#spicy six as friends

[steviesbicrisis]

Eddie: I’m kinda cold

Steve: *wearing nothing but his boxers and a t-shirt*

Steve: ah shit

Steve: *takes off his shirt*

Eddie: *panicking* WHAT THE FUCK

Eddie: ARE YOU DOING

Eddie: WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?

Robin: *wearing Steve’s jacket* you see Eddie

Nancy: *steve’s scarf around her neck* Steve doesn’t like it when his friends are cold

Jonathan: *wearing Steve’s sweater* you can’t fight it

Argyle: *Steve’s sweatpants on, over his jeans* because he will put them on you one way or another

Steve: *throws it at him* just take the damn t-shirt

Eddie:

Eddie: *nosebleeds*

[hairmetal666]

Steve has a problem. Not a big problem--not an Upside Down-sized problem--but still. A problem. In the form of Eddie Munson. And not the person Eddie Munson, who is second only to Robin in the hierarchy of Steve's heart, but his feelings in regard to one Eddie Munson. Namely, his enormous, devastating, gay crush on the guy.

And he knows, okay, he knows Eddie is gay, but that doesn't mean he wants Steve. Eddie is probably into other metalheads or dnd nerds. What could Steve, with his sports and his polo shirts, possibly have to offer?

He's coping, though. Or, at least, he thought he was until the Family Video phone rings and Jonathan invites them to the New Year's Eve party he and Argyle are throwing at their new apartment.

"We have to make a no-date pact." He tells Robin as soon as the phone is back in the cradle.

"Or you could just ask Eddie."

"You could just ask Nancy." He raises an eyebrow.

She lets out a slow breath. "Yeah, okay. No-date pact. I'm down."

It's just as easy to get Nancy and Eddie on board. Nancy just laughs and says "yeah, like I'd bring a date to the party my ex-boyfriend is hosting with his new boyfriend. How you do you even start to explain that dynamic?"

And Eddie snorts right in Steve's face (it's not cute, it's not), says, "Right, cause my dating pool in Hawkins, Indiana is just ripe with guys who want to ring in the New Year with me."

Steve wants to say that he would be that guy, happily, giddily, but he can't risk blowing up his second most important friendship like that, not when Eddie's never given a fraction of a hint that he wants Steve too.

But that's his problem solved, right? The four of them aren't bringing dates. Easy-peasy.

Unfortunately, Steve's life hasn't ever worked out like that, and the party turns out to not be only their little end of the world crew and a handful of people Jon knows from his grocery store job, but an actual motherfucking party.

It takes almost ten minutes for him and Robin to navigate through the sea of strangers to find Jon and Argyle handing out solo cups in the kitchen.

"Who are all these people?" He shouts over the pounding music, nothing like Steve's ever heard.

"Argyle got a job at the record store down the street," Jon yells.

"Co-workers." Argyle nods. "And a few of their friends."

"A few, right."

"The more the merrier. Right, my dude?"

"Sure." Steve takes a cup. "You seen Eddie around?"

"Living room, last time I looked." Jonathan answers.

"See you around?" Robin asks.

"At least meet up for the ball drop," Argyle answers.

They push their way into the cramped living room, and Steve searches for that familiar cloud of hair, the ripped black jeans. It takes a minute just for the sheer amount of bodies pressed into the small space, and when he sees him Eddie's--

He's standing against a wall, next to the stereo (of course), but there's someone with him. Someone who is tall and leanly muscled in a way that Steve isn't. Someone with long hair pushed back from his forehead. Someone with facial piercings in places Steve didn't even know you could pierce and tattoos and a chain hanging from his worn blue jeans and a bandana in his back pocket, just like Eddie.

And Eddie he's--he's gazing up at this dude with clear stars in his brown doe eyes, body angling towards the other man like he can't help but push more into his orbit.

Steve turns hard, Robin colliding with his side. "Steve, what the--oh."

"I hate New Year's Eve," Steve sighs, trying to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach. It's always been the kind of holiday that is high on expectation and low on follow-through.

"C'mon, I think I spotted Nance over by the bedroom."

He lets Robin guide him across the room, steadfastly not looking back at where Eddie is very obviously finding himself a date. It's okay, Steve reasons. It's okay because that was obviously the kind of guy Eddie would be into it. He knew he had, like, no chance. He shouldn't be disappointed. He shouldn't.

The evening slips away in the shove of people, in the solo cup that manages to always be full in his hand, and he tries as hard as he can to ignore the way Robin and Nancy start sharing the same space.

So much for the no-date pact. He would laugh if a sort of deep loneliness wasn't seeping into his bones.

There's a girl, though, across the room. She's in a short dress and glances at Steve from under hooded eyelids. He could make a move; could have someone to kiss at midnight; have someone just for the night. But then--his heart makes a pathetic patter--Eddie.

Eddie who is practically in that stranger's lap.

He goes out for a cigarette.

When he comes back inside, it's five minutes til midnight and Nancy and Robin are dancing slow and sweet to a song that is neither.

He's happy for them, almost incandescent with it, but the loneliness sinks deeper, reaches marrow, especially after he fails to find Eddie in the crowd.

Steve thinks it might be time to give the whole failed endeavor up for good, but Jonathan and Argyle, both in tiny 1987 novelty top hats, appear at his side.

"Stevie-boy!" Argyle bellows. He lifts Steve at the waist, twirling him, and Steve laughs despite himself.

"Keeping busy?" He asks.

Jonathan pounds him on the back, just a little too hard.

A guest yells from deep in the apartment, "one minute to midnight!" and the music turns off, the TV tuned to Dick Clark and turned up.

Nancy and Robin find their way over, Robin mouthing "sorry," on her way. He pulls her into a side-hug; he'll never begrudge her any happiness, even on his worst day.

From across the room, there's a crash, a short yelp, and then a familiar head of fuzzy brown curls makes its way to them.

"Sorry, sorry." Eddie apologizes as he shoves through the other guests.

"Hi, guys!" He beams at them, cheeks flushed. Steve looks away so he doesn't have to think about how beautiful Eddie is; about how he's not the one who made him blush so pretty.

The countdown on the screen reaches 30 seconds, and the party goers start chanting.

"What happened to--?" Steve can't help but asking.

"Psh, that dude? He's a punk. Plus, I couldn't imagine ringing in 1987 without you guys by my side."

Steve blushes and rolls his eyes. "Sap." He knocks his hip into Eddie's.

"You love it," Eddie wraps him in a loose hold.

The count is down to 10, the ball almost dropped, Jonathan and Argyle and Nancy and Robin making soft eyes at each other.

"What's going on in that head of yours, sweetheart?" Eddie knocks his head gently against Steve's.

"It's nothing."

"You're pouting." Eddie mimics him with a poked out lip.

The count is down to 5.

"Fuck, I just--I wanted to have someone to kiss at midnight, you know?"

The ball drops, the year changes over, the room cheers. His coupled up friends cling to each other in soft, joyous kisses.

Eddie's eyes flick to their friends, to the guests, all kissing and embracing and celebrating, then back to Steve.

With two careful fingers, Eddie lifts Steve's chin, makes it so he can't look away.

"Fuck it," Eddie says. He leans forward, kisses Steve with soft authority.

And Steve just--he just fucking--crumbles into it. He makes a soft noise, curls his fists into Eddie's t-shirt.

Eddie's hands work their way into his hair, pulling him closer. Steve goes eagerly, crushes their bodies together.

They kiss and they kiss, and it's already so far from a friendly New Year's kiss, but then Eddie's tongue swipes into Steve's mouth, and the kiss breaks.

"Um," Eddie says.

Steve can't respond because all his focus is on not giving into the weakness in his knees and collapsing to the floor.

"I've wanted you to do that all night," Steve says.

"Oh." Eddie's face blossoms into a slow smile. "Me too. A lot longer than that, actually."

It's Steve's turn to smile, and he does, so hard it hurts his cheeks. "Me too."

Eddie presses their foreheads together. "Happy New Year, Stevie."

Someone starts singing Auld Lang Syne loudly and off-key, but they're quickly drowned out by a chorus of accompanying voices.

"Happy New Year, Ed."

Steve pulls him in for another kiss. 1987 is already shaping up to be the best year of his life.

[morganski-19]

The One with Shaved Legs

Eddie walks into Steve and Robin’s apartment, planning on asking if can borrow a charge since Nancy has banned him from borrowing hers. But instead, he’s stood there staring at them with a hand on the door handle.

“Oh, hey Eddie,” Steve waves a greet as if what’s happening is completely normal.

“If you’re going to ask for a charger, the answer is no. Nancy already told me you’re blacklisted.”

Eddie opens his mouth to say something, closing it and reopening it a few times. “I’m sorry, what are you doing?”

What they are doing, in question, has Steve with his leg on a chair, wearing the shortest shorts known to man, with shaving cream rubbed all over his leg. Robin is standing next to him with a razor, delicately shaving the hair off.

“Yeah that. Robin’s shaving my leg,” Steve rolls his eyes.

“Yeah,” Eddie says, finally able to step into the apartment. “But why?”

Robin stand upright, rising the razor off in a bowl and glaring at Steve. “Do you want to tell him why or should I?”

“I didn’t know, ok I didn’t know. How was I supposed to know?”

“Did he not show up to parent teacher conference?”

“Fuck he did, I forgot.” Steve runs his hands over his face, mortified.

Eddie clears his throat. “Explanation, please. Clue in the person not connected to your weird twin telepathy thing that you have.”

“Steve’s on a sex ban,” Robin informs. “He slept with one of his student’s parents, again.”

“Divorced,” Steve clarified, “I knew that much. And he was very hot, could you blame me?”

“Yes, always.”

“How hot?” Eddie asks.

Steve reaches for his phone on the counter and almost falls over in the process, swiping through his phone to pull up the guys dating profile.

