#steve harrington and eddie munson are in love

[skepsiss]

Eddie would show Steve real music this, Eddie shows Steve the wonders of Lord of the Rings that----I get it. But have you considered....... Steve gets Eddie into those ridiculous, smutty romance novels? The ones that even if they're bad, they're good. Have you considered Steve getting Eddie into the Indy 500? NASCAR? What about cooking shows? Cheesy soap operas where Steve literally knows every insane storyline by memory? WHAT ABOUT EDDIE GETTING INTO STEVE'S INTERESTS???

[hawkinsbnbg]

For all the things those nimble hands could do, Eddie didn't know how to peel an orange without making a mess.

Steve always found it amusing how his husband could craft intricate pieces of artwork, but when it came to simple things, he suddenly became clumsy with flailing limbs and confused puppy eyes.

Despite his many attempts and determination, Eddie always failed in the end with ruined oranges clutched in his hands while juices spilling everywhere.

And Steve would eat them anyway. Because they didn't waste food, and because they loved each other at their best and their worst.

They were sitting on the couch with his feet in Eddie's lap as those deft hands rubbing and kneading the soreness away from his muscles.

"Wish I could learn how to do that," Eddie said while watching Steve peel the orange.

And you don't need to because I'm glad I can always do this for you, Steve wanted to say.

Instead, he tore the fruit in half and then shuffled into Eddie's lap.

As he fed his husband and himself section after section, he thought the aligned stars might as well have their names written on them.

Their fates were twining red strings, woven and knitted into a lovely knot.

"Teach me how to do it, sweetheart?" Eddie held him securely and pecked the corner of his lips.

"Peeling oranges?" Steve arched his eyebrow.

"Yeah, so I can pick out the white parts for you," Eddie gazed at him, warm like the Sunday morning when they slept in and cuddled while it was raining outside.

Steve met those chocolate eyes that filled his veins with honey and turned his inside into molasses.

Their love was a gentle thing, but no less powerful.

Just like an orange. It was built to share with many pulps and juicy flesh. And yet, its skin was unyielding, stubborn to a fault.

Even Steve had had to look up for a few tricks to take it apart.

And perhaps, that also applied to their love. To reach the rewarding part, one had to work for it.

Nothing had ever been easy for them.

But here, sitting in Eddie's lap and tasting the same orange with him, Steve felt like all those years, all their pains and losses had finally paid off.

"I can pick out the white parts myself," Steve pointed out gently.

"And what kind of husband am I to not help you with it?" Eddie countered with an easy smile. "We're one half of each other's, darlin'. I'm not gonna let you do anything alone."

"Even peeling oranges?" Steve leaned closer to whisper into those plump lips.

"Especially peeling oranges," Eddie gave him a citrus kiss, sour and sweet, fond and tender.

And Steve was putty in those loving hands.

Maybe, he thought dimly as Eddie took off his shirt, they could make marmalade together next time.

[mimixmunson]

Steve and Eddie are complete and utter losers, especially together. Steve’s a jock and Eddie a DM, they both love games. They love their own games, especially the game they play together.

They lay down beside each other, their dominant hands over each others cocks and they jerk each other off simultaneously . The aim of the game is to get the other person to cum before you do, whoever cums first is the loser and he has to cook dinner that night.

It’s fun and playful at first but it becomes seriously competitive, Steve starves Eddie of sex until the game comes around again and by then Eddie is desperately horny. Eddie whines which only turns Steve on even more, driving him closer and closer to the edge.

It would be hot if it wasn’t as amusing as it was to see Steve watch his boyfriend’s dick spurting cum all over his stomach, Eddie complains, “No! Fuck you, asshole”seconds after orgasm. For a man who’s just had a mind melting orgasm, he’s pouting far too much as Steve smirks down at him. “Don’t forget to set the table, my sore loser” He teases as he playfully pats Eddie’s cheek.

