#steve harrington is a dancer

[afewproblems]

I think Steve needs a secret creative hobby that he springs on the group, surprising everyone.

Sometimes, it can be a little depressing to believe that everyone you love sees you as this one guy, this dumb jock. Intellectually, he knows that the kids and Robin, Nance, and Eddie don't think he's stupid, but that doesn't make the feeling go away.

What if his mom had put him in a ballroom dancing class when he was younger? From age 7 to 12, he took dancing through an independent studio with the other rich kids. It started with ballroom, which continued into swing-dancing. He loved it.

And Steve was good.

He was fluid and graceful, an absolute natural the instructor would remark to his mother when she would come to pick him up. In fact, they were picking kids to participate in the upcoming tournament for the youth category, and Steve was a perfect candidate, the instructor said.

That was until his dad made the executive decision to pull Steve out and force him into sports after catching Steve dancing with his mom in the kitchen. Watching his son twirling around with Susan Harrington, a small indulgent smile on her face, was the final straw for Richard.

"No son of mine is going to prance around like that, like a little fairy," he snarled as he dragged Steve away from the kitchen, his firm white-knuckle grip holding Steve's small arm as they made their way up the stairs to his room.

Steve tried not to make a sound as he covered his ears to the yelling match taking place in room below him.

Steve ended up in little league the next day.

Steve still practiced though, on his own.

It wasn't as though he hadn't made friends in that class, kids who kept on with it.

He missed it, he missed them. He missed how he felt when dancing.

It was freeing.

Carla Neilson taught him the new steps, things she continued to learn while Steve played baseball, basketball, and eventually made the swim team in highschool.

Swimming would probably be the closest he would get to that feeling of gliding along the floor, that grace and fluidity never really leaving him.

He had been a decent player at one time because of his quick feet, but that was before Billy Hargrove rolled into town. Steve never quite learned how to plant his feet because dancing always kept him moving, Hargrove seemed to enjoy pointing out how truly 'fairy-like' he was as he made his way across the court. Those words, the same words his father had hissed at him, all those years ago left him cold and hurt.

He stops dancing after that.

It's not until years later, after Vecna, after Billy dies and his Father disowns him, after he kisses Eddie for the first time and he finally feels like he can breath again that the group finds out.

It's at a party. Everyone of age is a little tipsy or faded at this point in the evening and playing a question game, the kids roll their eyes at their older friends antics and stick to the Nintendo across the living room of Steve and Eddie's apartment.

The question of, 'What is your hidden talent,' comes up and everyone takes their turn.

Robin recites the alphabet backwards, not blinking or pausing the entire way which everyone applauds for once she's finished.

Nancy does a quick handstand and takes three steps backward before dropping her legs back to the ground, she curtsies with a sly smile and laughs as she sits next to Robin again who is staring at Nancy like shes never seen her before.

Eddie thinks for a moment before lifting his hand to his mouth and blows out an impressively loud whistle that prompts Mike to tell them all off for being loud.

Jonathan blows a giant smoke ring while Argyle moonwalks around the living room, earning the pair of them a chorus of woops and applause.

Everyone turns to Steve once Argyle drops back to his seat next to Jonathan, "Alright brochacho you're up man," he says with a hazy smile.

Steve thinks for a moment, looking around at everyone, all of these people who love him, and makes a decision.

"Uh, yeah okay, I've got one," he says slowly before standing up from the loveseat he's sharing with Eddie, "but I'll need a volunteer and some music".

"Oh my God," Robin stage whispers to Nancy, "is he going to do magic right now? Steven Harrington can you do magic??"

Steve snorts and rolls his eyes, "I think I found my volunteer," he holds out his hand for Robin to take as Eddie stands up to turn on their second-hand record player they got from Uncle Wayne as a house warming.

"Uh, one of mine Eds," Steve says with a slight shake to his voice, "something with a beat".

"Oh shit," Robin chokes out as Steve tugs her close. She nearly stumbles, but his arms hold her up.

Eddie smirks like it's a challenge and pulls out Whitney Houston, earning a smile from Jonathan and a small, 'really?' from Nancy.