Eddie takes it and stares at it. “Yeah, very hot. Not for me, but I can see why you went for it.”

“Thank you.”

Nancy walks into the apartment. “Oh, there you are Eddie.” She takes one look at what’s happening and immediately gives Steve a deadpanned look. “Sex ban again, seriously, Steve.”

And because the timing couldn’t be more perfect, Jonathan and Argyle show up and walk into the apartment unphased.

“I forgot, ok. I wouldn’t have slept with the guy if I knew.”

“Parent again?” Jonathan asks while already knowing the answer.

“Wait, how many times has this happened?”

“Too many,” Nancy says annoyed. “The first time was in college when he slept with the TA to get a better grade.”

“That was not why, it was not grade motivated,” Steve depends.

Nancy rolls her eyes. “Either way, he got a weird grade boost so we invented the sex ban.”

“It happens like once every year or so,” Jonathan fills in.

Eddie crosses his arm, still confused. “How exactly is this a sex ban?”

“We only shave one leg,” Robin explains.

“Yeah, shaving both would do nothing, now I get so disgusted by the feeling of my legs rubbing together that I won’t want to sleep with anyone. I can do with both having hair, or both shaved, just not one with both.”

“Oh, yeah that makes sense.”

“I shave my legs all the time,” Argyle says unprompted.

Jonathan nods. “It’s true, he does.”

“I like how soft they get.”

“Very soft.”

“You’ve touched his bare leg to feel how soft it is,” Eddie questions.

Jonathan shrugs. “Hard not to when he does that thing where he shaves and then makes me feel how soft it is.”

“Because I want someone to appreciate it,” Argyle reasons.

“Just because I didn’t say anything doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate it.”

Argyle rolls his eyes. “Well, you could have said it.”

“Your relationship still confuses me.”

Robin finishes the last stripe on Steve’s leg, swishing the razor in the bowl of water. “Done, go rinse it off.”

Steve brings his leg off the chair and walks to the bathroom with a wide stance, so he doesn’t get any of the shaving cream on his other leg. He comes out with a clean leg.

“You missed a spot.”

“Even better.”

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added or taken off) @slowandsteddie, @annieofhearts, @cacdyke, @ubpd, @captain--low, @thespaceantwhowrites, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @anne-bennett-cosplayer, @lunaticparisianlady, @apomaro-mellow, @dolphincliffs, @dragonmama76, @maggiebug417, @stevesbipanic, @fearieshadow, @mentallyundone, @eightpackdiaz

[findafight]

Kinda want to write a one-sided ronance post S4 au (within a fix it obvs) where the older teens start actually hanging out and Stobin (eventually + Vickie)confuse literally everyone. They greet each other with cheek kisses, call each other babe (or "Stevie Baby". Listen. Robin calls him bud or buddy or bub or bubba or babe and it's like why so many B's?? Argyle is vibing with it though and joins the bud train) and one time at two in the morning had a coordinated ramble about the names of the cats they will eventually get. (Sassafras, moonshine, and Garborator)

Nancy and Steve haven't really talked about anything, other than Steve saying "hey. I'm sorry if whatever I said weirded you out. I was definitely a bit delirious and Robin and Eddie AND Dustin were all making comments about winning you back or whatever which is stupid, you made it clear where you stood with me. Which wasn't with me. That's fine. and like. Okay yeah when we were together I'd daydream about you being beside me in the motorhome but thats-- it was a daydream. I was sort of thinking I was gonna die and. I wanted to share a little dream that made me happy. And then got everything confused in my head and made it weird and I'm sorry. what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for being weird and making things uncomfortable. I'm over you. I loved you then, and you were my first real love, and maybe if things were different I could love you like that again but. But neither of us want that or the same things out of life. And we'd crash and burn again. Plus you and Jonathan are together which is a non-starter. Cannot believe I forgot that when it was happening. Jesus. So. Yeah. Sorry for being not a great friend and hitting on you in the Upside Down." And Nancy had nodded and told him not to worry about it. He had been sort of bleeding out and planning on going back into the upside down. They could both be normal about it.

Sometimes Nancy and Robin try to have "girl time" at Nancy's suggestion because they're the only girls in the older group (sometimes. But Robin is not going to let that slip out) but it's awkward without a buffer. Robin is too nervous and rambles and Nancy is too annoyed by it. But they do get on well in group settings, and Steve and Argyle are actually the keenest to smooth over any awkwardness.

Robin laughs more with the group, and grins at Steve and smirks at Eddie and has a sharp tongue Nancy can admire. She's more comfortable with Steve around, insisting he sit beside her or on the ground in front of her so she can play with his hair. (And Nancy is shocked the first time she sees it, because Steve was notoriously protective of his "best feature", but she'd asked and he'd hummed quietly as she takes her fingers through his hair and put tiny, lopsided braids in it.) It's nice to see Robin less jumpy, and wonders what it would take to see more of the side of her Nancy only sees when Steve's around. She just wants to get closer to Robin. Wants a friend.

And somehow, beyond Nancy's notice, Steve and Robin's friend Vickie slowly joins the group. She wasn't involved at all in the spring, but has been hanging around Family Video and a movie night or two often enough that when she settles more permanently in the group it isn't a very big surprise. Eddie and Argyle welcome her in with open arms, Jonathan is only his normal amount of weary of new people, and obviously Robin and Steve are excited for their friends to be friends.

But it just doesn't sit right with Nancy. She can't pinpoint why, it just doesn't. When she sees Robin and Vickie giggling together, or having some back and forth banter that seems to feed into both of them smiling, or Steve throwing his arm over her shoulder, or Vickie leaning into Robin's space as they talk. She always sits beside Robin, Steve on the other, with Eddie beside him. It's usually a tight fit for whatever couch they're on, but the four seem happy as clams to not have any personal space. Once Argyle decided to lay across all their laps, and they just...let him. Finangled themselves so everyone was mostly comfortable.

Nancy figures she is uncomfortable with it because she hasn't ever had a close friend since Barb, and was possibly hoping she could be close to Robin along those lines. So seeing her so close with the others and mildly uncomfortable around her hurt, and seeing her and Steve incorporate someone unversed in the Upside Down into their little trauma club also hurt. Because what did Vickie have that Nancy didn't? That made Steve and Robin and now Eddie stick to her like glue? That made them want her there when she didn't know anything about what they'd been through and could probably never understand?

What made Vickie Summers so special that she's taken what should have been Nancy's place beside her friends? Because that's what really bothered her. It wasn't that Vickie didn't know, it's that Nancy felt she took her place. That Nancy wanted to be where Vickie was, and she didn't know how to ask for it. Asking, trying to talk about how Steve and Robin had bonded so well after Starcourt while she ignored them and then how they bonded with and absorbed Eddie halfway into their bizarre dynamic after vecna, would feel too much like begging or admitting that she isn't quite sure how to make friends.

Nancy is jealous. Jealous that she isn't friends like Vickie and Eddie and Steve and Robin are. That she isn't the one making Robin smile and giggle so cutely. So. She tries harder. Tries to be the friend that Robin and Eddie and even Steve deserve. She tries not to be annoyed by Robin rambling (it really isn't that bad, just. Not relevant. She likes heading Robin's voice, but thinks she could really work on having a filter.), or the way Steve always asks clarifying questions when he should really have known better, or Eddie talking half in different character voices. She thinks it's getting better, her relationship with them. But, still, Vickie is always there, glued to Robin's side almost as much as Steve is, and that always annoys Nancy. Niggles at her brain, that she doesn't deserve to be there because she didn't know what Robin had lived through and fought. Nancy did.

Eventually, Nancy figures out that she wants more from Robin. Doesn't want to be a friend she smiles at occasionally, wants to be the reason she smiles all the time. And that's terrifying. Because Nancy had never considered liking girls, never thought liking girls was a thing she could do. It was something other women did, not Nancy. She liked boys and always had, but. But maybe she always liked girls...too. maybe it wasn't something she that was one or the other. Being different in a town like Hawkins puts a target on your back, being queer in a town like Hawkins even moreso.

She's leaving Hawkins in the fall. But she thinks she wants someone to come home to. She wants Robin to come home to. Robin and Steve seem to be okay with it, from what she can glean of some veiled comments they've made that she's only caught now she's looking for them. They've made some remarks around the kids that make it seem like they'd be safe to come to, no matter what. And sometimes, some of the comments Robin makes about actresses seem a little...well. admiring.

They probably, hopefully, wouldn't hate her for this. And now Nancy and Robin have a friendship, she thinks she can. It's early July, and Nancy is going to ask Robin out.

She gets her alone, bites her lip, and asks Robin in no uncertain terms to go out on a date with her. Robin stares, mouth agape.

"oh," she says.

Nancy smiles, a little. "Yeah. So. What do you say?"

Robin blinks, and takes a shuddering breath. "Oh my god. I. Nancy I'm really flattered but I'm no-i dont- uhg. I'm dating someone." she groans, rubbing her hands over her face.

And oh. Nancy read the situation wrong "oh. Steve. It's fine! You don't like girls, thats--thats totally fine! Id just, um. That is,-"

Robin waves her hands. "No, no! I'm not dating Steve! You clocked me correctly. Definitely gay! Don't worry about that! Hah."

Something in Nancy twists. "Oh?"

"yeah. Yep. Not only am I a lesbian in a small town, I'm a lesbian in a small town that somehow also has a girlfriend." Robin says the word dreamily. Like she still can't believe it. Nancy's brain fills with static. She was too late. Too caught up with how she missed so many chances in the past, that she missed her chance now.

But Robin keeps talking. "And, like. Even if I didn't, I don't think it would have worked between us anyways. Too different, y'know?"

"what?"

Robin gestures with her hands between them. "Well, like. I like being your friend. But, I mean, I wouldn't date you?"

"why not?"

Blinking, Robin tilts her head. "Because of Steve?"