[plistommy]

Eddie, angry at Steve: You’re such an asshole!

Steve: Well you sure seem to love mine!

Eddie:

Steve:

Eddie:

Steve:

Eddie, giving up and coming to kiss Steve: Fuck you, man…

Steve, smirking: That’s the point, Eds.

[little-bumblebeeee]

little Steve (about 13) meeting the nice vampire boy Eddie who’s absolutely starving but too scared to feed because he doesn’t want to get caught, so Steve offers to be his personal buffet and it just never really stops. Nancy Wheeler leaves the bathroom after making out with Steve? Eddie’s slipping in after her to go bite the shit outta those two scrumptious lil moles on Steve’s neck

[forestmossling]

so, uhm, yeah. well. i mean- uh. so, anyway-

this is sooooo amazing and cool and stunning and wonderful. the characterization, the narrative, the plot line, the relationships, the spirit, the EVERYTHING. i just love this a lot.

i was initially kinda bummed about eddie not being an actual seer or whatever, because i get all hot and bothered over supernatural aus like a freak, but then i read the author’s note which basically says that eddie may or may not be an actual seer, so i thought okay, if eddie was an actual seer he would’ve probably started suspecting that in any way or there would be at least some kind of intention behind his prophecies and his gift would have occurred later on in other situations. so now i’m just rolling with the idea that fate or destiny or whatever other higher power ships steddie and just forced all of eddie’s predictions to come true so these two idiots would finally get together.

but even without anything actually supernatural going on, the sheer ✨vibes✨had me blown away. oh how i wish to be a blade of grass on the field before eddie’s tent when steve comes to him in the king costume with robin playing an actual fanfare (holY SHIT that was legendary) and dustin being all dorky with his scroll. the way i giggled all the way through this, oh my god, and THIS

had me CACKLING. i just love love love love love everything about this au and this fic.

also, the miscommunication almost killed me (oh my god how i hate people just not fucking talking to each other properly, i’m too autistic for this shit), but the sweet sweet pain of relatively easily solvable angst brought me back. i was eating that shit up.

in conclusion, absolutely magical. @just-my-latest-hyperfixation, thank you so so much for this treasure, i’m gonna go read all of your fics i haven’t read yet. 789257929092784510/10, am recommending

[azrielgreen]

THIS [Eddie "He's Just Using Me For Sex" Munson & Steve "Why Won't This Guy I'm In Love With Let Me Date Him?" Harrington] WON THE PATREON POLL

so you're getting

THIS:

‘Do you wanna go sit? What kind of pizza shall we get? And like, do you have a preference for movies? I don’t really know what you like, so maybe—’

Eddie kisses him.

It’s harsh and there’s a tiny bit of hatred in his heart that Steve is actually trying to set it up like this, like he’s not just using Eddie as a warm, noisy fuck toy.

angst on a fucking twelve, buckle up, bitches!

[steviewashere]

Loving Who You Are, Not What You Offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He doesn’t want to upset the poor guy.

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

———

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

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

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

“Steve?” Eddie calls softly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t touch him without asking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He feels sick to his stomach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Yeah, baby?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Thank you for being patient. Being here.”

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

🩵—————🩵

[steddieunderdogfics]

i want to rec Emotional Motion Sickness by sidekick_hero because it is such a good fic! 💕💕💕

Emotional Motion Sickness by sidekick_hero

@sidekick-hero

Rating: Explicit

16,464 words, 1/1 chapters

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down (Stranger Things), Meet-Cute, (sort of), Porn with Feelings, Kink Discovery, Steve Harrington Has a Praise Kink, Soft Dom Eddie Munson, Sub Steve Harrington, Getting Together, Dom Eddie Munson, Body Worship, 90s Steddie, mention of platonic stobin

Summary:

"This is actually my first time in a gay bar and I had no idea it was a theme night, that people would be here looking for... for... leather and chains and whatnot. If I knew that, I wouldn't have come." It comes out in a rush, the words stumbling over each other in his haste to get them out as quickly as possible. Steve fights the urge to bury his head in his hands again, but part of him is glad he got it all out. Now he can only hope that Eddie still wants to talk to him, because he likes Eddie, and he may not be into the same things as him, but maybe... Steve doesn't know what he's hoping for, only that he doesn't want his night to end without at least getting Eddie's number. Maybe they can at least be friends. Steve really needs more gay friends, ones who don't send him to a bar without telling him they have theme nights. OR: Steve goes to his first gay bar after moving to New York with Robin and gets more than he was hoping for.

Thanks for the rec!

Know a fic that deserves extra love? Submit through our asks or the submission box!

[strangerthingsreversebigbang]

In case you missed them, here are the next ten works posted from the Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang!

---

The Moon Turns Gold by @pearynice | Art by @hereforanepilogue

Rating: Mature

Warning(s): Graphic Descriptions of Violence

Character(s): Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Max Mayfield, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Jason Carver

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/ Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington & Robin Buckley

Summary: Having been forced to bear witness to his parent's toxic soulmate bond, Eddie Munson promises himself he will never fall in love. Promises himself he will never curse another with the touch that will bind his soul to theirs, promises himself to never let another do the same to him in return. But in the spring of 1986, when Chrissy Cunningham is murdered in front of him, breaking those exact promises may prove to be what saves him.

Late Bloomers by @mojowitchcraft | Art by @arimakes

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Warnings

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Original Characters, Melissa (Stranger Things), Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Jim "Chief" Hopper

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington

Summary: Two men walk into a gay bar.

One thinks he’s straight, one thinks he’s vanilla.

Both of them are idiots.

Where the Sunflowers Grow by @aidaronan | Art by @lady-lostmind

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s):

Character(s): Chrissy Cunningham, Robin Buckley, Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Original Characters, El Hopper

Relationship(s): Chrissy Cunningham/Robin Buckley, Chrissy Cunningham & Eddie Munson, Background Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Background Steve Harrington/Robin Buckley

Summary:

Where does a dead girl fit in a world that has already mourned her?

That's one of the many questions Chrissy has to answer after El brings her back. Luckily, she's not alone. Her new best friend, Eddie, came back with her. Still, there's only so far friendship can take her as she navigates this new reality.

Some roads must be traveled alone. Other roads, well, it would be nice to have someone else along for the ride. Someone who knows what it's like to have nightmares that feel too real. Someone who can look past the scars and see the soul beneath.

A recovery narrative first, a romance second, Where the Sunflowers Grow explores the impact of friendship, chosen family, and love.

Duck, Dodge, Don't Fall In Love by @steddieasitgoes | Art by @llamaalpacca

Rating: Mature

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Summary: After getting kicked off the basketball team, Steve Harrington finds himself stuck in fifth-period gym. When Eddie gets knocked out by a dodgeball, Steve is the only one who comes to his aid. To repay him for his heroic duties, Eddie invites Steve back to the Munson Mobile™ for a smoke.

Now I Know That Light Guided Me Here by @transmascsteveharrington | Art by @paintedpatroclus

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Summary:

“My lord,” Steve says and shifts onto his knees in an attempt to bow. To be humble. To show his respect. To admit to his own mortal inferiority. He grits his teeth through it. “Shit, my lord, you can cut the formalities, darling,” the god chuckles. “Though I do like seeing you on your knees.” “What should I call you then?” Steve asks. “Your divine presence? Celestial master? Pompous ass?” The god just laughs and glances over his shoulder at his own ass. “Not much there to be considered pompous, I’m afraid,” he says before he turns back to Steve, no trace of the anger that Steve is choking on found in his face. “I like celestial master, has some dramatic flair to it. But Eddie will do just fine.” “God of wine making and pleasure,” Steve says automatically. “Also of orchards and fruit, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theater, darling,” Eddie does a little bow himself. “At your service.”

or: after helping Tommy slay the minotaur, Steve gets left behind on a small island to die. That's where he meets Eddie, god of wine and pleasure. Steve doesn't like gods, but this one is different. This one might help him heal from all his trauma, guilt, and broken heart.