Argyle laughs, "Heck Yeah man, Whitney rocks dude, turn that shit up!"

Steve smiles and takes a deep breath, his heart is racing but he doesn't care in this moment, he looks at Eddie who is grinning at him, a slightly curious look on his face.

And it's like riding a bike, he leads Robin across the small space twirling and dipping her as she squeals and tries to follow.

Steve probably could have picked a slightly less clumsy volunteer, but he loves Robin and showing her, showing them all, this part of himself after hiding it for so long just means the world to him.

He keeps his own feet fast, keeping the beat but moving Robin where she needs to be as they glide over the carpet, he spins her out and then back into his arms as the song ends, they are both breathing heavily by the time the last note rings out and Robin can't contain her hands from smacking into Steve's chest as she yells, "Who the fuck are you! Dingus how could you hide this!"

Steve blushes as Eddie comes up behind him to hook his head over his shoulder as his arms come up to wrap around Steve's waist.

"Fancy footwork dude," Argyle says nodding at Jonathan who is looking at Steve with fascination.

"When did you learn to dance?" Nancy asks, her voice soft and kind, as though she knows exactly how big this is for him.

"I will accept the fact that you did not pick me to dance just now if I can be your partner next time," Eddie says into Steve's ear, letting his teeth graze the lobe slightly making Steve shiver and laugh.

El and Max refuse to let him sit down for the rest of the night, insisting that he do that spinning move with each of them until all of the kids demand a turn.

Even Mike.

And he loves them all, happy to have finally shared this piece of himself with all of them. His heart is full.

[fastcardotmp3]

welcome to dot drops something that's been sitting in her tumblr drafts for 4 months Saturday I hope you enjoy your visit mwah! Steddie; Ballet AU; Dancer!Steve; mentions of cancer treatment; 1.5k words

Dress rehearsal is supposed to be a mess.

That's the point of it, really, to get all the mistakes out of your system and start the actual show run with a clean slate. Or at least, that had been the point of which they'd all convinced themselves when Steve was the one performing.

Bad dress meant good show, or so the old adage went, and so at least there was some ease of worry with the collective understanding that it won't happen on the night within the company.

That was the case when Steve was a student, when he was an apprentice, even during his time in the big leagues at Joffrey, but right now? At the end of a truly abysmal dress in this run-down theater on the edge of a town from which he'd once run away?

Steve is not the performer. He's the guy in charge.

And so he spirals.

He'd never wanted to be a director or an instructor or the head of a studio like this. It had never been in his plans. Steve was a man of action, where the people who do these jobs are the brains behind the operation.

Steve knows how to work hard, how to force his body and even his mind into submission until he gets the steps just right, but this? These past six months back in Hawkins temporarily helping out?

(God, please let it be temporary.)

He's not built for this. He's sitting center stage after everyone has left with only half the house lights to illuminate his misery and he's not. Built. For. This.

Not built for being a mentor or a leader or a role model; not built to handle the strenuous nature of his mother's legacy; not built to carry the name she's made for herself as a teacher and a choreographer and a shaper of young dancers.

Steve's not built for it!

They'd had a shitty fucking dress.

"Hey, uh, you gonna be a while? I kinda need to close up for the night."

The voice echoes across the empty space, bouncing off the high ceiling and straight up to land on the Marley floors at Steve's feet. The stage isn't built for dancers, much like Steve isn't built to be here, so they'd had to pull up the floors from the studio and drag them halfway across town just to roll them out here.

"Hello? Are you, like, alive up there?"

Steve sighs. "Yeah," he calls back, catching sight of the figure talking to him at the back of the theater, the young guy who runs the place and who Steve met a grand total of three days ago. His name is Eddie and he dresses more like he's running a music venue than a local community theater, but he's mostly stayed out of Steve's way so far. "Sorry, I'll get outta your hair."

"Sure," Eddie says, but he's just sort of leaning against the back wall by the window to the sound and lighting booth without an ounce of urgency to him as Steve drags himself to his aching feet and lugs his three separate bags of show stuff onto his shoulders.

