#he loves Dustin and they are brothers but by god Steve does not have the same freedom with him that he has with Robin yk

[extraclwnporeal]

I hope it's clear to my audience that no matter how much I love steddie, platonic stobin is always a priority.

Steve and Robin's soulmatism is real and they are codependent, period. If there's a scenario in which Steve have to choose between Robin or Eddie, I'll make him choose Robin, and I'll make Eddie CONSCIOUS of it. Like, Robin is the first one to look at Steve and really see him and by God he'll love her for it.

I'll never write something Steve-centered that does not have a mention of Robin, at least. A ficlet in which Robin does not take a important role in his life? Get real. They're two halves, thus they're one.

[ofknowlcdge]

steve calling dnd dice game and other names it isn’t on purpose. Does it give him enjoyment that he sees the looks Dustin has? yes, yes it does and he’ll keep it up for the sake the faces the kid makes.

[steddiecameraroll]

“Whatever, now he’s just somebody that I used to know.” Steve shakes his head in annoyance.

Dustin won’t let it go. He’s still trying to get Steve to go with him to visit Eddie. As if he wants to travel across state lines to visit his ex boyfriend. Ex being the keyword.

“Yeah but he used to be your boyfriend. Come on, Steve. Eddie would be so surprised.”

“No shit. I’m sure he’d throw open the door and just be so elated to see me standing there. Toss his arms up and cheer with glee.” Steve swears Dustin better hear the sarcasm dripping from his tone.

“He will! I swear.”

“Have you absolutely lost it? Do you not remember how he broke up with me? He sent Jeff to my place to pick up his shit. Couldn’t even bother to do it himself. Then he changed his fucking number, Dustin. Does that sound like someone that would be happy to see me? He couldn’t risk the tiny chance that I would reach out to him. He went far enough to avoid me that he moved and didn’t say a fucking thing. So no, I won’t be joining you on this lovely weekend trip to Chicago. And for the love of god, stop asking me.” He punctuates his point by slamming the refrigerator door shut.

“Sorry, ok, I’ll stop.”

Steve glares over his shoulder at the boy. He can’t believe Dustin could have forgotten how painful their break up had been for Steve. Eddie dumping him out of the blue and subsequently disappearing like none of it meant anything to him. As if their relationship was just a smudge to be wiped away with a damp cloth.

Steve’s just made it to the angry stage of it all and for Dustin to completely disregard his feelings is especially crushing. He knows their relationship veers closer to a sibling connection. It’s why Dustin’s usual prodding doesn’t drive him as crazy as it does others but there is a time and place, and the subject matter of Eddie Munson is never an option. Not to Steve at least.

“I just thought-“

“Don’t,” Steve cuts the boy off. “It’s over. I’ve accepted it, you should too.”

Dustin nods silently with a twist to his mouth.

“I beg you, never speak to me about him ever again. If he wants to act like I don’t exist, then I get to do the same thing.”

“No, but Steve, that’s not- he asks about you all the time!” Dustin rushes out before Steve can strangle him.

Steve whips around scowling at the boy. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m not, no, he does! I swear, Steve.” Dustin rushes to keep up pace with Steve when he turns heel and rushes out of the kitchen.

“Stop it,” Steve grits out.

“I swear on my mother. Every time I call him he asks how you’re doing. Or what classes you’re taking. Or how your new job is.”

Steve’s fingers are digging into his palms as he fists his hands at his sides. He’s trying so hard not to lose his shit right now. He’s breathing heavy as Dustin stomps behind him down the hallway.

“I swear, just come with me. He misses you.”

“SHUT UP,” Steve spins around and yells in Dustin’s face. “No he doesn’t! No he doesn’t! If he did then he wouldn’t have done it. He wouldn’t have left without saying a word. He wouldn’t have ripped my heart out and destroyed me.” Steve’s anger is fizzing over into sorrow and he knows he’s failing at keeping the tears at bay.

“Steve?” Dustin’s voice cracks.

“NO!” Steve throws his finger in Dustin’s face. “I don’t want to hear it. I loved him and he betrayed me. He means nothing to me now. Nothing. Do you understand?” Dustin nods nervously. “He’s just some guy, now.”

Steve sighs with a heavy heart. Every muscle in his body is immediately exhausted. He thought he was done having to think about Eddie Munson. Thought he was past the point of letting the man get to him but here he is shaking profusely and on the verge of breaking down because Dustin is asking him to go on a road trip.

“Dustin, please.” Steve asks shakily. He’s so close to tears. “If you care about me even a little, you won’t do this to me. You don’t understand. He was just your friend, brother in arms and all. He was my-,” Steve chokes back the lump in his throat. “He was my everything. And if what you’re saying is true, then Eddie can try and fix this himself. He can get in his fucking piece of shit van and drive his goddamn ass back here and tell me himself. I’m the victim here. He did this so he can fix it. Now get out.”

“Steve,” Dustin pleads.

“No. Get. Out.”

Dustin nods solemnly then shuffles around gathering his things, and leaving Steve alone a few minutes later. Once Steve hears the front door close with a soft click, he collapses onto his couch and cries into one of the throw pillows.

[stevie-petey]

episode seven: the mind flayer

Steve, who is leaning next to Dustin and you, snaps his finger. “Like the Germans?” “Uh… The Nazis?” Your brother looks at you, silently urging you to shut the teen up, and you pinch your nose again and sigh. “Oh, buddy.” You loop your arm through his and pat Steve’s shoulder. “Let’s just listen, okay?”

Summary: jonathan is back and has a lot of questions and you have even more for him, the gang gets back together and ties will to a chair, you tell the kid a story to distract him from his demons, steve is a confused mess but at least youre with him, and someone makes a surprise appearance (her name rhymes with shell).

Rating: general, cursing

Warnings: use of y/n, fem!reader, talk of death and grief, violence and blood

Words: 12.1k

Before you swing in: long time no see ! lots has happened, and this chapter was a pain for so many reasons, but shes here and i love her and i so sincerely hope yall enjoy :)

-

Stumbling blindly through dark woods while holding your bloodied ribcage has never been your favorite activity. Neither is following after a bunch of Demodogs to probably once again sacrifice your life to save others, yet here you are.

Steve has a gentle hand resting on the small of your back as he helps you navigate the woods. Dustin is to your left, scanning for anything that could possibly trip you as the three of you walk in a line. Lucas and Max follow, both of whom watch you with weary eyes.

Sure, you probably don’t look too good, but honestly. You’ve been objectively worse.

“You’re positive that was Dart?” Lucas asks, breaking the silence.

“Yes,” Dustin sighs next to you, kicking at a twig in your way. “He had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt.”

“Why do you have his butt memorized?” You mumble under your breath, which Steve chuckles at.

Max shakes her head. “But he was tiny two days ago.”

“Well, he’s molted three times already.” Dustin kicks at another twig, this time with more anger behind it. He’s on edge, and you know he’s worried that somehow Lucas will figure out that he kept Dart all this time.

You’d help the kid, but he dug his own grave.

“Malted?” Steve asks, looking over to you to see if you’re hearing what he’s hearing.

“No, buddy.” You shake your head at him, slightly endeared by the confusion on his face.

“Molted,” your brother clarifies. “Shed his skin to make room for growth, like hornworms.”

“I don’t think Steve knows what hornworms are, Dustin.”

The boy sighs, knowing you’re right, and continues to walk.

Max, however, won’t let the topic go. “When’s he gonna molt again?”

“It's gotta be soon.” Dustin responds, now looking around tiredly. He doesn’t have to tell you, but you saw how quickly Dart grew overnight; he’s grown at an alarming rate. “When he does he’ll be fully grown, or close to it.”

“And so will his friends,” you say grimly.

It’s quiet for a moment after that, your words unnerving the group. Everyone but Max had to deal with a fully grown Demogorgon last year, and none of you have forgotten how terrifying it had been. You all still have scars from it, both metaphorically and physically.

After a minute or so, Steve tries to lighten up the situation. “Well, at least there isn’t another cat for them to eat–”

“Steve–” But you’re too late, Lucas has already picked up on what the teen is saying.

The boy shoves past you and whips around to face Dustin, angrier than you’ve ever seen him. “Wait, a cat? Dart ate a cat?”

“No, what? No!” Your brother is a terrible liar.

“What are you talking about? He ate Mews–” Your elbow digs into Steve’s side, causing him to hunch over and wheeze. “Shit.”

You force Steve’s head up so that he looks at you while you forcefully whisper, “Stop. Talking.”

“Mews? Who’s Mews?”

You turn to Max. “It’s nothing–”

“It’s their cat,” Steve wheezes out, still not at all understanding the situation.

“Steve!” You and Dustin screech at the same time. God, maybe it does make sense that he’s barely graduating high school.

“I knew it! You kept him!” Lucas shouts at Dustin, before turning to you with hurt in his eyes. “And you let him hide it from the party?”

You wince. “I had a suspicion, but by the time I found out it had already been too late and–”

“He missed me. He wanted to come home… and Y/N just happened to not know about it for a while.” Dustin interrupts, trying to appease his friend, but it doesn’t work.

“Bullshit!”

“I didn’t know he was a Demogorgon, okay?”

“Oh, so now you admit it?”

You try to intervene, you’ve always hated when the boys fight. “Listen, what’s done is done and it’s too late to be angry now.”

Lucas scoffs. “I crawled into a dumpster to find Dart!”

“And that was a conscious decision that you made–”

“Guys!” Max steps in. “Who cares? We have to go.”

“I care!” Lucas faces Dustin again. “You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!”

“So did you!” You’ve never heard anger like this come out from Dustin. It isn’t an anger that spills over from a regular argument. Your eyes flicker to Max and you know that the anger is one that stems from hurt.

You remember how excited Dustin had been to tell you about his crush on the girl. Now, after she came here with Lucas, you fear you may have to have a code blue soon with your brother about young love and heartbreak. Unrequited crushes suck.

The kids all begin to scream at one another and you’re too tired to try and intervene again. Technically, they’re all right. Lucas shouldn’t have told Max everything, Dustin shouldn’t have hid Dart, and both boys shouldn’t continuously treat Max like some weird outsider.

As they argue, Steve rubs small circles in your back, sensing how exhausted you are. While your bleeding may have stopped, you still feel woozy from the blood loss and could really go for some water and food right now.

“They’ll figure it out,” he assures you, breath warm against your ear, and all you can do is sigh.

You’re about to tell Steve that maybe you should all walk back home, it’s late and the kids are all too mad at one another to be of any help, but then you hear screeching coming from the distance.

You both freeze.

Slowly, the two of you step away from the kids to follow after the sound. They’re too busy arguing to notice, but the screeching continues to grow louder and you share a look with Steve. This isn’t good.

“Hey guys?” Steve calls towards the kids, hand never leaving your back.

The kids continue to argue, ignoring him, and you bring your fingers to your lips and let out a high pitched whistle. “Idiots!” Lucas, Dustin, and Max all go quiet, looking over at you. More screeches fill the silence, and you tilt your head towards the sound. “Hear that? Shall we continue to fight or are we done here?”

Steve flashes his light towards the source of the sound and beckons for the kids to follow. You stay behind, both of you silently agreeing that he’ll lead and you’ll make sure everyone is safe. Lucas and Dustin immediately follow, but Max lingers.

“Hey, you comin’?” You ask, motioning towards where the boys have all gone.

“Why are we headed towards the sound?”

“Because it’s what we do,” you shrug. “Welcome to the party.”

Max blinks at you, in disbelief, and it breaks your heart that she has to come to terms with all of this. Taking the risk, you reach towards her hand, offering her time to pull away, but she doesn’t. She lets you grab her hand and you squeeze it, giving her a soft smile. “I’m right here.”

The girl exhales, still guarded, yet she finally nods at your words. She seems to believe you, which you’re thankful for, and together the two of you follow after the others. The five of you approach the overlook, all of Hawkins visible. There’s a layer of thick fog covering the town, the screeches ominous as the town is blanketed.

“I don’t see him,” Dustin mumbles next to you, though he slowly links his fingers through yours, quietly confessing to you that he’s scared.

You squeeze his hand. “Lucas, do you think your binoculars can see that far?”

The boy brings them up to his eyes, and within a few seconds he seems to have spotted the source. He swallows, lowers the binoculars, and says, “It’s the lab.”

“They’re going back home.” You whisper, feeling defeated more than anything else. It somehow always comes back to that fucking lab. Will’s episodes, Mike’s silence, Nancy and Jonathan taking the burden of bringing the entire lab down themselves.

You now understand the immense anger Nancy felt that day during lunch, when you had all been at Jonathan’s car and she created her genius plan. How badly she wanted to make the assholes pay for what they did to Hawkins. To Will. To Barb. To sweet El.

“We have to follow.” You say, an edge to your voice. Your side sears with pain, your ankle sending phantom pains up your leg. Dustin clings onto your hand like his life depends on it. You’re sick of suffering the consequences that Hawkin’s Lab has brought upon itself.

You begin to walk down the overlook, steps slow and careful, and while the kids glance uncertainly at one another, Steve doesn’t hesitate to follow after you. –

As you approach the gate to the lab, you see a car with headlights parked in front of it. Two figures stand at the edge of the forest line, watching.

Other people are here.

You bring your knives out and flick the handle so that the blades extend. Steve stands next to you, his own bat raised after seeing your fear, and you nod at one another to slowly begin approaching.

“Hello?” One of the figures shouts, their voice oddly familiar.

You stop.

“Who’s there?” The voice shouts again, and this time you recognize it.

It’s Jonathan.

Immediately you start to run, damning the pain in your side, and when you break through the treeline and see Jonathan standing there with Nancy, both of them safe and sound, you start to run even faster.

When Jonathan sees that it’s you, he starts to run as well and within seconds the two of you are a tangle of arms and limbs. He hugs you fiercely, his cologne familiar and you hadn’t known how homesick you were until you felt his arms around you.

“Bug,” Jonathan exhales with relief, squeezing you even tighter. He brings a hand to your hair and cradles your head, his fingers sure and strong and familiar as always. You bury your face in his neck, feeling all the pain and exhaustion from today begin to dissipate.

Nancy walks over and lays a hand on your arm as you’re still wrapped around Jonathan. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I’m glad you guys are okay,” you sniff, you’re not sure why you’re crying. “God, I’ve had the weirdest two days of my life–”

“Steve?” Jonathan and Nancy suddenly say at the same time.

You pull away from your friend and let out a chuckle. Steve and the kids have now joined, confusion on all of their faces. “Like I said, it’s been a weird few days.”

“Nancy?” Steve walks over, his eyes going back and forth between you and the girl. He feels an overwhelming mixture of emotions overtake him. He notices the way Jonathan’s arm is still wrapped around you as you stand close to his side, and he notices the way Nancy avoids his eyes. Something burns within his chest.

“Jonathan?” Dustin narrows his eyes at the boy, and you can’t help but laugh.

Jonathan and Nancy approach the others and you slowly follow, taking your time. Nancy reaches Steve first. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Steve retorts.

“We’re looking for Mike and Will.”

You grab Nancy’s jacket. “Are they okay? Did something happen?”

“They’re not in there, are they?” Dustin motions towards the lab, fear in his voice.

Nancy lowers her voice. “We’re not sure.”

Jonathan senses there’s something else going on. “Why?”

Right on cue, the Demodogs begin to screech from the lab. Next to you, you feel Jonathan stiffen with fear. You know, without having to ask, that his family is stuck inside the lab. Suddenly the gash in your side stings in pain and you clutch at it and let out a wince. Hearing this, Jonathan finally realizes that you’re covered in blood.

“Oh my god,” his hands fall to your side as he scans for any other injuries. “You’re bleeding, oh my god.”

“I’m okay–”

“Fuck, bug. It looks bad–”

“Had a minor setback, we’re all good now though.”

Jonathan shakes his head at you, his eyes dripping with guilt; you know he’s already placed the blame upon himself long before he speaks. “I should’ve been there. I knew something was wrong when you didn’t call, and then Nance and I came back to my home being wrecked and you weren’t at your place and I was worried sick and thought you were dead–”

You grab his hands, forcing him to slow down and breathe. “Hey, look at me.” Slowly, his eyes meet yours. “I’m okay, bee. I had to protect the kids, and I had Steve. I’m right here.”

Jonathan looks over at Steve, who is stuck in some argument between Nancy and the kids, and he lets out a tired laugh. He can’t believe that he’s here right now, tired and delirious from a long trip with Nancy as you hold his hands, your own blood covering them, while Steve spares you worried glances. “Friends with him again, then?”

“It was inevitable.” You sigh, knowing how heavy your words are. Truly, it was inevitable. He’s too much like you, your wounds a matching pair, and you never stood a chance against the inevitability. He’s an extension of you now, you can no longer deny this.

“Are you really okay, though?” Jonathan asks you, still concerned about how much blood is on you. He feels this tug within him, pulling at his chest to encase you within his arms and to never, ever let you out of his sight again.

There’s still a slight limp in your step that Jonathan sees when he thinks you aren’t looking, the scar on your upper arm is harsh against the smooth skin he’s come to memorize, disrupting the topography of your body. Now, you’ve once again gotten hurt because of him. Your favorite cardigan is ripped and bloodied and Jonathan knows it’s one more scar he’s inexplicably given you.

The scars may fade, but he knows he’ll never be able to forgive himself. It’s the same heavy weight you feel within yourself over Will’s disappearance.

You notice that Jonathan’s eyes have glazed over in despair and you kiss his knuckles, bringing him back to you. “I promise I am.”

He nods, though he still looks unsure, but he pulls you in again for another hug. For a moment, everything is still. It reminds you of when you had been in Jonathan’s car last Christmas as he drove you home, the memories between you had gone still. You close your eyes, like you had last year, and for a moment nothing has changed.

“The power’s back!” Nancy exclaims, effectively shutting everyone up about who has seen what when.

You pull away from Jonathan. The urgence in her voice reminds you that everything has changed. There’s a scar on your upper arm that now has a matching scar on your ribcage. Jonathan has bags underneath his eyes that seem like they'll never go away.

You look away from him and look over at the kids and see, in Dustin’s and Lucas’ faces, the familiar fear and acceptance that they’re inevitably in danger. Steve catches your eye and he nods, indicating that whatever happens next, he’s ready whenever you are.

The seven of you quickly make your way back towards the lab’s gate, and Jonathan is the first to get there with you following close behind. The two of you stand in the patrol panel, Jonathan aggressively hitting the button designated for opening the gate, but nothing seems to be happening.

Suddenly Dustin barges in, roughly shoving past Jonathan and mumbling a soft sorry to you.

“Let me try.” Jonathan doesn’t move, which only aggravates your brother further and he flings the teen back. “Let me try, Jonathan!”

Jonathan looks at you incredulously, still having no idea why Dustin seems to suddenly hate him, and you stifle a laugh as you watch the boy repeatedly hit the button while nothing happens.

“Son of a bitch!” Dustin groans, still trying and failing to open the gate.

“Move over,” you shoulder past the kid and start pressing the button yourself. “It probably just doesn’t like you guys.”

