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omg-i-think-i-like-you · 2 years

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"Love your tuches," Eddie said when Steve got up to get a soda from the fridge.

"Gosh, that tuches of yours," Eddie whispered when Steve sat on top of his lap.

"The most beautiful tuches on earth," Eddie declared when Steve left his trailer to go to work.

It's been happening for a while, Eddie using this unfamiliar word to compliment him, he thinks? Steve was wondering about it during his solo shift on Saturday afternoon. Robin was away with her family and the store was empty and quiet.

"Hello to the greatest tuches owner in Hawkins!" Eddie announced, walking loudly into Family Video.

"Hi, Eddie," Steve smiled. Eddie leaned across the front desk to plant a quick peck on Steve's lips, and then pulled himself over it and landed between Steve's arms, stumbling a little.

"How are you hanging, abandoned by your other half?" Eddie asked, sat on the staff's chair and started swaying from left to right.

"She didn't abandon me," Steve stopped Eddie's repetitive motion and placed himself between his legs, "and I'm fine, thanks." He pushed Eddie's hair behind his ear and stroked his cheek softly.

"Of course you are, now that I'm here," Eddie said with a teasing smile, Steve rolled his eyes and squeezed Eddie's cheeks, and then kissed him on his nose. Eddie moved his face up to meet Steve's lips when the doorbell rang. Steve immediately pulled back and turned towards the door. It was Dustin.

"Steve, Eddie! Great to see you both," he greeted and leaned on the counter. Steve and Eddie both rolled their eyes, and Steve sat back in Eddie's lap.

"What do you want, Henderson?" Steve asked impatiently, his hands crossed on his chest.

"I have to rent a movie," he said, his eyes wide and begging.

"Okay..? That's the point of this store. What movie do you want?" Steve got up and went out from behind the desk towards Dustin, whose eyes lit up. Steve knew that look.

"No." He said firmly.

"Please?" Dustin put his hands together and started going down, Eddie chuckled.

"You two are adorable," he said and grabbed his jacket, "but I'm not staying for this fight, tell me who won, Stevie." He kissed Steve on the cheek on his way out and disappeared into his van.

Dustin was on his knees now. "Please??" Steve shook his head, and Dustin stood up again. "Steve, come on! you know Suzie is coming and I promised her we'll watch a movie!"

Steve blew air out of his nose, and started tapping his foot, "Yes, I know she's coming, you can take any other movie! I legally can't rent you anything from that section. Choose something else."

"But Steve! I told her my friends work at the video store and can give me any movie I want!" He stomped his feet, "Robin would've let me." He crossed his arms, upset.

"No she wouldn't?? Robin is a lot more strict than me," Steve threw his hands, "Have you ever spoken to her?? She's like a police offic- Wait." Steve stopped and fixed his hair, trying to think. "Robin isn't here... Aha!" He exclaimed, and ran back behind the counter, "I have an idea, but you have to keep it between us two, Dustin, do you promise??"

Dustin giggled and put his hand on his chest, "I swear, no one will know of this encounter."

Steve rolled his eyes again, only pretending not to like Dustin's endearing dramatisation of mundane situations, something that always reminds him of his boyfriend.

"Listen, I'm gonna make a deal with you," Steve opened, leaning towards Dustin and lowering his voice, "I will let you rent any movie you want, only!" He emphasized, "If you never tell Robin," he counted on his fingers, "and if you help me solve a mystery."

Dustin's smile grew, "Deal! already promised I won't tell anyone, and you know I love mysteries," he clapped and ran behind the counter before Steve could stop him, "what are we solving?"

"Okay," Steve put his palms together and pointed towards Dustin, who placed himself comfortably on the chair, "So Eddie's been using that word recently, and I have to figure out what it means," He said, and started pacing around.

"Okay? what's the word?" Dustin asked, curious.

"That's the thing, I've been trying to pronounce it but I can't make that sound... I think he uses it as a compliment? maybe it's from your fantasy game?" He wondered out loud, avoiding Dustin's question.

"Steve, if you don't tell me the word I won't be able to answer all your great questions," Dustin said and received a warning look for Steve, causing him to raise his hands, like proving his innocence.