There's an energy to an empty theater, one which has held a performance and one which now holds the ghosts of that performance, which tugs at the anxieties sitting buried deep beneath the more immediate ones.

Fears about his mom's health, about what will happen to the studio if she doesn't win this particular battle, about what will happen to him.

There's an energy here in the creak of the steps which lead down off the front of the stage and there's an energy to the plod of Steve's sneakers up the long, racked aisle between the seats.

There's an energy, but it's also not empty, is it.

"Hey, good show, dude," Eddie says, pushing off his wall as Steve grows nearer. "Like, talented kids you've got there."

Steve scoffs before he can help himself and then pinches the bridge of his nose in a grimace for not being able to help himself.

"Uh, yeah, thanks," he grits out, thinking about his bed. Thinking about how he never made time for dinner and he has to be here early again tomorrow.

"Wow, resounding confidence on this one," Eddie snorts, and when Steve opens his eyes it's to genuine amusement, genuine curiosity in the tilt of a head and furrow of a brow.

"No, just," he shakes his head, "you should see 'em when they're really on their game, y'know?"

Eddie hums, and when did Steve come to a stop right in front of him? He's leaving. He has to leave. Go home. Think about all the spacing corrections he needs to fix tomorrow and run through with the girls before show time.

"Bad dress, good show though, right?"

Steve startles. Maybe a little too visibly because Eddie is actively holding back laughter at the sight of him.

"What, I've worked at a theater for four years and I'm not supposed to pick up a thing or two about the ballet?" he snarks good-naturedly. "Caroline, the lady who did your job before you, she was a chatty one, taught me everything I know about Giselle."

It's a knife between the ribs. It's a soothing sort of heat, like from a roaring bonfire.

"You--" he clears his throat, "you know Caroline?"

"Highlight of the job honestly, before she retired," Eddie shrugs.

"She didn't retire."

"Oh. She...?"

"Chemo," Steve doesn't know why he's saying it all so willingly, why after months of trying to run the studio without having to talk about how's your mom doing, sweetheart? he's opening up to this stranger with the curly hair and curious eyes. But he knows her. He's-- Well, he knows her. "I'm just here to-- to fill in until she can come back. So."

Eddie is studying him now. Curious eyes turned intelligent, knowing, sad with the weight of realization.

"You're the wonder boy," he says on a breath like oh, I get it now.

"The what?" Steve balks.

"Her kid," Eddie says like it's simple. He's leaning against the wall again, like he's not planning on getting back to work anymore, "she was-- Shit, man, she loves the hell outta you. Oh, you should see my son, he's in Les Corsaire this season! Oh, my boy, he's just gotten promoted to soloist, he'll be a principal in no time! Oh, the talent on him, the--"

"Okay, okay, Jesus," Steve cuts him off, a half-hysterical laugh bubbling up out of his chest in the process.

"You should tell her I say hi next time you see her," Eddie isn't remotely deterred by having his little, lilting performance derailed. There's a softness to him that deserves a smaller space, walls less prone to echo.

"I will," Steve nods. His bags grow heavy on his shoulders.

"And you should chill out a little bit," he says, this time with the kind of glint to his eye that needs a bigger space, needs to be up on the stage to the point where it has Steve floundering, "y'know, about the the shitty dress that, between you and me," he leans in conspiratorially, close enough to feel the heat of his breath, "wasn't really all that shitty."

Steve sucks in a breath.

It strikes him somewhere old, the reassurance, somewhere young deep inside of him. The comforting from a mother that if he just works hard enough he’ll land that double tour in fifth some day soon, the unbroken promise that she would never give him special treatment as the son of the studio owner, but that she would never hesitate to reward him when he’d earned it on his own.

It strikes him because no one tells you how little reassurance the guy in charge is ever offered and it strikes him because it’s been such a long day and it strikes him because—

“Hey, have you had dinner yet?”

Eddie’s eyebrows lift high on his forehead and Steve sees it, the attitude on this dude that his mother absolutely would have loved in an instant. There’s a performer in there, even just in the brief interaction they’ve shared so far. There’s a spotlight pointing inwards and a show begging to be dragged out.