Something bubbles hot in Nancy. "What the fuck does Steve have to do with wether or not we would date?"

"Nancy. Steve's my best friend." As though that explains anything.

"yes? And?"

Robin looks uncomfortable, shifting sideways. "listen, Nancy. You're a good friend. And I've just rejected you. Maybe we should just. Ah. Leave this? I'm really sorry. I'll give you some space, just find me when you're ready?"

"no. What do you mean that we couldn't date because Steve is your best friend? Why would that have any effect on how you date?"

"it doesn't! Not really! Just. Nancy, you broke his heart. His soft, squishy heart! You kinda sorta cheated on him-details very unclear-and then just. Moved on. Pretended like nothing happened. I couldn't do that to Steve. Dating a friend's ex is a bad move. Dating an ex that broke a friend's heart is just cruel." She sighs. Looks sad. As though she isn't the one rejecting Nancy and tearing her apart for how a relationship ended almost two years ago. What did that matter, now? "You're my friend, Nancy. I like you! But even if Steve has moved on, forgiven and forgotten, and if things were a bit different given his full support for us dating if that's what I wanted, I think I'll always remember how he-- how much it hurt him."

"oh"

"I'm. Nancy I'm really sorry. I know how scary it is to put yourself out there, especially like this. It's not fair. I'm just sorry. But. It was true. Steve's the most important person to me. I couldn't ever hurt him. Not like that. Not even if he said he was fine with it."

Nancy stands and walks away. She doesn't cry until she locks her bedroom door.

[transvampireboyfriend]

part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6 - part 7 - part 8

Eddie's staring. He's throwing twigs into the fire and his eyes are fixed on Steve and Robin across from him, their hands intertwined. He smiles when he sees Steve tugging on them.

He's so sweet. Eddie sounds like a broken record even to himself but he can't help it, Steve is something else.

"So, I see your bandana found its way somewhere unexpected" Nancy teases beside him, probably noticing him staring.

Eddie can feel himself blushing and he's thankful for the hot flames in front of them.

"He took it from me." he tells her, "Felt like I was about to have a heart attack,"

Nancy laughs at him, "I get that. I felt a little overwhelmed sometimes. ...Though maybe not in the best way," she winces.

Eddie winces sympathetically.

He can't exactly relate, being very physical himself, but she's told him about feeling like she was never giving enough in her past relationships, because that kind of closeness just didn't come naturally to her. At least not as much as she felt her partners needed it.

And Eddie knows what is like to try to fake or exaggerate how you feel just because it's expected of you.

This is the kind of seemingly small thing where they find common ground between them, even when they appear so different to everyone else. This is the kind of thing that allowed them to become best friends against all odds.

"Do you... still feel that way?" Eddie asks, now arranging the logs as the fire picks up,

"Like I don't necessarily wanna go around hugging everyone in my path? Yeah," she says,

Eddie snickers, "I meant, with Robs. Do you still feel like it's not enough?"

Nancy looks up to where Steve is now kissing the back of Robin's palms and smiles fondly at them.

"Not really." she says, looking into the fire,"I suspect she might be similar to me, but- I haven't even told her, so," she shrugs, "who knows,"

Eddie hums.

"But it definitely doesn't feel like I have to." she adds, "The way it sometimes felt with other friends who were girls too. And that's good. ...Different. But good."

When she looks back at Eddie, he smiles at her.

From what she's told him she used to be a little bit more open, a little bit more comfortable, before Barb.

Eddie understands that too, unfortunately, the way losing someone like that changes you, without you noticing right away. How it shows up in little things, sneaks up on you, changes you in small irreversible ways.

He's proud of Nancy, and so honored when she does choose to get close to him, like earlier at the lake.

"Good," he repeats, she smiles.

"Well? " she asks, "are you gonna tell me what he said or what?"

Eddie laughs and tells her how Steve stole borrowed his bandana.

"I think he was flirting?" he ventures,

"He was definitely flirting," Nance confirms, "I knew it, I knew he was into you!" she says, reminding Eddie of the many times she's said it before, "You're gonna be great together," she tells him, in her teasing tone again,

"Woah! " Eddie laughs, "We don't even know for sure that he likes me like that!" he says, but his heart still beats a little faster at the prospect of him and Steve being 'together'.

"I do know! For sure." Nance insists,

"Alright, Miss 'I'm not gonna tell my crush I like her ',"

Eddie earns a smack to the back of his head for that one.

"Shut up. I'm not gonna-" she starts,

Eddie knows this talk like the back of his hand by now: she doesn't want to pressure Robin, she's going back out of the state soon, she has no experience with other girls, she doesn't want to ruin what they have and she doesn't want to make Steve uncomfortable.

In the end, it all boils down to 'complicated', but if their tales are to be believed (and Eddie does believe them), their lives have never not been complicated.

"I get it," Eddie offers, but apparently Nancy wasn't heading that way,

"I think I'm... scared." she says, "Of what I'm doing,"

Eddie stops moving the logs and turns to her fully.

"How do you mean?" he prompts her,

"Well, I'm doing everything I can not to tell her," she says, "I'm trying my best to keep us from- from just ending up together you know?" she moves her hands as she talks, "but what if- maybe that's the only way we'll be together? maybe I'm wasting our chances to be happy?" she asks, Eddie tilts his head, 

"It won't change a lot." Nancy explains, "Wether I tell her or not, I'll still leave and I'll still come back, but maybe if I tell her, then leaving and staying away and coming back will be better? Easier? God, I'm not making any sense" Nancy finishes,

Eddie huffs, switching from his crouch to sit cross legged in front of her, the same way they've done on both of their bedroom floors countless times.

"I think I can see where you're going" Eddie assures her, "but it doesn't have to make sense to me, if it makes sense to you," he tells her,

She nods.

"I guess," she tries, "I'm saying- my life's better with her. And it's getting harder and harder to convince myself that more of her might be bad,"

"Maybe it wouldn't be." Eddie reminds her.

Nancy sighs "And I'm gonna miss her." she adds, "I'm gonna miss her so much. I already do sometimes,"

Eddie hates the helpless expression on her face,

"Permission to take your hand?" he requests,

It makes Nancy chuckle, "Sometimes i hate you," she tells him jokingly, and offers her hand palm up,

Eddie holds it in his own hand, "I know." he says,

"Look, Nance, I know it's all jumbled up, and I really wish I could untangle it for you..." he tells her, meaning every word, "but I think this is just how it always is? It's always a little messy, a little all over the place, there's never gonna be a clear easy road that leads straight to the right thing."

Eddie squeezes her hand, "But I think there are roads where you can enjoy the ride despite all of the bumps and the detours... because it's worth it to do it with whomever's sitting on the passenger seat, for however long they do," Eddie turns to look at Steve and Robin roasting marshmallows just across from them.

Or trying to.

"They would burn this place to the ground if we let them" Nancy comments, off topic.

Eddies snorts, looking away from the gooey mess all over Robin's hands and back at his best friend.

Trying to contain his laughter, he attempts to get back on track, "My point is," he tries, "if she's making the whole trip better, maybe the bumps and the detours don't really matter that much. Maybe you can still invite her to come with,"

Nancy watches Robin attempt to wipe her hands on Steve's jeans and then chase him down to the lake shore after Steve dodges her. Her smile softens as she turns to Eddie.

"That's smart" she tells him,

Eddie hums " 'm not just a pretty face" he says, wagging his eyebrows and opening his arms like he's offering himself up

Nancy snorts, "Dork." she calls him.

Eddie laughs in response. After a bit, he offers,

"Also, you don't have to 'just end up together'. It can be on purpose, you know?"

Nancy hums, "It's never been that way" she muses.

"It's new." Eddie confirms, nodding.

Nancy smiles, "Yeah, new," she repeats.

She gets up then and steals one of the marshmallow bags from the abandoned log where Steve and Robin were sitting.

She opens it and pops one into her mouth as she comes back to sit down next to Eddie, both of them facing the fire now.

She offers the bag to Eddie and he silently takes one, watching as Steve walks back to them, with Robin trailing after him and shaking water off her hands.

"If I tell her, will you let him know? about your crush?" Nancy attempts,

Steve looks up then, catches Eddie staring and Eddie stops himself from looking away, eager to see how Steve will react.

Steve blinks a few times, and a smile blooms in his reddening cheeks, Eddie smiles back.

"I think he already does," he answers.

🪵🔥🪵

Once Argyle and Jonathan are back with two bowls of popcorn, they all bring the big logs closer to the fire and sit down to roast their marshmallows and eat s'mores.

After a bit of easy conversation amongst the group, Argyle turns to his left, where Eddie's sitting.

"Alright," he says, "Types of hat, Eddie. Go." 

"Uhh- Motorcycle helmet" Eddie says, catching on quickly and wiping melted chocolate off the corner of his mouth.

He turns to Nance and raises his eyebrows to prompt her to take her turn,

"Top hat" Nancy says, and looks to Robin, sitting left of her,

"Cap." Robin says, "Baseball cap. Whatever" she adds, chewing on her s'more and elbowing Steve to continue,

"Uh- Backwards cap?" Steve asks, more than says,

Eddie snorts loudly, earning a squint and a mean smile from Steve that makes him want to melt.

Everyone talks at the same time then,

"Already? We just started! We-" Nancy says,

"Dingus! You can't-" Robin protests,

"That is not-" Jonathan starts,

Argyle stands and puts an arm out, like a king demanding silence from his court. A hush immediately falls over them and they all look to him expectantly.

"I'll allow it" Argyle says,

The group erupts into objections to the decision as Steve waves his fist in victory and smirks at Eddie.

Eddie playfully returns his earlier squint and mouths "Favoritism." at him.

Steve lets his jaw drop and puts a hand to his chest. Eddie snickers at his offended expression as Argyle explains his decision,

"It's a different fashion statement. Your whole vibe changes if you're wearing one or the other, therefore they're different hats." he says, sitting back down and looking to his right, prompting Jonathan to continue their game.

