#but also Eddie being patient and kind with Steve not knowing shit

[princess-josephina]

Fruity Four Advent Calendar 1-12: Christmas lights

Thought I'd jump straight (HAHA) onto the first wagon of @unclewaynemunson 's Fruity Four Advent Calendar train. Hope it's ok this one's just Steddie, I couldn't fit in the girls without making it ridiculously long and chaotic.

UPD: now also on AO3.

"Steve? What the hell are you doing?"

Eddie's back from the grocery store with some food and finds Steve back on the roof, taking down the enormously long lights string they'd just spent 2 hours putting up (a little too close to potentially breaking their necks several times). Steve turns to look down at him and wobbles for a second, giving Eddie a mini heart attack before he catches his balance again.

"It's broken!" He shouts, sounding frustrated. "It's not lighting up. Guess it might have died, from like, lack of use? We hadn't used this one in years."

"Oh my god, Steve, are you serious?!" Eddie yells back at him. "Leave that and get back down here."

Eddie grabs the cable, sighs with relief when Steve's safely reached the bottom of the ladder, and then follows the cable's length until he reaches the end, lying on the garage floor by the power socket. He crouches next to it. Steve leans over his shoulder to see what he's doing.

"Did you check that the socket's working?" Eddie inquires, and Steve rolls his eyes.

"Ugh… Yes?" He gestures at a small lamp on the counter nearby. "Tried with a lamp. It worked, so the socket's fine." He crosses his arms on his chest, defensive. "I'm not an idiot, Eddie."

"Never said you were, Stevie," Eddie glances at him and replies in that strange, patient tone Steve's never sure what to do with. "Just making sure." He fiddles with the plug in his hand. "Probably just blown fuses. These things die all the time. You got tools here?"

"Like what?" Steve asks, and feels foolish when he understands, a moment later, what Eddie meant.

"I need something small. Like a tiny flathead? Tweezers would work too."

Miraculously, Steve actually produces a dusty toolbox from somewhere in the back of the garage and hands it over to Eddie, who quickly rummages through it and then works to open up the lights plug, sticking out his tongue in concentration as he always does. Steve doesn't ask questions, figuring he shouldn't distract Eddie, but Eddie motions for him to come closer anyway and starts talking.

"See these two tiny things?" He says, and Steve has to lean over to see, resting his hand on Eddie's shoulder for support. Eddie keeps explaining, simple stuff that sounds obvious, really, but no judgement or condescension in his tone. "Those are electrical fuses. They're like… safety measures, to protect the whole cable from overcurrent, you know, so your house doesn't burn down. And yeah," Eddie holds the tiny thing between the fingers and raises it closer to his face. "See how it's all brown inside? Yeah, this baby's dead, rest in peace." Eddie quickly extracts the other fuse, too, and shoves them both in his jeans pocket. "I'm gonna drive to the hardware store and get the replacements." He grins, holding his arm out to Steve from the floor, and Steve grabs it to pull him up to his feet.

"So that's gonna… fix the lights?"

"Well yeah, if it's just the fuses, if that doesn't work then the problem's somewhere in the cable itself, I'd need to borrow a voltage tester from Wayne and…" Eddie stops talking, because Steve is giving him a strange, open-mouthed, awestruck look. "What?"

Steve looks away, shakes his head and laughs.

"Nothing. That's just… awesome. That you know all that. I thought we'd have to buy new lights."

"Jesus, rich people." Eddie rolls his eyes and then narrows them at Steve, his expression somewhere between exasperated and amused. "Do you really just buy new shit every time the old one breaks?"

"Yes?" Steve shrugs and rubs his chin, at least having the decency to look sheepish. "I mean, unless it's big stuff like a fridge or a TV, then my father gets a handyman to have a look…"

"…Who spends 15 minutes intensely looking at its insides and then tells you some super complicated detail needs replacing and it will cost you 80 bucks, when ninety percent of the time it just needs a new power cable?" Eddie grins. "Wayne worked as a handyman for some time, I know the drill. You know, if the rich people of Hawkins were to willingly let the town's satanic freak into their homes, I might consider a career change. Easiest money in the world, apparently."

It's just a short drive to the hardware store and back, and 30 minutes later Eddie's replacing the fuses while Steve sits right by him on the garage floor and watches his hands work, fascinated. As if Eddie was casting some high level wizarding spell, not doing basic household repairs every kid of Eddie's income level learned when they were 10 years old.

"Okay, fingers crossed, Stevie. Here we go."

Eddie plugs the cable into the socket and they glance at each other briefly before jumping up at the same time and racing outside, Eddie slipping on some ice by the garage entrance and Steve catching him, and they both laugh, arms still around each other, as they look up to see Steve's house all brightly illuminated with multicolor lights in the winter dusk.

"You did it!" Steve shouts, shaking Eddie's shoulders and grinning at him, delighted and overjoyed in a way that makes Eddie's stupid heart melt with fondness. "You saved Christmas, Eddie!"

"Uh. I just fixed some stupid lights. No biggie," Eddie flushes, not knowing what to do with himself when Steve looks at him like that. He glances back up at the lights and twirls Steve's scarf between his fingers because he needs to keep his hands busy with something, so they don't do something stupid. Like grab Steve's cheeks, all bright rosy from the cold.

"That's just it", Steve's voice is quieter now, and he keeps looking at Eddie intently. "You always make everything better and act like it's no big deal."

What the hell is Eddie supposed to say to that? Before his brain can even comprehend the words, suddenly it's Steve's hands bracketing his own head, fingers warm against his freezing ears; shit, Eddie might never get to see the best Christmas he'd probably have had in his entire life, because he'll be dead of a heart attack. "You're fucking amazing, Eds, you gotta know that." And then Steve's staring at his lips, and hey, maybe Eddie doesn't need to die.

Feeling stupidly brave, Eddie tugs on Steve's scarf, and Steve moves easily, no resistance. Two clouds of breath mingle into one in the cold air between them. "Stevie. Sweetheart," he murmurs; Steve bites his lip and ducks his head at the endearment, god yes, please let him be right about this. Eddie leans in, heart thundering in his chest.

Steve's lips are cold, but the inside of his mouth is deliciously warm, tastes like cigarettes and mulled wine they'd shared earlier. Eddie shivers and swallows back an embarrassing moan, and thinks fuck, maybe Jesus doesn't actually hate the gays, because Steve is kissing him back, and if that's not an early Christmas miracle, Eddie doesn't know what is. And goddamn, that boy knows how to kiss. Eddie's blood feels like an electric current, and he's all weak in the knees and wobbly, all that stuff straight out of romance novels he never thought was real.

It's almost dark outside, but the Christmas lights are so bright they are both in plain view here, in Steve's front yard, and yet it seems like Steve doesn't even care, doesn't stop kissing him and doesn't hurry at all when he walks them backwards into the garage, until Eddie's back hits the wall; that makes Eddie jump in surprise, and they finally break apart.

Steve looks at him with the brightest smile Eddie's ever seen, all pure wonder and fondness, and Eddie's glad to have the wall for support. He's literally swooning, dammit.

"Just so you know…" Eddie giggles, knuckles brushing Steve's cheek, no longer cold to the touch. "You're fucking amazing too, Stevie. Just a different... area of expertise, so to speak."

[steviewashere]

Loving Who You Are, Not What You Offer

Rating: Teen and Up CW: Referenced Rape/Non-Con (Not Between Main Pairing), Panic Attack (Sort of) Tags: Post Season 4, Post Canon, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers, Asexual Steve Harrington, Coming Out, Protective Eddie Munson, Patient Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington Has Sexual Trauma, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Eddie Munson is a Sweetheart, Slight Comphet Steve Harrington, Dialogue Heavy

Okay, honestly, this one comes from a more personal place. So I'm gonna have to ask y'all to be kind about this one. I've recently come to terms that I'm somewhere on the asexual spectrum and I just needed to apply that somewhere, so. Also, writing from Eddie's point of view rather than Steve's helps me, so I don't wanna hear shit about it.

Read the content warning one more time before you continue and let me know if I missed anything <3

🩵—————🩵 There was an uncovered layer to Steve Harrington, that much Eddie has deduced.

It’s a subtle, blink and you wouldn’t notice, kind of thing. But even this uncovered layer had layers. And he’s not sure if anybody else has caught on. He was able to catalog several odd things about Steve that just…didn’t match his character. Not at all. Which has led, though it started casually and accidentally, to Eddie making a whole new doctrine.

The Odd Steve Behavior Doctrine. With a few noticeable bullet points:

-Don’t touch him without asking -Don’t ask him about his sex life -Don’t talk about sex around him, at all -He especially doesn’t like casual intimacy -Earning Steve’s trust is like climbing up a rocky mountain

He follows these rules he’s made for himself. Tries to keep himself casual and known in Steve’s presence. And hopes that it’s enough to get Steve to crack, even the slightest. Maybe he’ll say why these things bother him, Eddie initially thought.

Maybe I’ll just keep my mouth shut and let Steve come to me in his own time, he eventually noted. Because he doesn’t need to be in everybody’s business all the time, which is a typical thing for Eddie. He likes being nosy and involved with the lives of people around him. He likes to think of himself as the person his friends can come to, no matter the reason or the intensity of their need. And maybe part of it is selfish, too. He can admit that to himself. That he, in turn, wants to be everything Steve needs at the end of the day. Bearing the brunt of all that Steve has going wrong or right in his life.

Things come to Eddie little by little from Steve’s mouth. None that answer to any of the bullets in his doctrine, but things that are important, too. Like confessions, moments that Steve saw as flaws.

“I called Jonathan Byers a queer in 1983. That’s why he beat me up. I deserved it,” he told Eddie one day. Casually, complete nonchalance, as easy as discussing the weather. Steve had been cradling a mug of coffee at their local diner. Picked at the pancake platter he ordered all for himself. And, at Eddie’s coming out (“I’m gay, Steve,” Eddie admitted quietly mere moments before. He brought up love lives. Was poking around what was going on with Steve’s. And casually, he realizes, it just came up.), Steve took a sharp inhale. Confessed this bomb of a statement. Grimaced at the memory that must’ve played out behind his eyes. Then, murmured, “But thank you for trusting me with that, Eddie. I just need you to know that I was somebody you wouldn’t before. In case that…In case maybe you wanna take back that trust. Wouldn’t blame you, that’s all I’m saying.”

Eddie sat in that for a good several moments. As they slurped at their room temperature, rather mediocre mugs of Joe. “I still trust you,” he eventually said, “You don’t have to keep proving yourself to me, you know?” Steve merely shrugged. And that was confessional number one.

Following that, Steve mentioned being tortured by Russians. Which, Eddie thought that was reason for him not liking touch. It may be part of the reason, but there was something to Steve’s eyes that told him that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Eddie didn’t ask. Steve didn’t elaborate. Tortured by Russians, beat up by his peers, chewed up like a dog toy, the list in Eddie’s mind of All the Bad Things That Happened to Steve was growing longer and longer by the day. But Steve was telling him things, letting him in. It was a start.

So, Eddie had two catalogs all about Steve to keep up with in his mind. All the Bad Things and The Do’s and Don’ts of Steve Harrington.

Being his friend was an earned thing and it was a pleasant thing, but it also broke Eddie’s heart bit by bit. He’d never admit to this, but he had to realize that at some point. He wondered if Robin ever felt the same. Maybe even Nancy. But he wasn’t going to ask. Because who asks something like that? Eddie won’t be the first, but it won’t be the last somebody thinks that, he’s sure.

Even though Steve was breaking through his own mold, cracking his mask, shattering mirrors of who he was, none of it actually answered any of Eddie’s don’ts regarding him. None of it eased him. None of it lended itself in any sort of way. If anything, all of these other greater things only added to the incessant itch that couldn’t be scratched under Eddie’s skin.

Who are you really, Steve, Eddie asked himself all too much.

He doesn’t want to upset the poor guy.

But he’ll never know, he’s coming to realize. It’s just not in the cards.

———

It comes to a head, because of course it does. And he didn’t mean for it to, but it just happens.

They’re hanging out at Steve’s new-ish apartment. Lounging around on his, frankly, ugly floral second-hand couch. It’s musty and not all that soft on the cushions, lumpy and shifting. But they make do with it as they have a movie marathon. Steve is sprawled between the far right and middle cushion, Eddie is leaning against the left arm rest, legs crossed one over the other, head in his hand. Then, his stomach grumbles all too loudly in a room full of droning noise.

He leans into Steve’s space slightly. Reaches out a hand and places it on his thigh. Squeezes Steve’s leg and opens his mouth to ask if he’s hungry. But, for some reason, Steve tenses to the extremes underneath his touch. His hands grip harshly to the back of the couch and the throw pillow near his head. Legs going taut and straining against Eddie’s touch.

“Steve?” Eddie calls softly.

“Stop,” musters from Steve. It’s tiny. Cracking in half. Brings tears to his eyes immediately.

Eddie furrows his eyebrows, though. “What?” He asks. “What am I doing?” There’s a thrum in his chest. Something unsettling and obtuse. It pulsates and shifts and bitters his throat the way acidic bile does.

With force Eddie’s only seen in the Upside Down, Steve latches onto Eddie’s wrist. Tight enough that Eddie has to bite back a yelp of pure and unadulterated pain. Nearly enough to break the bone that Steve’s thumb digs into. He shoves Eddie away with just his grip. Scrambles to the far corner of the couch, legs tucked in close to his chest, knees colliding with his chin. He wraps his arms around himself.

And then, the softest noise breaks through between them. It’s quiet, yet somehow louder than the tape playing. It works its way under Eddie’s skin. Into his stomach, through his throat, and into his brain. Steve’s gentle, manufactured cries. Stifled behind his lips. In real time, Eddie watches him shatter. The way his eyes gloss over, his cheeks going splotchy with the sounds, his shoulders shake.

“Woah, hey,” Eddie whispers, reaching out again. He wants to ground him. Wants to comfort the way he knows how. How he soothes Wayne’s panic episodes. And how he calms Dustin down from lashing out. Or when Robin talks herself in circles. Wants to just…be there. “Hey, Steve, are you—“

“Don’t touch me,” Steve bites out, “I don’t have anything—You—I don’t want to.”

Immediately, Eddie drops his hand to the now unoccupied middle cushion. The fabric meeting his palm. Going cold. Warm where Steve had just been relaxed. And Eddie—he may be a dastardly fool most days, dumb as rock the others, three time senior—knows exactly what he did, now that he’s focused on every small movement he makes. He’s perceptive to the way Steve is leaning as far away as possible. How crumpled he makes his body. Eddie notices how much space has been created and where his hands lie.

I’m so stupid, he thinks, that’s like rule one. 

Don’t touch him without asking.

“Fuck,” Eddie softly curses. He pulls himself away. To his own corner of the sofa. And swallows the bit of panic that rises in him. His eyes drift away from Steve’s fearful face, to his own hands. Twitches them in his lap, against his knees. Wants to cut them off. Throw them into a blender. Feed them to the birds. Something. But he forces himself to look back up.

Steve trembles against the couch. In a way that is not the Steve Harrington that Eddie met when fighting other worldly creatures. That dismantles everything and anything he once knew.

“Shit. I—Steve, I’m so sorry,” he quickly apologizes. “I’m sorry. I know that you don’t like that unless people ask. And I just—I wasn’t thinking, I promise. It was just—You know, I’m touchy with all my friends and I was just going to see if you wanted me to make some dinner or order some food. I was just trying to get your attention, y’know, and I didn’t mean anything by it. I promise, I swear. I swear on my mom, Steve. I would never—“ He takes a deep, gasping breath. Coughing on the inhale. His hands shake, now. And he doesn’t think he’s ever seen fear paint itself so clear and bright on a person’s face, but he’s looking into it. Steve’s pallor and yet still red cheeks. And his all consuming, though far away eyes. His built body, yet childlike hold.

A part of Eddie wants to cry, too. I’ve fucked up, he panics internally, I’ve fucked everything up and now he’s not going to be my friend and he was such a good friend, too. Why did I have to do that? I just wanted to make sure he was fed, too. That’s it. He’s such a good friend and now I’ve fucked it and I just—I—

“You wanted to make me food?” Steve quietly croaks.

Eddie, in an instant, nods. “Yes!” He exclaims in his own panic. “Yes, I swear, Steve. I wasn’t thinking when I touched your thigh. And I—What do you want to eat, Stevie? Say the word, I’ll find a way to make it or…something.”

His hands twitch in his lap once more. Thumbs catching on the ripped holes of his jeans. The threads soft and wearing away under his skin. The scratchy, dry bit of skin that peers through. He doesn’t blink. Doesn’t think he breathes. Just makes eye contact with Steve. Which, surely, is overbearing and unnecessary and…I’m probably freaking him out more, calm down. He takes a deep breath, blows it away from him, and lowers his shoulders from where he didn’t know they were hiking.

“It was nothing more than to check-in. I promise,” he reiterates, murmuring.

Steve, finally, draws away from himself. With his own breath. He unravels his legs, stretching them out to their full length onto the middle cushion. Arms going limp at his sides. Hands resting against his thighs. His eyes dart—left and right and left and right—between Eddie’s. Nods once. “Okay,” he meekly musters. “Okay, Eds. Can…We can order pizza. There should be a menu on the kitchen counter. I’ll—“

Eddie stands from his own cushion before Steve gets the chance to. “Nope, don’t worry about it. Just try and relax, yeah? I’ll go put in an order, pay for it. You…Pepperoni pizza?” Steve just nods, tentative and surprised. “Cool,” Eddie states, “I’ll be right back.”

The phone call goes by quick and he easily sets the money out for when the driver gets there. But he’s not entirely sure his presence is going to be a warm welcome in the living room again. He gets a glass of water anyway because, surely, Steve will tell him to go if he isn’t wanted.

Steve’s in the same position as when Eddie left. Though, his gaze isn’t entirely there. Somewhere beyond Eddie’s shoulder. But there’s a gleam, a little shine that tells him that Steve isn’t gone from himself, not yet at least. He sits back down in his own cushion. Glass on the coffee table. And turns, keeping himself tight to his own body.

“Hey, Steve?” He calls out, watching as Steve blinks sluggishly back into his body. “I—uh—I got you some water, if you want it. Drinking water usually helps me feel better after…After a down moment, y’know?”

Next to him, Steve hums. He sighs. “Can I trust you with something?” He asks, forgoing the water entirely.

Eddie nods in haste. “Of course, Steve. If you have something you have to tell me, I can keep things to myself,” he states. Which is one hundred percent true. He may be a loud guy, screaming and yelling when need be. May be somebody that fills a room with noise, if only so he doesn’t succumb to the silence. But he knows how to keep a secret. It’s sort of a survival tactic, is what he’d say if somebody asked him about it. He’s kept secrets about his parents, things behind lock and key in his ribcage. Granted, he may forget, but he won’t say a damn thing. And he surely won’t spill Steve’s beans, especially with the way he looks to him in open earnest.

“Okay,” Steve responds. His legs fall away from the couch and he rights himself into being completely upright. Ramrod straight. On the far right cushion. Mirroring Eddie’s tight pose. Feet flat to the floor. His eyes trace something on the coffee table, cracks probably, but Eddie can’t exactly tell. “Okay. I…You’re going to be the second person I’ve ever told this to, alright? And I—I figured that it would come out sooner or later, but you’re gonna need an explanation for whatever the fuck just happened. And I don’t know how else to talk about it without just going all-in. So…I just need you to listen. Can you do that?”

“Yeah,” Eddie murmurs, “you have the floor, Stevie. My mouth is shut.”

Steve nods slow, a ghost of a smile on his face. Breathes in through his nose, it traps in his chest and comes out as one gentle gust. He swallows heavily, words seemingly rising in his throat. And that smile falls away just as it sprung.

“In middle school, before I was popular and whatever, I had a group of friends that I ran with. We were all nerds, I won’t deny that. And—And I would involve myself with some of their interests, if only because I wanted to fit in,” Steve explains first. His eyes roam again. Not picking a spot, but Eddie won’t fault him for it. He continues, voice fracturing, “One of the guys I was closer to, we’ll call him R, he was interested in this club. It was kind of like a tech club? Focused on radios and channels and math and…Things that I was actually kind of good with, but needed a better understanding on. So, I figured, I’d sign up for this club. Go with my…friend.”

Before he goes on to say more, he leans over for the glass of water on the table. Holds it gently between his hands. Doesn’t take any sips. The condensation droplets roll down his fingers. Cold most likely keeping him grounded to the room.

Eddie can already tell he’s not going to like wherever this part of Steve’s past leads him. How Steve has to take breaks, it upsets Eddie greatly. He’s not sure he’s entirely prepared for whatever confession comes from Steve this time, but he’ll digest it. Get through this with the guy and figure out all he needs to.

Another steadying breath. And Steve’s voice is like gravel, but he keeps talking.

“It was a weekly thing. And we’d go in. Be taught about gadgets and whats-its and whatnot. R was there, though. He was always there. We’d talk, laugh, shoot the shit. Normal friend bullshit.

“One day, though. One day, something was…different. He looked at me. There was a sense of hunger. Want. A drive to him that I’d never seen before. He’d lean more into my space, drop his voice lower, whisper right into my ear.” Steve blinks in rapid succession. His breath keeps stuttering. And something in Eddie’s stomach sours. He goes, though. Pushing through. “I told him to stop. To knock it off. Kept telling him that I was trying to learn. That I wanted to focus. And he just…He wouldn’t,” he explains.

Eddie spikes with great unease and anger. Never at Steve. But whoever this so called ‘friend’ is, Eddie wants to maybe kill him. He keeps quiet, though. Steve wanted to share and he needs this out. And Eddie can listen. He can, even if it makes him want to cry, too.

“I thought that’s all it would be,” Steve speaks quietly, “Just him talking to me in this new tone. With this new level to his voice. But…I’m kind of stupid, I guess, so of course that’s not all he’d do. The next week at our club meeting, he got closer than before. He began to…” Steve stops and swallows. A single, silent tear crawls down his face. It doesn’t even phase him, the way crying usually does. It’s just background at this point. “…He began to—to touch me in ways I’d never been. And I—I told him to stop, I remember doing that. I remember putting distance between us. And saying no and saying stop and shoving his hands off me. But he just—“ A broken little sob. “—He was supposed to be my friend,” he states, small as a child.

The sobs rack Steve in such a way that his whole body is jolting with it. Nearly toppling off the couch. He chugs the water between cries, but doesn’t move from his spot. Tight and closed off within his own body.