Emergence by @soaringornithopter | Art by @alduade-art

Rating: Mature

Warning(s): Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Character(s): Lucas Sinclair, Lucas' Parents, Max Mayfield, Jason Carver

Relationship(s): Lucas Sinclair / Maxine "Max" Mayfield

Summary:

Lucas Sinclair's plan to leave Jason Carver and his other teammates behind at Hopper's abandoned cabin didn't work. Jason was too suspicious, which led to dire circumstances. Alone and terrified, Lucas must rely on his own wits and resourcefulness to escape what may become his grave.

A Dream on the Way to Death by @ghostdeb | Art by @alicetallula

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death

Character(s): Steve Harrington; Eddie Munson; Billy Hargrove; Maxine "Max" Mayfield; Robin Buckley; Wayne Munson; Jim "Chief" Hopper; Joyce Byers; Jonathan Byers; Bob Newby (Stranger Things); Henry Creel | One | Vecna; Martin Brenner; Jason Carver; Tommy Hagan; Patrick McKinney; Andy (Stranger Things); The Party (Stranger Things)

Relationship(s): Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson | Billy Hargrove & Maxine "Max" Mayfield | Steve Harrington & Maxine "Max" Mayfield | Maxine "Max" Mayfield & Eddie Munson | Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington | Joyce Byers/Jim "Chief" Hopper

Summary:

It’s the early 1990s in Hawkins Indiana and Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, and Billy Hargrove are in love and building a life together. They've settled into a serene, comfortable existence as new homeowners, living a quiet life on the edge of town, together with Billy's sister Max.

They're happy.

Life is good.

Until the local church hires a firebrand to lead the congregation and he creates an intense atmosphere of fear, paranoia, and hostility toward anything out of alignment with the teachings of the church.

The boys have a target on their backs. Things are bound to go horribly wrong.

And when they do, Steve will have the benefit of a supernatural guide to help him put things right.

Who's Sorry Now? by @aidaronan | Art by @farahsamboolents

Rating: Teens and Up

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Joyce Byers, Jim "Chief" Hopper, Jonathan Byers, Henry Creel | One | Vecna, Steve Harrington

Relationship(s): Joyce Byers/Jim "Chief" Hopper

Summary: When Vecna goes after Joyce Byers, it's a race against time for Jim Hopper and Jonathan. And it's a tumble through nightmares for Joyce, until she realizes that sometimes a person's horrors can also be weapons.

Emotional Motion Sickness by @sidekick-hero | Art by @arimakes

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Summary:

"This is actually my first time in a gay bar and I had no idea it was a theme night, that people would be here looking for... for... leather and chains and whatnot. If I knew that, I wouldn't have come." It comes out in a rush, the words stumbling over each other in his haste to get them out as quickly as possible.

Steve fights the urge to bury his head in his hands again, but part of him is glad he got it all out. Now he can only hope that Eddie still wants to talk to him, because he likes Eddie, and he may not be into the same things as him, but maybe... Steve doesn't know what he's hoping for, only that he doesn't want his night to end without at least getting Eddie's number.

Maybe they can at least be friends. Steve really needs more gay friends, ones who don't send him to a bar without telling him they have theme nights.

OR: Steve goes to his first gay bar after moving to New York with Robin and gets more than he could have hoped for.

In the Shape of a Girl by @staceymcgillicuddy | Art by @artgroves

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie Munson

Relationship(s): Chrissy Cunningham/Eddie Munson

Summary: Eddie hadn’t thought about Chrissy in years. Then she walked out from behind that screen and stripped out of her robe as if she’d been doing it all her life, at which point he realized he’d never actually known her at all.

