouth mockingly whenever she wasn’t paying attention.

Eddie was desperately holding back snickers and snorts. He couldn’t help but let a giggle escape when Steve moved his hand in a “blabbing” motion when she said something about her ex-husband (HUSBAND) again. The woman whipped around and glared at Eddie. Eddie gave her a finger waggle wave he realized belatedly was the same one Steve does.

Steve himself was almost beet red in the face with his effort to hold in his laugh. Eddie was amazed at how long he’d lasted.

The moment the door closed behind her Steve put his face in his arms on the counter and full on cackled. Eddie was quick to join.

They were still laughing when Robin came back from the bathroom.

“Is she gone?” she asked, looking oddly between the two of them.

Steve nodded, not having enough breath to get words out. Robin sighed a dramatic breath of relief.

“Oh thank God. Cause she looked one second away from bringing up some stupid shit like her failed marriage—“

That sent Steve and Eddie into another spiral of laughs.

“There’s no way she actually did.” Robin deadpanned.

Eddie nodded vigorously. “She fucking did!”

“Four times! As if bringing up how she was newly-single would make me want her. Did she look in a mirror before leaving? She’s closer to my dads age.”

Eddie snorted, trying to get his laughter under control enough to say “Even man-whore Richard Harrington wouldn’t go within a 20 foot radius of her.”

Steve didn’t waste a second before racking on: “Doesn’t need to get too close with how far back that hairline stretches.”

Robin and Eddie laughed themselves to tears.

And that was how it went.

A woman would come into the video store, shoot their shot with Steve, and Steve would laugh about it with Robin and Eddie later.

And it was fun. Eddie found it fun. Cause he knew Steve would always shoot the girls down, however nice or rudely he has to be about it.

Until—

Until.

It was a Friday, and as per usual on Fridays, Eddie was at Steve’s. Of course, it wasn’t just him— Robin, Nancy, Jonathan and Argyle were there as well.

They’d been hanging out whenever they all could before Nancy and Jonathan went to college and Argyle back to Cali. Hence the Friday night hang outs.

Tonight was no different, except for one thing.

“So explain to me once again why we have to drive all the way out to Indy for this?” Jonathan complained.

Nancy sighed and leant into him. “Cause there aren’t any good bars in Hawkins. And everywhere in Hawkins knows that almost none of us are of legal age.”

Jonathan grumbled but conceded, Wheeler had a point.

“Besides,” added Robin. “It’d be nice to finally get the hell out and see some new people.”

“Amen.” Agreed Eddie and Argyle at the same time. They both chuckled.

“Yeah well, I’d like to go soon before my social battery drains itself dead.” Remarked Jonathan, throwing an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulders.

“We’d have left already if SOMEBODY DIDN’T HAVE TO SPEND HALF AN HOUR PRIMPING HIMSELF!” Yelled Robin towards the stairs.

Steve had been MIA since Eddie got there at least 20 minutes ago. According to Robin he was still getting ready.

“PUT A LID ON IT BIRD-FOR-BRAINS, IM COMING!” Was the reply she got from the top of the stairs, where Steve was now coming from.

Nancy and Argyle snorted at the insult, but Eddie’s mind was rather taken up by the cut-off jean shorts Steve wore that showed more of his thighs than Eddie thought necessary for anyone’s functioning brain. He was also wearing what looked like the softest sweater he owned; a dark purple one that seriously brought out the green in his eyes.

Nancy whistled, Robin clapped. Argyle grinned at Steve and said

“Hey man! That’s the sweater I got you!”

Steve grinned right back and nodded. “Uh huh! Dude it’s like— SO fucking comfy you don’t even understand.”

The sweater was a little big on Steve, hanging over his thumbs a bit in the sleeves and landing just below the waistline of his shorts. If Eddie wasn’t so focused on the many moles on his thighs that were on display, the fact that Argyle had gotten Steve a sweater may have rubbed him the wrong way.

As it stood, Steve looked good.

He looked stunning, actually, in his glasses and his hair slightly ruffled in a delicate manner and his eyes wide and bright and—

“Eddie!”

He blinked and Steve was standing in front of him, no one else in the room.

“Huh?”

Steve grinned giddily and laughed at him. “C’mon dude, you’re my ride up, remember?”

Oh yeah. They’d split everyone between his and Argyles vans.

“Isn’t Buckley with us?” Eddie asked as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

“Yeah, but I think she’s sticking with Jon and them on the way up.”

Eddie nodded and averted his gaze once more. There was a reason he’d skipped gym and avoided the mall.

That reason was glaring at him with all of its dotted moles and freckles and faint scars.

Jesus Christ he needed a cigarette.

The ride up was uneventful, peaceful even. Eddie let Steve have control over the radio, something Steve thought was normal but was downright foreign to anyone else. Eddie usually fought tooth and nail for control over the music but the sight of Steve singing and drumming his legs (holy shit his thighs jiggled—) and jamming out with a bright smile to whatever Tears for Fears or ABBA song he put on was worth it.

He followed behind Argyle and reluctantly sang under his breath with Steve to Head Over Heels.

The club they ended up going to was a little deeper into the city than they’d initially thought, and was slightly crowded when they got in.

Eddie was immediately hit with the smell of sweat and booze but not in an entirely bad way. In a way that told him that people here had fun.

It was bright and loud and the air tasted like fries (though Eddie might just be hungry). They took an empty table booth in a corner in the back.

After dropping their jackets off and everyone picking a seat, Steve got up to get everyone drinks.

“You want me to come with?” Eddie asked worriedly. It was Steve’s first time in Indy in a while and his first time out of Hawkins since the fall of Vecna. Sue Eddie for being cautious.

But Steve smiled sweetly at him and shook his head. “I’ll be alright, Eds. Be right back.” He knocked his knuckles on Eddie’s head affectionately and walked off. Eddie may have spent a second ogling before snapping his gaze to the table.

“So?”

Eddie looked at Nancy with a raised eyebrow. She raised one right back.

“Soooo…?”

She sighed. “Oh you’re hopeless.”

Jonathan snickered.

“Wha—“

“Are you gonna make a move tonight?” Argyle elaborated.

Eddie shot up real fast. “Make a move? On who, Steve?”

“Yea, on Steve, doofus!” Robin reprimanded.

“There’s no board to make a move on.” Eddie pushed stubbornly. Because it was true. There was nothing there.

Robin groaned and dropped her head to the table.

“Dude, relax your knee. It’s shaking the whole table.” Jonathan tapped Eddie’s leg under the booth.

“Sorry, sorry. He’s been gone a while, right?” Eddie craned his head to look around the bodies of people dancing.

Robin huffed. “Yeah, kinda. But there are six of us, maybe he’s having trouble carrying all the drinks.”

Nancy suddenly kicked his leg under the table, a lot harder than her boyfriend had earlier. Eddie winced.

“Go help him.” Nancy all but demanded.

Eddie was up and away in a second, happy to have an excuse. He faintly heard Nancy and Robin high five behind him.

He weaved through the dancing crowd, bodies jostling him and pushing him forward until he got to the bar and finally spotted Steve and—

And?

Something bubbled low in Eddie’s gut at the man standing in front of Steve. He was taller than both Steve and Eddie, well-built and had a bit of a beard going. He was leaning on the bar next to Steve, sort of caging him in. The scene made Eddie mad for reasons he didn’t give himself time to think about before he inserting himself.

“Steve!”

Both Steve and the asshole’s heads turned to Eddie. Steve’s eyes lit up in recognition and relief while the man’s narrowed in anger at being interrupted.

“You know him, doll?”

Eddie wanted to make the man spit his own teeth out. Nobody else got to call Steve pet names. Just Eddie. It was an Eddie Thing, not an Everybody Thing. Fuck this guy.

“Yeah—“ Steve started.

“Yeah, he does. And yet I don’t think he knows you.”

Eddie stood shoulder to shoulder with Steve, glaring daggers at the douche.

The man scoffed and huffed, walking away and muttering under his breath. Eddie scowled until he could see the guy and his stupid beard. He finally turned to Steve.

Who was absolutely red in the face.

“You alright, sweetheart?” Eddie asked worriedly. “He wasn’t bothering you right? He seemed like a dick, looked like one even before I got up close.”

Steve stared at Eddie wide-eyed with his pretty lips parted. He blinked and spluttered a response.

“U—um, yeah! Yeah, no, I’m— I’m good. I’m alright. I’m great! Yep, great! Uh—“

“Are you sure?” Eddie was concerned, never having heard Steve stumble over a simple sentence so much.

Steve nodded vigorously before turning to the bar snappily. Eddie could still see the red painting his ears.

“Yep! Perfect! Could you help with the drinks? I don’t think I can carry them all, thanks!” And he was off back to the table.

Eddie stared after him for a moment before slowly grabbing the other three drinks and following back through the sea of bodies.

Steve was sat by the time Eddie got back to the booth, whispering heatedly with Robin, Eddie only managing to hear Steve hiss to her “that wouldn’t work!” before noticing his presence and shutting up all together.

Eddie raised an eyebrow but let it slide while he gave Nancy and Jon their drinks. He slid into the booth next to Steve who sat between him and Robin and across from Jonathan.

For the next 10 minutes, they all talked. They talked and laughed and joked and drank. But Steve seemed more in his head than usual.

Eddie was just working up the courage to ask him what was wrong when a guy came up to their table, eyeing Steve. Eddie immediately tensed.

“Hi.”

All six heads turned to the dude who just showed up. But that didn’t deter him much.

“I was just wondering if pretty boy here wanted to dance?” He smirked at Steve, who Eddie felt tense up beside him.

“Um—“ Steve’s voice was kind of shaky, barely. But it was enough (mixed with the anger already brewing in his gut at the NERVE of this guy) for Eddie to finally step in.

“He’s alright.”

Six heads suddenly turned on him.

“Excuse me?” The asshole asked.

“You’re excused.” Eddie waved his hand in a shooing motion.

“Well I hadn’t exactly—“

“And I hadn’t exactly /asked/, now have I? Goodbye.” Eddie didn’t even bother offering a smile to hide the aggression in his tone. His message was clear: Get Lost.

The douche walked away grumbling and conversation soon resumed at the table.

“What was that!?” Jonathan asked incredulously.

Nancy and Argyle were both openly staring at Eddie in bewilderment.

Eddie shifted, but was more focused on the fact that Steve seemed to relax again.

“The dude was being an asshole. Just told him to get lost, not a big deal.”

“He was just asking Steve to dance? I don’t see the problem there.” Robin cut in.

It gave Eddie pause for thinking. She was right; there really was no problem there, so why had he been so upset about the dude asking Steve to dance. God just the thought of it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“It’s fine, Rob. I was just gonna tell him no anyway.”

Eddie looked at Steve then, who was a whole new shade of red.

“Are you alright? You’re all red again.” Eddie worried. Jonathan snorted into his drink and then winced when Steve kicked him under the table. Steve looked at Eddie.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit overwhelmed in the tight space I think. You wanna— uh— you wanna go dance?”

Eddie didn’t waste a second with his answer. “Sure.”

Eddie watched Steve and Robin have a silent conversation with their eyes and expressions before Robin grinned in victory and waved at them eagerly.

“Buh-bye! Have fun!” She sing-songed. Steve shot her a glare.

Eddie led Steve to the dance floor somewhere towards the edge of the crowd where there was less people. They really just stood there talking and sipping on their drinks while everyone around them danced.

“Hey, uh— thanks for telling him to back off. I’ve, I’ve never actually… been flirted with? By a guy, I mean— this is like— a brand new thing. But he and the other dude seemed just really creepy so— uh, thanks.” Steve stumbled through.

Eddie stared at his wide, earnest eyes and wondered how no guy had ever flirted with Steve before tonight. Even if the idea of it ever happening made him want to hurt somebody.

(Even though Eddie knows that guys have flirted with Steve before. Knows that he didn’t just make up those looks Tommy Hagan and Billy Hargrove gave him.)

So Eddie smiled and shook his head. “You’re all good, sweetheart. Just don’t want you running into the wrong guys.”

That pretty blush was back again, making Steve look even more breathtaking under the florescent lights and making his smile twice as bright.

Then they were rudely interrupted.

“Hey, babyboy.” Came an obnoxious call from behind Eddie. The guy was, again, taller that Steve, but this time he was barely taller than Eddie (a/n lemme live in slightly shorter Steve fantasy ok—). Eddie immediately hated him and his entire existence. Who just called people that? Babyboy? Was he serious or delusional?

Eddie watched Steve’s shoulders tense awkwardly while the guy spoke. His anger only grew and grew.

“Alright that’s enough dude, he’s not interested.”

The guy didn’t say anything to Eddie but kept talking to Steve which only served to irk Eddie further.

“I said he’s not interested ass face.” Eddie grabbed the guy’s shoulder. He finally looked at Eddie, seeming bored.

“He hasn’t said anything? Why not let the babydoll decide, huh?” He smirked at Steve. Eddie wanted to puke and scream at the same time. He felt like he was chewing on nails listening to this guy. Babydoll? First babyboy and now BABYDOLL??? Who the fuck was this dude? And more importantly would the possible assault charges be worth it?

“Um— yeah, I’m sorry. I’m not really interested in looking for anybody tonight.” Steve confirmed.

“Oh c’mon, doll face, don’t be like that.”

Oh the assault charges would so be worth it.

“He just said he wasn’t interested so fuck off.” Eddie shoved his shoulder. The dude finally turned to look at Eddie, leveling him with a glare that Eddie happily returned tenfold. If looks could kill the guy would have been fucking obliterated on sight.

“If he wasn’t interested then why’s he dressed like that, huh?”

Jail was looking mighty fine to Eddie.

“I’m right fucking here, asshat.” Steve spoke up. “And Im dressed like this because I look good and I know it. Not for fucks like you who have to beg for scraps to get by. I said I wasn’t interested and you’re just causing more of a headache if anything.”

Eddie grinned at Steve. It was so hot when he got all bitchy.

The asshole scoffed. “Oh so baby’s got a mouth on him.”

Eddie finally snapped, those assault charges no where in mind when he punched the guy in the face.

“Eddie!” Steve yelled, absolutely flabbergasted at the sudden violence.

The guy left after that with a threat of harassment charges. Steve took Eddie outside to the alleyway on the side of the club to get away from the crowd and to better examine his freshly bruised knuckles.

“You didn’t have to punch him.”

“He fucking had it coming.” Eddie spat through clenched teeth. He was still seething. And Steve was prodding at the bruises but that was neither here nor there.

Steve looked at Eddie, still holding his bruised hand. His eyes were wide as always and his cheeks flushed once more. His eyes seemed to search Eddie for something.

“Was it cause he was an ass?”

Eddie scoffed. “Of course! He was an ass and made you uncomfortable and—“

And I wanted to be the one to call you baby.

“And?” Steve prompted.

“And… and I hated how he talked to you.”

Steve looked down at Eddie hand, the blush rising to ears again. Eddie hooked a finger under Steve’s chin with the hand that wasn’t bruised and being held.

“Hey, you alright? You’re getting all quiet again.”

Steve’s eyes flitted back and forth between Eddie’s own before he sighed.

“Eddie.. I can’t— I don’t understand.”

Eddie pouted, confused. “Don’t understand what? There’s not much to it, honey.”

Steve cheeks pinkened again with the endearment. “Not— not that. I get that he was a dick— a massive dick attitude to make up for what he was surely lacking—“

That startled a laugh out of Eddie.

“—but I guess I don’t understand the other times? You were never like this before when anyone else flirted, so what changed tonight?”

And wasn’t that a thought.

What changed?

Well for starters, he wanted to kiss Steve. He wanted to kiss Steve senseless, shove him up against a wall and stick his tongue down his throat until he was breathless an begging for it.

So that’s changed.

But he also wanted to hug Steve and hold him right and call him things like Sweetheart and Honey and Love and Baby (which he already does anyway for the most part). He wanted to take Steve places and show him things. Wanted to give Steve every pretty rock he found and show him every cool leaf he saw.

What changed was that he wanted Steve in every which way Steve would let him have him.

But of course, Eddie didn’t express these aloud.

“Eddie…” Steve stared wide-eyed with his mouth opened in shock, his face a violent shade of red.

Or maybe he did express them aloud.

He’d drank more than he thought.

And then Steve was kissing him. Steve was pulling him in by the hand he was holding and pressing their lips together in a kiss that Eddie would never forget, not matter how much he’d drank that night.

They let go of each others hands, Eddie immediately grabbing Steve’s waist and Steve tangling his hands in Eddie hair.

By the time they’d pulled away to breathe Eddie bad fulfilled his wish of shoving Steve against a wall and sticking his tongue down his throat.

“So you were jealous?” Steve teased, playing with Eddie hair where his arms were still wrapped around his neck.

Eddie grumbled under his breath and kissed Steve to shut him up. Steve hummed and smiled into the kiss.

“Kissing me into going to make me drop it, Munson. You were totally jealous of those guys in there.”

Eddie huffed and stooped lower to kiss at Steve neck, gaining an immediate reaction with Steve’s stuttered breath and sudden silence. Eddie chuckled.

“Oh? I thought kissing you wasn’t going to make you drop it.”

Steve hit his shoulder weakly. “Shut it, asshole— mm!” Eddie bit down lightly on the side of his neck.

Then the door to the alley was opening and Robin was telling them to get their horny asses home before thy got arrested for public indecency.

So they agreed to pick up at home. And the whole ride there was filled with relentless teasing about Eddie’s apparent jealousy towards any guy who so much as looked at Steve oddly.

It’s rushed I know but it’s like 2am on a school night 😭 and I’m not upset with the results. Could it be better? Yeah. Could it be worse? Absolutely. It’s not my finest work but oh well 🤷

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wynnyfryd · 6 months

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Trailer park Steve AU part 19

part 1 | part 18 | ao3

November

As annoyed as Steve is to admit it, Dustin’s plan actually works.

(And he is annoyed, for the record. That little shithead should be glad he’s still grounded because Steve’s sorely tempted to invite him over just to give him a wedgie.)

Somewhere in the weeks following The Abduction Incident, he and Eddie become friends. Like, real ones. Friends who talk and laugh and shoot the shit in passing, who trade movies and mix tapes and ask each other if they saw the latest headlines in the morning paper.

They haven’t really had much chance to properly hang out, but Steve sees him most mornings, because he promised Wayne to keep making sure Eddie doesn’t sleep in on school days, and sometimes when they’re both around in the afternoons they’ll have a couple beers together, share a cigarette on the lumpy loveseat on the front porch of Eddie’s place.

And Eddie’s…

Eddie’s funny. Oddly charming. Theatrical and weird. Steve already knew that last part, but it’s so much better when it’s not being used as an offensive weapon against him. He likes being in on Eddie’s jokes.

Just plain likes Eddie, if he’s honest.

“Steve?”

Which should be crazy. It is crazy; if someone had told him a couple years ago that he’d be spending his free time with The Freak — that he would regret missing the guy’s Halloween show because of a Family Video shift, or that he would spend a week working up the courage to ask him if he wants to ride to school with Robin and him in the mornings? He probably would have kicked their ass for the mere suggestion.

But now he’s half-orphaned trailer trash who knows that monsters exist, so. Eh.

