#musician steve harrington

[steddieas-shegoes]

Steve grows up playing piano, absolutely hates it, but is so good at it. His parents aren’t around enough by the time he’s a teen to force him to his practices, so he slowly stops going.

His music teacher happens to be Robin’s mom, who studied at Juilliard, and traveled for nearly a decade with various orchestras and bands before settling down with her husband in Hawkins.

She can see what’s going on with Steve from day one, but knows better than to interfere.

Until he quits.

She can’t stand by and let someone so musically gifted give it up.

She shows up at his house with a violin, her own violin that she hadn’t used in years.

He’s hesitant at first, but decides to give it a try as long as she doesn’t tell his parents. The last thing he wants is for them to find out he picked up a new instrument.

She can’t give him official lessons, so she shows up to his house twice a week and hopes that he practices in his own time.

He’s a natural.

He takes to it like a duck to water.

She encourages him to perform in a local talent show, all kids under 18, most of them not half as talented as he is.

He only agrees when she says she’ll be front row.

And sure enough, for once in his life, someone shows up when they say they will. She’s sitting front row with her husband on one side and her daughter on the other. She smiles as he takes the stage, nervous about people who know him seeing him and reporting back to his parents.

He performs with heart, something he lacked with the piano. He performs with talent, something he may have with any instrument he picks up.

But most importantly, he plays with a smile. He’s having fun.

He sticks around to watch some of the other people performing: Tammy Thompson singing a very out of tune rendition of America The Beautiful, some kid from one of his classes playing piano miserably, and some band performing very loud, very angry music.

Steve wins, and for once, it feels better than when he wins at a swim meet or basketball game.

He spends the next three years secretly practicing, only performing in shows out of town, never saying anything to his parents.

He doesn’t want them to ruin this for him.

He applies to Juilliard, not thinking he has a chance in hell, not with his academic grades.

Luckily, they see that he’s “exceptional with the strings” and “plays with emotion that can’t be trained.”

He gets in.

He goes.

He thinks he may actually be able to do this, use a gift he has to make his life better.

His parents even find it acceptable, mostly because he got into the best school he could have. They still don’t bother showing up for his shows, but Mrs. Buckley always finds a way.

In his sophomore year, Robin gets in, and they both move into a small apartment off campus together. He promised to look out for her.

She tells him that music wasn’t really her passion, she was just good with a trumpet. She really wanted to be an engineer.

In his junior year, Robin transfers to Columbia, starts doing what she really wanted to do from the start. He’s proud of her, but misses having someone on campus during the day to have lunch with.

Until he stumbles, literally, into someone vaguely familiar.

“Sorry, man. Running late.”

Steve pats the man on the shoulder and turns to get to his class when the man stops him.

“Harrington? You’re a student here?”

He turns back and finally recognizes the man in front of him.

“Munson? When did you get here?”

“I got in this year. Kinda fucked up my first audition last year and they were kind enough to give me another shot.” Eddie smiled. “What on earth are you here for?”

“Violin. You?”

“Guitar and songwriting.”

“That’s great, man. I’m just really running late. Catch up soon?”

Soon was two weeks later, when Steve ran into Eddie again while leaving class.

“We should probably stop running into each other like this,” Eddie smirked. “The universe is trying to tell us something.”

“What’s it trying to tell us?”

“Not sure. Maybe we should go grab dinner and find out.”

“Now?”

“Why not? Got better plans?”

Steve thought about how Robin was barely at the apartment due to studying for midterms. He thought about how his only other friend from here was busy rehearsing for their senior showcase.

“Nah. Let me bring this home first,” he held up his violin case. “Actually.”

Steve was on a budget. His parents gave him money, sure, but they thought he was living on campus so the money they sent covered rent and groceries and nothing else.

“I could make dinner. If you want?”

“Steve Harrington cooks? And plays violin?” Eddie fake swooned. “Be still my beating heart. How will I not be seduced?”

Steve rolled his eyes. He remembered Eddie’s dramatics from school and knew better than to feed into them.

“I can make some spaghetti. Nothing fancy.”

“Spaghetti sounds great,” Eddie’s fake swoon turned to a soft smile. “You want some help?”

Steve didn’t need help, usually didn’t even want any.

But something about the way his stomach dipped when Eddie stepped closer, and the way he thought about having Eddie in his apartment, made him agree.

“Sure.”

They walked to Steve’s apartment in a comfortable silence, though Eddie kept tapping the back of his fingers against Steve’s hand.

Eddie fit next to Steve. They cooked together, they ate together, they even managed to clean up together. It was easy to find something to talk about. He’d never clicked with anyone like this, not even Robin.

By the time Robin came home, Steve and Eddie were both passed out on the couch, fingers laced together as if they hadn’t been brave enough to do anything more before they fell asleep.

