#best friend!robin

[streamafterlaughter]

Fundamental Differing

gif

master list | playlist | nav | pin board | chapter XVI | get on the tag list!

Chapter XVII: Something In The Way

warnings: MDNI 18+ ONLY! implications of suicide (very slight), alcohol abuse, drug abuse, unhealthy coping mechanisms, angst, miscommunications as always! you get called babe/baby a lot in this chapter (platonically)

tags: rockstar!eddie x rockstar!reader, gn!reader, afab!reader

a/n: remember last time when i said we were like halfway through yeah i thiiiiiink i may have lied. STRAP IN BFFS i have so many ideas and the will to write them. hope this one leaves u looking forward to the next few ;)

Disclaimer: I do not give permission to have my work reposted on other sites. Reblogs are more than welcome, but please inform me if you find my work elsewhere unless otherwise stated.

——

December 1985

Eddie’s POV

“We’ll always find each other”

You tilt your head in question, unsure what he’s getting at. Eddie continues, “When you’re stuck in your nightmares, or when I’m fighting my ego, we’ll find each other. Bring each other back down to earth. When we’re rich and famous and far away from here, we’ll still find each other.”

He can feel his eyes welling at his own words. He can’t imagine losing you, letting you go or watching you leave, not after everything he’s seen. When you nod your head, Eddie feels the tightness in his chest dissipate. “I promise. I’ll always find you.” You seal the words with a kiss, one that grows more desperate as Eddie grips your face in his hand. He lets the tears fall, his eyes screwed shut as you kiss him. It scares him, how he feels about you. Nothing in his life had prepared him for someone like you to love him. He knows he’s broken, that he’ll fuck up constantly. Something in his gut keeps telling him he doesn’t have forever with you, that he’ll make an unfixable mistake and push you away.

-

Your POV

You wake up to an empty bed, the spot where Eddie had lay growing cold. You groan at the light streaming through his windows, rolling over to shield your eyes with a pillow that smells too much like him. There’s a gentle knock on your door before Eddie opens it, “Hey,” He half whispers, “Wayne made breakfast, you hungry?”

You nod into the pillow before sitting up. Eddie’s already dressed in his street clothes, ready for the trip to Columbus for the show tonight. He offers his hand, and you take it, letting him pull you to your feet. You cling to him, your grip on his hand refusing to loosen as he leads you to the kitchen, where Wayne is flipping a chocolate chip pancake on the stove.

“Hey, kiddo. You alright? Ed filled me in on everything.” He eyes his nephew, who doesn’t object to his admission.

“Yeah, thank you.” You look up at Eddie, still feeling soft from sleep. “Eddie took care of me.” You squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back. Wayne places a plate in front of you, and goes to pour another coffee for himself, also pouring one for you and Eddie.

The three of you are quiet as you eat, the only sounds coming from the clinking of forks against plates, or the gentle slurping of coffee, until the comfortable silence is broken by the knocking on Wayne’s front door.

Eddie groans dramatically, head thrown back and eyes rolled to the ceiling. “I’ll get it.” He pushes himself from the table and leaves to answer the door.

You can hear it immediately, Steve’s anxious tone as he rambles, “I don’t know where they went, I figured you’d be the one to know—“

“They’re here, Steve,” Eddie deadpans, and you giggle as Wayne chuckles.

“Here? Like here, here?”

“Nance didn’t tell you?”

“No one tells me shit anymore, Eddie.”

You hear two sets of footsteps. Steve follows Eddie into the kitchen, where he inspects the scene before him; You, in Eddie’s clothes, hair disheveled, stuffing pancakes into your mouth with bright red cheeks, giggling with Eddie’s uncle. “You scared the shit out of me!” Your eyes widen at your friend’s anger, but Steve doesn’t stop. “I woke up and you were gone, not even Robin knew where you were. You could have left a note, called, something!”

“Well, you found me. And I’m safe.” You don’t want to argue, but you really don’t want to explain yourself to Steve right now.

He’s not done, though. “I’m responsible for you, Y/n. On this tour, you and the band are my only priority. If you’re gonna go somewhere in the middle of the goddamn night, you need to tell someone. Preferably me.”

“I figured Nancy would have told you. I woke her up last night, and she knew where I was going.”

Steve rubs his hand down his tired face, and you feel guilty for making him worry. “And I think she believed you wanted some alone time, truly. But we need to go if we’re gonna make it to Columbus in time.”

You hang your head like a scolded child, and drag yourself from the breakfast table. “Alright. I’ll be out in a second.” Steve gives you a short nod before turning around, slamming the door behind him.

“Well,” Eddie starts after a beat of painful silence, “Let’s get this show on the road, yeah?”

“Can I talk to you first?” It’s almost a whisper, but Eddie is so fine tuned to you, he nods without hesitating. You follow him into the dining room, away from where his uncle can hear you, you’re too embarrassed to say anything in front of him.

“I really don’t wanna hear you say sorry again, sweetheart.” Eddie turns to face you, his hand still trapped in yours, making no effort to let go. “You know I’d do anything for you. Anything you wanted.”

You shake your head sadly. “I won’t, I promise. But it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking it.”

Eddie shakes his head, bringing his free hand up to cup your cheek. You lean into his touch without a second thought, your eyes closing as his thumb strokes your skin. “I told you, we’d find each other.” It’s a whisper, barely audible, but you hear him like he’s shouting in your ear. It’s a promise you made to each other long ago, when you were love sick and naive, a promise to come back to each other after every battle, every stupid argument. Of course, things hadn’t gone completely according to plan in the last six years, but he’d still managed to find you. He’s just waiting for you to find him, to keep your promise. You’re still not sure if you can.

“I’ll see you in Columbus.” His hand falls as you speak, and you miss its warmth. “Thank you.�� It’s a standoff. You’re still not sure how to say goodbye to him, even though you’ve done it hundreds of times by now. Everything in you is fighting to stay stuck to his floor.

“Yeah, I’ll see you.”

And you finally tear yourself away, not saying a single thing you’d wanted to. Really, all you want is for him to hold you, to stay here with Wayne, quit the band, quit it all to remain in this happy little bubble you’ve deluded yourself into thinking you belong in. But you can’t, so you give Wayne a long hug, and wave goodbye to the Munsons’, closing the door behind you.

-

Eddie’s POV

He blows out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Behind him, Wayne snorts a laugh and Eddie whips his head around. “What are you laughlin’ at?”

Wayne shakes his head. “You, boy. You’re such an idiot.” There’s no bite to his comment, and Eddie laughs with him.

“You’re probably the sixth person to tell me that in the last twenty four hours.”

Wayne stops laughing suddenly, his frown lines deepening. “How many more ‘til you do something about it?”

Eddie’s baffled. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Be straight with ‘em, for one thing. You can’t keep beatin’ around bushes hopin’ they’ll be content with that.” Wayne scolds, and it breaks Eddie’s heart disappointing him.

“Okay, hold on. You don’t have a clue about what’s goin’ on with us.” He feels his walks rising, preparing to shield himself from a harsh truth.

“Because you don’t tell me, Eddie!” Wayne’s voice booms through the house, shooting into Eddie’s ears and rattling his brain. “I do know, that kid loves you.”

“Yeah, but I don’t-“

“Deserve it?” Wayne slams his mug onto the counter, causing Eddie to jump. “No, you don’t, not the way you’ve been actin’ lately. Kid I raised, though? That treated everyone like a friend or family, ‘n’ would chop his own leg off if it meant a better day for someone else? He does. Where the fuck did he go? What have you done with my son?” It’s unmistakable, the breakage of Wayne’s voice. “I almost lost you, Ed. Not once, but twice. You almost died, and your first instinct when you survived was to try and kill yourself.”

Eddie’s ears ring with the silence that follows. “You promised you’d never bring it up.” He feels his throat betray him, choking on his words.

“And you promised me you’d work on yourself. You promised me you’d try to get better.”

“And I am, I- I was. I slipped.”

Wayne rubs his tired face, trying to soothe himself. “I know it’s been hard. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling, frankly I don’t want to. But this ain’t the way to deal with it. Point is, you’re hurtin’ people you love, boy. I know Y/n’s hurtin’ bad.”

“You couldn’t possibly-“

Wayne stares him down, daring Eddie to question him again. “I know. I won’t ask you to promise me again, I’ve learned my lesson. But maybe it’ll get through your thick skull this time. Before it’s too goddamn late.”

Eddie swats a tear away, looking at his uncle through blurred vision. “So you’re saying it’s not too late yet?”

Wayne steps closer, his arms open. He lands a hand on each of his biceps, holding Eddie at arms length. “No, it’s not too late, kid. But you better shape up quick.”

Eddie nods, and lets Wayne pull him into a hug, wrapping his own arms around the older man. “I’m sorry, Wayne.”

“I know, kid. Get used to sayin’ it.”

Wayne pulls back, and Eddie adds, “Y’know, Y/n and I aren’t exactly sure what we’re doing.”

Wayne rolls his eyes, something Eddie’s never seen him do before. “Please, everyone on the planet and beyond knows what you two are doing.”

“Wanna enlighten me, then?”

“Bein’ fuckin’ cowards.” Wayne crosses his arms. “The way you look at each other, no way there’s anyone left that hasn’t caught on. But you’re not acknowledging the hard parts.”

Eddie groans. “Well, yeah, Wayne, we tend to avoid the hard parts. I don’t even know if I’m in the right place to be with them.”

“That is incredibly mature of you, Edward.” Eddie only scoffs. “Look, I get it. I respect your thought process. But you should probably reconcile at the very least. Have a conversation, spend a day together. Maybe not. Do the hard part. I can just tell it’s killin’ you to hold ‘em at night and not even see ‘em the next day.”

Of course he’s right, it’s destroying Eddie, only having you partially. There’s so much you don’t know about what happened to him, and so much he still doesn’t understand about you leaving. He knows he’s done wrong, he’s treated you poorly and he’s paid over and over for it in his mind, but he still doesn’t know what the final nail in the coffin was. Something tells him you’re not gonna give it up easily, either. Something has to give soon, even if he’s gotta make it. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I’ll tell them. I’ll be honest.”