“I wanted him to just be my friend,” Steve continues a moment later, nasally and choked. “But he didn’t want that. He kept overpowering every single decision I made. His breath on my earlobe. And his hands on my thigh, on my…He fucking touched my crotch. Tried to coerce me into having sex,” he spits. “That guy…He made me feel fucking disgusting. About my own body. About things I loved. About sex,” Steve growls, “Made me sort of dislike all those things, too.”

Eddie, for how loud he can be, is completely silent for once. Unable to form words. Not sure how to comfort. And if he could comfort, isn’t sure if that’s something he can do the way he wants to. He can’t touch. Can’t do what he’d normally do. And his body aches to take care of Steve or to simply hold him. To be…well, to be a friend. But that’s not something Steve can exactly trust.

He feels sick to his stomach.

The last bit of water is sipped at slowly, as Steve comes down. Then, he turns to face Eddie. Making direct and purposeful eye contact. “It’s not your fault, that I reacted like I did,” he states lowly. “And it’s not your fault that I close up when you want to talk about sex. Or you wanna talk about all that intimate shit. It’s something with me. Like something’s broken. It’s like a deep crack in me, Eddie.

“And I just wanted to clear up all that. Explain what I can, I guess.” He snakes out a tentative hand. It’s shaking and hesitant, but it still lands softly on the back of Eddie’s right. Squeezes. “But thank you for taking notice. And being concerned. And for apologizing. I feel safe with you, Eddie. I trust you a lot. Which is like—That’s probably highest honors you could earn with me.” And he chuckles slightly. It’s not a humorous thing, but it’s not exactly humorless either.

Eddie lets himself soak in this, though. Smiling warmly back at Steve. Because he needs it. They both need it. He murmurs, “Thank you for trusting me with that, Steve. That wasn’t easy and I’m proud of you for speaking up about it. I’m glad to be somebody you can trust.”

With another exhale, Steve relaxes back into the couch. His hand doesn’t move from Eddie’s. “I also want to say that you’re allowed to talk about your relationships with dudes,” he states quietly. “Seriously, I don’t mind. But just…Just check in with me? Before you do?”

“Of course,” he agrees instantly. “I’ll keep that in my noggin, promise, Stevie.”

Ghost of a smile on Steve’s face again. “Thanks,” he whispers.

A lull floats in the conversation. Steve removes his hand, watching as his fingers twitch, and there’s a little uptick to the corners of his mouth. Something pleased and almost…reverent at the way he looks at his hand.

Before Eddie can get up to change out the movie, he heaves a little sigh. And says, “Y’know, if you ever need any sort of physical comfort, need to talk about this, or you just need somebody to tell you that you’re okay, you can lean on me. Don’t even need to ask, really. I’m all arms.”

“I’ll think about it, Eds. This has been enough for me."

——— Steve comes out to him at the same diner Eddie did only a few years later.

It’s 1990, Eddie’s twenty-four and Steve’s freshly twenty-three. He has a certain spark to him. A sparkle to his smile and a pep in his step. And Eddie’s happy to see him happy.

Happy to eventually call their relationship romantic. Happy to share spots on the couch, curled around each other. Happy to kiss him slow and sweet or not at all, just able to gaze over coffee mugs and across the room and when Steve thinks he can’t be seen.

Eddie’s just happy to be allowed this love that fills his chest and in the colder, vacant spots of their lives.

But he realizes he still hasn’t heard everything about Steve. He gives it time, though. Because the second most important thing to Steve—first just being there for him—is patience.

The next of their chats happens when things get heated on the couch.

Soft kisses turn hungry, carnivorous. Hands wander over heated skin. Steve’s fingers against the hem of Eddie’s t-shirt. But his hands shake. And Eddie places his own hands off to the sides of the couch, pulling himself away before things can get any farther than they already are.

“Hey,” he softly speaks, “Steve, we don’t—I’m okay with just kissing right now. We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

Steve stops next to him. Tensing up only slightly. “Are you—You’re sure about that?” His voice is so tiny, so unlike him. And though Eddie’s heard this tone before, it still breaks him.

He says easily, “I don’t want you to be scared of our first time, baby. It’s okay if we need to take things slow.”

He watches as Steve heavily swallows. “And if I asked if we never had sex?”

Eddie eyes him for a moment. Not wearily. With something like subtle pride. “Is that what you want?” He asks in turn. “Would that make you more comfortable?”

Subtly, Steve nods. “I—“ He sighs sadly. “I’ve been thinking about how to talk to you about it. With girls, I never even liked it. I just did it because it…There was something to say about a guy who could have sex with anybody he wants. But I also…I don’t know.” He shrugs as if trying to dismiss it, but Eddie doesn’t like that.

He sets a hesitant, soft hand on Steve’s shoulder. Squeezes when he doesn’t move away. “If you never want to have sex again, I’d be okay with that. I’d be more than okay with that,” he states assuringly. “You being happy and comfortable is what matters most to me. Not sex. I don’t give a shit about sex, not when I get to see you every day, smile on your face, and your eyes shiny and beautiful.”

Steve gives another small sigh, but the smile he has doesn’t waver. “Okay. I—Eddie, I don’t think I want to have sex,” he admits quietly. It shakes from his throat, but it’s still confident the way it lands between them. “It just doesn’t feel good to me. And I—I don’t want to force myself to do it. And it wouldn’t be fair to you, either.”

Another affirmative squeeze to Steve’s shoulder. “Alright, baby. Then we don’t have sex,” he agrees softly. “And if you ever change your mind—not that I’m forcing you to—then I’m okay with what you want.” He scoots himself closer so that their bodies are one single line, warm against each other. Reiterating, “Your happiness and comfort matter the most to me.”

With both of his hands, Steve wraps Eddie’s free one. Traces the veins on the back of his hand. Toys with his fingers. “We can still kiss, though,” he states quietly. “Maybe I want a kiss.”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Mhm,” Steve hums. So, he closes the gap. A wet peck to Eddie’s lips. Soft and venturing. One that last only a few seconds. He draws back with the softest smile adorned on his features. Murmurs, “Thank you for hearing me out on this. And for understanding. And for accepting this.”

“I love you, Steve. Just for you. Not the sex or touch. We could never do anything except sit next to each other and talk, and I’d still love you,” Eddie swears.

Steve sniffs something wet. Shoves himself a little closer, cuddling into Eddie’s chest. To which Eddie wraps his arms around his back in response. And he sighs, but it’s a sound of long awaited relief. “I love you, too, Eddie. God, I love you.”

The conversations are tough and they are stomach turning, but after it all, Eddie gets to have Steve. How he is. How he wants to be. And that’s all Eddie could hope for.

He kisses the top of Steve’s head and relaxes back into the couch. “I’m proud of you, Steve,” he murmurs, “Thank you for trusting me.”

“Thank you for being patient. Being here.”

Eddie squeezes them together even tighter. Warm in his chest at the content noise that draws itself from Steve. This could be all that they do forever and Eddie would never ask for more.

🩵—————🩵

[aprilclementine]

part 3 of history teacher steve and art teacher eddie

part 1 / part 2

There was already enough to worry about your freshman year of high school. Dustin was just happy he had a good group of friend to be by his side through it all. Plus, his best friend Mike’s sister was going to be their English teacher, Lucas assured Dustin it would be a walk in the park. They were so wrong.

"Mike your sister is seriously scarier than I remember from before she went to college." Dustin huffed, throwing his backpack on the couch in the Wheeler basement.

"Seriously, Mike! It's the first day and we already have homework due by the end of the week!" Lucas exclaimed, rummaging around his bag for the sheet that contained the details to the homework. Max and Jane coming down the stairs not too long after, clearing off the coffee table, to start on their work.

Mike rolled his eyes at their exasperations, looking to Will for some leveling. Will sighed, shrugging. "I got to say I'm with them on this one, I thought she would take it easier on us. I mean she babysat us for the the entirety of elementary school, and like half of middle school."

Mike groaned, and Dustin jumped in. "That's it! That's exactly it! This is payback for all the times we were shitheads!"

"Jesus H. Christ, I have to buy like a lifetime supply of apples to make up for all the shit we did!" Lucas rubbed his hands over his face.

"You dickheads need to stop being so dramatic its literally just a 'What I Did This Summer' essay." Max finally chimed in, Jane nodding along beside her.

"Homework is still homework, Mayfield." Dustin snarked back.

"And, she's the only teacher that gave us homework." Lucas added, matter o' factly. "Not even Will and Janes brother gave us homework!"

"Well, it's probably because he didn't have to deal with us as much." Will supplied, trying to defend the other Wheeler.

"Pota-toe, Po-tato." Dustin huffed, opening his notebook to a blank page to start the essay. "Speaking of teachers, did Argyle let you guys hold his class pet? The bearded dragon, what was it's name Lucas? Wasn't it like a vegetable, or something?"

"It was pineapple!" Lucas supplied, moving to sit next to Max, using his phone to try and take a picture of what she already had written on her paper.

"The art teacher that got up on the desk was actually kind of entertaining." Will added.

"His hair was too long." Mike added, grabbing a Rubik's cube off the counter before he sat down.

"I liked his hair." Will smiled, "I think he's gonna be a good teacher, I'm glad I convinced you guys to join."

"I can grow my hair longer, and better than he can." Mike grumbled from the floor beside Will.

"I liked Mr.H's hair better." Jane added quietly.

"Oooohhh, yeah, I totally agree, Jane!" Max nudged her, as the two whispered something else to each other.

Lucas rolled his eyes, "Alright, his hair was decent, at best."

"Someone's peanut butter and jealous." Dustin mumbled under his breath, narrowly dodging the figurine Lucas chucked at him.

"I have a feeling he'll be giving us a lot of homework too." Mike added.

"Eh, I know he seems the type, but maybe he'll go easier on us, 'cause we're freshmen." Lucas shrugged, Will hummed in agreement.

The group worked diligently until dinner time, parting ways, with a majority of their essays close to being done.

-

The next week, Dustin waved down Lucas and Max as he locked his bike into the rack, waiting patiently by the front doors.

"Is that a- Weird Al shirt?" Max asked as they approached. Lucas stifled his laugh behind his hand.

"Yes, his biopic is coming out soon! The one starring Daniel Radcliffe! Also, don’t be jealous, because I actually have taste, Mayfield." Dustin huffed, as he turned to walk into the school.

"If that what you'd like to call it, sure." Max grinned, as they followed Dustin to their first period.

"Weird taste, I'd say. Get it, Max? Because, it's Weird A-" Lucas nudged at Max's side.

"Yes, Lucas, very funny." Max snarked, as she set her bag down by her desk.

The party shared first period together, which was English. Then, half of them went to Math with Mr.Byers, and the other half went to Argyle, for science. Then vice versa. They then shared art together, then lunch, after that half of them went to PE, and the other half went to band. For their final class of the day they shared history.

Dustin watched Mike almost doze off in first period, and quickly kicked his seat, so his sister wouldn't give him a weeks worth of detention, in only their second week of school. 

The group walked out of first period, grumbling about another assignment, parting ways down the hall. Max, Lucas, and Dustin had Argyle, and Mike, Will and Jane had Mr.Byers.

The groups passed each other in the halls, Lucas quickly repeating to Will what the lesson was about, and Mike doing the same for Dustin.

They regrouped in Mr.Munson’s class for Art. Aprons were placed on each seat, and Mr.Munson was setting out fabric paint, and markers in the middle of each table as everyone walked in. Everyone filed to their seats as soon as the bell rang, Mr.Munson stood before the class, explaining that this period they'd be decorating their aprons for the year. "Put whatever you want, be fun, be creative, but "make it school appropriate"." Mr.Munson rolled his eyes, as he used air quotes, and a mocking tone for the last sentence. He took a deep breath, before bringing his hand up to his mouth, leaning in closer to the class for a stage whisper. "Or, don't, I'll pretend I didn't see it." Mr.Munson clapped to dismiss the class, and then moved behind his desk to work on some sketches.

Dustin walked up to Mr.Munson’s desk about halfway through class. He cleared his throat to get the mans attention. Mr.Munson looked up, eyes scanning over Dustin’s face, then landing on his shirt. "Is that a Weird Al shirt?"

Dustin nodded wordlessly, ready to defend himself.

"That's bold, I respect it." Eddie nodded as he spoke, looking back at Dustin now, who was beaming at the comment. "How can I help ya, kid?"

"I was wondering if you had anymore puffy paint." Dustin asked, handing Mr.Munson the empty bottle. Mr.Munson nodded, as he grabbed his keys, and moved into the storage room. Dustin heard him rummaging around, before he came back out with a new bottle of yellow puffy paint, handing it off to Dustin, sending him back to his desk to work.

Dustin took a step back, watching curiously from the slight opening, as Mr.Munson knocked on the connecting door to Mr.Harrington’s room, before Mr.Harrington appeared. Dustin watched as the two conversed, jumping slightly when he felt someone kick his leg.

"Dude! What are you doing still standing? Will needs the puffy paint." Mike whisper-shouted from his chair.

Dustin grumbled, sparing one last glance at the storage room, just as Mr.Harrington was shutting his side, and Mr.Munson was walking back into the room, bright smile on his face. "I was observing!" Dustin hissed back, sliding the puffy paint across the table to Will.

"What exactly could you be observing?" Lucas asked, reaching for the red fabric marker.

"Mr.Munson was in the storage room-" Dustin started, in a quiet tone, glancing to the desk where Mr.Munson sat.

"Yeah, duh, he doesn't just carry all his extra art supplies in his apron pockets." Max added, taking the red marker from Lucas, before he could cap it.

"If you would let me finish." Dustin groaned, "He went back in there after he got me the puffy paint, and knocked on Mr.Harrington’s door."

"Maybe he needed to borrow something?" Will suggested, with a shrug.

"That's the thing," Dustin looked around the table, holding his friends attention now. "He came out of the storage room, empty-handed!" He whisper-shouted.

"What are you getting at?" Mike questioned.

"Nothing, nothing, I'm just observing." Dustin replied, hands up in mock-innocence.

"Mr.Harrington is probably just still showing him around, he's practically the school's welcoming committee." Max added, handing off the purple puffy paint to Jane.

"Maybe, I say we just stay observant, maybe we can hang around after the bell, stall a little bit, see if Mr.H comes by, for Mr.Munson." Dustin finished, casting one more glance to Mr.Munson.

When the bell rang, the group was slow to clean their area, purposefully mixing up caps, and calling out the other to fix it, slow to wipe down their table, the markers kept somehow rolling off the table, until it was just the six of them, and Mr.Munson in the classroom.

Mr.Munson finally moved towards the table, "Hey guys, lets try and get a move on it, so everyone can get to lunch on time, here I'll help."

The party was quick to try and refuse his help, all six talking at once, spewing out different excuses.

"Alright, alright, I'll just wait by the door." Mr.Munson exclaimed, "But, please try and pick up the pace, I-"

"Munson, I told you to meet me-" Mr.Harrington stopped, looking between them, and Mr.Munson.

"Hang on, Mr.H. I got a couple student still cleaning up." Mr.Munson turned away from them, and made his way to Mr.Harrington. "You can just put the tools on this back counter over here, we'll put them up when the room clears."

Dustin turned to look at his friends, gesturing towards the two teachers. "I told you!" He mouthed.

They finished quickly, and ran out the door, nearly being knocked over by Mr.Harrington who was carrying a 2x4. "Woah, let's try to be careful, and watch where were going. Almost got you guys with this." Mr.Harrington instructed softly.

"What's with the wood?" Lucas asked.

"Mr.Munson asked me to help him put up hooks for your classroom aprons." Mr.Harrington answered with a smile, as Mr.Munson came out to grab the 2x4 from him.

"You guys should get to lunch before all that's left is mystery meat." Mr.Munson butted in, giving the crew a pointed look.

The group nodded, rushing down the halls. "No, I told you!" Max slightly shoved Dustin, as they rounded the corner. "Mr.Harrington is just really, really nice."

"Max does have a point, I overheard Nance telling my mom how much of a help Mr.H was when she was setting up her classroom. He spent the entire afternoon helping her rearrange all the desks until she was satisfied." Mike added, grabbing a lunch tray. "Mom thinks he’s a real dream boat too." Mike added with an eyeroll.

"I think they would be cute together." Jane added, after they got their lunches, and found a table.

"Who?" Will questioned, as he handed off the cherries from his fruit cup to Mike.

"Mr.Munson, and Mr.Harrington." Jane replied matter o' factly.

"Jane, don't be ridi-" Lucas was cut off by a swift kick to his shin, by Max.

"No, I think she has a point. They make for a cute bromance." Max nodded reassuringly to Jane, before taking the pickles from Lucas' sandwich.

The group fell into an easy discussion afterwards about the latest campaign Will was working on.

--

Eddie was biting his lip raw, watching Steve hold the board in place, drilling it in place, spare screw held between his lips. Eddie tried to imagine what his flexed arms must've looked like under the stupid knit sweaters he wore . Eddie didn't even register Steve calling for him, until he turned to face him, waving a hand in front of his face. Eddie jumped slightly, apologizing.

Steve smiled, holding out his hand to Eddie that held the screws he didn't use. "Could you bring over the hooks now?"

Eddie took the spare screws from Steve's hand, and went back to his desk to grab the hooks they would use. Eddie waited patiently beside Steve, handing him each hook as he needed it.

Once all the hooks were up, Steve started helping Eddie place all the student aprons in their appropriate sections. Steve took a step back, hands on his hips as he admired the work. "We make a good team, Munson."

"I owe you like a weeks worth of lunch, Harrington. I'm useless with power tools." Eddie joked, moving to clean up the saw dust on the ground, Steve following with the dust pan. Eddie really wasn't bad with power tools, growing up and helping his Uncle Wayne with all the repairs the trailer ever needed, but how could he say no, when Steve looked so eager to help. He had ran to their shared supply closet, and pulled out his new drill to show Eddie, the second Eddie mentioned needing to put up racks in his room.

Steve now kneeled down in front of Eddie, holding the dustpan in place as Eddie swept the dust in a neat pile. Steve looked up at Eddie as he continued their conversation. "Does it have to be lunch? I can go for a couple dinners." Steve smiled up at him.

Eddie had to constantly remind himself they were in a school setting, whenever Steve was in compromising positions like this, and saying suggestive things like that to Eddie. Steve was just being a bro, a bro that happened to have the most beautiful hazel eyes Eddie had ever seen, hair that he constantly stopped himself from running his fingers through, and a face that has now made it’s way into Eddie’s sketch book. Eddie was looking too into it, he was sure that was the case. Still, Eddie couldn't stop the blush that crept up his neck. Eddie really needed to keep his cool.

"I don't mind doing dinner, Harrington. We should think about inviting the rest of the teachers in our hall too!" Eddie was quick to add, "Nancy, Johnathan, and Argyle all seem pretty close to us in age. It would be cool if we all went out together, y'know some staff bonding time! You could bring Buckley too!" Eddie finished, as he swept the pile into the dustpan gently.

Eddie tried not to think too much of the way Steve deflated at the suggestion. "Yeah, staff bonding sounds fun." Steve sighed as he stood, walking to drop the pile in the trash. "Any suggestions?" Steve asked, as he stood by Eddies desk.

"My friend Gareth mentioned this bar downtown, we could see if everyone wants to do that?" Eddie answered, moving to place the broom back in the storage room. "I'll ask Johnathan, and Argyle, if you ask Nancy, and Robin."

"Sounds like a deal, let's do it after the first month of school, as like a celebration, maybe we can turn it into a monthly thing." Steve suggested.

"I like that idea, I'll be sure to mention it to the guys when I talk to them." Eddie responded.

"Hey, I don't mean to cut this short, but I have to run and finish up some copies before next period." Steve explained, as he walked towards Eddies closed door. Eddie nodded in acknowledgment, and waved as Steve ran out.

Staff bonding, really, Eddie? Eddie groaned to himself, plopping down on his spinny chair.

***

the kids are introduced now! this part feels a little shorter than the rest, sorry :( i hope you guys are liking this as much as i like writing it, i can’t wait to upload more. thank you again for all the notes :)  i am having an awfully hard time coming up with a title hahaha

taglist: @little-gae-shit @ineffablecolors @menace-behaviour @hardboiledleggs @toobluebrunette @bye-zai @panicatthediaz @munsonsduchess @thing-a-ling @swimmingbirdrunningrock @jestyzesty @cutepumpkin4 @flustratedcas @teelagurl558 @electrick-marionnett @beckkthewreck @alienace @shinekocreator @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @bidisastersworld @gay-little-bitch @booksandsience @korixae @afewproblems @henderdads @mightbeasleep @winterbuckwild @yournowheregirl @steveisabicon @milf-harrington @overhillunderhill @ thatonepotatochild @uwujinniee @gregre369 @tiny-enthusiast @eboyawstenn @anaibis @vlada-elya @vampireinthesun @grtwdsmwhr @djo-time @theysherobinbuckley @straight4joekeery @nonbinary-eddie-munson 

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Stuck Between a Jock and a Metalhead

Summary: Nancy, on a whim, decides to visit Steve at Scoops Ahoy, which leads to her overhearing confessions from Steve that leads her to think about the decisions she's made. A few days later, she decides to come back. She finds him being hit on by the town freak. What's a girl to do? Oh, get stuck in a freezer with the both of them.

Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three - Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Nancy waited for her sister patiently at the bottom of the stairs, but she was taking longer than she should have for someone who knows now how to get dressed herself. She was just about to go up there when Holly came bounding down the stairs, her blond hair loose around her shoulders.

"I'm ready for the mall, Nancy!" Holly exclaimed. "I put on makeup just like you would."

Nancy put her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the laughter. Holly was wearing bright blue eyeshadow that was spread across her eyelids and well over her eyebrows. It made her look permanently surprised. She had lipstick spread across her lips and around them.

"Did you look in the mirror yet, Holly?" Nancy asked.

"No, does it look bad?" Holly asked.

She couldn't help it, she burst into laughter. It caused her mother to come in from the living room.

"What is going - Oh my goodness," Karen snorted.

"Apparently, she put on makeup just like I would," Nancy giggled.

Karen picked up the polaroid from the hallway table and snapped a picture.

"Can I see, Mommy?" Holly asked, and she showed her. "Oh! I look so silly. I look like a clown."

Holly giggled and honked her nose. Nancy swooped her up in a hug and pressed a hard kiss to her cheek. Karen had snapped another picture. Nancy settled her on her hip.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up, and then I'll braid your hair," Nancy chuckled as she bounded up the stairs.