By morning, Steve’s head was on Eddie’s shoulder, Eddie’s arm wrapped around him loosely.

Waking up to a soft kiss on his lips was something Steve couldn’t have imagined when he first ran into Eddie, but he was pretty glad it was how he started his day.

And almost every day after that, whether he woke up to a kiss, or met up with Eddie on campus for a kiss, he started his day with love on his lips.

[italiansteebie]

something something singer steve never taking his talent super seriously, he was in choir as a kid but his dad took him out in favor of a more "manly" extracurricular.

the talent never really left him though, he'd always been somewhat musically inclined, able to pick up a guitar and play a basic song and sing along, it always went well with girls. he'd serenade them and that was it. but no one really seemed to take it seriously, so he didn't either.

until eddie munson came along, waxing about his beloved band and how they were "sure to make it big someday." and they were pretty good. until their vocalist up and left, claiming he had a better chance at a solo career. whatever, his loss.

the rest of corroded coffin is at a loss, they need a singer, eddie's lyrics were too good to skip out on, however, none of them could sing. they've tried. it was bad.

they thought about holding auditions but no one wanted to audition for an accused murderer. so gareth stepped up, and tried his best, but if we're being honest, his best wasn't good enough.

so they took their loss. deciding to focus on hell fire rather than corroded coffin bc at least that was fun.

it'd been a few weeks of not playing gigs that they'd heard it. they were in harringtons basement, setting up for the newest campaign, when a gentle voice floated through the room.

"all of my love, oh all of my love, oh all of my love... to you now."

was that steve? no way. he's just a jock, right?

but the look on eddie's face said he'd already had a plan in motion, "let's ask steve!"

"no."

"why noooottttt? he's good!"

steve walks in, "who's good?"

"you are! at singing! why didn't you tell us? you knew we've been out a singer!"

steve scoffs "i'm not a singer, i just... sing along to the radio." corroded coffin scoffs right back, "yeah, well!" they'd gotten on board, how could they not? there was a singer, right here!

so that's how steve became corroded coffins vocalist, in fact, he may have even pushed them over the edge of there local band status to touring band status.

[steddiecameraroll]

My whole existence is flawed (You get me closer to God)

Pairing: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Rating: Mature

Words: 24,120

Tags: AU Modern Setting 2014ish, AU No UD, Strangers to Lovers, Eddie Munson and Nancy Wheeler are BFFs, Musician Steve Harrington, Tattoo Artist Eddie Munson, Miscommunication, Romantic Comedy, Background Ronance, Steve's band is called Seven - play on the whole Joe/Djo thing

“You know I’m not into that kind of music. Why don’t you take a different friend or someone else who might enjoy it?” Eddie Munson leans back in the stiff wooden chair in the Starbucks and stares blankly at his best friend, Nancy Wheeler.

“Because I want my best friend to go with me. Come on, you haven’t gotten out in a while. This could be good for you. Plus, it’s his first official show outside of open mics. Wouldn’t you want to be able to say you went to Seven’s first-ever concert when he becomes big and famous?” She gives him a wink, and he rolls his eyes.

“You have a lot of faith in your high school ex-boyfriend’s talent there, Wheeler.” He comments while picking at his blueberry muffin.

“He’s really talented. Come on, Eddie, do me this favor.” She clasps her hands before her chest and gives him her most pathetic puppy dog eyes.

“Fine, but you’ll owe me.” 

“Yes! Ok, but it has to be an equivalent favor that doesn’t involve physical labor or borrowing money.”

“Deal,” he lifts his iced cold brew, and she smiles, raising her iced matcha latte and clinking the bottom of her cup against his.

“You gonna bring anyone?” She raises her eyebrows while taking a sip of her drink.

“No, you know I don’t have time for that shit. The shop is finally gaining traction, and I need to focus on that.”

Eddie opened The Hideout Tattoos and Piercings a little over three years ago and has dedicated every free minute to promoting and building a solid reputation for the shop. It’s finally paying off, and he’s been able to hire two more talented artists and has a full schedule of dedicated clients.

“Come on, you’re going to burn yourself out. You need to take a break and find a life outside that building.”

“Sure, I’ll do that when you tell that poor woman you have a massive crush on her?” Eddie motions to the barista behind the counter, who’s dancing a little to the music playing overhead.

“You know I’m never going to do that.”

“Well, in case you wanted to change that timeline, she has looked over here multiple times since we sat down, checking you out.”

Nancy sits up and fluffs her hair a little. “No, she hasn’t. Shut up.”

“Yes, she has. You’re so easy,” Eddie smirks just as the barista flicks her eyes over to the table for at least the 8th time. “Just did it again.”

“Oh my god, Ed, shut up.”

“Fine, then you can’t say shit about my love life.”

“Touche.” 