“Steve! Hello? Earth to Steve.”

Steve blinks, focuses on the fingers Robin’s snapping in front of his face. “Huh?” he asks dumbly.

He expects her to roll her eyes and pretend to chastise him with some butchered version of his name— ‘Steven Cardamom Harrington, were you daydreaming again?’ — but she just snaps her fingers again and begs, “A little help here? Please?” Her eyes are wide, her shoulder scrunched up to her ears with stress, and Steve realizes that:

a) he’s been staring blankly at a cart of go-backs for ten minutes instead of actually doing his job, and

b) the store is suddenly packed.

Friday night, and the rain that’s been hanging over Hawkins all week finally let up, so now everyone and their mother is apparently out running errands.

He moves to man the front desk because the line is almost out the door, and Robin buzzes around the room like a shaken can of pure panic, her bangs sticking to her forehead as she zooms up and down aisles with the restock cart. She keeps making crazy eyes at parents when they stop her to ask about new releases or the age-appropriateness of films, because the parents are distracting her from intercepting their little gremlin children, who keep putting movies on the wrong shelves on purpose just to piss her off.

“Dumbo! Does not go! In the horror section!” Steve hears her bark at a group of third graders, and he has to crouch down behind the counter for a second so she doesn’t see him laughing when she follows that up with a strangled, “Ugh!!!”

Okay.

Entertaining as this is, he’s not getting chewed out by Keith again for missing quotas because Robin blew a gasket and scared off all the customers.

“Hey, Rob?” he calls out to her as he hands a woman her change.

“What?”

“Go take a smoke break?”

He knows she doesn’t smoke. He also knows that sometimes rushes like this get to be too much for her — the noise, the lights, the chaos of a crowd (“the mouth sounds, Steve; good god, the mouth sounds”) — and she needs a minute or twelve to go stand outside in the cool air, flap her hands around and scream behind a dumpster or whatever until she calms down.

Her eyes flash at the suggestion like she’s about to snap at him, but then she takes a deep breath and marches herself out the back door without another word.

With Robin cleared out, the crowd thins out pretty quickly. Steve gets the line taken care of at a speed he’s definitely not getting paid enough to maintain, and the kids get bored of playing ‘rearrange the inventory’ and wander off to the arcade.

It’s sort of soothing, the mindless flow of it: scan, click, click, make change, “thanks for choosing Family Video,” print receipt, repeat. His mind wanders again as he works, but it doesn’t sink into its usual sludge of despair; doesn’t wail ‘house bills mom pills stress fuck-fuck’ like a tornado siren in his head until he gives himself a migraine.

No, he’s thinking about denim. About cigarette smoke.

Crooked smile; Chiclet teeth.

Patches and pins with strange names and stranger artwork.

And then he’s thinking about how this is the second time tonight he’s started daydreaming about Eddie and wills himself to knock it off.

What? The guy’s friendly with him a handful of times, and suddenly he’s, like, obsessed with him?

He’s not.

He's just… pleasantly distracted by him; that's all.

“Thanks for choosing Family Video,” he tells the last customers as he hands them their receipt. The second they turn to leave, he slumps over the counter with his head pillowed on his arms, a wave of exhaustion hitting him because holy shit that was so many people and thank god the store’s finally empty.

The bell over the door dings.

Goddammit.

Steve lifts his head, reminds himself not to scowl at paying customers because he really needs this job, but then—

“Eddie! Hey!”

—

part 20

tag list part 1 below cut let me know if you want to be added tomorrow

@heartsong18 @hellion-child @hiimlevi @hotluncheddie @jackiemonroe5512 @jaytriesstuff @littlebluejane @lololol-1234 @marklee-blackmore @melonmochi @messrs-weasley @mrsjellymunson @mugloversonly @nburkhardt @nerdyglassescheeseychick @noodle-shenaniganery @notsopersonalcharlie @novelnovella @nuggies4life @pending-dope-username @perseus-notjackson @ppunkpuppyy @questionablequeeries @remosdeerica @runninriot @sadcanadianwinter @shamelesspatrolshepherdcowboy @silver-snaffles @singmeyoursimpsong @slowandsteddie @slutforcoffein @solalasoforth @spookednsaucy @steddieas-shegoes @steddie-island @stevesbipanic @steves-strapcollection @taleah-bonnick @teatimeeverybody @th30ra3k3n @thealwithnoname @thespaceantwhowrites @thestarslittleking @thesuninyaface @trensu @violetsteve @wormdebut @yourmom-isgay @zoeweee @zombiecreatures

#trailer park steve au #steddie #steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #my writing #my fic #steve is down ROTTEN lmao

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wildlife4life · 2 months

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Fuck-It Friday Coda

Here is my 7x01 coda that I'm also counting for Fuck-It Friday! So thank you for the tags @theotherbuckley @wikiangela @jesuisici33 and @diazsdimples! Posted to ao3 here.

“How the talk with Chris go? He still seeing being a two timer?” Marisol asks with a sly smile.

Eddie blows out a harsh breath, “There wasn’t much of a talk on my end.”

She quirks an eyebrow, “Oh? You just letting him work it on his own?”

He shakes his head, “Oh god no. That would have just made an even bigger mess.” Eddie has to look away from his girlfriend as he admits, “Actually I asked Buck to talk to him. He has some um... experience with the whole ‘player’ thing.”

Marisol’s wine glass smacks loudly on the coffee table in the silence that follows, and Eddie barely holds back a wince. Still, he doesn’t look at her. He never does when speaking about Buck.

“You had your newly single best male friend, with a history of getting around, talk to your son about not doing the exact same thing?” Marisol sound appalled and it has Eddie whipping around to see her actual reaction. His girlfriend looked upset and disgusted? What is that about?

“Um, yea. Buck has the insight into all of that and he’s reformed and all that.” Eddie tries defending.

She scoffs, “Reformed? Didn’t he just break up with his last girlfriend because he got bored.”

Well, that was a very poor recount of events that had already been poorly told by Buck and Eddie felt the low simmer of burgeoning anger, “Buck did not get bored. He was trying to live, move on from his death, and all that woman was doing, was being a constant reminder of it.”

The anger rises at Marisol rolling her eyes, “Like I said, bored. But that’s not really the point here.”

He grinds his back molars, “What is the point then, in your opinion?”

She narrows her eyes at his tone, “The point is Christopher isn’t going to learn to respect women, be a courteous young man by talking to a man whose disastrous dating history is printed in a best-selling book by someone from said history. He’s Christopher’s fun friend, the guy he goes to when he doesn’t want to get in trouble and you’re feeding into it.”

Eddie slams his beer to the coffee table, making Marisol’s almost empty wine glass wobble from the force, and rises his feet, “After me, Buck is one of the most important people in Christopher’s life. You have not a single understanding of what they are to each other, what they have been through. What Buck has personally been through. He is not some womanizing asshole corrupting my son. He is Christopher’s best friend; my best friend, and the person I know I can turn to when I need help with Christopher. With anything.”

Marisol rises to her feet, “And you’re allowing him to continue take up the space I am trying to get into. I thought we we’re getting somewhere when you invited me to chaperon Chris’s date with you, when you opened up about your worries about him. But instead of letting me try to help you ran to a person you can’t bring up without looking away.”

He immediately proves her point and puts his gaze on the fireplace mantle, eyes roaming over every photo. There several of just him and his son, pre-LA to just last year before Christopher’s school dance. There are pictures of their family back in Texas and the entirety of the 118. Then there are photos with Buck. Christopher and Buck at the zoo. The trio of them at the mall fountain. Eddie’s graduation. Christopher’s 10th birthday. And second to last, Eddie and Buck, arms around each other’s shoulders at Hen and Karen’s vow renewal. At the end of all those photos sits the last family picture of Eddie, Christopher, and Shannon took at the beach.

Eddie thinks back on the picture Christopher turned down on his desk and the letter he almost didn’t read. He thinks about how his first instinct was to turn to Buck and not the girlfriend who witnessed Christopher’s player antics, someone who could give insight on how those girls felt. And then he realizes, Christopher wouldn’t have opened up about his mother to anyone, but Buck.

That space Marisol is trying to fit herself into, is too large, too broad, and perfectly Buck shaped. She would never fit.

With a sense of déjà vu, Eddie drops his gaze to floor and softly states, “I think you should go.”

💜🩷💜🩷

Wine glass rinsed out, beer bottle in the recycling, and a reusable tote bag just barely filled with Marisol’s few items left at his house sat near the door, Eddie relaxes back into his couch.

Marisol put up a lack-luster fight to leaving, but eventually she drowned the last of her wine and called an uber. “He’s not going stick around forever. He’s going to break both yours and Christopher’s hearts.” She warned, “And you’ll be just as alone as you were in the hardware store.”

Eddie held back a harsh retort and simply told her, “I haven’t been alone since I met him and I never will be if either one of us has a say about it.”

He opened the door, Marisol got into a little gray sedan, and she went back to the home Eddie helped destroy.

Picking up his phone from the coffee table, Eddie pulls up his contact favorites, smirking humorously at Marisol’s missing name, and presses the person at the very top. It rings twice, before, “Hey man, thought it was date night?”

“Asked her to go home.” Eddie replies.

Silence on the other end for a just a moment then, “Man, you really need to find a better way to break up with women.” Buck teases.

Eddie chuckles, “Well at least there was no mess to clean up this time.”

Buck hums in agreement before softly asking, “You doing okay?”

Not a single lie passed his lips when he answered, “More than. But you know what would help?”

“What?”

“Go-karts in the dessert.”

A laugh that makes Eddie feel warm all over, “It’s a date.”

Hope you all enjoyed! Tagging (no pressure): @daffi-990 @exhuastedpigeon @fortheloveofbuddie @rogerzsteven @disasterbuckdiaz @tizniz @lemonzestywrites @evanbegins @buck-coded @devirnis @glorious-spoon @thekristen999 @spotsandsocks @cal-daisies-and-briars @aroeddiediaz @hippolotamus @sunshinediaz @watchyourbuck @lover-of-mine @hoodie-buck @elvensorceress @gayedmundodiaz @giddyupbuck @jeeyuns @bekkachaos @buddierights @try-set-me-on-fire @rainbow-nerdss @thewolvesof1998 @eddiebabygirldiaz @spaceprincessem @eddiiediaz @honestlydarkprincess @doublecheekeddiaz @prosperdemeter2 @transboybuckley @nmcggg @monsterrae1 @loserdiaz @perfectlysunny02 @dangerpronebuddie @missmagooglie

#fuck it friday #tag game #coda fic #7x01 #my fic #911 abc #911 spoilers #911 fic #buddie #buddie fic #evan buckley #eddie diaz #shannon diaz #marisol #anti marisol #break up #buck is christopher’s other dad

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imfinereallyy · 1 year

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Tattooed Steve, pt. 2

Part 1 here

Soooo I ended up writing more tattooed Steve. I couldn’t resist. I also realized that Eddie would be the first person to find out but like…other than Robin. But I didn’t count her because Steve and Robin are the same person honestly at this point. Anyway I hope you like it! Pt. 1 is linked above.

—-

It’s two weeks after Vecna when he gets his first one. It’s unexpected, impulsive even, but Steve needs to feel something. He has just spent the past week and half waiting for Eddie to wake up, staring at his pale form, wishing away the anxiety with every beep, beep, beep that comes from the heart monitor. Begging for this stupid, stupid man to wake up.

He isn’t really sure why he wanted Eddie to wake up. Sure the ruggrats love him, and there is the general sense of not wanting any innocent person to die on his watch, but Steve knows deep down it’s about something else. Or more like the potential of something else. He tries not to think about it too hard.

So during that first week and half of watching a comatose Eddie, Steve takes his time studying the man. Learning every curve, and every scar. And eventually, every visible tattoo he can see. They are interesting, not all of them good, but all very Eddie. It somehow makes them better. Some of them are messed up from the bat bites (ironically the bat tattoos remain untouched), but they add to his aesthetic if Steve is being honest with himself.

When Eddie wakes up after that week and a half, groggy and confused (especially towards the fact that Harrington is practically holding vigil at his bedside), the first thing Steve says to him is “Oh thank god you’re awake.” The second is “What the hell were you thinking?” Before Eddie proceeds to pass out again.

Later, when all of the doctors and family and friends have had their time with him, the third thing Steve says to Eddie is, “Tell me about your tattoos.”

And despite the fact half of them are mangled, Steve doesn’t think he has ever seen anyone light up that bright in his life. And when Eddie starts waving his hands in excitement, Steve can’t help but think that he’s never been so close to the sun before.

So, two weeks after Vecna, Steve makes a decision. Or again, if he’s being honest, an impulse. He finds old books in the library about tattoos (which aren’t very helpful), and finds zines hidden between the pages (much more helpful) on stick and pokes.

Steve shows up with supplies from Melvad’s (for a probably very dangerous tattoo kit) at Robin’s doorstep. “Robs, I need you to give me a tattoo.” Then she proceeds to spit all of her morning tea on him.

After a lot of shouting “Did you hit your head again dingus? Oh my god did you get into another fight? Are you having a break down? SPEAK STEVE.”

And a lot of convincing, “Robin I’m fine. No I’m not having a breakdown. Robs, Robbie, Birdie, I swear nothing happen. I just want to do it.”

The end up on Robin’s bathroom floor (because of course all important things happen on the bathroom floor), with a look of deep concentration on her face. “I can’t believe you’re letting me do this, with only twenty minutes from a zine you smuggled out of Hawkins Library. I can’t believe they even have zines.”

“I don’t think they were aware of it honestly.” Steve snorts. His shirt was off, a patch hair already shaved off right where is heart is placed.

“Do you know what you want?” Robin asks, head tilted.

“No, not really. I was hoping you would help.”

Robin hums, like she’s resisting the urge to point out how impulsive he’s being. Like she knows he needs to do this. “Tell me what made you decide to want one.”

So Steve does. He tell her about waiting for Eddie to wake up. Wondering why Eddie got them. Wanting to own himself again, to actually like something new on his body. Put something there he had control of. His curiosity of if it were painful. His interest behind the stories of Eddies tattoos. How Eddie lit up so bright when asked. Wanting to feel like that. Wanting to be close to the sun again.

Robin mercifully didn’t look too deeply (or at least didn’t push on it) about the interest in Eddie himself. “Okay, I think I got it. Just…hold still.”

Twenty minutes later, after three passes with pen ink and a needle, Robin disinfects his tattoo. Before she covers up, she asks “Do you want to see it?”

Steve nods his head eagerly. The tattoo had painful, more painful than he expected, but he found it sort of grounding. Something to keep him aware of himself, almost as if he was able to grasp parts of himself he wasn’t conscious of before.

When Steve stands up to look in the mirror, there he sees off center on his chest, a wonky little sun. It was something a preschooler could have drawn, but it was one of the most beautiful things Steve had ever seen, and it was made by one of the most important people in his life.

Robin says shyly at Steve’s speechless state, “You said you wanted to be close to the sun again.”

Steve scoops Robin up in an instant, ignoring the stinging both on the outside and inside of his chest. “Thank you Birdie.” Which translates, you are the only person I ever need etched in me forever.

“Always, Stevie.” Which means, you’re never getting rid of me anyway.

They pull away with tearful smiles, and silent promises. Steve can start to feel maybe not much like his old self, but somewhere on the way to who he truly is.

Then Robin says, “Okay, me next.”

————

okay I wasn’t sure if really anyone wanted more, or if I was going to do it but I actually really enjoyed where this ended up. Also I apologize for any tense changes. I quite literally type this on my phone and say screw it, without looking it over. Let me know if you want more maybe? Send me prompts even. Thanks for reading :)

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imakatperson22 · 14 days

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Ok. So. I’ve been thinking…

Everyone involved from Tim to Oliver to Ryan has stated that they want to do the characters justice and tell a story “true” to the characters. IMHO there really isn’t a better story for Buck and Eddie in terms of character growth than them getting together.

Eddie has been constantly searching for a new maternal figure for Christopher and possibly even someone to just play “wife” with him so he can fulfill this heteronormative expectation of a having a traditional family unit that stems from his religious upbringing and what was modeled by his own parents. His identity and self image is that he’s a “nester, he nests”. He needs somebody to love. The rub is that none of his attempts to make that happen have made him happy. Buck is the solution to this. Buck is already a part of the family. What Eddie so desperately searches for in all of his failed relationships is what he already has with Buck and that does make him happy. He just doesn’t realize it yet.

Buck on the other hand is the opposite. Through his upbringing and trauma with his family life, Buck has felt neglected and unloved for a long time. In the earlier seasons, this manifests as hyper sexuality and a need to create intimacy with whoever he can project it on to. It’s quick and dirty and it does the trick for a little but it’s not satisfying and fulfilling the way he wants it to be. Buck needs to be loved. And his solution is Eddie. Buck has that lasting affection and intimacy with Eddie, and I’m not speaking sexually. What’s more intimate than having a key to someone’s house and being their child’s coparent/godparent? Buck also has the belief that he’s expendable and Eddie is the one to help him out of this mindset by making Buck Chris’s guardian in the event of death, which helps give meaning and weight to Buck’s self esteem because now Buck has a reason for self preservation: Chris. Also, Eddie is incredibly patient and kind when it comes to Buck. After the tsunami, Eddie sets Buck straight when he’s beating himself up about losing Christopher. Instead of being angry he lost Chris or just neutral and saying “it was out of your control”, Eddie actively reassures Buck in a positive way. Buck gets what he needs from Eddie. He just doesn’t realize it yet.

I saw something floating around that was really interesting and that I agree with: Eddie knows he loves Buck but doesn’t know he’s queer, and Buck knows he’s queer but doesn’t know he loves Eddie.

Whether or not they intentionally wrote them this way, whether they’re going for just box checking representation or shock value or fan satisfaction, what have you, the reality is that the product they currently have is currently set up in a way for them to do one of the most beautiful, unique, compelling queer love stories we have ever seen on network television. And I really hope they lean in to that.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk…

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matan4il · 1 year

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Buddie 610 meta

Holy shit, this ep.