Dustin and Jonathan both scoff at you, but you ignore them as you continue to press the button. You were mostly doing it to distract yourself, give your anxious mind something to do, but after a simple few taps, the gates unlock.

You cheer, immensely happy with yourself. “I did it! You guys just really do just suck!”

Jonathan shakes his head at you but offers his hand for you to high five, which you gladly do. As for your brother, he sticks his tongue out at you in retaliation. You ignore the kid and follow Jonathan outside to join the others.

Once the gates have fully opened, you, Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve all begin speaking at once.

“I’ll go,” you all say in unison.

The kids all stare at one another, wondering how this will go. It didn’t escape their notice that Jonathan and Nancy were alone together, and that Steve’s worry over you has strings attached to unspoken truths.

They may be young, but they can sense the tension between you and the teens pretty easily.

“No, someone has to stay with the kids.” Nancy reasons, looking over at Jonathan to back her up, and his eyes draw to hers naturally.

You see this, and you wonder when they became such a cohesive team.

“Bug, what are you thinking?” He asks, knowing that ultimately it’s your call. When it comes to the kids, you’re the one to turn to.

You bite your lip, unsure. Max, Lucas, and Dustin all stare at you, and you know the two boys want you to stay with them. They’ve been through hell tonight, so have you, but then you think about whatever has happened in the lab to Will and Mike.

Sighing, you walk over to Jonathan. “Nance is right. I’ll stay behind with Steve while you and her drive to the lab. They’ll need all the help they can get, and I’m currently in no condition to fight.”

Jonathan’s eyes once again fall to your wrapped side, uncertain if you’ll be safe enough out here. “You sure?”

“I’m sure, bee.” You kiss his cheek, fucking terrified something will go wrong. The lab is crawling with Demodogs. “Promise you’ll be careful?”

“Always,” he cups your face and brings his forehead to yours. “I’ll come back.”

You relish in the warmth and let out a shaky exhale. “Go get Will.”

The moment between you two is intimate; everyone around you looks away. Nancy stares down at her feet while Steve clenches his jaw.

After a few more seconds, you finally release yourself from Jonathan’s hold and turn towards Nancy. “That goes for you as well, Wheeler. Stay safe.”

She nods at you, spares Steve one last glance, and then follows after Jonathan into the car. Within seconds, they speed off down the road, towards Hawkin’s Lab as more Demodogs screech in the distance.

“Well that was awkward.” Max breaks the silence. “Sensing there’s a lot of history there.”

You snort, admiring the girl’s wit, and tiredly lean against the gate’s post. “Still have a lot to catch up on, Max.”

Steve doesn’t say anything, he just gently leans next to you against his own post and flips his flashlight in his hand.

Dustin starts to pace while Lucas stares at the sky, as if willing away every problem from the day, which you want to do yourself. However, your best friend is currently very close to a death lab that Will and Mike are inexplicably trapped in.

You try to calm your breathing, knowing it’s no use getting yourself worked up, but you’re terrified. Steve sees your unease and does his best to comfort you. “Hey, they’ll be okay. Jonathan is a smart guy and Nancy is tough as hell.”

Hearing Nancy’s name coming out of his mouth makes you realize that you haven’t asked him how he’s feeling about all of this, which makes you feel even shittier. He confessed to you last night how he still loves her, and here you are, worried about your friend who the guy’s ex girlfriend showed up with.

“Are you okay?” You ask him softly, worried you’ll scare him away.

Steve doesn’t ask what you mean; he knows and lets out a dry laugh. “Not the most ideal situation.”

You’re about to say more, but something seems to catch Max’s attention. “Guys?”

You look towards where she’s pointing and you hear the faint sounds of tires squealing against concrete. The same sound Billy’s car had made in the school parking lot days ago. As you piece this together, headlights light up the gate and the honking starts.

Immediately you and Steve rush over to the kids and push them away, narrowly avoiding being hit. As soon as the road is cleared, Hopper’s familiar truck brakes in front of you.

“Let’s go,” the man gruffs out, and you’ve never been happier to see that obnoxious cop’s face.

Steve runs over to the passenger door and holds it open while you usher the kids to go inside. “Come on, let’s go! Go, go, go!”

One by one you get the kids seated in the truck, and once you and Steve make sure they’re in safely, he motions for you to go next before he climbs inside and slams the door shut. You end up squished up front, in between Hopper and Steve.

“Drive!” You scream, and Hopper doesn’t need to be told twice before he stomps on the gas and follows after Jonathan’s car.

It’s silent for a few minutes as everyone steadies their breathing, processing what’s just happened. You rub at your side, the rough movements from earlier having upset the wound. Hopper notices this and raises an eyebrow at you. “Lose a fight?”

“Mhm,” you see that he’s dressed in hospital scrubs and raise your own eyebrows. “Got checked into a psych ward?”

Hopper lets out a short laugh and you can see the exhaustion behind his eyes, but he plays along and you’re grateful for it. “Yeah, figured it was time.”

–

The Byers’ home is a disaster when you walk in. The walls are covered with pictures drawn by Will, a map that he somehow came to piece together, of an entire underground tunnel system that the Demodogs now reside in.

You sit on the ground next to Will, who has been placed on the couch while he’s still unconscious, and you hold his cold, limp hand as Jonathan kneels next to the boy and strokes his hair.

“I’m sorry, bud.” He whispers, voice breaking. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should have been there.”

You grab Jonathan’s own hand. “He wouldn’t blame you. You couldn’t have known.”

Nancy places a hand on his shoulder as she watches over him, a certain concern in her eyes that you’ve never quite seen before. She’s always been the most guarded out of the three of you, but now she’s rubbing comforting circles into Jonathan’s back; you’ve never seen her so open before, so affectionate with someone.

You noticed how much closer they seemed earlier at the lab, how the tension between them now appears to be gone. You know that something happened on their spy adventure, you know they’d been alone together, probably gotten a motel room, even. Your stomach twists at the thought, but Will’s cold hand is a reminder that none of that matters right now. Like last year, he comes first.

“We’ll figure it out, bee. We always do.” You kiss Jonathan’s cheek, not knowing how many more times you’ll be able to do so, and you try to memorize how his face feels pressed against yours, the way your nose buries into his skin and the way he leans into the kiss each and every time.

Jonathan sniffles and thanks you, pulling you into his side as he continues to stroke Will’s hair. Nancy remains standing, and when you look up to offer her to sit next to you, you finally notice Steve standing in the corner, watching.

He’s holding himself as he watches the three of you and, despite how he tries to hide it, you see Steve wipe at his nose and blink away tears; he’s never looked so small before, and your heart breaks for him as he walks out of the room.

You excuse yourself to follow after him, bypassing Hopper who is angrily trying to contact some government people to alert them about Hawkin’s Lab.

Steve walks into the kitchen and faces the drawings on the wall, his back turned away from everyone in a pathetic attempt to gain some privacy. Slowly, you approach him and stand to his left. You know he senses your presence, but he continues to stare straight ahead.

“You want to talk about it?” You ask, voice low so no one else in the kitchen can hear.

Steve closes his eyes and shakes his head, it’s all of a response he can give you right now. He’s worried that if he tries to speak, he’ll start crying. His worst fear has come true. He’s been replaced.

Tentatively, you grab his hand and bring your lips to his ear. “Can I?”

You feel Steve shiver, his breath is shaky, and though he isn’t quite sure what you’re asking him, he nods anyways.

He will always say yes to you.

The moment Steve nods, you tug at the hand you’re holding and bring his arms around you; he practically melts in your arms. Releasing another shaky breath, he buries his face in your hair and inhales your perfume as if gasping for air. He brings a hand to your hair as he cradles the back of your head, bringing you even closer together.

For the first time in Steve’s life, his mind goes quiet.

You’re aware of everyone else in the room, you know you’ll have to deal with the kids’ nosy questions later, but you don’t care. Steve needs you, and the way he’s clinging onto you as you hug tells you everything you need to know.

He’s barely holding it together, so you discretely shift so that the others can’t see as you attempt to piece him back together with your arms tightening around him and your fingers intertwining through his hair as well.

Your ribs scream in protest as you lean against the boy, but the pain reassures you that you are alive and sharing this pain with someone you’ve come to care deeply about.

“I’m here,” you whisper, feeling Steve’s body shake at the reassurance. “It’s just you and me right now, okay?”

He nods, still too scared to speak. The two of you remain interlocked in the kitchen you grew up in, surrounded by Will’s drawings and memories of early morning breakfasts with Jonathan, and Dustin watches from the kitchen table.

Lucas watches as well and shares a glance with your brother, who can only shake his head and sigh. He knows, sooner or later, that he’ll have to ask you about Steve, he’s never seen you like this before, not even with Jonathan, but for now he leaves you both alone.

When Hopper angrily hangs up the phone, Dustin uses it as an opportunity to distract himself. “They didn’t believe you, did they?”

“We’ll see,” Hopper sighs, tired.

“‘We’ll see’? We can’t just sit here while those things are loose!” Mike exclaims, his foot tapping nervously underneath the table.

The chief sighs again, now spotting you and Steve still holding each other in the corner. “Hey, Henderson and pretty boy, get a room. Mike, we stay here and we wait for help.”

Hearing your name, you finally break apart from Steve and send Hopper an embarrassed glare, clearing your throat. Steve clears his throat as well and takes several steps away from you. His cheeks flaming red.

“Did he call me pretty boy?” Steve whispers to you, but you shush him, instead walking over to Mike, who has now started to tap his foot even more aggressively.

Standing behind the boy, you rub his shoulder, unsure how to help the boy. You know he’s worried about Will and he’s always hated waiting almost as much as you do. At your touch, Mike turns his head to look up at you, and the fire that’s always been in his eyes has died.

You look around the table, it’s quiet. Max is playing with her fingernails, Lucas is staring at the table with tears in his eyes, and Dustin is watching as you try to comfort Mike. All the kids are in their own state of shock and grief. They’re too young for all of this.

Meanwhile, Steve hangs back by the corner, knowing that this is what you do best: you take care of people. He watches as you furrow your brows for a second, a slight quirk he’s picked up about you, and slowly he sees you piece together how to help the kids you love so dearly.

You start with leaning against the table, wedged between Dustin and Mike, and somehow–Steve has always wondered how you do this–you light up the cold room with warmth.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all of this by yourself,” you stroke Mike’s hair, it’s rare that you get to do this, but he remains numb to your touch. “Had I known any of this would happen, I would’ve made you more fudge brownies.”

Though it’s small, almost imperceptible, Mike lets out a tiny huff, a placeholder of a laugh.

At least it’s a start.

You whisper more words to him as Dustin leans against your back, grounded by your presence, and Max watches this with interested yet envious eyes. She still has yet to grow used to your kindness, to the love you share with the boys: a sibling relationship she’s never had before.

As you’re comforting Mike, his eyes wander towards the living room and suddenly he gets up. You watch, curious as to what he’s doing, as he grabs a cube and delicately rolls it around in his hand.

“Did you guys know that Bob was the original founder of Hawkins AV?”

At the mention of Bob’s name, you bring Dustin closer to you. With everything that’s happened tonight, the reminder of the man’s death fills you with raw, unfiltered grief. When you arrived at the Byers home and found a distraught Joyce, you knew.

Bob is dead, and he has taken all the kindness he shared with you. He was a sweet man, one who took you in without any question as soon as he started dating Joyce, a man who offered you rides to work and encouraged you to stop by his own job any time. The same man who brought the woman who is like a second mother to you, back to life.

Your heart breaks for Joyce, for Will and Jonathan and all the other kids.

Bob Newby truly was a superhero, everyone he ever interacted with came out a better person because of it. He never left anyone without a smile on their face, and now he’s gone.

Once you’ve managed to swallow down your grief, you voice from the kitchen, “I didn’t know that.”

Mike turns to you. “He petitioned the school to start it and everything, and then he had a fund-raiser for equipment. Mr. Clark learned everything from him.” There’s light in his voice as he approaches the table again, a spark as if the fire is trying to relight itself. “Pretty awesome, right?”

Dustin and Lucas nod, faint smiles on their own faces. “Yeah.”

Mike sets the cube down. “We can’t let him die in vain.”

You agree with him, but how could you possibly accomplish something like that>

“What do you want to do, Mike?” Dustin lifts his head up, frustrated. “The Chief’s right on this. We can’t stop those Demodogs on our own.”

“Demodogs?” Max finally speaks up.

You sigh, tired of hearing your brother’s explanation of his made up name. “Please don’t ask–”

“Demogorgon, dog. Demodog.” Your brother explains, and you pinch the bridge of your nose. “Demodogs. It’s like a compound… It’s like a play on words–”

“Okay!” You and Max say at once, cutting off his spiel.

“I mean, when it was just Dart, maybe…”

You snort at Dustin. “Tell that to my ribcage.”

The boy glares at you and Lucas takes over, reigning you both back in. “But there’s an army now.”

“Precisely,” Dustin sighs in defeat.

Mike, who has been quiet the entire conversation, realizes something. “His army.”

Steve looks around, confused. “What do you mean?”

“His army!” Mike faces everyone, and the fire behind his eyes now fully alive, and you know he’s come up with some genius plan like his sister always does. “Maybe if we stop him, we can stop his army too.”

Dustin and Lucas share a glance and seem to be understanding what Mike is saying, but you look to Steve, equally as lost as he is, before Mike runs out the room while the others follow.

“Any idea what that kid is saying?” The teen asks you, but you shake your head.

“On a good day, I understand maybe a quarter of what Mike says. However, with significant blood loss and no real meals in me, I’m afraid I have no fucking idea what’s happening.”

“Cool,” Steve steps closer to you and motions for you to guide the way. “Let’s follow, then.”

You find the kids in Will’s room, all standing over a picture that the boy drew. In it is a looming figure with four long limbs, its figure thin and haunting as it stalks over the picture. Seeing the drawing, you get an uneasy feeling.

“The doctor said it was like a virus, it infected him.” Mike is explaining, speaking so fast you can barely keep up as you and Steve stand in the doorway.

“What virus?” You ask, now standing next to the kids.

Mike hands you the picture. “The shadow monster, it got Will that day at the field.”

“And this virus… It’s connecting him to the tunnels?” Max seems to be following along better than you are, which is quite depressing.

“The tunnels, monsters, the Upside Down, everything.”

Something within your stomach drops, the familiar weight of guilt follows it. “Will is still connected to the Upside Down?”

“Whoa, slow down,” Steve steps in now, sensing your panic, and tries to rectify the situation. “Let’s all just slow down.”

Mike groans. “The shadow monster is inside everything, and if the vines feel something like pain, then so does Will.”

Again, guilt throws itself against you with all its weight, and you feel each thud against your body like a hammer feels a nail.

Lucas nods. “And so does Dart.”

“Like what Mr. Clark taught us. The hive mind.” Mike follows.

You’re silent, staring at the picture still in your hands.

Steve crosses his arms. “Hive mind?”

“A collective consciousness, a super organism.” You hear Dustin clarify, but it’s all beginning to blur together for you.

All you can think is that you’re the reason Will has become entangled in all of this, in alternate dimensions, infected with a monster so powerful that it can create vast tunnels underneath your feet and monsters bred to kill.

Mike is on a roll now, it’s all clicking together. “And this is the thing that controls everything. It’s the brain–”

“Like the mind flayer,” Dustin realizes, which causes both Lucas and Mike to stop in their tracks.

It seems the boys have figured it all out, then.

And it seems to you that old scars will never fade, not in the way that they should.

Swallowing down your nausea and tears and guilt, you finally speak. “Explain everything to me.”

–

Dustin throws the DnD book onto the Byers’ kitchen table, beginning to explain everything as everyone gathers around.

You stand next to him, Steve to your right, and watch as your brother commands the room as if he was born to do so. As he explains, you look around and everyone. Jonathan stands next to Lucas, facing across from you, and Nancy finds herself standing to your left, worried.

“Oh my god, none of this is real,” Hopper is already over the entire situation, which annoys you. “This is a kid’s game.”

“I’m sorry, but those Demodogs that just attacked us are logical to you?” You snap at the cop, completely baffled that he for some reason decided to draw the line at a DnD reference rather than literal demons from another dimension.

Hopper narrows his eyes at you, but before he can say anything, Jonathan shrugs his shoulders. “Y/N has a point, you know.”

“Okay, before we all start fighting, I just want to point out that this,” Dustin points to the book on the table. “Is a manuel, and it’s not for kids. Unless you know something that we don’t, this is the best metaphor–”

“Analogy.” Lucas interrupts.

“Analogy, that’s what you’re worried about?” You grab at Dustin’s jacket to try and settle him down, but he’s angry and annoyed and you know it’s been a long day for everyone. “Fine. An analogy for understanding whatever the hell this is!”

Nancy sees you struggling with the boy and tries to step in. “Okay, so this mind flamer thing–”

“Flayer,” you gently correct.

“What does it want?”

Dustin bites his lip. “To conquer us, basically. It believes it’s the master race.”

Steve, who is leaning next to Dustin and you, snaps his finger. “Like the Germans?”

“Uh… The Nazis?” Your brother looks at you, silently urging you to shut the teen up, and you pinch your nose again and sigh.

“Oh, buddy.” You loop your arm through his and pat Steve’s shoulder. “Let’s just listen, okay?”

Steve tries to say more but you hold your finger up, indicating that you won’t listen to whatever he’s about to say, and he rolls his eyes at you but rests his free hand against the one you have on his arm.

However, when Lucas announces that you could all be dealing with the end of the world, Steve lets out a dry laugh and tries to pull away from you, freaking out. “That’s great! That’s really great, jesus!”

You pull him back by the arm, forcing him to stand next to you and calm down, and he doesn’t try to fight it. Though he’s scared out of his fucking mind and in over his head, he listens to your silent command and comes back to you. Once he’s still, you unwrap your arm from his and bring that hand to the back of his neck, playing with the baby hairs there to try and soothe him.

Steve leans into your touch, his shoulders start to relax, and you know he’s slowly calming down.

Jonathan sees this interaction and catches your eye, and when he has your attention, he flashes you a knowing smirk as he mouths, friendly, aren’t we?

You narrow your eyes and subtly point between him and Nancy, mouthing back, you’re one to talk, which effectively shuts Jonathan up and he diverts his eyes again, going back to focusing on what Dustin and the others are saying.

“No, no fireballs,” Dustin is explaining to Hopper. “Instead, you–uh. You summon an undead army and… Uh, because… Zombies, ya know? They don’t–uh, have brains and the–the mind flayer, it, uh, likes brains.”

When your brother sees you shaking your head in disappointment and Hopper’s barely controlled anger, he quickly finishes with, “It’s just a game.”

You nudge his shoulder with yours. “You did well explaining, buddy.”

Dustin gives you a weak thumbs up as Hopper angrily throws the book down. “What the hell are we doing here?”

“I thought we were waiting for your military backup.” Dustin retorts, and you quickly raise your hand for a high five, which he gladly accepts.

Hopper sees this and rolls his eyes. “We are!”

“But even if they come, how are they gonna stop this? You can’t just shoot this with guns!” Mike quips, and you give him a high five as well.