Karen dropped them off at the mall, announcing as they got out of the car that she would be running errands and that she would be back soon. Nancy scoffed as she watched her mother drive away. She knew exactly what kind of errands she would be doing. Ally told her what she saw her mother doing at the mall. . .checking out Billy like most women. Not only was it disgusting because he was an evil asshole but he was also the same age as Nancy. Honestly, his personality was too ugly for her to find him attractive. That was the difference between him and Jonathan. . .intent. It was also the fact that Jonathan actually gave a shit about his brother. Maybe that was attracted her to Jonathan in the first place. Before Nancy could venture further into her darkening thoughts, she felt a tug on her dress.

"Come on, Nancy!" Holly said.

She smiled at her sister and took her hand, deciding to enjoy the outing. Nancy and Holly went to the bookstore first, where she had to pull Holly away. She was really happy that Holly was interested in reading but she also needed to buy her shoes before lunch. The kid was outgrowing the shoes faster than she could wear them out. Of course, with the new shoes, Holly also wanted a dress to go with them. She ended up finding a purple one with flowers on it and one that's similar to hers for Nancy. They twirled in front of the mirror.

"What do you think? Should we pay for them and wear them out of the store?" Nancy asked.

"Yes!" Holly grinned.

Once they paid for them and got bags for their other clothes, they started heading towards the food court. Nancy made sure they chose a place that served chicken nuggets. While Holly loved all food, chicken nuggets were always a must with her. She was looking for a place to sit down when she spotted Eddie sitting with a couple of his friends. He spotted her, and his face brightened up at the sight of her.

"Nancy!" Eddie exclaimed, waving her over.

He had forgotten that his legs had been wrapped around the chair, and in his hurry to jump up, he stumbled to the ground. His friends burst into laughter. Nancy giggled.

"You want to meet my friend Eddie?" Nancy asked Holly.

"Yeah, he looks funny!"

Carrying their baskets and their bags, they wandered over to the table. Eddie dusted himself off and stood up. He smiled when they arrived at the table.

"Nice face plant, Eddie," Nancy said.

"I meant to do that," Eddie said.

"If your purpose was to kiss the floor," Nancy said, and his friends laughed. "Then yeah, you succeeded."

"Nancy Wheeler, these are my friends Gareth and Jeff," Eddie introduced. "They're also in Hellfire and in my band, Corroded Coffin."

"Oh. You didn't tell me you were in a band," Nancy said.

"You didn't tell her you were in a band?" Gareth asked him mockingly.

"Our band?" Jeff asked, and Eddie rolled his eyes.

"And who's this little lady?" He asked.

"My sister, Holly," Nancy introduced.

"Hi, Mr. Eddie, we got matching dresses!" Holly said.

"I see that. You guys look like a couple of pretty princesses," Eddie said.

"Who also fights dragons!" Holly exclaimed.

"Well, would a couple of princesses who fight dragons want to sit with us?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah, you aren't scary," Holly said as she plopped down in the seat next to him while Nancy sat on Holly's other side.

"I'm not? Well, that's a first," Eddie said.

"You're fluffy like a teddy bear," Holly said. "Eddie! Teddy!"

"I think that name is sticking, man," Jeff said with a snicker.

"Am I scary?" Holly asked.

"Oh, yeah, very," Eddie said with a gasp and clutched his chest, causing her to giggle. "So, what else you get?"

"The Hobbit. Nancy said I would like it," Holly said. "Our bubba, Mike, won't let us use his book."

"Oh, you're going to love it," Eddie grinned. "Why won't this Mike let you use his book?"

"Mike is an asshole," Holly said seriously, and the boys struggled not to laugh.

"Holly!" Nancy exclaimed. "You shouldn't call him that!"

"What if he is being one?" Holly asked.

"Yeah, Nancy, what if he is being one?" Eddie asked, and she glared at him.

"You still shouldn't," Nancy said.

"You call him that all the time, Nancy!" Holly exclaimed.

"Eat your chicken nuggets, Holly," Nancy said, trying to hide her amusement.

"You ladies doing more shopping after this?" Eddie asked.

"No, Nancy's going to take to me Scoops Ahoy to get ice cream, and she's got a surprise for me," Holly said.

Nancy mouthed Steve’s name over Holly's head, and Eddie grinned.

"That sounds like fun," Eddie said.

"Well, look at that. . .we've got to go," Jeff said, nudging Gareth.

"Oh, yes, we just remembered we've got that thing," Gareth said.

"We were supposed to browse the new music store after lunch," Eddie frowned.

"Well, like we said, we've got that thing," Jeff grinned.

"Teddy! Do you want to come with us?" Holly asked. "Do you know Steve? He works there."

"Oh. I know Steve. I like Steve," Eddie said.

Jeff and Gareth shared a knowing look. Nancy grinned. It looked like they suspected the same thing that she did.

"I like Steve too," Holly grinned.

"Holly, who told you that Steve works there?" Nancy asked.

"Mike," she replied.

Nancy rolled her eyes. Of course, that asshole would ruin the surprise.

"You just called him that word in your head, didn't you?" Eddie grinned and winked at her.

Nancy blushed and rolled her eyes.

"Well, we've got to go," Jeff grinned. "Have fun with Eddie."

"Teddy, you mean," Gareth said as they stood up.

"Bye, Mr. Gareth! Bye, Mr. Jeff!" Holly exclaimed.

"Farewell, Princess Holly," Gareth bowed.

"Oh, fiercest warrior and slayer of dragons," Jeff bowed. "Farewell."

Holly giggled and waved at them until she couldn't see them anymore. She sat back in her seat.

"I like them," Holly said.

"Eh, they're okay," Eddie shrugged with a grin.

"I like Jeff. He's cute, but he's too old, though," Holly said.

"You hear that, Nance? He's cute, but he's old," Eddie grinned.

"Oh God," Nancy laughed.

"Kids say the darndest things," Eddie said.

Once they were finished with their food, they started walking towards Scoops Ahoy. Holly took Nancy's hand and then Eddie's.

"So, you don't get lost," Holly said.

"Smart," Eddie said. "Metalheads like me are very well known for getting lost in malls."

"I didn't know that," Holly gasped. "Nancy, we can't let him get lost."

Nancy's heart fluttered in her chest as she watched Eddie converse happily with her little sister. He was great with her, too. His grin was so wide as he talked animatedly with Holly that he was flashing his dimples. They were very cute and suited him well. Eddie noticed her staring, and he winked at her. Nancy felt her cheeks warm.

"There it is!" Holly exclaimed. "That's it, isn't it?"

"Yes, but - " Nancy started to say.

Holly slipped from their grasps and ran ahead of them. They started running after her, but she was quick to dive between people's legs.

"Jesus! This kid is fast!" Eddie exclaimed.

"Holly!" Nancy yelled.

Suddenly, they heard her scream and they were running faster than ever. They found her lying on the floor, a large stony faced man glaring down at her. Holly's bottom lip was trembling. Nancy realized that it was the delivery guy who had dropped off the ice cream. He growled at Holly, and crocodile tears started welling up in Holly's eyes.

"I'm sorry I ran into you. I didn't mean to," Holly whimpered.

"Hey! The kid said she was sorry! Do you have anything better to do than to scare the shit out of her?!" Eddie snapped, and the man was growling at him now. "Do you understand me? Fuck off, man!"

Nancy knelt down next to Holly and pulled her to her side. The man stepped into Eddie's face menacingly. There was a flash of fear in Eddie's eyes, but he stood his ground, clenched his jaw, and stared at the man right back. When the man realized he was drawing attention from other people, he snorted and walked off. Holly pulled herself out of Nancy's arms and threw her arms around Eddie's legs.

"Are you okay, Teddy?" Holly asked. "I thought he was going to hurt you."

"I'm okay, sweetheart," Eddie said and scooped her up. "Are you okay?"

"I think I scraped my elbow," Holly said.

"Well, let's get that fixed up, shall we?" Eddie said and pulled out his first aid kit. "We can use Princess Nigel. Steve gave him to me, and I named him."

They went to the nearest bench where Nancy pulled Holly into her lap. Eddie knelt in front of her and started patching up her elbow. He stuck his tongue out while he worked.

"I'm sorry for running away, I just got excited," Holly sniffed.

"Well, you scared the crap out of me and your sister, but I think you scared Nancy the most," Eddie said softly.

She didn't realize how close to crying she had been until Eddie had said something or that she was shaking.

"I'm sorry, sissy," Holly said.

"You're okay now. That's the important thing. Always hold hands, though, okay? Promise?" Nancy asked.

"Promise," Holly sniffed. "I'm sorry too, Teddy."

"It's alright. You know, I get into accidents all the time. I'm a huge klutz which is why Steve gave me this," Eddie said as he slipped it into pocket. "I gotta say, though. You're a lot braver than I would have been. I would have shit my pants."

"Then Nancy would have to change you just like she did when I was a baby," Holly giggled.

Eddie and Nancy laughed.

"You know, since you got injured in the line of duty, I think this little warrior deserves a piggyback ride," Eddie said and turned around.

Holly cheered as she wrapped her arms and legs around him. He snorted like a pig and started walking with Nancy, who was gazing at him fondly.

"Teddy! Always hold hands, remember?" Holly asked.

Eddie grinned and held out his hand towards Nancy, wiggling his fingers at her. Nancy blushed and took his hand. Somewhere along the way, their fingers slid together. When they entered the parlor, Holly immediately jumped down from Eddie's back and started running towards the counter. Steve ran out and met her halfway, scooping her up.

"There's my girl!" Steve exclaimed.

"I missed you!" Holly squealed and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I missed you too, pumpkin," Steve said.

"I like your outfit," Holly said.

"I like yours," he replied.

"It matches Nancy's outfit," Holly stated proudly.

"I see that," Steve laughed. "But you know what it needs?"

He took off his hat and plopped it down on her head. She giggled madly.

"How do I look?" She asked.

"Better than I do in the hat," he said. "What have you been up to? Catch me up."

"Me and Teddy almost got eaten by a troll!" Holly exclaimed.

"Okay, I'm a little lost," Steve said.

Nancy watched with a smile on her face as Eddie and Holly both recounted the story in their own adorable way. She loved the way that Holly lit up with both of them. Looking at Steve with Holly, she knew without a doubt that she was still in love with Steve, but there was also something else stirring for Eddie as well. As she looked at both of them, she knew she couldn't put them through what she put Steve through, especially since she could recognize that Steve and Eddie were starting to like one another. She couldn't come between that, and she couldn't mess it up for Holly. If only there was a way for her to be with both of them. Her eyes slid to Robin's, who was now looking at her with wide eyes. It looks like she figured it out, too. Robin slowly raised her hands and gave her two thumbs up. Nancy didn't know what that was supposed to mean. She ignored it and sat down to enjoy some ice cream with the three of them, pushing aside the warm feelings of affection in her stomach.

Chapter Six

[harringtonswriting]

the one where chaos comes out to play | s.h.

summary: steve hates thursdays, and thursdays hate steve. today is no exception, except that the green goblin has decided to try and hurt him in a brand new way, and steve isn't sure he can keep going if the worst comes to pass (modern!au; spidey!steve universe) pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader word count: 7.4k warning(s): language; some violence (fight scenes); mentions of injuries/blood notes: HI HELLO ITS SPIDEY!STEVE TIME !!!! thank u all for being so patient; i know this is much longer than normal but i was SO excited for it and i loved the idea!! thank u to the two anons who requested this; i kind of combined the two requests into one, i hope that's okay! also it's the first real introduction for a villain, and there's plenty more to come... i hope you enjoy!!

...

Steve thought he’d been careful. Always did his best to be as careful and as conspicuous as he can where the people he loves are concerned so that nothing about his activities as Spider-Man could be traced back to them. He doesn’t swing Robin to work in costume when she’s running late; he only rescues Ozzy from the roof of Eddie’s building when absolutely necessary (which probably happens more often than it should, but the fuzzball loves it when Steve makes a web-sling to carry him around in); and he does everything possible to keep the dangers of his life as Spider-Man away from you. In public, at least.

But in private? He’s at your place all the time. Probably too often, considering how much he pays in rent for his place across the hall from you, but as long as he gets to spend time with you he won’t complain (to you, but Robin isn’t quite so lucky considering she lives with him). Ever since he’d first seen you the day he moved into his crappy little apartment in this too old building, when you peeked out at him carrying too many boxes at once, he’d decided he needed to get to know you (which he did, with all the ups and downs that came with it). Now you’re one of his best friends, one of the few people who know he’s Spider-Man, someone he cherishes totally and completely (though he’ll deny it because having you in his life as a friend is enough, at least for now), and also someone he’d never, ever risk getting hurt.

But Steve must have slipped up at some point, and the universe really decided to make him pay for it. Steve and you.

It’s a Thursday. Nothing good ever happens on a Thursday, not for Steve; he’s pretty sure he was brought into this world on a Thursday, and it always seems like the universe is trying to take him out on the same day. It’s usually the day that he’s stuck running around after crazed supervillains who want to destroy half the city because it’s Thursday and that’s just what they wanna do on Thursdays for shits and giggles. Like today, with the Green Goblin playing explosion tag with him and yelling out nonsense.

Okay, well, it was actually something like, “Heroism is a fool’s errand!” and, “Chaos will destroy everything you love!” But honestly, this is the third time this month that the Green Goblin has pulled something like this and Steve is very quickly running out of patience. This time, though, it’s harder than normal for Steve to try and keep the villain contained in a single area of the city. It almost feels as if Goblin is toying with him, more so than usual, and is trying to lead Steve into something.

Steve’s wary of the psychotically jolly green man on a good day; despite not being as superpowered as some of the other bad guys Steve sees on the regular, Goblin learns and observes and always manages to have some kind of ace up his sleeve. And today, the taunts he gets as he tries to bring the villain down are just that much more smug than usual; Goblin also has some new gadgets, which includes a pumpkin bomb that turns into a small flying bladed monstrosity that hurts like a bitch when they make contact with him. This suit is already torn up and Steve is going to have a hell of a time repairing it, if it even can be repaired at this point. And this one is new, too… Thursdays really suck.

So here Steve is, using his webs to grab a large chunk of the side of a building and fling it away from a group of terrified bystanders on the sidewalk and up onto the roof of a nearby building—well, onto the rooftop garden that’s probably going to need to be re-landscaped, but it had entirely too many topiaries for Steve’s taste so he figures he’s doing them a favour. They’ll save a ton on having to get them removed, and maybe now they can put in a rooftop pool with the new hole they’ll have.

One of these days he’s gonna get sued for property damage, but today is (hopefully) not that day, so he swings back towards the Green Goblin, who’s currently hovering near a rooftop down the block. Steve makes sure that the bystanders are out of harm’s way for now (though he’s sure he’s going to read all about how he’s the one who put them in danger in tomorrow’s edition of the Daily Bugle) before he sends out some webs with a thwip! to swing himself towards the roof that Goblin is currently hovering over. Only this time, unlike every other time Steve has gotten close enough to land a clean hit, the green menace doesn’t try to leave his position. It’s more than a little odd, but Steve hopes that maybe it means his Thursday is taking a turn for the better.

It’s not.

As Steve swings closer, Goblin lets out a loud, ear-splitting cackle behind the creepy mask that he somehow thinks is a good fashion choice as he swoops down towards the roof. Steve throws out another line of webbing, swinging himself up to get a clearer view of what’s going on. The Green Goblin is grabbing something—or someone, Steve realizes, who’d been on that rooftop.

He feels it at the base of his skull, tingling and quivering both down through his spine and up through his head. Something is way off, worse than he’s felt in a long time, and his Spidey-Sense is warning him that something really bad is about to happen really quickly. The quip he’d been holding onto, something really great about how if Green Goblin was having problems with his glider, they make pills for that now, dies in his throat. Steve lands on the side of an adjacent building, watching Goblin fly up holding the person from the roof.

It’s you.

Steve feels as if the wind has been knocked out of him, seeing the Green Goblin holding you up by the throat to dangle you over the edge of his glider. All sound around him immediately stops, save for the frantic sound of his own heart hammering and thumping against his ribcage, aiming to shatter it. That would probably hurt less, he thinks, than seeing how terrified you look right now. Your wrists are bound together in front of you in a way Steve can’t imagine is very comfortable, and he has to take some very deep breaths through his nose to stop himself from screaming your name.

Why are you here? Why does Goblin have you? How long has he had you? A million and one questions are running through Steve’s head, faster than usual, almost too fast to keep up with. You’re in your work clothes, though they’re beyond rumpled and a little torn now; did Goblin grab you at work? On your home from work? From the apartment building? God, Steve really hopes Goblin doesn’t know where you live; if he’s taken away the safety of your home from you, Steve doesn’t know what he can do to fix that.

How did anyone link you back to Steve? He’s been careful, he thought he’d been so careful to keep you out of his life. Does the Goblin know who Steve really is? Oh god, what does that mean for you? For Robin or Eddie, or Dustin or Max or Nancy, or anyone else who’s connected to Steve Harrington? Shit, he’s gotta get this figured out fast.

He’s never been more thankful than he is now that his mask covers his entire face, because he’s really not sure he could hide the emotions he’s sure are twisting and contorting his features. What started out as cold fear trickling down his back and into his stomach has partially turned to molten hot anger is thrumming through his chest; it makes for an odd combination of sensations while his mind is trying to put together any kind of plan to get you away from here and somewhere, anywhere, that’s safe.

“Let her go, Goblin!” Steve is trying to keep his tone as even as he can, hoping that the desperation he’s feeling isn’t obvious enough in his voice that the Green Goblin will pick up on it. He moves one hand up, getting ready to swing closer when the Goblin rises a bit higher in the air on his glider and holds out the hand not currently wrapped around your neck.

“Ah, ah, ah, Spider-Man! Come any closer and my hand may just slip,” the Goblin taunts, his hand loosening slightly on your neck as he pretends to almost drop you. Or maybe he’s not pretending; that guy’s mind is a bag full of barn cats on a good day, and today is not a very good day at all. You can’t help the noise you make, a strangled sort of shriek, as your fingers scramble to find purchase and hold onto the wrist of the hand that’s holding you up. It’s not very easy with your wrists bound, Steve imagines, but you do your best. He sees the kick you send in Goblin’s direction, which is more than likely intended to harm rather than help your balance, and there’s a tiny prick of fondness to Steve’s heart. That’s his girl. Well, okay, not his, per se, but close enough.

“Take it easy, Gobbie, I’m gonna stay right here.” For now. That stays unspoken, but Steve is trying to look for any opportunity to get you out of there. “You know, there are much better ways to make friends than this if you’re feeling lonely, y’know, that don’t reek of desperation and eau de jolly green giant.”

“I’ve been watching you, Spider-Man,” the Green Goblin says, hovering a little higher and putting his free hand behind his back as he ignores Steve’s jab at him. Which is a pity, really, because Steve was hoping it might start something and Steve could make him mad enough to put you back down on the roof and out of harm’s way. “And I’ve noticed that you’ve come to her aid more than a few times.”

Shit. Okay. That’s not what Steve was expecting. The Green Goblin has been spying on him, which is a weird enough concept, but he’s been paying close enough attention to pick you out of crowds of people that Steve has saved. He thought he’d been more careful than that; but when he thinks back on it, he realizes that there’ve been at least two incidents this month where you’d been caught up in something he’s taken care of as Spider-Man, and definitely once or twice that you’ve covered for him as Steve so he could go save the day. And Goblin had been watching, had been able to see you and connect you to Spider-Man. That has Steve’s stomach twisting, and he can’t help fidgeting as he tries to think up an excuse fast enough.

“It’s my job to save people, Gobbie. You know, you put them in danger and I rescue them, usually looking dashing in the process,” Steve fires back, gesticulating with one hand. He’s trying to be as nonchalant as he can, and he really hopes it’s working. He really needs to break that mask Green Goblin is wearing, and any other spares he’s got, because being unable to read his facial expressions would be very helpful in situations like this. Plus, it’s absolutely the stuff of nightmares and Steve could save a lot of people a lot of money on therapy bills if he smashed it to pieces. Maybe then he’d get a good piece of news printed about him. “Maybe she just hangs out in bad parts of the city. Or maybe bad guys think she’s good looking. You and I both know Kingpin’s henchmen always go for pretty people; they aren’t on the deep end of the gene pool.”

“I told you that I don’t know Spider-Man!” you yell out as best you can, though your voice sounds more than a little strained to Steve. He’s gotta make a move and he’s gotta do it sooner rather than later because he needs to get you as far away from here as possible.

“Hmm… so you don’t care what happens to her, then?” Goblin asks, and he loosens his grip once more. Steve reaches forward, unable to help himself as he reacts on instinct. You shriek again, kicking out and catching the Green Goblin on his side. He growls at you, flying up a little higher before turning back to Steve. “Then it’s time to choose, Spider-Boy!” Goblin says, cackling loudly. “Will you save her?” His hand tightens around your throat, and the pained noise you make has Steve’s jaw clenching. “Or will you save them?”

Goblin’s free hand, which Steve had not been looking at as closely as he should have been while you’re in danger, comes out from behind his back holding three pumpkin bombs. He waves that hand towards what Steve sees is a group of civilians, standing down below and watching this interaction like it’s some kind of sport to them.

His stomach twists and his chest tightens as his Spidey-Sense goes absolutely haywire. Shit. Shit. How is he supposed to choose between the people down there and you? Can he save everyone? He has to save everyone, he’s Spider-Man.

He’s not given time to make an actual choice, however, because Green Goblin is throwing the pumpkin bombs and then the hand he has around your throat disappears. You start to fall down towards the street below and Steve realizes that he’s going to have to move faster than he’s ever had to before because he absolutely can’t lose you. Not like this, not ever.

He lunges forward in your direction, pushing himself off the wall to give himself as much momentum as he can. While he’s soaring through the air, trying to position himself to be able to catch you, he launches some webs with his right hand up towards the three flying pumpkin bombs. He’s trying to web them together, hopefully turning them into one bigger webby blob ball to better keep track of them—and to make sure they get back to the place they came from.

He manages to catch the first two and lump them together as the blinking green lights on the front of the bombs start speeding up. When they stop blinking completely, that’s when they blow up; Steve knows that from unfortunate personal experience. His eyebrows haven’t been the same since that last time. He shoots another web to grab the third, bringing them all together as he manages to catch up to where you’re currently falling.