Okay, what shall we start with? Maybe with what 911 itself starts, lots of foreshadowing. At the beach call, we have Eddie looking at Buck and replying to him (about the lightning), “I really hope it doesn’t strike twice, though.” Which, of course we know it will. But the foreshadowing continues, as Buck talks to Omar about unexpected things in life coming out of nowhere. That suggests we need to pay extra attention to other elements in this ep that might act as foreshadowing for later events along 6b. ~~

That kind of connects to me with Buck being closely tied to Ely, the pregnant lady (he saves the day there twice, first by realizing the oil is dripping and if they use the saw, it might prove fatal, then by helping Bobby with the baby). First off, it made me chuckle when we learned that, despite being driven to the hospital by a man, he’s actually not her partner. 911 made sure we knew Ely has a wife, and that she has another kid with her. Is it a coincidence when Buck, who practically has a husband and a kid with him already, is the main firefighter taking care of her? Maybe, but it still amused me. What really made me take note is when he told her not to push, trying to stall her childbirth, and she replied that it doesn’t depend on her. That made me wonder if perhaps this is also in a way foreshadowing what we might end up seeing with the sperm donation storyline. I’m not sure, I can’t be, but I was not surprised to see that storyline brought up later in the ep. ~~

In general, this ep’s title, “In a Flash,” might seem to refer to the lightning storm the team experiences, but the real tempest is the havoc our families can wreak on us, tied to the unexpected nature change can sometimes take on. Chim’s dad suddenly shows up, raining on his parade. Albert suddenly thinks Chim should give their dad a chance to be Jee Yun’s grandpa, but decides against giving his brother a warning. The Buckley parents are suddenly making an effort, yet leaving everyone suspicious and unnerved. Albert suddenly leaks Buck’s sperm donation to everyone and unleashes hell between the in-laws. Denny’s changes, probably influenced by getting in touch with his dad, come as a surprise to Hen. And of course, at the climax of the ep, Bobby as the unofficial adoptive father of Buck might lose his son in a flash. The whole ep is filled with these parallels of abrupt familial disquiet, especially in relation to dads, on all 118 fronts. And as Buck deals with maybe the biggest of these questions, because he doesn’t even yet know what he wants for himself and how does the life he helped create (but only as a donor) fit into that, it’s no wonder his life ends up hanging literally in the balance. ~~

One of the most painful things in this ep for me was seeing how much Buck’s parents are willing to accept him as a donor, because not for a second do they think he can be a father. That would be the natural conclusion from him looking at a sonogram on his phone, but his parents find it easier to believe their daughter is pregnant again than to think Buck would be a dad (ironic, because he already is one. Just not to the baby in the sonogram). It reminded me of how Eddie’s parents also didn’t believe in his ability to be a dad, and actively petitioned to have Chris taken from him to be raised by them in 315. It amazes me every time anew just how much Buddie are compatible, because their stories parallel so much that they can understand each other in ways most other people can’t. ~~

And it gets to me that this whole episode also insists on reminding us how good Buck is with kids, first with the ones on the beach, calming them down and answering their questions to help them make sense of the whole ordeal. Then with Ely’s baby, a callback to how we saw him with the pipe baby in 101. It connects to him looking at the baby sonogram, all excited, once again acting so much like an expectant dad would (parallel to him and the firefighter onesie in 609), when we know he’s not actually going to be that baby’s father. It very much does feel like 911 is signaling to us Buck has some realizations coming his way in this context. ~~

Speaking of the kids on the beach, Buck telling the boy he wants to fix everything, then adding that Buck gets it, had me screaming into my fists, because hey, remember who said that to Buck? That’s right, his Eddie, back in 504. A reminder of how much Eddie sees Buck, accepts him and allows him to be himself, enabling Buck in turn to reflect that back to that kid. Of course, in the context of the sperm donation, Buck’s tendency made him want to help “fix” things for Connor and Kameron, and we might learn in 6b that Buck comes to realize he sometimes lets this tendency take him to places that aren’t actually good for him, without fully considering the consequences, and then hopefully, he’ll get to find a way to balance this, to be himself, but not derailed from his life goals by this part of himself. ~~

At the same time that the ep shows us how good Buck is with kids, it also serves to remind us of the one kid that we’ve seen him co-parent all along, the one who has always demonstrated what a good, loving dad Buck is, Christopher. Yes, when we see Buck working on his cooking with Bobby, it’s a part of the many parallels revolving around dads in this ep, so Buck and Bobby’s r/s is the immediate focus, but at the same time, we know who Buck is learning this FOR. Lazania kitchen scene from 601, anyone? Oh, but the best part? It’s when Buck tells Bobby, “Something’s missing.” He can’t quite put the finger on what, but he knows something in his domesticity isn’t fully there. I wonder what, Buck... And this is again in an ep full of foreshadowing! ~~

It may seem like a minor thing, but remember how in my past meta, I was more or less losing it over the many times Buck and Eddie did rope rescues together as their own team within the 118 team, even having their assigned roles where Eddie connects Buck to the line and then becomes an anchor himself to keep Buck safe, to the point where I wrote a smut fic involving this very meaningful act? Yeah, so imagine me seeing that the most intense Buddie call we’ve had since the end of 413 starts with them doing this subtextually intimate thing, Eddie hooking Buck up to the rope, becoming his literal life line, and even teasingly calling him “cowboy” while at it. No, I was not breathing for a full minute at least. ~~

But since I brought up the shooting in 413, can we talk about the insanity of the parallels? Take the meaningful staring once disaster strikes. Back in s4, it was mutual, right before Eddie collapsed. In 610, Buck is unconscious, so you wouldn’t think they could stare at each other at this moment, right? Plus, back in 413, it was just the two of them present at the scene out of the 118, the other members of the team weren’t there. The lightning strike seems a lot less intimate in comparison... But in this ep, the camera plays a role in recreating that same dynamic, singling out the connection between Buddie. Because when Buck is hit by lightning, we get shots of every 118 member looking up and being terrified of what just happened to their friend.

The only exception in terms of this shot? Eddie. He’s the only one that isn’t being filmed from the side as he looks up, he’s filmed from above as he looks straight into the camera. Essentially, the shot recreates Buck’s POV for Eddie, and for him alone. It shows us what Buck would see and how he would stare down, back at Eddie, if he only could. The fact that the camera has to do this instead of Buck himself further emphasizes the horror of Buck being unconscious, but the choice to do this only with Eddie highlights their connection and makes it clear that Buddie’s bond IS different to what the other team members have with Buck, no matter how close the others are to him or how much they love him. What’s insane is that DESPITE having all of the 118 there, there is still a bubble within this whole situation that is Buddie and Buddie’s alone, even as Buck himself is unconscious. It’s no wonder Eddie jumps up that electrocuted ladder without even thinking about it, it’s no wonder no one even tries to stop him or warn him of the danger in that. That is a man on a mission to save the other half of him, and the show tells us that in more than one way.

That’s gonna continue through Eddie’s attempts (and eventual success) in getting Buck away from immediate danger, as well as when the team tries but then fails to revive Buck, because Eddie will be the one to push past Bobby to see Buck, and Eddie will be the one Bobby has to keep in line by assigning him driving duty, maybe the most important thing anyone can do for Buck once all the medical assistance they can give him in the field is of no further use. ~~

One more thing regarding the comparison with the shooting arc in s4, as well as talking about camera shots, is that we get to see the difference between a platonic friend resuscitating his teammate and a man desperately trying to keep the love of his life alive. If you look at Chim doing compressions on Buck, he’s giving it his all, because he DOES love Buck, Chim’s doing his best for his friend and brother in law. But the shot is not an intimate one, we don’t get close ups, we don’t get to focus on the eyes and see the frantic look of a man who knows he CAN’T fail, we don’t see the intimate touch of a hand laying a gauze on an exposed chest and trying to keep this treasured body together, we do get “come on, Buck,” but we don’t get personal speech, begging the other man to hold on and just “stay with me.” While back in 414, in the ambulance, we had ALL of those as Buck, almost on the verge of losing his sanity, fought for Eddie’s life. ~~

Lastly, I’ve made in the past a gifset of times when we’ve seen Buck screaming Eddie’s name in horror at the face of danger (including in 413), and I love that we can finally add to that Eddie doing the same thing for Buck. But I think it’s particularly meaningful that it happened not as a matter of when Buck would be in danger, but rather it was a question of just how significant Buck had to become to Eddie for this former, highly decorated soldier to go from the stoic man he was in 218 to what we see in 610 (as seen in my latest weekly gifset). Because Eddie WAS incredibly worried back in the s2 finale. He was gritting his teeth, you can see the tension on his face, and the second it was safe, he sprang to Buck’s side. Eddie also held on to him while everyone else was lifting the truck (even though Chim, as a medic, would have been a more natural choice to hold on to Buck, while Eddie the firefighter helps lift engine 118). And Eddie wouldn’t even let go of Buck’s hand on the way to the truck. HE WAS DISTRAUGHT. But the man who kept his facade up in the hospital after Shannon, his wife and mother of his son, died just one ep earlier, did the same thing with Buck. What I find so telling is that he can no longer do that by 610. Buck has become such an integral part of his life, of his family, of who Eddie is as a person and how he deals with life, way more than even Shannon managed to be. And that’s why Eddie loses it, confirming what we’ve known for a while: Buddie are life partners. ~~

I now have direct links to my weekly meta posts, my Buddie gifs and more of my content in my pinned post. Loads of love to @whosoldherout for making unbelievable gifs for my very unique requests. You’re a star! Tag list will follow in the reblog. Thank you in advance for any reblog and like! I’m operating on 1.5 hours of sleep to get this posted ASAP, so I really appreciate any and all encouragement to keep doing this. xoxox

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ladykailitha · 4 months

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The Magic of Christmas 8/8

And here we are at the end. Now there will be a cute little New Year's Eve story that I'll put up on the 31st that is a sequel to this. I wanted to write the exhibit but the story was already bursting at the seams so it'll be a New Year's present for you all.

Also don't be an Argyle, it might seem cute at the time, but it's really not.

***

To say Eddie was nervous would be an understatement. Not only did he want Dustin and his friends to be happy about what Steve gave them, but he hoped that Steve would love what Eddie got him.

He got there early before Dustin and his friends arrived. They had all gone out ice skating before the party so Eddie could sneak in the wrapped canvasses.

He rang the doorbell, bouncing on his toes in excitement. Chrissy had to smack him twice before he looked calm enough.

Then all that went out the window when Steve answered the door. He wasn’t dressed in a suit or anything like that, but fuck Eddie thought he looked beautiful.

He was wearing a Star Wars Christmas sweater with the tightest of blue jeans. He had silly antlers on his head and his cheeks were rosy.

It took everything in Eddie’s will power not to just kiss him right then and there.

“You made it!” Steve greeted warmly. “Do you need help bringing in the gifts?”

Eddie nodded and they went out to get them, while Chrissy went to make herself comfortable with the hostess, Robin.

Steve grabbed the large piece and two of the smaller ones. Eddie grabbed the remaining two smaller pieces.

“You know,” Eddie said. “I don’t think I ever asked you who the purple dragon was going to be for. I assumed you, but that doesn’t seem right now that I think about it.”

Steve smiled. “You’ll get to meet her tonight,” he said with a fond smile. “She doesn’t really play D&D, but she’s inspired many a campaign and NPC. We call her El because that’s all she could remember of what her name was when the kids found her lost and alone in a forest. They’ve tried for years to find her real family but when she turned eighteen she asked them to stop. They were her real family.”

“Poor kid,” Eddie said. “I’m glad she found you guys.”

“She sweet,” he agreed. “And she will love your hair.”

Eddie ran his fingers through his long curls. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Steve said, “she’s been trying to grow hers out for years but something keeps cropping up and she has to cut again.”

“Oof!” Eddie said. “That’s horrible. Has she thought about getting extensions.”

Steve frowned. “What are extensions? I mean obviously the extend the hair, but how does that work?”

Eddie launched into the explanation about them and Steve was just so enthralled that he didn’t realize that Eddie and he had lingered under the mistletoe.

“Kiss!” Chrissy cried, pointing about their head.

Eddie and Steve looked up and then at each other. Steve held out the packages and Robin and Chrissy rushed forward to take them from both boys.

Eddie watched as Steve slowly cupped his cheek and leaned in. His breath caught in his chest as Steve’s eyelashes fluttered close. Eddie leaned the rest of the way in and pressed their lips together.

Fuck.

It was like everything that made Christmas special in a single fucking kiss. There was no going back after that.

“Wow,” Steve breathed. “That was even better than I imagined it would be.”

“You imagined it a lot?” Eddie asked, his heart beating a drum against his rib cage.

“Since August,” Steve admitted shyly.

Eddie chuckled and rubbed their noses together softly. “Since you hired me.”

Steve looked up at him in shock. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah, Stevie. Holy shit.”

Steve kissed him fiercely.

Eddie broke it off. “Shit! I left your present in the van!” He dashed off.

Steve laughed out loud, clear and bright. He turned to his audience. “I am in love with that idiot.”

The women all laughed too.

Claudia came up and gave him a huge hug. “You found yourself a good one, Steve. He’ll be good for you.”

Steve blushed deeply. “I know.”

Eddie came back in with rosy cheeks and breathless. In his hand was another neatly wrapped gift. He handed to Steve. “There you go, pretty boy. Just for you.”

“I have a present for you, too,” Steve said with a smile. “But we’ll have to wait until everyone gets here.”

Just then there was clatter behind them as said kids came bursting through the open front door.

Eddie turned to see four girls with the boys he had been acquainted with. The one was clearly Lucas’s sister. She had the same broad features and knowing eyes. One was a red head with a piercing gaze and a knowing smirk. Eddie could tell he was going to like her. A lot. The third girl was pretty sort of plump, her blonde hair in beautiful ringlets. The final girl was El. There was no doubt in his mind, this was the lost girl.

She had dark curly hair that brushed her shoulders and thousand yard stare. She looked like Wayne said he did sometimes. Lost and unsure of what to do.

Introductions were made and Eddie was right in all counts. He loved Max, the red head. El was the pretty girl with the dark curls, Erica was Lucas’s sister, and the last girl was Dustin’s long time girlfriend, Suzie.

Steve did a head count. “Where Jonathan and Nancy?” he asked Will.

“Getting Argyle from the airport,” Will said. “His flight had to make a stop in Salt Lake City because of a fuel issue, so he was late getting in.”

Suzie snorted. “No it didn’t.”

Everyone turned to her.

“He just didn’t want to tell anyone that he was picking up my sister, Eden so she could join us for Christmas.”

Steve blanched at the thought of another person for Christmas.

She touched his elbow. “I told Claudia a couple weeks ago, she made sure there was enough food and space.”

He relaxed. Claudia and Steve had made a deal, he would cook for Thanksgiving, if she did Christmas. So if she knew than everything was fine.

“Come gather around!” Steve yelled over the din. “Dinner is a light thoroughfare with lots of snacks and goodies. We’ll have a big breakfast tomorrow. Help yourselves, we’ll do presents when the remaining four get here!”

A cheer went up and everyone filed out.

Soon it was just Eddie and Steve in the hallway.

“Is my Christmas present you?” Eddie asked, getting his fingers underneath the sweater.

Steve jerked back.

“Ooh!” Eddie said with a grin. “Someone is ticklish.”

“No!” Steve squealed. “Absolutely not!” He tried to squirm out of Eddie’s grasp but Eddie was too fast for him.

They were laughing and giggling when the last of the guests arrived.

Eddie wasn’t sure what he was expecting when Suzie said her sister was coming. But it wasn’t the skinny Goth chick with the black hair and teardrop tattoo by her eye.

He had ruled out the other girl on the sheer fact she looked too much like Mike to be anything other Nancy.

Steve welcome them in but gave Argyle the stink eye which prompted Eden reading him the riot act for not telling people she was coming.

Argyle kept arguing that she was supposed to be a surprise for Suzie, but since Suzie already knew the argument fell apart.

There was hot chocolate and cider, eggnog of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties.

Food spread as far as the eye could see on the table but no one sat down to eat there, mostly they wandered in and out of the living room.

Finally it was time for presents and Steve was bouncing in the corner. Eddie slipped his hand into his.

“They’ll love it, sweetheart,” he murmured.

Steve let out a slow breath and nodded. He had gotten Max a Tony Hawk signed skateboard and Erica, the whole 5th edition D&D set so she could start her own campaigns when she started college next fall. She had taken a gap year, because her last year of high school had been so hard on her.

They hugged Steve tightly as thanks. And then it was time for the remaining five to open theirs.

“El, honey,” Steve said, “you open yours first. Then Dustin, Will, Lucas, and Mike. Don’t glare at me, Mike. You’re not last because you’re my least favorite. You’ll see.”

El opened hers. It was of the purple dragon. It’s human-like form pulsing near the heart.

“Steve,” she whispered. “It’s beautiful.”

Dustin unwrapped his wizard to stunned disbelief. “Steve...” he said, his voice wobbling with gratitude.

Will opened his punk rock rogue. “Oh wow.” He ran his fingers reverently over the surface. “Steve, it’s amazing.”

Mike noticed the pattern and looked up at Steve in shock. “No way.”

Lucas opened the ranger leaping into the air with his bow drawn. “Oh holy shit.”

Mike’s hands trembled as he stared down at the wrapped canvass. He looked up at Steve. “There’s no way it’s as awesome as everyone else’s.”

Steve came over and knelt in front of him. He took Mike’s head in his hands. “Of course it is. You are just as important to me as the rest, Mike. Okay?”

Mike’s lip quivered as he nodded. He pulled the wrapping off to reveal his paladin in shining gold armor. A beacon on harsh landscape. Tears dripped down his face as he pressed his hand over his mouth. He set the painting carefully to the side and launched himself at Steve, enveloping him with a huge hug.

“It’s perfect,” he whispered.

Steve hugged him back.

Suddenly there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Finally they broke apart, both men wiping their eyes.

Dustin looked at the signature on his. “Is this an Eddie Munson original?!”

Like the universe did a record scratch, suddenly five heads all turn to Steve and Eddie.

Eddie waved his hand at them and Steve nearly burst on how cute it was.

“It’s even better than that,” Steve said with a grin. “El, stand in the middle. Lucas, Mike on the right, with Mike on the outside. Same for you and Will, Will on the outside. Hold up the paintings.”

He pulled out his phone and took a picture. “Now set them down and come over here.”

The five of them crowded around Steve and his phone.

They all gasped when they saw the full picture.

Steve was suddenly bombarded with hugs and thanks and kisses.

“I know next year you’ll all be going your separate ways and wanted to get you all something to tie you together for life,” he explained.

“That is wicked cool,” Max said.

“Yeah,” Erica agreed.

“I have one more present to give,” Eddie said and pulled out the remaining package and handed it to Steve.

Steve unwrapped and gasped. “It’s a yellow dragon!”

“And his knight friend having tea together,” Eddie explained. “I kinda based it on that old cartoon, The Reluctant Dragon, where the knight and dragon didn’t want to fight.”

“Eds,” Steve whispered. “I love it!” Then Robin was placing something in his hand.

Steve looked down at it and then nodded. “This is my gift to you.” He handed it to Eddie.

It was an envelope about the size of Christmas card and Eddie fought hard against the disappointment that burned in his gut. He had painted a yellow dragon for Steve, it would have been nice to get something more than a gift card.

He pulled it out and frowned when he realized it was an invitation.

“Newfield Museum of Fine Arts

You are cordially invited

to an art exhibit featuring the art

Eddie Munson

Dec 31st 8pm-1am

Fundraiser for the charity ‘Roll for Initiative’

starting at 4pm

Silent auction from 6-7pm”

It was Eddie’s turn to cry.

“You okay there, son?” Wayne asked, concerned when Eddie just stood there, tears streaming down his face.

Eddie nodded. He held out the invitation for Wayne to take. Wayne read it over and over.

“You do this, Steve?” he asked.

Steve nodded. “It was my plan for a while to do the fundraiser for the charity on New Year’s Eve, but after really getting to know Eddie, I knew that he deserved to be showcased too. So the exhibit came afterwards.”

Eddie kissed him fiercely on the lips. “This is the best Christmas present ever, baby.”

Steve blushed to the cheers from everyone.

This year was good, but next year was going to be even greater.