"Okay, then, if it's like that," Jon says, "then I'm gonna say bicycle helmet," he states, looking around their circle like he's expecting someone to protest.

Nancy squints, but doesn't say anything, Robin purses her lips, Eddie shrugs and Steve offers Jonathan an encouraging smile.

Argyle says "Yeah, that works!", nodding.

Jonathan shrugs, "Alright, then." he says, putting his hand out in front of Argyle like he's ushering him into a room.

"Beanie" Argyle supplies easily.

All eyes are on Eddie now.

Shoot. He got so caught up in their debate, he's not ready.

"Uuhh-" Eddie stammers,

"Uh-oh" Steve teases across from him,

Eddie automatically flips him the bird while he thinks. He only half hears Steve's answering chuckle.

Fuck. What's a hat?

"20 seconds" Jonathan threatens,

"Eddie?" Argyle prompts at the same time.

Eddie lifts his hand in a stopping gesture,

"No, no, no, no, no, I have one. Wait, wait."

"10 seconds," Nancy says, the traitor,

"Beret!" Eddie exclaims, jumping out of his seat, "A beret!" he repeats excitedly,

"Fuck!" Robin whispers,

To her left, Steve beams up at him. Eddie gets a little lost in it for a bit.

Until Nancy snaps him out of it,

"Does a headband count?" she asks Argyle,

Oh, here we go, Eddie thinks, already excited for more debating,

He takes his seat again as Argyle hums pensively,

"This is not part of my time" Nancy warns,

Argyle hums in agreement, but doesn't say anything yet,

"Because, does it have to be on top of the head or just touching it?" Jonathan asks, like he's somehow broadcasting what Argyle's internal debate is like,

"If it's just touching it, then any hair accessory would count" Robin points out,

"If it has to be on top of the head, some hair accessories would still count" Steve says,

"Stevie's right" Eddie agrees, "if that's what it takes, then my scrunchie counts,"

"That's mine???" Nancy protests,

"Sorry", Eddie amends, "Nancy's scrunchie. That I'm using. Because she so graciously let me borrow it,"

He turns to Nancy for her appproval and she nods.

"Yeah, that's better", she says,

Behind her, Robin's looking at her with a shy smile, but Eddie keeps his mouth shut.

He does catch Steve's eye though, and Steve playfully shoots him an eye roll. Eddie chuckles.

"A fascinator is a hat," Argyle is saying, "but a hair clip can't be a hat"

"A fascinator is not a hat," Robin protests,  "isn't that in like, the definition?"

"But it has a certain hatness to it" Argyle says, to sounds of agreement all around,

"What is a hat?" Eddie voices his earlier thought,

"Jesus, and we're not even high yet" Steve says,

Eddie dissolves into a fit of giggles.

"It has to cover the head." Jon says,

"The whole head?" Argyle asks,

"There are mini top hats" Nancy supplies,

That does not help with Eddie's giggles. In fact, Steve seems to be affected too, chuckling with his nose scrunched up,

"So, not the whole head," Jon concludes, "What about crowns?"

"Oh no," Steve says, burying his face on Robin's shoulder, his giggling getting worse,

"A crown is not a hat!" Robin says,

Nancy gasps and Eddie's giggles die in favor of the drama happening around him,

Steve straightens up again to look at Robin,

"What ?!"

"It's not ! There's a hole in there!" Robin says,

"It goes all around the head!" Steve protests,

Eddie's head is moving back and forth like he's watching a ping pong match.

"So does a headband!"

"But the crown is on top of the head!"

"What's a visor then?" Jonathan interjects, everyone turns to him, then back at Robin,

Steve raises his eyebrows,

"Fine." Robin concedes, "but I'm drawing the line at tiaras,"

"Oh, god." Eddie says, putting his head in his hands dramatically, Steve snorts,

Nancy, apparently enjoying torturing them, says

"Okay then, for my turn, I'm choosing headphones,"

Eddie bursts out laughing, Robin giggles a little and everyone else groans,

"I hate this game" Jonathan says.

Nancy giggles too,

"Sorry. Sorry! No. I'll say one of those that the guards in England use,"

"You can't just say it like that, you have to say the name of it," Eddie teases her,

"You all know what I mean!" she protests,

"What's the name of it, Nance?" Eddie insists,

"You don't know what they're called," she accuses,

Eddie gasps, but quickly drops the act,

"Touché." he concedes.

"I know what they're called!" Robin says, but when Nancy turns to her she says, "Actually I don't, no I don't, I've never been to England, how would I know?" she stammers,

Eddie presses his lips together in a hard line to stop himself from laughing.

Nancy shakes her head with a smile,

"You can say it!" she tells Robin.

Robin shakes her head, "Nu-uh." she says, "...And I choose a birthday hat."

"And don't copy me." she adds, softly punching Steve's arm,

"I wasn't going to. Cowboy hat" Steve says, and when he catches Eddie's eyes again he winks.

Jesus fuck. Eddie's not going to think about it. He does not want to see Steve in cowboy boots and a long sleeve button down and tight jeans and a stupid fucking cowboy hat. Goddamn it.

"Hard hat," Jonathan says,

"Straw hat," Argyle follows,

"Pirate hat," Eddie says,

"Detective hat," Nancy says,

"Wait, what's that? "Robin asks,

"Like the old timey ones with the little bow on top?" Nancy explains,

Robin still looks puzzled,

"They're made of tweed usually? and they have flaps on the sides that are pulled up?" Steve supplies, mimicking the flaps with his hands,

He's so cute, Eddie thinks,

"Oh, oh ! Yeah, yeah. I see it." Robin says, then, "That has a name too."

Nancy grins, "What is it?" she asks,

"It's, um, a deerstalker" Robin says, staring at her, "It's used for hunting. Sometimes."

"Cool." Nancy says, she doesn't stop smiling at Robin, "How do you know that?" she asks, making her blush a little,

"Oh, I uh- must've read it somewhere," Robin says, nodding, then, "My turn. Um, sailor hat" she smirks at Steve, finally tearing her eyes awat from Nance.

Steve rolls his eyes again but laughs softly, then says,

"The one the pope wears,"

Jonathan says "Graduation hat",

"Park Ranger hat," Argyle continues,

"What's our stance on things that can be hats but aren't always?" Eddie asks,

The group groans again,

"Everything can be a hat" Nancy says,

"Not everything," Eddie says, turning to her,

"Yes. Everything." Nancy insists, turning to face him fully,

"No. There are things that can't be hats," Eddie counters,

"Like what?"

"Uh- a bird ?"

"A bird can definitely be a hat," Nancy says, to the group's assent,

"A whale?"

"If you're big and strong enough, yeah,"

"A planet?" Eddie tries,

"Again, if you're big and strong enough,"

"A galaxy?"

"Probably, but let's say everything on Earth, then" Nance concedes,

"Soap?"

"Shoot." she says,

"Ah-ha! " Eddie points at her, triumphant,

"Everything solid then."

"Ice?" Eddie shoots,

"Yeah, you can make a hat out of ice" Nancy says, no hesitation,

"And wear it?"

"Yeah, in the North Pole or something," she says,

She's good, this is part of why she's his best friend, but Eddie gets distracted by her answer,

"Hmm, are fictional hats allowed?" he asks Argyle,

"Yeah" Argyle nods,

"Ok, Santa hat, then," Eddie says.

"Elf hat," Nancy follows,

"Ms. Claus hat?" Robin tries, looking around uncertainly. Everyone nods.

"A towel" Steve says, to overwhelming approval from the group,

"Oooh" Robin says, impressed,

"Oh wow, yeah." Jonathan agrees,

"Stevie, you're so smart" Eddie says,

"Shudup" Steve counters, used to being made fun of,

"I'm serious! !!" Eddie insists, "I think that one wins,"

"You can't win this game," Jonathan chimes in, "we only lose and then we have to start over,"

"Well, in my heart, you won, Stevie," Eddie says, without thinking,

He should regret it once the group starts snickering and teasing him but, honestly? They're right.

He keeps his eyes on Steve while they all react and smiles at him. Steve beams again.

"He sure did," Nancy says, the only one who dares brave the consequences.

Eddie feels his blush color his cheeks again and turns to stick his tongue out at her.

"Okay, whatever." he tells her, before turning to Jon and Argyle,

"Where are the joints?" he asks, effectively moving them along.

part 7

[fastcardotmp3]

some mild dot lore for context but I had a late night student radio show with my best friend when I was in college and I just think that Robin and Steve deserve to have the same

they have 2-3 listeners on average, they each pick half the songs for the show each week which means the line-up is inconsistent at best, they spend the breaks telling each other about their weeks because mostly they started this as an excuse to have built in time to hang out, Jonathan regularly calls in whenever they try to actually talk about music because he really needs them to know that that's not true actually and this is why (they know it's not true, it's just fun to have Jonathan on air with them, he gets so exasperated and it's cute)

sometimes Eddie lays on the couch in the studio while they're on air and will either chime in on their conversations even though he doesn't have a microphone or fall dead asleep to the point of snoring with no in-between

sometimes Steve and Robin bring in some new recipe Argyle tried out and eat and review it on air, the results of which usually end up with them deciding the food is delicious and Robin reminding their listeners that mayonnaise is disgusting even if there was no mayonnaise involved

they finish at 1AM on Sunday mornings and Nancy picks them up so they don't have to walk home from the station in the dark and Robin always gets shotgun and Steve puts his feet up on the seat in the back even when Eddie is also there and they meet Jonathan and Argyle at the 24hr diner off-campus and treat their trauma-induced insomnia like a ritual of friendship instead of a hindrance to their lives and it's good

messy and weird and codependent and good

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Dustin biking over to Steve's place to hang out with the man who has become like an older brother to him. He smiled when he saw him talking with Eddie in front of the bay window. He was glad to know that those two were finally getting along. Eddie looked at him up and down before he reached over to unbutton Steve's pants while Steve did the same with him.