“You don’t know that! We don’t know anything!” Hopper roars, and it takes everything within you not to flinch at his raised voice.

“We do know, actually.” You say, voice quiet but stern as you try to steady your heartbeat. You’ve never, ever been able to hear a man yelling at you without some form of panic clawing at your chest. “Ask Nancy about the guns. We fought a fully grown Demodog last year, you seem to conveniently forget that.”

Hopper clenches his jaw. “Every time I start to like you, you piss me off again.”

“It’s a skill.”

Everyone begins to argue again, Hopper with you while Dustin, Lucas, and Mike take your side to try and reason with the cop, before a frail, broken voice silences you all.

“They’re right.” Joyce stumbles from her room, her face still wet with tears as grief overtakes her.

“Mrs. Byers,” you breathe out, immediately walking over to the woman to stand by her side, but she gently pushes you away.

“We have to kill it.” Anger slowly spills into her voice. “I want to kill it.”

Hopper joins your side now, the two of you surrounding the woman. “Me too, Joyce. Okay? But how do we do that? We don’t exactly know what we’re dealing with here.”

“We don’t know what could happen to Will,” you urge, understanding Joyce’s anger but terrified of how it may affect her son.

“If anyone knows how to destroy this thing, it’s Will.” Mike begins to walk over to the boy, who is still knocked out cold on the couch. “He’s connected to it. He’ll know its weakness.”

Everyone stands in the living room now, and dread encases its hand around your throat. You don’t want to make Will any more involved in this than he needs to be, he’s been through too much.

Max cocks her head. “I thought we couldn’t trust him anymore. That he’s a spy for the mind flayer now.”

“We can always trust Will.” There’s an edge to your voice, and Jonathan has to grab your hand to steady you.

Mike nods, understanding what you’re trying to voice. “I know, Y/N. We can always trust him, and he can’t spy if he doesn’t know where he is.”

–

Somehow, Steve gets paired up with Nancy to cover the inside of the Byers’ shed with tarps.

One minute Steve had been standing behind you in the living room as Mike explained his plan, and the next minute he was being auctioned off to join his ex in a small shed while you got to happily team up with Jonathan and his mom.

It was unfair, really.

While he’s moping about his luck, Nancy hesitantly looks at Steve, clearly also as equally uncomfortable in the silence. She lingers as Steve begins to hang up another tarp and she tears a piece of tape for him, waiting.

She watches as Steve’s body stretches the length of the wall and realizes that this is the first time they’ve been alone together since their conversation at school, and that his languid movements are foreign to her.

Nancy hasn’t seen him so at ease in a long, long time.

She thinks about how you’d been with him these last few days while she had been with Jonathan, and she wonders what else may have possibly changed in such a short amount of time.

“Hey,” she finally says, the silence clawing at her. “What you did, um… Helping the kids, that was really cool.”

Steve still looks at Nancy with such sincerity and warmth, something that makes her stomach twist with guilt. He doesn’t know what she’s done just yet, and she doesn’t know if he has a right to even care at all.

“Yeah,” he exhales, breaking the eye contact first. “Those little shits are real trouble, ya know?”

Nancy finds herself laughing, grateful he seems open to talking to her. “Believe me, I know.”

“It’s a miracle that Y/N survived so long on her own.” Steve says absentmindedly, returning to hanging up the tarp.

Hearing your name causes Nancy’s stomach to twist again. Steve may not have pieced everything together just yet, but she knows that you have. You’ve always been able to read people well, too well, even.

Jonathan wasn’t yours and she wasn’t Steve’s, yet Nancy feels an overwhelming sense of guilt for the two of you.

“It’s nice that you were there for her,” Nancy avoids looking at Steve again.

“Y/N has been there for everyone else, so I figured it was time that someone was finally there for her?” He shakes his head, unsure what he’s even saying. “I just… I wanted to help her.”

Nancy doesn’t say anything, she only nods and continues tearing off more pieces of tape.

You’re too good, everyone knows this, and sometimes Nancy finds herself resenting you for it, even though none of it is your fault.

–

Jonathan tears down another bedsheet from the clothing line and tosses it into the growing pile of sheets and bedding in your arms; he yanks them down, you catch, and then he cuts the lines with the knives you loaned him.

“You sure this is gonna work?” Jonathan asks his mom, who has joined the two of you to collect her own pile of sheets to cover the shed.

Joyce nods, the familiar frantic look in her eyes from last year is now back. “He knew who I was. He’s still in there. It’s gonna work, it has to.”

You peek from behind the pile of cloth you’re holding. “Who knows, maybe we can finally prove whether or not Freud’s theory of consciousness is correct.”

Jonathan doesn’t understand what you mean, but Joyce sends you a grateful smile, appreciative that you’re trying to remain optimistic despite the situation, and then leaves before her son can question the plan once more.

As soon as the two of you are alone, Jonathan puts your switchblade in his pocket and then faces you, not wasting a second to finally have you to himself. “Okay, tell me everything I missed while I was gone.”

His eager curiosity makes you smile. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, but aren’t we on a time limit?”

“I think we can spare a few minutes, bug.”

“Fine, but at least grab some of these sheets so I can actually look at you while I talk.”

Jonathan laughs and does as he’s told, grabbing some of the cloth you’re holding and lessening the weight of it for you. Once he’s able to see your face, he smiles warmly at you. “Hi,”

“Hi, bee.” The greeting drips from your mouth like pure honey, and with two simple words, Jonathan can feel himself finally begin to relax.

“So,” he wiggles his eyebrows at you. “Go on.”

You take a deep breath, knowing that what you’re about to tell Jonathan will remove the carefree smile on his face. He’ll only blame himself, and you hate the responsibility he seems to feel for you.

“The only major thing, well… Besides the Demodogs, is that I spilled milk all over Billy, the guy you punched at the Halloween party.”

Jonathan gapes at you. “What?”

“Yeah, it was kinda awesome, honestly. He was being a bitch, accusing me and Steve of getting together to piss you and Nance off, and he was just being an overall creep, so… I spilled milk on him to get him to shut up so that Steve wouldn’t end up knocking the guy out.”

“Wait, Steve was there?” He tries to keep his voice level, but even Jonathan can hear the underlying hurt within his voice.

He’s not sure why the hurt is there, or why the thought of Steve being the one now protecting you sends a punch to his throat.

“Yeah,” you frown at him, confused by his sudden shift in mood. “He was with me in the lunchroom, wanted to know where you and Nance had run off to.”

Jonathan swallows. “I’m glad he was there, bug.”

And he is, he knows he is, but he also knows that it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the shift that has come between the two of you. How it was only thirty minutes ago that you had wrapped your arm around Steve’s, not Jonathan’s.

He clears his throat. “So, about Steve…”

“What about him?” You feign ignorance, but Jonathan sees the blush that has started to spread across your face.

“You’re blushing, bug.” It hurts him to tease, but he knows he has to. Jonathan has to play the role he had been given when he was twelve and had met you that day on Nancy’s front porch.

The same girl he slept with last night, who he has come to love with such devotion that he still struggles to accept within himself.

They haven’t talked about it, at least not yet, but all the unsaid truths between you and Jonathan hang over him. He can feel the lines and threads and strings all closing in on you two, and he knows you can also sense it as well.

“It’s nothing, bee.” You start walking towards the shed, uncomfortable now. You don’t want Jonathan’s teasing, not when it comes to Steve; it’s too painful, you still haven’t quite come to terms with your newfound feelings for the boy.

Not when you haven’t laid your feelings for Jonathan to rest, yet.

It wouldn’t be fair to Steve.

Jonathan steps in front of you, blocking your path. He feels as if he’s about to lose you, and for the first time since he’s met you, he doesn’t know how to make you stay. “Hey, I’m sorry. It’s just… I know you.”

His words burn.

“Let’s just get back to the shed–”

“Bug,” he blocks your path again. He’s not ready to lose you just yet, but he knows he will soon. It’s inevitable. “I know you, and when you’re around Steve, you just… You’re different, a–a good different, and–”

“Jonathan, I really don’t want to talk about this,” you plead, but he hears the at least not with you that goes unsaid. “Why don’t you focus on your newly formed relationship with Nancy, okay?”

Jonathan stumbles over his feet. “You–you know?”

“I know you,” you echo his words from moments ago, with its melancholy and all.

He sighs, steps to the side, and lets you go.

It’s quiet after that.

–

In the shed, everyone busies themselves with their tasks.

You, Steve, and Lucas run around with nail guns and tape for those who need it. The rest of the kids work as a unit, helping one another with covering every inch of wall they can find. Meanwhile, Nancy wraps newspaper around the poles while Jonathan carries Will through the door.

Seeing Will, limp within Jonathan’s arms, only reminds you of the dead body that had been pulled from the quarry last year.

Only this time it really is Will.

Together, you and Jonathan gently place the boy in the chair and tie him. You ignore the way your heart clenches as you knot the cords together; you’re doing this to save him. Joyce prepares the medicine needed to knock Will out, in case anything happens, and as you watch, Lucas and Mike switch on the overhead lamps, blinding you.

“Christ,” you mumble, holding your hand up to shield your eyes from the light.

“It works,” Mike looks at you, hopeful. “It’s gonna work.”

Hopper steps forward, facing everyone. “If you aren’t related to the Byers family, get out.” While everyone begins to leave, you and Mike remain where you are. When Hopper sees this, he frowns. “What did I just say?”

Dustin and Steve linger in the doorway, both silently asking you what the plan is, and you give them a slight nod to indicate that it’s okay. You’ll join them later, right now Will needs you and you sure as hell aren’t leaving Mike and Jonathan alone to deal with this.

“Y/N is family, Hop.” Joyce stands next to you, placing a hand on your shoulder.

You smile at her before facing the chief. “I’m staying.”

“Me, too.” Mike echos, standing his own ground against the man, and you refrain from giving him another high five for his bravery.

Better not to upset Hopper too much more.

The man in question groans, too tired to argue. “Fine, you two can stay, but only because I know that if I don’t let Henderson stay then Jonathan will probably have a panic attack or something.”

Jonathan shrugs. “Probably.”

Dustin rushes over to you and gives you a tight hug. “Be careful.”

“I will,” you kiss the top of his hat, catching Steve’s eye in the process. “Take care of him, please?”

Steve nods, without any hesitation to do as you’ve asked. “Of course.”

And with that, the door to the shed closes as the last of the group leaves.

It’s silent after that, and you take a second to admire the work everyone did. The shed is completely unrecognizable, and the lights will only further limit Will’s vision. A part of you truly believes that this plan could work, but you’ve long since stopped letting your hope get the better of you.

“Alright, you ready?” Hopper looks over at Joyce, holding the ammonia needed to wake Will up.

“Yeah,” the woman crosses her arms, and you want to reach out and hold her.

Everyone is quiet as Hopper crouches in front of Will and dabs some ammonia onto a cotton ball. Then, slowly, he brings it up to the boy’s face and waits for him to inhale. When he does, Will’s eyes snap open and he inhales so sharply that you’re worried he’s hurt himself.

You stand in between Mike and Jonathan, and seeing the pure fear on Will’s face brings tears to your eyes. He reminds you of a deer, small and frail, with eyes so full of fear that it makes you ache.

Will’s eyes dart around the room, and when he notices that he’s tied to the chair, he begins to tug at the cords. “What–what is this? Why am I tied up?”

“Will, we just wanna talk to you,” Joyce softly tells him, now eye level with the boy as she does her best to calm him down. “We’re not gonna hurt you.”

“Where am I?” The fear that had once been in Will’s voice is gone, now replaced with an anger that seems so foreign to associate with the boy.

Hopper joins now, showing him the picture of the mind flayer that he drew. “You recognize this?”

Will shakes his head and looks over at you, now realizing that you’re there, and you force yourself to look away. He’s always been the sweetest boy, but he killed so many innocent people today, even if he hadn’t meant to.

You trust Will, you do, but you remind yourself that the boy in front of you isn’t really him.

“We wanna help you,” Joyce tries to reassure him again. “But to do that, we have to understand how to kill it.”

At the mention of killing, Will’s eyes widen as more anger seeps through him, now shouting at his mother, “Why am I tied up? Why am I tied up? Why am I tied up?”

He begins to thrash around, throwing his head back against the wall as he repeatedly screams and begs to be let go. The lights are now flickering and immediately you draw Mike into your chest, trying to mask your own tears as you comfort him.

Jonathan clings behind you, his arms wrapped around your waist as he buries his face into your shoulder, and blindly you reach behind yourself so you can hold him as well. When you feel his tears spill against your skin, you wrap your arms tighter around Mike and cry.

Will continues to scream, becoming more and more violent, and something demonic seems to crawl into his vocal chords as he screams.

You hold Mike and Jonathan tighter against you, doing everything you can to be there for the boys. You knew this would be difficult, but as the lights continue to flicker and Will’s pale face quickly becomes paler with every plea, you feel weak.

With Jonathan behind you and Mike in front of you, both boys clinging onto you as sobs wrack your own body, it becomes unclear who is being held up and who is the one holding.

Hopper has his own arms wrapped around Will, and slowly, miraculously, his pleas begin to fade off. Exhaustion seems to overtake the boy, as he starts to mumble more than scream, and with every exhaled breath, the light’s flickering settles down.

Finally, silence.

The only sound in the shed is Will’s labored breaths, alongside your own.

Joyce sits in the chair placed in front of Will, takes a moment to find her words, and then asks the boy, “Do you know what March 22nd is?”

You do, it’s Will’s birthday, and you listen as Joyce talks about his eighth birthday and how she had gotten him a giant box of crayons and he had used all the colors to draw a rainbow ship. With every word, more despair and love fills the woman’s voice as she reflects on how proud she is of him, how much she loves him, and you have to turn away for a moment to wipe at your eyes.

After Joyce has finished her story, you all see something within Will. As if he’s coming back to himself, his eyes no longer holding the malic from earlier.

Jonathan detangles himself from you and wipes his eyes as well, taking a deep breath to calm himself. “Do you remember the day dad left?”

You turn around, already knowing the story that he’s about to tell, and you press a soft kiss to Mike’s forehead before joining Jonathan at Will’s side. He can’t be alone when he retells this story, because he hadn’t been alone when it happened.

“We stayed up all night building Castle Byers,” Jonathan reflects, nudging you as you crouch down in front of Will as well. “It was Y/N’s idea to build it just the way you drew it.”

“You loved the idea,” your voice cracks, but you try to hide it so that you don’t scare the boy.

You remember how Will’s face lit up when you surprised him with the idea. He hadn’t left his room in hours, blaming himself for Lonnie leaving, and Jonathan had shown up at your window, in tears as he confessed that he didn’t know how to help Will.

After yanking the teen into your room and sitting him down on your bed, you had told him that Will simply needed someone there for him, to remind him that he was good and lovely and that everything that Lonnie had ever said was wrong.

Later that day, the two of you showed up to the hardware store; two young teens with only pocket change as currency, and you’d bought all the supplies needed for Castle Byers.

“And it took so long because you were so bad at hammering.” The fondness of the memory causes Jonathan to laugh, and you do so as well as you remember just how many times Will had accidentally hit his fingers rather than the nail. “You missed the nail every time.”

“I thought you’d lose a finger, honestly.” You add, which Joyce laughs at.

Jonathan continues. “And then it started raining, but we stayed out there anyway. All of us were sick for like a week after that… But we just had to finish it, didn’t we? We just had to.”

You squeeze the teen’s hand and lean in closer to Will, sensing that it’s now your turn to speak. “Do you know what my nickname is for you?”

Will slowly nods, his eyes going to Jonathan and then back to you, indicating that he understands he’s your little bee.

“Little bee, that’s right.” It isn’t difficult to reminisce on your favorite memory with the boy, it comes to you immediately. “After we all had gotten the cold, do you remember the awful flu that Jonathan and Dustin somehow got like a week afterwards?”

Jonathan snorts, remembering how annoyed he had been for being so sick for so long. He had missed two whole weeks of school, and you were the one who had to bring his assignments to him and help with his homework.

“That weekend, our moms decided that it made more sense to send Jonathan to my house so he and Dustin could quarantine together, so I stayed at your house and we spent the entire weekend alone. Just you and me.”

You smile softly, the memory fresh and warm like an early spring day. You love Jonathan and Dustin endlessly, but being alone with Will was special. A rare occasion that the two of you always relished in. “That weekend, we watched all your favorite movies and I taught you how to bake the cookies you love so much… You taught me how to draw, and together we were happy.”

Your voice breaks again, the warmth of the memory slightly stings as you gaze into Will’s sunken eyes. Two years ago you had all of Will, his happiness genuine and his heart kind, and now you’re terrified you’ll never have that version of him back ever again.

Jonathan notices your hesitancy and strokes your face gently. “Go on,”

You grab the hand on your face and kiss it, grateful for the strength he’s loaning you. “We–we were almost sad when Dustin and Jonathan got better, because we had enjoyed our little weekend getaway.”

Joyce lets out a shaky breath as she reaches for you as well, her hand landing against your shoulder, a place she has long since inhabited for herself whenever she wants to express her love for you. She knows how fiercely you love her sons, and she remembers all the laughter and joy she heard that weekend within her home, a home that had long since stopped being warm for her.

“That weekend…” You force down the sobs that threaten to spill over. You have to finish the story, to remind Will of who he is again. He has to come back to you. “That weekend, you became my little bee.”

As soon as you say Will’s nickname, you lean away from the boy and try to collect yourself. You’ve said all that you physically can for now, and you hope it was enough. You hope, more than anything, that it will be enough to bring Will home again.

Mike steps forward now, and Will turns his head to him. “Do you remember the first day that we met?”

You notice the tear that falls down the boy’s face, and you lean your head against Jonathan’s shoulder in exhaustion as you listen to his story. It’s one you’ve never heard before, and it’s rare to see Mike so vulnerable with his feelings.

“It was… It was the first day of kindergarten. I knew nobody. I had no friends, and–and I just felt so alone and so scared but–” More tears come. “I saw you on the swings and you were alone, too. You were just swinging by yourself.”

Jonathan’s hand finds your hair as you both listen, and you know he’s thinking the same as you. How finding your person in a world so vast and lonely can bring you to life.

“I just walked up to you and… I asked. I asked if you wanted to be my friend, and you said yes.” Mike swallows, now diverting his eyes away from everyone. “You said yes, and it was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Mike finishes with more tears, and you walk over to him so that he can hide his face against you. You know he wants to be alone right now, that he hates how exposed his emotions are, and as soon as you’ve wrapped your arms around the boy he buries his face in your chest and softly cries.

You do your best to shield him from the world.

Meanwhile, Joyce tries again to reach Will. “Will, baby. If you’re in there, just please… Please talk to us. Please, honey, can you do that for me? I love you so much.”

Something seems to collapse within Will, he fights back tears as his breathing becomes labored again. For a moment, you think it’s worked, that he’ll finally come back and you’ll have your little bee again.

“Let me go.” Will demands again, and you feel everyone’s heart in the room drop.