Steve tries to be as gentle as he can as he uses his free hand to grab you around your waist, but he’s pretty sure there’ll be bruises there tomorrow. He’ll feel bad about that once the two of you get out of this, because right now your safety is his priority and he needs to make sure you get out of this. He slips your arms around his neck, turning your bodies as best he can so that he’s below you and looking up at the twistedly jolly masked face of the Goblin.

Now’s his chance. Steve swings the ball in the direction of where the Goblin is flying confidently above the two of you, as hard and as fast as he can before releasing the web strand. As soon as he’s done that, as quickly as he can, Steve shoots another web up to tether the two of you to a balcony on the side of the building. He feels your arms tighten around his neck as the web helps slow your fall, and he feels a small wave of relief settle over his shoulders as the two of you hit the ground.

He’s about to open his mouth and say something when there’s a very loud BOOM! from up above, followed by a shriek. Yeah, that had to hurt. Which Steve really hoped it did. But if it didn’t… Well, Steve was going to make sure Goblin knew what it felt like to hurt. And he was going to do it now, before the jolly green bastard had a chance to run away.

He removes your arms from their spot around his neck and makes sure that you’re steady on your feet before he rips the rope binding your wrists. He makes sure to keep his touch gentle as he takes hold of your shoulders, looking at you through his mask.

“Get somewhere safe!” he urges you. You open your mouth, looking as if you want to say something, but he shakes his head. “Now!” His tone leaves zero room for argument, and while he regrets seeing the way it causes your forehead to furrow and your posture to shrink, he will not let you get hurt again.

You nod, and then you’re turning to find somewhere to take cover until this is over. Steve watches you go before he turns to look up towards the roof of the building. He can see Goblin, looking much worse for wear, trying to ride a rapidly smoking and sparking glider. Definitely not having fun, and Steve is not going to let this guy get away.

Steve shoots two webs, one from each hand, at two balconies on the top floor of the building. He walks backwards as quickly as he can to pull the webs taut. Then he lets go of each simultaneously as he jumps up, letting them slingshot him up as fast as possible so that he can launch himself directly at the flying green menace. He manages to land a kick to Goblin’s stomach, knocking him off his glider. The two of them crash down onto the roof of the building and Steve takes advantage of the element of surprise he gains to make sure he lands on top of the villain to pin him down and start throwing punches wherever they’ll land.

Steve chooses to let the rage he felt earlier bubble back up to the surface as his fists start cracking against Goblin’s helmet, his shoulders, his chest… anything that he can reach, he hits. Steve thinks about the terrified look on your face, about the noises you made with the Green Goblin’s hand around your throat, about what would have happened if he hadn’t caught you in time… He keeps punching until his arm aches and he’s sure his knuckles have split and he can see the blood splattered across the rooftop underneath them. Goblin’s helmet has cracked and split, small chunks of it littering the rooftop beneath his head. There’s a chunk missing now, and Steve can’t find it in himself to be anything other than overwhelmingly furious. Both at Goblin and at himself.

Steve pauses, just for a second, when he sees something glinting where the chunk of the mask is missing. He looks closer, and when he does, he catches sight of one pale blue eye staring back up at him before smoke starts to cloud his vision.

Shit. Green Goblin let off a smoke bomb. Steve is taken by surprise, and starts to cough as he feels smoke enter his lungs. He tries to clear the smoke away with his hands, but it’s coming fast and thick from below him and it’s not letting up. He shifts, closing his eyes, and that’s when he feels an elbow catch him in the cheek before he’s knocked off of the Green Goblin. He makes contact with the concrete of the roof and damn, that hurts. He groans, still coughing, but as he opens his eyes he notices the smoke start to dissipate. He gets up, trying to wave it away, and as he does so he sees that Goblin has gotten back on his glider and is currently flying away.

Damn it. Steve falls back onto his butt on the rooftop, breathing a little easier now that the smoke is dissipating, though he’s still frustrated that Goblin got away. Thursdays really are the worst.

He doesn’t stay down long, though, because he can hear the sound of sirens getting closer and he really does not want to stick around to have to deal with any cops today. He doesn’t have the most patience for them on a good day, and since today is not a good day, he’s going to avoid that mess as best he can.

As the sirens get louder, Steve scrambles over to the side of the roof to peer down. He catches sight of the police cars coming in fast, and sees the crowd down on the streets has started to get bigger now that the Green Goblin has taken off to lick his wounds. And among the crowd, he manages to pick you out. Relief washes over him like he’s taken a drink of something warm on a very cold day (which he absolutely wants to do later, hot chocolate is calling his name). It eases the knots in his chest, especially as he sees you walking out of the area and in the direction of your shared apartment building.

You’re safe. You stayed behind instead of leaving, but you’re okay and you’re heading in the direction of home. And he’s gonna meet you there to make sure you’re okay—or get you the help you need if you’re not. Which he knows he’ll have Robin’s backup on too (though she probably won’t be too happy if she sees he’s bruised and bloody, too).

He moves back from the edge of the roof, moving to the other side to jump a few buildings over as discreetly as he can in red and blue spandex. He knows he’s got an old backpack with some spare clothes in it around here somewhere that he’s going to change into; after what just happened, with Green Goblin linking you to Spider-Man, he doesn’t want to take any risks that might lead someone back to where you both live. Not after today, after being slapped in the face with the reality of how dangerous his life is.

Aha, there it is! Steve finds one of his backpacks webbed behind some shrubbery, and he’s quick to grab it and start going through the contents. God, is he ever thankful for his own forgetfulness right now. He’s got to have an embarrassingly high number of backpacks, duffle bags, gym bags, and the like hiding all over the city at this point, and he’s glad he remembered this one. It’s got a full outfit in it, thankfully, as well as an old set of keys he thought he’d lost; it’s the one with the ‘Let’s go, Lesbians!’ keychain Robin had given him, which he hadn’t told her was missing so this works in his favour.

He jumps down off the roof, bag in hand, and ducks into a secluded alleyway to change out of his suit as quickly and inconspicuously as he can (though he does end up hopping around quite a bit trying to get his torn up suit off and his jeans on). He packs his suit into the backpack before he’s shrugging it onto his shoulders and dipping out of the alley to make his way home.

He gets there pretty quickly, though you’re nowhere in sight as he bounds up the steps to the building and uses his keys to let himself in. Steve moves through the lobby, groaning as he sees that unfortunately, the elevators are still out of service. He hasn’t had time to completely take stock of all his injuries yet, but he knows from his walk to the building that his right leg is not gonna like having to climb five flights of stairs. But you’re upstairs, and Robin probably is too, and he needs to see you and make sure you’re alright. So he takes a deep breath and starts to climb the stairs.

By the time he makes it up to the floor your apartments are on, he’s just a little out of breath and his right thigh absolutely hates him. But he makes it, and that’s what matters, so Steve makes his way to where your door and his door sit across the hall from each other. He’s not exactly sure if you would have gone to your own apartment first, so he makes his way to your door and presses his ear against it. He really hopes none of the neighbours decide to leave their apartments or look out into the hall because this will look really weird. Not the weirdest thing Steve’s done since he moved in here, but still.

He doesn’t hear anything on the other side of the door. He waits for a few more minutes, just to be sure, before he moves away from your door and heads to his. Now he can hear voices, low and muted behind the surprisingly sturdy wood of the door, as he fishes his keys back out of his pocket and uses them to unlock the door. He pushes it open, stumbling slightly over the lip in the doorway as he comes inside.

As Steve closes the door behind him and toes his own shoes off, he catches sight of Robin’s boots and your shoes sitting haphazardly on the mat by the door. The relief that washes over him is immediate, knowing you made it home and you’re here with Robin, who will absolutely make sure that you’re okay. The fact that your shoes are still here means that you’re not hurt enough to need to go to the hospital, which eases the knots in his stomach just a bit. He absolutely doesn’t know what he’d do if he was the reason you ended up in a hospital.

He drops his bag by the door and hangs up his keys on their hook before he makes his way down the small front hall and into the living room. As he rounds the corner and the living room comes into sight, he sees Robin perched on the coffee table, directly in front of where he sees you sitting on their armchair. Both of you are looking in his direction, and he tries to offer up a smile as he walks fully into the room and raises one hand in a wave.

“Steven Augustus Harrington!” Robin yells, getting up off the coffee table (barely managing to avoid knocking over the Lego flowers that Will had given them as a housewarming gift) to stomp over to him. The effect is slightly undermined by the giant fuzzy bumblebee slippers she’s wearing, and Steve sighs as fond exasperation for his best friend and roommate wins over any annoyance he feels. You stay seated, albeit perched on the edge of the chair, but Steve can see the way your shoulders go from being up near your ears to slumping down to where they normally rest that you’re relieved to see him, too.

“That’s not my name,” he tells her, but she disregards it with a wave of her hand. Her nose is scrunched and her eyebrows are furrowed as she starts looking him over.

“What the fuck, Steve? Are you okay?” she asks, before she starts going off on him about personal safety and not to rush into danger like that—he’s not exactly paying as close attention as he probably should be. He’s assuming she either found out what happened from you or online—he knows she’s got alerts set up for any news stories or social media posts about Spider-Man (which he knows because every time that stupid #SpideyFails account posts she’s gotta share it with all of their friends). But Steve doesn’t really want to talk about himself or how badly that fight with the Green Goblin went right now; he’d much rather make sure you’re okay, find out what happened and just… he wants to talk to you. He needs to talk to you. To make sure you’re okay; you’re quiet, too quiet, and the more time goes by the more worried he’s getting.

“Robin, I’m fine,” he assures her, though the little line between her eyebrows only gets deeper as she stares at him. Steve rolls his eyes and nods his head in the direction of her bedroom door. She tilts her head to the side, and Steve gestures a little more forcefully, hoping she’ll take the hint that he wants some privacy with you. Robin raises an eyebrow, and Steve nods again, this time in your direction

He sees realization spread across Robin’s face, and she turns to look at you. You’d been staring at them, Steve realizes, and you look away when they both meet your gaze. Robin shakes her head slightly, walking in your direction. She gently places a hand on your shoulder and rubs it before she grabs the first aid kit Steve hadn’t realized was on the coffee table, throwing it at Steve. He barely manages to catch it, fumbling it a bit before he’s sure he won’t drop it.

“Use your tingle next time, dingus!” she says, shuffling off in her fuzzy bumblebee slippers. She disappears into her room, closing the door behind her with a very audible click of her lock. Which leaves Steve alone in the living room with you.

He makes his way over to where Robin was sitting earlier, plunking himself down on the edge of the coffee table. His right leg absolutely does not like that, but it’ll heal soon enough. He’s close enough that his knees brush against yours, and despite the worry weighing his shoulders down, he feels his cheeks get warm at how close he is to you. Your eyes meet his, and he tries to smile at you.

“Hey,” he says, fingers tapping against the first aid box he’s keeping in his lap. You don’t smile back, but you do take a deep breath.

“Hey,” you greet back, and to Steve’s ears your voice sounds more than a little strained, and a bit too raspy for his liking. That’s when he starts to look you over more closely, taking stock of your injuries.

His heart falls because you’re hurt worse than he thought. Sure, he was expecting some cuts and bruises, but he didn’t know you were this hurt. There’s harsh bruising that’s starting to appear on your neck–that’s where Goblin was holding you. Where his hands were wrapped around your neck, holding you in the air before he dropped you. When Steve closes his eyes, he can still hear your screams, can still see how you look plummeting through the air while he tries to reach you. He swallows the saliva starting to gather in his mouth because that image is going to be one that sticks with him whether he wants it to or not.

There are some other cuts and bruises he can see as well, on your face and on your hands, and he’s pretty sure your work clothes probably won’t be workplace acceptable anymore. He makes a mental note to take you to buy new ones as soon as he gets his next pay, even though you’ll try to refuse them and tell him it’s not his fault your clothes are ruined.

Except it is. In this case, it is Steve’s fault. His being Spider-Man has put you in danger and he’ll do everything he can to make up for it. And he’s going to start now, by helping clean you up. He opens the first aid kit in his hands, pulling out some disinfectant and some gauze and bandages. “Can I…?” he asks. He looks between them and you, and you nod your head so he starts to get to work.

He cleans the cuts on your face first, wiping the blood off your cheeks and your chin before he starts disinfecting the small cuts there. Your nose scrunches up in pain, and he apologizes quietly for any pain he’s causing you. His heart is beating erratically against his ribcage and his hands tremble slightly as he works, but he does his best to help you.

The two of you sit in silence for a moment before he has to ask, “Why did you stay? I told you to get somewhere safe.” Because the thought of you being in any more danger than you’d originally been in isn’t a good one; if anything had happened to you afterwards, if Steve had been paying attention and not gotten hit in the face with a smoke bomb and the fight had spilled out off the rooftop again and put you in harm’s way again… he doesn’t want to think about it. His brain, though, still hates him and makes him imagine it anyway. He presses a bandaid on your cheek before he starts cleaning the bruise on your neck.

“I needed to make sure you were okay.” You scoot closer to Steve, close enough that he can count the eyelashes on your lower lash line. He can smell the dirt and the blood on you, mixing with the faint scent of your shampoo and body wash. But your words make his gut twist.

“No you didn’t!” His words come out a little louder and a little more forceful than he means, but he’s starting to feel frustration thrum through his body, warming him in a way that has his chest start to burn. Hearing those words come out of you any other time would probably have had the opposite effect on him; you needed to make sure he’s okay? Caring about him like that? It’s probably friendly, but it’d have Steve smiling the rest of the day. Right now, though, he’s not happy to hear you say that “You needed to get out of there. Goblin is dangerous, you can’t be around him!”

Steve drops the medical supplies back into the first aid kit on his lap, reaching his hands up to tangle in his hair instead. It’s knotty; that happens sometimes, when he shoves it under the mask without brushing it or after he gets it wet, and he winces as his fingers encounter a particularly bad tangle. You huff, crossing your arms over your chest as you lean back in the armchair.

“You have no right to lecture me when I’ve thought I was gonna lose you more times than I can count!” Your voice is rising in pitch, but Steve stays firm where he is. “How many times have I had to see, on the news or on Twitter, that you were getting thrown around by Doc Ock? Or blown up by Green Goblin? And I’m not even going to talk about the giant lizard you chased through the sewers last week!” Yeah, the lizard guy was a relatively new bad guy that no one had believed Steve about until he managed to get the creature to come up onto the street. This one was probably gonna be smelly. “And then you show up at my window, bleeding and half-dead, and I’m supposed to clean you up and be okay with that?”

One of your hands comes to push against his chest, a line appearing between your eyebrows as you frown at him. He feels the warmth spread further as he gets more frustrated because you’re not getting that this is what Steve does, this is what it means to be Spider-Man. He needs to protect people from being blown up or turned into lizards. Would you want to be a lizard? He doesn’t think so. You’d probably be a pretty lizard, potentially, but he’s not sure he wants to see that.

“Yes, because I can take it! I am the one who got bit by that stupid spider, not you!” Which is the truth; Steve knows he can take a beating and keep on going; it’s one of the few good things that came out of that visit to the CreelCorp plant. Yeah, maybe he lets himself go a bit too far sometimes, but it’s to protect the people of the city, and the people he loves. It’s to protect you, and if he loses a little (or a lot of) blood and has a broken bone or four, then it’s worth it. It’ll always be worth it to him. But apparently not to you, because you throw your hands up in the air.

“So? Why does that matter right now?”

“Because I almost lost you!” The flood gates open, and words come pouring out of Steve’s mouth before he can think to stop himself. “I could have lost you, and when I saw Goblin with you I thought I was going to lose you and I could never live with myself if that happened. If I lose you then there’s no point! The mask, the suit, everything! I won't keep going without you. The world can live without Spider-Man but I could never live without you!”

This is not how Steve wanted to do this. Hell, he wasn’t sure if he was ever going to tell you how he really felt about you because the thought of you not feeling the same and pulling away from him if he confessed? Not a good one. He never wanted to lose you in any capacity, but after having this happen he can’t keep it inside anymore. Really, you deserved better; you deserve someone who can keep you safe, whose entire existence doesn’t put you in danger. You deserve someone who can give you all the time and attention you could ever want, and probably wouldn’t run the risk of getting blown up or stabbed or missing your birthday because of a lizard who wants to give the city a cold-blooded makeover (which is, unfortunately, a very real possibility these days).

But god, does Steve love you. His chest aches with how much he loves you, how much he wants to hold you close and keep you safe. How much he hates himself for letting this happen to you, for letting you get hurt and letting himself be stupid enough to not realize what the Green Goblin had been doing. You were always there for him, letting him crawl through your bedroom window and ruin your rugs as you patch him up; letting him stay over at yours so he doesn’t worry Robin more than he already does. You take care of him, and you see him as both Steve and Spider-Man without treating him any differently. You’re witty and funny and kind, and you don’t treat him any differently knowing who he is and what he can do. And he’d never, ever want to live without you. He couldn’t do it, because he’s absolutely sure his heart only exists to beat for you, to tattoo your name across his ribcage. And he’d never want things to be any different.

He’s pulled out of his thoughts, though, by something tugging him forward before his lips are meeting something soft and warm. It takes his brain a second to catch up with his body, though.

Oh.

You’re kissing him. Steve is pretty sure his Spidey-Sense combusts completely along with his brain because your lips are on his and one of your hands is fisted in the front of his shirt. He’s not completely sure he isn’t dreaming until his right thigh bumps against the coffee table as he moves forward, leaning into the kiss, and it stings. Pain has never made him feel so giddy.

He’s awake. You’re kissing him, and this is real, and all the frustration Steve had been holding onto melts into fondness, into giddy excitement as his lips move against yours. They fit together better than he could have imagined.

One of his hands comes up to brush against your neck on its way to cup your cheek, and he feels you flinch. Oh, god, your neck. He’d completely forgotten about the bruising while he was caught up in the whirlwind of finally being able to kiss you.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” he apologizes, but you shush him. Your one hand is still gripping his shirt tightly, but your other comes up to push his hair out of his face. Your touch is gentle, the pads of your fingers feather light against his forehead, and he leans into your touch.

“S’okay, it’s not your fault,” you tell him. He presses his forehead to yours, panting slightly as your warm breath fans across his face. “Did you mean that? What you said about losing me?” Steve nods, and for the first time since this messy Thursday started Steve starts to feel like maybe the day isn’t so terrible because he sees a smile start stretching across your face. You’re here, you’re alive, and you kissed him. And he absolutely word vomited his feelings all over you, but you’re still here. And you kissed him. Did he mention that already? Yeah, he’s gonna think about that for a while.

“I’ll always do everything I can to protect you. I’d do anything for you,” he assures you, before continuing, “I promise I meant it. All of it.”

The way your eyes sparkle and he can see you perk up and look so much more like yourself as he says that has Steve feeling like the stick of butter he accidentally left on the stove the other day when he turned it on to make dinner; warm and melty. He loves it. “Me too,” you tell him. “I feel the same for you.”

The kiss had kind of confirmed that, but hearing it out loud seals the deal. Steve loves you, you at the very least like him like him, and he got to kiss you once. He wants to do that more than once, and right now seems like a fantastic time. But right as he goes in to take some initiative of his own and kiss you this time, Robin’s door flies open and she comes tumbling out into the living room. Steve jumps, his knees smashing into yours as he almost falls backwards onto the coffee table. You lean back in the chair too, looking over at Robin, who gets up and dusts herself off. Steve sees she has her phone in her hand, and her cheeks are bright pink as she stares at the two of you with her mouth agape.

“Oh my god, were you two finally about to kiss?” she asks, and Steve groans loudly because the moment is officially ruined. He was so close, too! God, yeah, Thursdays really do suck.

“Damn it, Robin!” he yells, dropping his face into his hands.

“No, no, pretend I’m not here! Go ahead!”

“We’re not gonna kiss with you watching! That’s weird!”

“No it’s not!” Robin insists. You shake your head, watching the two of them going back and forth. “Ugh, this is so unfair! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this to happen?”

“Not as long as me, I promise you that!” He moves one hand off of his face to throw a roll of soft bandages in Robin’s direction. It doesn’t sound like it connects, but he’ll get her back for this later.

He hears your phone start buzzing so much it falls off the arm of the chair. Steve doesn’t even want to know what kind of messages he’s getting right now and is absolutely glad his phone is somewhere on a rooftop right now. He swears he’s gonna end up blocking Dustin and Eddie again, and this time they’ll stay blocked for at least a whole day. Maybe two.

But he’ll definitely sneak in through your window later tonight, if you’ll let him, and steal a kiss of his own. The first of many, he hopes, and he can’t help the giddy smile on his face at the thought.

Yeah, Thursdays suck hard. But this one is definitely better than most.

...

tag list: @stevebabey

[solarmorrigan]

God I want to eat part 8 with a spoon!! It’s exactly what I want from a hurt/comfort fic, little bumps along the way that make the happy ending more believable.

I can totally see where Eddie was going, but also exactly how he fucked everything up. Doing that as a surprise would suck, especially so close to Steve’s confession that that’s what he considered their first date to be. He’s too focused on being the perfect boyfriend without communicating with Steve on what they both was their relationship to be now, and obviously that doesn’t work!!

And Steve!! The way you write him is so perfect, the way he drops everything the second they aren’t alone until he can’t anymore made me tear up. I could tell he was trying so hard to enjoy the date and I honestly think if Eddie had told him before the date, where they were going, I think it could have actually been good. And the line that Steve says about what he’d have had if Eddie had just looked at him,, ohhh that hurt so good

Robin is going to have a very hard time forgiving this, I fear. She already gave Eddie a second chance and I think she’ll take this disaster of a date as him just spitting all over it. Because she saw how happy Steve was after the first time they went to the diner and now she’s going to see how much this date at the diner hurt him. If she was ready to kill Eddie after the first fight, she’s not going to let him off so easy this time

I’m so happy that my messages aren’t bothering you and that my questions are actually relevant! Sometimes, I worry that I’m reading too far into the fics that I read lol 💖💖

Hello! I'm sorry I wasn't able to respond before now, I kept "waiting for the mental energy" so I could give a satisfactory response, but other things kept getting in the way and now I'm very late, BUT ANYWAY

I am glad you enjoyed!