---

Stay tuned for more incredible works from the Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang!

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[steddiecameraroll]

Why Can't We Try?

Pairing: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Rating: Mature

Words: 22,103

Tags: Angst with Happy Ending, Flirting, Slow Burn, Eddie teaches Steve to play guitar, Steve is bad at feelings, Singer Eddie Munson, Awkward Tension

Steve bites into his burger, watching Dustin and Mike bicker about the latest DnD campaign from Hellfire. Eddie sits beside him, laughing every once in a while. Robin and Nancy are conversing at the end of the table while El, Will, Max, Lucas, Argyle, and Jonathan are off playing arcade games.

“What about you, Steve?”

Steve wasn’t listening and realized he’d been zoning out for a few minutes. Apparently, no one had spoken to him in a while. “What?”

“Favorite movie, what is it?”

“Oh, um. I don’t know. I liked Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Fast Times. I don’t have a favorite, I guess.”

“But you work at a video store.” Eddie pokes Steve’s shoulder playfully.

Steve smiles a little, “I know, I’m crazy.”

Eddie returns to his conversation with Mike and Dustin, and Steve takes another bite of his food. It was nice getting everyone together, but Steve was often left as the odd man out now that everyone was buddying up. Robin spent much more time with Nancy these days, and now that Eddie was a part of the fold, it’s not as if he spent alone time with Steve. 

Steve slides off his chair, sets his napkin on the table, and heads towards the exit door. He doesn’t smoke as much as he used to, but sometimes it is the excuse he needs to escape from everyone. The cool night air surprises him when he steps through the doorway. They’d been inside for hours before the sun had set, and now that it was dark outside, the mood shifted.

He pulled a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his front pocket and fished out his lighter. Pulling a loose cigarette up through the pack, he lifts it to his mouth and pulls it between his lips. He flicks the lighter, holding the flame at the tip. 

“Can I have one?”

Steve is startled to find Eddie approaching him. He didn’t hear him come outside.

“Sure,” he lifts the pack, offering it to Eddie.

Eddie places it between his lips and leans close to Steve, insinuating that it be lit. Steve lifts his hands and flicks the lighter, hiding the flame from the air. Eddie is standing so close to him that he can smell his aftershave. Knots form in Steve’s stomach, being within such proximity.

Eddie raises his eyebrows in appreciation and steps back, leaning against the wall and taking a long pull. Steve catches himself staring and distracts himself with his cigarette. They stand silent for a few minutes taking puffs off their respective cigarettes.

“It’s nice out here.” Eddie’s eyes scan the night sky. “Kinda loud in there.”

“It is an arcade,” Steve’s reply is more clipped than intended. He flicks his cigarette on the ground, stubbing it out with his toe, and heads inside. Lately, he doesn’t know how to act around Eddie, making him uncomfortable.

“Well fuck you then.”

Steve grips the door handle and turns back, surprised. Eddie smirks at him and winks playfully. Steve can’t hold back a grin and rolls his eyes, heading indoors.

“Where ya been, dingus?” Robin asks when Steve settles back into his seat.

“Needed some air. Where’s Nance?”

“She went to go check on everyone else.”

“You two are getting chummy.” Steve raises an eyebrow at her.

“We’re friends. Isn’t that a good thing? She at least doesn’t hate my guts because she thinks I’m in love with you anymore.”

“Yeah, it’s weird, I’ll admit. My best friend is friends with my ex-girlfriend, but whatever.”

Eddie returns to the table and slides his hands across the smooth top. “What are you two talking about?”

“How much Robin’s in love with Nancy.” Steve takes a sip of his drink and watches her reaction.

“WHAT?” She can’t hide the blush rushing up her neck.

“What?” Eddie laughs.

“Stop it, no, I’m not, no. I like Vickie, stop. No, I do not like Nancy. Nancy’s well…Nancy.”