It’s quiet for several moments, but there’s a faint tapping that you hear. You don’t know where it’s coming from, but you’re sure that it hadn’t been there moments ago. You look around the room and see Hopper doing the same.

When your eyes meet his, he tilts his head at you as if to ask if you hear it too. You nod, and Hopper looks around once more before he freezes.

“Out,” Hopper suddenly orders, leaving no time for anyone to argue as he flings the shed door open and marches towards the Byers home.

–

“What happened?” Dustin immediately asks as soon as you enter the house.

“We think we found something,” you inform him, pointing to Hopper, who has now sat down at the kitchen table with a pen and paper.

Everyone gathers around him as he starts to scribble a series of lines and dots. “I think he’s talking, just not with words.

“What is that?” Steve asks, lost as to how lines and dots are so important.

“Morse code,” all the boys answer in unison.

Steve leans over you and whispers, “Why do they always do that?”

“You get used to it. Now shush.”

Hopper spells out the letters he remembers Will tapping. “H-E-R-E.”

“Here.” Everyone says out loud.

“Will is still in there. He’s talking to us.” The chief says, looking at Joyce.

Your eyes meet Jonathan’s and an idea comes to you. “If the memories we’re telling him are working, then what about music?”

Hopper thinks for a moment, but Jonathan has already run to his room to grab his stereo and cassette tapes, understanding exactly what you’re thinking.

A plan forms from there.

You, Jonathan, Mike, and Joyce all take turns telling Will stories while his favorite song plays. Should I Stay or Should I Go? Plays within the shed as memories fill it with warmth and Hopper taps out on a walkie everything that Will taps.

Inside the house, the kids, Nancy, and Steve all listen to the walkie and write down the morse code to decipher what Will is saying.

Jonathan tells him about real music, Mike recounts the time Will saved the party during one of their campaigns, Joyce talks about a kind moment from his childhood, and you tell him about the wonderful drawing he made for your birthday. The one of you, Jonathan, and the party fighting a dragon.

“You drew me as a princess and Jonathan laughed when he saw it. Said it was very fitting.” You say, nervously watching as Will frantically taps against his chair. “When you gave me the picture, I think I almost squeezed you to death when I hugged you. It’s still the best birthday gift I’ve ever been given–”

The sound of a telephone ringing cuts you off, and Will snaps his head up, no longer paying any attention to you.

You freeze, now realizing that the music has shut off. Will has to have heard it, and you know he’ll figure out where you guys are. His eyes droop shut and you slowly back away into Jonathan, who grabs you and pulls you even further away. He’s tense, you both are.

“Hey, can you hear me?” Joyce tries to draw Will back in, but he’s starting to pant as his eyes flutter rapidly underneath his eyelids.

“It knows. It knows where we are.” Hopper says as Joyce reaches for the sedative.

With one fluid movement, she injects Will and immediately he knocks out. His head falls forward, his breathing now back to normal. You pull at Joyce so that she faces you. “Did we knock him out in time?”

She doesn’t say anything, and Hopper runs outside while Jonathan and Mike join. The two of you stand in the shed alone, silent, both filled with dread.

Jonathan comes running back in. “They’re coming!”

“Shit!” You scramble to help him untie Will and you and Hopper use your knives to speed up the process. Your hands are shaking, but there’s no time to steady them.

Once Will is untied, Jonathan throws him over his shoulder and runs to the house. Joyce and Hopper follow and you grab Mike’s hand to make sure you don’t lose him. As you run, you hear the familiar screeches of the Demodogs and the hair on the back of your neck stands up.

They’re close.

Inside, you take the lead and shove everyone out of the kitchen. “Get to the living room. Now!”

“Y/N, what’s going on?” Steve is at your side now, his voice soft with fear.

You’re about to reassure him that it’ll be okay, to lie through your teeth, but then you see the kids by the windows and groan. “Get away from the windows!”

They scurry away and Hopper steps in, holding a shotgun that he offers to Jonathan. “Do you know how to use this?”

Jonathan looks around as if Hopper has asked someone else. “What?”

“Can you use this?”

While Jonathan stumbles over his words, Nancy confidently walks over. “I can.”

Hopper nods and tosses her the gun before turning to you, “I saw the switchblade earlier. Use it.”

You flick your wrist and extend the blades, doing as you’re told.

Everyone gathers around, with an assortment of weapons, and you get the insane urge to laugh. Of course you’re back here a year later, standing in Jonathan’s living room as monsters from another dimension threaten your loved ones.

Jonathan stands in front of Joyce while you stand in front of Dustin, knives raised to your face. Steve stands in front of you, his back facing you as he wields his bat, ready to defend you and your brother.

You make sure to keep an eye on Lucas and Max, who are to your left, trusting that Nancy has Mike as she and Hopper raise their guns.

All eyes are on the windows, no one says anything as you all wait. With every passing second, the howls and screeches outside get louder. Then, a loud screech comes from your right, and everyone turns around.

“What are they doing?” Nancy asks no one in particular, her voice shaky but her aim firm and strong.

You see the bushes rustling through the windows, and another snarl comes from the other side that causes you all to scream. There’s commotion outside, a series of screeches and thuds, and your body tenses, preparing itself to fight.

Suddenly, the screeching stops, and through the window a giant body gets thrown.

You scream and Steve shoves you and Dustin further behind him, but your brother realizes before you do what’s happened. “Holy shit.”

The Demodog lays motionless on the floor, its body limp, and you realize with a relieved sigh that it’s dead.

“Is it dead?” Max asks, as you all begin to approach its corpse.

“It is,” you confirm, too scared to ask the question of what the fuck killed it.

As Hopper pokes at the Demodog with his shoe, the front door creaks open, and everyone turns in alarm with weapons at the ready. The lock turns, and you feel a familiar sense of static. It’s been a year since you’ve felt the sensation, a year since the girl who could control things with her mind disappeared and left her memory behind.

It’s El.

She walks in, and you drop your knife in shock when you see that it’s her.

She’s grown so much since you last saw her, her hair is longer and she’s gotten taller. Her clothes are all black, her eyes smudged with makeup. Mike steps forward, you see the way his eyes fill with adoration.

You let out a soft cry, all the guilt and grief you’ve felt over the girl finally lifts, and you can breathe again.

She’s back.

El is alive.

-

⌑ series masterlist

⌑ if you would like to be added/removed from my taglist, just let me know :)

⌑  taglist: @siriuslysmoking @sheisjoeschateau @myeclispedsun @innercreationflower @juhdoche @frostandflamesfanfic @goosy-goose @quinnsadilla @munsons-queen @stefansring @rice-elephant @bex22109 @bitchkeery @bex22109 @officerrrfriendly @kazunish @idkitsem @emilieluckwood @ryoujoking @criesinlies @tagakalat @dcnerd98 @sucker-4-angst @kitdjarin1 @onecojg @innazra @areiofhope @spaghetittied @cultish-corner @g8sstuff @videogamesandpoorlifechoices @hsllfirescoops @l0ve-0f-my-life @newyorkangelbaby @aliceespector

[thestrangestthing89]

This is going to be ranty and I've touched on this subject before. So if you're a Steve worshipper look away. For the record, I love his character but I cannot stand the constant mischaracterization of him. It turns him into a joke. He's not a mom and the comparison is frankly sexist not to mention shows how much people are willing to overlook with regard to his character. Joyce does triple the amount of work and is an actual mom, so if you want to praise someone for being a mom look to the real one. Instead she gets practically ignored by the fandom. Steve does the bare minimum compared to a lot of people and gets worshipped, and the result of this is that people end up turning him into a 1 dimensional version of himself. He has flaws and it's important to acknowledge them. He's far more interesting and relatable this way. Without doing that he gets turned into a god-like figure who is infallible. But the worst of this is the constant erasure of Jonathan. I keep seeing posts saying that Steve would be such an amazing mentor to Will and how wonderful their relationship will be next season. Be for fucking real. They don't have a relationship and never will and Will doesn't need him. Not to mention the fact that Steve isn't a mentor. He is a peer. And only to Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Erica who are the only kids who are shown to have any kind of relationship with him. And honestly Dustin is the only one that isn't superficial. It's especially notable in the case of Mike that they never developed a relationship. It shows that not only are Mike and Nancy not that close, but her ex-boyfriend never bonded with him. Mike tends to respond to Steve with the same contempt he has for his father in the brief moments we've seen between the two.

It's Jonathan who is an ally to Will. It's Jonathan Will and Mike trust. It's Jonathan Mike has known since he was 5. And it's Jonathan who has constantly protected them. Neither one of them have a relationship with Steve. All of these characters have been on the show since the beginning. If Steve had a major impact on any of their lives they would have shown it by now. And yes, Steve is no longer the bullying asshole he once was. He has gone through a great character arch that has shown him growing and changing in a realistic way. However, he still has a lot to learn and this was demonstrated through his shitty advice to Robin early in the season. Him dismissing her fears of asking Vickie out was not ok and shows he doesn't fully understand her point of view. Just because he ended up being right at the end doesn't excuse the fact that he told her to just ask Vickie out simply because she paused a movie at a certain time. He could have very easily been wrong and it was valid that she was hesitant.

Steve used to bully people for being gay, and again, it's good that he doesn't do this anymore and has grown. But this is the version of Steve that Will, Mike, and Jonathan know. They know the version of him that called Jonathan the f word and said his brother deserved to die. They know the version of him that said their abusive father was right. Mike and Will are not coming out to Steve.

In fact, people should expect them to be afraid of him and expect Jonathan to immediately be on guard and protective. Because this is the only version of him they know. Steve was known around town for being a bully and he still has this reputation - Eddie says this season he is surprised Steve wasn't an asshole even though Dustin insisted.

Mike and Will are two scared kids who live in a town that behaves the way Steve used to. They expect this kind of reaction. It's Jonathan's calm, empathetic support they need. It isn't the guy who used to be homophobic - and honestly has no patience for the kids - to help them out. Quiet, sensitive Will does not need someone loud and impatient who used to act like his abusive father in his life. And it's not on Mike and Will to absolve Steve of his past crimes.

And I absolutely cannot stand all the headcanons that I see of how Steve is going to start a LGBTQ support group around Hawkins for Robin and Will. It's utterly ridiculous. We absolutely do need Robin bonding with Will (and Mike and Vickie) but there is honestly no excuse for the constant insertion of Steve into this narrative. It is not a place he belongs. As an ally, it's important for him to recognize there are spaces that aren't for him. They do not need his permission or approval to talk to each other.

And bonding with Robin does not automatically come with a close bond with Steve. It isn't required. She is her own separate person who has her own separate experiences that Steve does not always need to be apart of just because they are friends. It's far more impactful to see a moment between Will and Robin (including with Mike and Vickie) without Steve randomly being there saying pointless shit. And they aren't wasting a moving coming out moment with Steve and Mike and Will instead of with people they are actually close to. Inserting him into this narrative changes the focus from the LGBTQ character to Steve. It makes it entirely about him and his response instead of them. In fact it's not outside of the realm of possibility that he just never finds out or it's a very quick moment that happens in passing. But erasing his characters actual role on the show completely misses the point of why he's still in this narrative. The cool guy isn't the focus of this story for once. It's not his story. That doesn't mean he isn't important. It means that for once the straight, white dude who's conventionally attractive is taking a backseat and not only that, but he's not resentful about this. He doesn't act bitter that he isn't the focus. And this is such an important role to see.

[bookshelf-dust]

how people can change

steve harrington x gn!byers!reader

word count: 4,427

warnings: swearing, like one use of y/n, mentions of season one steve's bullshit, mentions of death, enemies to friends to more type beat

a/n: my very first *full* steve fic. look at us. who woulda thought? not me. i've been working on this since february. don't look at me, i know. i know. but i think i've gotten some sort of hold on how i'd like to write steve. some of the dialogue (season 2) isn’t mine. (also the title is a lyric from strange by celeste!) let me know what you think, okay? i love you. steve loves you. don't tell me if it's bad.

————

November 1984

The door slams behind you with a deafening thud, and you take the extra five seconds to lock it. You know, that action no one else in your family seems to be capable of performing. 

The house is quiet, and you step over the map of Hawkins sprawling over the hardwoods, careful not to damage Will’s work.

Your keys clang against the table, knocking into your mother’s ashtray. It’s dead quiet again, and you freeze at a subtle interruption in the silence. There’s a muffled sound coming from somewhere else in your home, and frankly you’ve had enough of everything the last couple of days. Which is why Joyce sent you home to get some sleep, to clear your head. 

There’s no denying that you have a soft spot for Will. He’s always been your buddy. And you love Jonathan, you do, and he’s got this sick ability to know what you’re thinking or feeling before you do, but he doesn’t need your protection like Will does. 

Will is your best friend. And he’s got one hell of a support system with you, Jonathan and your mom behind him. He deserves the world. You’ve always thought that. 

You quickly infer that it’s a walkie making the sound, based on the staticky crackle, the slightly muffled voice of whoever’s trying to get through from the other side.

Yours is off—you know it is—so it has to be Will’s. Jonathan was too good for a walkie-talkie.

You step down the hallway, pushing your younger brother’s bedroom door the rest of the way open. You scan the small area for it, listening.

“Code red! This is a code red! I repeat, this is a good red! Shit, is anyone there?”

You snatch up the device, extending the antenna.

“Dustin? Is that you?”

“Jesus christ! Where have you been?” Dustin exclaims, and you swear you can hear someone else interfering with his words.

“Sorry! I wasn’t home. What’s wrong?” You sit on the edge of Will’s bed. It’s so much comfier than yours. 

“It’s Dart! He’s, he’s just…you know what? It’s a long story. Where are you right now?”

This time you definitely hear another voice, and maybe even music.

“Dart? You kept him, right? I fucking knew it, Henderson! You’re so not a good liar.”

“That’s for sure.” You can’t place the voice, not over the walkie and over Dustin’s rambling, but you do catch that and it’s enough to leave you curious. 

The boy starts to argue back, but you cut him off. “Dustin, who are you with?”

“Uh,” he coughs, “Well you see, um…Steve Harrington. I’m with Steve Harrington.”

Dustin gets a severe eye roll from said partner-in-crime, but he brushes it off. 

“What?” You’re so confused. How did that even happen?

“I know! But everyone’s been MIA!”

“Oh my god,” you say, and Dustin can practically see you face-palming.

“Look,” he shoves a handful of rogue curls back under the brim of his hat. “Can you just meet up with us? The old junkyard?”

You push off of Will’s bed, and start walking through the house again, retrieving your things. So much for a nap or eating anything other than hospital Jell-O. What are you gonna say? Fuck no? 

“Yeah, yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thank god,” Dustin breathes. “See you then. Over.”

You make sure to check the batteries in Will’s walkie before you go, and then you’re back in your car again, backing out just as aggressively as your mother (something you said you’d never do). 

————

“Yeah, Farrah Fawcett. You tell anyone I just told you that, and your ass is grass you’re dead, Henderson. Do you understand?” 

“Yep.”

“Okay.”

Dustin goes quiet for a minute, watching each step he takes. The train tracks are old, and there are one too many loose nails for his liking. “So what’s Y/N got against you, man?”

Steve adjusts one of the gloves he’s wearing, trying not to think about the fact that he’s gonna smell like raw meat for who knows how long. “Uh, I don’t know, exactly. Never really talked to them before. But I’d assume it’s the–”

“The assholery?” Dustin interrupts. 

“Dude.”

“What? It’s true.”

“No, yeah, you’re right.” 

Dustin catches the slip in Steve’s attitude almost immediately. “Hey, they’re good, okay? I don’t think you’re a total dick, if that means anything. You’re trying and that’s what matters, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah, we will. Thanks, Henderson.”

Dustin gives Steve a winning smile. This kid could rule the world, he thinks. 

“Anytime,” Harrington. He lifts his hand up, awaiting a fist bump that Steve returns without a second thought. 

————

You wander down the trail of raw meat you’ve found, not bothering to even question what's happening or where the meat came from. Frankly, you don’t really want to know. 

At the end of your path, you catch a glimpse of familiar curls, even if they are crushed under the red brim of a hat. 

“Dustin?”

The boy practically gives himself whiplash turning around to face you. 

“Holy shit, I’m so glad you’re here. It’ll be nice to have someone older than me who’s not a total pain in the ass.”

“Hey, I heard that.” 

The voice pulls your attention away from Dustin. When you look up, Steve Harrington is walking out of the biggest vehicle in this abandoned lot: a school bus. He’s wiping his hands on his jeans and pushing the ends of his sleeves up.

Dustin looks at you. “You guys have to be acquaintances at the least, right?”

You nod at him, feeling your face burn. If there’s a word for a less-than-acquaintance, you don’t know it. But that’s probably where your relationship with this boy lies. King Steve isn’t really someone you just miss. 

But yeah, you know him. You know he’s a dick. 

“Hi.” Steve pushes his sunglasses up into his hair and crosses his arms. 

“Hi.”

You only look at him for a moment before your eyes are back on Dustin. The younger boy notices the tension radiating from you, and honestly, he gets it. Steve Harrington wasn’t exactly the person he’d planned on spending his day with, but here he was. Desperate times call for desperate measures or whatever.

“So what are we doing?” You ask.

Dustin puts his thumbs underneath the straps of his backpack, bouncing on the balls of his feet a little. “It’s a long story. Best if we talk while we work.”

You roll your eyes at him, but follow the thirteen-year-old wherever he wants to go. You’re not sure you could deny Dustin Henderson anything. 

————

You watch as Max, a young girl you’ve just met, stomps up the steps of the ladder you’ve rigged inside the mess of a bus that you’re camped out in. 

Your chest aches because what Dustin just said to her was rude, it was rude, and you can’t believe the two of them. You sit, arms crossed and leg shaking up and down, glaring at Steve.

You find it hard to believe that after everything you’ve learned tonight, about Dart, about Mews—which you’re never going to get over because you only visit Dustin’s house for his cat, never him—that this is what they’re doing now.

“That’s good,” Steve says. “Just show her you don’t care.” 

Dustin is pacing, hands deep in his pockets. “I don’t,” he breathes.

Steve winks. Watching the two of them is like watching a tennis match. You don’t even like tennis.

“Why are you winking, Steve?” 

You drag your hand down your face, sick of hearing this stupid ass conversation. When Dustin sits, the constant clink of metal where Steve keeps flicking his lighter open over and over starts to give you a headache. 

“Fuck, Steve, would you quit it already?” 

He scoffs, snapping the lid to his Zippo closed harder than he had been before. “What’s your problem?”

“You’re pissing me off, that’s my problem.”

Steve’s brow furrows. He doesn’t really understand the sudden need for aggression. 

“Is this really the time for you to be yelling at me?”

“Is this really the time for you to be a dick?”

Dustin jerks the antenna on his walkie down, clearly sick of the two of you. “Would you children stop bickering? This is a life or death situation we have going on here.”

“I’d prefer death,” you proclaim. 

Dustin glares at you. “I can arrange that if you’d really rather die, than act civil for one evening.”

“I think all of the civility,” you gesture vaguely with your hands, “went out the window when you asked me to come help fight demo-dogs.”