Once I set up the silly little "three date rule" joke, I knew I wanted Steve to have his blow-up after the second one, but I couldn't figure out why, if the first date had gone so well, he would be pushed to lose his temper after the second. And after a while (and babbling at a very patient friend), I came to the conclusion that you did - Eddie's still trying too hard to be what he thinks Steve wants, because he doesn't fully understand yet what's at the core of why Steve's so hurt

But that's not entirely his fault, because Steve won't talk about it

And I thought it was a little funny, because I got at least one person asking if Steve wasn't being kind of an asshole for blowing up at Eddie when Eddie really is trying - and yes! Steve's reaction is a little outsized given the situation, but he's not reacting just to the date, he's reacting to the whole thing in a way he hasn't been able to yet, because that's what happens when you bottle shit up

He'd been worried up to that point about being the one who's an asshole if he let any negative emotions through (which is why I thought the question was kind of funny), so he just... didn't. He put on a mask for everyone because that's what he's always done and that's what he knows how to do, but in the process he mostly just hurt himself and hurt Eddie a bit, too

Honestly, Steve is just so much fun to write. I love bouncing him off of other characters because his reactions have the potential to be so malleable

And we will get to Robin's reaction! Just not quite yet 👀

[apomaro-mellow]

R&H Cinder!Eddie

Out in the marketplace, Eddie hefted some boxes in his arms while his family continued to shop around. His stepbrothers Tommy and Jason bitched and whined at each other and while it was annoying, it kept their attention off Eddie. What they did to him was ten times worse than what they did to each other.

Pack mule duty wasn't so bad. It gave him the freedom to be lost in his thoughts while following behind. He thought of how surely there was more to life than this, being a slave in his own home. How he only needed to be patient and wait the sweetest sounds would find their way to him. Kind words he hadn't heard yet would reach his ears. And he would find that dearest of loves that was waiting somewhere for him.

Unbeknownst to him, there was someone close by thinking just the same thing. Steve, known to much others by his princely title and a much longer name, came among the common folk often, dressed to match. He wanted to experience something real. People and places that would treat him as he was, and not just kiss up to him for being a prince.

And of course, he was also looking for true love, sincere and deep. He was brought out of his thoughts when he saw a young man jumping out of the way of an oncoming carriage, dropping his boxes in the process.

"Shit! Asshole! Where's he gotta go in a hurry?"

Steve rushed over to help him gather his things and checked to make sure nothing was damaged.

"Just like a noble, huh? Wherever they're going is always more important than anything else", Steve said.

"Yeah, I hope they crash and their horses run off for all that rush", Eddie grumpily righted his family's things, then reached for what Steve had, pausing as he looked at him for the first time.

He was staring.

And he couldn't stop staring.

Luckily for him, Steve also couldn't stop staring.

The slight shift in the boxes reminded him of where they were. "Um, thanks. I'll take those." He grabbed what Steve had, did his best to hold it all together, and then turned on his heel.

Steve quickly followed, not caring for how he looked right now. "What's your name?"

"Eddie. My folks gave me the incredibly presumptuous name Edgar. I think you'd agree Eddie's a better fit."

Steve was inclined to agree, but he also felt like any name would've sounded beautiful coming from such a face. "So Eddie, what would a man have to do to get in your good graces?"

Eddie kept walking. This guy was handsome, devastatingly so. But that also meant he was dangerous. Good looking men always knew they were good looking and used that to their advantage. Eddie would never make himself an easy mark.

"My good graces? I don't know, I'm pretty cheap. You could probably buy my favor with a nice lunch."

"What if someone wanted more than just a lunch date?"

"I think whoever this someone is should get to know me better before they ask for anything more."

"Oh he'd like to." Steve nearly crashed into a flower cart as he spoke, so focused on Eddie and keeping up with him.

Eddie stopped for only a moment before continuing on. This guy was persistent and he couldn't for the life of him figure out why. He didn't have anything on that said 'money', except for maybe the excess of purchases, none of which were for him.

"I'm not sure I'd wanna meet this person. Bet he doesn't even know how to treat a guy."

"Like a prince?", Steve tried.

"Like a prince?", Eddie frowned. What did that even mean?

Steve thought about how people treated him normally, putting on airs, saying things they didn't mean just to placate him. He grimaced. "Maybe not. But he should be treated like someone important, right?"

Eddie softened just a bit at that. "Yeah, like someone important."

"Maybe like a gem? Something treasured and protected."

Eddie swallowed as his heart skipped a beat. "Sure...some gems like it a little rough too. They're tough like that."

Steve leaned in a little. "I could be rough."

"Have I taught you nothing about talking to strangers?!"

Eddie backed away as his stepfather's voice cut through. Murray didn't look too intimidating, but he carried himself with an air of superiority that bolstered it.

He met back up with his family, giving the stranger a final glance over his shoulder.

"I hope to see you again, Eddie", Steve said, waving at him.

Eddie hoped so too, although he didn't have the nerve to voice as much in front of the others. Instead, he simply watched as the handsome stranger walked away and into a carriage of his own. Murray shouted again and Eddie scurried to follow them, done with their shopping excursion.

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

Back in the castle, Steve had been immediately summoned to see his parents, the king and the queen. On the way there, his attendant Jonathan was berating him for yet sneaking off yet again.

"I just don't understand why a prince would try and get away from everything he has", Jonathan said as he helped to button Steve's shirt.

"All I have is just...surface luxury", Steve said.

"Yeah, well some people don't even have surface necessity."

"I just like it when people talk to me with no pretense."

"What about me? Huh?", Jonathan asked as he fastened the cufflinks.

"Would you curse me out to my face?"

"....If you deserved it, Your Highness."

"That's why you're my favorite Jon. And a true rarity. But I want more than that."

Steve disappeared into the other room while Jonathan rubbed at his face. One day this prince would be the death of him. Why he didn't just run through him with a blade and get it over with, he didn't know.

"You wanted to see me mother?"

Queen Genevieve was where he got most of his looks from from his chestnut brown hair to his big brown eyes.

"I just wanted to tell you that we're planning a little get together."

Steve sighed. He already knew where this was going but he let his mother go on.

"Just you and us, and you know, a few hundred of our closest friends-"

"Mother-"

"-And their eligible children."

"You can't keep doing this."

"Doing what? Hen, what's he saying?"

Steve looked to his father for some assistance. King Hensley was in the middle of a game of solitaire and looked up at his son, then his wife.

"I believe he's saying he doesn't want another ball."

"Oh he's not saying that", Genevieve looked to Steve again and saw and expression that was saying exactly that. Her own smile dropped and she fell dramatically against her husband's chair. "What are we going to do about our son?"

And her husband's lack of response, she slapped him on the shoulder. "What ARE we going to DO about OUR SON??"

Hensley cleared his throat and stood. "We just want what's best for you."

"And that's getting married to someone I don't know? Someone I don't love?"

"You could learn to love them", Genevieve revived back into the conversation.

"I just had this silly idea, I guess. Of meeting someone, being infatuated, and courting them until they accepted my marriage proposal." Steve saw his parents melt as he basically recounted their love story to them.

"But there's nothing to say you won't meet that person at a ball-", his mother started back up again but Steve turned away and out of the room.

If they were going through with this anyway, then he wasn't necessary for the planning and preparation.

"Jonathan!", Genevieve shouted for him, summoning him right away as he was just outside the door. "Take a letter. And I won't hear you trying to dissuade us from this. I know you're soft on our dear Steve, but he'll thank us for this later."

Jonathan swallowed and disagreements and sat down to write up the proclamation as the queen cleared her throat.

"His Royal Highness Stefano William Delano Isadore James Adriano Killian Christopher Calderon Hansel-"

"Hansel?", Jonathan echoed as he paused in his writing.

Genevieve smiled at the choice in her son's names. "Hansel", she confirmed. "Is giving a ball!"

Part 2

AN: Any comments on my casting choices? Also give it up for Gen and Hen, the best Harrington parents Steve's ever gonna have. Also-also if I had a nickel for every time I've written steddie in a fairy tale musical au i'd have *counts fingers* 3 nickels. 4 if you count urban fantasy.

[scoops-aboy86]

What are your thoughts on Steve’s chronic migraines getting worse so Eddie and Robin convince him to go to the doctor. The medication he is given helps but perhaps it starts to cause weight gain #chubby Steve Harrington

To be honest, I don’t know if I know enough about migraines to go too deeply into that part of it. My brother gets them, and I briefly thought I was getting them in college but that turned out to be just my sinuses trying very hard to murder me on a seasonal basis. The campus health center had me keep a food journal for a while in case it was a dietary trigger, though, which I kind of want to foist on Steve. Like, what if…

(This got away from me, what else is new, please either enjoy or suffer for the next 3k words. The meds definitely kicked off Steve’s weight gain, partly because meds do that and partly because he doesn’t end up puking his guts out as often anymore, but the combo of the food journal and the stress reduction of he finds in eating definitely awakens something that keeps it going.)

Hawkins Memorial Hospital and all its patient records were obliterated over the course of defeating Vecna. So now that the Upside Down is gone and the older teens have moved out of Hawkins, Robin and Steve got into college somewhere (Steve by the skin of his teeth, if only because I’m not sure if community colleges have health services for their students), and Eddie lives with them too while he works at an auto shop and tries to scrape a new band together.

Between the migraines and the campus nurse “what if”ing him about shit, because he no longer has the medical history on his whopping total of four concussions in three years, Steve has very little patience for being instructed to write down everything he eats for a week or two on the off chance his headaches are triggered by something he’s eating. He’s sure that’s not it. Robin and Eddie bully him into actually doing it, basically resulting in a communal journal where they all take notes on Steve’s meals. 

So Eddie is uniquely tuned in to Steve’s eating habits, even for a trauma-bonded roommate with a big gay crush. He doesn’t think much of it, but does have a lot of fun being all “You deserve a treat for finishing that homework on time, I’ll pencil you in for a donut and we’ll hit the corner market!” and whatever. Just a little bit of friendly teasing on the days Steve decides to be lazy and eats mostly junk. 

By the time Steve finally gets medication and a routine that actually helps keep the migraines at bay more often than not, the food journal is long done but Eddie still notices that stuff and is vaguely aware that Steve has started snacking more often, taking a little extra at dinner, doubling up on his usual bowl of cereal for breakfast. He also notices the way all of his jeans start to hug his ass more, the faintest suggestion of a future muffin top starting to bunch over waistbands when his shirts are tucked in, how he starts moving a little slower when taking the stairs up to their apartment two at a time (or, eventually, one at a time like what Eddie considers a normal person). 

He casually brings it up at one point, something offhand like, “Extra hungry today, Harrington? Or are you carb loading before a hot date, or whatever it is you jocks get up to before strenuous activity?” But Steve just laughs and helps himself to more pasta or whatever’s for dinner, his third serving, and says he’s pretty sure it’s the new meds are doing something to his appetite. So no, not just today. 

And Eddie doesn’t push, because Steve seems fine with it. The extra weight looks good on him, in Eddie’s opinion—anything would look good on Steve, but especially the contentment that comes with indulging the whims of his appetite. He’s quickly developing a snacking-while-studying habit, and Eddie learns that when Steve gets frustrated and tries to blow off doing the work, he can be both placated and bribed to continue with donuts. His grades are steadily improving, and that’s not the only thing on the upswing; he eventually consults both Robin and Eddie on how to size up his closet on a budget, too. 

The only thing Steve complains about is the dating dry spell he’s on, grumbling about shallow girls who don’t want to take the time to get to know him. Robin comments that he’s like a broken record, she heard all of this before when his parents cut him off and he didn’t have the money to plan lavish dates anymore… and Eddie feels like he’s been knocked over the head by the comparison. He can’t imagine not wanting to date Steve just because his money doesn’t grow on trees or he’s put on weight, what is wrong with those women?!

Because, call a spade a spade: if Steve were into guys, Eddie would ask him out in a heartbeat. Even if it could potentially torpedo their friendship. He puts so much energy every day into not flirting with Steve, and to be honest these days he’s mostly redirecting it towards bringing him treats. Steve has this unfortunate habit of licking his fingers (even when it doesn’t seem like he should need to!); Eddie is developing a staring problem. A worse staring problem. Whatever. 

Sometimes the three of them smoke up on Friday and Saturday nights when they have nothing better to do. (Read: don’t have dates. Eddie is used to being a dateless loser, but he feels bad for Steve and Robin. Indignant on their behalf. Secretly pleased whenever Robin has plans and relieved when Steve doesn’t, and guilty about both.) They pick out a tub each of ice cream in advance and order too much pizza and watch movies they barely pay attention to while bickering and giggling like idiots, and if it’s a double lame day weekend none of them bat an eye when Steve starts getting two tubs for himself so he doesn’t run out part way through. Goads one or both of them to bet on whether he can finish it in one sitting before it completely melts, leaving Eddie to have to hide a boner whenever the challenge devolves into messily slurping of whatever’s left at the bottom. 

It’s at the end of one of those nights where it’s just Steve and Eddie; they turn in for the night (or the pre-dawn hours at least), Steve taking a little longer to shuffle into his room because he offered to put the leftovers in the fridge. Eddie gets back up because his mouth is dry as hell, and opens the fridge for light while he hunts for a clean cup… only to realize the leftovers aren’t there. He checks the freezer, and his own mostly empty ice cream carton is missing too. Turns out, they’re in the trash, scraped clean. Steve must have finished everything. When he goes back to his room he can hear Steve moving restlessly through the thin shared wall, soft grunts and moans and muffled burps and—

Usually, Eddie tries to be a good roommate and put his headphones on when he realizes that Steve is having some alone time. But he’s sleepy and still stoned and doesn’t feel like getting up again, so he stays prone and closes his eyes, telling himself that he’s not listening, really he’s not, he’s just trying to sleep. The hand he’s palming himself through his pajama pants begs to differ, though. And if he thinks he hears choked moans of “more, give me more” and “please, I need it” and “yeah, give it to me, Eddie,” no he absolutely does not. He obviously just nodded off into a wet dream, because while Steve often joins him at Robin at the local gay establishments for nights on the town, he only ever hooks up with girls. 

The next weekend it happens again. Eddie has no idea if Steve is eating up all the extras in the kitchen or taking some of it back to his room, but it’s obvious where it’s all going. And either way the end result always seems to be the same: Steve eats and jerks off afterwards, and Eddie listens in and does the same. He feels like a creep for doing it, but the shame doesn’t hit until after he’s done biting his pillow to keep quiet and pumping into his fist until his toes feel permanently curled. 

But, he rationalizes, it’s not that weird that they each have their own guilty pleasures. Everybody’s got to have something at the end of the day, right? And at least pinning after Steve this way keeps him from doing anything stupid, like spending his weekend cruising for one night stands and STDs. It happens enough already on the rare occasions that Steve does have a date, he doesn’t need to up his risk factor for catching anything. 

This goes on until Robin and Steve graduate. Like, actual years. Eddie would feel like a monk by now if he wasn’t secretly indulging himself while imagining Steve on a regular basis, which is… it’s fine. At least it goes a long way towards keeping lingering nightmares about demon bats and evil veiny wizards at bay. 

They have two different ‘Congrats Grads’ parties in their cramped apartments, one with all their friends from school and around the city, and one for everyone who knows about the Upside Down. Eddie buys two huge sheet cakes for both, but is puzzled when there’s way too much left—and Steve doesn’t seem to have touched them. 

After the last round of guests has gone, including Robin who had announced out of nowhere that she was going to crash with Nancy in the latter’s hotel room and wake up early to do touristy things in the city while Nancy is visiting from Boston, Steve calmly gets both platters of remaining cake out. Without explaining himself, he also produces a gallon tub of ice cream and lays everything out on the coffee table in front of their second hand couch. His thighs and arms have grown thicker over the years, cheeks fuller, jawline softer. His belly rounds out before him, spilling over in front and a litte to either side even while empty, and he has this way of kind of holding it as he shifts further back on the couch to get comfortable, like he doesn’t want to jostle it or maybe, maybe just needs it a little out of the way to better move around. 

Eddie pretends not to watch but the second he glances up realizes he’s been caught out, because Steve meets his gaze, staring right back. 

“I wanted to show you something,” Steve says, and holds out the old food journal, abandoned many semesters and a whole diploma ago once it had been determined that Steve’s triggers were mostly bright lights and stress-related. 

Except… it wasn’t abandoned, apparently. Notes fill it up from cover to cover, post-its sticking out more and more towards the back pages where Steve’s increasingly squashed handwriting had run out of space for that day. Everything Steve had eaten, carefully recorded quantities. Some entries, Eddie notices, have a small ‘e’ written and circled next to them, and he’s about to ask when Steve sees where he’s looking and says, “That’s all the food you gave me.”

And Eddie hadn’t even realized how much he’d been doing that, because Steve had always just taken everything he’d offered without comment. It had become normal, like a reflex. And, okay, maybe he’d noticed that on days Steve ate more he tended to be a little more audible through the wall at night as he worked his way to completion, and maybe it had become Eddie’s favorite soundtrack to fall asleep too. 

He doesn’t realize that his jaw has dropped until Steve sits forward with a grunt—a series of them really, because Eddie is on the bean bag chair on the other side of the coffee table and that was a bit of a reach even before Steve had started adding pound after pound to his own frame—and nudges it closed with a finger under his chin. Your move, Steve’s eyes seem to say as he sits back, resettles his ass and then his belly all over again. 

“I’m bisexual,” Steve announces bluntly. “Figured I should just come out and say it, since I’m either really bad at hinting or you haven’t picked up on the fact I’ve been trying to for… a while now. Robin says it’s pretty painful to watch me fail so hard and you still act so oblivious. I think she’s sad for both of us. And,” he adds, laying a hand over the crest of his belly, “while I’m doing the open and honest communication thing—I like this. I like to eat, and I like how I look. And either you like it too or you’ve got this… codependent blind spot, Robin called it? Which I guess means you just give me things that you know I want without really thinking about it. But she also said that you might just think of me as off limits because we’re friends and we live together and I’ve never actually, like, told you that I like both, which… I don’t really have a good excuse for, other than being kind of a moron. So.” He gives his belly a double pat, which Eddie’s dazed brain can only liken to a judge banging a gavel, but whatever it’s supposed to mean is kind of drowned out by the way it wobbles and fills said brain with silent fizz. “This is me telling you. And asking, uh, if you’ve noticed, or have… any interest in me at all. If giving me food means anything, because—at the risk of making things incredibly weird between us—it makes me feel really good when you do.”

For a moment Eddie just gapes at him. He doesn’t even know when his mouth fell back open. His brain is still the equivalent of a shaken can of Coke that Steve’s just popped the top of, metaphorically foaming out his goddamn ears. And then when he tries to say something, it’s too many different sentences at once and just comes out as as a garbled, “Stehuhyuhwha…?”

Steve just huffs and says, “Stop trying to cheat at Scrabble, Eds.” Which is what Robin always says when Steve’s dyslexia or Eddie’s abuse of creativity in regards to spelling rears up during important moments. Like when she’s tricked them into playing Scrabble. 

Eddie tries again. “Steve, what are you talking about? What do you mean you’ve been trying, to… to what? Both? Picked up on—What?!”

Immediately, Steve’s face flushes. “Shit, you really didn’t know? Any of it?”

“I knew about the eating,” Eddie says, and he feels like his voice has gone unusually high but can’t focus enough on that to decide if it’s actually true. “I mean, I knew you seemed okay with it, but you said your meds make you hungrier or something—How like is much, I mean, is like, I mean—” He slaps a hand over his own mouth to stop that runaway train of a sentence before it goes over a cliff any more than it already has, then tries to rephrase. “What do you mean by you like it?”

“Eddie. Have you noticed how often I put my fingers in my mouth when you’re around? Haven’t you heard me through the wall?”

Eddie’s face feels hotter than the sun. “Y-yeah…” He wonders if it’s really possible to die of spontaneous combustion, but confronted directly like this he can’t find it in himself to lie. “You… you touch yourself after you…”

“Eat a lot,” Steve finishes. “It feels good, getting so full like that. I sleep better after, especially if I, uh, come.” He flushes a little at the admission, too, so at least Eddie isn’t completely alone. “I say things sometimes, hoping you’ll hear.”

“I thought I was dreaming most of that,” Eddie admits, which makes Steve perk up a little. 

“You dream about me?”

“I…” Letting out an embarrassed whine, Eddie brings a hand to his hair, dragging a clump of it down over his mouth in a ludicrous attempt to hide. “Shit, yeah. I do. I…” And, okay, if he’s going to admit this he’s not going to do it by halves, because if Steve can just say things that would get him labeled a freak in most circles, then so can Eddie, the official Freak of Hawkins, Indiana. “I listen and I picture what you might be doing in there, and I get off to it, man. I thought I was being a huge creep for doing that, but I couldn’t help it because it’s you, alright? At the risk of making things incredibly weird between us, Steve, I’ve been fucking gone on you for a mortifyingly long time and it’s only ever gotten worse, and I’m pretty sure that you saying any of what you’re saying now means I’ve finally lost my mind and I want you to be my padded cell. I don’t even know what that means, Steve, but I want it.”

Steve tilts his head slightly. “It’s gotten worse? In a bad way?”

“Oh my god,” Eddie groans, and drops his flaming face into his sweaty palms. “It’s gotten bigger. It’s gotten… more. What do you want from m—”

“Eddie,” Steve interrupts, cutting through his Freudian slips like a knife through butter. “Come here.”

When Eddie lifts his head, he sees that Steve is patting the section of couch next to him. Feeling dazed and like this might as well happen, Eddie climbs his feet and ambles around the laden coffee table on rickety Bambi legs. Jesus H Christ, is this what having a stroke feels like?

He sits. Steve lays a hand on his thigh and Eddie feels like it’s leaving a mark straight through the ripped denim. 

“I want to show you something,” Steve says. “Try something, I guess. You can say no, but… I’m hoping you won’t. Because I’ve been thinking about this ever since you started writing things in that stupid journal for me. I want you to feed me cake and ice cream, and when the cake runs out I want you to pour the melted ice cream down my throat. Okay?”

“Should,” Eddie starts, and then has to clear his throat a few times because holy shit, his voice is rough and all the blood in his body just rushed south. “Should we do this on a communal couch, or… your room…?”

Steve’s eyes go hooded and dark, bedroom eyes if Eddie’s ever seen them. The goddamn Harrington Charm. “You wanna see where all the magic happens, baby? Finally get the visual to go with the audio?”

And well, that kind of answers the question of whether Steve was wolfing down leftovers in the kitchen or in bed, doesn’t it?

The next day, Robin gravely thanks them for not doing “hungry penis stuff” on shared furniture, a phrase which they vehemently beg her never to use again with varying degrees of dismayed wailing and hysterical laughter. And then she whacks them both upside their heads with a heartfelt, “Took you long enough, you dingi!”

[rogueddie]

Same anon from the Barb lives AU:

The demogorgon will show up inside houses, like with Nancy and Jonathan in the last episode, so my idea is that Barb would have been attacked wherever she was.