Dustin: Wait. . .no, what are - what are you doing? GET OFF MY BIG BROTHER!

Like startled deer, they looked out the window and saw Dustin. He rushed to the door at the same time time they did. He tried to open the door but he found it bolted. Dustin peaked his face through.

Dustin: My dungeon master and my big brother?! Eddie, I saw what you were doing to my brother! Get your ass out here!

Eddie: What's it been? Five? Six months? It's been a nice long run, bye bye now. *kisses Steve and tries to go out through the back window.*

Steve: *pulls him back* Don't do that, besides I have a back door.

Eddie: Yeah, you do and a nice one too.

Dustin: *shrieks* Eddie! I can hear you!

Steve: Come on, we knew we had to face him eventually. *pulls him to the front door and opens it, letting Dustin in*

Dustin stares at Eddie before lunging at him. Eddie shrieked and ran around to hide behind his boyfriend. Argyle, Jonathan, Nancy, and Robin came running out of the basement.

Jonathan: What's going on? We heard screaming?

Eddie: I think - I, uh, think that Dustin knows about me and Steve.

Argyle: Dude! He's right there!

Dustin: *glaring* These two fucking idiots were doing it right in front of a big window with the curtains wide open!

Eddie: Yeah, we did not think that through. *Dustin glared harder at him.*

Dustin: My brother and my dungeon master?!

Eddie: Look, man, we are sorry that we didn't tell you but you've been a little bit angry after everything that's happened and we weren't sure how you would take it. I would never do anything to hurt Steve. I love him.

Steve: Yeah, I love him too.

Dustin: *long pause before smiling* My brother and my dungeon master. . .oh, you guys! But seriously, not in front of the window. . .come on! *then he turned to the rest of them* How long have you assholes known?

Robin: uh, not long, that is to say. . .

Steve: *locked and loaded in the hands on hips position* What are you guys doing in my house and how long have you guys been here?

Argyle: We were out of doritos, man.

[fidgetspringer]

It’s fox terrier timeeeee, what are doing???

Her name would be Teak!

We'd probably try to find someone doing barn hunt over here, which i'm not sure is a thing. She'd be my hot water bottle during the winter and she'd nip at people when we go sledding.

[fragilecapric0rnn]

FRIENDS AU Part 2: The One Where Eddie Copes

[part one]

[cross-posted to ao3] || word count: 3.3k

Eddie doesn’t know how long it takes for his soul to return to his body. 

It left as soon as his eyes and brain fully registered that he was suddenly in the presence of his high school crush. Right here, in the flesh, sitting in the middle of his friends in The Jittery. He can’t help but consider the fact that he may have been the one to summon him with his pathetic cry for his ex-girlfriend just moments before the incident. 

The casual, ‘You remember Eddie? From high school?’ comment from Robin sucker-punched Eddie right in the chest. The eye contact and shy smile that followed nearly sent Eddie into some sort of stress-induced cardiac arrest. 

He hardly registers the barely coherent story that Steve is trying to tell. Eddie watches him bring a glass of water to his mouth with shaky hands and tries not to stare at his lips. 

“I’m confused.” Jonathan says as Eddie starts to regain consciousness.  

Memories of his repressed gay awakening circa-1985 come flooding back with a vengeance. Sitting in the bleachers during gym class, watching this same guy flick off his t-shirt, dripping in sweat, shit-talking his opponents, shoving them around a little too rough for a gym class game of basketball. 

He adjusts how he’s sitting in the chair, right now, in 1993. Beating away the thoughts from the Ghost of Horny Moments Past, pushing away the potential for any unexplainable chubs as he tries to sit and listen to the man himself ramble about God-knows-what, soaking wet like a pathetic little kitten in the coffee shop. 

He’s going to throw up. 

Or pass out. 

Possibly both.

Thankfully, everyone’s attention is on the runaway bride, too distracted to notice that he’s in crisis. 

“It makes perfect sense to me.” Argyle shrugs, handing Steve a giant ceramic cup. 

“Just run it by us one more time.” 

Steve takes a comically large sip from his mug, holds the coffee in his cheeks, making them puff out and Eddie is convinced that this is some sort of punishment for all of his mistakes. 

“You know, they always told me that cold feet are normal. That’s what they all say about  getting married, that you get cold feet. Well, I realized when I woke up this morning, after having a very vivid and intense dream about Harrison Ford, that maybe my feet were never really that warm to begin with, ya know?” 

Everyone is nodding, as if they do know. Nancy has her eyebrows knitted together, Robin looks a bit too amused, Jonathan looks confused, and Argyle is casually dipping his tea bag into his mug, like this is a normal thing unfolding in front of them.

“Look, I was in a frat in college. I am very comfortable with my sexuality or whatever and I didn’t let the dream sway any decision making at that moment.”

Eddie resists the urge to ask him what exactly this sexuality is. 

“So it wasn’t Harrison…” Nancy presses, her hand motioning as if to say, 'Please continue this batshit story.'

“It wasn’t him,” He takes a sip from his mug, the rest of the group inches closer. “It happened about 10 minutes later, when Lola was knocking on my door, standing there in tears.”

“Fuck,” Robin drags out the word, Jonathan lets out a low whistle.

“Turns out, she also had lukewarm feet throughout most of our relationship. She wanted to call it off. And that’s when I knew we had to. Because any normal fiance would’ve freaked the fuck out, right? Would’ve started begging or pleading or yelling or something! But I had nothing. Nothing but relief.” 

The collective air in the room deflates. 

“So, we devised a plan. We’d both get ready, business as usual. And I’d be the one to sneak out of the bathroom window in the groom’s suite. Before we realized it was on the second story of the hotel.” 

He shrugs, as Eddie studies his attire a little closer, seeing he does have twigs and a smattering of leaves on his now-discarded jacket.

“Steve, I know you’re vulnerable and whatever,” Robin says, pausing when Nancy smacks her arm. “But, why here? Why us?” Motioning between her and Nancy.

He chuckles, eyes now looking down into his cup. Eddie can't help but stare at this very odd man sitting in front of him.

“I don’t know. I guess it was mostly because I knew you lived in the city. But there’s another part of me that knew you’d understand. You were one of the only people I’ve ever met that tried understanding me for me. Not what you wanted me to be.” 

And that's, wow. Why on Earth would he say something like that? Now Eddie has to cope with the fact that not only is this dude still hot, he sounds sweet as hell. 

“C’mon, let’s get you up to the apartment.” 

He can’t cope. 

- 

“Mom, you’re gonna need to stop crying or hand the phone back to dad.” Steve pleads. He's been on the phone for about an hour at this point, everyone else scattered around Nancy's apartment, listening.

Eddie, most of the shock worn off by now, is sitting at Nancy’s kitchen table, eating a pie straight from the tin and unable to tear his eyes away from the train wreck that is Steve Harrington, still in his damp clothes, but stripped down to an undershirt and the tux pants and no shoes or socks.

Watches him keep tugging hard at his hair every time a muffled yell comes out of the phone, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. 

No wonder this guy ran away. 

Robin sits backwards on the chair next to Eddie’s as Steve stumbles out of the window onto the terrace, where the rain has somewhat let up.  

“Do you think he’s gay?” He asks as soon as Steve is fully outside. 

“Definitely not straight." Robin plucks the fork from Eddie's hand.

Jonathan shrugs, sighing as he finally sets the change of clothes down on the table and takes a seat.. He has been holding a change of clothes from his apartment in his hands for at least a half hour, waiting for Steve to get off the phone with his parents. 

"I mean, who talks about Harrison Ford in the same breaths as explaining why you ran away from your wedding?” He says, stealing the fork from Robin. 

“I never think about Harrison Ford unless I’m watching him on tv. And even then I barely think about him.” 

“Does that answer your question?” 

Before Eddie can say, not really, his thoughts are interrupted by a commotion coming from the other side of the room where the bedroom doors are closed.

Nancy comes out of the spare room, curly hair frizzier than it had been on the way up the stairs from the coffee shop, rubbing her temples and pulling on her face as she joins the group in the living room. 

“Are they still arguing?” She asks, craning her neck to get a better look at him out on the terrace. He’s still gesturing wildly, doing a lot more yelling. 

“I think so?” Robin turns her head like a confused dog, watching him gesture wildly with his free hand. 

“One minute he’s telling his dad that he doesn’t want to live like him and then it sounds like his mom is crying, I think he talked to his old nanny at one point?” 

“His parents sound like a mess.” Eddie says, earning three different versions of a 'no-duh' look from his friends.

“Have you seen the apple? What kinda tree do you think it fell from?” Jonathan says, passing the fork back to Eddie, which is then snatched away by Nancy. She takes the pie tin from them, putting it back in the fridge. 

They can hear the window opening and Steve falling back inside, silent cursing to himself. 

“No dad, you listen!” All their heads snap in the direction of Steve. Once again, soaking wet. His face is red, his already big hair standing up in every direction, and an insane look on his eyes.

Are his pupils dilated?

“Fine! I don’t care, I don’t care anymore! Cut me off! I don’t care! You know what,” Steve struggles to get his wallet out of his pocket, pauses and just throws the wallet across the room. Muffled yelling comes from the phone. “I'm snapping my credit cards right fucking now!" 

"I’ll stay here, with Nancy and Robin and you can take that inheritance and shove it up your ass!” Steve hangs up the phone and throws it onto the loveseat next to him. 

No one moves. No one speaks. The air is still, but only for a moment.

“I think this is where the sitcom audience would clap.” Eddie forgot Argyle has been laying down on the couch this entire time. Steve’s red face suddenly looks sickly pale. 