Steve snorts at your words, and you glare at him, an “oh, is that funny?” look on your face. 

Dustin rearranges the hat on his head, stuffing his curls underneath it once again. “Alright. I’m gonna go check on our status, you two…work shit out, okay?”

“Dude,” Steve starts, “I’m older than you. I don’t have to listen to your instructions.” He gestures vaguely with his hands.

Dustin flips him off, and that’s the only response Steve receives, leaving the two of you alone in the bus.

You remain quiet, hoping that if you do you might just disappear or dissolve into the cracked leather of the seat you're sitting on. Then there really wouldn’t be any form of confrontation.

Steve starts flipping the lid to his Zippo open and shut repeatedly again, but this time it doesn’t annoy you. In fact, it gives you something to focus on, and you know that if you had one you’d be doing the same exact thing. 

You wonder if he’s nervous. Or just bored. 

Your knee begins to bounce when you realize that he’s looking at you, that he’s stopped messing with the lighter. But you refuse to look back, staring instead at the way the moonlight glints off of the metal in between his fingers. 

“So what’s your problem with me?”

The way Steve says those words is so unlike the way he’s spoken the rest of the day, the way he’s behaved with Dustin, that you feel a pang in your chest. 

He sounds like he used to. 

“Did you even hear that? How conceded you just sounded? Like it’s funny that I might have a problem with you, king Steve?”

Obviously the use of his nickname hits a nerve. He shoves the lighter back into his pocket and sits up, tucking his hands under his knees. 

“Would you just cut the shit and tell me what your problem is then?”

You sit up, matching his stance. There’s a part of you that wants to piss him off. You ache for it. 

“You’re a dick, that’s my problem.”

Steve scoffs. 

“That’s it? Like I don’t already know that?”

You roll your eyes, oblivious to the fact that all three of the younger kids you’re with have their heads hung over the escape latch in the top of the bus, listening eagerly. 

“You think I’m just gonna put up with you, Harrington? I’m sorry, did you forget the slut shaming you and your shitty friends did publicly last fall? Because I sure as hell didn’t. I didn’t forget that you walk around like you fucking own the entirety of Hawkins because you’re swimming in daddy’s money. I didn’t forget that your girlfriend took my best friend away from me.”

You stop, and Steve just looks at you. You realize how heavy you’re breathing and subconsciously watch the steady movement of his chest, trying to match the pace and calm down. You hadn’t meant to get worked up like that. But sometimes…sometimes shit just happens. 

Steve sighs. Honestly he feels a little sick. And he could argue with you some more, say that you don’t know what you’re talking about, that that’s the past, that he’s getting better. But that feels shallow. It feels meaningless. Because he knows it’s true. That in worrying about only himself or getting the girl or impressing whoever, he hurt loads more people than he realized. 

It’s such bullshit, he thinks. This life he’s been living.

“You know, I’ve gotten plenty of earfuls about my actions from Dustin, I promise you that much. He can be very mean.” 

You snort, considering there’s absolutely no denying that. “He’s a smart kid.” 

Steve nods. He’s trying to think of a way to respond. He’s not good with words. 

“Look, I-I know I’m a dick, okay?” he starts. You decide to be brave and look at him. He seems to like that. The eye contact. It’s like it lets him know you’re paying attention. He doesn’t get a lot of that, not away from school. 

“The thing with Nancy,” he gestures with his hands, looking away from you and at the wall of the bus, like it hurts him to talk about or something. “I don’t know. My solution to not getting what I wanted was apparently to take it out on her. Tommy H. proposed the idea, and I didn’t stop it.”

“You know I cleaned it off, right?” he continues. 

You uncross your arms and sit up, criss crossing your legs instead. “No. I didn’t know that.”

“It’s okay. It’s not like I broadcasted the information across Hawkins. Tommy and Carol don’t even know.”

Oh. The fact that they didn’t know tells you that he did it without needed recognition. He did it because he wanted to.

“I just—she saw it. And then there was the whole thing…”

You start to grin before you catch yourself, but he sees it. 

“It’s okay, you can laugh. I got the shit beat out of me.”

“You deserved it.”

He can’t argue with that. He won’t argue with it. “You’re right. I did. I said and did a lot that day that I regret.”

You nod, and then you’re both just looking at one another. It’s quiet out here, the same quiet you get at home, where you can hear the crickets, where you know there will be lightning bugs in the warmer months, free to roam uninterrupted by human activity. 

Steve pushes his hair from his forehead, and though he sees you track the movement of his hand, he doesn’t point it out.

“What did you mean about your friend?”

If you’re being honest with yourself, you hadn’t intended for that to come out, but being in such close proximity to Steve in this moment had just made everything spill out. 

You try to wave him off. “That was a whole thing. I didn’t mean to spill my guts like that.”

“No, it’s okay, I want to know. If you want to tell me, that is.”

You nod, chewing at your thumb nail now. Steve has the urge to reach forward and pull it free so you won’t hurt yourself, but he doesn’t. Instead he stays still and quiet, watching you contemplate a while. 

Eventually he decides to keep going. 

“I’m trying, you know,” he tells you. You look up and it gives him that little push to continue speaking. “To be better. I know you think I’m a total dick, and you’re not wrong, I know that, but I really am trying to be better. To be a good influence on those little shits.” He quirks his head upwards where he knows all three of his charges are eavesdropping, without a doubt. 

You take a second and look at him. Really look at him. He seems to carry himself differently, though it’s not something you’d notice if you weren’t looking. He’s not dressed like his mommy picked out his outfit. He looks messy. The mess draws you in. 

“I believe you. And I-I know I shouldn’t stereotype you, but it’s just—”

“I am a walking stereotype,” Steve grins. So do you.

“Yeah. I guess so. But I believe that you’re working on it. I suppose some people don’t remain assholes forever.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles, though a little distracted. You still haven’t told you what you meant, but that’s not what’s really bugging him. 

There’s this pull inside him. This longing for a friend. A real friend. Not someone he knows just because their dads were up each other's asses, or someone he just sits with at lunch because they’re of the same status quo. 

And he just feels so alone right now. What with Nancy, this girl he thought he was in love with and everything, but clearly she doesn’t feel the same. What’s he even supposed to do with that? Did he ever actually know anything about her? 

It doesn’t matter. 

What matters is that he’s sitting here with you, hanging out with thirteen-year-olds and hiding from creatures Steve’s brain can’t even begin to decipher. 

“Barb,” you say. Steve panicked a little internally at the mention of her name, considering. But he keeps his eyes on you, focused on each word that leaves your mouth. “She was my best friend, in middle school that is.”

He nods. Oh. Oh. 

“We were still close when we got to high school, had a little group and everything, right? And even though high school kinda fucks everything up, I didn’t want to believe that would happen to our little partnership, you know?” 

He nods again, trying his best to pay attention. He’s trying harder than he ever has in school. He probably shouldn’t ever say that out loud.

“Anyways, she was my best friend. She was all I knew, and then we got to lovely Hawkins High, and she met Nancy. Nancy and I never really clicked, even when we tried. I guess it’s because I’ve always thought she was a pretentious bitch—sorry, Steve—but I don’t know. We just fell apart after that.”

“So Barb had Nancy and I had…no one. And the way my brain saw it was Nancy took my best friend from me, and then Nancy started seeing you, and so I saw those two from across the cafeteria, lounging with the popular kids. With you. And then she died.”

Steve is looking at you in a way he’s never looked at you before. Like he’s in awe of you. And it’s not anything negative. It’s warm. Understanding. Like something you’ve said has straightened something out in his brain, sorted something he couldn’t figure out on his own. 

“S-so it was like we took her from you, in a way?” he asks. 

“Yeah. And you didn’t. God, you didn’t. But it just felt like this…” you trail off, searching for the right words.

“Domino effect?”

“Yeah! Yeah. Exactly. And it’s not your fault, not at all. But I guess I already saw you as some dickish rich kid and that gave me another reason to stay the fuck away from you. And now that I’m saying it out loud I realize how awful it sounds because people change, you know?”

“No, I get it. I’ve been an asshole, and I’m sure I still am—Dustin can attest to that—but there are rich assholes that don’t change or probably won’t ever change. I know a few of them.”

You go quiet again. Steve doesn’t want you to stop talking. He’s starting to think he likes the sound of your voice. 

“It’s good that you’re changing, Steve. I’m sorry I said you were such a dick.”

A breathy laugh leaves his throat. “It’s okay, I promise. I’m sorry for…everything.”

“Maybe we can make a truce or something. Start over. It’s not like we really know each other that well anyhow.”

“Yeah. Yeah, that’s cool. Whatever you want.” He means that. He thinks he’d do whatever you wanted him to. 

“Okay. Maybe we can just try and figure it out.”

“I’d like that,” Steve says. He stops himself from proclaiming that he wants to try and fix this with you. Because you’re listening to him. You’re not mad. He doesn’t want you to disappear on him after this. 

You give him a small smile and he swears he might cry. Not that that feeling lasts. 

“Hey!” Dustin is leaning down into the bus, hands clasped together. “I’m so glad we’ve got this handled, but we’ve got a code red, so let’s get this show on the road, yeah?”

————

June 1985

The door to the back room swings open, a frazzled boy rushing in. You drop your candy wrapper on the table, and Robin keeps talking about the girl that you missed coming in this morning. She was “such a babe.”  

“Hello?” Steve stands in front of the both of you, hands on his hips. You have to fight back a laugh. 

Your eyes find Steve’s immediately, and you swear they soften, but maybe you’re imagining it. You nudge Robin’s leg where your foot is propped up on one of the supports under her chair. 

She stops flailing and looks up, seeing Steve’s hand raised where he’d been about to snap to get her attention. She quirks a brow. “Don’t you snap at me, Harrington! This is important shit.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Could you two come and help me? I’m dying out here!”

It’s one of the hottest days of the year, and Scoops has had a line since it opened at ten. 

You look at your watch. “My shift doesn’t start for…fifteen minutes.” He rolls his eyes at you, though the gesture is void of any malice it could possibly hold. 

“Yeah, well this is supposed to be my break, so get out there, Buckley!”

She stands, though she’s pouting. “Come on.”

“You took the job,” he says, shoving her through the door. Robin gives him a look that you can’t see, but you can practically feel it from across the small room. 

Steve lets out an exaggerated sigh, ripping off the hat he’s been wearing and throwing it on the table in front of you. 

You watch him rummage through a bag before he emerges from its depths with a banana and throws himself down in the chair across from you, lifting your leg up from where you’d moved it to occupy the seat Robin had abandoned. His hand is warm on the bare skin of your calf, and he shifts the chair some, laying your leg across both of his. 

“Steve.”

“Huh?” He peels the banana, aggressively fast actually, and rips off a chunk, popping it into his mouth. 

“Why do you have a banana?” 

He meets your eyes. “Snack, duh.” He chews, and then gestures at the closed window. “Been working up a sweat out there I think I deserve a break.”

You grin at him, and he feels like he might hit the floor. 

“Want some?” Steve pulls off a chunk and holds it out to you. 

“Did you wash your hands?”

He gasps, mid-chew, and forces himself to swallow. “D-did I—yes, I washed my hands, mom, I’m not four.”

“Eh,” Robin’s voice breaks your little bubble. She’s pulled the window open–that way she can eavesdrop– propping herself up on her elbows. 

That makes you laugh, and when you smile your cheek is full of banana and Steve swears something is breaking inside of him. 

“Gang up on me then why don’t you,” he says, handing you the last piece he’s got left. He tosses the peel in the trash, “what do you want anyhow, Robin?” 

“Your break is up, and her shift has started. Let’s get to slinging ice cream, shitheads!”

You wipe your hands on your shorts and hop up. Steve doesn’t move, just looks at you. 

“C’mon, Steven. It’ll be lunch sooner than later.”

He grins. His eyes look tired and you wonder if he slept any last night. He told you once recently that he doesn’t always sleep well, that sometimes he has to listen to tapes in order to keep his head from being so busy, to keep the thoughts from being so loud. 

Steve has told you a lot since last fall. There’s a significant bit more that you know that’s more than what he’s given Robin, but you know he’ll let her in. He just needs the time. 

Though sometimes you think he might be giving you everything. The parts of himself he’s never shown anyone else. Because you’ve been such a good listener, and Steve’s never really had that before. 

He wishes he had the balls to tell you more. But he can’t fuck it up this time. Not with you. You’re too good.

Steve is your best friend now. You know that. He knows it.

If yourself from a year ago could see you now, she’d probably knock your fucking teeth in. But he’s just so much more than you thought. You’re not sure you’ll ever forgive yourself for not thinking there could be more in him, though he’s told you not to be upset. You’ve told him the same when he berates himself for not having paid you more attention in school.

It’s the past. You can’t live there. And today, you’re scooping ice cream for pre-sticky kids, for shitty pay, but it doesn’t matter because you have him. You have Robin. 

You stick out your hand, and Steve takes it without a second thought. His palm engulfs yours, skin warm and a little calloused. 

“We can watch whatever you want tonight.”

He squeezes your hand. You and Robin are supposed to have a sleepover with him tonight. He suggested he sleep in a guest room and you two have his bed, but Robin said she needs to be cuddled. You said you’re not letting him sleep anywhere but his bed. 

“I thought you wanted to watch Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

“I always wanna watch that. But you can pick first, Stevie.”

Stevie. His stomach flips at that. You don’t let it out often, but when you do it’s like Steve might just die right there. 

He straightens, deal clearly made, and you pull him up–not that you need to. 

You push through the door with him, and immediately regret it. It’s like the soccer moms can smell your fear, and you know it. 

“Breathe,” Steve says. “Dustin’s here.”

He is. The entire party. That you can deal with. 

You think you could deal with an absurd line and angry mothers for the rest of your life if it meant assembling Dustin and Lucas’ weird orders. Even if you have to endure Will’s questioning looks and his pleas that you bring some ice cream home. If you have to listen to Robin’s word vomit.

If it meant spending time with Steve, you’d do it. 

God, how shit changes.

————

please let me know if you liked this! feedback is always appreciated!! comments and reblogs mean more than you know. <33

[reidshearts]

new roomie?

pairing: steve harrington x fem!henderson reader

content: swearing, mentions of drugs, idiot steve

y/n henderson had always envies her younger brother. I mean come on, how had Dustin Henderson manage to gain five more friends than her. the only friend y/n had was the infamous willow roth, ex-cheerleader at hawkins high and your current roommate at college. they had been strangers before bumping into each other at a fresher's week party, coincidently studying the same subject; law.

you two became best friends and lived in the same flat until willow got suspended for multiple instances of being caught with weed on the campus along with other drugs, however with a record as clean as her's and straight grades she got lucky and no law enforcements were called.

"do your seriously have to leave!", you exclaimed, laying on your back on the bed with your head dangling off "- i mean it wasn't that bad...right will?"

your best friends mouth curled into a smile as she witnessed your antics, "it was going to happen eventually y/n, anyways robin was telling me about this hot new guy who joined, something about going to high school with him back in Hawkins". now this caught your attention as you roll off the bed with a thud onto your stomach.

"first of all ouch and secondly you say that as if im obsessed and fall in love with every guy i see!" you huff, sitting up against your bed, earning a look of disbelief from willow.

"alright fine! how hot on a scale of ten? also what subject is he taking? does he have a girlfriend because that is the biggest question i need to know-"

"-slow down y/n/n ! and to answer your questions, ten out of ten, i think some sports or doctor related thing, and i dont know ask robin when you next see her! anyways shouldn't you start cleaning the flat since your new roomie should be arriving in 20 minutes?!" replies willow with a hand on her hip.

"jeez okay mum!", reluctantly standing from your position on the floor to fling yourself into willows arms "but first a goodbye hug!!"

after 10 more minutes of goodbyes with lots of tears and laughing, you began the cleaning which didn't take too long seeing as all the rooms were tiny! while wiping the counters in the kitchen you heard the jingle of keys and the opening of the front door, so you threw the cloth in the sink and flattened out your skirt before making your way into the view of the door.

you slightly flinch as the door slammed against the wall behind it as her new roommate came into view lugging suitcases and a backpack inside, looking up at the stranger before you, you struggled to get the words out.

My gods he was pretty, mousy brunette hair with lighter brown highlights were illuminated from the sun streaming through the kitchen blinds. you didn't know whether it was from the heat or if he was naturally glowing that caused your eyes to widen as you shamelessly checked him out. clearing your throat you draw your eyes away and caught yourself from where they were to soon follow his torso down lower and smile back up at him.

"y/n", you exclaimed loudly before clearing your throat and beginning again , "Sorry hi I'm y/n henderson!"

Shaking his head at the abruptness as he takes his turn to admire you and he smiles widely before if falls with shock and confusion after processing what you had just said, "Henderson? shit"

He can not be falling for dustin's sister!

[trans-eddie]

steve's not a religious man, for all the years he spent being dragged to mass by his parents. but if he was, he'd want to ask god why he let someone like eddie die for this piece of shit town that didn't deserve him.

steve had watched from across the room as dustin handed over eddie's necklace, in tears. as wayne clutched it in his hand and brought it to his lips, like a rosary, eyes closed in prayer; and steve had broken a little.

growing up the way he had, he was no stranger to guilt. guilt was a steady undercurrent, a familiar beast he long learned how to wrangle, to compartmentalize.

but not this.

this guilt is a serpent, rearing its ugly head in his chest and constricting around his lungs until he can't breathe. it makes him uneasy, agitated. like he's filled with an energy he needs to expell.

the same kind that made him pick a fight with jonathan byers.

the same kind that made him crash his car into billy hargrove.

he knows there's something wrong with him, but he's never learned how to handle his emotions; he just does his best for having been a kid who was handed a bat studded full of rusty nails to solve his problems.

but guilt is not a thing you can beat down like some bloodthirsty monster from another dimension, no matter how it eats him.

so steve does what he does, and he swings his fists at the next best thing.

it's some buzzcut, blonde asshole from the local church, the older brother of one of carver's guys. a few years older than steve, even. he's mouthing off, worked up and angry. if steve was more rational, more gracious, he'd give leeway for the man's own grief, his own emotional response to loss and terror. steve's been through enough to know what it's like, to crave control.

but he's feeling neither of those things, and the man is sending specks of spit out of his mouth as he yells about searching the rubble of the town for eddie munson, the murderer, the satanist.

steve's jaw tenses. his hands clench tight, and before he knows what he's doing, he's rounded on him and socked him square on the jaw.

there's a beat where he processes, where he makes the conscious choice whether to step back and assess his actions, or to follow through.

the man snarls at him, and the moment passes. steve takes two fistfuls of his shirt and slams him to the ground, shouting as he goes.

"don't you dare open your mouth about him again, you ungrateful -" he cuts off with a growl, slamming the man forcefully against the earth again. "you'll never know, you'll never fucking know what he did for you! nobody will fucking know, they won't ever know now, they won't-!"

steve stops when he feels warm, wet trails run down his cheeks, tastes the salt on his tongue.

he stumbles back off the man, hands touching his face.

he hasn't been able to cry yet. it hasn't come, no matter how much it hurt, no matter how many times steve played that last look eddie gave him, over and over in his head, thinking about the fact that the next time he saw those eyes, they would be vacant and lifeless.

he could never cry, because he blamed himself, and what right did he have to cry over what was his own fault?

he'd had crying beat out of him at eight years old, when his father was on edge from his mother's nagging, and steve had been upset about something or other.

he'd smacked him, pinched the bridge of his nose, and shaken steve's head until he'd stopped, wide eyed and scared.