Eddie and Nancy never seemed like the friendship kind of duo, but it was easy once she let her guard down. They met at a mutual friend’s party years earlier when Nancy was in her Junior year of college. Eddie was still spending most nights consuming large quantities of alcohol. Nevertheless, Nancy was a positive influence on Eddie. Her business classes have helped him substantially in the last few years, and her stoic responsible demeanor has rubbed off on him.

Before their friendship, Eddie was sometimes found snorting Oxis off bathroom toilets in random bars and banging anyone and everyone he could while rarely being safe. He drank a good 5 days a week and was always late to his first appointments every day, regardless of when they were booked. He was working at a small street shop that took mostly walk-ins at the time and was on thin ice with the manager. He’d worked hard to get the apprenticeship at the shop several years earlier. Still, once he started building his portfolio and getting comfortable with his skills, he slid into dangerous territory.

If Nancy hadn’t fallen into his life then, he’s sure he could’ve lost his dream job and would never be where he is now. But instead, she helped pull him from the brink of an abyss he wanted to slip into. Now she’s his little bisexual soul mate and probably the only person on the planet that he can say he gives a shit about, besides his Uncle Wayne.

“At least give her your number. She’s clearly into you.”

He’s been watching the two of them stare longingly at each other for months, driving him insane. The barista’s name is Robin, and he thinks she’s cute in a bouncy, anxious way. He watches Nancy crumble around her every time they visit the coffee shop. Nancy’s usually so self-assured and put together that when they’re standing at the register placing their order, she starts stumbling over her words. It makes Eddie love her a little more.

“You know I can’t do that. What if she’s straight?”

Eddie looks at her like she’s got to be kidding. He briefly flicks his eyes up to look at Robin, then back to Nancy. “You mean the oversized shirt, non-makeup, Doc Marten, every finger covered in rings wearing little lesbian back there? You can not be that oblivious.”

“Straight girls can wear that stuff.”

“When did you last see a straight girl wearing any of that? They’re all into those skinny jeans, cardigans, and dumb ballet flat shoes. Like that Duschnell girl.”

“Do you mean Zooey Deschanel?”

“Yes! Yeah, her with her big ol eyes.”

“Look who’s talking, Bambi.”

He nods at her. His mom always called his big brown eyes chocolate buttons, so he has no leg to stand on.

“So come on, give her your number. Or let me do it!” He leans over the table, eagerly shimmying his shoulders at her.

“Never, no, don’t you fucking dare Munson, I swear to god. If you do that, I will call you at 6 am every Saturday for the next 6 months.”

“Fine, will you at least talk to her? Maybe take your cup to the trash and ask if she’s doing anything this weekend. Just open the door, at least. You could tell her about Steve’s show tonight and take her instead of me.”

“No, you’re not getting out of this, and maybe tomorrow I’ll talk to her.”

“I’ll take it.” He thinks it feels like some kind of progress. He may not be the relationship type, but Nancy is only the relationship type, so maybe this yin and yang thing makes their friendship work. “Shit, don’t you have to go to work?”

“Oh shit, what time is it?” She turns her phone screen on, and her eyes go wide. “Fuck, yeah, I gotta go. I’ll meet you later tonight at 8. Text me if you can’t find it.” She kisses the top of his head and rushes out the door.

Eddie catches barista Robin’s shock on her face after Nancy’s affection toward his skull. He knows he shouldn’t meddle but can’t help himself. He gets up from the table and casually shuffles to the counter.

continue reading...

[wheatnoodle]

musicians!steddie au

eddie is the lead guitarist/vocals of corroded coffin still and now they’re big enough to be touring, big enough to be accused of selling their souls to the devil.

steve’s in a lil folk duo with robin. he sticks to an acoustic and singing about all the woes of small town midwestern life, she plays a banjo?!?! a harmonica?? tambourine?!!! everything else basically.

they somehow end up playing different stages at the same festival and gareth is groaning about how boring and whiny they sound. jeff and grant just kinda chuckle along and stay out of it (ofc they’ll defend themselves if they had to face down with the pair). but eddie?

eddie caught one glimpse of beat up nikes and overalls and hair shining golden in the sun and he’s so cute it drives him insane.

cue far away pining and sneaking backstage and into trailers and secret relationships hidden from the world and from band mates

[ent-is-indecisive]

this is me doodling away to a fun lil au @trensu and i were spitballing, as we do. the jist (edited for readability):

blind and frozen by beast in black as a collab song between pop star Steve and metal star Eddie probably started as a publicity stunt. Eddie is abrasive about it at first and Steve's all bitchy.