“Easier said than done, kid.”

Eddie shakes his head. “No, they deserve to know everything. Then, they can decide if they want anything to do with me.”

Wayne sighs. “They won’t see you as less than for it. You know that, right?” Eddie shrugs, gnawing on the inside of his cheek. “Why’d y’think you fell for ‘em in the first place?” He cracks a smile at his nephew. “You’re gonna be okay. You have a real good thing here.”

It’s Eddie who initiates the hug this time, throwing his arms around his uncle. Wayne returns the hug, chuckling into his nephew’s shoulder as he whacks his back lovingly. “Okay, okay,” Eddie let’s him go. “I gotta hit the road. I’ll call you when I get to Columbus.”

“Sure you will.” Wayne crosses his arms.

“I promise!”

“We’ll see!”

“I love you, Wayne.”

“Get goin’ before I boot you out myself.”

Eddie turns around, and right before he shuts the door he hears Wayne call “Love you, too!” causing a smile to creep across his face.

-

Eddie doesn’t want to tell you anything, obviously. He’s terrified. He knows it’s important, if any of this is gonna work out between you two. Trust is earned, he knows that, and he’s figured out it’s earned with truth. No fuckin’ shit.

So maybe he tells you. He confesses this deep, scary truth about himself to you in the hopes that you’ll reciprocate with a reason for leaving? Seems wildly unfair and selfish, even Eddie can see that. No. He shares this with you in hopes that you won’t run screaming in the opposite direction? Why wouldn’t you? Seems like a reasonable reaction. No. He tells you because you deserve to know. There can be no hope, not now. He can’t let himself expect anything from you, you don’t owe him. But it sticks inside his brain regardless, the idea that you might still speak to him after all of it. He can’t help it.

Eddie climbs onto his bus, back through the portal into the scary world of rock and roll, and the driver pulls away, cranking the volume to Something In The Way. His bandmates and Steve greet him cautiously, and he returns their curious glances with a shake of his head. There’s too much to explain right now, and Eddie’s sure they wouldn’t get it.

Steve, however, is not accepting that. “Can you come back here for a sec? Need some help with something.” It’s a command disguised as a question, and Eddie obeys, trudging towards the back of the bus, into the little bedroom where both of them barely fit.

“Thought you went with Death Dance?” Eddie stalls, ready to tiptoe around the elephant in the room.

“Nah, they’re fine without me hovering. You, on the other hand,”

“Need to be hovered around?”

Steve taps his nose. “Bingo. Anyway, look, I know you’re going through a lot, and I know Columbus harbors some old wounds, but I need you to keep it together.”

“I’ll do my best not to freak out, Harrington, but you and I both know I can’t promise anything.”

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose, screwing his eyes shut in frustration. “Fine. But you have to try. If this means anything to you, you’ll try.”

“What’s the big deal, man? Why’s this so important to you?” Eddie tries not to be irritated, but even he can hear the venom in his own voice.

“You’re important to me, dude. It hurts to see you all screwed up, throwing your life away, drinking ‘til you can’t see. You’re scaring us.”

“Us?” Steve presses his lips together. “You been talkin’ behind my back? Can’t really say I’m surprised.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “To who?”

“What?”

“Who’ve you been talking about me with?”

“Who do you think?” Bastard doesn’t even bother lying. It’s Eddie’s turn to shut up. What has he told you? How much do you know?

“What did you-“

“Nothing. None of that shit, that’s not mine to tell. They’ve come to me, worried. I wish you’d open your fuckin’ eyes, man. That’s all.”

“Alright, alright. I surrender. I’ll try to be good!”

“Thank you. I’m kinda sick of the asshole you’ve become.”

“You and me both, brother.”

-

Your POV

“Hey,” Robin places herself across from you in the booth, “You wanna explain that little escapade for me?” She rests her chin in her hand, elbow propped on the table, the ultimate pseudo-posh body language meant for gossip.

You lean into the bit, and into your friend, mirroring her posture. “Well, first I woke up shrieking from a nightmare about Eddie dying, only to ask our lovely hostess for his uncle’s address, steal Mike’s bicycle, and bang on his front door like a fucking campaign volunteer!”

Robin blinks at you, seemingly unbothered by this irrational series of events. Great, you’ve become predictable. “What did he say?”

“Hm?”

“When you told him?”

“Nothing spectacular, it was two a.m.” This isn’t the reaction you’d expected from her.

“So no wild accusations this time?”

You scoff, crossing your arms over your chest. “He apologized. He misunderstood-“

“He eavesdropped! Y/n, babe, please come back to earth for one second here. You really think it’s a shocker to ask if he’s hurt you again? Look at the notes.”

She’s right, but you’ll be damned if she gets to know that. “I’m done with this conversation, Robin. I mean it.”

“Okay, fine! New topic!” Robin snaps you from your daze. “There are whisperings.”

“Oh?” You quirk an eyebrow at her, and she nods vigorously. “I overheard Steve on the phone this morning. All I heard is that one of the smaller bands might have to back out of Lollapalooza. Nothing’s certain, and obviously I’m not supposed to know this, but-“

You hold a hand up to stop her. “Then why are you giddy?”

“Because it’s Lollapalooza! That would be huge for us!”

“Lolla hasn’t even started yet, Robs. Baby steps, please.”

“No, but it starts in two weeks. We overlap dates, and you’ll never guess where.”

You pretend to think. There are only two places important enough to you to mention, and one is growing smaller behind your bus. “August 7th. Great Woods, we play Boston on the 6th.” Home. Playing Lollapalooza at home. You could die after that, and be genuinely content. Robin’s smile creeps across her face again, and you join her this time, letting the excitement of hope tug at your heartstrings.

-

The sun is thinking about setting when you arrive in Columbus, having to forego stopping at the hotel for a shower. The buses pull behind the venue, an arena twice the size of the places you’d been playing until this point, not something expected from a state that’s mostly farmland.

“This is crazy,” Sylvie mutters as security leads the eight of you, Corroded Coffin, and Steve backstage.

“Dude,” Gareth backhands Eddie’s chest, “Judas Priest played here. Scott Travis walked these very halls.” Eddie only rolls his eyes at his awestruck friend. “Travis has only been in the band for two years.”

“I have a good feeling about him, though!”

The two continue to bicker, and you tune them out. It seems you take many turns down secondary hallways before ending up in a vast, mostly empty room save for two cheap vanity sets and a plastic fold out table with your rider orders displayed, and a few wooden shades to change behind. “This place is huge!” Their voice shakes with nerves, and you place a comforting hand on their shoulder.

“I know, but think of it like this. Maybe more people will leave here listening to our stuff.”

Sylvie nods wordlessly, and you give them a squeeze.

“Okay, guys, we have two hours to showtime, and I am begging you to use that time to relax and get ready,” He shoots a glare at you, instead of stressing yourselves out. Please.”

You raise your hands in mock surrender, and Eddie stifles a laugh poorly. “Alright, well, dismissed.” Steve shoos you all away, leaving the makeshift dressing room in a huff.

“What’s got his panties in a bunch?” Eddie wonders aloud, and no one has an answer. You look at Robin, and she only shrugs. The last thing you need right now is your caretaker having a meltdown.

You’re called for soundcheck, once again being led through the backstage tunnels, flashing your badge to staff members as they pass. The stage is about twice the size of what you’re used to seeing, and maybe four times bigger than the allotment usually given to you as an opener. “There’s so much room for activities!” Robin squeals, and you giggle. She’s right, you could really let loose with your antics up here.

“Alright let’s get busy, check, check!” Steve claps his hands together, and the rest of you scramble to your marks. You watch as Steve takes his place in front of the stage, making sure he can hear you, even though it won’t matter in the long run when there are six thousand people screaming in front of the speakers anyway.

You fiddle with your guitar, tuning each string as quickly as you can, testing your mic and pedals, playing with your in-ear, all while trying to keep an eye on Steve, tapping his foot anxiously in your peripheral. You and Robin send each other concerned glances, both thrown off by Steve’s palpable anxiety.

Despite Steve’s unexplained jitters, sound check is smooth, and the four of you are brought back to your dressing area, switching out for the headliners to deal with Mama Harrington.

-

“WHO ARE WE?!”

“DEATH DANCE APPROXIMATELY!”

You huddle, growling and grunting playfully to hype each other up to perform until you’re cackling so hard your ribs hurt. “This is our biggest show to date,” You put on your pep talk voice, “So we’re gonna go out there and rip this place to shreds, yeah?”

“FUCK YEAH!”

“FUCK YEAH!” You bring it in for one more group hug before shaking off your individual nerves. Security leads you out, the crowd getting louder as you get closer. Steve follows behind you, posture tight as he power walks to the side of the stage to wish you all luck.

“Break a leg, baby,” He holds out his fist for you to bump, but you swat it down, bringing him into a hug that he returns without hesitating.

“We’ll talk after, yeah?” You mumble into his shoulder, and feel him nod.

“Thank you.” You pat his back and let him go, and he watches as you follow the rest of the band on stage, the crowd getting impossibly louder when you appear.

-

Eddie’s POV

He wanders into the crowd with Steve and a crew member close behind, hair tied up and hidden by a baseball cap he’d never choose on his own. Tonight he’s insisted on not drinking, but the anxiety about talking to you, for real, is eating him alive. Of course, when Steve had heard this, he’d gone all Protector mode on Eddie, now following him through the venue to hold him to his word. I could use the company, though, Eddie thinks sadly.

In the back of the venue, casual fans collect their drinks from the bar, or walk away from the merch stands with handfuls of memorabilia. A few people give him second looks that he averts less than slyly, only trying to get a decent view of you on stage.