***

Well that's the end for now. Thank you so much for coming along with me on this wild ride. Merry Christmas!!

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @emly03 @bookworm0690 @itsall-taken @vecnuthy @bookbinderbitch @redfreckledwolf @littlewildflowerkitten @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @scheodingers-muppet @mira-jadeamethyst @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @genderless-spoon @anne-bennett-cosplayer @irregular-child @carlprocastinator1000 @mogami13 @samsoble

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #christmas #artist eddie #businessman steve #autistic steve harrington

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corrodedseraphine · 6 months

Text

you are not alone | one shot

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

story based on a request by a lovely anon: Steve works as a nurse and lives in a two bedroom apartment. He decided to put out an ad for a roommate and the reader finds it. She’s in desperate need of a place to stay after her father dies. It was just the two of them and she has to use almost all the money she makes working to pay off remaining medical bills.

The reader and Steve have a falling out within the first month of her living there but he keeps her around because she pays her part of the rent and keeps to herself. The two of them are usually throwing digs at one another.

Steve doesn’t realize the reader is going through so much financial stress and the loss of her father. She works two jobs (diner and bar) and is gone a lot. However, Steve starts to notice she hardly eats and sleeps and it’s taking a toll on her health.

One night when Steve gets home from his shift at the hospital he finds the reader fell asleep sitting at the bar in the kitchen. He goes up and puts his hand on her back to wake her and she gets startled. Steve steadies her and tries to calm her down. She’s still disoriented and dizzy. Steve carries her to the sofa and tries to check her vitals but she pushes him away. He lectures her for not eating and makes her eat something before letting her go to bed.

A few weeks later the reader gets sick and is really weak, so Steve takes care of her even though she tells him to leave her alone. In her vulnerable state she finally tells Steve what’s been going on.

An enemies to friends type of story with a soft and caring Steve once he realizes she needs help. angst, slight enemies to lovers, and they were roommates trope, fluff in the end, modern!AU

7 830 words

the one shot is also avaliable on ao3

TW: mentions of: death, family member loss

Dear anon, thank you for your request and I really hope you won't be disappointed!

(I know you requested enemies to friends but I made it lovers instead, because the hopeless romantic inside me is desperate, I'm sorry)

steve harrington masterlist | general masterlist

"Aaand here's for another failed date." Eddie smirked and tilted the shot into his mouth, immediately followed by Robin, Steve and Chrissy.

"I'm so damn tired of this, man." Steve said and slumped helplessly on a soft chair in the corner of the living room. "Everything looks the same, movie, dinner, after dinner we go to my place, have sex and the magic is gone, she sneaks out in the middle of the night and the next day she doesn't answer any messages."

"Maybe you're too desperate?" Robin asked, he sent her a questioning look. "Think about it, it is said that true love comes suddenly and unexpectedly, while you, on the contrary, catch on to anything that moves."

"Robin!" Chrissy jabbed her in the arm.

"What!"

"Be nice!" the blonde rolled her eyes. "Maybe Steve has already met someone who will turn out to be more than a hook-up, and he doesn't know it? Look at us, all through high school we didn't exchange a word with each other, and now I can't imagine a day without your voice." She kissed her girlfriend on the forehead.

"You guys are disgusting." Steve scoffed.

"And you're jealous." replied Robin pulling Chrissy to her and kissing her deeply.

"Ah, ladies! Please spare poor Harrington tonight!" laughed Eddie, filling the glasses anew.

"Thank you, Eddie!" exclaimed the brunette immediately reaching for one. "Can we change the subject?"

"How's your roommate? Doesn't she mind your guests?" asked the metalhead.

"Nope." He waved his free hand and after a moment he brought up a shot. "She's practically not at home at all, and when she comes back it's at night and she sleeps, but when we see each other, exceptionally, she annoys me to the core."

"Why?"

"She constantly walks around fuming, looking at me as if I've committed a crime and getting any word out of her verges on the most miraculous."

"Maybe you made a bad first impression?"

"Then why didn't she refuse when I said she could move in?"

"I don't know, you said she looked desperate."

"It's like I'm living with a ghost who wakes up once every few days and slithers around the apartment in misery."

"Why does it bother you so much that she's quiet?" asked Chrissy suddenly.

"Yeah, blondie is right, I think it's better to have a quiet roommate than to have her be loud, insufferable and pick on everything. Especially the fact that you bring a different girl into your apartment every now and then." Eddie added.

"Oh my God, he's so annoyed because he wants her to talk to him, he wants more than just conversation!" Robin jumped up on the couch as if she had made the discovery of the year. "He likes her!"

"Oh fuck you! All of you!" the other three didn't miss the fact that he didn't deny Robin's theory, but decided to leave the subject for now.

The first month in the new apartment passed extremely quickly. Actually, you didn't quite feel the effects of moving out. Everything seemed to be behind a fog, and the days flew through your fingers turning into nights, and so on and so forth. The only thing that seemed painfully real was the longing and pain. These were the only things that reminded you that you were alive.

As you danced with a tray between tables at a nearby diner from early morning, and later in the evening served drinks to enamored couples at the bar, you didn't have much time to mourn. But that didn't change the fact that the void left in your life was heavy. As heavy as your eyelids, which began to close at the mere sight of your bed. Usually you don't even remember the moment you fall asleep, but today it wasn't so easy.

When you saw that the beginning nurse was looking for a roommate you thought you had managed to find someone calm and quiet. Unfortunately, reality turned out to be different. The frequent sounds of pleasure coming from his bedroom were not usually a problem for you, you quickly learned to simply ignore them or drown them out with music or a podcast. Nor were you bothered by the frequent visits of his friends, who brought chaos and disorder every time, not caring about the silence. Most of the time you weren't in the apartment at all because you were at work, but today they decided to have a movie night, which started with an argument about the choice of movie. Knowing that you wouldn't fall asleep with such entertainment, you exasperatedly got out of bed pulling on your sweatpants.

When you left the room everyone went silent and looked at you. You could see from their faces that they were just waiting for you to start shouting at them, but even though you really wanted to do it at that moment, you didn't have the strength. Exhausted after several hours of hard work as always, you didn't have the strength to do anything, so you passed them without a word, ignoring their attempts to say hello and offers to join them, and left the apartment. With a quick step, you went to the pharmacy located near your apartment, stocked up on a new pack of sleeping pills and went back to your place.

"Hey, y/n!" called out one of the younger boys, from what you associated was probably named Dustin. "Can you help us choose? Iron Man or the Amazing Spider-Man?"

You just rolled your eyes and, leaving him without an answer, went back to your room slamming the door behind you. Taking your pills you started getting ready for sleep again.

Lying in the darkness you listened to the conversation of Steve and his friends.

"See? She can't even say one word, I honestly can barely remember what her voice sounds like!" he said irritated.

"Come on, she looked tired." replied a female voice.

"Tired or not, she could at least answer! Out of politeness!"

"Let's just start the movie."

Then the voices quieted, and your thoughts grew louder. You thought about yourself from a few months ago.

The former you would have answered Dustin's question without hesitation and gladly accepted the invitation to join.

The former you would have been able to chat for hours with Steve from the very beginning and not push away every possible interaction on his part.

You knew it irritated him, he couldn't hide it. Every attempt to have any kind of conversation with you ended in failure, every attempt to get to know you better - spurned. You were not surprised by it. You were sure that the former you and your new roommate would get along very well. It's even possible that the former you would have noticed how his honey-colored eyes curiously followed you when you left the room, maybe she would have noticed the charming smile he sent you during the first days of your living together, and would have appreciated his willingness and interest in you. It is likely that the former you would also have taken an interest in Steve's person, in many ways. However, the former you no longer existed.

The present you was overtired and there was not a shred of energy in her.

The present you had far bigger worries than the handsome boy sitting behind the wall, whose sweet smiles turned into grimaces of annoyance and disgust.

Holding back the tears that rushed to your eyes, you looked at your phone. Six hours of sleep. You snuggled your face into your pillow hoping to fall asleep as soon as possible thanks to the pills. Lately, every minute of sleep was at a premium for you.

Days passed and the tension between you and Steve grew. He was irritated by the lack of willingness to communicate on your part, and you were irritated by the fact that he was irritated. Without actually saying too many words to each other, sometimes one unpleasant glance was enough for one or both of you to feel a strange surge of negative emotions. The climax turned out to be Saturday, when you were getting ready for your evening shift at the bar.

You were walking through the living room holding a glass of Coke in your hand when you tripped over one of the nursing textbooks scattered on the floor. A moment later, all that was heard was the sound of glass on the floor and a rather hard fall.

"What the fuck Steve?!" you exclaimed, looking down at your soaked clothes.

"What happened?" he ran out of the bathroom.

"I tripped over your stupid book! Is it so hard to clean up after yourself?"

"I'm studying, I just went to the bathroom for a moment!"

"And leaving your books on the floor was a great idea!" you said standing up.

"If you had watched where you were going nothing would have happened!" he tried to defend himself.

"If you had kept things in order then nothing would have happened!"

"How could I have known that just now you would mercifully leave the room?! I'm used to you not leaving it for a second!"

"Go to Hell Harrington!" you yelled.

"Feels like I am already in it!" he yelled back, grabbed his books and went to his room.

Angry, you changed your clothes and picked up the glass, then quickly mopped the floor after the spilled drink.

Despite the fact that you had already left the apartment and left him alone in it, Steve felt bad about this whole situation. He didn't know quite whether he was angry, disappointed or tired. Sitting over textbooks for several hours never worked well for him, and arguing with you made him even more upset.

Sighing deeply, he grabbed his phone, where a Tinder notification popped up on the screen. The beautiful long-haired blonde on the screen was smiling broadly at him, he didn't even remember when he swiped her to the right. Each successive match on the app was more and more meaningless to him, despite the fact that he could spend hours there looking for "the one". Eventually everything started to blend together, he could no longer remember what he was saying to whom and what he wasn't, remembering names wasn't his advantage either. He looked at the girl's profile for a while longer, but he decided that he definitely didn't feel like going on a date tonight. Instead he went to the kitchen and took out a full bottle of rum from the refrigerator. Putting it by his face, he took a picture and sent it to the group chat.

Steve the Stupidest: wanna join?

Eddie the Dumbest: my place in 20 minutes?

Chrissy the Sweetest: count us in!

Robin the Smartest: do we need to bring something?

Eddie the Dumbest: your asses to my house lol

Eddie the Dumbest: and snacks

Eddie the Dumbest: I won't let you in without snacks

"You told her that living with her is like living in hell?" Chrissy asked shocked.

"I didn't say it directly! I just said it felt that way!" Steve tried to defend himself. The bottle of rum was emptied in no time and, as standard, Steve brought the tracks back to you.

"Which is exactly the same as if you literally said 'Life with you is like hell." Robin rolled her eyes and threw popcorn at him.

"The real question is do you really feel that way?" asked Eddie.

"No." he answered without thinking. "But it's not heaven either! I don't know what it is, no one gets on my nerves like she does, but I on the other hand..." he didn't finish the sentence.

"I'm still of the opinion that you like her but for some strange reason you're acting like an eight-year-old and instead of admitting it, you're telling yourself that all you feel is annoyance." Robin said.

"I think you two would make an adorable couple." interjected Chrissy.

"Until she would kill me with a single stare." If the relationship between you two was better and more friendly, maybe he wouldn't even try to deny Robin's words.

"You're not in Heaven or Hell, so you could say you're roommates from Purgatory," laughed Eddie. "The only question is which way you'll go, up or down?"

"I have a strange feeling it's going dooown."

Even if the disagreement between you was still present, Steve had no plans to kick you out of the apartment. You always paid everything on time, did not interfere in his life, and, apart from occasional exchanges of words, did not cause any major problems. Over time, however, the atmosphere of irritation began to fade and was replaced by an acceptance of the fact that there would not even be a friendship between you. Not wanting to get in each other's way, you communicated with one another only on necessary matters.

That didn't change the fact that Steve was still observing you, and what he saw was beginning to worry him. Your pale face, blackened eyes and hunched posture betrayed your physical exhaustion. He also noticed that you weren't preparing any meals for yourself at all. In fact, he probably hadn't seen you cook anything once yet since you moved in. Sometimes when he prepared food for himself he would specifically make more to see if you would take what was left, but you never did a single time.

The autumn weather was not one of the best, it was definitely the type of weather during which the only thing to do was to wrap up in a warm blanket, turn on a favorite TV series and drink a big mug of hot chocolate. That was the plan that popped into Steve's head when he walked into the apartment after a long and tiring shift at the hospital.

Putting down his rain-wet umbrella in the hallway, he pulled off his jacket and hung it on a hanger. To his surprise, your jacket was also hanging there. This surprised him because you were always still at work at this hour. Walking deeper into the apartment he saw you sitting at the kitchen counter, your hands and head were resting on its surface. Without saying hello, he entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, thinking only about the chicken salad he had made yesterday. When out of the corner of his eye he didn't notice any movement on your part he turned to look at you. Only from this perspective could he see that you were asleep. In your numb hand thete was a mug of tea.

"Y/n?" he asked quietly. You didn't respond. He slowly took the mug out of your hand. The tea in it was already cold. How long had you been sitting there like this? Concerned, he placed his hand on your back and repeated your name several more times.

Awakened, you jumped up on the bar stool almost falling off it, fortunately your roommate reacted quickly enough to prevent this and hold you up.

"Hey, it's just me, just Steve." he said, and furrowed his brow. His voice was calm and a little quieter than usual. "Are you all right? Are you feeling sick?" he asked, and instinctively began to bring his hand closer to your forehead to check for signs of fever, but you, seeing this, immediately pulled away and jumped off the stool. This, unfortunately, was not the best idea, as you were still disoriented by your sudden awakening, and prolonged fatigue and irregular, not very hearty meals definitely weakened your body causing dizziness, which you also felt now and lost your balance.

"Woah!" the brunette once again grabbed your shoulders protecting you from falling. "Come on, sit down on the couch." this time without objection you moved towards the couch which stood nearby, due to the fact that your living room was connected to the kitchen. Steve followed you step by step supporting you. He kept one hand on your back and the other on your arm. "Are you sick? dizzy?" he began to ask when you sat down.

"I'm fine, Steve, just tired." you said, hoping he would give you a break. Meanwhile, a gurgling sound came from your stomach.

"And probably hungry." he raised one eyebrow.

"Just want to go to sleep." you scoffed.

"I have some chicken salad left over, I won't be able to eat it all myself, and it would be a shame to throw it away, maybe you'd like some?" he offered, carefully watching your reaction. He was increasingly convinced that during the day you either eat nothing, or so little that your body can barely manage to provide you with any energy to function. However, given your distant relationship, he couldn't just bombard you with questions and force you to eat like he would have done with Robin or Dustin. He had to do it slowly and calmly.

"Yeah, okay." you said quietly as the gurgling of your stomach resounded a second time.

He immediately went back to the fridge and quickly put the food on plates hoping you wouldn't notice that you got a larger portion. Handing you a plate, he sat down next to you and turned on the TV, the sound of which filled the silence between you.

"That was really good, thank you." you said quietly.

"No problem, I'm glad I didn't have to throw it away." he smiled slightly. "Feeling better?" he asked.

In response, you only nodded your head. You got up from the couch and picked up the plates to wash them, his eyes were following your movements to the kitchen.

Watching you, he thought about the fact that this was your first meal together since you moved in. Satisfied with the result that it didn't end in an argument or that you didn't reject his offer, he felt a little more confident. This small success pushed him forward, so when you started washing the dishes, he decided to take a chance.

"What did you eat at work today?" the question knocked you out a bit.

"Why do you ask?"

"I'm just curious." He shrugged his shoulders, but you didn't see it because you were standing with your back turned.

"A sandwich." you replied not thinking much. You felt strange with the fact that this was your first conversation not about bills or household chores. The first one you had actually allowed him to have.

"Only?"

"I didn't have time at work to eat."

"One sandwich all day? Are you crazy? You need to eat more!" And so much for calmness and slowness. He knew he shouldn't get carried away and didn't want it to sound like an attack, but unfortunately it was too late. Why did he care this much about you awnyway? All the walls that you lowered down for that brief moment rose again.

"I'm fine." you said dryly clenching your teeth.

"I found you sleeping on the kitchen counter, it's obvious that you're overtired and hardly eat anything at all, do you even take care of yourself in any way?"

"It's none of your business." Suddenly all the fatigue is gone from you, replaced, by anger, instead. Who did he think he was to lecture you?

"You are irresponsible." he concluded and got up from the couch.

"Just shut up, Steve, you're not my father to lecture me." You replied in an overtired voice.

"Then maybe you should call him and make him realize that his daughter can't take care of herself!" He was already heading towards his room, but suddenly, he was stopped by the clatter of dishes. He noticed how your shoulders were moving faster and faster, picking up the pace of your breathing. You turned off the water and, without a word, walked away from the sink, standing straight in front of him. Your eyes were big and full of tears, looking at him with a condemning gaze.

"You have no right to say that." You said through your teeth and, without waiting for an answer, disappeared into your room, leaving him alone in a big shock.

That night, instead of his favorite TV series, all he could focus on were the quiet sobs coming from behind the wall and the guilt they caused. He had no idea which of his actions made you cry, and it didn't really matter which. Despite the fact that, in his opinion, he didn't say anything awful in your direction, he felt awful.

Steve the Stupidest: I made her cry

Chrissy the Sweetest: what???? what happened?

Steve the Stupidest: I don't know, we were eating salad together, I asked her what she had eaten at work, she said that only a sandwich, so I got a little carried away and told her that she can't take care of herself, and now I can hear her crying

Robin the Smartest: oh damn

Steve the Stupidest: should I go to her?

Eddie the Dumbest: I don't think she wants to see you now, dude

Robin the Smartest: Eddie is right, let her calm down

Robin the Smartest: and tell everything that happened with details

Autumn brings with itself many changes, one of which may be unexpected illness. The first thing you felt this morning was an unpleasant itching in your throat, the second was a terrible cold, which made you decide to dress a little warmer for work today. Unfortunately, you felt worse and worse by the minute, but adult life can be brutal and you couldn't just not go to work today.

Around noon Steve came home from the hospital, but before he could open the door to the apartment his phone vibrated in his pocket.

"Hello?"

"Come to Benny's, quick." Robin said in a serious voice.

When he arrived in front of the diner, Chrissy was waiting for him with a worried expression on her face.

"What happened?" he asked running up to the girl.

"y/n fainted, Robin and I came in for lunch and when she was carrying our order she just fainted, she said there was no one to help her so Robin said we'll call you-" the words left her mouth at the speed of light.

"Hey, take it easy." he grabbed her by the shoulders. "Where is she?"

"In the back room with Robin and Benny."

With a quick step he walked inside and moments later he was already at your side watching you with a worried face. You looked even worse than last time, which caused him alarmed. Sitting leaning against the white wall, you were almost as pale as it was.

"Let's get you home, okay?" he asked crouching down in front of you.

"I don't have a home." you muttered while burying your face in your hands. "I can't leave, my shift hasn't ended."

"It has ended and the next one won't start until you feel better." said Benny in a harsh tone.

"Benny please." you whined.

"No discussion, get her out of here Steve."