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

Jonathan and Nancy hop up from their spots, Robin hands him a brown paper bag, and they guide him to the couch. Eddie watches this all unfold, lingering in the background. Not one for comfort, especially being the king of mommy and daddy issues, without the complicated mess of being a trust fund baby, he has nothing helpful to add. 

“It’s gonna be okay, just try taking deep breaths.” 

Steve nods, the paper bag inflating and deflating slower, but still rather fast. 

“Would it help if I sang a song?” 

The bag inflates and deflates even slower, everyone just sort of stares at Argyle. 

“Don’t worry, about a thing, because every little thing, is gonna be alright.” Steve slowly brings the paper bag down, rests his hand on Argyle’s forearm.  

“I think I’m okay now, thank you.” He visibly winces at the lackluster Bob Marley

“Don’t mention it, mon.” 

For some godforsaken reason, Steve looks right at Eddie as they make the same face, an eyebrow hiked up to their hairlines, the physical embodiment of a scoff without actually scoffing. All while making eye contact with each other. 

Eddie looks away quickly, jumping out of the chair so fast that it scrapes against the floor, startling everyone in the room. 

“What am I gonna do?” He sounds panicked. 

“We’re gonna help you figure it out,” Jonathan says, sat on the coffee table across from him. 

“You can stay here with me, Jonathan and Robin live across the hall, it’ll be fun.” Nancy is patting his arm. 

“But what about money? I have none of that!” 

“There are these things called jobs,” Eddie says, Nancy snaps her head around and damn-near snarls at him. Steve’s brown paper bag is back to inflating and deflating. 

The phone rings, saving Eddie from immediate doom via-Nancy Wheeler. 

Nancy looks at the time and is now the one to get up from her seat next to Steve like something bit her on the ass.

“Shit! Shit shit shit!”

“What's with all the shit, Wheeler?” Eddie asks, Nancy flipping him off as the phone continues to ring in her hand.

“I forgot to call Frank and cancel.”

“Who’s Frank?” 

“My date,” she says, immediately sending Eddie a scrunched up face and mouthing sorry.  

“Wait wait wait, Frank? As in, Frank the Creepy Paper Salesman?” Robin hops over the backside of the couch, falling into Nancy. The phone stops ringing. Nancy takes a deep breath, closing her eyes and looking up at the ceiling.

Creepy was a generous assessment of the piece of work that is Frank. Asking Nancy on dates ever since she started working at The Times, stopping by the office ad nauseam, so much so, he has become a regular fixture in the lore surrounding Nancy's office.

“Yes, that Frank.” 

“Is the dating well running that dry Nance? So dry you finally said yes to Frank the creepy paper salesman?” 

“Listen, he caught me in a momentary lapse of judgment.”

“Were you conscious during this lapse?” 

"Fully, I just. It's been a while since I'd been on a date and my mom would not stop pestering me about it on the phone literal minutes, seconds even, before Frank showed up to talk to my boss. So, when he did his usual creep routine of asking me out, I said yes."

“Was he as surprised as we are?” Eddie asks, Nancy nods, wincing. 

"And are you regretting the yes?"

"Fully!" 

The phone is ringing again. 

“Hello,” she answers, sounding like she has a congested nose. “Hi Frank, yeah, I’m not feeling that well. Yeah, maybe we can postpone. I’ll call you, yeah.” 

“I’m sorry Nancy, I know this was kinda my fault.” Steve’s voice continues to be muffled by the bag. 

“I can’t believe you thought I’d be upset about you going out with Frank the Creep.” Eddie sits back down in the kitchen chair. Is he really that fragile? Can his friends really not share their downfalls with him like they used to? 

“I don’t know! You freaked when Robin went on a date with Tam-” 

“Aht! Aht!” Robin waves her hands in the air, almost elbowing Steve. “We are not talking about my dating life. I am striking this down immediately!” 

“Point still stands, then. You’re still very upset about Michelle.” And the sound of her name feels like a cartoon anvil dropping inside of his stomach, dropping and dropping. 

“We are not gonna talk about Michelle right now.” He deadpans. 

“Who’s Michelle?” Steve asks, paper bag back in front of his face, inflating and deflating as he speaks.  All of the air has been kicked out of Eddie’s lungs. 

“Eddie’s ex,” Argyle whispers loudly, with no effort made to keep Eddie from hearing him. 

“We are not talking about Michelle right now!” Eddie yells. Everyone goes quiet. 

“Right now we are going to focus on getting Steve to stop breathing into a paper fucking bag!” 

To which they all look over at Steve, who is staring at everyone with wide eyes and the bag no longer dramatically inflating and deflating, just held to his mouth as he stares around the room. 

“I’m actually starting to feel a little better.” He says, into the bag. Inflating and deflating. 

-

-

-

Across the hall, Eddie has his feet kicked up on Jonathan and Robin’s couch, hands linked and resting on his stomach. His head in Robin’s lap and his feet on Jonthan’s lap, staring up at the ceiling where he can see a spaghetti stain splattered across the asbestos pattern. 

Jeopardy is playing in the background but none of them are paying attention. Argyle is sat on the floor, head close to Eddie’s as they all pass around a joint. 

“So, you let her take the TV, the bedroom set, and the living room set. What do you even have left at your place?” 

“Pots and pans?” 

“Dude,” Argyle blows a ring of smoke in the air. “That is so not cool.” He passes Eddie the joint.

“I felt bad. It’s my fault we’re in this situation.” 

“There are no faults, and yet you’re still punishing yourself.” Jonathan says, eyes glued to the TV, a familiar spacey look on his face. 

Argyle checks his watch and gets up from the floor, patting around his pockets. 

“Looks like it’s time for me to head out, Aunt Miriam is making midnight spaghetti and I wanna get there before her boyfriend eats all the garlic bread.” 

“Midnight spaghetti?” and “Your great aunt has a boyfriend?” are asked by Eddie and Robin respectively at the same time. 

“See ya man,” Jonathan yells as the door shuts behind him. 

Robin knocks on Eddie’s head lightly before pushing him off of her, stretching and yawning as she stands. 

“I’m gonna go raid Nance’s for some more beers,” He swings he feet off of Jonathan’s lap and stretches. 

“I’ll get your pillow and blankey situated,” Robin says. Eddie half turns to send her a salute before shutting the door, opening the one across the hall almost in one fell swoop. 

He doesn’t expect to see Steve still up, sitting at the same kitchen chair he spent most of the afternoon and evening in. Most of the color returned to face, a glass of wine and an open bottle on the table. 

“Hey,” He says, curious and careful

“Hi.” Steve smiles warmly at him, gesturing the bottle at him, Eddie takes it as an invitation. 

“You alright?” He grabs a wine glass from Nancy’s hanging glass rack. 

“Yeah, couldn’t sleep.” 

“Why? A lot on your mind?” Eddie takes the seat across form him. 

“You’re funny,” Steve fills Eddie’s glass. “I remember you being kinda funny in high school.” To that, Eddie fakes a dagger to the heart, startling Steve a bit, who is looking at Eddie with the same type of amusement that everyone looked at him with a few hours ago. 

“If seventeen-year-old-me heard you say that you remembered me at all from high school, there’d be an Eddie shaped hole in that door.” Eddie takes a swig from his wine, thanking whoever is in charge of the universe that it's red wine, giving him an explanation for the blush already blooming on his face. Well, a better explanation than a cute guy laughing at his silly jokes. 

“Of course I remember you, how could I forget all those lunchtime sermons about how cool and different you were and how lame and boring the rest of us were.” Steve says, not hiding how much it he seems to enjoy that the little walk down memory lane has started to make Eddie visibly cringe.

“Don’t remind me of that,” Eddie groans into his glass. 

“You seem a lot softer now.” 

Eddie drags his eyes up from where they were studying the knick in the the wood on the table, meeting Steve’s gaze. 

“You caught me at a soft time in my life, Harrington.”

“Right,” Steve leans back in his chair, brings his own glass to his lips, pausing to take a sip. “Your ex.” 

“Yep, my ex.” 

“Did she just, totally break your heart?” He asks, throwing Eddie off guard a bit. He didn't expect Steve to be so forward with his nosiness. Kinda respects it. 

“No, it was more like. I broke my own heart.” 

“What does that even mean?” 

He looks at Steve. Really looks at him, and can almost see the kindness actually spilling out of those pretty brown eyes, how he came to Robin and Nancy specifically to help him out, knowing that they would. 

“It means, I realized that she’s not really my type after all. After eight years together, I finally realized that I am g-” he clears his throat. 

“That I’m gay. No matter how much I love her, no amount is going to change the fact that I wasted both of our time.” 

Eddie can’t bear to look up at Steve, but feels his eyes on him. 

The glug glug sound of wine pouring out of the bottle breaks the silence, Eddie finally looks up. 

“You need it more than I do,” Steve says, taking a swig from the bottle, tipping it over the table to show that it’s now empty. 

This makes Eddie laugh. A full belly laugh that seems to be contagious, as Steve’s now laughing, a snort escaping his nose and mouth, making the two laugh even harder. 

“You guys, seriously?” Nancy comes out of her room, robe on and rollers in her hair. “Some of us have to work in the morning!” 

“Sorry Nance, we’ll keep it down.” 

“Sorry.” 

She looks at them, her face softens with look of mild bewilderment. Stands there for a few seconds longer than she otherwise would’ve, before wordlessly going back into her bedroom. 

“That reminds me, I need to get one of those.” Steve says as her door clicks shut. 

“One of what?” 

“A job, or something.” 

“I can put a good word in for you at a few places.” He says, taking a big gulp from the very full wine glass. 

“Thanks, Eddie.” 

He can’t help but think maybe, just maybe, he will be able to cope with Steve being around. 

[itsnice2haveafriend]

Okay I need someone to write this!!