Steve pinched his nose bridge, "I think it's like... too... toohes?" He eventually said, and sighed in frustration, "That's not what it sounds like!" He stomped.

Dustin started laughing, "Say that again!" Steve just looked at him, his eyes burning, and he stopped laughing at once. "Never heard it in my life," Dustin said, shrugging, "Definitely not from DnD, or anything I know Eddie's interested in. maybe it's from a song?"

"No..." Steve shook his head, "I heard his metal enough and I never heard that word before he randomly started using it..." Steve buried his face in his hands, "So you have no idea?" He peeked through his fingers.

"Nope," Dustin said and jumped off the chair, "Now give me that movie."

Steve stood there, defeated, while Dustin picked his movie. He rented it on his own name and Dustin had to rip it out of Steve's hands. He almost fell when he succeeded pulling it.

"Why aren't you asking Robin?" Dustin asked then, hugging the VHS like his life depended on it, "She always brags about how her ears are geniuses or something, I bet she'd know."

Steve looked at him, and almost jumped across the counter to strangle him. "Go away! before I take that tape and burn it." He couldn't believe he didn't think of it himself. He watched Dustin shove the tape in his bag, run out of the store onto his bike, and disappear into the sunset.

---

"Robin!" Steve barged into the Buckley's house approximately 24 hours after Dustin left Family Video. Robin was spread on the couch and stared at the TV, letting the game show run while she was dozing off after a nice and heavy lunch. She jumped when she heard Steve, her heart pounding.

"Steve?! what the fuck, you scared me," she stood up with her hand on her chest.

"Sorry, listen, I really need your ears- I mean help," Steve smiled and walked closer to her, robin's curiosity was awakened.

"My ears, you say?" She raised an eyebrow, "What is this about?"

Steve gestured with his head towards the stairs and started walking upstairs, Robin behind him, "What is this about, dingus??"

Steve entered Robin's bedroom and crashed on the bed, Robin stood above him, "What's wrong with you today? you're acting weird."

"Robbie," Steve raised himself, resting on his elbows, "it's Eddie..." He opened, releasing a sigh. Robin sat next to him.

"What happened?" she asked softly, "Did you fight?"

"What??" Steve chuckled, "Of course not! You'd know if we did. We're madly in love, don't worry," he said with dreamy eyes and Robin pretended to barf, Steve flicked her calf. "It's just... He's been saying that word, I think it's a compliment, and I'm trying to find out what it means, and Henderson," he said through clenched teeth, "after being absolutely no help, suggested I'd ask you, since you have genius ears, or something." He smiled sweetly and Robin giggled.

"I'm flattered, even though you didn't come straight to me," she hit his shoulder, "and I'd love to help, but why don't you just ask him?"

Steve gasped dramatically, "and give him the upper hand?? Absolutely not. I will figure it out. He can't win here."

robin squinted at him, "You do realise it's ridiculous, right?"

"Don't care," Steve sealed his lips and looked away, with a hurt ego and too much pride.

"Gosh, fine!" Robin swallowed another giggle, "I'll help you, what's that word?"

Steve sat up, placing himself in front of robin and held her knees, "Okay, it's definitely in a different language, I can't fully pronounce it but I'll try, okay? And don't laugh," he raised a warning finger, "it's like, toohes? toohhes?" He tried to emphasize the middle sound, Robin had to try really hard not to laugh, "The H sound sounds more like-" He then proceeded to make a sound like he was violently clearing his throat and Robin lost it, bursting into uncontrollable laughter and ran away from Steve's flying hands.

"Please! you need to hear yourself!", she squealed and copied him, making throat-cleaning sounds back at him, Steve pouted.

"You promised you'll help!" He threw a pillow at her and she dodged it, and then sat back next to him, calming down.

"I will, you diva," she smiled, "that terrible sound," she opened and Steve huffed, "sounds like something European, like Dutch, or German," she said, her mind running, "yeah, maybe even Russian?" she asked and they both had chills running down both of their spines, "Do you know if Eddie speaks any of those languages?" She asked and Steve shook his head, "Nope, not that he told me... This is so frustrating!" He dropped his head on her shoulder and sighed, she caressed his head, running her fingers through his hair, "Hey, we'll figure it out," She laid her cheek on his head, "Why don't you ask Wayne? He'd probably know if Eddie speaks more languages."