“No,” Eddie drags out slow and curious, “you offering, ballet boy?”

Steve needs a sounding board and he needs another set of eyes and he needs his mom to be okay and the show tomorrow to prove that he can handle this for her if she’s not, but maybe what he needs most right now, on the other side of a spiral in a dark and echoing theater, is this.

“Meet me at Benny’s in thirty,” he says simply as he makes his way for the door. “Since you’re such an experienced test audience.”

Eddie’s responding laugh is bright and his eyes glitter with curious amusement and maybe this is what Steve needs because maybe all of this is one big rehearsal at a big new life in and old small town.

And maybe this is his chance to make a mess of it. At least until the real show starts.

[hornedqueenofhell]

Steddie Writing Prompt Enemies to Lovers

Based on this TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8LkqMoF/

Superhero Steve Harrington who moonlights as a pole dancer to make ends meet. Might as well put his strength and flexibility to use in a way that actually makes him money. His favorite client is this long-haired nerd who purchases lap dances and traces constellations out of the moles and freckles on his back. The fact that he tips generously is also a big bonus, he's not a sugar baby shut up Robin. The new laptop he was able to get has been really nice though. And being able to afford repairs and even upgrades to his suit is a dream, he can only buy out the necessary fabrics from so many craft stores before people get suspicious. Food, food's great too considering superhero metabolism is no fucking joke. If he could just get Dustin to stop running head first into danger his life would be much better off. And finally capturing Heavy Metal.

Eddie realizes who Celestial is after about two months of their little arrangement. He'd started to suspect something when he noticed how similar some of Celestial's dance moves were to the way the pesky neighborhood crime fighter slipped around beams and other things Eddie threw at him during their little tryst's. He never really heard Celestial's voice clearly over the pounding bass of Eddie's favorite night club, but he was used to an excessive amount of quips and one liners from the hero. It wasn't until one of their fights that ended with the back of the other man's suit ripped open that Eddie realized it was his favorite dancer under the mask. He knew those freckles, wanted to trace his lips over those beautiful marks while their owner rolled his hips in Eddie's lap and perched on the arm of his chair. After he figures it out he pays for Celestial to stay in his lap for his entire shift at the Upside Down. He brushes his fingers down Celestial's stocking and watches as he flinches when Eddie rubs over where he'd left a bruise on the hero not a few hours ago. He starts coming every night that they have a fight and paying for Celestial to just relax in his lap all evening.

He may or may not also enjoy teasing the fuck out of the hero now that he knows. 'That's a new suit gorgeous?' 'Got an upgrade? Someone finally taking care of you princess?' 'You like spinning around on poles for me big boy?' He's playing with fire but it's worth it imagining the blush his pretty Celestial sports every time Eddie compliments him. He likes seeing them looking so much healthier now, and the money comes from his patents so it's all clean if Celestial ever finds out. It's weird finding out that he and Celestial both have the same handler though.

Dustin Henderson works at the local rec center helping out with kids who were injured in the super fights, his mom says it'll look good for college and he helps teach d&d there. Best. Job. Ever. And yeah he knows Steve's secret identity, kinda hard to hide when you accidentally surprise your babysitter and he almost goes through a wall he jumps so hard. Dustin also coordinates visits to kids at the hospital his mom works at with Steve. Letting them meet and get pictures with the local town hero. And then Max Mayfield requests a visit from Heavy Metal. Now Dustin is also planning visits for villain's, and what even is his life anymore? (Basically the fantastic Villain Wrangler tumblr post if you know it) He's starting to get annoyed with Steve's demands to give up Heavy Metal's whereabouts too, like sure Steve I'll tell you where he's hiding out and then I'll give him your address because that would be fair right? At least Steve seems happy with his mysterious sugar daddy.

[alfhitchblonde]

Eddie Munson, Grammy Award Winner and front man for Corroded Coffin, gets roped into doing a Dancing with the Stars-esque show by his manager Chrissy (lost a bet (Chrissy is a dirty cheater)) and ends up getting pair with fan favorite choreographer and dance partner Steve Harrington. Fans love him because of his wit, daring dances, and the fact he looks good with any partner.