Steve is writing about his breakup with famous reporter Nancy. It's supposed to be a dumb thing to stir up attention but then Steve starts to pour all his heartbreak into the lyrics they come up with together, and it's sincere, is the thing. Eddie can feel the ache of failed love in every word, watches Steve hurting over this, and watches him with his fans, adult and child alike, and how genuinely happy he is to see them. And Steve tells him that he likes knowing that he can brighten someone's day because life is shitty sometimes and people deserve nice things, and Eddie falls HARD.

Like the first time he sees Steve give an 8yo kid an autograph, Eddie melts because the kid sings him his favorite part of his favorite song and Steve sings along with him and Eddie is DYING. And then he gets to see Steve pull out his bitchy retorts when somebody trys to insult his fans (or maybe he had a young boy fan that was getting called unsavory things for being Steve's fan). Eddie didn't stand a chance really.

So there's all this PINING because Steve is obviously hung up on Nancy and Eddie is nothing like Nancy and the chances of Steve liking dudes are slim at best. But, the song works as catharsis for steve and he realises that he is less and less sad about nancy and on the opposite being slowly restored energy by working/talking to eddie.

Steve starts working on a love song for eddie and how great of a person he is and makes it a surprise either on an album they collab on or at a concert theyre both at. Because the thing about Eddie is that yeah he's nothing like Nancy except for his DRIVE and PASSION which are two traits Steve has always found attractive, doe eyed stubborn nerds make him weak in the knees. And he compares eddie to sunlight and eddie absolutely melts in a puddle when he hears the song which surprises everyone with the personna he usually has. There's an entire verse dedicated to his big doe eyes. (In Steve's album with the love song there's also a more risque song where Steve obsesses a bit over how Eddie works up a sweat on stage, leaving his skin dewy and delicious.)

[steventhusiast]

saw a tiktok of a guy playing acoustic guitar in the wind and letting the wind add to his music and it got me thinking about steve being able to play guitar.

he’s private about it, keeping his acoustic guitar delicately in its case at the back of his closet unless he’s playing it. it’s partly out of fear for his parents’ reactions if they knew he still had the guitar, and partly because playing is one of his coping mechanisms and he doesn’t want to taint how much it helps him by sharing it with others.

the guitar itself is nothing extravagant at a passing glance, but steve has had it since his grandma on his mother’s side passed away and left it for him. his mother had been so happy for him to have it at first when he was 8 and too small to properly play it, telling him about her own childhood full of acoustic songs on the porch and in front of the fire. but that had been before she found out about his father’s affair and had blamed it on steve… she doesn’t seem to care about him and his guitar anymore, or maybe she’s just forgotten.

playing first became a huge coping mechanism for him after the first upside down incident. his whole world view had been destroyed, and he had anxiety lingering in all of his limbs, so he took his guitar up to the roof of his empty house and just sat there and strummed. he never played any specific songs, but after that first night on the roof he noticed how the wind changed the sound of his guitar and added to it. it was like the wind herself was saying “it’s okay, i see you, i hear you” and adding more to the music he played. it calmed him down immensely.

so, whenever he’s upset or his bones felt too big for his body, he finds himself on his roof with his guitar.

robin is the first to find out. she comes to visit him one evening after he doesn’t answer the phone (he’s too busy on the roof) and practically screeches when she bikes up to his driveway and sees him perched on the roof. it’s dark already, so she can’t see the guitar or the peace on his face, she just sees her best friend on the roof, too close to the edge of it for her comfort.

she assumes the worst, but steve is quick to placate her as he climbs down and goes downstairs to let her in. he shows her his little secret, and even takes her up to the roof with him. tells her to listen for the wind, and ignores her baffled and disbelieving look in response. minutes later, she’s swaying gently and quirking her brows every time the wind adds something to the aimless strumming.

eddie finds out next, but much less dramatically. he and steve have been dating for about a month when he stumbles across the case in steve’s closet as he’s making fun of all the polo shirts hung up.

“my, my, who is this beauty you’ve been hiding?” is all eddie needs to say for steve to know he’s found her. he’s shy in response, because this feels different to robin finding out. robin knows music, sure, but eddie is pretentious about music. and steve’s not the most technically skilled, he just plays what feels good. nothing extravagant or metal like eddie’s used to.

but eddie presses gently, seeing the shy flush to his boyfriend’s cheeks. he wants to know more, urges steve to show him, can tell it’s special to him. so steve indulges him, takes his hand and drags his boyfriend and the guitar case up to the roof. eddie’s much sillier about the wind, in an adorable way. steve tells him about how the wind accompanies him and makes him feel heard, so eddie smiles up at the sky and talks to her.

“thank you for takin’ care of my baby, lady wind. can i hear you sing with him?”

steve just looks at him, baffled for a minute, because even robin (his platonic soulmate) had seemed doubting of how much the wind comforted him and aided his music, but eddie just. is all in, immediately. trusts steve, knows it’s important to him.

so steve plays, and the wind sings, and eddie taps along. his guitar still feels private and secret, but he feels comfortable that maybe more people than just the wind should hear him sometimes.