Reluctantly, you walked back to his BMW feeling the gaze of the other three on you all the time, but now you didn't even have the strength to be annoyed with them. Despite the fact that your shift at the diner ended a few hours sooner, you still had to go to your evening shift at the bar, so you wanted to be in your room as soon as possible so you could take a nap before that.

You didn't even remember when you fell asleep, you were pulled out of the darkness by the sound of your alarm clock, which announced that it was time to start getting ready for your shift at the bar. The worst part of it all was that you didn't feel any better.

Slowly and lifelessly you walked out of the room, Steve was standing in the kitchen over a big pot of soup. When he heard the sound of the door opening he turned toward you and smiled slightly.

"I made the soup, the best for a cold, I got the recipe from Robin's grandmother, I'm sure you'll like it, it just needs to boil for a while," he said.

"I'm not hungry." you lied, at the very smell you were drooling but you didn't have time to eat anymore.

"Come on, at least try."

"I don't have time Steve, I have to get ready and go to work." you sighed.

"You're kidding right?" He stood motionless and looked at you in disbelief, and you looked at him with a questioning expression. "A few hours ago you blacked out and now you want to go to work, are you crazy?"

"Don't dramatize."

"Dramatize? Listen to yourself, what's wrong with you?"

"Everything!" you snapped. "Not everyone has a wonderful life full of friends and and rich parents who transfer dollars to your account every month! Do you think life makes me happy? Some people have to work two shifts to make their own living! Some people have other expenses besides just living!" your outburst of anger made you feel increasingly weak, but your voice was still loud. Loud enough for every word to reach him without interference. "You work in a hospital, so you know how much medical bills cost! So I'm sorry Steve, but I won't eat your soup, I have to go to work so I can afford to pay your rent next month!"

Shaken up, you walked into the bathroom and slammed the door behind you. Why does it all have to be so difficult? Clenching your eyes tightly, a loud sob came from your mouth. Much louder than you wanted. Helplessly you slumped to the floor and just let the tears flow. You were sick, tired, sad, angry and lost, everything was against you.

After a while, the bathroom door opened and Steve appeared in it with a broken look on his face.

"I'm sorry." He said, kneeling beside you.

"It's not your fault." you said while wiping away tears. "Everything is just too much."

"I didn't know anything about the hospital bills, are you ill? do you need funding for treatment?" honey eyes studied your face carefully, the warmth that emanated from him made you want to cling to him.

"They are not mine."

"Are you paying for someone?" he asked puzzled.

"My dad was very sick-" you said quietly.

"Was?"

Nothing was your answer. The pain in your eyes spoke for itself.

"Jesus, y/n…" before he could think what he was doing his arms had already begun to embrace you, and you let him. You felt as if he was keeping you from falling apart. After a while, your breathing slowed down, and your body was no longer shaken by waves of crying. "I'm so fucking sorry, I didn't know anything." he muttered into your hair.

"I really have to go to work, Steve." you replied weakly, already a bit calmer.

"You can't go there like this, you're all burned up."

"If I don't go I won't be able to pay you on time." You sighed and extricated yourself from his grasp.

"You'll pay me later, it won't be a problem." he replied without thinking. "Stay, please." he said seeing your uncertain reaction. "I swear that if you pay later, nothing will happen. It won't be a problem."

"Thank you." you replied. "I'll go call that I won't be there."

"And I'll get us some soup." he beamed. His smile was contagious as it also appeared on your face despite your nasty mood. When you returned to the living room there were two large bowls filled to the brim on the coffee table.

"Fancy a movie?" he asked.

"Yeah, okay." you replied surprised, you weren't expecting this proposal. Although he was probably even more surprised and didn't expect you to agree. "What are we going to watch?"

"I don't know, what do you like?"

"And you?" you asked, not wanting to impose something of your own.

"Star Wars?"

"I've never watched, it can be."

"Wait, what? Seriously, it's a classic!"

"Such a film connoisseur of you?" you laughed.

"You still haven't answered my question about what you like."

"Disney is definitely my definition of comfort movies."

"for example?"

"Beauty and the Beast, Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Coco…"

"I haven't watched any of them." he shrugged his shoulders.

"And who's talking about not knowing the classics?!" you pretended to be disgusted.

"I propose a compromise, one part of Star Wars for one Disney movie, I think we both have a lot of catching up to do."

"Deal."

Steve Harrington was a ray of sunshine. From the moment you decided to stop fencing yourself off with thick curtains your life became much warmer and brighter. Your life together changed completely, even though you still had to work two shifts and felt physically tired, your mental state was definitely relieved. When your roommate got to know your situation and understood what you were struggling with, his attitude also changed. This time, all the quiet days and sad looks were not perceived as an attack. Instead, whenever you returned tired after work there was a warm meal waiting for you and an even warmer smile that caused a strange tingling in your stomach.

The more you got to know each other, the more you couldn't hold back the feeling of attraction to him. He was a person from whom a safe warmth radiated, a warmth that not only warmed your cold hands when they accidentally touched his, but also your soul. A soul that had long been a cold and empty hollow. He lit the first tiny sparks in it that made life and emotions awaken in you anew.

By opening up to his presence in your life, you found the courage to grieve. He was the perfect friend. Funny, caring and trustworthy. Day by day you got to know each other better and better, telling him about what happened with your dad you allowed in the feelings that you had kept locked up for an awfully long time.

One day was especially difficult when your dad's birthday arrived. All day the weight of your heart was unbearable, people at work gave you an extremely hard time, so as soon as you closed the apartment door behind you, you burst into tears. Some time ago you would have held it in until you disappeared into your room, but you couldn't help how Steve made the house become home. A home where you didn't have to be afraid to show your feelings.

Hearing you groggy in the hallway he immediately came out to greet you, wanting to show off the new dish he had managed to prepare today. Unfortunately, seeing your condition, all his enthusiasm disappeared.

"What happened?" he asked quietly. His eyes scanned your entire body in search of any apparent reason for crying, but he immediately understood that what was hurting you was not a physical issue at all. Not having the strength to respond you moved quickly in front of him and he simply followed you. You sat down on the bed clenching your face in your hands, after a while the mattress bent under his weight.

"Hey, it's okay." he whispered placing a hand on your shoulder. "Come." He pulled you gently back.

Leaning against the headrest of the bed, he pulled you close, and you fell right into his arms. You cuddled your face into the soft sweater sobbing like a small child. Large hands gently traced paths of comfort on your back and arms. He stroked you as if you were a small, wounded and helpless animal, and he wanted at all costs not to hurt you even more. Your pain was breaking his heart, but he knew the feeling when crying is the only thing that can bring relief, so he didn't interrupt you.

Over the past time, he got to know you much better than he ever would have expected. He saw in you something more than a silent energy filled with fatigue and perpetual irritation. He saw in you a beautiful but broken soul. He saw a heart of gold that was shattered to pieces. He saw how funny you were and what a great conversation companion you could be. He was surprised by your sensitivity, which you initially hid under a mask of oppressiveness. When you broke down the armored wall you surrounded yourself with at the beginning of your acquaintance, Steve met a completely different person, someone in whom he was beginning to see more than just a roommate. With each step you continued to become friends, but he couldn't ignore the thought that he wanted something more.

From people who avoided each other like fire you became a team. You did everything together as much as possible when you both happened to find some free time. Meals together, cleaning together and going shopping together. Movie marathons and evenings spent talking all added up to the beauty of domestication. But-

What if you could lay cuddled up together while watching movies?

What if he could kiss every tear from your cheeks that fall when you get emotional at a Disney movie?

What if you could come up from behind and snuggled into his back while he was preparing dinner for you?

What if while shopping he could hold a shopping bag in one hand and your hand in the other one?

What if seeking comfort in his arms after a hard day at work was the first thing you would do when you got home?

All the what ifs in his head had been swirling around for a long time and were incredibly overwhelming, especially when you were close, yet he couldn't muster the courage to do more.

For the moment, you had more serious things on your mind, and he didn't know how to help you, despite his great desire to do so. Lost in his thoughts and focused to give you as much comfort as possible, he didn't notice when you calmed down. Your breathing was now even and your eyes closed. Thinking you had fallen asleep he settled down a bit and rested his cheek against the top of your head. With the hand that he used to embrace your back he pressed you even tighter against him, and with the other he grabbed the hand that lay on his chest.

"Today is his birthday." you said weakly.

Not expecting you to be awake for a moment panic swept through him, he quickly drew in air and tensed all over waiting for your reaction. Seeing that you still remained motionless, he relaxed, and you continued speaking. "Every year we used to spend this whole day with his best friend and his family. They invited me to join them today to continue the tradition, but I can't- It hurts too much."

"You don't have to go there if you don't feel ready, it's understandable to feel that way." he replied.

"What if I'm never ready? What if it will always hurt like this?"

"Even if time doesn't heal the wounds, you will learn to live with them. And even though moments like now will happen from time to time, you won't be alone with them. You are not alone."

His words went straight to your heart, they were something you needed at that moment.

"Thank you." You said hugging him even tighter.

"Always here for you." he muttered.

The silence that surrounded you and the last rays of the setting sun coming through the window were soothing. Your hearts began to beat out the same calm and steady rhythm that you could feel under your hand. Focusing on the gentle beats, a peace began to envelop you that you hadn't felt since your dad became ill. As the orange glow of the ending day slowly turned into blanketing darkness neither of you wanted to move so as not to scare away such a beautiful and peaceful moment. Desperately clinging to the closeness that existed between you both fell asleep, not worrying about the awkwardness that would come with the morning.

Unfortunately, the night passed all too quickly. When you woke up you were lying in bed alone. Trying to run away from the feeling of disappointment about this, you reluctantly pushed the quilt aside and focused on preparing for work. Entering the living room, you were greeted by a platter of warm scrambled eggs and a mug of coffee.

"I'm going on the night shift tonight, so I thought maybe we could at least have breakfast together." he said sitting down at the table.

"Sounds like a great plan." You replied with a smile. Over the course of the meal you lost yourself in pleasant conversation about everyday life. Steve also talked about his plans for the weekend, where he wanted to take Dustin to a concert by his favorite band.

"And uh- I have something for you." he said when you finished eating. He walked over to his backpack and took out some documents from it, which he slipped to you. "You don't have to do anything with this, but I thought you might want to think about it. I talked to some people at the hospital and they said your situation qualifies for a subsidy on your dad's medical bills." You looked at him with your eyes wide open, he couldn't make out much emotion from your expression, which made him start to get nervous, fearing that you were about to explode with anger. "I know, I'm sorry I talked to strangers about you, you have the right to be angry with me, but I really just wanted to help, this subsidy will cover most of the bills, of course if you need help to figure it all out, I can help you with everything, but I understand if you don't want-"

His rant was interrupted by your arms tightening around his stomach. When the moment of surprise passed he reciprocated the hug.

"Thank you." you said.

"You are welcome." He beamed.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow after we're both off work?""

"Sure." The smile didn't leave his face.

"I have to go now, thank you for breakfast. Have a good day, Steve."

"You too, y/n."

For him, it was the win of the day.

When taking on the job as a nurse, Steve was aware that some moments would be extremely hard in the job. However, he did not expect them to come so quickly and suddenly. Nor did he expect that the first such moment would be so drastic.

Road accidents were the order of the day, so when he got the call to assist in the operation of one of the injured he approached it with composure as always. What he didn't expect, however, was to find a teenage girl lying on the table in critical condition. Despite the best efforts of the entire rescue team, the injuries sustained in the accident were too extensive and she died during the operation. On his way out of the room, all he could hear was the shrill cry of despair of a mother who would never hug her own daughter again. That sound refused to leave his head until the end of his shift.

After returning home, exhausted by today's experiences, he fell asleep on the couch. Unfortunately, even in sleep his psyche was not merciful. His brain replayed nightmares over and over again, which, instead of resting, tormented him even more.

When you returned to the apartment the first thing you noticed was Steve sleeping on the couch. Today, for the first time in a very long time, he was not waiting for you with a meal ready. Determining that he was probably too tired, you quietly walked over to the couch and covered him with a blanket. Your attention did not miss the furrowed brow and the anxious expression on his face. Hesitating for a moment, you decided not to intervene and went to the kitchen, stating that today it was your turn to cook something. In the middle of cutting vegetables, Steve suddenly jumped on the couch breathing heavily.

"Hey, what's going on?" you quickly walked over to him and crouched down across from him. He was in shock, his eyes in a panic trying to recognize the environment he was in, and his breathing was speeding up instead of slowing down. "Steve, hey." you tried to get his attention.

"My phone. Where's my phone?" he sprang to his feet and began a frantic search for the device. He found it in his jacket pocket and immediately started dialing a number. "Dustin? Dustin are you okay?" he asked after a few beeps.

"Yes, why?" replied the confused boy.

"I just- I'm sorry. Glad you are okay."

"What the hell Steve?"

"I have to go, bye." He hung up and clasped his hand around the phone while leaning his head against the wall.

"Steve?" approached him slowly. "What's going on?"

"It's just a hard day at work…" He sighed.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He nodded and together you went to sit on the couch. There he told you about the situation. The longer he spoke, the more his voice broke down and words struggled to pass through his throat.

"When I was sleeping, I had-I had a nightmare. Instead of this girl, there was Dustin. I had to make sure he was okay-" it was his breaking point.

The sight was painful. It was hard to look at a person who can bring so much warmth, light and joy into someone's life in a state of sadness. Steve was like sunshine to you, sunshine that was now covered by dark clouds and raindrops that dripped down his cheeks. Before you had time to think your body reacted faster, and you were already halfway to hugging him. He accepted this form of reassurance without hesitation, and, drawing you closer to him, you landed in his lap, while he snuggled his face into the bend of your neck.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all this." you said quietly stroking his hair. "And Dustin is fine, he is fine, you are not gonna lose him."

"I can't lose him-"

"And you won't." You didn't let him finish his sentence. You moved him away from you so that you could look at each other and took his face in your hands, wiping away the tear tracks with your thumbs. "And remember that you are not alone with your problems Steve Harrington, and you will not be alone."

Honey-colored irises looked right through your soul. However, after a while they began to take a different course. Slowly and uncertainly they went along your nose to stop at your lips. Suddenly his hands, which were now on the indentation of your waist, began to burn. Yet it was not a painful burning. The warmth was addictive, you wanted to feel more of it, you wanted to feel it all over your body. Your foreheads rested against each other and your noses brushed, lips were separated by millimeters when the magic was interrupted by his phone.

Like a burnt woman, you jumped off his lap, and he went to his room with the phone, not knowing how to deal with what had just happened between you.

Would you let him kiss you?

This thought focused all his attention, and all he understood from his conversation with his supervisor was that tomorrow was his day off.

"Would you mind going for a walk?" you asked when he returned to the living room.

"Sure."

The autumn air was not the hottest, but the warm sweaters you were wearing adequately protected you from it. The setting sun was a beautiful orange color quite like the leaves quietly crunching under your shoes. Steve wordlessly followed you, not even focusing on the road. Walking in your company seemed to be a good cure for shattered nerves, especially since the scenery was equally soothingly beautiful. On the way to your destination, you made a brief stop at a flower shop, not far from the cemetery. At that moment he knew what your destination was.

"It's okay if you don't feel like going there." You said stopping in front of the gate.

"No, it's fine." he replied and moved ahead.

"This place…I found a weird peace in here for the first few days after my dad died." you explained as you approached the grave. You placed a flower on it.

Steve did not respond. But you were right, the place was surrounded by a strange atmosphere of calm. The falling nightfall sharpened the burning candles. Their rays were small but warm, and together they created a solemn scenery. He associated the flames with the emotions you stirred in his heart. Emotions that were bubbling up inside him and begging him to let them out. Emotions that he no longer had the strength to keep inside, and despite the fact that the cemetery was the last place to confess love, he decided to do so.

"Thank you." he said finally.

"For what?" you asked turning your face toward him.

"Letting me in."

"Thank you for being patient enough." The smile with which you answered this was also as warm as the lights burning in front of you.

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

He expected shock, anger, laughter on your part. He expected each of the worst reactions. However, he did not expect the calmness with which you accepted what he said. He didn't expect your hand intertwining your fingers and the other landing gently on his cheek.

"I think I'm falling in love with you too, Steve." you whispered.

That was enough for him to lean in and bring your lips together. The kiss, at first shy and gentle, deepened into something passionate and filled with relief that something that was supposed to have happened a long time ago was finally happening. It was as if everything had suddenly found its rightful place in the universe.

As you pulled away from each other, he spun you around so that your back rested against his chest and your arms locked in a bear hug. With a wide smile and tears of happiness in your eyes, you looked at your father's grave.

"Thank you." you said quietly.

"It's me who thanks you." he whispered in your ear.

"It wasn't to you." you giggled, and he made a confused sound. "It was to Dad."

"Oh."

"He placed a real angel in my path." You didn't have to wait long for a response. After a while, you were face to face again giving each other kisses interrupted by smiles.

"Let's go home." you whispered between kisses.

"Home?" he asked with hope in his voice.

"Home." You confirmed by kissing him again.

taglist: @i-me-mine @phantypurple @tlclick73

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munsonkitten · 6 months

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Steve picks Eddie up on a Friday night. He comes in and waits while Eddie finishes getting ready. He’s wearing the new jeans Steve got him. Dark black and just on the right side of too tight. His shirt is one of the ones from the donation bins at the school, a tight fitting black t-shirt that doesn’t quite reach the waistband of his jeans.

He’s still bandaged up in places and knows the white peeks out, nearly healed wounds surrounding the places he keeps covered. He feels better than he did the last time he saw Steve. His body still aches, but he doesn’t want that to stop him from enjoying himself, especially when Steve’s been looking forward to it.

“I didn’t realize how small that shirt was,” Steve says, almost apologetic. Except for the way he’s looking Eddie up and down as he says it, something hungry in his eyes.

“It works,” Eddie promises. Especially if Steve’s gonna look at him like that.

Steve comes a little bit closer and reaches out to tug on the hem of the shirt.

He looks at Eddie like he wants to say something else, but he doesn’t, just steps away with a smile and says something about beating traffic.

Steve drives. It’s a little over an hour and a half to Indianapolis, and Eddie really doesn’t have enough gas in his van to make it. It makes sense, really, for Steve to drive. He’s safer than Eddie is, and his car gets better mileage.

It still makes Eddie feel like he owes him something. Wearing clothes bought by Steve, sitting in his passenger seat while Steve wastes gas on him. It’s adding up, and Eddie can hear his dad’s voice in the back of his head calling him an idiot for racking up this debt and still sticking around for the chance of it being collected.

He pushes it aside. Steve invited him out. Steve invited him, this is something Steve wants to do. I’ve been wanting to check it out, he said. Eddie doesn’t have to owe Steve for something he wants.

“Hey,” Steve says.

Eddie feels a hand on his own.

“You okay?” Steve asks.

Eddie pulls himself out of his panic, out of his spiral. He looks over at Steve, sunglasses over his eyes, hair windswept from the open window. He’s a vision. He’s a vision, and Eddie’s in way over his head.

“Yeah,” Eddie answers. “I’m good.”

“I’m glad we’re doing this.”

“Yeah,” Eddie breathes. “Me too.”