Modern~ish steddie AU where they attend the Eras Tour (or the Lover Tour RIP - 2020 fix it fic??) because:

- a) you can't tell me Steve Harrington wouldn't be a swiftie.

- b) the sheer group costume opportunity with the lyrics from "ME!" that say "there's a lot of cool chicks out there/there's a lot of lame guys out there" because Steve and his iconic sunglasses with his soulmate Robin as the cool chicks (babygirl or transfem Stevie opportunity!!) and self deprecating Eddie as the lame guy™ with one of the kiddos or another member of the spicy six.

- c) many opportunities for the plot (falling in love via seeing someone in their element, platonic Stobin bonding experience not based in trauma, anxt about being out of one's element, Eddie losing his shit over the public audience proposals and weddings- many of which are queer!! Etc etc.)

- d) The Rep songs, "Vigilante Shit", or a surprise song like "Only The Young" making Eddie go "😦 Taylor is actually low key kinda metal."

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 😌

[your-stranger-halfblood-things]

Eddie and Robin both decide to ship Stancy together to hide their gay ass crushes on their best friends. Robin will flirt for Steve towards Nancy, which she finds sort of flattering. And Eddie will make comments about how Steve and Nancy looked so cute as a couple and stupid sentences like that. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Argyle are just watching the four of them- a gay mess- in confusion. They are wondering what happened to their friends. And Jonathan is like, "Eddie, honestly, you'd look really cute with Steve."

And Steve let's out a big sigh of relief, "Phew, because I like Eddie, not Nance. No offense Nancy."

"None taken," Nancy said with a smile. She also looked relieved. "And I like Robin, so..."

And Robin just stares at her. "No joke?" And Nancy nods. "Oh my fucking god! I have been hiding my giant ass crush on you for almost two months now!" She hugs Nancy and doesn't let go.

Argyle just watches Eddie fall to his knees and cry. "I shipped you two together for no fucking reason?! Ahhhhhhhhh!"

Jonathan looks at Argyle and grins. "Kiss for my good work?"

And Argyle gives him one.

Steve just pats Eddie's shoulder in a comforting manner and he continues to cry.

[steviesbicrisis]

The One Where Everybody Finds Out (About Eddie and Steve)

Jonathan

There had been some weird things happening under Jonathan's nose, he had noticed them at the back of his mind but, being a chill and high dude most of the time, he didn't think anything weird of it.

Yeah, Steve was spending a lot more time at his and Eddie's place, Eddie talked a lot more about Steve and they both were dating someone that hadn't been introduced to their friend group yet, but Jonathan just shrugged and accepted them as facts.

Then he had found a strange amount of hair products in their shared bathroom and casually mentioned it to Eddie, who basically freaked out on him and shrieked "what if I care about my curls? are you the bathroom police?" and yeah, Jonathan was chill and all, but that was fucking weird.

A while later, at Steve and Robin's place, Jonathan was able to put the pieces together.

«Robin, did you take my hair products? I can't find them anywhere»

«Why would I have them? plus, didn't you take them to your mysterious girlfriend's place last night? maybe you left them there.»

Jonathan's shocked expression as he looked back and forth between Eddie and Steve was enough to tell that he knew.

Eddie had to do some damage control, fast.

«Roomie, can I talk to you for a second?»

Nancy

Nancy loves Robin, she really does. That doesn't mean she can't be mad at her for being late.

«I'm sorry Nance, she's probably stuck in traffic. I got stuff to do but you can wait here of course!» Steve gave her one more apologetic smile and then disappeared into his bedroom.

Nancy had tried to stay put and pass the time by reading a magazine, but she was so mad she couldn't help but pick up the phone to try and reach out to Robin, see if at least she had left work.

She didn't expect at all to hear Steve's private conversation.

«I miss you too. I'll sneak out in a few hours, I'll tell Robin I'm doing laundry.»

And surely she didn't expect to hear Eddie say «laundry? is that my new nickname?»

She dropped the phone, shocked. Eddie and Steve? Eddie and Steve?

She needed to tell someone, anyone. As she rushed out of the apartment, she almost collided with Jonathan, who was running out of his apartment across the hall.

«Jonathan, great! I have a secret I need to share-»

«No! No secrets please, I have way too many and I hate keeping them!»

Nancy eyed him, suspiciously «what if I know what you know?»

«No, that’s not possible.»

«So, you didn’t happen to hear Eddie’s phone call just know?»

Jonathan looked at her with a mixture of relief and shock, he pointed at her «You know!»

«And you know??» she replied, «since when?»

«Since forever dude! They’ve been driving me crazy.»

Robin

Argyle’s move to the city was just a few weeks away and he and Jonathan had yet to find a place that would be good for the both of them. Eddie wouldn’t have minded adding Argyle to the lease but the apartment wasn’t big enough for three people -and it was proven by Argyle living there for the days he was supposed to do apartment hunting-, so the only option was to look for a new place.

Thankfully a nice apartment across from their building had been opened for renting. The best part? Steve and Robin’s place was clearly visible from the living room. A feature that Robin would come to regret that day.

Jonathan was busy at work, so she and Nancy offered to accompany Argyle for the house tour. He fell in love with the place as soon as he entered.

As he was checking out the bedrooms and Nancy the bathroom, Robin looked out of the living room window.

«Oh my God, I see Steve and Eddie, hi guys!!» she waved at them excitedly, but the happiness died quickly as they started kissing and taking each other’s clothes off.

«oh my god oh my god OH MY GOD!!! Eddie and Steve? Eddie and Steve!! Oh my God Eddie and Steve!!» she was screaming and couldn't stop looking at her best friend making out with a guy, with Eddie of all people.

Nancy had rushed back as she heard her screams and she was panicking too.

«Nancy! It's Eddie and Steve!! Oh my God, Eddie and Steve!! Why am I still looking?» she screamed again as Eddie pushed Steve against the window glass, giving them a perfect view of Steve's naked back.

«oh shit, my eyes!! MY EYES!!» she kept screaming as she turned around.

«Robin, you have to shut up!» Nancy seemed to be panicked too, but for very different reasons.

«But Eddie and Steve-»

«I know! I've known for a while!!» she sounded exasperated.

«You know??»

«Yes, I know! And Jonathan knows but Argyle doesn't so you have to shut up!»

Robin had no idea how she could pretend she did not just witness her best friend getting busy with one of their closest friends, a guy.

Argyle emerged from the second bedroom «have you guys been screaming? is something happening outside?» he made a step towards the window and Robin screamed again.

«We're... just so happy you might get this apartment!» Robin lied and started jumping and screaming her fake excitement, Nancy could do nothing but join her.

Argyle smiled wildly at them and joined the jumps and the screams.

Argyle

Jonathan hated keeping secrets from Argyle. Actually, there were no secrets kept between them, except this one. But Eddie and Steve had begged him to tell no one, so there wasn't much of a choice.

After Nancy and Robin had found out, he was relieved because, finally, he would be able to tell Argyle.

Except that the girls, especially Robin, weren't too happy about this secret and decided to mess with their unaware friends.

«I can't believe you forced Nancy to flirt with Eddie,» Jonathan said, looking at Nancy as she twirled a strand of her hair flirtatiously. He couldn't see Eddie's face from where he was sitting but there was no doubt he was shocked.

«I didn't force her to do nothing! She's in with the plan. Listen, They've been lying to us, Steve has been lying to me, for months now. We're just having a little fun! Eddie will freak out, admit their fling and that's it» Robin made it sound so easy he hoped she was right.

----

It wasn't easy at all, Jonathan thought, under Steve and Eddie's inquisitive looks.

Nancy had come onto Eddie too strong -she had felt his bicep and grabbed his ass for crying it out loud- and that resulted in them guessing she knew about their thing.

Jonathan had, unfortunately, let slip out that Robin also knew.

«Robin knows too?» Steve sounded sad as he asked, but then the sadness turned quickly to anger «I can't believe that little shit! She's messing with us? fuck no, we're messing with them!»

As Steve and Eddie were coming up with a counter-plan, Jonathan projected himself to two weeks in the future, when he and Argyle will finally be living together, hopefully with no secrets involved.

----

Nancy put the phone down, looking distraught.

«Eddie just asked me to come over and feel his bicep and more! I can't believe he would cheat on Steve!»

«I don't believe it either» Robin turned to Jonathan, who was very busy looking at his shoes.

«Jonathan, do they know that we know?» he couldn't say anything back which was enough for the girls.

«I can't believe they're messing with us!»

«Well, they don't know that we know they know we know!» Robin exclaimed, «call Eddie back and set the date, we're going to war.»

----

Nancy hadn't planned to go that far with the messing around.

But now there she was, inside Eddie and Jonathan’s apartment, pretending to be on a date.

It's clear that they both know what it's going on, that they're impossibly uncomfortable with it and that they're too competitive to drop the act.

After an awkward small talk, Eddie attacks «should we move this to the bedroom?»

«Really?» Nancy is caught by the surprise but quickly recovers «I mean, first I wanna take off all my clothes and have you rub lotion all on me.»

Her counterattack is pretty effective, Eddie looks horrified as he replies with «sounds great, let me go grab that lotion» before running into the bathroom. Nancy thinks she has won until Eddie comes back with a lotion in his hands.

He still looks extremely uncomfortable but he smiles and says «wow, I'm so happy we're gonna have all the sex!»

«You should be...» she quickly thinks of something that could make him break character «I'm very... bendy?»

Eddie makes a face and Nancy can't blame him. She hopes he will give up soon.

«I'm gonna kiss you now!» she says, almost threatening.

«Not if I kiss you first!» he replies, slowly coming closer to her.

They take their time placing their hands on each other, still leaving a ton of space between them, and there's nothing left for them but to kiss. They go for a peck, the unsexiest most awkward kiss they both had in their life.

Eddie pulls away first «okay okay stop! you win!! I can't have sex with you!»