[steddietogo]

Talk show host Eddie: Steve, I’m sure a speak for many when I say we’re wondering about the meaning behind you new single. I have to say it’s very different from all your other stuff

Steve: it’s about gay sex

TSH Eddie: it-it’s about g-gay —

Steve: gay sex, yes

TSH Eddie: …

TSH Eddie: We will be back after a very short commercial break

[stevesbipanic]

Another great prompt from @wrenegadeone 💖

Corroded Coffin had gotten big, like national tour big, they had a bus for christsake! Eddie loves it, every night he gets to perform in front of an adoring crowd playing the music that he loves.

While Eddie loves all of his fans, it does come with a downside. He gets recognised, everywhere. He's perfectly happy to sign autographs and take pictures but it means that most people he meets are more interested in Eddie the Lead Guitarist of Corroded Coffin than Eddie, Just Eddie.

So it's refreshing when he meets Steve. Steve isn't a big metal fan and doesn't like how toxic social media is and never reads tabloids. Eddie met Steve in a little hole in the wall bar that he discovered was owned by Steve's closest friends Nancy and Robin, an adorable couple that he instantly hit it off with.

Eddie doesn't hide his musical talents from his new lover, playing him a cover of Steve's favourite song for their one month anniversary. Steve was so enamoured he asked Eddie to teach him how to play. Eddie was patient with Steve slowly showing him the chords and laughing together when he got it wrong. The lessons didn't last long but they were fun.

After three months Eddie came clean about his stardom not wanting to wait to have to tell Steve when he went on tour again at the end of the year. Steve didn't seem to care and still treated Eddie the same. After 6 months the two men moved in together, tired of jumping from one apartment to another and it meant Eddie wasn't paying rent while he was on tour.

One day, close to dating for 8 months, Eddie comes home to music coming from the bedroom. It sounded like Eddie's acoustic which rarely got taken out of storage. He cracked open the door and there on the bed was Steve, playing a beautiful acoustic that definitely wasn't Eddie's. Eddie tried to tell what song Steve was playing but didn't recognise it.

"You learnt how to play?"

Steve stops playing abruptly looking wide eyed at Eddie.

"Um, Hellfire end early?"

"Ah yeah, yeah it did. Stevie why didn't you tell me you were taking lessons, I wouldn't have been offended you know."

"Well, because I wasn't? I um, I already knew how to play?"

"You already knew how to play? Why didn't you tell me, why was I teaching you?" Eddie laughs.

"Because you looked so cute trying to teach me and I wanted to spend more time with you."

"Aw sweetheart, that's adorable. What're you playing anyway? I didn't recognise it. Also where have you been hiding this guitar?"

"That's something else I should come clean about, the guitar well it's been stashed at Robin's most of the time but I needed to record my new songs and her acoustics are terrible."

"You wrote that song?"

"Yeah, I've actually been writing songs for awhile, ever heard of Bat King?"

"Ah yeah... The guy that anonymously posts his shit in Spotify, it's really good stuff. Wait, no fuck Steve you're Bat King?"

"Suprise?" Steve says weakly.

"Baby your music is incredible, why didn't you tell me?"

"Well you know how people can be, same reason you didn't tell me about Corroded Coffin, I knew by the way, I don't live under a rock, Eds"

"I love you, Stevie. Finish your song, I'd love to hear it."

Eddie discovers that a lot of Steve's most recent songs are about him but he's written a whole album worth of songs about Steve for his next tour so he supposes they're even.

[blaqcats-fics]

(He’s) Just a Phase — Part 0

Part 1

It was 1989 when they broke up.

It was quiet. It was quick. It was devastating.

Most of all, Steve knew it was all because of him. If it had been another timeline with drastically different events, Steve was sure that his apartment wouldn’t feel so cold, so empty. In another life, Steve wouldn’t have made the same mistakes, and Steve would be in an apartment that actually felt like home.

That was not a wish that Steve could dream of anymore.

Steve was stuck in an apartment that felt too much like his parents’ house in Hawkins. Nothing in the apartment was his. The apartment held no memories or no warmth. Besides the furniture, one wouldn’t believe that anyone lived there. The apartment was clean — too clean. Cleaning meant that there wouldn’t be a reminder that there used to be something, or rather someone, that caused his heart to beat out of his chest or that caused him to feel safe.

Cleaning merely helped on the surface because underneath it all, Steve knew the truth.

Eddie was gone all because Steve hadn’t been ready.

Steve, now, wasn’t sure he would ever be ready. Even if the breakup left a giant black hole in his chest, the terrifying reality of being out scared the living shit out of him, but despite the terror that courses through his veins at the thought of telling someone, Steve hadn’t been strong enough to tell those closest to them or be proud of their relationship in safe places.