Tonight, like every other, you’re holding the audience captive with your performance. Dressed in an oversized Bikini Kill shirt, red fishnets, and spandex shorts, your body lifted higher by heavy boots. You glow under the stage lights, hair damp and sticking to your sweaty face as you pour your soul into your vocals. Tonight’s performance seems more raw, to Eddie. Your voice, though still incredible, holds a certain rasp it doesn’t usually. You sound more pained, the way you must have felt originally writing these songs. It’s like you sense it, the shift in your equilibrium finally catching up. Eddie feels it in himself, every time you look at him, somehow still finding him in his disguise, in a room of thousands.

He wants to drink. Or smoke, or fuck, or cut a line, even, the pain in his chest is unbearable, knowing what he’s put you through, and the fact that you don’t know everything. He wants to take it all away, every ounce of pain you could ever feel, even if it means his worst nightmare comes true. Everything inside of Eddie itches, squirms under his skin while you sing, voice grating and cracking against the screaming crown.

“Thank you, Columbus! We have been Death Dance Approximately, and this is our last song! Sing it if you know it!”

Lilith counts you in, and the song is met with even more shrieks of the casual listers recognizing your hit. The one about Eddie, the one written for him in high school by someone he’d never get enough of. He doesn’t usually stay for this one, the song almost impossible for him to listen to now. Tonight, though, Eddie sways with the crowd, even throwing a careless arm around a befuddled Steve. Eddie may never have you again, but he did once, and he plans to hold on tightly to that fact, regardless of what happens after tonight.

-

Your POV

“Thank you! Everybody get pumped, Corroded Coffin’s on next! Goodnight!” You blow kiss after kiss to the audience, eyes scanning for the person they’re actually for as you take your bows and walk offstage. Already, the crew buzzes around you, hauling instruments and wires on and off the stage, hustling to tape down setlists, check levels, and reveal the Corroded Coffin flag currently covered by your band’s logo.

“Great show, guys, absolutely killed it.” Steve claps for all of you as you enter the dressing room, careful to stay out of the way of your tour mates’ paths. But someone’s missing from the scramble.

“Has anyone seen Eddie?” Jeff looks from you, to Steve, to anyone else in his eye line. His question is met with the shaking of heads, no one confirming they’ve had eyes on him.

Steve takes charge easily. “Alright. Rob, check the bar. Sylvie, check the bathrooms, and Lilith, go talk to the bouncers. I will try to call his—“ he pauses, looking at you, “…friend, here in town.”

You ignore your friend’s strange inflection. “What about me?”

“What?”

“Where should I look?”

Steve presses his lips together, not fully looking you in the eye. “I think it’s probably best if you don’t get involved, Y/n.”

This baffles you. “Excuse me?”

“It’s not you, it’s just,” he huffs, “This city is hard for him to be in, after… Look, I don’t know what you know. Let’s just say I expected this.”

“Steve, holy shit, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“I don’t have time to explain right now!” Your bandmates have already left the room. “We need to find him. If you have such a dire need to look for him, fine, but I can’t tell you anything else. It’s not my place.”

What the fuck could he be talking about? You groan, throwing yourself into a fold out chair, defeated, and Steve stomps out of the room. It takes you all of two minutes to give in, grumbling to yourself as you exit the dressing room into the backstage labyrinth. “He could be anywhere. Shit!”

Before you even make it around the first corner, you hear the beep of a security guard’s walkie. “Hey, yeah, we found him. Out behind the parking lot with some girl.”

“He alright?” Steve.

“Yeah, he’s good. No sign of substances. On our way in.” You chew on the inside of your cheek as you return to the room. He’s got a girl here?

—

chapter XVIII

tag list: @children-of-the-grave @five-bi-five @wiildflower-xxx @beebeerockknot @champagne-glamour @xxgothwhorexx @therensistance @chonkzombie @brxkenartt @sidthedollface2 @bibieddiesgf @gaysludge @eddiesguitarskills @littlepotatobeansworld @poisonedluv @kellsck @m-chmcl-rmnc

[ashoss]

Tim & Cass if you're still taking art requests! My favorite brains & brawn duo, although neither is lacking either.

they got each other in their bat-mite meal :D

[corrodedcoughin]

Eddie gets confused (and incredibly jealous) when Robin says she’s going to dnd at Steve’s house. That she’s been going for months and it’s a weekly tradition. So of course Eddie crashes it under the guise of leaving a Very Important dice set there.

What he finds is Steve and Robin sitting on the couch watching tv on opposite ends of the couch with legs stretched between them and plates of food on their laps. Their dnd? It’s dinner and documentaries. Documentaries of whatever Robin’s mom recorded that week and a dinner to go with the topic which is surprisingly difficult when there’s titles like ‘the humble houseplant’ or ‘aardvarks: what are they not telling us?’

Eddie takes a seat and starts watching without question. He earns a regular invite after that night

[italiansteebie]

Secret relationship steddie getting through vecna without suspicions from the others until steve hasn’t left eddie’s bedside for a week and he somehow knows wayne munson's phone number from memory and even gets a hug from the man when he enters the room. And he gets to stay when the others are kicked out.

It’s only when eddie wakes up that everything comes out.

He cracks open his eyes, meeting the gazes of dustin, wayne, and robin, but no steve.

“Where’s my baby?” he murmurs, and from the outside it sounds like “where mah beebee.” He watches the faces in front of him turn into something of confusion. “My baby, my baby. I want him.” It comes out clearer, and unfortunately for them wayne understands immediately and unknowingly outs them. “Steve’s off gettin’ some food, he’ll be back in just a minute,” Wayne pats eddie’s hand gently, watching as the kid smiles, eyes drooping once again.

Dustin and robin share a look but they choose to ignore it, maybe wayne heard wrong or eddie is just on too many painkillers.

Until steve walks in, seeing eddie’s eyes, tired, but open. He drops the coffee he’d brought back for wayne and bolts to eddie’s side.

Eddie raises a hand and cups steve’s face, “hey baby.” and for the first time, dustin and robin see steve harrington cry. “I told you-” he pauses to sniffle, “I told you not to be a hero,” his voice cracks, holding back tears. Eddie grabs his hand “‘M still here, baby.” and the dam breaks. Steve is sobbing into eddies chest, while the metalhead runs a weak hand through his hair.

Wayne would deny it with all his heart if anyone asked, but he shed a tear at the display in front of him, he wasn’t sure about steve harrington the first time eddie brought him home, but damn, the kid weaseled his way into his heart. And as touching as the moment was, dustin and robin where still highly confused.

Steve’s tears slowed, and he lifted his head from eddies chest, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

“Uh. Excuse me?” robin broke the silence, and the little world steve had found himself in shattered.

Eddie smiled though, ever the brave. “Me nd stevie are datin’. He’s mah baby.” he ended the sentence by placing a sloppy kiss on steve’s cheek. Dustin was, surprisingly, satisfied with that answer, but robin was not.

“YOU MADE FUN OF ME OVER TAMMY WHEN YOU’RE HERE WITH… HIM?”

Steve blushed, “We had just met when i started at scoops okay! It was really new, i- i didn’t know how to tell you so…. I just decided to be overly supportive by bashing your taste in women.”

This set robin off, and she didn’t stop until a nurse came in and threatened to have her removed from the premises.

[hairmetal666]

By the grace of Robin Buckley, Steve gets into college.

She's his first real friend and it's because he knows her, loves her, learned to be a better person from her, that he's able to smile politely and take the hand of his new roommate. His long-haired, tattooed, dressed in all black roommate, who has already put up dark and menacing posters of bands Steve has never heard of and a bedsheet banner with the words "Corroded Coffin" painted on the fabric.

"Eddie Munson," his roommate says.

"Steve Harrington."

"Good to meet you, roomie." Eddie smiles so big it makes dimples pop. It's a good look. "Parents on the way with the rest of your stuff?"

"Oh, er--just me, actually."

Eddie's smile doesn't waiver. "Need some help?"

Normally, Steve would say no, but he just spent the last hour unloading Robin's stuff. "That would be great, thanks."

So, they work together to get Steve moved in, and as they work, he learns more about his roommate. He is a weirdo, an oddball, fundamentally strange, but Steve can't help but be charmed.

Eddie puts on music, something aggressive with loud guitars and drums, and Steve unpacks. He pulls out a picture of himself with the kids during one of their game nights, displaying it carefully on his desk.

"Wait," his new roommate says. "You? And the dnd children?"

Steve laughs. "They're the kids I babysit. You play that nerd game?"

Eddie's nose wrinkles. Something in the back of Steve's mind notes that it's cute. "Nerd game? Dnd is So. Much. More. It's--it's storytelling and strategy and--" Eddie stops, blinking at Steve. "You're fucking with me, aren't you?"

"Little bit," Steve smiles.

"I can't believe you know dnd. That you babysit nerds. You look like such a jock," Eddie shakes his head in disbelief.

"I am a jock," Steve agrees. "And I love those dorky little shitheads. I tolerate the game."

"Steve Harrington. You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

"Guess so." The smiles they share are wide and sweet, bringing out Eddie's dimples in way that makes Steve long to touch.

After that, they're inseparable. Robin and Eddie and Steve. They study, eat, go to parties, hangout; anything, as long as they're together.

---

Three weeks into the semester, as Steve gets dressed after swim practice, he pulls a shirt out of his bag that doesn't belong to him. It's a black tee, Metallica logo front and center. He chuckles, puts it on. It's soft from wear and smells of laundry detergent and Eddie--cigarettes and leather and some kind of sweet musk. The scent puts him at immediate ease.

He meets Robin and Eddie for lunch. They were early, already have their food and seats, so he walks over to drop off his backpack. Eddie gives him a bright, dimpled smile, but within seconds his mouth is falling open a little, the tips of his ears turning bright red.

"You alright, man?" Steve asks.

Eddie startles, grabs his cup, jamming the straw into his mouth to chew at the plastic."You're--my shirt?" he says.

"Oh, shit. Sorry. Grabbed it by accident. I'll wash it for you."

His roommate flushes pink. "N--no, you don't have to worry about it."