Nancy is ready to celebrate, she just needs Eddie to admit he's sleeping with Steve «and why not?» she grins.

«Because I'm in love with Steve!»

«You what??»

Steve comes out of the bathroom, Robin and Jonathan get in from the front door, they all heard him loud and clear.

«That's right, you little shits!» he points at Nancy, Robin, and Jonathan «I love» he points at himself «him!» then points at Steve.

He repeats it a couple of times «I. Love. Him. I. Love Him. I. Lo-» Steve forces him to stop by grabbing him by his vest and kissing him.

«I love you too,» he says, grinning at him.

«Oh my God, you guys!!! I thought you were just doing it, I didn't know you were in love!» Robin exclaimed, running towards them to hug them both.

«Now I can tell Argyle when he comes next week right? Everybody knows!» Jonathan looks relieved.

«Actually, the kids are coming here the same day and Dustin doesn't know yet, so we would appreciate it if you kept the secret...»

Jonathan glares at them «I'm telling him over the phone, right now.»

After a quick phone call to California, it turns out that Argyle already knew.

«Yeah babe, haven’t they been together since we went to London? I thought everybody knew.»

Jonathan bangs his head against the wall.

BONUS

Dustin:

«Guys! this place is so cool!» Will is saying as they're going around Argyle and Jonathan’s new apartment. They seemed all impressed as they inspect the place.

«Dude, I can see Steve’s place from here, so cool!» Dustin says looking out the window.

Then he spots Steve and Eddie kissing in front of the window.

«No… what are they doing? My brother and my DM? MY BROTHER AND MY DM? MY BROTHER IS FUCKING MY DM?»

As Dustin is screaming bloody murder, Argyle and Jonathan agree to buy Steve some curtains for Christmas.

[Based on Friends 5x14 - the one where everybody finds out]

[morganski-19]

The One with Sleeping

Steve wakes up with someone’s arm wrapped around his stomach. Which is odd considering he didn’t have anyone over last night. And he’s on his couch with beer bottles on the coffee table and what looks like two crushed ends of a joint in the ash tray.

But he’s too groggy to figure it all out, and it’s probably just Robin anyway, so he leans his head back down and starts to fall back asleep. Until the other person stirs and sits up rapidly, causing him to fall off of his couch.

“What the fuck,” he grunts, slowly getting up from the ground. At least he’s awake now. “Why did you throw me off the couch Rob-.” Steve stops as he sees who’s on the couch. “You’re not Robin.”

Jonathan stares at Steve with a mix of concern and fear. “No, I’m not.”

“Why were you sleeping on my couch?”

“Why were we cuddling?” Jonathan asks, acting as if it was the more pressing question of the two.

Steve collects himself off the ground. “I don’t know. I tend to sleep cuddle people.”

“You sleep cuddle people. That’s a thing?” Jonathan sits up, running a hand through his tangled hair.

“Yeah. Ask Robin, she has a lot of stories about it.” Steve fixes his shirt, it having twisted weird when he fell off the couch. “Thanks for throwing me off the couch by the way.”

Jonathan makes a sheepish face. “Sorry. You scared me when I woke up.”

Steve sits down next to him. “It’s fine. So, why were you sleeping on my couch.”

“I don’t know,” Jonathan scratches at his chin. “I remember coming over last night for some drinks, and then we got high. We must have just dozed off.”

“Together, on the couch,” Steve reasons.

“You don’t think we, you know. Did anything, right?” Jonathan asks cautiously.

Steve laughs. “No, no we’re good. Even cross faded me knows not to flirt with my friends.”

“Does sober you know not to do that?” Jonathan deadpans. Having witnessed Steve play flirt with Eddie multiple times.

Steve clears his throat, avoiding answering that. “The point is, I wouldn’t have tried anything. Not with you, so we probably just fell asleep and somehow ended up in this position.”

“What do you mean not with me?”

“Oh my god,” Steve rolls his eyes. “Now you’re offended? You don’t even like me like that.”

Jonathan scoffs. “And neither do you.”

“Exactly, which is why I wouldn’t have tried anything.”

“But if it was Eddie, would you have tried something.”

“I’m not answering that.” Steve gets up to clear away the old bottles, carrying them over to the recycling can. “If it was Argyle, would you have?” he finally counters.

Jonathan’s face breaks out in a flush that he tries to hide with a cough. “Can we agree not to mention this is anyone?” he changes the subject. “Say I just stayed over and slept on your couch, alone.”

Steve shrugs. “I guess. What, you ashamed that we cuddled on my couch or something?” Jonathan looks away. “Oh my god, you are. How fucking dare you?”

“What do you mean? This isn’t exactly normal for the two of us.” Jonathan stands.

“Sure. But you wanting to hide it means you’re ashamed. Are you ashamed that you slept with me.”

Jonathan gives him a blank expression. “Please don’t call it that.”

“I am calling it that, because it was true. The two of us, slept on the same couch, together, also while cuddling a little bit. It happens, it was an accident. We use it as a funny story and move on.”

“Or we don’t mention it at all.”

Steve crosses his arms. “Alright, under one condition. You admit that was the best sleep you’ve gotten in a while.”

Jonathan huffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. Chronic insomniac Jonathan, falling asleep for what looks to be about, oh I don’t know,” Steve looks at the clock on the oven. “Six or so hours, undisturbed. That had to have been a good night’s sleep.”

Jonathan scrunches up his face before giving in. “Fine, ok.”

Steve laughs in victory.

“It was the best night I’ve gotten in a while, you’re right.”

“For me too, actually.”

“Wait. Wasn’t Robin here last night?” Jonathan remembers.

Steve’s eyes widen. “Yeah, she was. Where is she?” He lightly taps on her door before opening it, finding an empty, unmade bed. “Shit, she’s gone.”

“So, she saw us,” Jonathan accepts defeat. “Great. Where do we think she is?”

There is suddenly a loud burst of laughter from across the hall. “Oh no,” Steve groans.

“We’re never going to live this down, are we?” Jonathan asks with a wince.

“Nope,” Steve says defeated. “We go in together?” He turns to Jonathan.

Jonathan nods. “Only way to do it at this point.”

Steve heads across the hall to Nancy and Eddie’s apartment. He nods at Jonathan before opening the door to ruckus laughter.

“There are the sleepy heads,” Robin teases on the couch. Waving her phone in the air. “Hope we didn’t wake you up,” she fake pouts.

Eddie comes out of his room with a picture in his hand, holding it close to his chest when he realized Steve and Jonathan are there. “Oh, hey guys,” he says with a knowing smile.

Nancy starts laughing. “How’d you guys sleep?” she asks innocently.

Argyle sits on the armchair with crossed arms. “Terribly, I hope.”

“I thought this would happen,” Jonathan whispers while pinching the bridge of his nose. “We slept as good as two people sharing a couch do.”

“You admitted it so fast,” Robin barks. Cackling.

“You all already know,” Steve defends. “Also, what the hell is in your hands?”

Eddie tries to cover the picture with his hands. “Nothing.”

Steve walks toward Eddie. “So, I can see it then?”

Eddie runs to the other side of the room, Steve chasing after him. They do a whole back and forth at the kitchen table, Eddie almost running into the counter when he gets away. Steve fails to catch up with him as Eddie does another lap.

Jonathan moves out of the way before he gets run into, walking over to a still upset Argyle. “It really wasn’t that great,” he lies.

“Don’t lie to me,” Argyle says, avoiding Jonathan’s gaze.

Eddie runs into his bedroom, unable to lock the door before Steve gets it open, following him in. There’s a crash, causing Nancy to perk up with concern. But when yelling and sounds of wrestling continue, she sits back on the couch, sipping her coffee.

“Fine, it was the best sleep I’ve had for a few weeks. But it doesn’t mean anything, it was an accident I promise.”

“Are you weirded out by this,” Robin whispers to Nancy.

She just shrugs. “Not really.”

“It was really an accident?” Argyle asks.

“Yes, I really didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”

Argyle finally looks at him, his face softening. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

“No,” Eddie yells from the bedroom. “Don’t rip it.” Followed by a “Ha, got it,” from Steve. He walks out victoriously with the picture.

“Neither of you are bleeding, right?” Nancy confirms, not really caring anymore. Steve shakes his head.

Eddie comes out of the room, leaning on his doorway, panting. “Please don’t tear it up. It was my last piece of picture paper.”

“Out of all of us, why is it you that has a printer?” Robin asks. Eddie just shrugs.

“What is it?” Jonathan asks, wincing.

Steve walks over to show him. “What you think. Why did you print it out anyway?”

“To put on the wall of many shames,” Eddie says, pointing to the wall covered in pictures of the group scattered along the back wall. Some with pictures drawn on their faces and other various situations they’ve gotten themselves into.

Steve looks at Jonathan, who just shrugs. With a roll of his eyes, Steve walks over and tapes it to the wall.

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added or taken off) @slowandsteddie, @annieofhearts, @cacdyke, @ubpd, @captain--low, @thespaceantwhowrites, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @anne-bennett-cosplayer, @lunaticparisianlady, @apomaro-mellow, @dolphincliffs, @dragonmama76, @maggiebug417, @stevesbipanic, @fearieshadow, @mentallyundone, @eightpackdiaz, @au79burger @bookworm0690 , @practicallybegging, @potato-of-the-lord

[scoops-stevie-archive]

post-series/abbott elementary au where the fruity four (possibly spicy six) are all teachers at hawkins middle and hawkins high and they all make each others days a little worse :)

[garfieldsbong]

fruity 6 (or whatever we’re calling it) That 70s Show au. i’ve said my piece.

[n0connections]

I'll be there for you [pt 3]

Favorite group of friends as voted by my followers: The Spicy Six!

Part 1 Part 2

Part three of Stranger Things as Friends is here. I had so much fun putting these three videos together.

You can check out all three versions on my Ao3 post here