There were things Steve could blame for his hesitation. He surely could blame his parents, specifically his father, but it didn't matter. Steve made Eddie a victim of his insecurities. It didn't matter how patient Eddie had been; Steve would never have been ready for what Eddie wanted.

It wasn't until October of 1993, four years after Eddie left his life, that Steve did an unspeakable act, at least in the eyes of the Party.

Steve signed on to his walkie-talkie, newly bought months prior when his old one started to fall apart, and said his goodbyes. Not forever, but for now.

Robin had tried to show up at his apartment but was met with the sight of the landlord giving a tour of an empty apartment with a door that had an engraving of ‘E+S’ in Eddie’s shaky handwriting.

No one knew where Steve had gone. He had fallen off the grid.

He, however, was just under their noses. It was easy to hide in plain sight when no one had actually seen you in a long time. Sure, phone calls occurred, but life had gone on, and being spread out across the country made it difficult to meet, especially when everyone was an adult working some sort of 9-to-5. At first, not seeing any more made dread curl in Steve’s gut, but now, it was a safety net.

It was best that no one recognized Steve Harrington because he was about to ruin himself to the world, all in order to show Eddie Munson that he loved him more than the universe itself, and he was going to do in the only way that Eddie would listen, and that was with a busted guitar from the thrift store and mediocre voice.

All that Steve had to worry about was how Eddie was going to hear him from the top. After all, just a year after their break up, Corroded Coffin made it big.

[romanroyapologist]

Musician!Steve AU where Steve writes songs about fighting interdimensional monsters and fans asking what are his songs about and Steve is just like

[paradimeshifts7]

Punk Pop Steddie Fic (in the works)

Currently finishing up the first chapter to the 2015 punk pop Steddie au of my dreams. Literally so ecstatic about this one -- going back to my ROOTS! Here's a lil taste:

-----

He looks over at his guitar, the black case punched in towards the center in that tell-tale way that lets him know the damage is extensive without him even having to look at it. He wonders if it can be fixed, because something about smashing your guitar right before what might be the biggest show you’ve ever done does not feel like a good omen. This guitar, in particular, means a great deal to him, because it had been his first — his only, really. Sat in the corner of his bedroom like an old friend for what felt like forever. 

Steve had been playing the guitar since he was little, ever since his mom gave him one for Christmas when he was twelve. It was too big for him, because what did she know about guitars, but it was expensive, and it sang like a dream. He spent years secretly strumming away at those nickel strings in his room, the one thing that was just his — that no one could take away from him. 

Friends came and went, but Steve’s love for that tawny instrument never faded. He would make trips to the library by himself, wander the shelves of the music section until the librarian knew him by face, often pulled out a couple practice books to set aside for him. She was a spitfire of an old lady, silver hair and a smile just for Steve, who always brought his books back on time, always said please and thank you like he was taught. His parents knew, surely, what with the sounds coming from his room every evenings, but if they cared, they never let on. And for a kid whose worth was so often defined by how well he did, it was actually an act of mercy that they didn’t say anything. Steve was good at sports, had a natural proclivity towards it that his dad had made sure to capitalize on.

Go make me proud, kid. 

So there really wasn’t any other option than to excel, to practice and throw his whole soul into it — to not except anything less than what his dad would clap for, what would earn him a smile or a hand on his shoulder. 

Guitar wasn’t like that, though. In the quiet of the evening, barely too-big instrument cradled in his lap, Steve could take his time. There was no one watching him, so it didn’t matter if his hand slipped. Sour chord or perfect tune, it made no difference. He worked his way through basic practice books until he had taught himself how to read music, dyslexia be damned. And when he found he could easily translate the notes on the page to the strings of his guitar, he started learning harder songs. By the time he was in high school, he had played through most of the library’s repertoire — had to start slinking by the only music store in town to get what he needed. 

It wasn’t like he was afraid of being found out. Frankly, being recognized for his musical abilities would have probably won him more dates than he’d have known what to do with it. But as soon as people knew, it wouldn’t be his anymore, so he tread carefully — visited the music store only when he was sure that he wouldn’t be seen. He learned every song he could get his hands on, scanned every piece of sheet music that came his way and picked his way across the strings of his guitar. So when Eddie said, “it’s very metal, what you did”, Steve played dumb. Of course he knew Black Sabbath, but he didn’t know Eddie — not yet. So it was safer to play coy, to keep the things that were just his close to the chest like he knew how. 

Nancy Wheeler was the first girl he’d ever wanted to write a song for. Nothing on the radio could quite encompass what he wanted to say to her, nothing screamed Nancy enough to be worthy of her caliber. He started singing, just softly at first, like he had always done when he was learning songs, but his voice got louder with each passing week — each time that lovely girl gave him the time of day, flashed that pretty smile in the hallway when their eyes met, teeth hidden behind those lips that Steve felt less than normal about. 