“Yeah, I know.” Steve shrugs.

Eddie leans his head back and continues laughing.

“Shut up!” Robin tosses a french fry across the table, hitting him square in the chest. The fry lands gently on his lap, and he looks down, plucks it up, and takes a dramatic chomp out of it.

“From here, it looks like that’s what is happening. I’ve been watching you two all night, and now I understand how you feel when you bitch about my flirting.”

“You’ve seen the Harrington flirt in action?” Eddie perks up and turns intrigued.

“Ugh, yes, to my dismay.”

“Shut up. It’s not that bad.” Steve tosses a wadded-up napkin at Robin.

“You know what I used to do at Scoops?” Robin smiles wide.

“Robin, don’t.” Steve gives her a wide-eyed glance.

“I would keep track of how many failures he had. He was up to 6 Sucks before he and knucklehead number two over there,” Robin motions to Dustin with her head, “erased it trying to figure out that stupid Russian code.”

“What?” Eddie laughs and looks at her, befuddled.

“The Russian code? You know, the …” Robin tilts her head questioningly.

“He doesn’t know, Rob,” Steve says quietly.

“Holy shit!” Her mouth drops open, and she glances between the two boys.

Eddie shrugs. “No clue.”

“So, wait. If you don’t know about the Russians, you don’t know about the goo people.”

“And if he doesn’t know about the goo people, he doesn’t know about Dart.” Steve tacks on.

“Or about Will,” Robin says solemnly.

“Byers? I mean, I know he went missing a few years ago. That’s what you mean?”

“Yeah,” Steve gives a tight-lipped nod. “He was in the Upside Down that whole time.”

“What!?” Eddie leans in with excitement. “I didn’t know that. Dustin and Mike never said shit.”

“I mean, do you blame them?” Steve shrugs.

“Not really. Who would’ve believed them? I would’ve had no clue if I didn’t see it with my eyes. So that’s why you guys believed me?”

“Yeah, we’d seen it and then some. Rob wasn’t there for that stuff, but we got involved with the Russians last summer. That whole Starcourt Mall thing? That was us.”

“The fire?” Eddie scrunches his face trying to understand all the puzzle pieces being explained to him.

“It wasn’t a fire. Billy, Max’s brother, had been possessed by a creature called the Mind Flayer, one of Vecna’s goons. It was a whole thing that involved people turning into goop and old ladies eating fertilizer. It’s hard to explain.”

“Where were the Russians? How did you guys get involved?” He points between Steve and Robin.

“Well, we overhead this Russian code. Well, I mean, Dustin did, and he came to me to try and solve it. Robin was being nosey and helped.”

“Nosey?” She squealed. “Without me, you would’ve never solved it. You only helped by recognizing that merry-go-round song.”

“Which was incredibly important, mind you.” Steve crossed his arms.

“Whatever,” she rolls her eyes. “I helped crack the code, and it took us to this hidden elevator that the Russians had put under the mall as they were trying to drill into the Upside Down. I hate elevators now and will never do a single drug, prescription or otherwise.”

“How the fuck did you all get wrapped up in this shit? If this has been happening to you for years, how does no one else know?”

“Well, it’s because of El. Mike and the boys found her in the woods, and it all snowballed. The guys that had her were doing experiments, which had this ripple effect.” Steve picks up a french fry and plops it into his mouth.

“This all sounds like a ridiculous DnD campaign. Wait,” Eddie presses his thumb against his mouth, and Steve observes. “Mike did use something similar in one of his campaigns. That cheat. I thought he had this great idea and was super creative. This whole time he was just using real-life shit. I mean crazy real-life shit, but real-life nonetheless.” Eddie huffs and leans back against his seat, his hair swishing with the movement.

“You’re all dinguses,” Robin states.

“Ok, ok, but back to the matter at hand. Steve Harrington’s flirting technique. I need to hear all about it.” Eddie winks at Steve.