"men don't cry," his father had sneered, dragging rough thumbs across steve's eyelids, drying them of the evidence.

steve turns his head up, up, up, now, bare and facing the heavens, where god looks disinterestedly on from, and he screams. he runs his voice hoarse, the sobs tearing violently from him, wracking his body with sorrowful tremors.

his face is wet, and it's too salty to be rain.

he doesn't feel like a man.

not when he'd left eddie behind and run off to play hero, only to watch helplessly as the people he loved were choked by vines.

not when eddie had been left to make the hard choice, the sacrificial play, just to get them the win; and they hadn't even defeated vecna, only bought them all some more time.

he's not a man, but a failure.

somehow, in the midst of this, steve drags himself back home. manages to climb into his bed, and pull out what he'd stuffed underneath.

he sits there, numb fingers clutching a swathe of bloody denim, and he cries.

he cries until there's nothing left, until he feels like his whole body is dried and and empty, a husk curling in on itself.

he fades into sleep, too quickly to catch the reflective, red glint that enters his bedroom as the the sun sets, or to catch the way a figure moves through the shadows, perching at the end of his bed.

he doesn't hear the low rumble of a voice, raspy and trying to whisper.

"I thought I was the animal now," eddie says, sharp teeth flashing. "but you're a regular guard dog, aren't you, harrington?"

his eyes glow in the moonlight as he watches the sleeping figure below him with intensity.

"will you fight everyone that badmouths me, I wonder?" eddie laughs mirthlessly. "your work will be cut out for you."

his eyes travel over steve's full form, pausing with surprise when he catches the vest he's clinging to like a security blanket.

steve doesn't wake to see the winged body take off out of his upper story window.

he does wake, however, and find that the item of clothing he fell asleep with is conspicuously missing; and, even more alarming, what's been left in it's place: his yellow sweater, the one abandoned to the upside down, swallowed up when lover's lake split apart.

the one he never expected to see again, because things don't just come back when they've been lost like that.

except, maybe, he thinks, running over the golden fabric with disbelieving fingertips...maybe, there is a chance that they sometimes do.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

What if Eddie had been hidden at Steve's house after Chrissy? Part Two

Part one

Steve entered the Creel house. His thoughts immediately turned to Eddie. This house screamed haunted, and it was definitely something that Eddie would have loved to investigate. It's crazy how quickly the guy grew on him, how quickly he developed feelings for the guy who had been living in his house the last few days. He fondly recalled when he had woken up to find Eddie had gone downstairs and managed to find a channel that was playing Scooby-Doo. Eddie had passed out in front of the TV, and Steve had to up carry him back to bed.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Dustin asked with a wicked grin.

"Fuck off," Steve said, the grin slipping from his face and glared at Dustin.

"I didn't say anything," Dustin grinned and paused. "So, are we going to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Steve asked.

"The incident," Dustin said and made kissing faces.

Steve groaned.

"I did it without thinking, okay?" Steve asked.

"Which means subconsciously that you wanted to do it," Dustin grinned. "It would be the coolest thing if my two favorite people got together."

"Okay, just because I like him doesn't mean he likes me back. In fact, he probably hates me now," Steve mumbled the last part. "Wait, I'm your favorite person?"

"Okay, even if he doesn't like you in that way, he wouldn't hate you for liking him. He'd probably be super flattered. I would be," Dustin said. "And Steve? You know I look up to you, right? We all do. I know we joke about you being our mom, but we know that you're our brother. Even Mike says so. We love you."

"Jesus, it's so dusty in here," Steve said, sniffling and blinking his watery eyes. "Love you too, man."

"Come on, Fred, let's go search for clues," Dustin said.

"I guess that makes you Scooby then," Steve said.

"Why in the hell does that make me Scooby?"

"Don't be so offended, man, you'd be lucky to be Scooby."

"Yeah, you're spending way too much time with Eddie," Dustin said.

They searched the house for clues where Steve ran into a black widow web. Now, thanks to Robin, on top of everything, Steve was worried about spider eggs nesting in his hair. It definitely caused him to question his friendship with her a little bit. They were led into the attic, and they figured out that Vecna was operating from the Upside Down. Nancy suggested going back to Lover's Lake to search for more clues. Hopefully, the cops were gone by now. They weren't, so Steve suggested they wait it out at Skull Rock.

"So, are you going to bring Eddie here after everything?" Nancy said teasingly.

"Ugh, seriously, you too?" Steve asked.

"Oh, come on. You definitely have a type. Nerds with very big hair," Nancy said, flipping her hair.

"Ooh, are we teasing Steve about his crush?" Robin asked, coming up behind Nancy. "You definitely have a type."

"Seriously, Robin?"

"Oh, come on, you teased me about my crush on Vickie. It's only fair that I do the same," Robin said, and then her eyes widened, slapping a hand over her mouth.

"Robin, it's fine. You don't have to worry about me. I had a friend like you, and I'm more than okay with Steve, too. I don't judge. . .well, not matters like these," Nancy said softly.

"Barb?" Robin asked softly, and Nancy nodded, tears filling her eyes.

"I just can't believe that this happened again. With Fred, I should have - " Nancy began, her bottom lip quivering.

"Hey, Nancy, it's not your fault," Steve said softly and pulled her into his chest. "It wasn't your fault then, and it wasn't your fault now. Okay?"

"It wasn't your fault either, Steve. I'm sorry," Nancy said.

"If anyone is to blame, it's that asshole scientist who decided to play god," Steve said.

"Yeah, fuck that guy," Robin said and Nancy laughed.

"Group hug!" Dustin exclaimed, grabbing Max and pulling her with him.

They laughed as the three kids slammed into them. Pretty soon, they were all laughing against each other. They started moving towards Lover's Lake, waiting near the treeline for the cops to clear out. It wasn't until night started to fall that the cops finally drove away. When they did, Dustin realized that his compass was going all wonky. It led to them figuring out that there was a gate in Lover's Lake. Dustin had started following the compass closer to the lake when they ran into Eddie.

"Eddie! What the hell?!" Steve and Dustin exclaimed.

"Jason - gasp - came - gasp - knocking," Eddie said breathlessly as he leaned heavily against Steve.

"Shit," Steve cursed. "Are you okay?"

"No, man. I think someone told Jason that Henderson hangs out there all the time," Eddie said when he finally caught his breath and buried his face into Steve’s neck. "I don't feel safe anywhere, man. I mean, except with you. I mean, all of you. Not just Steve. So, what's happening here then?"

Eddie straightened up, crossing his arms, realizing that there were people watching. His cheeks were tinged pink.

"Well, we found out that Vecna is attacking from the Upside Down, and there might be a gate in Lover's Lake, which is where Patrick died. Jason thought he saw Eddie, apparently, but according to the police it was just someone going for a late night swim," Dustin said. "I overheard Callahan, and apparently Jason thinks you're a vessel for Satan."

"Well, he's definitely hot enough," Steve said outloud, and everyone turned to look at him. "You know, because of Hellfire and hell is hot, which is where Satan lives, you know? Forget I said anything!"

"No, I want to hear more about how you think I'm hot enough for hell," Eddie said, smirking.

"You can talk about that later, Eddie!" Dustin said, snapping his fingers at him. "Onward!"

He started running towards the lake. He would have fallen in if it hadn't been for Eddie and Steve catching him.

"Careful there, big guy," Eddie said, slapping his chest.

Luckily, they found someone's boat abandoned by the shore. Steve and Eddie held the boat down while Robin climbed in. Steve offered his hand to Robin, but she decided to help herself by using his and Eddie's heads. Steve held his hand out to Eddie. He took Steve’s hand, turned it over, and placed a kiss on it before climbing into the boat to help Nancy. Meanwhile, Robin giggled with Nancy, pointing at Steve's red face.

Steve stood up in the boat, took off his shoes, and then his sweater. He tossed it at Eddie and winked at him. Eddie cursed at Steve and then took his hand, gazing at him. Steve gripped his hand, rubbing his thumb over his skin as he stared into Eddie's wide brown eyes. Steve sucked in a breath.

"Be careful," Eddie muttered and released Steve’s hand, touching the spot where Steve rubbed.

Eddie watched as Steve jumped into the lake. Eddie pulled out a cigarette with shaking hands and went to light it, but before he could, Robin took the cigarette out of his mouth. Eddie watched as she threw it into the lake.

"Gross," she said.

"So I'm just supposed to sit here stressed?" Eddie grumped. "You know, a fish probably ate that."

"I'm worried about him too," Robin said and took his hand.

"You taking advantage of my stressed out state, Buckley?" Eddie asked.

"Even if I wasn't a big fat lesbian, Munson, I wouldn't touch your grungy ass with a ten foot pole," Robin said, and Eddie laughed. "You know, you asked Steve that very same question. Do you WANT someone to take advantage of you?

"Me too, Buckley, I mean, not a lesbian but you know, a bisexual!" Eddie said, slapping her knee.

Robin and Eddie turned to look at Nancy. She laughed.

"I'm okay with you guys being interested in the same gender but I'm strictly into dick. Although I've never been good at the whole romance thing, especially after everything. It's partially why me and Jonathan broke up. I wanted to focus on college, and he wanted to focus on his family," Nancy said. "There's this huge relief that I'm single now where I can just focus on me. I suppose I sound like an asshole."

"What? No!" Robin and Eddie said.

"You're young, Nance, we all are. If being in a relationship isn't something you want, then that's your choice," Robin said. "It's a respectable one."

"You know sea turtles reproduce asexually," Eddie said. "Meaning that they can reproduce without having sex."

"I like sex," Nancy blurted out and slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Hey, no shame in a woman liking sex. You know, there might be a word for you one day. If sea turtles can be asexual then I'm sure there's a word out there -,"

Eddie was interrupted by Steve, resurfacing and telling them that there was definitely a gate in Lover's Lake. Just as quickly as he appeared, Steve was yanked underneath the water. Eddie shrieked, pushing Robin and Nancy out of the way as he dove immediately into the water. Eddie dove into the gate and climbed into the Upside Down. Lightning flashed overhead, and the screech of bat like creatures entered Eddie's ears. Fury ignited in Eddie when he saw Steve being attacked by the bats. He let out a yell and grabbed an oar off the ground of the empty lake. He could hear Nancy and Robin fight along with him as he beat the bats off of Steve. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Steve stood on the bat, ripping it apart with his feet and mouth. Eddie couldn't help but let out the scream that built up beside him.

"JESUS H. CHRIST!"

The bats blocked the gate, so there was no going back through there, and more were coming. Eddie wrapped his arm around Steve’s waist and followed the other two to Skull Rock. Eddie leaned back Steve against the rock and took off his jacket, then he took off Steve’s sweater. That's when Steve noticed that Eddie was wearing one of his polos along with his jeans.

"I see you really helped yourself to my clothes," Steve smirked.

Eddie leaned close to his face until Steve could feel his breath against his skin.

"I'm also wearing your underwear. . .big boy," Eddie whispered. "It's almost as if you're wrapped around my body."

"Jesus," Steve choked. "Are you trying to finish me off? Wait. Don't answer that."

Eddie laughed and took off Steve’s polo, then the undershirt he was wearing underneath. He slipped the polo back on and started tearing up the undershirt to tie around Steve’s waist, getting on his knees to do it. Nancy handed him her own torn up shirt, and he used it to pack it in. He placed his hands on Steve’s hips, admiring his work. Eddie suddenly realized the position he was in and looked up to meet Steve’s darkening eyes. Eddie found it difficult to breathe.

"We are in another dimension! There is NO time for that!" Robin squawked.

"Damn it!" Steve and Eddie cursed.

Eddie put the sweater and his jacket back on, taking his vest off. He slipped the vest onto Steve and clutched the collar.

"For your modesty," Eddie whispered.

"You could have given me the sweater, you know," Steve said.

"Eh, I thought you would look hot as hell in my battle vest, and I was right. Besides, this sweater is mine now," Eddie said and crashed his lips to Steve’s.

The kiss was short but long enough for Steve to kiss back, and this time kissing Eddie was purposeful. Eddie rested his forehead against Steve’s.

"I'm glad you're still here," Eddie whispered.

Part Three Coming Soon (that will definitely be the final part)

A/N: Yes, Eddie was about to come up the word aromantic a few years early. Too bad he was interrupted. Yes. Nancy is single. I hated that storyline. (I honestly hate Jancy). Especially when Jonathan expected that Nancy would give up her dreams for him. Wtf was that?

@estrellami-1

[findafight]

I have an extremely stupid thought: Addams!Steve. His parents are horrified at his normalness. Everybody in the family tries to come up with ways to make him enjoy pain, even a little. They are all devastated that his interests are basketball and popularity. Usually, he isn't even cruel on purpose! His parents do their best to support him in his interests (this is why their house is so horribly decorated) and leave every time they feel the need to Be Weird or visit the family. When the Upside Down happens, they are overjoyed. Finally, a truly Addams pastime! But he doesn't seem to be having a lot of fun? Is he just trying to fit in their family? They don't want him to change for them, they just want him happy! His parents end up leaving him alone longer so he doesn't feel pressured to share the delightful portal to Hell (or keep getting involved if it stops being fun) and check in on him from time to time. He looks so delightfully beat up every time! What fun! Let's give him space. If he wants to battle hellmonsters, they definetely aren't gonna stop him! Even if it's a bit strange that he hasn't chosen one as a pet yet. Oh, no, is he secretely having a bad time? Does he not enjoy the hell portal? Look Steve we support your normal lifestyle! Do you want a job? A normal, horri- we mean, it's-totally-cool-if-you-want-one job? We won't think less of you if you do!

Steve for his part is very grateful that his family are so supportive of him, even if he's still trying to find a way to ask them for help with the Upside Down stuff without 1) secretely disappointing them and 2) his family making the situation worse on purpose. He knows they wouldn't mean to! But if he asks his mother to shut down a portal to a nightmare dimension full of flesh-eating monsters without even letting her keep one as a pet he might just make her cry, and that's unconscionable.

He's also under the impression that he knows the difference between people-normal and Addams-normal, but he still gets tripped up from time to time. Dustin keeping Dart as a pet? Duh, super normal, didn't even think about it until everyone started berating Dustin. What do you mean Jonathan and I aren't friends? We loved the same girl (who chose him), clearly we are Friends For Life.

(He'll never admit that Eddie is the first thing in his life that felt Right to every part of him. Sweet as pie the way he likes it even if his family is baffled by the preference, with a Deeply Weird appearence and demeanor that remind him of the best parts of home)

Yes yes Oh my god your mind.....

In S1 when Steve says his parents are away because dad has business and his mom went with him because she doesn't trust him it's not that his dad's adulterous it's because his mom didn't trust his dad not to, like, go grave robbing without her, (such a romantic date in the moonlight and it would be a shame to do it all alone, she knows he can't resist it though...)and they knew Steve wasn't particularly About That and also don't want him around for date night, and they don't want to do Weird Shit (their normal) in Hawkins because they don't want to have a reputation that would harm their darling normie son, AND he needed to stay in school at least for sports.

They return and he's like so I fought a demon creature from another dimension and got my shit rock by Jonathan who is now my best friend... (Because I doubt an Addams cares about NDAs within the family) and his parents are delighted! A portal to a hell dimension! Steven! You'll have to invite us along next time, and bring that nice young woman who is even MORE normal than you-oh she pointed a gun at you? Magnificent she'll fit right in! But they notice he's even more wound up than before and his mother, sister to Gomez Addams (hence the Harrington name), goes to her brother and bemoans the development.

"a hell dimension! In our own backyard, Gomez! We should all be rejoicing on our luck! But poor Steven only seems stressed. Apparently a girl died in our pool and instead of inviting her to haunt us he just feels guilty. I don't know what to do... However, the nail studded bat--complete with blood splatter, it's marvelous, you really must see it--is a welcome addition to the decor in the main room that we may be able to relax the highly attuned 'normal' look and expand from the basement."

And the next year, Dustin gets Steve to look for Dart and he's like "wait it's a baby demogorgon? Oh man my cousins would be sooo jealous. It ate your cat? Ah. I see. Eating a family member is certainly frowned upon." And Dustin is like. Why aren't you mad that it's a demogorgon u weirdo. What the hell. And Steve realizes that maybe weird carnivorous pets is an Addams Thing. In his defense Dustin got one. He'll have to tell his mom that it tends to eat other pets and isn't advisable.

Afterwards everyone is so proud! Steve helped defend some children who seem very keen on arson, which an Addams can relate to, and he always wears a broken nose so well. It is unfortunate that that Nancy girl broke his heart, but all's fair in love and war, and an Addams can bounce back! And what a tale, to have a girlfriend run away with you best friend! Worthy of a revenge plot, hmm Steve? Oh? No? You just what to cuddle and watch sad movies? Well. Alright then.

Perhaps a summer job, at that new mall will help. That is what normal people do, right? And Steve is so keen on normality that his parents can't refuse. They go on vacation, the last week of June, and tell him to just consider poisoning some of the icecream. Just a little! A bit of botulism or ecoli is good for a community! Keeps everyone on their toes.

They cannot believe they missed it AGAIN! Horrible luck, missing all the fun in their hometown. But, Steve seems to be bouncing back, (and his mother and father were both relieved and disappointed that the Russians who dared torture their sweet little pastel son and his friend were blown up before they could get a taste of Addams retribution) he's got a dear friend he works with and is overly attached too (excellent! His parents are so happy he's got someone he's mildly Weird with) and he happily drives the little arsonists around. (Steve's parents don't really meet the kids but know about them, are pleased as punch they all seem like little Addams-Harringtons Steve's taken under his wing. After all, arson, pet monster adopting, car thieving, and spycraft are all delightful pastimes for today's Youth)

But spring break of '86 rolls around and they return to their son in hospital besides another boy, who was apparently accused of serial murder, and discover that the hell dimension is gone for good (and, really, how can the senior Harrington-Addams' have such terrible luck! Missing all the fun once again, and to be told it's all over forever, well. At least their Steve was involved.) They kiss his cheeks and ask if they can get him anything, if his little arsonists are alright. They chat, telling him how little cousin Wednesday is doing and that his uncle Gomez was so thrilled to hear about the flesh monster last year and sends his love.

Eddie is there watching and once they leave he's like Steve....what is going on with your parents. Steve just shrugs.

Slowly, he falls for Eddie, sweet as pie and funny, with just the right amount of...well, freakishness, to settle that place in Steve's heart that's all Addams. Once they get to the stage where Steve introduces him to his parents as his boyfriend, he isn't even nervous about Eddie fitting in. He knows he will even if they live Steve's silly little picket fence and six nugget dream.

Steve's father is delighted by the development. "A murderer in the family!" He yells, which Eddie must interpret as some form of outrage or disgust instead of the delight it is.