He wants to question Eddie further--he's being so weird--but Robin interrupts. "Dingus! Go get food. Hurry up!"

He does as he's told, but when he comes back, Eddie is even redder than before, and Robin has a wide smirk across her face.

"What is going on with you two?" He asks as he puts his tray down.

Neither of them answer, andEddie launches into a passionate re-telling of some music student drama, so Steve let's himself be distracted.

---

It's mid-October and Steve's coming home from the gym, the one place that Robin and Eddie refuse to accompany him. As he nears his room, he hears music. It's not heavy metal, but something soft and slow and acoustic.

He tries to be quiet as he unlocks the door and enters, doesn't want to disturb Eddie, doesn't want him to stop playing. He never practices when Steve is home, says he doesn't want to be a bother with the noise.

Eddie's sitting on his bed, guitar in hand. There's a battered notebook open next to him, a pencil held between his teeth. He hums a bit, pauses to jot something down, and goes back to playing.

He looks beautiful, Steve thinks, bent over his guitar.

Steve is just about to announce himself when Eddie stops playing again. He writes something in the notebook before resting his head in his head. "Pathetic, Munson. Get it together," he mutters.

"Hi!" Steve says. It startles Eddie, who jumps and almost drops the guitar.

"Stevie!" Eddie stumbles to his feet. "I--uh--you're home!" His face is crimson.

"You're really good, man," Steve says. "I'd love to hear more sometime."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh," Eddie nods his head, grabbing for the notebook and slamming it closed. "Sure thing." He stuffs his feet into his Reeboks. "I gotta--I gotta go. Back soon."

Eddie stumbles out their door, notebook clenched firmly in hand.

He is so weird.

---

In mid-November, Robin gets invited to a party by a cute girl. They all go.

Steve isn't trying to hook up. He hasn't slept with anyone since they started school, too caught up with Robin and Eddie. But there's a girl, wavy brown curls and wide green eyes (he has the fleeting thought that they should be deep brown, that it's wrong that they aren't), and she's smiling at him.

Flirting with her is easy.

He doesn't know what breaks his concentration, but he turns to face the rest of the room, eyes falling on Eddie. Eddie who is watching him, his deep brown eyes swimming with hurt, with anger.

It sends a shock of pure panic up his spine. "Eddie!"

Eddie turns on his heel, disappearing in the crowd. Steve follows, but by the time he navigates through the partygoers, his roommate is nowhere to be found. He hurries back to their dorm, heart pounding in his ears, mouth dry.

It's dark in the room, though, and for a second he thinks Eddie isn't home, after all. But he turns on the light, illuminates the rigid lump under Eddie's quilt.

"Eddie?" Steve says, voice soft.

He doesn't respond, though Steve can tell he's awake. He tries again, but Eddie curls deeper under his covers.

Steve spends the night wondering what he did to hurt Eddie so bad.

---

They're back to normal after Thanksgiving. Steve is so relieved he doesn't even ask.

They stay up all night every night studying for finals. By the time Steve's last test rolls around, he's giddy and frantic. He grabs his textbook, shoves a notebook into his backpack, gets to the English building with just enough time to take a last look at his notes.

Only, he flips the notebook open and it's not his English notes. It's song lyrics.

Steve should close it. Put it back in his backpack. It's private. But he's already reading the lyrics written there. They're sexy. The song's about a guy, one Eddie seems to be totally gone for.

A line catches his eye, "need you on every surface in our room." He reads it again and again until the only thing he can see is the phrase, "our room." His whole body is warm, heat pooling, and he's chubbing up in his jeans in the middle of his English class.

Steve flips the pages, anything to get his mind off of that song, and that's when it hits him like a ton of bricks. All those weird moments--the t-shirt, the song, Steve flirting with a girl-- Eddie likes him.

Steve wants to rush to the dorm, wants to confess everything, even starts to stand, but--he has a final to take.

He makes himself close the notebook, but catches sight of another song as he does. It's a love song. It's plaintive and yearning and wanting. And every lyric is for him, about him, about things they did together. It's also unfinished, breaking off mid-way through the second verse.

He doesn't know how he missed it before, but as the professor hands out the test paper, Eddie is all he can think of.

---

When he finally gets back to the room, he finds Eddie's frantic, hair frizzed around his skull. All his bedding is on the floor, the drawers of his wardrobe pulled open.

"Eddie?" Steve asks.

"Have you seen my notebook?"

"What?" Steve's heart drops.

"The black one? It's kind of beaten up?"

"I--uh, yeah. Sorry, Eds. Accidentally grabbed it on my way to class." He pulls his backpack from his shoulder, unzipping it.

"Did you--did you read it?" Eddie's voice shakes, his face painfully red.

Steve doesn't know what to say, what to do. He wants Eddie. Has for a long time, just hadn't been able to put it together. And he doesn't know how to fix what's spiraling out between them.

"Eddie," he says. Can think of nothing else, hopes his desperation is clear in his voice. "Please." He closes the distance between them, slowly, carefully. Cups Eddie's chin in his hand.

They stare at each other, Eddie's eyes wide with shock. Steve can feel the other man's breath on his face, smell the tobacco and sweet musk scent of him.

"Every surface of our room, huh?" Steve asks.

Eddie's cheeks flush. He turns away, bashful. "Something like that."

"And if I want it too?" Steve whispers.

The words hang between them for several beats, before they both move to close the lingering distance between them. Their mouths slip together, like it's nothing, like they do this all the time. Steve grasps at Eddie's curls, fists a hand into his t-shirt, totally lost to the rhythm of the kiss, the easy slip of Eddie's tongue in his mouth.

Eventually, the come up for air, both pink cheeked and panting.

"You're full of surprises, Steve Harrington." Eddie breathes.

"Just wait," Steve smirks, moves in to nip at Eddie's bottom lip. "We have so many surfaces."

[cldhead]

roommates <3

[kofi]

[ajitomiel]

idk what possesed me to draw this but yeah- i dont think being revived feels good

[brown-little-robin]

When Mob exorcises Dimple for the first time, he taps his fingers on Dimple's forehead and says: 僕は最低だ。That gets translated "I'm terrible" or "I'm the worst" in English.

Those are pretty vague words in English, though, so I paused the show to look it up. (took me a hot minute to find the listing for the word 最低, too, which means I'll probably remember it forever, but that's not relevant, lol.) SO. Mob says "boku wa saitei da"— I am 最低. Turns out that "the worst" is a pretty great translation, because it captures both the aspect of "least (lowest in some category)" and "most repugnant" from the original word.

This is awful. Obviously. No 14-year-old should be calling himself that in full honesty. But that's not the point I want to get across:

The exact moment that Mob uses the word 最低 for himself is worth noting! Dimple has just jumped at Mob for a killing blow, proclaiming that in the battle between them, lived battle experience will determine who's the winner. Dimple is judging himself and Mob against each other on a scale of battle skill. The only variable he cares about is power. And when Mob wipes him out, clearly Mob is the winner of their contest. From Dimple's perspective, Mob should be saying he's 最高—saikou, the antonym of saitei, meaning "the best/highest". But Mob is judging himself by a completely different variable—the ability to control himself. That's why he calls himself the worst. It's a moment of self-loathing, yes, but not out of nowhere—he's correcting Dimple and re-contextualizing their fight as a failure on his part, not a victory for anyone.

[starfiretruther]

the besties meeting for the first time !!

[lemonlimestar]

it is always morally correct to give ur favorite characters the same fashion taste as u. btw.

solo poses under the cut!

[streamafterlaughter]

Fundamental Differing

Chapter XV: Oh, Sweet Oblivion

nav | masterlist | playlist | pinboard | chapter XIV | get on the taglist!

summary: being in hawkins brings back some old, long dead routines you both wish you’d forgotten

tags: misunderstandings/miscommunication, implied alcohol abuse towards the end, mentions of violence, nightmares, slow burn, mutual pining, angst, rockstar!eddie x rockstar!gn!reader

a/n: HELLO. this chapter is mostly filler for plot furthering my apologies, i’ve been sooooo stressed with work and just Off my Game, but i’m trying to do better! fic is more than halfway done (i think) so buckle up!

Disclaimer: I do not give permission to have my work reposted on other sites. Reblogs are more than welcome, but please inform me if you find my work elsewhere unless otherwise stated. Please reblog/comment/tip to support the author

-

Your POV

You can't tell where you are at first, the darkness suffocates you, but about a hundred yards away, you can see the outline of a figure. It is not human, its limbs are long, spindly branches reaching out towards you. You try to run, but it feels like you’re underwater, wading through the blackness to no avail.

Something rustles behind you, and you turn abruptly, faced with what you’re sure is Eddie. Upon first glance, it is him; his soft brown curls and plush lips, clad in leather and denim head to toe. When you look him in the eyes, though, your heart drops. They are not the warm, wide, chocolate brown ones you drown in. They are black, but not with lust, nor longing, just bitter, unforgiving hatred. This imposter looks right through you, cold and unwavering when you try to snap him out of it.

“Eddie?” You try to call him back to you, but your voice is lost as soon as it leaves your lips. With no word of a response, or even a tell that he’s heard you, this skinwalker posing as Eddie takes another step forward, still not looking at you, but rather through you, focusing beyond where you stand in front of him, hypnotized by some invisible force. Something else is controlling him. “Eddie, I know you’re in there. Can you hear me?”

Before you can react, its hands are around your neck, squeezing hard as it lifts you into the air. You kick at Fake Eddie, swinging your limbs to break his grip on your throat. Behind you, you hear the creature again, louder and deeper now, saying “Finish it, Eddie.”

You try again, using your last breaths to get through to Eddie, the real Eddie, trapped somewhere underneath this monster using him as a puppet. “Eddie,” you gasp, choking on your words, “Please, Eddie. Let go!”

He does not lower you back down, does not come to, realizing what he’s done. This monster snaps your neck, and discards you on the ground.