Steve looked up, a smile growing on his face, "Oh, Robbie," he planted a wet kiss on her cheek, "You really are a genius."

Robin smiled back and wiped her cheek, "I know. Wanna drink something?" She stood up, "Also, you really didn't think of it yourself?"

Steve shot himself off the bed and started chasing her downstairs, his hands stretched forward, but she was too fast, running away in rolling laughter.

---

Steve knocked on the trailer's door three times, and then heard heavy steps coming towards him. Wayne opened, and his eyes seemed confused.

"Steve? good to see you, son," He smiled, "Eddie isn't here, he's with his band."

"Oh, I know," Steve smiled back, "I wanted to talk to you, actually, may I?" He pointed inside the trailer.

"Sure, come in," Wayne moved and let Steve walk into the trailer, "Beer?" Steve nodded and sat on the small couch, Wayne sat next to him a few seconds later with two opened, cold beers in his hands, and gave one to Steve.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Wayne asked and sipped from his beer, and Steve did the same, postponing the, in his opinion, silly question.

"Well," he finally opened, "Does Eddie speak... another language?" He asked carefully.

Wayne lowered his beer bottle, "Why are you asking?"

"Um, he's been saying a word recently, and after some investigation I found out it's probably in a European language, but I can't tell which one..." He fixed his hair nervously and took another sip of his beer.

"Look," Wayne smiled, "I can assure you he isn't fluent in any language other than English, but the boy sure has a wild imagination and a lot of curiosity, so he knows several words in several languages," He released a short laugh, "What's the word he says?"

Steve blushed, "Please don't make me say it," he said, his voice low, "I can't pronounce it... It has that sound in the middle," and did the throat-cleaning sound again, this time softly and quietly. Wayne laughed again.

"Oh, yeah, I know what you're talking about," He put his hand on Steve's shoulder, "You know that Eddie's mother was Jewish, right?"

Steve's eyebrows jumped up, "No, I didn't actually," He placed his beer on the small table.

"Yeah," Wayne smiled, "She was, and there were many Yiddish words she used when Eddie was little, I guess some stuck with him. I hear him going around making those unfamiliar noises, it's Yiddish."

Steve's tapped his fingers on his knees, "Yiddish, you say?" His eyes scanned the room, "and you know the meaning of that word?" He asked carefully.

"Probably not, son," He took off his hand and put his beer next to Steve's, "Eddie never agreed to translate the words to me, I think it's funny to him that he has a secret language he can use behind my back," He chuckled, "I let go of it pretty quickly, it's probably all curse words."

"Well, I hope this one isn't," Steve's smile was bitter, "I truly think it's a compliment, I just don't know what kind of compliment," He laughed shortly and got up, "Thank you, Wayne." He shook his hand and walked towards the trailer's door.

"Sure son, anytime," He smiled and followed Steve, "What are you gonna do now?"

Steve stood in front of the open door, "Don't know," he shrugged, "find a Yiddish-English dictionary?"

Wayne barked in laughter, "Doubt you'll find that in the Hawkins public library," He stopped for a second, thinking, "You know Joyce Byers?"

Steve froze in place, "Yeah..?"

"She's Jewish too, I bet she'll know," He said with certainty.

"She is??" Steve ran his fingers through his hair, "How didn't I know that? How do you know that?"

Wayne smiled softly, "Was with her in school, she was Joyce Horowitz. Trust me, she has the answer for you."

Steve nodded and shook Wayne's hand again, "Thank you!" he ran to his car, "Thank you!" He waved through the window as he drove off, leaving Wayne shaking his head in a soft laugh.

"Really couldn't think of anyone more fitting for Ed," He said to himself and backed into the trailer, shutting the door behind him.

---

Steve knocked quickly on the Byers' door the next morning, Jonathan opened.

"Steve?" He looked behind him, "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Jonathan," he smiled politely, "Great to see you. Is your mom home?"