He waves his hands in front of him "I didn't actually do it! All charges dropped!"

Steve's father Pat's his back in a consolatory way, "yes, yes. What a shame that is. We can't win them all. But! The reputation persists! And that is what matters. Oh, Priscilla! Gomez and Morticia will be besides themselves with envy!"

Eddie, who wore his most provocative and "fuck society and the man" outfit, on Steve's request which he assumed was to piss of his parents but...really doesn't seem to be the case now... Is. Baffled.

Steve's mother adds "indeed! You'll fit in so well with the rest of the family, dear, no need to worry that you're only an accused murderer. At least without prison time you are free to go where you wish and reap the benefits of a dastardly reputation!"

"I can't believe you didn't introduce us to your boy earlier, Steven. Look at him! Addams-Harrington material already. He even fought in the hell dimension with you!"

"you know about that?"

"of course, what's an NDA to family? We've been trying to join in the fun since the beginning." Says Steve's mother. "We've had such dreadful timing, though. And I'm still terribly annoyed that I wasn't able to give those Russians a torture session of their own!"

Eddie is...well. He doesn't actually know what's going on other than Steve's parents seem to like him? So. A win? He's calling it a win.

[stevesbipanic]

Season 1 Steve meets season 4 steve

And boy does he have questions

This is weird. Steve was almost 100% sure he fell asleep at Eddie's last night. They'd gone to a bar with Robin and Nancy and he had crashed with Eddie which he'd done almost every night these days. So how did he end up in his room at his parents house?

He can hear someone downstairs, so maybe Steve had gotten confused and they'd gone to Steve's? Steve didn't think he'd been that drunk to forget that. Maybe Eddie was making him breakfast? That was sweet of him, with a smile he got out of bed and trudged downstairs to the kitchen.

"What the fuck!"

Steve had barely rubbed the sleep from his eyes before his eardrums were assaulted by a very familiar voice. Wait a minute, he can't possibly be hearing the voice.

He looks up and there in the kitchen, looking very alarmed and holding a knife, is him, at 16 years old.

"I shouldn't even be surprised at this point," Steve's grumbles as he moves past a very confused young Steve and pours himself some coffee.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"C'mon Steve you haven't had all those concussions yet, can't you recognise this pretty face?"

"You're me?"

"The one and only!"

"But but how!?"

Steve sighs, "Well what's today's date?"

"December 2nd 1983."

"Oh good so you've seen the crazy shit, that'll make this easier. Look stuff gets worse, a lot worse before it gets better, and either this is a brain bleed from all my concussions or another weird Upside Down thing, hell maybe you're Vecna back from the dead I don't know, Dustin probably would know,"

"Who's Dustin? Who's Vecna? You mean there's more of those fucking monsters around? Am I safe? Is Nance safe?"

"Oh right you're still with Nancy. Yeah yeah she's safe don't worry, well I assume her and Robin got home safe. Dustin is your little brother, no not biologically thank god our parents don't need more kids to fuck up, but he's super smart, a brat but you're gonna love him. Vecna is like a super creepy dude that's kinda causing everything but he should be dead, I think, probably."

"I break up with Nancy?"

"That's what you take from that? Look Nancy breaks up with you, it's rough, it's going to fuck you up for awhile but you'll be ok, just stop being bullshit ok? Like seriously drop the King Steve stuff it's so tiring."

"Ok um fuck, FUCK. What are you even wearing dude? Is this really what I become?"

Steve looks down at what he'd slept in last night, ah that's going to be a bit rough to take in.

"So um, Steve, kiddo, me.... Do you know Eddie Munson?"

"That freak senior yeah?"

"Well. This is his shirt."

Young Steve's eyes widen, "Why are you wearing Munson's shirt."

"Ok so you know those times you've looked at the guys in the locker room, turns out that's not what straight guys generally do..."

"What the fuck do you mean! I'm not gay dude!"

"I know that. You're bisexual, don't worry there's tears but Robin explains everything. Oh Robin you're going to love her, she's your best friend, an actual best friend this time."

"So what I'm dating Eddie the Freak?"

"Yep, and let me te you he lives up to that name, fucks you real nice,"

"I LET HIM FUCK ME!?"

"Total bottom, but don't worry you'll have all these revaluations in time."

Young Steve looks like he's going through the five stages of grief all at once.

"Look all this is very tiring for me, so I'm going to go back to bed, if you're not here when I wake up, just remember what I said alright?"

Young Steve nods slightly and Steve takes this as enough before heading back up to his room. He lays down and closes his eyes before waking up to a much better sight.

"Hey sweetheart, get a good sleep?"

"I had the weirdest dream..."

[harrywavycurly]

Already in love with Eddie and his little book loving girls! Could we see the conversation reader has with Steve about if he knows anyone with the name Munson??? Love you Sarah!!!💕💕

Hiii babes!! Eddie’s little book lovers omggg that’s so cute!!! Sure you can see Reader asking Steve about him! I hope you enjoy!! Also love youu more!!💖

-this goes along with this post here✨

*also in this Eddie and Chrissy graduated with Nancy while you graduated the year after them*

“Too much caffeine isn’t good for you.” “Says who?” “Your much older and wiser brother…duh.” “Much older? Get real Steve you’re like twenty months older than me not eight years…” “still older is older.” “Well what can I do for you today oh wise one?” “Can I not just come see how my sister is doing at work?” “Steven….” “I get bored on my days off…so what’s new? Need help with these?” “Sure…oh can I ask you something?” “Oh you’re asking now before just blurting out random questions for me? How nice…but sure what’s up?” “Do you know anyone named Eddie Munson?” “Munson? Yeah I know him…well Dustin knows him more than me they are in a club together…or they were at least I’m not sure if it’s still a thing since Dustin is graduating this year.” “Did he go to school with us?” “Eddie? Yeah he graduated a year after me so he’d be…at least what? A year older than you…maybe?” “How does he have five year old twins then? Did he have them his senior year?” “Uh well people do have sex while in high school so yeah…I think their mom is…god what’s her name she was dating an asshole before she hooked up with Eddie…” “an asshole? That really narrows it down.” “His name was Jason…but her name is just…gone but yeah I remember Dustin telling me he got her pregnant right before she ended it with it but now they just coparent or…whatever.” “Chrissy Cunningham? That’s his baby momma?” “Yes! That’s her name!” “Shhh it’s a library Steve.” “Sorry…yeah that’s her but why all the questions about Eddie?” “Oh uhm I just saw him in here earlier with his girls…I don’t remember him in high school…” “well not to be rude but you were kinda a loser…but in a cool way? You just…kept to yourself that’s all.” “Thanks Steve…” “wait…oh my god…” “shut up.” “You think…he’s cute don’t you?” “Don’t you have a date to be getting ready for or something Mr. Ladies Man?” “No that’s not until tomorrow so…I have all the time in the world to make my little sister annoyed because her big brother knows who she’s crushing on.” “You’re so annoying.” “It’s the hair isn’t it? Or the rings? Does he still wear all those giant ass metal rings on his hands?” “Yes…” “yes he wears them or yes that’s what sucked you in?” “Please leave…” “oh don’t be like that…come on I’ll help you put the books away…but really Eddie is a nice guy…you should talk to Henderson if you wanna know more.” “Okay…maybe I will.” “The hunger games? What the hell is this about?” “Oh Steve…”

[wheres-mylove]

black sabbath? | eddie munson x fem!reader

Summary: You know that feeling when you find out that your friend has a massive crush on your older sister, but you can't do anything about it, even though you don't approve, since they just have to love the same music band? No? Because Dustin Henderson does. 

Disclaimer: English isn’t my first language!

Word count: 3.1k

➸ You can read part two here! 

(Y/N) Henderson really loved her brother. Most of the time. Because there were also times when he played on her nerves in a way no one else did.

“So Iron Maiden after all? Great choice! I'll get your change right away,” the girl said with a practiced smile, handing the customer a wad of bills over the counter. “Have a nice day!”

She waited a few moments until the guy (satisfied with the amazing service) left the store. And then she opened the door to the back room, which she had previously slammed shut.

“Why aren't you being so kind to me?” asked Dustin reproachfully, not caring in the least about his sister's deadly stare as he sat in a room theoretically for employees, with a mug of tea in hand. “Oh well. They pay you to do that here.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes and leaned against the counter.

“I'm going to get fired because instead of letting me do my job in peace, you're making me listen to your ranting.”

“It's not ranting, woman. It's the story of my life.”

“If your life boils down to D&D, then it's no wonder you're getting bullied at school, Dusty,” (Y/N) sighed, arranging the vinyls that had been laid out by the previously-hosted lover of heavy sounds. She laughed at the sight of her brother's scowling face. “Just kidding. Wind up. But if someone walks in, for God's sake, tone it down.”

“Well, as I was saying-” Dustin set his mug down on the table with a bang so he could gesture freely. “Lucas acted in an outrageous manner. I was convinced we'd have to postpone the whole campaign. Mike and I nearly shit ourselves. I was like, man, Eddie will get so freaking mad...”

“I swear I'm going to start counting how many times the word Eddie comes out of your mouth,” announced (Y/N) with a smile. “Eddie this, Eddie that. Like a teenager in love.”

“Woah, take it easy. I won't tell you anything if you keep on being rude.”

“Promise?”

“He told us to find a sub for Sinclair and we were so screwed.” (Y/N) let the air out slowly through her nose. He wouldn't shut up so easily. “Absolutely nobody wanted to play with us. I fucking called Steve.”

“You also fucking called me. You've obviously hit the rock bottom.”

“Why can't you come actually? We somehow convinced Erica, but I thought she'd also say no, just out of spite. You know the rules, why can't you get your ass there?”

“I let children have their fun!” she exclaimed, bringing the pile of vinyls back to their rightful place. “In all seriousness, though, I'm going to the championship game.”

“You hate basketball.”

“First of all, unlike you, I appreciate that Lucas has worked hard for a place on the team... ”

“Don't be so supportive, he's warming the bench.”

“A sportsman spoke up. Secondly, Robin plays with the orchestra. My ears will fall off, but she's my friend. Gotta survive,” (Y/N) explained further. A wry smile suddenly dawned on her face. “Well, maybe I'll try my hand as Harrington's wingman. Can you believe that he came to me for love advice? But I don't think he's gonna make progress. He recently complimented a chick's forehead.”

Dustin laughed so hard that the tea almost went up his nose.

In a final act of grace (Y/N) agreed to drive her brother home once he and his friends had finished their campaign. However, she began to regret it. The basketball game was long over, Lucas disappeared with his new friends, Robin went home, and Steve was probably exchanging saliva with his temporary sweetheart. 

She drummed her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, with only Black Sabbath blasting from the speakers to keep her company.

“Can you help me, occupy my brain?” she sang along with the vocalist. (Y/N) could use the help, as she was growing tired of waiting in the car and staring blankly at the front door. Suddenly they opened, revealing several laughing teenagers, followed by an extremely joyful Erica Sinclair. The beloved brother was nowhere to be seen. 

(Y/N) leaned out of the car window.

“Erica!” she called out, at which the girl turned toward the parking lot, searching for the owner of the voice with her eyes. “Where's my little dipshit?”

“Inside!”

(Y/N) decided that she had waited long enough. It was time to use violence. She jumped out of the car and ran up to the door. Erica waited.

“We won because of me,” she stated with undisguised pride, raising her head. “You will drive me home. Make it quick.”

“Congratulations and... okay? Sure, I'll drive you. You asked so politely,” (Y/N) replied, spreading her arms, as the girl apparently did not wait for her answer. Let's find Dustin.

It wasn't that complicated. She was led by the faint light from the room where they were playing D&D and the loud voice of.... well, the Master himself.

“Gentlemen, what a game that was! I'm impressed, really. Now it's your turn to flatter me. Yes, Eddie, what a thoughtful campaign. Shock. Wheeler, be careful with that figurine. I will scalp you if you do any damage.”

“Let's speed this up, because my sister will scalp us if we don't show up right away,” muttered Henderson, to which (Y/N) nodded, leaning nonchalantly against the door frame. They had not yet noticed her arrival.

“Too late,” she spoke up out of the blue, at which Mike jumped up, Dustin screamed, and the oldest member of the merry men turned abruptly in her direction.

“Jesus H. Christ,” he screeched, clutching his chest. “Don't do that again.”

(Y/N) took a better look at the infamous Munson. She had seen him before, before she graduated, but they had never officially met. It was hard not to notice a wisp of dark unruly hair, tattooed forearms, a crazy grin and... eyes. Beautiful eyes, to be honest. She never paid much attention to them. Oh fuck. 

At first frightened by her sudden appearance in the room, Eddie didn't register who he was talking to. Unbelievable. He had passed this pretty creature in the hallway many times in the past year, but never had the courage to do more than admire her from afar.

Wait, this is Dustin's sister? This is his sister? He has been playing D&D with her little brother all this time and didn't even have a clue.

He thanked the higher power that (Y/N) was busy scolding Dustin, as he stood, grinning like an idiot, just happy to be there. Mike glanced in his direction fleetingly and raised his eyebrows. Finally, the attention of the Henderson siblings shifted to Munson. Eddie's head spun when she looked at him. No, man. Get your head in the game. You need to make a good impression.

Dustin grunted. He figured it would be polite to make the presentation now.

“This is my older sister, (Y/N).”

The aforementioned sister sent a smile in Eddie's direction that almost brought him off his feet. Damn. He's a metalhead. Metalheads. Don't. Blush.

“Dustin talks about you all the time, so let me guess that you must be...” (Y/N) began, extending her right hand to him, but before she could finish, Eddie decided to go with the first thing that came to mind.

“My name is Lucifer, please take my hand.” He laughed and finally shook her hand. He could have sworn he felt more than something. The light touch stirred up a sea of sparks within him. And Eddie didn't consider himself as a fan of clichés. Well.

(Y/N) Henderson squinted her eyes, with head held confidently high. And then she smiled, but this time more mischievously.

“I prefer it sung by Ozzy, but your version will do,” she replied quietly. In an almost flirtatious manner.

Oh, boy. You are lost, Eddie Munson.

Dustin was one step away from knocking a head on the table. Either his own, or the one belonging to his older friend.

“Get away from me. Absolutely not. Forget it,” repeated Henderson for the hundredth time, waving his fork warningly in Munson's direction. “I swear I'll stab you with it if you ask me about her again.”

Eddie wasn't too concerned about Dustin's threat. He continued to hang around with a fierce look on his face. Henderson looked up, silently praying for the strength to endure Eddie Munson's nagging. 

It had been a week since his sister had appeared in Leviathan's den, and his D&D master had gone completely mad for her. Why didn't Dustin tell him that his sister (Y/N) was in fact that (Y/N)? She listens to Black Sabbath, but what else? What is she interested in? Where can they hang out? Dustin should bring her to the next game. By the way, has she ever played D&D? Does she have a boyfriend?

Is that how she felt when he was telling her all about Munson? Guilt washed over him. He didn't know it was possible to become that annoying.

“No crushing on (Y/N) on my watch!” he finally shouted, at which Eddie jumped up. And so did several people seated closest to them.

Mike Wheeler just laughed and patted Dustin on the back.

“Chill out, man.”

“You fucking Judas, whose side are you taking? You're a brother yourself. That's our shitty role. To beat the admirers off with a stick,” Dustin muttered, resting his chin on his hand. He turned toward Munson, sending him a suspicious look.

“What are your intentions?”

“Foul,” replied Eddie without flinching. 

“You are disgusting.”

The boy straightened up, sending his friends a wide smile. He thought for a moment, then put his hands on their shoulders.

“You don't understand anything, don't you? I feel that this is my year. That it will be different. I will finally graduate, snatch that diploma. My dream is to flip Higgins the bird and run as far away from this shithole as possible, to start a new life,” Eddie said with conviction and hope that there is simply no other option. “But I have some unfinished business, you see. When I had the opportunity to talk to (Y/N) at school, I chickened out. However, I see that fate is giving me a second chance to make things right.”

“Have mercy,” muttered Mike to Dustin, but he shook his head with a disapproving look.

Henderson was as stubborn as a mule. But Mike's patience also had its limits. That's why, when an exasperated Dustin marched out of the cafeteria, Wheeler leaned toward Munson and whispered in confidence that (Y/N) was currently not seeing anyone. Then it casually slipped out that she works at the record store. The one near the library. It also slipped out that she works an opening shift on Saturdays. By accident. 

Oops.

Eddie Munson couldn't remember the last time he was so stressed. Maybe when that damn weed was almost found in his backpack. Or when Wayne was lecturing him after he had returned from a band rehearsal in a not-quite-sober state.

He was about to talk to a girl he was pining over. Heck, he won't be able to. Maybe he will? Or maybe he won't. He could always turn his van around and pretend that he had no intention of going to that fucking store in the first place.

He stopped at a red light and glanced nervously at the glove box. He put a cassette in there. Maybe he was going insane, but he already knew she liked Black Sabbath. So he collected a few tracks with a similar vibe and signed it with a black marker. From Eddie :) 

He had no idea why he did it, or how he was supposedly going to hand it to her, since they had talked just once. It would appear that he was thinking of her. She would consider him a proper freak.

But there's no denying it, he was indeed thinking. He was listening to a song and then the question came to him whether she would like it too.

Green light. It wasn't that far. He had to devise a plan. He desperately needed a plan. After all, he won't march in there and tell her that he's liked her for a long time, but he gets so nervous in her presence that he can't form a proper sentence. Christ, what a fool he will make of himself.

He parked the van and looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was disheveled as usual. Yeah, charming. He opened the glove box and pulled out that wretched cassette. Maybe it would be appropriate to practice what he was going to say. No. Then he would panic.

“I'm going,” he said to motivate himself. And off he went.

The idea of running away came up exactly four times. He counted.

The bell at the door marked his arrival deafeningly loud, or at least that was his impression. There was no customer in the store, but it was empty behind the counter, too. Good. Nobody's home. He's gonna just...

“Just a minute! I'll be right there!” called out (Y/N) from the back room.

Under normal circumstances, he would have waltzed out now. But what stopped him was N.I.B. playing in the background. He smirked. 

“Cool song!” he exclaimed in a sudden burst of boldness. 

(Y/N) Henderson almost went down with a heart attack hearing his voice. Son of a bitch had an excellent timing. She took advantage of the fact that he couldn't see her now. It won't be that fun when she'll have to look him in the eye.

“Yes, someone reminded me how much I like it.”

She took the cardboard box of records with her, but not to unpack them, at least not at the moment. She was gonna use it as a shield against her brother's dangerously handsome friend. It almost fell out of her hands when she saw him leaning against the counter. 

Hands on full display. Tattoos. Rings. 

“Eddie Munson,” she greeted in a polite tone reserved for the store's customers. And for the people she liked. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“I was passing by and spontaneously thought I'd take a look.”

(Y/N) found this to be a reasonable explanation, but Munson nearly burst into laughter.

“In that case, can I help you with something?” she asked with a smile, pointing to something with her thumb. “Heavy metal in that alley over there.”