—

Eddie’s POV

He stirs first, much to Eddie’s own surprise. Next to him, you’re mumbling in your sleep, your expression tense. He catches “Please, Eddie,” but not said with any of the satisfaction he would have liked.

“Hey,” He whispers, shaking you gently. “Y/n, wake up.” A tear streams down your face, your eyes still screwed shut. Eddie feels the sting in his throat when you shake your head, mumbling repeated pleas of mercy until you’re choking, coughing and sputtering, and Eddie goes into panic mode. Eddie rolls you onto your back and straddles you, knowing if you wake up now you’re prone to swinging your limbs at him. He places a hand on either cheek, something he’d discovered you’d found comforting in the past.

Your breathing eventually slows, evening out as your heart rate calms. Your eyes flutter open, and as they adjust to the light, Eddie gives you a soft smile, his hands still on your cheeks.

“Eddie?”

“Good morning, sunshine. Rough night?” He isn’t moving from on top of you, and you don’t protest when he leans in to kiss your forehead. As his lips connect to your skin, someone’s knocking on your door. Before either of you can answer, Steve throws it open.

“Whoa!” He holds his hands up in front of his face, as if to shield his eyes from something far more inappropriate than the scene before him.

“Jesus Christ!” Eddie swings himself off of you, flipping his body back onto the bed beside you, crossing his arms. “Y’know, knocking is supposed to be a call and response thing. Like, you knock, and someone says ‘Come in!’ or ‘Not right now!’”

“Sorry, man, I have Managerial Privilege. The knock was a polite warning.”

They bicker, Steve quickly turning to face away from you and Eddie, unable to meet either of your eyes. “God, that was fuckin’ fast!”

“What?” you throw the duvet off your body, and your warmth leaves Eddie’s side as you stand up. “What happened fast?”

“Nothing, just, well, I guess I didn’t expect to see you guys in here, uh, under the covers…” He trails off, gesturing vaguely to where Eddie lay, sprawled out in his parents’ bed, no shirt. It's a compromising position. You’re in Eddie’s shirt and your underwear, a much too familiar sight for Eddie’s very sore eyes.

“Oh. Oh! God, Steve,” You groan, rolling your eyes. “We didn’t…” you pause, trying to remember last night. You turn to him, your eyes filled with fear. “Did we?”

Eddie shakes his head vigorously, blushing at your suggestion. “No, not at all. Nothing like that.”

Relief floods over your features. “Oh, good. Great, thank god!” Your laugh is anxious, and Eddie feels his heart hammer in his chest.

“Oh. Well, good. We’ve got a lot of work to do, cleaning this place up before we go back to Nancy’s. So, rise and shine!” Steve says an awkward goodbye to the two of you, closing the door behind him.

—

Your POV

You turn back to face Eddie, wishing immediately that you hadn’t. His hands are clasped behind his head, looking at you with an unashamed lust in his eyes, a look you’d recognize regardless of the situation. “Quit staring, Munson.”

“Why? ‘Fraid I’ll seduce ya?”

You roll your eyes. “Something like that.” You don’t miss the blush on his cheeks when you answer him. “Get off your ass, we’re the clean-up crew.”

Eddie rolls out of bed, making a show of stretching his arms out wide as he yawns. You find yourself scanning your eyes down his torso. “Would you stop?!”

“Stop what?” He pouts innocently.

“You know what!” You gesture to his body, then to his arms still stretched into the air.

“No,” Eddie drops his arms and takes a step closer to you. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Another step towards you, closing the gap between your bodies. “Why don’t you tell me what I’m doing?” Another step and you’re pressed against the wall, unable to back away any further. You can feel his breath on your face, his eyes boring hungrily into your own. But his eyes aren’t the scary, black holes they were in your nightmare. They’re still the same soft, warm brown, but they’re sparkling with mischief. “Tell me, darlin’, ‘cause I haven’t got a clue what you mean.”

“Stop being so fucking,” you gesture again, hopelessly vague in your request. “Stop being so hot.” You grumble, avoiding watching his face shift from teasing to elated.

“Sorry, can you say that again? Maybe a little louder? I don’t think I heard that right!”

“Oh, you heard me. Now quit it, before I file a complaint!” You cross your arms over your chest, sure he’d be able to see your heart beating out of it like in the cartoons.

He chuckles, enjoying watching you squirm underneath him. “Alright, but just because you asked so sweetly!” Eddie backs away from you, hands raised in surrender. You take the opportunity to charge him, shoving him onto his back, flat on the mattress. It’s your turn to straddle him, pinning him to the bed as you lean over him, an arm on either side of his head. “Shit, Y/n, you’re sending me some mixed signals here!” He laughs nervously, unsure what to do with his hands.

You smirk. “Feels horrible, doesn’t it?” You lean into him, your nose inches from your face. “Thank you.” You whisper, and climb off of his lap, freeing him from your confines. “And I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He asks, sitting up.

“I woke you.”

“Nah, I was up already. Hard to sleep here, I guess.”

“Yeah, you’re tellin’ me. Haven’t had a nightmare that bad since high school.” You shiver, remembering Eddie’s empty eyes, his pale hands locked around your throat, draining the life from you slowly.

“What were you dreaming about? If you don’t mind my asking. You don’t have to tell me, though.” He pats the mattress next to him, and you take the invitation, sitting with a huff.

“No, it’s okay. It was strange. You had these scary, black eyes. They were empty, like you were soulless. Something was telling you to do it, what you were doing to me,”

He cuts you off, “What was I doing?” You look at him, into his pretty face, etched with nerves.

“You were choking me. You were trying to kill me. You did kill me, actually. I woke up right when my neck snapped.” You stare forward as you remember the dream, a chill running through your blood when he’d grabbed you.

“Christ, Y/n,” He doesn’t continue. He’s averting your eyes as you try to meet his.

“Hey. This isn’t your fault, Eddie. It’s being back here, in Hawkins. Sleeping next to you didn’t cause this, you know that. You’ve seen this before.”

“It’s still scary when it happens.”

You nod. “It is. But you can’t be sulking about it, beating yourself up. There’s no one I’d rather wake up from a nightmare next to.” You lean your head on his shoulder, and he rests his head on top of yours. You stay like that for a bit, just enjoying being near him, until Steve is banging on the door again.

—

Eddie’s POV

“I dunno, man. It wasn’t like the other times, they weren’t waking up.” Eddie shoves another beer can into the overstuffed garbage bag, meanwhile Steve is scrubbing a couch cushion stained with wine.

“They did eventually, right?”

“Well, yeah,” Eddie trails off, kicking a solo cup to the side.

“Look, Ed. It’s not your fault. You need to understand that.”

“But the nightmare was about me, Steve. Not like in high school, when we all had something to blame for this. You’re telling me it’s a coincidence they’re having nightmares again? It’s because I’m here, whether they wanna admit it or not.”

Steve shrugs. “I disagree. However, I’ve learned not to fight you on your delusions. You’ll figure it out on your own, and I can rub it in your face when the time comes.”

“Oh, fuck you.” Eddie shoves Steve, maybe a little too hard, and he shoves right back. Eddie’s ready to pounce again when you and Robin come strutting into the living room. Though you look beautiful, with your hair still messy from sleep, your clothes hanging loosely onto your body, you look exhausted. Your eyelids flutter every few seconds, and you’re stifling yawns as Robin pulls Steve away from Eddie. It aches, for Eddie to see you so tired, especially during what is supposed to be your vacation.

You catch him staring, and you send him as much of a smile as you can muster, but Eddie can’t bring himself to return it. “Backyard is free of any and all paraphernalia.” You turn to Steve, reporting like a loyal boy scout. “Anything else we can help with?” Robin turns to you with a forced smile, unwilling to continue suffering through her hangover.

Steve catches her, rolling his eyes. “ No, thank you. Go back to Nancy’s, clean yourselves up. I, uh, have a surprise.”

Eddie’s eyes widen at the admission. “Oh?”

Steve winces, scratching the back of his head, suddenly shy. “Don’t worry about it now, I’ll be there in a few hours.

Eddie’s chest tightens, and without meaning to he whips his head to look at you. Luckily, you don’t notice his less than subtle reaction, your neck is craned toward the ceiling, your eyes squeezed shut. “Steven, I swear to fucking god,”

“It’s not bad! It’s not finalized yet, I’m obviously not confirming anything until I get your input.”

You groan, and Eddie can’t help but giggle at the all too familiar sound. He’s used to being on the receiving end of that sound, in vastly different situations. Your head snaps back to him, eyes daggering into his own. “What’s so fucking funny?”

His heart hammers. There is no right answer here, and he knows it. “Uh, hm,” he clears his throat, “How you know what he’s gonna say before he even asks.” He shrugs.

You squint at him, waiting for him to break, you know that’s not what he was laughing at. In front of Steve, though, he refuses. Instead he throws you a smirk, daring you to continue. You huff, turning back to look at Steve, a rare victory for Eddie. “Steve,” You turn your attention back to your friend, who’s looking from you to Eddie, confused. “What the hell did you do?”

“Nothing!” He defends, hands raised. “Nothing bad, I’ll tell you later. Go take a nap or something, I’ll be over in a bit. You too, big guy.” Steve shoves Eddie’s shoulder, making him stumble into you. You catch him, shoving him away from you, too harshly in Eddie’s opinion.

-

Your POV

“What could he possibly have done?” You’re stressed, ranting to Robin and Eddie as you shove your way into Nancy’s house. She’s already made breakfast, and it waits on the table as you stumble over the threshold.

“Morning! Hope you guys are hungry.” She gestures to the buffet of breakfast food, steaming on their individual platters. You pull a chair out, plopping down and plucking pieces of everything onto your plate. Eddie and Robin follow suit, as the rest of your bandmates join the feast.

“What do you think he did?” You inquire, mouth full of pancake.

“Who? What happened?” Sylvie is barely awake, their hair wild and eyes sleepy.

“Steve claims he has a surprise,” Robin fills them in, waving her fork. “Personally, I hope it’s a shopping spree, been dying for some new show outfits.”