He tries to relax a little bit. He enjoys the time he spends with Steve, and he needs to just let himself do that.

The panic sets in again when Steve pulls into the parking lot of a hotel. He was told to pack an overnight bag, but Eddie usually just sleeps in his van when he takes trips to Indy and can’t drive home after drinking. He figured Steve had something like that in mind, not… Not a nicer hotel than Eddie’s ever stayed in.

“Uh,” Eddie says. “This place is a little out of my budget, Harrington.”

“It’s alright,” Steve says softly, giving Eddie’s hand a squeeze. He unbuckles his seatbelt and reaches into the backseat for his backpack. “It’s already covered.”

He has no idea where Steve’s getting all this money from. Last Eddie heard, Steve was cut off from his dad’s money and he’s working minimum wage at Family Video.

The room is nice. Two beds, a desk, a cushioned chair and a TV. The bathroom is clean, the towels are white. It’s better than Eddie’s ever stayed in, which isn’t saying a whole lot. He doesn’t ask about the price, doesn’t ask how Steve can afford it, and had politely turned away to look at some fake plants when Steve signed a check at the front desk.

He sets his bag down on the far bed, and almost asks if they’re going to share or not, but he stops himself short. He doesn’t want to sound too eager to have Steve in bed with him, curled up together like they did the other day when Eddie was having a bad afternoon.

“We should head over now,” Steve suggests. “It’s a bit of a walk, but I have directions written down… somewhere.”

He starts to dig through his backpack before giving up and checking his pockets. He ends up finding the slip of paper in his wallet, tucked behind what looks like a fake ID, if the wrong state written across the top is anything to go by. Eddie suddenly remembers a year or so ago when Steve came to him asking if that was a service he offered. It was, of course it was. He got it for Steve after up-charging a fuckton because that’s just what he does to the rich kids, and now Eddie feels bad about it, but not enough to say sorry or offer to pay him back for any of it. Mostly because Eddie doesn’t have the money and he’s already in debt as it is.

Steve doesn’t need to know about that one.

The walk to the club is nice. The weather is warm now that April is turning into May. They bump arms while they walk down the city streets, but they don’t do much more than that. Not until they’re inside, past the bouncer at the door who barely even glances at their IDs.

Then Steve wraps an arm around Eddie’s waist and guides him to the bar, ordering two drinks. He hands over some cash as the bartender pours vodka and grenadine into a cup of soda and ice. He tops it off with a couple maraschino cherries, which Eddie immediately fishes out when the drink is slid over to him.

He doesn’t realize Steve paid for his drink until after they sit down in a booth near the bar. He was fully ready to pull his wallet out and hand over the few dollars he has to his name, but Steve beat him to it.

“Thanks,” Eddie says, leaning close so Steve can hear him over the loud music.

Steve just turns and kisses him, two fingers beneath his chin. It’s surreal to do that in public, Eddie thinks. People surround them, and Steve just kisses him like it’s nothing.

It takes two drinks for Eddie to finally slip out of the booth and pull Steve along with him. He feels the alcohol loosening his body, feels the music wash over him. He tugs Steve’s hand until they’re on the dance floor, and he throws his arms around Steve’s neck when they find a good spot.

He sways, moving his hips in a way he hopes is sexy because it feels sexy, and it seems to be doing its job because Steve’s hands fall to his hips and his fingers dig in.

Eddie tilts his chin and noses at Steve’s cheek, wanting to ask for a kiss, but not knowing if he’s allowed. It seems like Steve’s initiated them all so far, and Eddie doesn’t know where the line is between their arrangement and it being too real.

Steve turns his face, hands moving Eddie’s hips to the beat of the music and presses his lips to Eddie’s. He tastes like vodka and grenadine, or maybe that’s Eddie, but it doesn’t really matter because he melts into it either way. Licks into Steve’s mouth, kisses him in as close to a public space as they’ll ever be able to kiss in.

He pulls back, slides his arms off Steve’s neck to touch his chest, feeling the beat of the music as it thrums through his body. He sways, shakes his hair out behind his back, smiles. He can’t stop smiling like this.

He turns around, feeling Steve’s hands slide around his waist as he backs up against him.

Eddie can feel Steve up his entire back, heated skin pressing through the fabric of their t-shirts. The music pulses around them — not Eddie’s preference, that’s for sure, but it’s fine. Something he can move to. Sway his hips with Steve pressed right up against his backside.

It’s hot in more ways than one, more than just from the sweaty warmth of Steve’s body. It has heat pooling in Eddie’s stomach, desire rushing to his cock. He takes Steve’s hand from where it rests over his stomach and drags it down, letting Steve feel what he’s doing to him. He feels Steve’s breath on his neck, followed by the drag of lips on his skin.

Steve pulls him back tighter to his chest, hand digging into his dick right here on the dance floor. No one’s paying attention, all the bodies around them undulating in similar ways, people hanging off their dance partners. Everyone around them moves like they don’t care who sees — this is the one place that’s safe for people like them.

“Someone’s looking at you,” Steve whispers, the hand not over Eddie’s crotch coming up to rest heavily on his stomach. “Too bad you’re here with me, hm? All these guys want a piece of you and they can’t have you.”

Eddie can barely hear him over the music, but the words aren’t lost on him at all. The way Steve wraps himself around Eddie, tugs him close, is completely possessive. He tips his head back against Steve’s shoulder, tilting his face up to see the way Steve is staring off past him as he moves his hands over Eddie’s body.

Up under his shirt, warmth pressing against his skin. Steve’s careful of the worst wounds, the ones still covered by a white bandage beneath his shirt.

He can feel Steve against him now, his cock hardening against the small of Eddie’s back. He moans, a little noise that gets washed away by the waves of music around them, but he knows Steve can tell what he’s thinking. He knows his stomach just jumped in anticipation, and his cock is hard over just a little bit of dancing in a club together.

Read the rest on AO3

#this is part of chapter 2 so read chapter 1 if you havent #its a sugar baby eddie fic #steddie #steve and eddie #steve/eddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #steddie fic #my fics

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missjashin · 1 year

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Steve spending the night at Eddie’s because his parents are home and they’ve been arguing so he doesn’t really wanna be at home. Didn’t go to Robin because her parents might not let him stay the night and also Robin has work tomorrow and Steve doesn’t. The odd case of them not having shift together.

So he ends up with Eddie and in the morning he is having breakfast with Eddie and Wayne and they discuss their plans for the day. Eddie and Wayne have some plans for the day. You know, to spend some quality family time maybe? Or maybe they have just some errands to run, stuff to figure out because of all the shit that went down during spring break.. Whatever, they have plans for the day and Steve.. doesn’t want to intrude any more than he already is so he is not going with them. Even when they say he can come too.

And it’s summer time so the kids are busy with whatever the teens are busy with. And Steve loves them dearly and loves spending time with them but he tries to give them space and not smother them with his worrying so yeah he can’t spend the day with them either. They’ll come to him if they need him.. He could always go bother Robin at work but going to your work place on your free day because you have nothing better to do sounds a little sad.. So maybe he’ll just have to suck it up and go back home then.

But then Eddie offers that he could stay. You know he doesn’t have to leave just because Wayne and Eddie do. Like he could stay, it’s fine. They’ll be back by 6 or so and they could have dinner together then? And since Steve really really really doesn’t want to go home right now he accepts (after asking about thousand times if it’s really okay tho).

So soon he is left alone with a “Feel free to educate yourself with my music collection while we’re gone” and see you laters. Steve didn’t really have any plans for today and he kinda left in a hurry too so he didn’t bring much stuff with him but oh well he’ll figure something out.

He starts collecting the breakfast dishes and well he could wash them. He has the time and it would be just nice little gesture since the Munsons let him stay and all. And then it just makes sense to wipe the counters and the table after that. Like who would wash the dishes and then just leave crumbs all over the place? Oh. And I guess he just got some of those crumbs to the floor now. Well it’s just a quick little sweep. Could vacuum the whole place now too since he started. But first he needs to declutter a bit because goddamn Eddie why are your clothes and books just everywhere. Might as well do some laundry while he’s at it.

When Eddie and Wayne come back home around 6pm the place they’re in for a quite a shock. Not only is the place spotless but they’re greeted with the smell of food as well. “Oh you’re back! I’m making dinner, it’s just about done” Steve welcomes them enthusiastically but start to doubt himself a little after seeing the surprised faces. “I.. hope that’s okay”

Only then Steve realizes he may have got little carried away with his cleaning spree. Like maybe cleaning the windows was a tad bit too much.. Ugh he so hopes they’re not too weirded out.. Honestly he didn’t even realize he basically spent all day doing household chores that and it’s not even his own house. He glad the Munsons don’t comment on it too much tho, other than “you didn’t have to” and slightly awkward thank yous.

They start eating and now they drown Steve in compliments. (“Wow this is so good, what brand is this?” “Uhm.. it’s not a-.. I made it” “…Like from scratch?!” “Yeah..” “Holy shit dude this is seriously so fucking delicious” “Language. But he is right son, this is fucking delicious”)

At some point during dinner Wayne makes a comment about it starting to rain and Steve lets out a shocked gasp “my laundry!” and rushes out to collect it from outside where he hung it to dry. Wayne asks amusedly if Steve is a housewife or something, just ready to crack little jokes there but then spots the dopey smile on his nephew’s face, gaze still lingering in the doorway where Steve run off to. He smiles knowingly at Eddie when he finally looks back at him, now starting to blush and trying to stammer some sort of reply.

Steve comes back in and they finish dinner and hang out a bit together until Steve and Eddie go to Eddie’s room. Steve again apologizes because he got so carried away and hope he didn’t cross any lines. Eddie little amusedly asks if Steve really thinks they’d be mad at him for tidying up the place? Just helping them out a little so they can relax? Like in all seriousness, after all that shit show that happened during spring, Wayne could use a little break and just relax.

(“And you couldn’t?” “Well sure I could, but in this case he needs it more. If you haven’t noticed I’m not much of help in the cleaning department” “Oh yeah, I’ve noticed” “Hey!” “What? You asked!”)

Eddie then asks if Steve “educated himself” with the music. Steve tells to educate him himself. Eddie takes that as a challenge.

Steve spends the other night.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #st steddie #wayne munson #anyone can be a baby girl but it takes a man to be a wife and all that #steve getting into cleaning zone might be me projecting but let’s not talk about that #he also feels like he needs to be useful to be welcome <3 #I was supposed to write a quick funny headcanon but it became this monstrosity🤡#also waited too long to post this and now I'm anxious because this is so messy #Steve please come clean my brain too #silly thoughts #Also got tired of typing so I'm gonna just stop here good bye

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fragilecapric0rnn · 2 years

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LISTEN. I was ready to ride the Steve Becomes A Teacher train all the way home. It’s in my fics, it’s in my planned fics. But but but LISTEN.

Steve becoming a first responder?

A little bit post-S4, Steve is driving home to Hawkins after moving to Indy/Chicago/a major city that’s still within reasonable driving distance for him to come see the kids. Eddie is in the passenger seat and they’re zooming down the highway, one of those picture perfect moments where they’re singing along to a Madonna song, that Eddie was complaining about just moments ago.

Steve, always striving to be the safest driver on the road, mostly because he is almost always transporting precious cargo in the form of his loved ones, isn’t the one who sees it at first. It isn’t until Eddie loudly gasps and points out a pretty horrific car accident unfolding before their eyes in the next lane over.

Steve pulls off to the side, a fair distance behind wreck. One of the cars is turned completely around in the other direction, the front smashed in. The other cars are also damaged, but the passengers are getting out. No one has gotten out of the turned around car.

Without a word, without questions from either of them, the two get out of the Beamer. Eddie goes up to the other cars, a woman who’s crying her eyes out and a young family all looking spooked out of their minds, but all seemingly alright. All of this is happening in Steve’s peripheral because he is now sprinting toward the car that no one has gotten out of. He sees the shape of the driver, head laid back on the headrest, unconscious.

“Don’t move her!” “We need to wait for help!” Bystanders yell at him. Steve doesn’t respond, the driver door now open, as he checks the girl, who looks so young that mental images of one of his kids being in her place flash across his brain, tug at his heart.

“Eddie!” He yells past the lump in his throat, but it looks like his boyfriend was already reading his mind, as he runs over with the first aid kit that’s always stationed in the trunk of his car.

He finds her pulse as Eddie settles beside him. He’s checking for broken bones as the girl comes to. He’s telling her to sit back and that everything is okay as Eddie is yelling at the crowd forming around them to back up, he knows what he’s doing.

Steve gets the flashlight out of the kit, shining it in her eyes, asking her what her name is, what day it is, who the president is, she hesitates to answer but answers all the questions.

Eddie isn’t sure if this first aid knowledge is from all the times Steve’s been assessed after all the Upside Down shit or if it’s because of his own research, though he realizes as watches Steve keep the girl calm and gently keep her from moving around at all, it’s both.

Eddie continues to watch when the ambulance gets to the scene. He watches Steve tell the EMTs that the girl is concussed and has no other visible injuries. He watches as they assess her themselves and as they ask Steve if he’s off duty, motioning to his extensive first aid kit. Steve just says he’s had his fair share of emergencies and he knows what he’s doing.

After the ambulance leaves, Steve and Eddie walking back to their car, even though traffic is backed up all the way to their apartment it seems, Eddie can’t stop thinking about how easily Steve fit into the “hero” role. How, sure, it’s residual Savior Of The World shit, but can’t it also be more now that the world is saved?

When they’re back on the road, hours later, and close to home, Eddie asks,

“Have you ever thought about becoming a paramedic?”

Steve doesn’t say anything. But he’s thinking. No, he hasn’t thought about it. But maybe he should start thinking about it.

#fic drabble #EMT Steve? I can see it. It's all I can see actually #steddie headcanon #steve harrington #this might be silly but i couldn't stop thinking about it at work #we get a lot of EMTs in the AM and it got me THINKING #my writing #i wrote this speedy quick so sorry in advance for typos or generally being incoherent #first responder steve #sen writes #my fic

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steddiealltheway · 11 months

Text

Part Ten aka the final part of Not-So-Secret Secret Admirer!!!!!!!!!! Part One. Part Nine. AO3 Link.

Eddie feels... lighter. He still avoids Family Video like the plague and is suffering from intense amounts of guilt, but he feels like maybe things are getting better. He hasn’t heard from Steve since the Family Video incident, but he tries not to dwell too much on it.

He ends up dwelling on it a lot. So much so, that he almost misses his phone ringing.

With a sigh, he makes his way over to it, trying not to get too in his head about the Steve stuff.

“Hello?” he answers, trying not to let the worry seep into his tone.

“Eddie.”

Steve.

“Hi,” Eddie replies breathlessly because he doesn’t know what else to say. His heart races as he wonders if it’s his turn for a lecture and is about to get chewed out over the phone. Honestly, he deserves every bit of it.

“Hey, uh,” Steve clears his throat and almost sounds... nervous? “I’ve decided to go through with the movie night tonight.”

“It’s Friday already?” Eddie voices his thoughts.

Steve chuckles on the other line, “Yeah.”

“Yeah,” Eddie repeats back even though he’s not entirely sure why. A silence passes between the two, but Eddie doesn’t know how to fill it.

“Well, I just wanted you to know that it would be cool if you were there.”

Eddie can’t help but confirm, “It would be cool?”

“Or metal as you like to say, but yeah,” Steve answers, and Eddie can hear the smile in his tone.

“I-I’ll be there,” Eddie confirms then groans, “I guess I have to give all the little gremlins a ride anyways.”

Steve laughs and butterflies flutter in Eddie’s stomach. How did he not realize his crush sooner?

A silence settles between them, and Steve clears his throat again, “Hey, Eddie I just wanted you to know-”

A loud knock on Eddie’s door has him nearly dropping the phone and cursing. “Just a minute!” he yells out and puts the phone back to his ear.

“Everything okay?” Steve asks.

“Yeah just,” Eddie stops as the knocking continues.

There’s a laugh on the other line, and Steve says, “I’ll let you get that. Um, see you later... alligator.”

Eddie laughs and hears Steve curse lightly as he hangs up.

There’s still knocking on the door and Eddie rushes over to fling it open. Max stands on the other side. “I thought you died or something. Anyways, we need-”

“A ride. I know.”

Max smirks at him. “So, mine and El’s plan worked?”

Eddie scoffs, “I wouldn’t go that far, Red. But... thank you.” And although it was outlandish and El literally had to use her powers, Eddie sincerely means it. Somehow their dumb plan that was probably made during those seconds of them whispering in the back of his van got through to Steve.

Max waves him off and mutters, “Gross.” But the smile she tries and fails to hide betrays her words.

She turns to leave, but Eddie realizes he has no idea what time the movie night is at and asks. He earns an eye roll and a quick response of, “Six.”

He can’t help but feel relieved that it isn’t at eight.

-:-:-:-:-:-

A few hours later, Eddie finds himself in his van filled with loud teenagers. They all seem to be buzzing with excitement over whatever movie Steve got for them, and it’s a nice change from their last ride.

Luckily, none of them bother asking him about the Steve situation which surprises him. Maybe Steve’s talk had stuck with them.

As he approaches Steve’s home, he takes a deep breath and has to remind himself that he was invited. Steve wants him here.

He gets out of the van without any coercing from the kids – namely Max and El – but stays behind them all in case Steve changes his mind. But then he opens his door with that bright smile and looks so much happier than he did only days ago and waves them all inside.

Eddie slowly makes his way through the doorway when Steve stops him with a hand on his chest just as he feared. He nearly turns to leave when Steve leans in and says, “I’m really glad you came.” At first, he’s scared that maybe this is all a trap with how kind Steve is being to him, but his tone and smile are sincere. He even catches the glint of his ring that he’s wearing proudly on his hand.

Eddie just nods in response, too afraid to say anything that might mess up this newfound peace.

He walks inside and notices a distinct lack of other adults – even Robin. “Robin had plans with Nancy tonight,” Steve explains somehow reading his thoughts. Then, his eyes settle on the coffee table in the living room flooded with snacks and pizza. “And that,” Steve continues, “Is the money all the kids put into the bet.”

Eddie slightly smiles but still feels so entirely confused as he’s thrown into the deep end of Steve’s friendliness and openness after being in the shallow end for so long. Steve ends up excusing himself to make popcorn, and Eddie finds himself going over to the couch to settle in for the night. He grabs a slice of pizza and tries to push down the feeling that he doesn’t deserve to be there.

The kids make themselves at home as they dig into the food and chat loudly while Dustin puts in whatever move they’re watching. Steve comes back in with a few bowls of popcorn carefully balanced in his arms which he hands out amongst the group before settling next to Eddie on the couch with one bowl. “Mind if we share?”

Eddie shakes his head and tries not to feel so thankful when Dustin turns the lights off so Steve can’t see how shaky his hands are as he grabs a handful of popcorn. He tries not be so tense, but Steve’s thigh is pressing right against his, and when Steve sat down, he must’ve rested his arm on the back of the couch because his hand is now grazing his shoulder and-

Eddie risks a glance to his left and takes in Steve’s features softly lit by the tv. It’s all too much.