“No, nope, no, you don’t.” Steve motions his hands in front of himself, shaking his head profusely.

“He thinks all of his power is in his hair.” 

Eddie leans back slightly and looks at Steve, inspecting the hair, as mentioned earlier. “It is great hair.”

Steve’s eyes widen, and he can feel his neck get hot. He runs his fingers through his hair to pretend he isn’t flattered.

“Gag,” Robin puts her finger to her mouth.

“Looks like it grips well.” Eddie flicks the back of Steve’s hair.

“Stop, nope. We’re not, nuh uh. We’re done talking about me and my hair. I’ve got to head home anyway. Let’s get the kids and get out of here.”

Eddie watches Steve, noticing the shade of red across his cheeks, and smiles. “Ok then, you’re in charge.” Eddie pushes himself up to his feet and claps his hands once. “Let’s go, Stevie boy.”

“Jesus Christ,” Steve says under his breath. “Ok, rugrats, let’s get out of here.” He calls out into the arcade. A spattering of annoyance is heard over the bells of the machines. “I have work tomorrow. If you want a ride home, it’s now or never.”

“Can I get a ride?” Eddie asks flirtatiously.

Steve looks at him straight-faced. “What is wrong with you?”

“So many things.” Eddie smiles wide, his cheeks exposing those Munson dimples.

continue reading...

[jimraisedmeup]

TICK // 6.1 - i feel you

Rating: mature (violence, language)

Word Count: 500

A/N: First and foremost, thank you to everyone who has taken a portion of their time to read TICK... words cannot explain my joy to know if even one person can relate to it or make them feel some type of way. I also wanted to mention, this is a random short chapter - just for this one, we are fast forwarding to 1986, what I am calling "present day" (AKA Season 4) for a smidge ;-D As part of the storytelling, I might do this more, and there might be small time skips coming up, so, *wink wink* watch the date at the beginning of each chapter. thank u agn love u all

...now let's get on with it.

☾

I feel you Your sun it shines I feel you Within my mind

☾

Spring Break 1986 - present day

Eddie Munson held a broken beer bottle against Steve Harrington's throat. 

Three dark figures rushed forward, at the front being Dustin Henderson. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Eddie! Eddie! Stop!" He was frantic.

But Eddie knew better than to let his guard down at the mere arrival of a friendly face. Even the innocent face of a freshman in the Hellfire Club. The situation was dire.

"Eddie. Eddie. It's me. It's Dustin." The shorter kid gestured towards Harrington. "This is Steve. He's not gonna hurt you, right, Steve?"

The douchebag in his grasp was barely visible in the dark boathouse, but Eddie could feel him nod.

"Right. Yeah."

"Steve, why don't you drop the oar?" Dustin suggested.

He hesitated for a second, but then Harrington finally dropped the oar. The sudden sound of it crashing on the ground only prompted Eddie to press the broken glass further onto Steve's neck.

The trio behind him pleaded with him.

"He's cool! He's. Cool." 

Past the glints of light coming off his own silver rings, Eddie made eye contact with the guy struggling in his grasp. 

"I'm cool, man. I'm cool."

"What are you doing here?" was the only thing Eddie Munson could think to ask.

Dustin raised his hands before him. "We're looking for you."

A familiar voice chirped from Dustin's right, distracting him for a second. "We're here to help." 

He felt a tugging at the back of his skull... a distant memory. Dustin kept rambling.

"Eddie, these are my friends. You know Robin, from band. This is my friend Max. The one who never wants to play D&D," Dustin paused. "Eddie. We're on your side. I swear on my mother! Right guys?"

Everyone else around him quickly concurred. But Eddie's mind went completely blank at the name Robin.

"Yes. Yes. We swear." A small red-haired girl, looking extremely depressed.

"On Dustin's mother." That familiar voice again, bringing him back to images and memories he repressed over a year ago. 