The first thing he wrote was utter shit, a blathering mess of trite expressions and words that barely rhymed. That particular work had met its end in the trash can, but he didn’t give up, because even though it was shit, it felt good to put pen to paper. Thinking about Nancy, her stormy blue eyes and the way she looked at him like she just couldn’t help it. 

He never played anything for anybody, not even Nancy, until he’d been a little drunk one night and strummed something for Robin, sat splayed out together on his bed while his parents were away. She had looked at him with such love and pride that he thought he would burst, and had actually blushed when she told him how good he was, her eyes a little wide like she couldn’t quite believe it. So he played for her sometimes when she asked, because Robin was special and she didn’t count as other people. And when he played for Eddie, when the metalhead was laid up in the hospital recovering from near death, he wondered if Eddie, too, wasn’t other people. 

In the months that followed, he didn’t stop wondering. 

[kengwisi]

musician! Steve Harrington with the songs "I Hate Myself Because". It just occurred to me. I think it could be nice?? Idk

[thatoneguyonetime]

not to conflate actors with their characters but i’ve been thinking of a steddie au where both steve and eddie are musicians (one of my favs) but steve’s artist name is psteev (a la djo)

if i had any writing skills i would write fic but actually my brain has said that it isn’t ready to attempt that

[hairmetal666]

They start kissing on stage as a joke.

The night before the first time, they're at an afterparty, pounding shots, and Eddie is reading aloud a piece that just came out in Rolling Stone. "'One of the most noteworthy parts of Munson and Harrington's unlikely pairing is their chemistry on stage. It's like these two men--one on his way to being the latest metal god, the other an indie rock wunderkind--are two parts of one musical whole. Their singing, their playing, even their bodies twine and flow with assuredness; where one goes, the other follows without question. They share a single brain-cell and that cell is music'."

Steve giggles, pours some more Grey Goose into the glass. "If they say that now, could you imagine what would happen if we, like, kissed on stage or something."

"What the fuck, Harrington?" Eddie splutters, having just thrown a drink back.

"I don't know, other bands do it!"

Eddie snorts. "I'm cutting you off." He reaches for the bottle and the suggestion is forgotten for wrestling over the liquor.

Steve barely remembers it in the morning. Doesn't think about it at all as he gets ready to go out on stage.

They're playing one of the instrumental breakdowns when it happens. They're leaning into each other, Eddie smiling over his shoulder at him, their eyes locked, bodies moving together. "You wanna?" Eddie mouths at him.

Steve nods before the question actually registers and by then Eddie's warm, soft mouth is against his and he just-- completely forgets what he's doing. His hands still on the guitar strings, and he melts a little, going completely boneless when Eddie grips the back of his head, pulls him deeper into the kiss. t's over almost as quickly as it started, Eddie pulling away and swirling to the mic to start the next verse.

The kiss sinks into Steve's bones, and that's before it becomes a regular feature of their performances. After that night, they're never at the same time during the show, all initiated by Eddie, all over before he can catch his breath; each one chaste and surrounded by people but somehow more intimate than any make out.

He and Eddie, they're friends, bandmates, collaborators. They've known each other since they first started out, forging an immediate connection with they stumbled upon each other hiding out in the garden at some industry bigwig's party. And as much as he loved his friend, never once in that time had Steve considered wanting Eddie.

But now, now he falls asleep with the ghost of Eddie on his lips, goes into each show with a thrum of anticipation, catches himself thinking how beautiful his friend is when he's all rumpled and disheveled from a night in the tour bus bunks.

They've always been easy with physical affection, but once the kissing starts they're constantly in each other's space, idly playing with hair, laying across laps, heads on shoulders, twisting together on the tour bus couch. Steve is ruined with every touch, every moment; he can't get enough.

The first time Eddie uses tongue destroys every last piece of Steve's composure. They've added a new song to the setlist, a remixed version of Eddie's hit "Prince Charming". It's hard, heavy, sexy, one of Steve's favorites. And in the middle of it, right in the middle, Eddie shoves him against a low platform, kisses him like he's trying to own him, tongues twining eager and wet and full of sinful promise. It's like that every show after, Eddie kissing him deep and thorough, like he's trying to lick up every drop of Steve.

He is, unquestionably, fucked. Unquestionably falling. Can't properly fathom how he'd gotten himself here, desperate for Eddie's kiss, as performative as it may be.

They're packing up equipment after a show. Eddie's hair is piled in a messy bun and Steve is trying not to blatantly stare at the curve of his neck, the stray curls against his pale skin. Eddie's gesturing at something, says, "Can you grab those cords, swee--Steve?" He hands them over without thought, notices that Eddie's face is shining red. He's called away to deal with packing the guitars, forgets all about it, but at their next show, Eddie doesn't kiss him.