Eddie excuses himself and rushes out the back door and sits in one of the poolside chairs. He sighs and puts his head in his hands. Why can’t he just move on like everyone else? He guesses they’ve had practice with their multiple encounters with the Upside Down stuff. But he hasn’t.

The sound of the backdoor opening and closing startles Eddie out of his thoughts as he glances up to see Steve slowly make his way toward him. He sits down on the same chair but keeps his distance. “You okay?”

Eddie glances at him and shakes his head.

Steve nods in response and runs a hand through his hair. “Want to talk about it?”

For some reason, that opens the floodgates. “I’m just really really sorry for what I did, and I know that it was horrible, and I put you through so much, but it’s like all of it has suddenly gone away. And I don’t get it, man. Really, if someone did this to me, I probably would’ve run halfway across the country by now to avoid them. And honestly, I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop and for you to go back to hating me again. I think that was somehow easier than just pretending like none of this happened. Of course, I don’t want you to hate me I just... I don’t know. I just feel like there was no real resolution on our end, and I don’t know where we stand. Maybe. I don’t know.” Eddie finishes with a shrug and tries not to scold himself for talking too much like he always does.

“I never hated you,” Steve replies after a few seconds have passed. “But yeah, you’re right. I’ve talked to Robin and the kids, but I haven't really talked to you.”

Eddie nods and fidgets with his rings. He doesn’t know what to say.

Luckily, Steve talks instead, “I was hurt at first, but you know that after our last real conversation from that night. But I was honest when I said I just needed space. I needed time to figure things out and not make any decisions when I was feeling so... so heartbroken. But then Robin was just always there trying to defend you and what happened. She eventually opened up about how you were the one who wanted to stop things but she pushed you to continue. She even explained the whole thought process behind her trying to end it with that stupid date.”

Steve takes a moment to breathe and look back at Eddie. “I was still hurt that the first part had been fake, but I just... slowly had to trust that things between you and me or between me and E.R. slowly became real. And when I got your notes and gifts after I just knew I couldn't cut you out forever. And hell, I missed you, too. I missed everyone really. So, I slowly started talking to Robin again, which let me tell you, not speaking when you’re next to each other for eight hours at a time is really awkward. But it was still a process. And I knew I wanted to talk to you, but when your gifts stopped, I thought maybe you needed space, too. But then the kids showed up and-”

“Wait,” Eddie interrupts and scrambles to apologize, “Sorry, really, I don’t mean to interrupt but... what do you mean you thought I needed space after the gifts stopped?”

Steve shrugs and starts fiddling his ring which is honestly quite endearing but not what Eddie needs to be focusing on at the moment. “They just stopped so suddenly that I thought maybe the whole thing about me thinking it was too much was you projecting about it being too much for you, especially after our talk.”

“But Robin said that you said it was too much...” Eddie trails off as he thinks. Robin who Steve had barely talked to for weeks including during the time Eddie had dropped off the gifts.

He makes eye contact with Steve who based on his expression has come to the exact same conclusion. He groans and says, “I really wish I would’ve had the whole ‘no meddling in my love life’ talk with her sooner.”

“She was just looking out for you,” Eddie reasons.

“Yeah, because that worked out so well last time,” Steve says with a smile.

And for some reason, Eddie starts laughing. It’s all so stupid. The plan, his impulsiveness, everyone else’s involvement. He starts laughing more, not sure why it’s all so funny to him, but then Steve starts laughing as well, and it’s like nothing has ever been funnier to either of them.

“I’m so stupid,” Eddie laughs as he feels a tear escape down his cheek. “God, I’m so stupid.” Another tear escapes, and Eddie can’t tell if he’s laughing or crying anymore. He hiccups as laughter and tears escape him and he explains, “Sorry, it’s just all these emotions from these past few weeks are hitting me.”

Steve’s laughter dies down, and that’s when Eddie notices that his has died down as well. He chokes out, “I’m so sorry, Steve.”

Steve scoots closer and opens his arms to Eddie. “I know, Eddie, and I forgive you.”

And it suddenly hits Eddie that that’s what he’s needed but didn’t ever expect to hear. He latches onto Steve and cries into his shoulder apologizing as Steve pulls him in tighter and whispers, “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

The tears eventually die down and Eddie is able to focus on his breathing and getting himself back together. “It’s stupid,” Steve says still holding onto Eddie, “But the whole thing about Dustin’s leg really made things click with why you did it. Especially if I was a fraction as annoying as he was. But I’ve gotta let you in on a secret on why I was complaining so much.”

Eddie pulls away and uses his shirt to wipe the tears and snot – gross – off his face before facing Steve who confesses, “I was hoping that someone would take the hint and maybe suggest that they could fix that issue for me.” He bumps his shoulder against Eddie’s.

There’s no way. Eddie lightly socks Steve on the arm. “Hey-!”

“You could’ve told me!”

“Yeah, but right as I was getting up the courage, I got a secret admirer that kind of distracted me a bit.”

Eddie groans and lays back in the chair. “I have such horrible timing.”

“A bit,” Steve says with a laugh and a silence hangs between them.

Eddie almost makes a dumb joke about how they’ve probably missed a good chunk of the movie when Steve says, “I have to ask about one thing.”

The serious tone has Eddie sitting up and humming in response. He watches as Steve fidgets his ring, scratches his cheek, runs a hand through his hair, and does a multitude of his nervous ticks that has Eddie trying to fight the urge to hide behind his hair or fidget with his own rings.

Suddenly, Steve just stops and looks at Eddie all earnestly and nervously before he asks, “Do you still... like me?”

Eddie’s heart stops beating but then starts pounding so hard that he thinks Steve must hear it too. He nods slowly and confesses, “Steve, I think I’ve loved you since you bit that damn bat’s head off. It somehow just took my brain a lot longer to catch up with what those feelings were. But yeah, I still like you. I don’t think I could ever stop.”

Steve gently smiles and looks down at his ring. “You know, when I thought we had lost you, that was one of the worst feelings I ever felt. And I knew that I could never lose you again.”

A breathy laugh is punched out of Eddie at the admission because he’s always felt the same way. “I could never lose you, either.”

Steve looks at him with that look that feels like it’s only reserved for Eddie as he says, “And I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop loving you – no matter the stupid shit that you do. So, if we already agree that we’re never losing each other and we both love each other...”

Eddie can hardly believe what he’s hearing but he can’t help but protest, “Steve, please stop making this sound like a business deal.”

Steve laughs loudly, almost surprised by the comment, but he recovers and asks, “Would you seal the deal with a kiss?”

Eddie stares at Steve for a moment and is baffled by everything he is and everything he’s gone through that has somehow led him here, asking to be with Eddie. “I don’t deserve you,” Eddie says and continues, “Especially after everything I put you through.”

Eddie jumps as the back door slams open and Dustin yells out, “You realize you turning him down is only going to put him through more shit, so just kiss already!”

There are some yells of agreement from behind Dustin that Eddie doesn’t even want to think about. How long have they been eavesdropping?

“What did I say about interfering with my love life?” Steve yells back, and Dustin just smiles wide and waves as he closes the backdoor.

Eddie takes in what he says as Steve mutters under his breath about those damn kids. “This is the only time I’m glad they’ve interfered,” Eddie comments as he builds up the courage to lean in and finally kiss Steve.

And, hell, if only he knew he could’ve done this so much sooner.

Steve somehow pulls him in closer but pulls away to say, “I’m still going to murder them.”

Eddie nods in agreement before he kisses Steve again. He pulls away and rushes to say, “Just to clarify, we’re dating now, right?”

Steve huffs and answers, “Actually, I’m waiting on if my secret admirer E.R. ever reveals their true identity.”

Eddie’s jaw drops, but he leans in and whispers, “Did you know that it’s actually me?”

Steve fakes his surprise as he gasps and pretends to faint. Eddie easily catches him and pulls him back into a kiss.

Eddie thinks that this not-so-secret secret admirer plot has to be the dumbest yet smartest (but still mostly dumbest) thing he’s ever done.

Tag list who I thank for sticking around for this journey. Sincerely, thank you:

@wrenisflying @gobbledy-gluk-gluk @swimmingbirdrunningrock @ghostlyjax @wheatnoodle @yet-still-more-banched @moonshadows-13 @princessstevemunson @adankrivervalleynearyou @manda-panda-monium @brassreign @bornonthesavage @unclewaynemunson @bird-with-pencils @themardlonk @fangirltofangod @csinnamon-fox @mightbeasleep @theysherobinbuckley

@writtenbyancientskeletonhats @nagitoeatsnillacharms73 @duckyreads @hellykelly @glittergluekintsugi @rainydays35 @thatonespacek1d @frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe @paperbackribs @anaibis @adaydreamaway08 @steviesbicrisis @madaboutmunson2 @goose-on-the-loose @dangdirtydemons @whimsicalwitchm @aftermidnightwriting @toasted-ghosty @queerbeansworld @aryakanojiaa @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @queerriotgrrrl @iwouldsail @hellomynameismoo @r0semaryyy @hopefulcookieoperatorpersona @pomegranatebb @piningapple @love-kurdt @wallpaper-inside-my-heart @eddiesbabe95 @isaacisunsure @adankrivervalleynearyou @sleepdeprivedflower @gay-little-bitch @ely-seum @tillystealeaves @yes-im-your-mom @ceaselessly-watching @evix-syne666 @sweetharmonychilde @myhorseis-regularsized @homosexual-having-tea @anything-thats-rock-and-roll @henderdads

@spectrum-spectre @phantypurple @britishmysteries @mad-h-w @marivictal @gamerdano @cutiecusp @staninggaycouples @doctorqueensanatomy @virgil-is-a-cutie @sleepy-time @adankrivervalleynearyou @satan-is-obsessed @novelnovella @lottaweirdnameshere @bidisastersworld @justreadingabooksstuff @me-1-2 @shinekocreator @e-dollly @thelittleclare @ajeff855 @estrellami-1 @haluton @hoffmannwrites

@thehumblefigtree @eddiemunsonswife @otterology @precursorandthedragon @th1gh-s @ironydude @space-invading-pigeon @sofadofax @sunfloweringstories @swingset-sunset @eddiemunsonsupremecy @danni-phant0m

#steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #stranger things #steddie fanfic

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princessamericachavez · 1 year

Text

I think a lot about every time 911 shows us Eddie understanding a little more about Buck in real time...

(after cut because this got long but bare with me)

Like, the first season should be the most obvious, with the earthquake eps and the next one showing Eddie’s surprise/reaction to Buck’s immediate unconditional support when it comes to Christopher. You can literally see something click for him in Stuck, first when Buck clears Chris spending the day with them with Bobby, then when he introduces Carla to them.

But then you have new and interesting glimpses at moments when Eddie found another piece of Buck’s puzzle. In Kids Today, for example, we see that Eddie’s approach to Buck’s “sulking” is rather closed off, almost cold, and it’s one of the very first time we hear him mention his father’s toxic masculinity preachings... but when Hen points out that Buck doesn’t have much outside of work, you can literally SEE the second it clicks in for Eddie. Not that Buck doesn’t have anyone, but that he doesn’t know he does. That he doesn’t understand. Which is why he brings Christopher over. Not to teach a lesson, but to show him he’s wrong and he has people who love him regardless.

While the whole lawsuit arc was probably illuminating, for me the real highlight when it comes to Eddie understanding Buck a little bit better is in the famous kitchen scene. Before they get all flirty with the sexual tension... we see Buck ask if maybe Eddie is still angry at him, if maybe Eddie wanted to fight/hurt him, and while Eddie pokes fun of Buck making this about himself, I think it’s a very big moment when he realizes how deep the self-loathing runs, that Buck cannot just accept the fact that he was forgiven, that he still things that Eddie wanted to/would under any circumstances hurt him. So he makes a point to say “I wouldn’t do that”, matter of factly (even if he later has to sidestep it with a joke because this is pre-therapy Eddie after all).

Which of course later leads to The One That Got Away and Buck’s traumas shining through his relationship with Red and you can see how adamant Eddie is that no, Buck is not being left behind and no he isn’t losing the 118 family, and he’s annoyed when the others aren’t as quick to reassure him. But this is all part of Eddie-understanding-Buck-arc in s3 (remember the post-embolism thing i mentioned above). Which, of course, later becomes a punch in What’s Next? when Abby is back and Eddie sees real time one of the people who’ve filled Buck with abandonment and scars. Buck who, at this point, fyi, Eddie has already chosen as the person he trusts most to look after his son in case he dies.

Anyway, s4 is short but there’s treasures like What’s Your Grievance and Buck Begins, in which Eddie very clearly sees the roots of Buck’s pain and is already quick to validate his feelings and offer him a shoulder and space to vent. This Eddie is far more prepared than his counterpart at the beginning of s3 to see and understand Buck and offer his support openly. Which is what leads to the shooting and, more importantly, Buck once again acting like he’s expendable. And, because Eddie’s had this whole journey so far, he’s at a place where he can see better than the other characters that Buck doesn’t think himself invincible, he thinks himself disposable. But you can see the confusion in his face when Buck says it the first time, the moment —again— when he processes this new and painful information about his best friend. And he, once again, takes action with words of affirmation to show Buck that, again, he’s wrong.

Now, by s5 Buck and Eddie know each other pretty well so there’s fewer surprises on Eddie’s side (s5, after all, it’s Buck’s turn to go through the journey of truly seeing Eddie’s scars and pain and being there for him) but I think about Home And Away, and how Eddie needs to do a double-take after he jokes that Chimney will not forgive Buck. Because it’s a joke, it’s meant to be, but the hurt in Buck’s eyes is so clear —because, again, he thinks himself easily discarded as soon as he screws up once— that he looks genuinely shocked that he has to clarify the joke in the first place. S5 keeps telling us Eddie already sees Buck, in little things like recognizing how Buck wants to fix things and how he might struggle with lack of control when he can’t help.

Then s6 doubles down on the idea that Eddie already knows Buck so deeply, “it’s clearly bothering you”, knowing the happiness convention call was hard on him and teaming up with Chim to cheer Buck and Hen, picking up on his changes in habits and the fact that he might be hiding something, not joining the schedule to check on him after the lightning, being the one who offers the right space for Buck to open up... and then there’s the cemetery scene and there’s another DING moment when a new piece falls and Eddie realizes that Buck has changed, how could he not, and he’s now trying to catch up with whatever is wrong or new. And even then, he knows Buck enough to reassure him that he doesn’t need to pretend for anyone else’s sake.

Anyway, I don’t know where I’m going with this, except for the fact that I love the journey these two have gone through and how we’ve gotten to see on screen (rather than just assume or be told) the moments that have slowly morphed Eddie’s perception of Buck from the cocky kid from day 1 to the rather hurt and vulnerable and open hearted man he truly is.

#buddie #eddie diaz #evan buck buckley #911 fox #911 abc #i'll eventually #make a similar one for buck's pov about eddie because i'm obsessed with analyzing them

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myobmaya · 2 years

Text

Heart In Hawkins

Verse 1 | Eddie Munson

Introduction |

Sweet Home Alabama!AU

premise: your husband Eddie Munson arrives on your front door steps five years after he left Hawkins. He holds divorce papers in his hands along with a secret he hopes that can stay private before the media breaks the news. Little does he remember that big secrets never last long in small towns.

TW: smoking, divorce, marriage, leaving, cursing, arrest

The smell of rain is the first thing that hits him as soon as he steps outside the airport. A backpack hangs off his shoulders while an unsettling feeling settles in his stomach. Despite the no smoking sign right next to him, a cigarette rests between his lips. It’s lit up as he stands under the building waiting for the next round of taxis to line up. People do a double take as they walk by him.

Not because they know he’s Eddie Munson. His identity remains unknown due to the sunglasses hiding him. To them, they stare because he’s the only stranger odd enough to wear Ray Bans in the overcast weather.

Inhale

His lungs fill with smoke, the bud halfway burnt out. The sound of families reuniting with their loved ones echoes in the atmosphere. Young couples running up to each other embracing fill his sight. No one is there to greet him with colorful signs or a welcome hug. He’s alone.

Eddie Munson tells himself he doesn’t care. He’s here to do one thing and get the hell out of this town. The divorce papers sit in his bag awaiting your signature. As soon as you sign them you’re officially free from him and he can move onto the next phase of his career.

Exhale

The yellow cabs start to make their way down the road. Travelers line up eager to catch a ride, happy to find themselves safe in their homes away from the rain. Something Eddie doesn’t relate too. Los Angeles doesn’t feel like home. Being here in Hawkins doesn’t feel welcoming. Home wasn’t a place he knew anymore.

A young boy stands not too far away from him. The boy has to be in his early teens as he proudly sports a black shirt with red lettering spelling out Corroded Coffin.

Eddie doesn’t hide the grin on his face watching the young teenager rock his head back and forth to the headphones glued to his ears. The boy is too distracted listening to his favorite band to see behind the shades, the front man is a mere five feet away from him. A man, Eddie assumes to be the boy’s father, steps out into the road raising his hand as a taxi drives up.

The taxi misses the man and goes right up to Eddie as soon as he gives a simple wave to the driver. An aggravated cry is called out from the father as Eddie plucks the cigarette from his lips. Eddie looks at the father with a blank stare. He thinks about calling over the man to take the taxi. Instead, Eddie opens the back door mushing the bud into the ground hearing the father try to whistle the next ride down. Eddie slings his backpack down on the seat and shuts the door behind him.

“Where too?” The driver asks Eddie, already setting his meter.

Eddie leans back into the seat watching raindrops hit the window before disappearing down the trail. It’s almost a metaphor of the man he’s become. The rain has always relaxed him but sitting here, back in Hawkins, irritation starts to set in. It brings back memories to his youth that he’s spent the last five years to forget. The love he used to feel for the weather has gone, no longer bringing him comfort. It only brings a bitter taste to his mouth.

It’s the reason why he chose California. It hardly ever rains and when it does it only lasts a few moments. It gives him just the right amount of time to think of you before he’s onto the next distraction. He wonders if you ever think of him.

Probably not.

The driver asks Eddie again where he needs to go.

He wants to kick himself realizing that he doesn’t have to think twice. The address is forever embedded in his memory.

His fingers twitch and he wishes he had finished his last cigarette.

“Orchid Avenue, please.”

————

Sesame Street plays on the T.V while you finish up the last few dishes in the sink. Applesauce lines your shirt and you’re feeling tired after a long afternoon. You’ve been running on autopilot, zoning in and out for the better part of the day. Waking up hearing your rooftop patter with the weather and having a sleepless night set the tone for you.

It’s a rough day. But you’re making it through. Just like you always do.

You’re sure you would have stayed in bed and drowned in your thoughts had it not been for the three year old sitting in your living room. Regardless, you’re grateful for the weather. It gave you an excuse to have your business closed today. A mental break for you away from the outside world.

You hear the front door open followed by a cheerful greeting from the young boy just as you finish up washing the last cup. Being in a small town you only ever locked your door when you left to maintain your shop. The only people ever coming into your house were you and the man making his way to greet his son. No one else ever occupied the house.

Just the way you needed it to be.

“There’s my boy!” You can’t help but feel your lips quirk up hearing the toddler giggle seeing his father after eight long hours. A greeting isn’t needed from you as you set the cup down and wash your hands knowing the two boys are welcoming each other.