At first Eddie hates the idea. Thinks that Steve looks to be a pretty boy asshole. He is but he’s also so sweet and patient and picks songs that speak to Eddie.

Plus he has this gaggle of children who keep appearing at rehearsal and they are little nerds like Eddie.

Shenanigans ensue and there is some stellar dancing and ✨tension✨

And they like fall in love.

[bifuriouswaterbender]

Can't Start A Fire (Without A Spark)

Author: aaliona, @bifuriouswaterbender

Podficcer: aliteralgarbageheap, @aliteralgarbageheap

Beta: ohstars, @oh-stars

Written for the @steddiebang

Rating: E

Words: 21,270

Pairings: Steve/Eddie, Robin/Chrissy

Characters: Steve, Eddie, Robin, Chrissy, Nancy

Tags: No Archive Warnings Apply, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Ballet Dancer Steve Harrington, Stripper Eddie Munson, Getting Together, Slow Burn, Lapdance, Dancing as Flirting, Anal Sex, Blow Jobs, Rim Jobs, Top Steve Harrington, Bottom Eddie Munson

Summary: Steve claimed not to be a snob about different dance forms, but with his ballet background, he had a hard time looking at stripping as anything other than a money grab. He didn't see the beauty. Until Kas.

Read here.

Listen here.

[steddieas-shegoes]

Honey, I would like to share it with you if you allow me.

So I’m in love with dancer!Steve au. And the thing is… I imagined that there is a, I don’t know, secret club similar to Hideout there only dancers and they’re friends allowed to be because they need a place where they can be themselves and safely dance even the most filthy way… Maybe even Chrissy appears here sometimes and one day The Fruity Four (Three?) kinda find out where Steve disappears… And Steve dances in the hottest way possible, losing himself on the floor… He probably dances in Jojo Gomez style…

Oh this is SO GOOD. I really wish I could devote time to this one. I am not taking full requests and this is definitely a lot more than what a short headcanon could cover, but I know if I post this, someone will run with it (I'll put some no pressure tags below just so it gets seen!).

But I do want to add to this a little headcanon-y idea: Chrissy takes Robin to the club to show her what it's about and Robin ends up coming out to her when one of the girls who dances there regularly starts flirting with her. Robin is awkward as hell of course, and Chrissy notices, so Robin feels like she has to explain. When she does, Chrissy admits she's been questioning her own sexuality and that's why she visits the club. When Robin sees Steve, she almost passes out. Chrissy hadn't recognized him because he wears makeup while he's there, usually dances with low lights instead of a spotlight like the others do.

Thank you for sending this in! If anyone wants to do anything with this or make any fic recs for something like this, here's some really no pressure tags: @wormdebut @legitcookie @sidekick-hero @wynnyfryd @simplebtromance @flowercrowngods

[sagerxge]

He was a punk, she did ballet

Author's note: So, it's been a long time since I've written and posted a fanfic, but late90s/early00s skater boy Eddie and ballet dancer Steve randomly popped into my head and I had to write it into existence. I posted this on my AO3, but I wanted to share it here as well. I hope you enjoy <3

Word count: 2,153

_________

“Ok, Steve, your MASH is…” Robin announced, holding up her pen and reading off her notebook. “A house with Eddie Munson, 5 kids, you’re a teacher and you drive a sports car.” Robin was only there because she liked to bully Steve.

Steve sighed and rolled his eyes, still in the middle of his warm-up stretches. Nancy, who was in the process of tying her hair back, scoffed next to him. She was the only other one of the crew who was in ballet with Steve. The two of them often got the lead parts together.

“All of that sounds lovely, except for the Eddie part,” Nancy grumbled. “I was going to say 5 kids part was the worst, but since you’re gonna be marrying Eddie, it doesn’t sound so bad.”

“It’s just a game,” Steve said, a little exasperated. The idea of marrying Eddie wasn’t that bad. Sure, he was different and… out there, but Steve kind of liked the idea. Steve, the ballet dancer with good grades and who could handle his own in sports, versus Eddie the punk musician and wild skater. Nancy gave him an irritated look, like she was reading his mind.