If Barb is around then what is Nancy’s relationship to Steve? If Steve knows about the monsters from the get-go then we don’t get the Slut graffiti. How does Steve break from Tommy and Carol?

No Steve Jonathan fight means no Hopper and Joyce finding the weapons cache. Big shift.

Also I so desperately want Barb snark throughout. Give me Barb and Robin. Barb and Eddie. Barb and Max.

So instead of the blood dripping into the water attracting it, the blood dripping onto the floor?

I feel like it would end up a lot like the s1 finale but with all three of them freaking out. Nancy and Barb trying to be smart and make a break for the front door while Steve thinks "hey lets call the cops" or something. Echo of that end moment where he comes in with like a chair leg or something.

Tommy and Carol would just end up kind of abandoned. Similar to how Nancy avoided Steve, but he would probably call them out sooner because they'd keep pushing at him and, with actual real monsters, he wouldn't be so patient with them.

I feel like there would end up being a fight though. Tommy got very aggressive with Steve when he turned on them and I'm sure that the only reason he didn't do anything is because Steve was already injured. And Jonathan was going through so much that, if he were in the group, it would go down very much the same. Just... not Steve getting his shit rocked. So they'd still end up at the station, Hopper and Joyce would still find their cache.

And even with just Steve on board from the get go, they stand a stronger chance against the Demogorgon. Barb might not be a great fighter or anything but an extra pair of hands with a weapon is still gonna make a big difference. Plus it'd mean Steve would have the nail-bat and Jonathan would also have another weapon. They'd fuck that Demogorgon up!

Also, Barb and Robin? HELLO? Lesbian Barb truthers where are you

[diamondsinureyes]

Whatcha thinking bout, D? ✨ Steddie Edition✨

Y'all remember warped tour? (And boy, do i feel old asking that one) Imagine Corroded Coffin being on the lineup for their 3rd or 4th year. They have become familiar faces, partially because of their devoted fans and partially because of the charismatic Eddie Munson, the lead guitarist of the band. He's a bit of a natural flirt and he works it to his advantage, mingling with the other artists and guiding lost fans around the grounds when he's not headbanging to another band's set. He and the boys are excited for another year of touring the states and seeing the new faces. According to their agent, there's a big indie band from Chicago joining this year. (Eddie and Gareth almost lost their shit when it sounded like Dio despite Jeff reminding them there's no way that's possible in 2016, dipshits) The lead singer's supposed to be some kind of heartthrob himself, but nothing prepares Eddie for Steve Harrington, wth his tight jeans and colorful polos. His stage presence is cool and cocky, riling up the crowd with a smirk and lazy smooch towards the barricade. His his hair shine under the stage lights and his eyes are hidden by dark shades-excepts for when he shits them down for a particular song. They're a pretty amber that lock on Eddie just as Steve leans into the mic and delivers a sultry "look into my eyes and baby, whisper fool" (If Eddie walks away, 'blushing like a slut' as Gareth would say...well, that's his business.) Steve agreed to the tour last-minute, the band still doing damage contrl after their guitarist, Billy threw a shit fit and left when they told him to sober up or leave. Jonathan, who he knows from college and through their mutual "ex-boyfriend of Nancy Wheeler" status, fills in as a favor and brings his little brother Will along. The younger boy helps out with merch and coordinating meet&greets with Robin, their maneger. He hears about Corroded Coffin before he sees them, their reputation as friendly faces preceeding them. Robin babbles his ear off one night about their smoking hot merch girl, who apparently looks out of place surrounded by metalheads and mychem fans. Maybe Steve sees Eddie later, near one of the music education tents, walking a starstruck Dustin henderson through a riff pattern for one of Corroded's older songs. Dustin is a vocalist and guitarist for The Party, an up and coming pop punk band that's also new on the lineup. There from Hawkins Indiana, not far from Eddie's hometown and credit Corroded Coffin as one of their main insporations growing up. He's seen the older boy walking around dressed in leather and chains, glowing with sweat and the post-gig high Steve knows well. But watching his patient grin with the younger boys sparks something softer in Steve. Steve and Eddie chat for the first time waiting for The Party's 20-min set to begin; Eddie comming to support Dustin, and Steve there at the request of Nancy who's brother Mike happens to be the lead singer. After watching Eddie bop around in low-rise jeans and a crop top, bare hips swaing to the beat, Steve's sweating from more than just the sweltering heat. He talks to Jon, Tommy and Carol (his drummer and keys player) and they agree to add "Brand New Baby Girl" to the set with little question. They make it a point to watch each other's sets, either lingering sidestage or standing somewhere visible in the crowd. Occasionally, Eddie will crash a meet&greet, snagging Chrissy from the merch table to distract Robin. The fans start catching on and #Steddie becomes a popular tag on Tumblr, full of photos documenting their "bromance." A short video of them singing along to The Party's hit "Friends Don't Lie" goes viral.

[milf-harrington]

📓<3

describing a fic i've daydreamed about but not written (yet)

okay so i have a whole folder in my fanfics notes file labelled "au's" bc i am constantly watching movies and thinking "what if my blorbos were in this" so i've just picked one at random and i now present to you: The Labyrinth (1986), steddie edition.

So it's raining, and Steve is having a bad day but he already promised Claudia Henderson that he'd watch Dustin for the night, so when the little shit comes barrelling into his house and tracking water everywhere he just has to grin and bear it, and he loves Dustin he really does but he just doesn't like him very much that night and he tries very hard to be patient but sometimes Dustin is just stubborn and attitude-y

and Steve is having a minor melt-down in the kitchen, when he remembers some silly story his mum used to tell him when he was little, one of those ones that's meant to get kids to behave, and without thinking he mutters "I wish the goblin king would take you away." and throws the cloth in the sink and suddenly it's just fucking silent.

It's an eerie, empty sort of silence. Dustin isn't talking anymore.

When Steve peeks around to check the living room, the room is empty. He calls out for him, searches the whole house, even the pool room, and realises that Dustin is just. gone.

obviously he freaks the fuck out, and he's stress pacing when there's this fucking whimsical little noise and then someone clearing their throat and when he looks up there's this guy in some shiny, satin-y cape just draped out across his couch. It's the Goblin King, who introduced himself as Eddie, and seems to be under the impression he's helping Steve by kidnapping the kid he's meant to be looking after.

Steve's like "give him back please i didn't mean it" and Eddie's like "no can do, he's mine now, he's gonna be a 'goblin' in 12 hours" and then Steve's all persistent and stubborn and Eddie's a little mesmerized by it so he offer's a deal: if Steve can get through the Labyrinth before the 12 hours runs out, he can have Dustin back safe and sound, and they can both go home.

He's almost expecting Steve to back out, but it's Steve so he doesn't even hesitate and Eddie is just so fucking intrigued.

And yeah, cue Steve trying to get through this fucking maze and going through all the somewhat traumatic shenanigans meanwhile Eddie's up in his castle lowkey falling in love with Steve through Dustin's stories and also through watching him.

at first he tries to get Steve to leave, makes the labyrinth harder, tricks him into thinking he's already home and it was all a dream and tries to make him forget about Dustin; but Steve is determined and apparently doesn't give that much of a shit about his own safety when someone else is on the line.

so he tries to see if he can get Steve to stay. uses Robin to trick Steve into eating a spell that puts him into a dream, dances with him, makes the world disappear, makes him feel safe and rested. But Steve see's through it, asks Eddie why he won't just give Dustin back, and Eddie gets all angsty and cagey and tells him he's got 2 hours left and Steve wakes up alone in the woods.

And the thing is- the thing is that somehow at some point Steve realised he kind of likes this Goblin King that's got him running around like a headless chook. He's sort of charming, and funny, and he'd soothed the stress-migraine that had briefly made steve feel like he was dying, and if Steve's being honest: he likes the challenge.

Sure he's not exactly a fan of the fact that Dustin is at stake, but he feels alive for the first time in a long time and it's all thanks to the absolute weirdo that technically just did what Steve asked of him.

But he can't stay. Even when Eddie whispers "time's up" against his lips and brings him a half-asleep Dustin, even when Eddie asks. He can't stay. So he lets them both go.

Steve wakes up on the couch with Dustin drooling on his shoulder, knowing that he's just had the weirdest dream but unable to remember a single second of it.

The few days later they get a new hire at the video store, some girl with jingling bracelets named Robin, and he feels like he's met her before.

(Months later, when he's home by himself, overcome with this strange emptiness that's been following him around since that night dustin stayed over; he gets the strangest idea.

"I wish the Goblin King would come to see me."

There's a whimsical noise, and a weight on the end of the bed, and the smooth slide of satin. "You kept me waiting, Stevie.")

The Character List

Steve as Sarah & Dustin as Toby

Eddie as Jareth

Robin as Hoggle

Nancy + El as Sir Didimus and Ludo

Jargyle as the door knockers

Max as the worm bc i can absolutely imagine her sitting there like "don't go that way! never go that way!" and then as steve's running in the opposite direction she leans back with a relieved sigh and says "god, he would've ended up right at the castle if he'd gone that way, the idiot"

the rest of the party are either already gonna be chilling in Eddie's castle OR they're gonna be those weird dancing fire fox guys with the heads that come off

[giurochedadomani]

He compartido 897 publicaciones este 2022

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#which leads to an interesting conversation that starts with billy asking eddie: so the girls have this really crazy theory about your crush

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5

Between the three of them, Billy is the one who has had to face worst consequences after forgetting shit, so he feels way more comfortable when the three of them move together if he's the one who remembers the days the bills are due, or when the other two have an afternoon shift at work/at the uni.

Between the three of them, Steve is the one who has been daydreaming the most about having a house full of love and people, so it comes natural to him to help Eddie be a bit more organised, maybe suggesting a place in which he can always put his keys and wallet so he doesn't constantly lose them; and to pester Billy until he feels confortable expressing his opinions about the house's entire decoration, maybe telling him how much him and Eddie would love if he chose a couple of his posters to hang around.

And Eddie's by far the most emotionally intelligent. He becomes an expert when it comes to de-escalating fights between the three of them, and to find out what's bothering Billy the moments he's trying to push them away with his usual assholish ways, or what's bothering Steve, the moments he just cannot stand being alone.

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123 notas. Fecha de publicación: 22 de septiembre de 2022

4

How about, mungrove ending up as teachers when they're adults?? Eddie works with little kids. He's perpetually covered in paint stains and comes up with the most ridiculous songs to play with his guitar to make his kids, idek, learn the alphabet. He doesn't demean kids just because they're kids, and if they're upset about something he works with them until they can actually express why they are upset.

Billy as the teens' sports teacher. He's of course the typical teacher everyone has a bit of a inapropiate crush on. I think that he'd be a very patient teacher because Neil must have shown him zero patience teaching him stuff as he grew up and that'd be kind of the easiest thing for him to identify as: I do not want to be like that. I'm going to make a point in not being like that.

Neither Billy nor Eddie tolerate any sort of bullying, but Eddie works best with the victim and Billy with the bully. Also, obviously they have a sixth sense to find out which students are Going Though Something and try to help them as much as they can.

Of course everyone has A Moment when they find out that they're together and have to reconcile with their worksonas the little anecdotes that they've mentioned in class (I'm picturing a little kid looking at Billy's very muscly, still quite a bit intimidating self and remember Eddie mentioning: oh, yes, my partner makes me breakfast every weekend. I catched him humming along the other day to the alphabet song while he did it)

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129 notas. Fecha de publicación: 15 de octubre de 2022

3

I find hilarious to think about the Harringroveson get together among other things because each of them has a wildly different reason as to why it's totally impossible that the other two want him.

(Before they know each other)

Eddie, being frustrated at the fact that he's no better than any hawkings girl so he's attracted to the two Most Desired jocks. As if those two with their ego and their popularity would want anything to do with someone like Eddie, so beneath their league (from his pov).

(As they're knowing each other)

Steve, being frustrated at the fact that he has gone from dating the cute girls in school to having his biwakening to the two Most Troublesome dudes in hawkings high. He's got nothing in common with them!! They make him feel so out of place when they get into their little nerdy metalhead bubble and start ranting about their shared interests, it's like they forget he's there.

(Just before they talk things out)

And finally Billy, poster child of abandonment issues, being frustrated at the fact that there's no way in hell that two people (let alone those two people) want to have a relationship with him. This is a trap or something to get revenge about-- well, he sure has given Harrington enough reasons. And Eddie, well. He can't really fault him. He wouldn't pick himself either.

130 notas. Fecha de publicación: 12 de septiembre de 2022

2

Both Billy and Eddie have Problems when it comes to handling emotions but like, in totally opposite directions: Eddie doesn't know how to regulate them, his feelings are always Really Strong (he LOVES dnd, and he thinks dio is the COOLEST and he profoundly believes clinging to popularity in high school is the LAMEST THING EVER, and woe you, you're gonna hear about it whether you like it or not, because he has Opinions-- and that's why he ends up being a big weirdo on top of tables).

Billy doesn't know how to express emotions, he clings Terribly Strongly to his cool, aloof façade, and it's not until his feelings go overdrive that he expresses them-- violently, usually. And anyway where I'm going with this is that I totally agree with the popular take that Eddie would be a good influence on Billy because I think that for the first time in forever Billy wouldn't feel threatened to show vulnerability (By example, I'm picturing Eddie loudly celebrating with a silently pleased, a bit flushed Billy because Billy got an A+ in some essay when Billy's dad would tell him that it's his job to keep perfect marks and his jock friends would think that he's a nerd)

132 notas. Fecha de publicación: 24 de septiembre de 2022

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Oh god, I'm honest to god crying from laughter. Here I present you: Billy talking to Eddie about Steve

439 notas. Fecha de publicación: 8 de diciembre de 2022

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[eddiebillysteve]

cat and mouse

(( harringroveson prison au )) chapter eleven | find the rest here

a/n | a forever shoutout to @leticheecopae and @a-redharlequin for always helping me with this fic!! stay tuned for leti's companion fic when it drops because omfg it's SO GOOD. we're also gonna be writing a post-prison fic to continue this world too heh. I LIVE FOR COMMENTS PLS TALK TO ME (i try my best to keep up with commenting back but i am a mess irl rn so i'm struggling with it buT EVERY SINGLE ONE MEANS SO MUCH TO ME)!! Find it on ao3 here !!

warnings | daddy kink, mention of suicide/child murder, billy is recovering in the infirmary, creel is still lurking around so tbh that's its own warning, dom/sub themes, possessiveness, steve being a gay panicked confused mess (this is a permanent tag), general prison talk, stuff like that !!

tag list | @whoringrove @darkandstormyslash @devotionsofmaryoliver @nowhereinthedenn @cherixsays - let me know if you'd like to be tagged in future updates or removed from the list !!

moodboard by @a-redharlequin !!

“He’s complaining there’s something wrong with his chest. Won’t shut up about it. Call for us when you’ve fixed him.”

The officer snorted before slamming the door of the infirmary shut behind him. He knew Eddie was full of shit, but he didn’t care enough to fight him on it. If Eddie wanted to go to the infirmary, he could go. It wasn’t like he could break Hargrove out – and even if they did, they’d only wind up back in their cells or isolation. Whatever game Eddie wanted to play wouldn’t work. 

There were two nurses on the night shift in the infirmary, which was fairly small for such a large prison. A doctor came in every day but for anything really serious the prisoners were transferred out to the closest hospital. Beds lined one wall, only one occupied by an inmate who was dead asleep, and a little further down the hall were the private rooms. He knew Jonathan was in one on watch, and Billy must have been in another. He just had to make it to his room. 

“What’s the matter? You’re having chest pains?” The nurse asked, glancing him up and down before looking at her clipboard. “Are you feeling anxious?”

“Well, yes,” Eddie swallowed, glancing over his shoulder at the door. The guards were outside, listening in case there were any troubling patients, but nothing ever happened in the infirmary. The food was always better and the beds were way more comfortable; no one wanted to fuck it up and be kicked out. “But, listen,” His voice dropped a little. “I need to see Hargrove. He’s in here, isn’t he? Please. I just need to know he’s okay. I know you know what Creel’s like. Everyone knows what he’s like.”

It was dangerous, what he was doing, but he’d been to the infirmary plenty of times before and he knew most of the nurses that worked on the ward. They were all kind and soft aside from one or two that treated the inmates like garbage, but they luckily never worked the night shifts.

“I can’t do that,” She murmured, but Eddie was quickly shaking his head. 

“I know. I know you can’t. But what if you just… go to the bathroom for a few minutes? I’ll be in and out before you’re back. All you know is that I’ve been waiting here. Please. Please,” He didn’t care that he was begging. “I’ll be so quick. I just have to make sure he’s alright. No one will even know. How can I convince you? You want money? Weed? I’ll give you whatever. Billy will too.”

The woman sighed, reaching up to adjust her ponytail. Her coworker, sitting at one of the desks with her back to them, wasn’t paying any attention. “Fine. Go. First door on the left. You’ve got five minutes. I’ll get you when it’s clear.”

“You’re an angel. I owe you,” Eddie whispered, and then he was rushing to the first room on the left as instructed. 

Inside, Billy had sat up in bed. He looked clammy, exhausted, but he was scribbling onto a sheet of paper. He had to let Chrissy – and Max – know he was okay and he wasn’t sure how long it’d take for it to go through. If Creel got a hold of the letter it may have taken weeks, but he chose his words carefully so it wouldn’t be tossed out. 

He paused when the door opened, though, and he wound up doing a double take upon seeing Eddie in the doorway. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Jesus Christ. Thank God you’re alright,” Eddie let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, immediately moving forward to wrap himself around Billy’s body. It tensed underneath him, in pain from the touch, but he did wrap his arms around Eds in return after a second. “Fuck, Bills. I thought you were a fucking goner.”

“Yeah, right. Like I’d ever give that prick the satisfaction of killing me,” He murmured, nuzzling against Eddie’s hair. There was no time to ask how the hell he’d managed to get in, but it didn’t matter. None of it did. “You alright? And Steve? Creel hasn’t fucked with you, has he?”

“No, we’re fine. Don’t worry. I’m looking after Steve,” Eddie pulled back to look him over. “You look like shit. What the fuck did he do to you?”

Billy was silent, jaw tightening slightly. “Doesn’t matter. But I’m going to be stuck here for a little bit. Got a pretty bad infection.”

“An infection? Where?” He glanced downwards to Billy’s covered lap. His assumption was that his hole had been torn; his brain never would have ever considered anywhere else.

“Eds. Stop asking questions,” Billy’s voice shifted into a warning, but it wasn’t cruel or overly harsh. Just enough to get him to back off and quit prodding at things Billy didn’t want to talk about. “Do you have a new cellie?”

For a moment, Eddie was taken aback. “I… yes. How did you know?”

“He told me,” Billy’s face curled into a snarl and he shifted Eddie a little closer in his arms again. It hurt, but he didn’t care. Someone had been touching his property. “Who is he?”

“His name is Jason Carver. Fucking Jesus junkie with a temper. Argyle said he’s in for DV. No idea where he was transferred from. I tried to tell him that you–”

“I know you did,” Billy cut him off. Eddie always made it very clear to anyone who came around that he was very much taken. He was trained well. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’re not in trouble. You’re a good boy. I’m proud of you for looking after Steve like I asked,” His hand moved to Eddie’s hair, stroking it gently, but after a second it curled into it for him to pull Eddie’s ear to his lips. “Listen. You tell Argyle to tell Tommy to deal with him. If it’s not sorted by the time I’m out of here, you let Hagan know he’s in big fucking trouble. I don’t care what he has to do. Just get rid of him.” And then his hand was loosening, back to the soft petting that Eddie was practically purring from. “Has he fucked you? Carver?”

“Yes,” Eddie’s voice was small, but he wasn’t going to lie. He couldn’t lie. He’d been trained to never tell a lie – Billy would always know when he wasn’t being truthful and there were always consequences.  

“Then he’s fucking dead. Tell Freckles to make it look like an overdose or I’ll make it a whole lot messier when I get out of here,” Billy was back to struggling to control his temper, but Eddie brought his hands to his cheeks, cradling his hot face, and he slowly calmed down. 

“I’m sorry. I’m real fucking sorry for what I said,” Eddie blurted out. “I don’t hate you. Obviously. I was just jealous. You were right.”

“I know,” Billy nodded his head a little. “I don’t hate you either.”

Eddie knew it was probably the closest thing he was ever going to get to an I love you, and he didn’t mind. It felt good, made his heart feel warm, full. Put butterflies into his belly.

“Harrington’s not that bad. We had a picnic tonight. Used your radio.”

“Oh yeah?” Billy’s mouth quirked up into a smile. “I’ll let it slide just this once. What’d you talk about?”

“Told him a bit about Creel,” He started, but he shook his head when he felt Billy stiffen. “Not you. I mean, what he did to Jonathan and his brother. I told him how you try to protect Jonathan to spare him anymore trauma. You should have seen the look on his face. He couldn’t believe it.”

“Couldn’t believe that I don’t want Creel fucking with people that can’t handle it? I’m not a total fucking monster,” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t want Creel fucking with anyone, but definitely not Jonathan. That’s a whole new level of fucked up. He gets off on talking about what he did to that innocent kid and it just…” Eddie felt hands tighten into his skin.

“He’s sick. He’s really fucking sick. When you get out we need to come up with a way to get him out of here,” Eddie whispered.

Billy nodded his head and pulled one hand from around Eddie to show him the letter. “Cunningham tried to warn me. No fucking idea how long ago she sent it but it was on the table when I woke up. Creel read it and kept it until after he was finished with me.” He didn’t know if Creel knew the code or not, but the most he could do was hold the letters for a while. He couldn’t toss them without raising suspicion. 

“Damn,” Eddie murmured, grabbing the letter to read over. The nurse would be in any second to get him out, he was sure, but he was going to stay as long as he physically could. He liked hearing about Chrissy, the memories Billy shared with her and the stories she relayed from her prison. It was almost like a weekly television show; they got updates on what the girls had been up to each week and they both looked forward to it. “You done with your reply? I can take it. Mail it off tomorrow. Creel might not get his hands on it that way.”

“Worth a shot,” Billy nodded, quickly looking over his sheet of writing. He quickly finished it, signing it off, before handing it over. 