You roll your eyes, and turn to the man next to you. Eddie’s staring at the wall,

his once steaming eggs and bacon growing cold. He doesn’t return your glance, though you’re sure he can sense you staring at him. “Eddie?”

He jumps, fork clattering against his plate, jolting the rest of the group’s attention to him.

“Hm, what?” He looks from you, to Robin, to Nancy, to the rest of the table, all trying not to stare at him.

“Do you have any theories? About what Steve could’ve done?”

“Oh,” Eddie shakes his head, as if willing himself to be normal. “Who knows? Probably booked us a show or something. We all know the suits don’t really believe in vacation.” He chuckles, picking at his food before getting up abruptly. “I gotta, uh,” Eddie points vaguely toward the door, pushing himself from the table. He clears his full plate, then stomps out into the front yard.

“What the hell was that?” Nancy asks, her neck craning to look out the window facing the garden.

“Fuck if I know,” You shrug. Eddie’s been weird all morning, and you’ve got a curious itch. Before you can follow him out, though, you watch as Steve approaches him in the front yard, lighting a cigarette as Eddie chiefs his own. You squint, trying to read their lips, maybe Eddie does know something. But why wouldn’t he tell you?

-

Eddie’s POV

“As in Hideout owner Dan?” Eddie takes another long drag from his cigarette, bouncing his leg nervously.

Steve nods frantically, “He said he wants you to do a show there, both of you,” Steve jerks his head toward the house. “But I can tell him no, just say the word.”

“No, I mean, don’t say no,” Eddie rubs his hand down his face, trying to wipe away his fatigue. “Ask Y/n first, before I ask the guys.”

“Why don’t you ask them?” Steve means to tease, but Eddie grumbles his response. “What was that?”

“I don’t wanna talk to them right now!” Eddie exclaims, suddenly irritated. “And it’s your job as their manager to do it, anyway.”

“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” Steve scoffs, throwing his cigarette on the sidewalk, squishing it with his toe before turning to Eddie.

Eddie huffs. “Sorry, nothing. Just,” He heaved out a breath of smoke, blowing it away from where Steve stands. “I’m just on edge being here, I guess. But I wanna do it, of course I wanna play the Hideout again, it’s been years.”

Steve places a comforting hand on Eddie’s shoulder, forcing him to look at his face. “I know. It’s hard for all of us, but it’s something we had to do. Our friends are still here, we’re still alive. This fuckin’ town can’t hurt us anymore, y’know?”

He nods, stubbing out his own cigarette on the concrete wall behind him. “Yeah. That’s true.”

“Alright, I’ll go let Y/n know, hopefully they’re down for it.”

-

Your POV

“I called it! Didn’t I call it?” You nudge Robin and she nods, her eyes still sleepy. “Steve, you’re so predictable. Of course we’ll do it! I haven’t played the Hideout since that open mic years ago. It’ll be so cool to have people here for us. How do we get the word out?”

“Well, there’s the rub. I was told ‘guerilla marketing’” He throws up air quotes, “is super effective in this type of situation. Fliers, word of mouth.”

“Do we have time for that?”

“Show’s on Friday,”

“This Friday?!” Sylvie squeaks. “That’s in three days!”

“I mean, you guys are huge. Coffin’s huge. You can do this in three days! That’s nothin’!” Steve shoots you an anxious smile. “Right?”

You shrug. “We got what, six kids in college right now? With friends in the area, I hope? I think we could pull it off.” You look to your bandmates, wearing various expressions of anxiety. “We can make some calls, too, I’m sure.”

“Sick, let’s get moving! We can go print some fliers, just need someone to make up a raw version of the poster.”

“I can do that.” Eddie strolls through the doorway, hands on his hips. “Been dying for a reason to draw again. That okay?” He looks at you, waiting for your approval. You nod. “Cool. I’ll plan out a few different ideas by tonight.”

-

The agreed upon flier is drawn by Eddie, depicting a guitar on fire, with the headline IT’S A SECRET! Find Us at The Hideout, use the code word DANCING COFFIN with Friday’s date. They go up around Hawkins telephone poles, in Family Video, the arcade, even Enzo’s let you hang one in their doorway.

Friday comes more quickly than any of you are ready for, and you spend the whole day picking outfits and putting together a setlist.

“I think you and Eddie should play that song.” Lilith comments, twirling her drumstick. “Like a one night only treat!”

You blow a raspberry, pulling out a pair of platform sandals to pair with the flowy skirt you’ve chosen for tonight. “We haven’t even practiced it recently, there’s no way.”

Lilith shrugs. “Two talented musicians, I feel like you could pull it off.”

“Even if we could, who says I want to?” You turn to face your friends, sitting on the guest bed. “All of this is because of him, as much as I hate admitting it. He’s the reason. Getting on that stage with him will just add to it.”

“You have too much pride, Y/n. And such a weird complex with Eddie, it’s such old news!” Robin exclaims, standing suddenly. “You got here because of your talent. Sure, he might’ve been the inspiration, might have given you a hand in the very beginning, but you’re here because of you, because of us! Rude of you to discredit your band like that.”

-

Eddie’s POV

“All of this is because of him. He’s the reason…” Eddie walks away before he hears the rest, resisting the urge to put his fist through the wall. I knew it. He thinks, sulking back downstairs. The nightmares, they’re his fault. He’d desperately hoped he’d been wrong, but that’s impossible.

“Hey, you get ‘em?” Steve asks, phone resting between his ear and shoulder. “Car will be here soon.”

“You got us a car? You know we could like, walk, right?”

“Not in that outfit.” Steve eyes his friend, clad in denim and chains with heavy boots despite the heat. “What’s your problem, anyway?”

“Nothin, man. Don’t worry about it.”

Steve shrugs. “Guys! Car’s on its way! Leaving in ten!” He opens the front door, motioning for Eddie to step outside.

-

The car, that is pretty much a limo, much to Eddie’s distaste, pulls around the back of The Hideout. Show goers cloaked in black outfits smoke cigarettes outside as the muted rhythm of Shadow of the Season hums through the building. You try to send him a smile as you exit the car, but he can’t bring himself to return it, instead shoving by waiting fans and into the club without a word.

He heads straight for the bar, ignoring old classmates and the wannabe groupies as he flags down the bartender. “Whiskey, neat. Please.” He has about five minutes of peace before Steve comes looking for him, and he plans to be obliterated by then.

—

chapter XVI

taglist: @children-of-the-grave @five-bi-five @wiildflower-xxx @beebeerockknot @champagne-glamour @xxgothwhorexx @therensistance @chonkzombie @brxkenartt @sidthedollface2 @bibieddiesgf @gaysludge @eddiesguitarskills @poisonedluv @lilpotatobean2 @kellsck | send a message to be added🫶

[kartsie]

You meet the most interesting people in the doctors waiting room

[its-minart]

They’re just very important to me :(( <3

[italiansteebie]

in a shocking turn of events, steve harrington has siblings. quite a few actually. and in another turn, steve isn't even his first name.

in fact, it's his third.

finding this out was a shock, especially since it wasn't from steve that everyone found out.

steve was in the bathroom fixing his hair when the phone rang, and he shouted down to robin who was in the living room to go ahead and answer it.

"hello, harrington residence?"

"uh. can i talk to eli, please?"

robin paused. who the hell is eli?

"um, sorry. there's no eli here..." she trailed unsurely, moving to hang up the phone.

"oh sorry. uh, steve. can i talk to steve? it's his sister, marianne."

robin almost dropped the phone, steve had a sister?

"oh, sure. one second."

she covered the phone with her hand and called out for the boy. "steve! your sisters on the phone!"

she didn't get the response she thought she would, because he called back, "which one?"

"marianne!"

and suddenly he was beside her, grabbing the phone and shooing her away.

while he spoke to his sister, robin made herself busy, grabbing steve's walkie and alerting the rest of the party of the new development.

"guys. steve's name isn't steve, it's eli! and he has siblings! plural!"

the cacophony that this statement caused was almost overwhelming, and by the time steve was done talking to marianne, eddie, dustin, and the rest of the rugrats were at the door begging for explanation.

steve was confused, until eddie looked him in the eye with a smug glint and breathed, "hey, eli." and the time it took for steve's face to turn cherry red was record breaking.

"uh. what? why- uh. why did you call me that?"

robin looked at him blankly, "i answered the phone, dingus. marianne started asking for eli."

steve sighed, "okay so like. here's the thing. Steve is my middle name- well one of them. and i only go by eli around family." the group stared. "we didnt know you had a family." dustin said flatly.

"well i had to get here somehow." steve retorted, and eddie chuckled. "he meant we didn't know you had siblings, eli."

"okay. don't call me that, and yeah. i have six, im the seventh. everyone else is a lot older than me."

his audience was placated with that answer, for now at least.

and when everyone but eddie left, the house was filled with breathy sighs of "eli." followed by soft giggles.

and soon they weaseled out his full name. which turned to be a resounding "Eli Reginald Stefano Harrington. The third."

followed by a shocked,

"The third?!"

[jaebeomsbitch]

Best Friend's Kisses (E.M.)

Summary: After seventeen long years of friendship Eddie decides to fulfill a ten year old promise. Something whispered in the middle of the night. He gives you the best gift of all.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem! reader, really only mentioned like two or three times

Mid-twenties Eddie and reader. Mechanic! Eddie

Warning: Slight smut at the end, talks of insecurity, making out, flirting, swearing, and melancholy reader. MINORS DNI!

AN: This is only my third fic on here. I'm still trying to understand the formatting.

Eddie Munson had been your friend since you met him on the playground in third grade. He had defended you against some asshole kid who tried to take away your toy. Pushed him to the ground and yelled at him, you’d been inseparable since then. You saw each other through the awkward phases of becoming teenagers, watched him struggle through high school, and then eventually graduate.