They don't talk about it.

Eddie doesn't try to kiss him again.

A week after Eddie stops the kiss, they have a night off between shows. He needs to get out of his head, goes out with Robin. He gets back fairly early, but all the lights are off in the bus. It makes him panic in a way it shouldn't; they've always done their own things. Still, he rushes on board, flips on the lights, his absurd heart beating too hard.

Eddie is curled up on the couch, face pressed to the pillows and covered with his hands. The panic kicks up a notch.

"Eddie?" He steps closer, slowly reaching out to grip Eddie's shoulder.

He jerks upright, earbuds slipping free, phone sliding down his hip. "Steve?"

His face is wet, tears actively slipping free from his eyes as Steve watches.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" His hands flutter around Eddie's arms and face, searching for bruises or wounds.

"I'm fine, Harrington," he chokes out. "Though you were out with Robin?"

"Yeah, I was, but Chrissy called. You know how useless she gets. But that doesn't--you--you're crying. What's wrong?"

Eddie's smile is a wobbly little thing, refusing to stick on his face. "Oh, you know, the usual. Fell for the wrong guy."

Steve forces down the gut churning hurt at hearing that Eddie's in love with someone, intent on comforting his friend. He tries to slip his arm around Eddie's shoulders, but Eddie shrugs him off. It jostles Eddie's phone again, slipping it toward Steve and activating the screen. He has a split second where he's looking at the cover of his own first album, before Eddie's snatching it out of reach, scrambling up from the couch.

"I'm fine." He swipes his sleeve over his face. "It's nothing."

And Steve is putting it all together, the being in love and listening to Steve's music, the kissing and how it ended.--

"Eddie." He sounds all wrong, choked and garbled.

Eddie doesn't turn around, is stuffing his feet into his boots. "I'm--I gotta go clear my head."

He walks towards the door and Steve just--"I've been obsessed with you since the first kiss," he says. Eddie stops, hand curled against the door. "We've been friends all this time and I didn't--I never realized. And then we kissed and--it's all I've been able to think about."

Eddie turns then, facing him, expression unreadable."Steve, what are you--"

"I love you. I'm in love with you." It comes out fast, all jumbled, but he can't stand Eddie leaving, not now.

"You--?" Eddie blinks, bites his lip. "That's not possible."

Steve smiles, can't help it. "It is, though. Turns out, I can't get enough."

Their eyes lock; neither speaks. Steve's heart pounds so hard it might spring free of his chest. Eddie moves first, crosses the small distance between them to pull Steve into his arms.

It's not a kiss, but Steve buries his face against Eddie's neck, breathing him in, feeling the echo to the pound of his own heart. "How long?" Steve asks.

Eddie's soft laugh vibrates through him. "Since I saw you walking in that garden and thought, 'jesus christ, Prince Charming is real'."

Steve pulls away to stare at Eddie in disbelief. "But that's--your--the song?"

"They're kinda all about you, Stevie. But that one most of all." Eddie whispers. His eyes glisten.

"Fuck, Eddie." He doesn't mean to whine, but he's not in control of his voice anymore. "I'm sorry I didn't--" He shakes his head. "I'm all yours, Ed. Whatever you want."

Eddie's thumb catches against Steve's bottom lips, eyes transfixed on his mouth. "Everything, sweetheart. I want it all."

[kitchen-spoon]

Steddie strangers to lovers. They meet because they commute on the same train everyday. Eddie has the NYT crossword and he does it everyday. One day after 2 months of them riding together he asks steve for his help.

Eddie’s like ‘u look smart what do u think?’ And Steve who has been told he is an idiot or stupid or dumb every day of his life is like “its just the suit I’m not good at smart stuff like that.”

And Eddie is like ‘no way I bet you can help with the sports section at least. I mean look at me, if we’re going off stereotypes I’m hopeless.” It get’s Steve to blush and he cracks and helps.

Everyday after that they do the puzzle together, Steve eventually helping outside of just the sports section so Eddie can prove to him just how smart he knows he is.

[the-angst-chronicles-fanworks]

Famous!Oblivious!Steddie Modern AU

Where Steve and Eddie are both famous, but neither have heard of each other: Eddie is famous with his metal band and that’s just not Steve’s scene; Steve is a famous basketball player and Eddie has never voluntarily watched a sport in his life

And they meet when they both going incognito somewhere and think the other is not famous and they’re immediately attracted to each other and hit it off great and keep seeing each other. And they both want to have private dates so neither question each others excuses much.

They only figure it out several months in, after they’re photographed together and the internet blows up about *Steve Harrington* and *Eddie Munson* dating