Eddie was pulled out of his thoughts by Harrington speaking, squirming in his grip.

"Yeah, Dustin's… Dustin's mother."

He stared at the Harrington kid for a second, remembering all the times he and his jock friends called him a "freak". But now wasn't the time for old grudges. A new dawn approached.

Eddie let him go and stepped away.

"Jesus Chr-" Steve complained, holding his neck.

The rest of them watched Eddie carefully as he leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until he reached the floor. His head felt like a timebomb ready to blow at any moment.

Dustin crouched in front of him. "We just want to talk. Okay."

"We want to know what happened." The girl with short hair and blue eyes approached him. Those damn blue eyes.

"Robin Buckley?"

"Uh… the one and only." She couldn't have possibly looked more uncomfortable.

Eddie was utterly confused for a moment, his brown eyes moving to each of the faces like he was looking for someone.

"Wait," he spoke, his voice hoarse. "How exactly did you guys find me?"

Unbeknownst to the shaken man, you sat on the hood of the car outside, acting as a lookout.

☾

I feel you Each move you make I feel you Each breath you take

Where angels sing And spread their wings My love's on high You take me home To glory's throne By and by

☾

(song lyrics credit: "I Feel You" by Depeche Mode)

TAGLIST for this series if you would like to be notified when I post new chapters!

[hawkinsbnbg]

Eddie needed no words to convince Steve that he was beautiful.

Because those infatuated looks that washed over Steve like caramel every time, those reverent touches, those scalding kisses painted on Steve's body every night, and those gentle caresses on his scars had said everything he needed to know.

And yet, Eddie never once forgot to let him know how adored he was.

"You're so beautiful, darling," Eddie kissed his temple softly as they slow-danced in the kitchen.

Smiling, Steve leaned back and craned his neck slightly to give Eddie's chin a peck. "So are you, baby."

They had been preparing dinner but got distracted when Eddie kept sneaking kisses and Steve kept giggling about it.

As Steve was stirring the pot, Eddie had come up behind him and engulfed him in a loose hug with chin resting on his shoulder.

Then Eddie started humming and somehow, they ended up swaying to the off-tuned love song while waiting for their soup.

It was awfully domestic of them, but Steve couldn't care less when he was held in Eddie's arms and knew the sun never got this close before.

Eddie hummed under his breath, arms tightening around his waist and nose burying in the side of his neck.

"Love you, sweetheart," Eddie's words pressed into his skin, warm and wet like the morning rain.

Lacing their hands together, Steve sang softly.

Oh, l've been dreaming through my lonely past Now I just made it, I found you at last.

Eddie turned him around with gentle hands and gazed at him fondly. And Steve felt like his heart was too big for his chest to contain.

So come on, now let's try it, I love you, can't deny

'Cause it's true.

Eddie joined him and together, they finished the song.

I do, I do, I do, I do, I do.

He smiled into the kiss that Eddie drew him in.

Later, they'd have dinner together, would do the dishes while bickering about the movie they watched the other night, would write down the grocery list for tomorrow, would cuddle on the couch to watch some late-night shows, and would snuggle into bed after their refreshing shower.

Steve would exchange a goodnight kiss with his husband and fall asleep in those loving arms.

It was their life, full of love and happiness.

He was glad they had come this far, had survived the impossible, had pushed through hardships to build a home for themselves.

And he was glad they had found each other.

[imfinereallyy]

you can pry happy endings from my cold-dead hands. It can be the most heart stopping, gut wrenching fic that has every existed and I will read every drop of it if I get my happy ending. I have had enough painful endings in real life, give me happy in my fantasy world. It can be at the last second, it can be a single sentence, even a single word. Give me all the angst and hurt in the world for 500,000 words, but please give me the comfort I need in the ending. please and thank you.

[artrealla]

golden hour cuddles

[inklessletter]

Polaroid #1 May 28th, 1987