Max,

Jesus, sis, don’t worry, I’m fine. Got some one-on-one time with a few other guards in here. Got caught with some shit I shouldn’t have had (yeah yeah, don’t get fucking pissy) and the creeps put me in isolation for it. Ended up getting sick after getting a cut from the damn bed frame, a really bad One, but I’ll live. Gonna take more than that to kill me, shitbird. Though sounds like Jonathan got sick too. Really hope someOne isn’t spreading something around.

The fact that someone was psycho enough to try and bring in a dog with hookworms is pretty fucked. Bet you guys got it moved fast; faster than even that psycho bitch expected. I know how much you care about those animals. And maybe you should clip Hissy’s claws, sis. If she doesn’t have a way to fight back then maybe she’ll stop bothering Red, though from what you’ve told me, I doubt it. Cat sounds like a real bitch.

I got a new bitch myself, actually. His name is Steve and he’s got even worse Bambi eyes than Eddie. Seriously, fucker looks like he was made by those artists that make those movies you like. You know the ones. They always put me to sleep, but they were like crack to you. 

Still, I’m a little worried about any of the fucking creepers in here getting their hands on him. He’s about as innocent as they come, and it would take only One bad fucker to do some damage to him. Got Eddie playing babysitter with him while I heal up. 

And Neil better be staying away from you two. He doesn’t, you make sure to call tweedle-dumb and dumber out there immediately. Least those small-town hicks are good for is keeping him out of your shit.

Question for ya, sis. How do you get rid of hookworms? Sounds like a pain in the ass, but it sounds like if there’s even One around then the issue gets worse. Sound like psycho little bugs, just burying in where they can. Bet you’ve found a way to wipe ‘em out over there though. 

And for the bad surprise thing, I mean, who the fuck knows? A surlose? I mean, no prize is won, so what about that? That a weird enough word for ya, Maxipad?

Anyway, I’m about to get some of the good shit and go to sleep for a bit. Stay out of trouble. 

Don’t be like your idiot big brother.

- Billy

Eddie didn’t read it over, instead just folding it and quickly shoving it into his pocket. They were running out of time together.

“Have you told Steve about visitation? How to write letters and make phone calls?” Billy asked then.

“No. He said he doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents. Daddy issues, I think,” He grinned a little and Billy’s mouth curled into a smirk. “But he’s very adamant he’s not gay. I tried to tell him he doesn’t need a label. Just needs to enjoy what feels good.”

“Oh yeah?” Billy rested his head back on the pillow, eyes narrowing the tiniest bit. “You wanna make him feel good, baby? Play daddy while I’m away?”

Eddie’s cheeks turned red and he started to stutter. “No! Not like that. I was just trying to be supportive. Make him feel better. I think he’s a little less scared of you now, he was the one that told me to say I wasn’t feeling well to sneak in and see you. I would have never thought of it.”

“Did he now?” For the first time in days, Billy felt pleasantly surprised. He would have expected Steve to have absolutely no sympathy for him and to be glad he was away. “Well, that was quite nice of him, wasn’t it, sweetheart? You think he deserves a reward for getting you here?” If he wasn’t still so fucked up from what had happened to him, he would have been getting hard at the thought, but the bad memories were still too dominant in his mind. “I think he does. Why don’t you give him a blow tomorrow after work, huh? Give it to him all soft like you know he likes. Really milk a few rounds out of him.” He pulled Eddie down close to him again, lips going to his ear. “Kiss him after. Make sure he can taste himself on your tongue.”

Eddie’s breath caught in his throat and he nearly jumped when the door burst open. “Time’s up. Out you go.”

“Yeah, alright,” He sucked in a breath, desperately hoping his hard on wasn’t going to be visible when he turned around, and gave Billy a tight smile. “Feel better, Hargrove. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Now, Mr. Munson.” 

***

Eddie couldn’t get the idea out of his mind the entire night. When he blew Jason, just to get him to shut up and stop praying, he thought of Steve and how amazing he was going to make the boy feel. He wanted to show him how good it could be, and it was the perfect opportunity with Billy away. There wouldn’t be any fear involved, no intimidating Hargrove watching them. It distracted him the entire day; during meal times, work duty, when he stopped off to send out the letter and grab some more snacks at the commissary. He didn’t even remember he was supposed to tell Argyle about Hagan’s job until dinner time because he was so distracted.

“Oh, sweet. What’d you get?” Steve asked when Eddie once again arrived at his cell with arms full of snacks. It was after dinner, though; they’d already been to the cafeteria and Eddie had been acting weird the entire day.

“One of everything. Billy gives me an allowance every week, I’ve been saving a lot of it,” Eddie brought the snacks over, dumping them on the bunk for Steve to look through. He grabbed the bag of lollipops and gummies he’d gotten, though. “But not these. These are for when you’re a good boy. You can snack on anything else, but not the candies.”

Steve’s cheeks turned bright red and he was suddenly hyper focused on one of the labels like it was the most interesting thing he’d ever read in his life.

“Do you like that?” Eddie’s voice was small, soft, barely there. “Being called a good boy? You can tell me, you know. I’m good at keeping secrets. I won’t tell Billy.”

“I…” Steve swallowed hard, fingers fiddling with the wrapper. “I don’t know.”

“Well, does it make you feel good? The same feeling as when someone calls you handsome or smart?” Eddie’s hands silently started to open the bag of candies. If Steve spoke up, admitted it, he’d get another one. Every time he did something good, he’d get one. 

“I think so. But it shouldn’t.”

“Yes, it should,” Eddie smiled, fingers offering out a sweet. “Here. Because you’re being honest. Honest boys are good boys. Billy taught me that.” Steve smiled a little shyly, gladly accepting the candy to pop into his mouth. “I told him that you were the one that encouraged me to sneak in and go and see him in the infirmary. He was very pleased.”

“Really?” Steve finally glanced up at Eddie’s eyes. 

“Really. You two got off on the wrong foot. I think he’s really looking forward to getting to spend some time with you. Just… normal time. Not the kinda time where he’s trying to assert his dominance or whatever the hell it is he does.” Eddie had to try not to laugh. “We like playing cards together, listening to music. He does a fair bit of reading, too.”

“I don’t read. Something I struggled with in school, all the reading and writing shit,” Steve muttered, reaching out for the box of poptarts. “My ex-girlfriend, her name was Nancy, she would always try to help me out, like with applications for college and stuff. I remember one morning we were sitting in my car in the school parking lot, and she read over the essay I wrote for one of the applications, and she just thought it was horrible even though I’d spent hours on it. Gave me the whole, you know, it’s not that bad, we just have to change a few things, rearrange it a bit, bullshit.” He let out a sigh, opening up a package.

“I bet Bills would read to you,” But then he paused. “I really shouldn’t be calling him that. Should be Hargrove or Daddy. That’s what you should call him when he gets back. I know it’s awkward at first, but it’ll make him melt and be really soft with you. Makes him a lot more bearable to live with,” Eddie encouraged, accepting the piece of poptart that Steve offered out to him. “Thank you for sharing. You get another sweet for that.” He pulled another one out of the bag to give him before shoving the bite of poptart into his mouth.

“I don’t know if I can,” Steve’s cheeks were filling with colour as he flushed at the thought.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to in the beginning, either, but now look at me,” Eddie gave him a grin. “It’s hard at first but I swear after a few days of it it just feels… normal. Just like any nickname. You just have to fake it until it feels fine.”

“But it’s humiliating,” Steve mumbled around the food in his mouth. “I don’t want to. I just want to call him Hargrove.”

“And you can. He accepts that. But I’m just saying, he’s much nicer when you butter him up a bit. Your time here will be much more enjoyable when he spoils you instead of berates you. You’re the only one that thinks it’s embarrassing, by the way. It’s really normal to us. Jonathan calls Argyle daddy all the time, even out in the lunchroom and shit. I only do it in private or just around the two of them.”

“I didn’t even call my own father it, dude,” Steve shook his head a bit. “It’s just a weird fucking word.”

“Who’s it weird to? Your father? All the more reason to use it, then. Reclaim it. Make it your own. Fuck the sperm donor who doesn’t deserve the title, use it for someone else, instead.” Steve laughed the tiniest bit at the words and it made Eddie grin so wide. It was a beautiful sound, he wanted to pull more laughter out of him. “Use it as a great big ‘fuck you’ to him and enjoy it. Totally different meaning when you use it on a partner, anyway. Do you want to practice before he gets out? Get used to it a bit more? You can use it on me to try it out, I don’t mind.”

“Are you telling me to?” Suddenly, Steve’s eyes were quite wide as he looked at Eddie sitting across from him. The look in his eyes, the beginnings of fear and panic, made Eds’ heart hurt.

“No! No. I’m not telling you to do anything,” Eddie blurted, an attempt to wash the fear away before it really set in. “I’m just trying to help. That’s all I ever want to do, Stevie. Seriously. I would never make you do anything.”

Stevie.

The blood rushed to Steve’s cheeks all over again, spreading to his ears, his neck, his chest. Billy had called him the nickname a dozen times, but he didn’t think he’d ever heard it fall from Eddie’s lips. If he had, it was in a moment he was too frazzled or zoned out to pick up on it and register how it sounded – which was really good. He wanted to hear it again.

Eddie shifted a little closer, reaching out to touch one of Steve’s arms. “I just… I’ll keep it real with you, okay? Billy will be out soon. Probably the end of the week, maybe the beginning of next week. And he takes what he wants no matter what anyone says. It’s not going to matter if you say no to him. But I don’t work like that. So if I can help to, you know, ease you in while he’s away, make it a little easier for you when he gets back, I want to do that. Because I wish someone would have done it for me. So you don’t have to, but as someone who was you, I think you should.”

A silence settled between them, but it wasn’t tense. There was a nervous air around Steve, it was obvious he was a bit awkward and uncomfortable, but the fear had dissipated. 

“So I just…” Steve sucked in a breath. “Say it?”

“Well, why don’t we try it with a question?” Eddie encouraged. After another second, he reached out to take the package of poptarts from Steve’s hands.

“Hey–”

“Ask Daddy if you can have them back,” He encouraged, eyes staring intently at the man beside him. “You can do it. You’ll get the poptarts and a candy if you do. I’ll even let you choose if you want a gummy or a lollipop.” 

Steve chewed on his lips for a moment, glancing between Eddie and the snack in his hands. “Can I have it back?” He asked, and only after Eddie raised his eyebrows – a silent, encouraging reminder – did he add the title on. “Daddy?”

The second it came out of his mouth, he was so mortified that he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

Eddie’s face grew into the biggest grin Steve had seen on him yet. He could almost feel the pride bursting from his chest. “Good boy!” He immediately handed Steve back the treat, his other hand going to his hair. He couldn’t help it, he stroked over his locks in the same gentle way he loved receiving from Billy. “Well done. I’m so proud of you. The first time is the hardest, it only gets easier from there.”

“Do I get a candy now?” Steve quickly asked, eyes dropping to the pile to search for the open bag. They couldn’t help but glance over Eddie’s lap, noticing the slightest bulge there, but he didn’t linger – even though a part of him, the part that he refused to acknowledge and accept, the part that liked pretty boys, really wanted to. 

It was a surprise to Eddie that he hadn’t spilled into his pants the second Steve said it. It wasn’t something he’d ever been called before, but he loved it. Maybe too much. He wanted to hear it again, wanted to hear Steve moan it out from underneath him. He suddenly understood why Billy loved hearing it so much – it gave a high like no other, having someone so vulnerable and naive using a title that came with control.

He wondered what Billy was going to have to say about it when he found out. 

“Absolutely you do. Which one?” He asked, holding up the two bags. 

“Gummy bear. One is never enough.”

“Then you’ll just have to be an extra good boy to earn more, won’t you?” Eddie was only half joking. He’d gotten the tiniest little taste of what he could have had and he wanted more. “Billy said something else to me today when I saw him. He said he wanted you to be rewarded for your good idea,” He spoke cautiously, handing over the candy.

“So… more candy?” 

“Not quite,” he laughed through his nose. “He told me to reward you in a different way. But I won’t, obviously. Not unless you want to give it a try. It’s all up to you. Ball is in your court.”

But Eddie could be very convincing if he wanted to be. 

“What did he say?” The words came out despite how nervous Steve was to ask them. 

“Well,” Eddie licked his lips for a second, debating how to phrase it. “He said I should make you feel good.”

“Feel good how?”

“He suggested a blowjob. But not like… You remember when we were in the showers that morning? Not like that. Not rough. And you’d be the one receiving it,” he spoke quickly, trying to make it sound the least bit horrible as possible. “Have you ever had a girl go down on you? It feels good, right? Well, I can do better than that. I’m trained to know what to do. I’ve spent so many hours sucking people off. There was a time when I had to use my mouth on Billy three times a day. I can show you how good I am.”

Steve’s cheeks burned blood red. He didn’t know what to say, how to react. There was some part of him that was afraid to say no after feeling Billy’s wrath, but then another part of him that didn’t even want to say no. 

The part of him that liked pretty boys wanted to beg for it. 

“How about we try it?” Eddie broke the silence. “And if you don’t like it, we’ll stop right away. Alright? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked.” He gave Steve a reassuring smile, hands working to clear off the bed of the stuff he’d brought. “Just… breathe, baby. It’s good. You’re good. Don’t panic.”

Baby.

The butterflies in Steve’s belly started to work overtime and he wasn’t so sure he’d be able to speak if he tried. 

“Here. Let’s get this off, to start,” Eddie murmured, shifting in close to Steve to reach out to pull the sweater and shirt over his head. He let his eyes glide over every inch of skin as it was revealed, admiring every muscle, every hair, every move he made when he breathed in and out. His skin was perfect, spotted with moles and a little pale from the lack of sun since entering prison, but it was clear and smooth and Eddie couldn’t resist rubbing his hands down Steve’s arms once they were bare. “What was your first time like? Tell me about it.”

“I was, uh,” Steve tried to focus on the story, but Eddie’s hands were on him, his arms, his sides, his chest, and it was so distracting. “Thirteen. With this girl I knew from camp. She was older. Sixteen. I didn’t know how to put the condom on. Snapped the first two and she got pissy because I was wasting them.”

Eddie laughed through his nose, his hands going to Steve’s bottoms. He made a little gesture with his head, almost a nod, for Steve to lift his bum up so he could pull the pants off. “Then what?”

“Then I came two seconds after slipping inside,” He muttered.

The laugh Eddie gave was bigger that time, but it wasn’t filled with mockery. He wasn’t laughing at him, just at the teenager-ish scenario that they’d all been in.

“She wasn’t a virgin, though. She liked teaching the–” Steve cut himself off when there was a hand slipping into his briefs. 

“Good boy,” Eddie gave him a grin, watching Steve’s face as Harrington looked down at the bulge of hand working against him. Eds was able to visibly see the blush creeping onto Steve’s cheeks. “And she liked teaching the eager teen boys. That’s what you were going to say. What about your most recent time? On the outside?”

“Nancy,” He practically whispered, and Eddie pulled his hand out long enough to start pulling the underwear down and off. Steve was completely nude while Eddie was completely clothed and they both found it too hot for their own good.

“And did Nancy know how to take care of you?” Eddie leaned forward once the underwear was discarded, starting to trail kisses down his neck, his chest. Once he got down so far, he started to carefully push Steve back against the pillow. 

“Eddie,” He started, but he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. That he didn’t want to go any further? That he didn’t want Nancy to be spoken about? That it felt so wrong but so right all at once?

“I don’t think that’s my name anymore,” Eddie paused his movements, stopping himself from moving down Steve’s body to instead look up at him. “Try again, Stevie.”

Steve was pretty sure his heart was going to hammer out of his chest, it was beating so hard.

He opened his mouth to try, but different words fell out. “I can’t.”

“You can,” Eddie corrected, leaning up on his knees to reach out and hold Steve’s face in his hands. If his hands weren’t so big, Steve could have pretended the gentle touch belonged to his ex that wasn’t front and center in his mind anymore.

For a second he wondered if she knew he’d gotten arrested, and then if she would answer him if he tried to write her a letter. Their breakup had been a little messy, physically on her side and mentally on his side.

Like we’re in love, and we’re partying. Yeah, let’s party, huh? Party. We’re partying. This is bullshit. It’s bullshit.

The memory of Nancy’s drunken words from the previous halloween faded when he felt lips pressing to his. They were soft, but eager, desperate to show who was in charge, and Steve submitted and shrunk down, a silent movement that proved he would obey.

Eddie only parted to catch his breath, looking at the boy beneath him for a good moment before he was moving downwards to settle between Steve’s legs.

“Is this bullshit?”

The words came out of Steve just as Eddie was about to slip his cock into his mouth. They surprised him, confused him, and he looked up at his boy through a too long fringe only to be met with blown, almost sad looking eyes. His brain was somewhere else, thinking of someone else.

Nancy.

“No, baby,” He murmured, shifting away from his cock to kiss whatever other skin he had access to. “Not bullshit. Nothing about this is bullshit. Just gonna take care of you.” His mouth settled on a spot on Steve’s inner thigh, and he sucked hard, wanting to leave dark enough hickies that Billy would still be able to see them when he was released.

Maybe he was marking his territory. Staking his claim. Billy had told him to, afterall. 

“Take real good care of you,” He murmured some more, shifting to the other leg.

“You promise, Daddy?”

Eddie had to pause again, had to pull from his thighs in order to look back up at Steve upon hearing how small his voice sounded, how frightened and sad and broken it was.

“Yeah, baby. I promise.”

***

“Is this really necessary? It’s my sister,” Billy grumbled as the straps were tightened around his wrists. His ankles were already bound to the bottom of the bed. “I’m not going to do shit to her.”

“Just protocol, Mr. Hargrove.”

“I can’t even sit up?” Billy huffed. He hadn’t been surprised when they said he had a visitor refusing to leave. He had assumed Max would freak after getting his letter - but that meant she had gotten it and had forwarded it on. It hadn’t been held, he’d only given it to Eddie the day before last.

Creel hadn’t seen it. 

“No sitting yet. Have to keep the pressure off your rear,” The woman said, unlocking the wheels the bed was on to start to wheel him out of the room and into a room nearby that would act as the makeshift visitor’s room. There were two guards inside, present and ready to monitor them, and it made Billy roll his eyes.

“What do you think I’m going to do? Attack her? I can’t fucking move,” He snapped, and the nurse relocked the wheels so the bed wouldn’t go anywhere.

As soon as she left, his kid sister was being ushered in. “Fuck, Billy. Are you alright?”

“What have I told you about coming to visit?” He gave her a look, raised his eyebrows. 

“Not to, but–”

“Exactly. You shouldn’t be around a place like this, shitbird. You don’t belong around these types of people. It’s dangerous for you.”

“Too bad. I’m here. You can’t stop me,” She glanced him over. What she could see - his bound hands, his neck, his face - looked fine. No bruises. “What did he do to you?”

“Nothing. Cut got infected, that’s all,” He glanced in the direction of the guards. He couldn’t trust any of them now. He didn’t know which ones had been inside the room with him, had been inside of him. “I’m fine, Maxine.”

“Max,” She corrected, like always, and he smirked at her anger. “You’re not fine if they wouldn’t even let you get out of bed.”

“I’m alive, aren’t I? That means I’m fine. Stop worrying.” But then Max let out a sigh, running a hand through her hair. “Your hair’s gotten really long. Thought you didn’t like it too long.”

“You haven’t seen me in ages, Billy. Stop thinking I’m thirteen,” Her voice was gentle, though. He’d been locked away for years, hadn’t gotten the chance to watch her grow up. In his brain, she was permanently the bratty kid that he had to drive around Hawkins to appease his father. “It’s different now. I’m an adult. Helping Mom with the bills.”

Billy couldn’t stop staring at her. It had been awhile since she’d been by, sure, but he didn’t think it’d been that long. His annoying kid sister had vanished, replaced by someone much more womanly, someone that boys would want. 

His face dropped into a scowl.

“You got a boyfriend then? Since you’re all grown up?”

Max rolled her eyes heavily. “I’m here to see if you’re okay, and you’re going to question if I have a boyfriend? This isn’t about me.”

“Not about me, either, dumbass. Didn’t ask you to come. Answer the question.”

“No, Billy, I don’t have a boyfriend,” She sighed and shook her head. “Don’t have the time for it, anyway.”

“If I find out you’re lying–”

“Yeah, yeah,” Max smiled. “I get it. You don’t have to say it.” But then Max ruffled around in her bag for something. It was a messenger bag rather than a purse, which Billy liked. His tomboy sister was still there, even if it was just a little bit. What she pulled out was a small bear, maybe 9 inches tall and looking a little ratty. It was old and made of patchwork pieces of fabric, and he recognized it instantly. It was his bear, the one his Mom had made for him when he was a little boy. It was a bear that his father had flung around and stomped on during his rages, a bear that held so many of his tears that he’d have to hang on the clothesline to make it dry again.

He hadn’t touched it since they’d moved to Hawkins years ago. It sat in a box, in his closet, with the rest of his things that he had from his mother that he couldn’t look at but couldn’t throw away, either.

“Found it when we were moving,” Max said gently. “Looks pretty worn. Figured maybe you might like it.”

Billy was silent. He’d be eaten alive if they knew big bad Billy Hargrove had a bear, but he knew someone that may have liked it – someone that may have been won over a bit by a soft present.

“Yeah. Alright. Thanks, shitbird. Could you just… under the blanket,” He tried to gesture with his bound hand and Max didn’t hesitate to slip the bear beneath the blanket. He’d keep it under there until Eddie snuck back to see him. The guards had clearly already checked through her bag and approved its contents, he didn’t have to show anyone that it was under there. He didn’t want anything to happen to it, as much as he hated his mother. “Might get you to bring me a few other things. I’ll let you know, send you a–”

“And who is this?”

The panic that hit Billy weighed more than a thousand bricks, nearly knocking the wind out of him. “Nobody. Just a friend.”

Creel stood in the doorway, hands folded in front of him and a thin smile on his face. “Oh? They let just anybody visit patients in the infirmary?”

Billy silently begged Max to leave with his eyes. Creel couldn’t find out about her being his sister. He couldn’t have any more information on him than he already did. 

“Apparently. I was just on my way out,” Max glanced at the man, eyes flickering up and down, throwing the strap of her bag over her head before going to the door. 

Creel shifted, blocking her from exiting. Billy slowly started to pull at the restraints; Creel could do anything to her and he wouldn’t be able to stop it. Slowly his chest started to heave.

“Do you need something? I’m going to be late for work,” Max asked him.

“Where is it you work, dear?”