You dry your hands and walk through the threshold from the kitchen straight into the living room. The sight before you tickles a warm feeling deep in your chest. A change from the gloominess that had been settled deep in your chest from this morning.

Steve Harrington holds his son on his hips as he asks him how his day was. You take a moment to appreciate the moment between the father and son. It’s domestic moments like these that leave a bitter sting in your heart. The what if moments that always linger in the back of your mind.

No. No more of those thoughts, you scold yourself shaking your head. You push yourself off the wall and walk towards Steve.

“How was he?” Steve asks, kissing the top of his son’s head. The boy clings to his father one last time before wiggling to be put back down. He missed his dad, but the dinosaurs on the ground seem more interesting now.

“Oh you know,” you bend down and pick up a toy car by the T.V stand. “An angel as always.”

Steve sees the wet spots that lines your shirt. You’re more quiet than usual today. The tired look on your face gives you away but the smile on your face tells him you would do it all again tomorrow. Steve thinks it’s from watching Harry, but the distant look in your eyes tell him there’s more too it. Guilt pangs him feeling like watching his child didn’t help the emotional checked out state you’re in.

“Sorry, I know Harry can be a handful—“

You’re quick to raise your hand refusing to let Steve apologize for his son. Harry is a wonderful child. He has his moments of temper, but he’s more lovable than most times. It’s just what happens when you’re three years old.

Regardless, as Harry’s godparent you have grown to love boy, temper and all. Being there since his birth up until now you loved having your days with him.

“He was good, Steve. A reminder that I definitely do not want to have a child right now, but he was good.”

Steve gives you a grateful smile. Harry is the light of his life. The one good thing he feels proud of.

You get the laundry basket designated for Harry’s toys that he keeps here and pass it over to Steve. Your shirt starts to stick to your skin indicating it’s time to change out of the remainder of Harry’s snack.

Steve sees you make a face as you pluck the shirt from your tummy. You look up at him with a scrunched up nose.

“I’m going to change, I’ll be right back to walk you guys out.”

Steve throws the last hot wheels car into the basket and goes to the hall closet where you keep spare jackets for Harry. He thinks about you. You worry him when you distance yourself. A habit you only do when you’re trapped inside of your head.

The rain drops hitting the rooftop give a peaceful sound. Steve enjoys it until he remembers the significance of it. The lightbulb goes off.

“How are you feeling today?” Steve calls grabbing the tiny jacket. A question he only asks you when he sees right through the front you put on.

The friendship between you and Steve was one that you both cherished. He was there for you after your husband left. Promising you that everything would work out. And in return you promised to be there for him after he became a single dad.

Steve was the one to help you change the locks of the door.

You were the one to donate all of the flowers at the mother of his child’s funeral.

Both of you promising to be each other’s strength in weakness.

You hear the question from outside of your door. The box that holds your ring stares at you. Most days are good. You get up, go to the shop, work and go home. A cycle that you’ve learned to live in order to survive.

The days where you allow yourself to get a break and get a taste of the domestic life memories come back. Most of the time you can bare it and push them back. But days like today, with the rain coming down just right, the memories play over and over again in the back of your mind.

You want to tell Steve the truth. To tell him that you want to curl up in your bed and forget that you exist for awhile. But you hear Harry call for his dad and you’re reminded of the happy moments in life. So you choose to ignore his question and continue to search for a shirt to change into.

Steve takes your silence as an answer. He doesn’t pry. He knows you’ll come to him when you’re ready.

He’s on his way over to Harry when a knock is heard on the front door. Steve furrows his brows.

Were you expecting anyone?

Harry runs over and bumps right into Steve’s legs tumbling onto the floor. Steve curses to himself ready to scold the boy to be careful before Harry looks up at him and giggles. Kids made of steel.

“Are you expecting anyone?” Steve turns his head over his shoulder to your closed bedroom door. He hears what he thinks is your drawer shut before you call back to him.

“Just a package of those pink vases I ordered!”

The knocks sound again. Harry is up on his feet tugging at his jacket. Steve helps him thread his arms through the sleeves and zips him up.

“I think it might be here,” Steve yells back at your door. Harry goes to get his shoes that are usually kept inside the hall closet. The young boy steps inside and goes to the usual spot but finds nothing.

Steve makes his way over to the door. The knocks sound again.

Geez, FedEx. Calm down, Steve’s frustration with the impatience on the other side of the door ever so present.

“I’m coming!” Steve yells at the door. The knocking continues even as Steve unlocks the door and swings it open. He’s about to tell the delivery guy off when he stops mid sentence.

Steve hears your bedroom door open followed by your naïve, “I didn’t think they delivered packages in these conditions.”

Oh, they definitely do not.

You see Harry standing out the hall closet with a pout on his face. His tiny hands wring together in front of him. A habit he’s formed ever since his mom left. Worry takes over not liking when he’s upset.

“What’s wrong, Haz?”

Harry looks up at you with tears in his eyes. Out of instinct you take him into your arms. His arms wrap around your neck as he buries his face into it.

You look up and see Steve staring outside with the door open. He looks back at you when you call out his name. He whips his head around as if he’s seen a ghost. He looks back at the person on the other side and back at you.

Harry sniffles into your neck. You hold him closer, stepping towards the front, “Shh, it’s okay.”

A horrified look comes across Steve’s face. He wants to tell you to walk in the opposite direction. You don’t need to deal with this, especially on a day like today. He can just shut the door now. But, words fail him as you step up to him with Harry in your arms.

“Who's here?” Your worry is evident in your voice. It’s unlike Steve to ever be silent. You give Steve one last look before stepping aside and looking out your opened door.

Those chocolate colored eyes you knew all too well stare at you. It feels like time freezes. You stop breathing and it feels like your blood runs cold. Had Harry not been clinging to your neck, you swear you could have dropped him right then and there.

There in front he stands.

The man who swore he would love you until his dying breath.

The man who you made a vow too.

The man who left you in the middle of the night five years ago without a word.

Your husband.

Eddie Munson.

He blinks at you. His eyes trail to the boy in your arms. He looks at Steve. Then his eyes are back on you. Adam's apple bobs up and down as he swallows.

He clears his throat. A million questions pop up in his head. Why is Steve here? Whose kid is that? Are you and Steve together? Is that your child with Steve?

Steve sees your grip failing. Not only on Harry but on yourself as you stare at Eddie in complete disbelief. He places a hand on your back and that seems to snap you out of the trance you’re in. You look at Steve with disbelief in your eyes. A hesitant breath is heard as you try to remember to breath.

This can’t be happening. Is this happening? The panic look on your face is enough to break Steve’s heart.

You watch Steve give you a sharp nod to confirm that this is in fact happening right now. He steps forward and tries to take Harry. The toddler shakes his head keeping his arms locked around you. This seems to wake you from your trance as you look down at Harry.

“Go to Daddy for a second, baby.” Harry shakes his head and Steve tries to get him again.

You feel Eddie’s eyes on you. His mind is going crazy and that unsettling feeling he despises is back again. He sees that you no longer wear your ring.

Daddy? You have a child? With Steve Harrington?

He’s sick looking at you. It should make this easier knowing you’ve moved on but he can’t shake the bitter taste in his mouth. He looks at you and feels nothing but betrayal. His reservations being back in town to give you divorce papers are long gone.

The burning stare causes the bumps on your arms to raise. Your arms are weak and you need Harry to go to Steve before you drop him.

It’s hard, but you manage to balance Harry under your arm while your other hand smooths the hair on the back of his head. He feels you kiss the side of his forehead and he starts to feel better. The devastation of misplacing his shoes starts to fade.

You give Steve a knowing look.

Don’t you dare leave just yet. He gives you a tight lined smile. It tells you he won’t.

Eddie catches the exchange. He doesn’t like what he’s seeing.

“Why don’t you have Daddy take you inside and get you some of that chocolate pudding we had?” His pout turns into a small smile at the mention of his favorite dessert. “Tell him what’s wrong and see if he can help.”

The sound of chocolate pudding immediately puts Harry in a good mood. His problems are long forgotten and he’s turning his body towards Steve. Steve catches him in time as he flings forward. You step outside the porch just as Steve gets behind the door. Steve gives you an assuring look before glaring up at Eddie.

“We’ll be in the kitchen.”

You nod as he shuts the door behind him. You’re too focused on the man standing in front of you to notice the opening of the living room curtains immediately as Steve watches. The rain is still coming down but it’s eased up. Lightening scatters across the sky but the thunder has gone home. A million questions run through your mind. Where do you even start?

No. Where does Eddie even start?

It’s times like these where you’re grateful for having a covered porch. The light breeze still manages to paint speckled drops of rain drops along the wooden floors but it’s nothing compared to the way it waters the streets.

Eddie watches as you lean your back against the front door. Your arms are crossed not giving him a clear view of your ringless finger. The thought alone settled deep in his core. He never thought Steve would make a move on you. You two were so… different. How could that even happen?

Then again he never thought you would openly have another man’s child while still being married to him.

A scowl sets in on his face. You clear your throat. Eddie trails his eyes up to meet yours. The look on your face is emotionless. Not even your eyes have any emotion behind them. He’s upset seeing you with another man. But he doesn’t feel welcomed here. In the town he grew in. Standing on the front porch steps of the house he bought. He feels awkward standing here. His ring cladded fingers scratch the back of his neck before he takes a deep breath ready to face the music. A million unspoken words cloud his mind. He wants to ask you how long you’ve been with Steve. Why couldn't you just divorce him? What did you tell people when he left?

Instead only one word can come out.

“Hey.”

You cock your head to the side as your jaw drops. He closes his eyes mumbling out a small fuck. Maybe he should have prepared something and not decide to wing it.

Anger bubbles up as you open your mouth to say something. It closes when nothing comes out. Your eyes squint at him and then look around.

Is he serious?

Hey

He leaves in the middle of the night and comes back five years later. No calls. No letters. Nothing for five years. And he thinks he can just come back and say hey?

Did those countless nights of alcohol and rock n’ roll finally catch up to his brain cells?

Your face goes hard. Eddie’s eyes widened. He rethinks his word of choice. You take a step forward. He doesn’t get a chance to step backwards before you push his hard chest. He stumbles, not expecting your rage to come out physically.

“Where the fuck have you been?”

His eyes are wide and he wishes he hadn’t been left alone.

“I-I’ve been-“

You cut him off, giving him another shove. “You leave for five fucking years! Five years! And all you can say is hey?”

You see the wheels turn in Eddie’s head. He opens his mouth and then closes it. This better be good, you tell yourself to keep from punching him straight across his jaw.

“I think we should talk.”

Your eyes narrow at him and he’s gulping. Is he serious? He leaves in the middle of the night without a word and shows up five years later. And he thinks you should talk? You take a step forward pushing at his chest. He stumbles back, but catches himself on the railing of the front door step staircase.

“No, Eddie,” you shove him again. His grip tightens on the staircase. He relies on his weight to keep him steady on the ground. “I think you should talk.” You shove him only to bounce yourself back. It only angers you more to not see him physically react to you.

“Because, I have nothing to say to you.”

Eddie takes another step back getting closer to the steps that carry guests up to the door. The anger in your eyes scares Eddie. The rock star expected some emotions from you.

“I can explain,” He stutters out. You don’t care.

You give him one last shove with all of the strength you can muster and he’s tumbling backwards down the stairs. He lands flat on his back into a mud puddle splashing dirt upon you in the process.

The front door opens as you look down at Eddie. Shock is present in his face and you’re almost sure that if looks could kill he’d be buried already. You’re about to tell Eddie to get back up so you can push him down again when an arm turns you around.

It’s Steve. The curtain behind the window in the living room is open and you see two little eyes peeking up at you.

Harry.

Steve watches as your face falls. He shouldn’t have seen this. He should have been in the kitchen eating his pudding. Dammit Steve. Harry’s bottom lip is pouted and he instantly turns away from you. Disappointment in yourself for getting so upset and having Harry watch it unfold takes over the rage you feel against Eddie.

Steve looks at Eddie. He looks at you. The two people that had him believe that some people do get their fairytale ending, now stand together but a million stories apart. One question stands as he sees the two of you. How did you two end up like this?

Eddie gets up from the ground groaning about the mud on his pants. He wipes himself off taking off his backpack.

“C’mon,” Steve nods his head at the door. He sees the way tears well up in your eyes. He also sees the way you will yourself not to cry in front of your husband. You need to get away from him. Steve gets you to the threshold of the door when your former lover’s voice stops you.

“I have divorce papers.”

You freeze again. Steve watches as you close your eyes taking a deep breath in.

Inhale.

Of course he does. This was bound to happen sooner or later. It’s been five long years.

Exhale.

Why would he back in Hawkins for anything less?

You turn around and see him holding his backpack up towards you. It must be in there. Eddie and you stare each other down. The memory of the last time he was here plays in the back of your mind. Except instead of him giving you his heart this time, he’s taking yours in the form of papers.

You feel like your heart has been stepped on. The words you promised yourself you would say to him if he ever came back are ling forgotten. The ache you felt five years ago never went away like you made yourself believe. It was something you just buried and hoped it only resurfaced when he came back to tell you he didn’t mean to leave you behind. That all of your hard work to better yourself the past five years hasn’t been for nothing. That the future you’ve been trying to build for the two of you isn’t about to crash in the matter of seconds.

“I have everything set up. You just need to sign them.”

You look at him and see his ring less finger. The sight doesn't sting knowing that even in your marriage he never wore it. Eddie watches as your eyes trail up to his neck. He knows you’re looking to see if he’s wearing it. The necklace that holds the ring that sits next to his lucky pic.

He’s not.

It stings seeing him not wear his band, but you refuse to say anything about the missing piece. Yours is tucked away in your jewelry box, untouched for the past year.

“Let me get this straight. You came all the way from California just to get me to sign some papers?”

He nods. Eddie looks at the ring less finger on your hand. He takes note of the way Steve watches you, waiting for your next reaction. What more can he say? You’ve clearly moved on and started a family. Living the dream that was promised to him.

You look at Steve who only gives you a half hearted smile. Steve doesn’t know what to say. And neither do you. You’ve made progress. He doesn’t get to take it away from you. So you think of the last sentence that you told him five years ago.

“Eddie, you need to leave.”

Eddie swears he’s five years younger again watching as you turn around and walk to the door. The heartache he felt is the same if not worse watching you leave with another man next to you. He wants to have the last word. He didn’t get a chance to get it when he left all those years ago. So he goes for it.

“If you just sign the papers you can stop living in sin, darling.”

Your jaw ticks at that. What’s that supposed to mean? He raises an eyebrow at you.

“Excuse me?”

He lets out a humorless laugh throwing a hand towards Steve.

“I mean, I don’t know why you couldn’t be the one to get this started. You’ve clearly moved on!”

Your eyes narrow watching Eddie make his way up the steps. Steve steps in front of you to prevent any more physical altercations.

Eddie laughs cruelly. “Yeah, yeah go ahead and have someone else fight your battles for you. Good to know some things never changed.”

You charge forward and bump into Steve’s chest. Eddie laughs harder as you tumble backwards. There’s nothing he loves more than seeing you get worked up. The way he could say just the right words to get you to snap.

Steve pushes you inside as you tell Eddie that he can take those papers and shove it right up his—-

You hear Harry call your name and stop yourself from completing the sentence. Steve turns around to face Eddie. Eddie rolls his eyes at Steve.

“Welcome home, Munson.” Sarcasm drips with every word.

You wait for Steve to come inside glaring at Eddie the whole time. Eddie crosses his arms clearly letting you know he’s not done.

Eddie walks up to the door but you slam it in his face. Too bad for him, you’re done.

He hears the locks tinker behind him.

Some things truly never change. Your dramatics to be one, Eddie rolls his eyes. He turns back around the way he came. The rain has settled down and it’s barely dripping from the sky.

He hears Steve’s voice mumbling behind the door. He jogs down the stairs needing to get away from the sound.

He saw the way Steve handled you. The way you turned to him for comfort from your husband. Eddie tells himself it’s anger rather than jealousy that he’s feeling.

You get to move on and he doesn’t get too? For God’s sake you literally went and had another child with Steve Harrington of all people.

Why is it okay for you to move on and live your fairytale ending that you robbed him off?

He walks down the front porch steps pulling his phone out of his backpack. The first name on his call log is his manager. The same person who convinced him to come back to Hawkins to take care of his final tie here. His finger presses down on the second caller.

His eyes scan the time on his watch and he figures he should give her a call. He looks up and sees you looking at him through the window. Your expression is unreadable. He puts his sunglasses on and looks at the phone number.

He’ll call her later.

The third contact is the winner and he’s pulling out his wallet from his back pocket. It’s wet from his fall from earlier but luckily the cards are safe due to the leather interior.

The phone rings for a minute. And then someone answers. The worker asks where he needs to be picked up.

“I’m on Orchid Avenue. Can you take me to the Hotel Inn?”

The worker tells him how much it’ll be and Eddie asks the worker for a minute to ensure he has enough to cover his costs. Even with his card having more than enough, he still prefers cash. It’s the visual aspect of seeing his money go that keeps his mind at ease.

His fingers flip through the cash before a card catches his eye. Eddie pulls it out and sees the card you two got for the joint bank account.

Surely you wouldn’t still have the joint account open… would you? His finger runs down the card feeling the indent of the numbers. He feels himself get smug when his brain gives him an idea.

He pulls out two twenty dollar bills. The last in his wallet before he needs to replace them.

Was it really smart to do this? He looks up at the house and sees you looking at him. He gives you a cocky smile. You flip him off. Steve right behind you. Walking into his house that he bought with you. Something about that doesn’t sit right.

Yup, he’s going to go for the low blow.

“Actually, can you take me to Hawkins City Bank?” If you weren’t going to sign the papers before, he’d give you a reason to do so now. He gives the house one last look. You’re no longer at the window and the curtains are shut now. He looks at the card holder again smiling at his victory.

The taxi picks him up and Eddie over tips the driver giving him both twenties. He won’t need it anyways. He walks into the bank grateful they’re still open despite the clearing weather.

It’s amazing how a small town operates business. Eddie’s gotten used to the ever demanding service in Los Angeles he forgets the community aspect of a town built on honesty.

The teller greets Eddie. She has to be around her early twenties and she wears her hair back in a loose bun. He catches the way she eyes him up and down. She smiles at him and he grins at her. His pearly whites are on display and his dimples are deep.

“Here to make a deposit?” She uses the same line with every customer, this time adding a head tilt at the end. Out of habit, he scans her left hand and grins at the naked ring finger.

Eddie sees right through her act. He gives her the attention knowing it’ll only help him in return. It’s a part he’s learned to play that’ll get him where he needs to be and he’ll happily play it.

“Actually sugar,” he takes his glasses from his eyes and slides them to hang off his shirt. He throws her a wink that has her cheeks tainting red.

“I’m actually here to withdraw and close out an account.”

thank you @loveshotzz for keeping me out of my head and encouraging me to finish this even if I wanted to delete the whole idea in general.

part 2: verse 2

#eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson angst #eddie munson imagine #Eddie munson #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson au #rockstar eddie munson #rockstar!eddie munson

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