Now you were both in your mid twenties, still having movie nights at the Munson’s every Friday after your shift at the record shop. You had a chance to leave, to go to college in New York but you turned it down. Not that you told Eddie, you didn’t want him to feel guilty. Truthfully you did stay for him, afraid that he might break without you but, did he really need you?

Eddie was an incredible sweetheart, making friends left and right with whoever would listen to him. It seemed like anyone that had a chance to really talk to him could see beyond the rumor around him. He was surrounded by people who loved him. Sometimes you regret staying, maybe you could’ve become something. Maybe you could’ve gotten a good degree, move your parents out of this shitty town but you were afraid.

The truth being you use Eddie as a crutch, you always had. Hiding behind him, gripping onto the back of his shirt as he yelled at another person for you, cleaning him up after he fought with a guy for groping you, Eddie was your protector in a sense. So you stay, stay in the shitty down you despise, wallow in self pity for being a fucking coward like you always are, and spending your days drinking or getting high with Eddie and his friends.

Today was a special day, Eddie had gotten a job at a mechanic shop. He always said that when he got his first paycheck he’d buy you something really special. He’d jump around from job to job until he found Earl. Earl was the only person who truly gave Eddie a chance.

“Honey, I’m home,” He jokes, walking into the trailer. Already expecting you to be lying on his bed when he comes home like you always are. He walks in shoulders hunched, face covered in grease stains, and hair knotted. “Gonna take a shower, then’ll be back. Got something exciting for you sweetheart,” He smiles, grabbing the pile of clothes you left on the foot of his bed ready for him. “Toodaloo,” he wags his fingers behind him as he exits the room.

Oh god what did he get you? Eddie had a reputation for going overboard, always saying he had to spoil his ‘princess’ because you were his longest friend. Always rambling about how you deserved the world for sticking by his side. Steve and Robin like to tease him, poking fun at your friendship. Always whispering, “you’ve never thought ‘bout it?” with their questioning gazes. It didn’t matter what either of you said, they never believed you. They could see the way the tips of your ears turned red or the way Eddie silently threatened Steve.

“I feel so much better,” He sighs, throwing himself next to you. He cuddles into the pillow, throwing the sheets over himself. “You forgetting something?” You laugh.

“Oh shit, sorry. M’tired,” He mumbles, eyes open wide. “Just go to sleep, Eds. You can give me whatever it is tomorrow,” You whisper. Trying to lull him back to sleep as you massage his scalp. “No, been waiting forever,” He murmurs, eyes blinking slowly. He must’ve been really tired for him to forget dinner. Eddie was never one to skip meals, always saying they were his favorite part of his day. You watch him sleep, he looks so peaceful with his eyes closed, his lips slightly parted. It isn’t until you hear the phone ring that you move your hand from his curls.

“Hello?” You whisper trying not to wake him up. “Oh hey! I was expecting Eddie,” Steve says on the line. “He got home and fell asleep immediately, I was just about to make dinner. What’s up?” You ask.

“You sound so domestic, like a housewife,” Steve chuckles.

“Yeah, yeah. Hardy har har.” You roll your eyes leaning against the wall.

“H-has he given you the present yet?” He asks out of nowhere.

“No, he just said he had something for me then fell asleep two seconds later. I don’t know what he did today but he skipped lunch. You know how unusual that is for him,” you say slightly concerned.

“It’s just… he loves you a lot you know?” Steve says, his voice sounding a little weird.

“Yeah and I love him too,” You reply quickly, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Just… keep that in mind, I’ll see you tomorrow,” He says.

“What wh-” He hangs up. What the fuck was that about? Of course you’d see Steve and the gang tomorrow, it was your weekly get together with the adults of the group but this felt weird. It almost felt like something monumental was supposed to happen today.

You try to shake away the feeling, looking through the fridge to see what they have. Cheese and tortillas, the ones you brought from home because you ‘accidentally’ bought two packs. You make quesadillas like you’ve made all your childhood, they were quick to make and easy for Eddie to eat while he’s half asleep. He had this miraculous way of waking up, eating, and forgetting that he even ate when he woke up.

“Eds… Teddie,” you whisper, gently shaking his shoulder until he groans. He gained the nickname after a long night of calling each other annoying nicknames, you saw your childhood teddy bear and instantly thought of Eddie. Just like it, he brought you comfort and he was also the person to give it to you. Claimed he won it in a claw machine for twenty five cents but you knew he had saved his money for weeks to buy it for you. You'd seen it at the store when your mom dragged you shopping for your sister's new clothes.

“I know, I know, baby. Just eat and you can go back to sleep okay,” You whisper, sitting on the ledge of the bed next to him. He slowly blinks, turning toward you as he scratches his neck languidly.

“Come on, eat,” You show him the plate but he still blinks at you not understanding. So you feed him like a sick child, watching as he takes little bites and tilting his head forward when he needs a drink. “Go back to sleep,” You whisper, kissing him on the forehead as his eyes close again.

Steve was right, it all felt entirely domestic. You’d never treat him, Robin, or any of your other friends like this but Eddie, he was special. Your heart clenches at the idea, always longing for Eddie in a way you know is not possible. Always afraid you’d ruin your seventeen years of friendship, afraid you’d lose the one person who made you feel comfortable. You’d always cuddled with him, he was overly touchy with you to the point that everyone thought you were together. You were always off limits to the other guys in Hawkins, only ever catching the eye of passersby. You fall asleep, thinking about all the should haves and could haves.

The sun filters through the small crack in the curtains hitting you straight in the face. You look around the room, remembering you fell asleep next to Eddie. His arm is around your waist, head buried in your neck, hair tickling your nose. You try to stretch as much as you can while being basically pinned down by Eddie.

“Ten more minutes,” he mumbles, pulling you closer.

“You slept for sixteen hours already,” you snort.

“Not enough,” He nuzzles into your neck.

“You gotta stop that or I’m gonna piss myself,” You say, trying to pry his arm off of you.

“Do it, you wouldn’t dare,” He challenges.

“No I wouldn’t but seriously, I gotta go!” you say more urgently.

“Fine, but you jump right back in bed the minute you finish,” He bargains.

“It’s almost one o’clock, I am not staying in bed,” You protest, still pulling at his arm.

“Either way you still owe me a present,” You say.

“Oh shit, I forgot,” He says, finally letting you go. You run to the bathroom to take care of yourself, peeing and brushing your teeth. You’d had a toothbrush right next to Eddie’s since your first sleepover, he always took charge of changing it out every couple of months.

“So what’s the plan for today?” You ask, rummaging through his closet.

“Eat, present, meet Robin and Nance and 'em,” He says, standing up from the bed to join you. He picks up a pair of black jeans, his favorite because “they fit him the best and they make his ass look good,” according to Eddie. It was warm out, you could already tell by the heat in the trailer so he picks out a cutoff tee that shows off the sides of his ribs if he moves a certain way. He didn’t know this was your favorite shirt of his. He always looked so fucking hot with it on, his tattoos peaking through the side, his midriff exposed at the corner of your eye. Well if he was going to play that game you needed a better outfit, no band tee for you.

You search through your overnight bag for the black lacy cami top that usually leaves him speechless and a pair of shorts. He looks at the outfit in your hand and gulps.

“Great, I’m starving,” You wink at him as you walk by. What the fuck were you doing? What has gotten into you? He might’ve just been thirsty or something. There was no guarantee he even noticed what you grabbed or even cared. When you come out dressed you hear Wayne’s voice to the right of you talking to Eddie about his job.

“Good…afternoon!” You greet them.

“Finally decided to wake up I see,” Wayne says, eyebrow raised. He wasn’t judging you, he liked to tease but he knew how hard Eddie and you worked. He always treated you like a dad, more than your own father. He was protective and caring in his own way.

“Blame Teddie,” You nudge Eds in the ribs.

“You know I need my beauty rest,” He says, flicking his hair.

“Maybe you need to sleep longer,” Wayne’s eyes light up, teasing Eddie.

“Some sleep would do you good,” Eddie says, tone more serious. Wayne had been picking up more shifts lately, you had hardly seen him the last three weeks.

“I’m already as pretty as I’ll get,” Wayne grumbles, not liking Eddie’s concern.

“Weren’t y’all ‘bout to get food, c’mon get,” Wayne pushes you both out, slamming the door behind you two.

“He really is overworking himself,” You sigh as you climb into Eddie’s van.

“I know, that’s why I’ve been taking longer hours at the shop. Just want to take some burden off the old man,” He says, eyes focused on the road. You both sit in silence on the drive to Benny’s, thinking about how stuck you felt.

You wanted to help Wayne in any way you could but you still weren’t making enough money. You rented out a room from your parents because according to them the second you turn eighteen they weren’t supposed to help you anymore. Even if you wanted to leave you couldn’t afford the lease. You remember all those nights with Eddie, dreaming of the day you finally became adults so you could become independent.

“We’re here,” Eddie says, snapping his finger in front of your face.

“Fuck, you scared the shit out of me,” You jump, hand clutching your chest.

“What’s got you so spaced out?” Eddie asks, during the short walk into the diner and into your “designated” booth.

“Nothin’” you say, playing with the salt and pepper shakers.

“C’mon tell me what’s on your mind,” He pushes.

“I just wish I could do something to help Wayne out,” You sigh, not looking up at him.

“Me too,” He says, taking the pepper from your hand and playing with it. You didn’t expect the heavy atmosphere but thankfully it's broken when Doris comes over with your drinks. You always ordered the same thing, every week.

“Here’s your cola’s, just put in your order,” She smiles.

“Thank you!” you beam at the sugary beverage.

“There’s something magical in these sodas I swear,” You moan, as you gulp it down.

Eddie’s looking at you through his eyelashes, tongue swiping at his bottom lip.

“Yeah tastes pretty good,” He observes, voice deeper than normal and pupil’s slightly blown out. You make conversation over your pancake breakfasts, talking about shitty customers and bonding over telling them to fuck off. The tension from earlier is gone as Eddie promises he can scarf down his food in less than ten minutes.