Jonathan was a lot more confused now, "Yeah, she is... Mom!" He yelled into the house and let Steve in, closing the door behind him.

"Jonathan, I can hear perfectly without you yelling," She entered the kitchen, "Steve! Hi sweetheart!" she hugged him tightly and took a step back, examining his face, "You look good." She determined, "Do you want something to eat? drink?" He didn't have time to answer and she pulled a cake out of the oven. It smelled like cinnamon. Before he noticed he had a piece in his hand. "Are you here to visit Jonathan?"

Steve shook his head while taking a bite, "This is so good, Joyce, wow," He took another one, "I'm actually here to see you," he said with his mouth full.

"Oh, okay," she smiled, "do you need anything?"

Steve nodded and finished his cake, "This is amazing, what is that?" He pointed at the cake.

"It's my Bubbe's cinnamon cake, felt like making it," she shrugged, "Glad you like it, dear," she smiled again, "So, what do you need?"

Steve sat on one of the kitchen chairs and sighed, looking around to make sure they were alone, Joyce noticed his distress and sat next to him, putting a hand on his leg, "Hey, it's okay, whatever it is, you know you can talk to me," Her eyes were warm and Steve felt like he might cry.

"Um," he opened, "Do you... Do you speak Yiddish?" He managed to ask, his voice quiet and unsure, Joyce's smile grew.

"Can't say I speak," she air-quoted the word, "But I do know a few words. Why are you asking?"

"Well," he laughed softly, relieved to have found the person who might know the answer, "Eddie's been saying that word, and I was going around trying to figure out what it means, and Wayne told me it's in Yiddish. He didn't know what it means, but he told me you might..." His eyes were hopeful and Joyce was beaming.

"Aw, sweet Wayne, I bet he remembers me as Horowitz a lot more than Byers," She reminisced, "He's probably right, what's the word?"

Steve's tongue froze. He knew this is it, this is the moment he'll get the answer, the secret is about to be revealed, he just needs to pronounce it right. He just has to say it correctly and Joyce will unveil the truth, so why can't his mouth move?

"I..." he stuttered, "I can't pronounce it..."

Joyce rubbed his hand, "It's okay, sweetheart, say it, I'll understand. It's America, not Poland, I don't expect you to get all the sounds right." She smiled warmly and Steve calmed down.

"It's... it's like, tuhhes?" He said, really trying to express the sound right, and Joyce started laughing so hard, Steve wanted the ground to open up and swallow him alive.

"Oh, Steve!" she wiped her tears, "In what way was he using it?"

"I don't even know!" He threw his hands, blush covering his cheeks, "I couldn't find any context." He said, frustrated, "What does it mean?"

Joyce's eyes sparkled, "Well, the word is tuches, right? Is that the way he says it?" Steve nodded frantically, finally hearing the word from someone who wasn't Eddie was refreshing and surprising.

"Tuches, Steve, is the Yiddish word for," she hid the side of her mouth and lowered her voice, "Ass."

Steve sat there quietly, his eyes as wide as plates, running in his head all the times Eddie said the word and blush was climbing up his neck, cheeks and earlobes again.

"What??!" he eventually succeeded saying, "You wanna tell me that Eddie has been talking about my butt this whole time??"

Joyce nodded, "And I think he enjoyed it, how often has he been using it?"

"Oh, a lot." Steve assured and got up quickly. "Too much." He walked fast towards the door, "Thank you, Joyce! for everything!"

"Sure! come over more dear!" She shouted after him and smiled to herself.

"Mom? What was that about?" Jonathan entered the kitchen and took a piece of cake.

"Oh, nothing." She waved her hands, "Did you know Eddie Munson is Jewish? We should invite him over for Shabbos."

---

Steve has been spending the past week mastering the impossible sound. He's been saying it over and over again to himself, driving Robin nuts during their shifts. It was entertaining, sure, and she was glad he solved his mystery, but it was annoyingly endless. He did stop immediately every time Eddie walked in, and didn't react every time Eddie came up with a new sentence to weave in his tuches. He was waiting for the perfect opportunity, and it was just about to come.