Eddie strolled slowly through the store, but he hadn't come here to buy anything. His gaze kept returning toward the counter. (Y/N) tried to pretend she wasn't aware of that.

“So,” began Munson, Paranoid vinyl in his hands. “Black Sabbath?”

“Hell yeah,” replied (Y/N), crossing her arms over her chest. “I hope you know that you've scored some points with that lyrics, N.I.B. is one of my favorites.”

“Devil falling in love,” whispered Munson, before he had time to think it over carefully. “What a familiar concept.”

(Y/N) Henderson felt suddenly overwhelmed by his intense gaze. The tension was almost unbearable. 

“Aren't you of those who interpret this as a deception to the depths of hell?”

“One does not exclude the other,” Eddie replied simply, putting the record back in place. Now it was his turn to tremble under her watchful gaze. “I lied earlier.”

(Y/N) furrowed her brow.

“Excuse me?”

Eddie decided that he had enough of beating around the bush. May Ozzy Osbourne protect him.

“I specifically came here to see you,” he explained, covering his face with a strand of dark hair. “Mike told me I would find you here. Dustin I couldn't force. He declared himself the protector of your honor.”

(Y/N) thought that she had overheard at first. Just the fact that Eddie was so close and talking to her about music was already a lot. And now she finds out that he came here for her? Then the second part of his statement reached her ears and she started laughing.

Yes, typical Dustin. Little brother in shining armor.

Munson couldn't hold back a smile at the sight of her laughing face. He reached into his jacket pocket for the tape and decided that it's once in a lifetime occasion.

“I wanted to give you this, too. Maybe it's a little silly, but our tastes are similar, so...” he said, walking up to the counter and handing it to her.

(Y/N) wasn’t laughing anymore when she accepted the gift. She turned it in her hands, then looked at him with big doe eyes. Eddie's heart melted.

“Thank you,” she choked out, touched by this small gesture. No one had made a compilation especially for her until now. “I'll listen to it as soon as I get home.”

“The first one is N.I.B.” Eddie smiled softly. “I hope you like the rest of it as well.”

Their little soap bubble of mutual adoration burst when two women entered the store with the ring of a bell. Both (Y/N) and Eddie frowned at the sight. Zero privacy. Someone had the audacity to go shopping.

Eddie Munson scratched his neck nervously and lowered his gaze.

“I'm sorry for bothering you at work for so long. I should get going,” the boy apologized, then pointed to a stack of records. “Your prices are astronomical. Making up for it with customer service though.”

(Y/N) only then realized that Eddie was about to go. He'll leave her here for the rest of the shift with a smoldering hope and an adorable choice of gift. Definitely not happening.

“Wait,” she called as Munson was already turning to leave, to which he immediately turned back.

“Yes?” She'd tell him to leave, he'd leave in a hurry. She'd tell him to wait, he won't budge.

“How can I return the favor?” she asked, lifting up the tape. “A serious question. I don't like being in debt.”

Eddie stood for a moment with his mouth open, searching for the right answer.

“This is the part when you ask me out,” prompted (Y/N) suddenly, coming to the rescue.

“Would you say yes?”

“Oh, come on, you dumbass.”

Eddie barely made it to the car, but had to sit down for a long moment and recover. He could still feel the subtle touch of her lips on his cheek. 

He managed to get a date with a gorgeous girl who listens to Black Sabbath.

Thanks, Ozzy.

[asexual-juliet]

stranger things characters ranked by how aware they are of will’s gayness

1. jonathan: jonathan has like. canonically known since before will has and i could talk about it for hours <3 there is such a softness with which he approaches the matter like even when will is so young in those s1 flashbacks, jonathan is choosing his words so carefully… “you shouldn’t like things because people tell you you’re supposed to” is like. the ultimate proof for me that jonathan knows before will does. and like in s4 with the surfer boy kitchen scene… fucking christ he is so gentle with it like he’s not avoiding the topic but he is letting will know that it’s okay and he’s a safe person to go to with it if he needs to… anyway jonathan knows and has known and loves his brother so much that he is willing to give him the space he needs to figure it out himself but that is not what this post is about. moving on:

2. robin: robin clocks this boy the first time he walks into scoops ahoy trailing after mike like a lost puppy. like i dont have much to say here but her gaydar definitely goes off and she starts trying to drop subtle hints that she is also gay but it takes him a little while to clock her back. 

3. argyle: argyle takes one look at will and immediately clocks him. it’s just a given. the sky is blue, the earth is round, will is gay. at one point he mentions it very casually to jonathan like “one day when will has a boyfriend—” and jonathan is like “argyle you can’t just say that!” and argyle, stoned out of his mind, is like “dude was it a secret?”

4. lucas: it takes lucas a while to put the pieces together but all things considered he’s pretty insightful about it and starts to consider the possibility around the end of middle school. the evidence keeps piling up and lucas does his best to be silently, subtly supportive but doesn’t push will before he’s ready. 

5. max: max has put the pieces together in the same way that lucas has but she’s done it much faster. this is partly because she is a cali girl who is familiar with the idea that homosexuals exist but mostly because she is a bisexual legend. she is slightly less subtle than lucas but still gentle. she kind of lets will know that she knows but never directly acknowledges it.

6. steve: steve does not even think about it until robin very casually asks him “so little byers is gay, right?” during a movie night, to which steve has to pause the movie and go holy shit. is he?? but from then on he is like subtly-but-not-so-subtly supportive yk? like he thinks he’s being smooth with it but it is blatantly obvious to everyone else who knows what’s going on. 

7. dustin: he is such a smart boy and yet such a dumbass. he has absolutely no fucking idea god bless. 

8. mike: mike has no fucking idea. mike knows gay people exist but would never think to consider the possibility that someone he knows is gay. mike thinks of gay people in the way he thinks of like. flamingos. like they definitely exist somewhere but not in hawkins. and even if faced with the possibility he’d just be like “will told me once in third grade that he thought jenny owens was pretty he can’t be gay. checkmate, fuckers.”

9. nancy: nancy does not think about will or gay people enough to give much of a shit about this particular matter.

10. el: el does not know what gay means <3

[sailing-through-hawkins]

Part 1 ✧ Part 2 of Harrington Charms Hellfire! ✧ Part 3 ✧ Part 4 ✧ now on AO3

It's not much consolation, not when he gets nightmares and sometimes Frank or Robin have to knock him out of an impending daze when he remembers the bites, the screaming, pain, the p a i n, god it hurt, it hurts so much, it -

Yeah, getting a house (like a real, not to mention fucking massive, house) from the government (the fucking government) isn't much consolation because he still freaks out but he could definitely get used to having so much more space to just - just exist in. And Wayne's got a bed now too! Ain't that something fucking grand, they got enough room for Eddie, Wayne AND visitors if they don't mind a couch. It's just - not complete consolation, but it's just a sweetness after a world of monsters, death and blood.

Plus, it's closer to Dustin and Gareth and - well, everyone basically. Even Steve, in that big ol' mansion he calls a house (not a home, Robin tells him, I don't think it's been a home for a while) that Eddie is on his way to right now. The streets of the refined (snobby), cultured (judgemental) and luxurious (that one's accurate) neighbourhood have emptied out since the whole averted-apocalypse-thing. Most rich folks don't wanna stick around after so many "gas leaks" and earth-shattering quakes apparently. Who knew.

It's a walk he enjoys, not too much effort on a good day, because it means he gets a little fresh air and daylight and that's pretty nice after spending a near-death experience thinking the last thing he'd taste was ashes and stale air and the world is a horror-infested black mirror wrapped in a fucking nightmare and Dustin oh Dustin -

But that's all fine because now he is breathing the fresh air and is walking in the daylight and he's on his way to the sun incarnate himself.

Ugh, the things love does to him.

Okay, still definitely not love but like, more than an infatuation. It's just - there's not a lot of good words in the English language okay, not enough to describe his heartbeat when Steve smiles at him or how those scars, peeking out from a stupid polo riding up, light something sad and soft in Eddie's chest, a crooning that begs to touch and soothe and not love, not love, nope.

God damn it.

Eddie sighs, shaking out the insistent thoughts (touch, soothe, love) as he approaches Steve's place and sees -

What the fuck, is that Jeff?

"Eddie!" He smiles, giving a small wave while he's standing outside his car? Parked outside Steve's place? And is that - that's the big-city brother standing with him? That's - not - that's weird, right?! "Hey man, what's up?"

"Uh, nothing much," Eddie comes to a stop and smiles back, glancing between the front door that's clearly fucking open and Jeff's brother, what was his name? "Hey..."

Big-City-Bro smiles a small thing and brings up his hand. Eddie shakes it gladly, who knew he'd feel such elation from being treated like a normal fucking person (not a killer, not a rebel, not a martyr). "Hi Eddie. I'm Trey."

Eddie's brain snaps its imaginary fingers because yes, Trey! Jeff and Trey, the Brothers Brave and the brothers that still won't tell Gareth which of them is older. Frank is adamant in his "they're fucking twins" bet.

"So," Eddie raises his eyebrows, because this is Steve's house right? Eddie didn't just enter (another) alternate reality where Jeff -

"Eds!" And that's when Steve comes barrelling out the door almost tripping on his way over before Jeff was able to catch him in time. "Shit, I'm sorry, Eddie, I completely forgot about our plans, fuck I'm so sorry dude."

Wow. Even panicking and flustered, Steve still manages to look stunning, god look at the crease of his worried little forehead.

"No worries, Stevie," Eddie grins, because look at him. God he's so fucking cute. Look at his sheepish little face, those scattered little moles, that hand still on his little forearm - wait. Eddie eyes the pair of them, Jeff and Steve, both looking back with apologetic half-grimaces. Big-City-Bro seems quietly amused over all. Terrific. "I am curious about this little get-together though."

"Well, Steve and I were on the phone last night -"

Hang on, what?

"- and Jeff thought he could come along since he's dropping me -"

Last night? As in, a late night call? As in, like, twirling fingers around phone cords and "no, you hang up" and a late night call, is that what they're saying?

"But I just called and then Wayne said you were already on your way over and now..."

Eddie blinks. The Brothers Brave are glancing at each other but Steve is just looking at him with big, soulful eyes and his head is tilted in just the right way that the brown of his hair turns gold in the afternoon sunshine.

Last night?!

"You guys talk at night?" Eddie manages to squeak out, the something ugly in his chest rearing its head to hiss at the - the implications of that, like - what the fuck?

Steve huffs a chuckle awkwardly, a hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck. Eddie tries not to zone in on the (totally unsexy of course) scar circling under his collar because last time he did that, Steve misunderstood and it was a whole thing. (A whole thing that ended up with Robin helping comfort Steve because Eddie couldn't properly articulate just how fucking badass that scar was, a symbol of survival, how it keeps reminding him of that time Steve tore a hellish winged demon with his bare hands and bared teeth and he was at least able to tell Steve he just thought the scar was cool).

"Uh, not like - not like that," Steve clears his throat. "Just sometimes...music, y'know?"

"Yeah!" Jeff nods earnestly and the something ugly softens because it's Jeff, who could ever be upset with Jeff? "Steve's got some great ideas and a good ear, Eddie, which is why I keep saying you should stick around our practice!"

Steve ducks his head, cheeks flushing a pretty, pretty pink, his smile something sweet and bashful and god fucking damn it. Eddie clears his throat and gives Steve an encouraging smile, making the sun incarnate glow ever brighter and the rays of light around him are wisps in comparison. Fucking hell.

"I really did forget, Eds," Steve says mournfully, his eyes practically begging Eddie for forgiveness from under his lashes. "I'm so sorry."

Eddie shrugs, because well. Yeah, Stevie's always had a bit of a problem with memory, it's why he writes everything on his fridge-calendar. Eddie gets it. "'S alright, dude, it happens. Are you guys heading out now?"

"Yeah but -" Steve cuts himself off and starts grinning excitedly, oh no. "You should come with us! There's space, right, Jeff?"

Jeff's earnest nod does a good job of hiding the clear trepidation that peeks through his expression, but technically, Eddie made plans to hang out with Steve first (last fucking week, take that "last night" Jeff) so this can't really count as intruding, right? Plus why would Jeff feel nervous about Eddie coming along to some music record store in the city? It's not like he's gonna be interrupting like - like a date or anything! This is just some plans they made (with Jeff's strong, silent type brother so it's fine) and now Eddie is invited. Steve looks super happy to have Eddie come along anyways so. Fuck yeah.

"I'm humbled by the offer to accompany you on your quest, my liege," Eddie gives a bow, laughing when Steve gently pulls him up and fusses over his scarring (how does he make wounds feel so sweet). "It would be an honor."

Trey gives a chuckle and clasps Eddie's shoulder before heading over to the passenger seat. Steve grins and opens the backseat door with a bow. What a flirt (Eddie has to hold in the giggle bubbling up his throat).

"So!" Eddie slaps his palms on his knees as Steve settles in the seat next to him, internally screaming because shit, this is very close quarters. "Whose music are we scoping out?"

The engine's already started but that moment of silence in the car? That's worth some kind of pin drop. Jeff's shoulders are tense, the way they are when he's about to investigate just about anything during a Hellfire session, but Trey and Steve both seem pretty...chill?

"Just gonna get some Dolly," Steve smiles and shatters something intrinsic in Eddie. "I kinda lost my only tape after the, uh, the earthquake." He laughs, like he hasn't crushed Eddie's perception of the Good Sir Steve with a single sentence.

"You -" Eddie clears his throat, pointedly ignoring his shaking leg and looking out the window. Think about the reconstructing houses, don't think about Steve liking Dolly Parton of all artists, fucking hell - "You a fan of country then, Steve-o?"

Steve eyes him warily in the window reflection but Eddie keeps looking at the lovely and slightly broken homes they're speeding by. Almost out of Hawkins with a country fan - "Yeah, I mean...I wasn't like a huge fan but after Jeff lended me a couple tracks -"

"Jeff did that, did he!" Eddie says brightly, staring at Jeff with bright, oh very bright eyes. He can practically smell the sweat (ew) pouring off him as he pointedly avoids Eddie's gaze in the mirror. So this is what he's been keeping from Corroded Coffin (aka their fucking metal band, Jeff) this whole time! And to think Gareth was betting on a secret third sibling this whole time (maybe they should cut back on the betting...at least when Dustin is around).

"Yeah!" Steve grins and oh fuck him no Eddie's lost all feelings for that beautiful glow of a smile because he likes fucking country music, goddamnit Steve - "Jeff's showed me tons of cool songs! Hey, how come you don't recommend me anything?"

Eddie sputters when Steve nudges him because um, ex-fucking-cuse you? "I recommend you songs all the time! Black Sabbath! Judas Priest! Overkill! Hell, I even told you KISS was a decent warm-up!"

"Hey, I tried KISS!" Steve's pout holds no power over Eddie, none, that's why he quickly looks away to stare right past Jeff's ear. "It's just...they're just all so, like, headbang-y. Jeff gave me songs I could, y'know, wash the dishes to."

"Ha," Trey's soft laugh snaps Eddie's attention because if there is another traitor in this car, Eddie will not hesitate to open this fucking door - "You put on Dolly Parton, Queen of Country, to wash the dishes of all things?"

And that hum, that damned sheepish chuckle, means that Steve's face is flushing and his eyes are avoidant and fuck. "It makes it more fun to do 'em, y'know, like I'm scrubbing and I'm begging Jolene to leave my man alone."

His. His man? As in, his man? Steve's man? Steve would have a man?

"Oh, I hear you," Trey laughs, fiddling with Jeff's fancy cassette player. "Me and Jeff used to belt out to Dolly all the time and if this is still in-"

Steve gasps as the opening notes to what Eddie assumes is a fucking Dolly Parton song. He wouldn't know because he has real taste and doesn't listen to -

"I'm begging of you, please don't take my man," Steve sings along to the music, his voice soft and crawling across Eddie's spine like a warm campfire in the cold desolation of a forest. "Jolene, Jolene -"

And then Trey is singing along too and his voice has more range but Steve's got the emotions. They're - it's like he's genuinely begging, crying out for a lover's loyalty, for a seductress to back away, to let him have this one man who means everything to him.

Fuck, Eddie's feelings are roaring real sweet and wild in chest as he stares at Steve's heartfelt performance, his focused brow, his wavering bottom lip -

"That was amazing!" Trey exclaims as the final Jolene peters out and he laughs along with Steve, with the breath-taking Steve Harrington. God, fuck. The something in his chest is crooning again and his fingers are itching to stretch into Steve's hair and - "You really can sing, Harrington!"

"Thanks," Steve nudges Eddie again and he doesn't even look away, doesn't try to hide his staring because god, fuck. "Not so bad for a country song, right, Eds?"

With the biggest sigh he's ever exhaled, Eddie nods and bangs his head against Jeff's headrest. He knows Jeff is laughing at him already. "Not bad at all, Stevie. Not bad at all."

I plan on uploading this to AO3 soon, although I'm still debating between posting the rest of the chapters exclusively on there or cross-posting the whole thing on both sites because I have behind-the-scenes things i like to put in the notes, so if anyone has any preferences, let me know! i'll probably do both but add some little author's thoughts to the AO3, maybe some Steve POV on there too

if anyone else had wanted to be tagged but wasn't, my apologies tag list: @ramyayaya @alienace @5pac3g1r7 @emly03 @tell-me-a-secret-a-nice-one @maya-custodios-dionach

[thestobingirlie]

You've gotten quite a few hater asks recently so here's some sugar to go with the salt: I love it when fics have Steve cut Robin's hair for her. I love it when stobin are seen as an indecipherable entity by the larger Hawkins community. I love it when Dustin gets excited about something but specifically excited to tell Steve about something. I love it when Max comes to Steve for help, or just to spend time with him without any pressure of talking, or he goes over to make sure she's okay. I love it when Steve plays basketball with Lucas and they both end up laughing and goofing off with each other. I love it when there's little things that showcase how much these characters mean to each other!!

yeah, i’ve been drenched in haterism for a while, which is very fun, but let’s soak in the love people!

steve doing anything with hair, but especially with the people he loves, i will always be obsessed with. him cutting robin’s hair, or him styling dustin’s and el’s! oh god, it just means so much to me. on one hand, you’ve got the physical affection, and then you’ve also got steve helping the people he loves with something he cares about, and he’s good at!!!

stobin are literally one person, and i love when fics just let them be weird girls <3 especially when other people recognise and react to the weirdness. it’s just fun.

oh, my brothers!! i just love that we actually see in the show that steve does just let his besties rant to him, and he listens to them!! and the idea that dustin is just so excited to tell steve something, even though he knows steve won’t really know what he’s going on about, is so cute.

oh, max, lucas, and steve <3 my junkyard four means everything to me, and i need people to start recognising that max and lucas are two of steve’s original kids!! but yeah, i love max reaching out to steve, even if she isn’t really reaching out, but she just knows he’s there for her. and steve training lucas is everything to me, especially because we know his friends didn’t engage in his new hobby, so i just love the idea that lucas has someone that could be the bridge between what he’s used to, and this new thing.

thank you for this lmao