“Eddie’s cool,” a new voice said. Steve glanced up, revealing Dustin. The kid was snacking on some milk duds and offered some to Steve with that bright smile of his. Steve shook his head.

“No sugar before dancing,” Steve said, standing up. “Gives you cramps, you know.”

“No it doesn’t,” Dustin said indignantly. “Actually, it’s proven that- “

Steve groaned and waved his hand, quieting the little weasel. “Forget I said anything, I don’t want to know whatever it is that you were gonna say.”

Dustin gave Steve a playful glare before backing down, scouting the room for Max. Steve usually brought the kids with him to practice if they didn’t have anything else to do, but today was just Dustin, Lucas and Max. Will was sick, so he stayed home. Mike and El were “studying”, but Steve was pretty sure they were just making googly eyes at each other then they thought Hopper wasn’t looking at them.

“She’s outside, if you’re looking for Max,” Steve said. Last Steve saw, Max was practicing skating tricks in the parking lot. He tried not to keep too close an eye on the kids, but he always like to know vaguely where they were.

“I wasn’t looking for her,” Dustin protested. Steve gave Dustin the raised eyebrow look. The kid blushed a little and opened his mouth to say something, but the instructor then called the class to start. Steve shooed the kid and his milk duds away so he can focus. It took a bit for the kids to not laugh at Steve wearing tights with Daisy Dukes, but sometimes Dustin couldn’t help himself. It was better to keep him away from Steve during practice.

The little twerp planted himself in the back corner of the room, reading one of his dragon books, munching on his milk duds and occasionally watching the class. Steve never saw Max, and he just told himself that she was out skating with Lucas, and that the two of them were safe. As soon as class was done, Steve couldn’t fight that stupid anxiety anymore over not seeing Max or Lucas and not knowing if they were safe. He grabbed his stuff, slammed his feet into his shoes and dragged Dustin out the door. As soon as they reached the parking lot, Steve saw Max and Lucas. Both of them were in one piece, thank god. Steve let out a breath of relief. Max was trying to do some type of flip trick with her board and Lucas was sitting on the hood of Steve’s car. Steve was about to yell at him to get off his vehicle when Max landed her trick. She shouted with joy and pumped her fists in the air. She turned to the side, talking to someone.

“Did you see that?” Max shouted. “I gotta clean it up, but it felt nice.” It was then that Steve noticed the guy with shaggy brown hair, baggy jeans and a Metallica t-shirt. Eddie. Steve froze, staring at the man.

Eddie looked good. The sun was setting, so it cast that soft golden glow on everything, including Eddie’s hair. It made the shaggy locks look soft and touchable. Eddie’s smile flashed, almost brighter than a midday sun. He was leaning against his own skateboard, a raggedy beat-up thing that looked like it had seen years of love and hundreds of tricks.

“It did,” Eddie said, nodding. He was clearly very excited and trying to contain himself. “Just make sure to flick your toes a bit more, like this.” He dropped his board on the ground, hopped on and executed, presumably, a perfect version of the trick Max just did. When he landed, Eddie flicked his hair up and smiled even wider. Something about how Eddie looked in that moment made Steve feel something.

His hair was a little messier, his smile was bright and clear, like he was without a single care in the world. Steve could have kissed him right then and there. If he wanted to, of course. Steve cleared his throat and forced his attention back to Lucas.

“Ass off my car,” Steve barked, snapping his fingers. Lucas rolled his eyes but obeyed. Max grumbled something about Steve being a mother under her breath as he approached, Dustin close behind him.

“Dustin, my man,” Eddie said cheerfully, dismounting his skateboard and kicking it aside slightly. Dustin practically ran over to the man and gave him a big hug. Eddie even picked him up and swung him around in a circle, the kid giggling the whole time. Steve rolled his eyes and tried to ignore how his heart fluttered at the sight. Eddie put Dustin down and released him from his grip before turning his attention to Steve. Eddie gave Steve a thorough onceover, almost like he was a piece of meat at a deli. Steve gulped, fighting the blush on his cheeks as he realized he was still sporting his white tank top, tights and small exercise shorts. He suddenly felt very exposed but tried to keep it cool.