It was a hot day, and Steve and Eddie were chilling inside the house. Steve lay on the couch and Eddie was right on top of him, planting small pecks all over Steve's face.

"Hey," Steve said after Eddie broke away from his lips, "Wanna get in the pool?"

Eddie raised himself and looked at Steve, "I don't have a swimsuit here."

"It's fine," Steve started to get up, Eddie slowly slipping off, "We'll swim in our boxers."

Eddie shrugged and let himself spill on the floor, and then got up in a jump and started stripping down, throwing his clothes at the amused Steve who was still sitting on the couch.

"The last to jump is a rotten egg!" Eddie shouted while running outside, Steve heard a big splash and laughed to himself, took off his clothes and joined Eddie in the pool.

"Hi Stevie," Eddie clung onto him and kissed him wetly, his hair was dragged down and he looked like a wet poodle, Steve laughed.

"Hi Eddie, love your hair," he smiled with a teasing look, Eddie pushed him away, dove into the pool and swam right underneath Steve, kicking him on his way up, and then flicked his hair and sprayed water all over.

"How about now?" He did a little toss and fell back into the water, Steve shook his head and pulled Eddie up.

"You're lucky I'm a trained lifeguard," He said, holding him tight.

"I sure am, I would've drowned if you weren't here," He smiled sweetly and kissed Steve again.

"You really would've, maybe you should get a time-out," Steve said with a serious voice, "You've been swimming very dangerously, go get us some sodas." He ordered and Eddie chuckled and pulled himself out of the pool, "Yes Sir!" He saluted.

Steve watched him walking away, dripping water, and then shouted, "Nice tuches, you got there!"

Eddie froze in place, small puddles forming around him, he turned around slowly. "What did you just say..?"

Steve got out of the pool and sat on the edge, his body twisted towards Eddie, who still hasn't moved, "I said you have a nice tuches, you disagree?"

"I- what??! You know what this word means??" he now rushed towards Steve and stood over him, hiding him from the sun, "For how long??"

Steve stood up now, "Uh, a week or so," He smiled and held Eddie's buttcheeks, pulling him closer, "I like that word, tuches," He kissed Eddie's nose, "Practiced the sound a lot for you."

Eddie was speechless, breathless, he let Steve hold him there until he succeeded saying, "How..?"

Steve's smile was cheeky, "Well, some investigations, talked to your uncle, but Joyce was the one who gave it away, did you know she's Jewish?" Eddie shook his head, "Yeah, didn't know either, Wayne told me. I also didn't know you are," Eddie raised an eyebrow, "Not that it matters, just nice to know some more things about you." He smiled and pulled Eddie even closer, into a hug.

"If you were so curious what it means," Eddie broke the hug after a few seconds, "Why didn't you just ask me?" Steve's look revealed everything, "Don't tell me you were too proud to admit you don't know!" Eddie laughed and squeezed Steve's cheeks, kissing him shortly on his lips. "I'm glad you know now, and just so you know, I always meant it in the best way possible. I love your juicy tuches." he grabbed Steve's ass with his free hand and Steve giggled.

"Do you know any more cool words in Yiddish?" Steve asked curiously, and Eddie's eyes lit.

"Oh sweetheart, we're gonna have fun today," Eddie said confidently and jumped back into the pool, leaving Steve confused all over again.

#eddie's mom used to call his little butt tuches his entire childhood #my mom did too #i kinda want to write a whole thing of eddie saying random yiddish words and steve trying to guess what they mean #i also wanna write that shabbos at the byers #joyce definitely invited wayne and steve too #also. i dont know the timeline of this thing #i think its in the summer but im not sure what summer #a later summer probably #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #steve x eddie #eddie x steve #steddie crack #steve crack #crack fic #ficlet #my fic #maybe I'll write a purim fic too #if you too wonder how to pronounce tuches. and dont have joyce byers available. google says it beautifully #i also just realized how dramatic i made everyone #oops lol. chaos and drama- might as well make it funny..?#JEWISH EDDIE #jewish eddie munson #these are the most important tags im tired #established steddie #i keep remembering tags i wanted to use sorry

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