“I never said you couldn’t do it, I just said it wasn’t worth the upset stomach I know you’re gonna have,” You say, walking toward his van.

“Well it was worth it,” He gives you a toothy smile.

“Now for the big event,” He says, as you both get in the van.

“Big event?” You question.

“Got you a surprise, something I promised you a long time ago,” He says, staring into your eyes. There’s something there you don’t recognize, his gaze looking different. You wrack your brain trying to decipher his riddle. What did he promise you? He had made so many promises over the years, pinkies intertwining each other as Gareth made fun of your childish ways.

“Okay…” You look at him suspiciously.

“But, I’m gonna need to blindfold you,” He says, eyes full of mischief.

“Ooh kinky,” you wag your eyebrows at him. His eyes slightly widen before he snaps out of it and grabs a scrap of fabric from his door.

“Turn around for me sweetheart,” He mumbles. You can’t help but slightly shake as he places the opaque fabric over your eyes, his hand brushing the back of your head as he knots it in place. The entire act felt all too intimate, your heavy breaths in the silent van weren’t helping either.

“Can you see anything?” He asks, presumably waving a hand in your face as you turn to sit straight.

“Nothing, scouts honor,” You say, raising two fingers.

“You weren’t even in the scouts,” He laughs, turning the key in the ignition. You don’t know what direction you’re heading in.

“Oh my god are you gonna murder me? Been playing the long con? Get me comfortable so I go without protest,” You tease.

“Oh yeah, gonna chop you up in the forest in the name of satan,” He says dramatically.

“Sounds ‘bout right,” You laugh, as he pulls to a stop.

“We’re here, just give me a second” He says, opening the door and rounding the car to open yours less than a second later.

“Wrap your arms around my neck princess,” He says, carrying you out of the van and placing you on your feet.

“Woah,” You grab onto his arm as the dizziness sets in.

“You alright?” He asks, concerned laced in his voice.

“Yeah just give me a second. M’dizzy” You say, gripping harder onto his bicep.

“Take your time,” He says.

“I’m ready,” You say after a minute. “Okay, just follow my voice. It’s a trust exercise,” you can hear the smile in his voice as he leads you. “There’s like three steps, just take ‘em slow. Here’s the first one,” He says, stopping so you can get your footing. He leads you up the last two, “Before you take your blindfold off… just, I don’t know. J-just I don’t even know how to explain it,” He says, voice full of nervousness.

“Eds, I feel like I've been blindfolded for an hour. If this is another prank I will fucking kill you,” You threaten.

“Not a joke, promise,” He says, “Ready?”

“Been ready,” You answer. He takes your hand putting something cold in it and leaning over your shoulder to see the knot. You blink at the sudden light, trying to grab your bearings.

“W-what?” You asked confused. He’d placed a key in your hand, you were standing in front of a house.

“We always promised we’d move out together, it was time for me to bank it in,” He smiles.

“Wait, what?” You still couldn’t believe it. It had to be some sort of joke, he probably found this key on the floor.

“C’mon open the door,” He nods his head in the direction of the lock.

“You’re serious?” You ask, eyes wide in shock.

“As a heart attack. C’mon! I’ve been waiting for months to show you it,” He says, pressing you to open the lock. Your hands shake as you approach the door, the key surprisingly sliding in and turning. Oh no he wasn’t lying, this wasn’t an epic prank. You open the door to an empty living room, his hand guiding you inside.

“I haven’t picked out the furniture yet, thought you’d want to do it together,” He stammers, as you silently scan over the room. It was nice, the entrance opened to the living room, to the left was an open floor plan kitchen, and to the right a bedroom.

“T-together?” You stutter. You were speechless.

“I know how much you hate living at your folks home and you know we made that promise that we’d move out together when we had the money,” He says scratching the back of his neck. He was nervous at your lack of response, did you hate the house? Maybe he should have consulted you first.

“So you and me, living together?” You question, taking in every single detail.

“Yes, just you and me. Maybe Wayne but I doubt he’ll leave the trailer. He’ll finally have a bedroom again though,” He trails off.

“Holy shit, this is for real?” You ask again, walking around the living room toward the kitchen.

“Oh my god how many times do I have to say yes. Did I tie that blindfold too tight? Not enough oxygen in your brain” he chuckles at his joke. You jump into his arms, legs straddling his waist. You hold onto him like a monkey as he grabs your thighs.

“This is the best present ever! Holy shit, Eddie,” You say hugging him close.

“Least I can do for your long years of serving me loyally,” He laughs, walking deeper into the house. You slide down his body as he pulls you through, giving you the grand tour. The house had three bedrooms total, apparently he got an insane deal on the property. Someone from the shop got a huge opportunity in Indianapolis and was trying to get rid of it. They passed down the title to Eddie instead of going through a broker.

“Now this, I think may be your favorite part,” He says, pulling you toward the back door. Your hands entwined, which was not unusual for you both. He opens the door to a beautiful garden, the previous owners must’ve loved this place. It was full of flowers and fruit trees.

“There’s a perfect shady spot to read your books, we could put a table out there and have breakfast together,” He says.

“Holy shit Eddie, it’s perfect,” You say, pulling him in for another hug. He’s bent at an awkward angle to meet your height. Without thinking you peck him on the lips before letting him go and walking down the steps to the garden. You look back at him still frozen in that weird position.

“What’s wrong?” You ask oblivious to what you had just done.

“D-did you just kiss me?” He asks, running down the stairs to meet you halfway down the yard.

“T-that was-” You stutter, realizing what happened. He towers over you, hand tilting your face upward as he kisses you again.

“This okay?” he mumbles into your lips. You move your hands to his shoulders, nails digging into the skin. “Mhm,” You agree, trying to pull him closer. His tongue swipes against your bottom lip with a groan, his kisses becoming more desperate. You open your mouth inviting him in, his tongue mapping out your mouth as you moan. “F-fuck,” You breathe out as he pulls away, kissing down your neck. You’d never been touched like this by Eddie, his hands running all over you anguished for a piece of skin to grab onto. He leans his forehead against yours, as you both catch your breath, his hands under your shirt on your hips.

“W-what was that,” You stammer.

“Been wanting to do that since middle school,” His breath ghosts over your face as he leans back to look at you, skin flushed and chest rising rapidly.

“Since fourth grade,” You laugh, throwing your arms around his neck to pull him down to your level.

“That long?” He says incredulously.

“You were my first crush,” You admit, face flushing at the confession.

“You were mine!” He says, voice raising in astonishment.

“So we could’ve been doing that for fuckin’ years?” He says more to himself than you.

“Guess so,” You shrug your shoulders.

“No wonder everyone thought we were dating. You made the goo goo eyes at me I made the goo goo eyes at you,” He laughs.

“That was your fault! You always had an arm around my shoulder or were holding my hand. Anyone would’ve thought we were together!” You reply.

“As if you didn’t love it. Don’t think I didn’t see the way you look at me when I wear this shirt,” He teases.

“So you admit you did it on purpose?” You ask, smacking his chest.

“Course gotta make you all nervous,” He pecks you on the lips.

“Well don’t think I don’t notice all the times you stare at my boobs especially when I wear this,” You motion to your outfit.

“I fucking knew it! You’re a temptress y’know that?” He growls, pulling you in for another kiss.

“Anyway, I was always touching you because I didn’t want anyone hanging around my girl,” He mumbles at his admission, neck and cheeks flushed.

“Your girl?” You question, eyebrow raised.

“Always have been, always will be,” He reveals.

“You don’t know how many girls I had to fight off,” You chuckle.

“No way! I had to fight off half the town. You don’t even know how many fist fights I got into because of you,” he says.

“Girls are a lot more vicious. You know there was always a rumor going around about you,” You divulge.

“Oh yeah?” He motions for you to go on. “Always heard you had a big dick,” You reveal before hiding in his chest. You feel his chest vibrate as he laughs, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He teases.

“Yes I would,” You say, gaining confidence. You look up at him, the way his chocolate brown eyes are swallowed by his pupils. He pulls you in for another kiss, this one faster and more aggressive, it almost felt primal.

“Finally!” Robin cheers from the door, Eddie groans at the sound. He forgot he called them while you were changing. Steve, Robin, and Nancy scramble down the stairs giving you both congratulations. Gareth, Jeff, and, Grant arriving a few minutes later. Eddie’s annoyance dies down when he sees your face loving the way you laugh around your friends. You spend the rest of the afternoon drinking and eating take out with them. Nancy had brought a board game, this felt like home. Having them all here, Eddie's arm wrapped around you as he kisses your temple. You were finally home.

Eddie was finally yours and you were finally his. All your internal struggles and insecurities paid off. You had won the big prize at the fair! You spend the night on a blow up mattress with Eddie, eventually popping it because he has no control. After years of waiting you both felt more than desperate, clawing at each other's clothes.

“Shit- shit shit! M’close,” You moan.

“Fuck me too!” his eyes roll to the back of his head, thrusting in and out at a brutal pace.

“Say you’re mine, wanna hear it,” He begs.

“M’yours, always yours,” You claw at his back. “Yes yes yes yes,” He rambles until you’re both seeing stars. He pulls out of you, pulling you to his sweaty chest.

“This has to be a dream,” He exhales, staring at the ceiling. You kiss his chest in response. It was all too real. Your dreams had become reality. You finally had Eddie in your arms. You were his and he was yours just like you both promised when you were children.

[spacebubblehomebase]

"I promise you, my dearest brother, never again will we be lonely. Never again will we be without a home. We have each other now and I'll always be here. As you were there for me."

I am not ashamed to admit that I repeatedly daydream about how, to a much younger Tim, having a baby brother is an actual wish come true! These two would grow well in each other's care as they would be able to rely on the other, if given the chance. They'd be quite the fun team! I am also still proud of my essay about why these two birdies have so much in common and ya'll should read it. >=D (It's really old though. Somewhere in the pits of Tumblr hell, it's been cooking. Dare I even say, boiling.) They are my baby boys and these boys are brothers, your honor!

-Bubbly💙