The man gave Max the worst vibes she’d ever felt. It was obvious he was a guard– from the uniform he had on– but then it hit her. This was him, the One that was always secretly spoken about in the letters. The person Chrissy had tried to warn Billy about. She glanced back at her brother, who looked paralyzed with fear, and it made her stomach drop. 

“Don’t think that’s any of your business.”

Creel’s smile widened a bit and he looked at Billy. “Fiesty one, she is. Almost reminds me of you, 62097. Even more so now that I’ve suddenly remembered only immediate family members can visit inmates in the infirmary.”

Max was thankfully a quick thinker and she came up with a plan the second she decided she didn’t want her brother left alone with the man that had the devil in his eyes. “Excuse me, Nurse?” She called out the open doorway, shoving past Creel to find the woman that was waiting outside to bring Billy back to the infirmary. “He’s not feeling really well. Think you should get him back to the infirmary.”

The eyes she met when she looked back to Creel were angry. She’d ruined his fun before it’d even begun.

[disdaidal]

😈🍆🎨🧠🤩🤯

😈 Has there been a point in a story where you did something just to be playfully mean to your readers?

Well, I love to write angst and torture my boys a little bit, so would that count? 😇

🍆 Do you write the spicy stuffs? If so, what’s your most popular nsfw fic?

I do, in fact, write spicy stuff. XD I have some in the works atm. I just haven't published anything on AO3 yet. I wrote some for my old fandom, on LJ, many years ago though.

I think this Harringrove fic comes closest to the spiciest stuff I've published on ao3, but it's pretty mellow. :D

🎨 How do you feel about fan art of your stories?

No one's made fanart of my stories yet. XD A couple of people have written stories of my edits, however, and it makes my heart go boom. <3

🧠 Pick a character, and I'll tell you my favorite headcanon for them.

Should I pick a character here or? Anyway, one of my favorite (and unpopular) headcanons for Billy is that he hates reading but does well at math and physics. (Why? I've known a few guys act exactly like him and they hated reading but were good at math/chemistry/physics. A couple of them in fact bullied me at school jdjhghg. So I'm projecting here I guess?)

So, because physics and chemistry are for nerds, and being good at school is for losers, Billy's an underachiever and allows his grades to drop on purpose because he's trying to fit in with "the cool guys", and because he's desperately trying to please his piece of a shit dad who wants him to excel at sports, not in academics.

Billy's frustrated because he knows he could do better, and he knows that he could have a future in science but his low grades aren't doing him any favors. He cares too much about other people's opinions of him, and it's about to ruin his future plans.

(But of course, someone who cares about him will step up and encourage him to do better. Any character of your choice, heh.)

🤩 Who is your favorite character to write?

I already answered this in another ask but while I like writing Billy, I also like to headcanon stuff for Steve because we only know bits and bits about his family and childhood. I also relate to some of Eddie's problems, and I could easily picture myself projecting onto him. So writing them, along with Billy, is (going to be) a journey itself. :)

🤯 What's a genre you struggle with as a writer (ex. romance, action, etc.)?

I think anything that requires me to do a lot of studying and planning beforehand to make it sound more realistic. For example, a few people have been requesting me to write something for my Harringrove Rich Boy x Detective AU here. But I know absolutely nothing about the American police work or how business works etc. (and yeah I know, it's fiction we can do whatever we like yadda yadda), but I'm serious. XD I just don't think I can do it (but maybe someone else can *wink wink*).

Another AU of mine, which is actually one of the first Harringrove AU plots I ever came up with, was a nurse x mental patient AU. I could honestly even write something for this and I did start writing it (because I have personal experience from this kind of thing). But because it's also a heavy subject for me and a heavy topic overall, writing it has been giving me a lot of trouble.

Also, smut? I read smut all the time. I get inspiration for that from different things. But why is writing it so goddamn hard?!?!? I don't get it. 😂

fanfic writer emoji ask

[starkerforlife6969]

Tony Stark’s Home for Wayward Monsters

irondad and spiderson fluff

Tony’s life isn’t normal. He’s always known that. Hell, he’s Ironman. He’s been to outer space. Seen planets, defeated monsters, and when his own little boy gets bitten by a radioactive spider, honestly-

It’s all part and parcel of his life.

Peter Stark is the cutest little six year old in the world, as far as Tony and the other avengers are concerned. He’s so tiny, with the chubbiest cheeks and angelic chestnut curls and he bounces around and climbs up ceilings and makes little web-hammocks in the corner of rooms and often scares the life out of his old man by poking his little head down from the ceiling and Tony jumps so hard he nearly breaks his leg.

Peter is also the sweetest thing in the world. He’s such a good kid. Kind to a fault, and Tony would destroy everyone if Peter so much as grazed his knee.

Peter eats all his vegetables and gets excited by homework and is patient and adoring when watching Tony in lab- all big deer eyes and enthusiastically asking if he can have a go with the radioactive goo now, please daddy?

Natasha strolls in after picking Peter up from kindergarten one sunny afternoon, and Tony sips his coffee, frowning at the look on her face. She looks happy. That’s never a great sign-

And then Peter walks in-

He’s got a gigantic husky in his arms. The dog is bigger than him, seriously- but Peter’s strength- Christ- and that dog is all teeth and scabbed fur and-

“Daddy! Daddy! Look, Auntie Nat and I found a puppy!” says the big ball of fur with legs.

Tony stands, immediately wanting to yank Peter away from the dangerous canine, but the husky is apparently very content to be petted as Peter sets him down and then throws his arms around him in a bear hug.

The husky hooks its giant head over Peter’s shoulder- surrounding the boy- and bares his teeth as if Peter’s his young and Tony is the threat when-

Natasha takes pity on him, and hoists Peter easily out of the dog’s hold, and into Tony’s arms.

Peter giggles delightedly- dog fur all over his clothes. “Can we, daddy? Please! Please, please! I’ll look after him, I promise!” And his eyes are so wide and so earnest and-

Tony can’t say no.

***

But he taught his son a lesson that day. He taught his son that scared things, with too many teeth and not enough love, are to be brought up to the penthouse for their new home.

Peter, not two weeks later, comes in with Bruce (who was on pick up duty today, not like it’s a chore, though) and a man smeared with dirt and one very shiny metal arm.

“Daddy!” Peter announces proudly, “this is Bucky!”, and he tugs ‘Bucky’ (who looks so terrifyingly like an assassin that Tony briefly considers suiting up) into the penthouse.

Bruce looks utterly dazed.

Bucky looks frightened.

Ginger- the ferocious, but in actuality adorable, husky, rushes over to lick Peter’s face, and then nuzzle like a cat between Bucky’s legs.

Bucky relaxes, just a little, and pets the dog’s head.

“He was lost, daddy! And he doesn’t have a home!” His little face looks utterly-heart broken, and Tony stares in disbelief.

“I…” Bucky shakes his head, and tries to gently extract his fingers from Peter’s little hands, and looks very confused when the grip doesn’t come away. “I…He found me- I was- in an alley, and he said- something about-“

“A feeling,” Tony sighs. Peter’s ‘spider-sense’. A sort of extra-sense that tells him when something wrong is happening close by. “Listen, Peter- I’m sure Bucky here has-“

“Nowhere to go.” Peter pouts firmly, looking up at Tony with wide-eyes that glimmer with betrayal. “We’re gonna…he’s staying, right daddy?” He whispers, and Tony looks down at his little boy and-

Gives Bucky a guest room.

Just for the night.

***

Three weeks later, Bucky - the winter soldier- is firmly a part of the family. He takes Ginger for walks and has nightmares which make him stay up late at night with Tony in the lab, talking in hushed tones about Hydra, and giving information that’s vital- incredibly vital- to tracking down the last remnants of them.

Steve had taken one look at him and Tony had groaned.

Steve’s eyes had gone immensely blue and his jaw had dropped and Bucky had blushed and-

Tony had pinched the bridge of his nose and poured more coffee, before making Peter another blueberry pancake.

*** Peter is a few days before his seventh birthday, when he comes home with an astounded Clint, and a man with long black hair and angry-defiance in his eyes.

Peter is also dragging a huge hammer in his free hand.

It’s leaving a dent in the floor.

Tony stares.

And then sighs.

So Loki is a god, who Peter and Clint had stumbled across on their way home (maybe Tony should switch Peter’s school) and found Loki crying and trying to lift this hammer.

Peter had thought he’d needed help- and lifted it in one easy motion and now-

His seven year old is heir to the throne of a planet he’s never heard of.

“Cool,” Clint grins, ruffling Peter’s curls as Loki sulks in the corner, “make me a Duke or something, yeah, Petey?”

Peter shakes his head solemnly. “That would be abusing my powers.”

Tony can’t help it- he laughs. But he waggles a stern finger at Loki. “We are not keeping him.”

Loki gapes indignantly. Peter scrunches up his tiny nose in confusion. “But he’s hurt- and we…we help people when they’re sad and lost, don’t we, daddy?”

Bucky doesn’t meet Tony’s eyes, and Tony sighs.

*** It turns out though, Loki only stays for a few months.

And it’s a shame, really, because- goddamnit, the snooty prince was starting to grow on Tony.

Loki could conjure allusions- beautiful and intricate- and had spent a great many hours showing Peter little stories in the air- looking pleased at Peter’s effusive praise over Loki’s talents.

Loki could shape-shift- into anything- but mostly a pretty pony that Peter would ride around the penthouse.

Although, Loki sometimes stared at Tony’s arc-reactor for a touch too long, like he wanted to steal it and its power-

But then Peter would ask for some hot chocolate and tug on the end of Loki’s green robes and-

The god would settle back down.

But then in a hail of thunder and lighting, there’s another god landing in his living room- yelling with joy over having found his brother and his hammer and the new heir to the throne-

And Tony finds himself with the newest member of the avengers.

*** Bucky’s packing to move in with Steve when Peter’s eleven.

Tony muses over how different the penthouse will be without him-

And that’s when Peter comes home with a homeless man.

“He’s not homeless, dad,” Peter rolls his eyes, dragging in the sweaty wreck of a human being in behind him, “he’s got a symbiote.”

“It’s a parasite!” The man chokes desperately, looking like he’d love to run out, but his limbs keep jerkily propelling him forward. “A parasite!”

“Don’t call Venom that!” Peter scolds, reaching out his hand to pat some black goo on Eddie’s arm. “He’s much more than a parasite.”

“Yes, little spider,” croons a hissing voice that Tony- Tony cannot be dealing with this shit right now. “The spider understands. The spider would make a good host. But not better than you, our dearest Eddie-“

Tony hoists Peter up into his arms, settling him on his hip and shaking his head at Eddie (who he’s starting to recognise as that reporter who went missing) and saying firmly: “Ground rule: No using my son as a host.”

Eddie scrubs his face deliriously, and Venom asks for chocolate.

***

On Halloween night, Eddie comes back complaining about the taste of blood in the back of his throat, but his arms are cradled protectively around Peter who’s cuddled into his chest- supported by a tangled mass of black lines.

Tony looks up from his work and jerks to his feet- rushing over to his son.

“Some dude- tried to grab him.” Eddie whispers, and Peter is still crying a little, and Tony holds him tight- heart pounding. “We- I- We- we ate him.” Eddie mumbles. “Sorry.”

Tony decides right then and there, that Eddie might be his favourite... monster?Stray?

Tony spends the whole night eating chocolate with his son, praising him, telling him how kind and good and amazingly brave he is, and Ginger snuffles into Peter’s neck until the boy starts smiling again- wobbly and cautious.

Thor and Loki visit as soon as they realise what’s happened.

They bring a ship full of Asgardian gold.

Bucky comes too- and tells Peter about nightmares and how to make them go away.

Tony thinks there might be a thing to having a home for Wayward….monsters? Strays? Alien-people?

*** When Peter’s sixteen, he brings home a stray in the form of a boyfriend, and Tony is saying no before they’re even introduced.

“Dad,” Peter grins, rocking on his heels excitedly. “This is Wade-“

“No.” Tony says, but he has a horrifying feeling he’s already lost, because Wade is smiling like he won the lottery and- “No.” Tony says again, horrified.

Maybe he will send Peter to be the Asgardian King after all.

At least there won’t be any Wade Wilsons in space.

(Tony says yes, 6 years later, when Wade asks for permission for Peter’s hand. He also blasts him right in the chest with his gauntlet and Wade lets out a little ‘oof’. “You treat him right.” Tony says, though he’s said it before, and Wade has never ever treated Peter wrong. “It’s not just me who’ll destroy you- there are-“

“I get it, I get it. A whole universe of people on Pete’s side. Damn, your son’s really good at making alliances. You know he met some woman the other day? We were walking along and he got this feeling, so we went over to an old blockbusters and this woman named Carol was-“

“No.” Tony says, walking away. “No.”)

[thepaperpanda]

The Interview || Venom x Reader + Avengers

V+A

Summary: After defeating Thanos, Venom has few days off. It's until Captain America and Iron Man themselves appear at Eddie's office for promised interview.

Warnings: None

Words: 1875

Requests: @thewildgardensstuff

Author: Cass & Rouge

Steve Rogers was sitting in a waiting room, reading some newspaper that he found on a coffee table. He drank two coffees already while waiting for Eddie Brock to show up.

They were set on an interview but reporter was getting late and Steve started to thinking that Brock probably forgot about appointment. "Would you be so kind to call him once again?," Steve asked a receptionist.

She smiled hesitantly. "I did few times with no response. I'm sorry. Please, be patient, I believe he's on his way."

Tony rolled his eyes. "I can't believe this! We waste our time here, right now I would be sitting in my lab creating some amazing tech and you would…," he look at Steve, "be sighing sadly to Peggy's photo or whatever you super soldier do, but no! You dragged me here," Tony growled.

Captain cocked his brow angrily. "Petience, Stark. It's one of these virtues that you lack," he said, sipping black liquid from his mug. "Brock and his alien friend have saved the world after all, we owe him this interview at least."

"Says the guy that drinks coffee like crazy. I own him nothin', simple 'okay thanks!' would be enough, but our golden hearted soldier had to be like 'sure! Interview is cool'. We're on first pages all around New York. Like it's not enough. I am going home," Tony got up from his seat.

Just in that minute Eddie bursted right through the door. "Shit! Sorry! So sorry, I am late! But I am here now! Come on, I mean. Good Morning Mr. Rogers and Mr. Stark. Let's go to my office and well... Let's start," Eddie was in such a rush that he even didn't notice he still was wearing his riding helmet.

"Take this shit off your dumb head, you turd," Venom growled in man's mind. "Like you wouldn't look ridiculous enough without this shit on your huge head."

Steve smiled and walked to Brock, he shook man's hand. "Hello. It's not a problem, at all, right, Tony?"

Eddie blinked and quickly removed the helmet.

Tony smiled sarcastically. "Oh no! No, no, no, not a problem. At all. It's not like we have world to protect. F.R.I.D.A.Y says we have a day off today," Tony said sarcastically.

"I am still so sorry I forced such a guests to wait," Eddie said and led them to his office.

When Brock went ahead, Steve approached Tony and snorted into his ear. "Only for this one time try to restrain your awful personality, Stark."

They both entered the office with a beautiful view on the San Francisco. "You have a nice place here, Eddie," Steve smiled at man as he took a seat in an armchair.

"Nah, you never stop you child-like wonder and boyish charm, Cap. No, thanks." Tony muttered and followed Eddie inside his office. He sat down next to Steve and shrugged.

"Thank you, it's nothing really. I bet it's not like your famous Avengers Tower," Eddie said.

"No, it's not. You are right here, Mr. Alien friend," Tony said with smile.

Captain rolled his eyes and let out a loud sigh. "I'm sorry for my friend, he likes to be a dick sometimes," he explained. "So, what are your questions, Eddie?"

Venom formed himself and out his chin on Eddie's shoulder. "Hi, tasty guys."

"What? He said it himself. I just agreed with him. Agreeing with someone is beeing a dick?," Tony blinked and looked a Venom. "AH! Thanos eater, himself… Or…  Itself?"

Eddie let out a little laugh. "So, uhm. How is it to be an avenger? I mean, you do a lot of things. Isn't it a bit too much sometimes?"

"It's overwhelming actually," Steve said. "But as long as we do a good job with eliminating all possible threats, I enjoy it."

Venom's eyes glistened from sun rays that were falling into the room through a window. "Mr Rogers sounds so reasonable. And looks yummy."

"Venom, stop that. Please," Eddie said and looked at Tony. "Mr. Stark?"

Tony looked up. "I agree with Cap. I mean, it's hard but we are heroes, right? I enjoy it because ladies love the hero type," he smiled explaining openly.

Eddie blinked and nodded slowly. "Any... Not so nice stories you can shear with us?"

"Jesus, Tony," Steve facepalmed. "Well. We have few," he said, glaring at Stark. "Sokovia… for example."

Tony knew that look. He knew that Cap blamed him for Ultron outburst, just like everyone else. Tony sighed, glaring at Steve. "Winter Soldier and so called 'Civil war'."

Eddie blinked and let out an akward laugh, feeling the tension growing between two Avengers. "S-Somwthing else? I mean, even we heard about those events... I was asking about some small stuff. Maybe funny even?"

"Being the Avenger doesn't mean a lot of funny things to happen, at least that's my opinion," Rogers said. "But I always like when we all are reunited. That's it. Our team is a family to me," Steve giggled, not looking at Tony.

Venom yawned. "Eddie. We're hungry."

"It is a lot of fun! Imagine this big guy," Stark pointed at Cap, "talking to a printer, saying stuff like 'come on, magic box, copy this documets for me'. But overall Rogers is right. Reunions are nice. One big family."

Eddie nodded and looked at Venom. "V, you see I am busy," he then turned back to Cap and Tony. "Bigest fears? Biggest dreams? I know this are kinda silly questions, but you know," Eddie winked at them.

Steve didn't want to admit it but Tony's comment about Steve's problems with technologies of any kind cheered him up. "That's truth. I might be out of ice since few years now yet all this things are still so incomprehensible to me," said he. "I still try to accommodate."

Venom poked Eddie's cheek. "Man, please, we're starving in here!"

Steve smiled and let of a soft laughter. "I think I have Twinkies in my bag." After these words Captain opened his leather bag and pulled out a pack of Twinkies.

Venom has opened his eyes wide and licked his long fangs. "Share, share?," symbiote asked politely, smiling.

"You can have even entire pack," Steve got up and walked to Eddie's desk, he out cookies on the counter.

Venom looked at Eddie. He remembered what Eddie has told them recently. If they want to eat something when there are other people in the same room, they should behave according to something that Eddie called savoir vivre. It meant they couldn't eat loudly and fiercely, they couldn't make noises.

Venom though about it for awhile and licked his fangs, he was shivering all over his body. And even though he knew they weren't alone with Eddie, and that Eddie asked him to behave before that meeting, Venom opened his jaw widely, letting saliva drip onto the counter of desk and he ate entire pack, including a cardboard.

"Hrr, yummy! Thank you, Cap Bootylicious!"

Eddie let out a loud sigh and shook his head. "I am so sorry for him... This creature isn't from here and well," Eddie shrugged with soft smile.

"I have something too. I had to eat it later but... There ya go," Tonny said pulling out a chocolate bar from pocket of his jacket. "Originally it had to be for Peter... But he fell down with his grades," Tony shrugged, putting bar on the table.

Venom instantly ate the bar, humming loudly as he did. "Yass, that was precious, we're feeling so so good now," Venom stated and snuggled with Eddie. "We love you, guys. Even you, Ed."

Captain laughed loudly and shook his head. "It's not that we haven't seen things similar to this before," he said. "You're welcome, Venom."

"Wow. Thanks, Venom," Eddie rolled his eyes. "Okay guys, two last questions and.... You didn't answer on last ones," Edie reminded softly. He started to pet Venom gently. "So, biggest fears and dreams that were the previous question. Do you love what you two and others are doing? And any interesing words to our readers?"

"I'm afraid of failure and losing people that I love," Steve said and smiled as he noticed how Venom nuzzled to Eddie's neck. "I like what we're doing. It's important that Earth has protectors," he added.

Tony storked his hair. "I am afraid of being alone and just like Steve. I am afraid of losing people I love and care about," he nodded. "I love what we do. It helps me repay my faults and fix past mistakes. Once I was taking lives. Now I am saving them. Mostly. And words to your readers. Do not be afraid, Avengers are here to save the day," Tony added quickly and shrugged, looking at Steve. "And golden thoughts, Cap? Maybe something like you have recorded for Peter's school?," he joked.

Steve rolled his eyes and looked at Venom. "If he's gonna be so annoying, I'll let you eat him alive."

Venom blinked and stiffened. "Gladly, with pleasure!," he licked his fangs. "Even though he's more like sardines can, we will eat him."

Steve rubbed back of his head. "All I can say is spread love, not hate."

Tony blinked. "HEY! I am not a sardines can! And you cannot eat good people? Right?!"

Eddie nodded. "That's true, V you can't eat Tony Stark. He is a good guy." Then Eddie checked if everything was recoded and clapped his hands happily. "I guess we are done. You two were just... Simply amazing! Thank you so much!"

"Pleasure is on our side," Steve said and shook Eddie's hand. He also petted Venom's head.

Symbiote opened his eyes widely, humming. "What a shame you ain't gay, Ed. Captain's so precious."

"Yea. Exactly what he said," Tony agreed with Cap.

Eddie blinked and blished. "VENOM?! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!"

"You call it truth. We say the truth. Look. Captain. Glorious, gorgeous hero. America's ass. Bootylicious. Handsome and tall. Good man. And you. Not tall, chubby, kinda handsome, with strange ambitions, socially awkward and unsuccessful with women," Venom summed up.

Captain blinked and laughed hardly, almost choking himself with a water he was sipping.

"I have a girlfriend, you idiot!" Eddie growled at Venon. "I am not all of this! You are."

Tony simply laughed at the whole show, shaking his head slightly.

Steve smiled. "That's so nice Venom but well, Eddie wouldn't have a chance. No offense, of course, but I am taken," he shrugged.

"What?!" Tony and Eddie said in union.

"By who?," Venom was seemingly interested in topic.

"It's a secret," Steve winked at Venom and Eddie. "Maybe one day you'll figure out."

Tony rubbed his chin, thinking. "That's weird, Cap," he said and looked at his watch. "I think our time runs out."

Eddie looked at clock, too. "I think so, I don't want to hold you any longer. World to save and all."

Captain and Stark greeted Eddie and left.

Venom let out a sigh. "And we have almost provided you new friends."

"They are way ower me. Sadly we could never be real friends, V. Let's go get something to eat and then sit to writing, Y/N will come to check on us later."

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