“Well, hello there, Harrington,” Eddie said in a flirty tone that Steve wished he could ignore. Steve leaned on one hip and cleared his throat.

“In the car, hoodlums. Now,” Steve said in his best mom voice. The kids collectively grumbled but climbed into the car. Eddie was still eyeing Steve when he glanced back at the man.

“Didn’t know you came out here,” Steve said.

Eddie gave him an easy grin that make Steve’s stomach do twirls. “I come here often.”

Steve scoffed at the cheesy pick-up line attempt. “Skate spot?” Steve asked, gesturing to Eddie’s board. Eddie shrugged.

“You could say that,” Eddie answered, smirking. Steve’s eyes narrowed at his slightly suggestive tone but decided to ignore it. Eddie gave him another once over. “You look good, Harrington.” With the flirty comment still in the air, Eddie flipped his board with his fingers before hopping on and skating away.

“Hey, lover boy!” Lucas shouted, breaking Steve from his gaze. “Quit staring at his ass and drive us home! We’re hungry.”

Steve shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and mumbled about his stupid kids before climbing into the car.

------------

Steve was at Scoops Ahoy working with Robin when the gang barged in. Steve sighed as Dustin paraded up Steve and slammed a poster on the counter.

“If this is for another lost dog,” Steve said, “I’m not helping you look. Last time we went on one of those little adventures, I nearly ended up with a broken hip.”

“Yeah, be careful, Dustin. Grandma here only wants one hip replacement at a time,” Max said, popping a bubble with her gum before giving Steve a smirk. He glared before sticking his tongue out at her.

“It’s for Corroded Coffin,” Mike said excitedly. Steve blinked at the kid before looking at the poster. It was definitely not what Steve would have designed for whatever event it was advertising. It had a big, black craggy font with “corroded coffin” on the top, followed a rock and roll style collage, with things like chains, cigarettes, devil’s horns and leather clothes. Steve raised his eyebrows.

“And do I want to know what the Corroded Coffin is?” He asked skeptically, trying to find more information on the poster. He spotted a date, time and “Hawkins High Gym”.

“It’s a concert,” Dustin piped up. “For Eddie’s band.” Steve’s eyes snapped up. He sensed Robin eye him weirdly. Steve cleared his throat.

“And why are we going to one of Eddie’s concerts?” He asked, hoping they wouldn’t notice the choked tone his voice took at the mention of the skater boy, let alone the idea of seeing him play in his band. Eddie was a very passionate person. Seeing how Eddie had lit up the other night while Max landed that skate trick at been engrained in Steve’s memory, as much as he didn’t want it to be. Eddie was most likely going to be just as passionate about his music as he was about skating, if not more so.

“Because Eddie asked us to go,” Dustin said excitedly. “Can we go? It’ll be fun.”

“Eddie did ask for you to come too,” Will added. Steve glanced at the kid. He was wearing that shy little smile of his. Steve could see the excitement in the boy’s eyes. Steve sighed and looked at the rest of the group. Max was the only one who didn’t look particularly excited, but when was she ever, honestly. At least not like the boys were. Steve groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.

“Fine,” He mumbled into his hands. The kids all cheered. Max playfully punched his arm before they all paraded out of the ice cream shop, talking about how they had to let Eddie know right away. Steve groaned and thunked his head against the counter.

“You’re done for, dingus,” Robin said with teasing sympathy, patting his back. Steve groaned again.

-----------

Steve could not believe it. He was at the very front of the small crowd waiting for Corroded Coffin, surrounded by his kids. Dustin insisted they all wear black to “look the part”. The little twerp was even sporting some eye liner, courtesy of Eddie. Max was wearing one of Eddie’s leather jackets, but it was at least 5 sizes too big, so she was constantly adjusting the sleeves. Mike was wearing a black Iron Maiden shirt, and even Will got into the bit by wearing chunky boots. Joyce was probably just happy that Will was going out with friends, since it was something he did so rarely nowadays. Lucas was wearing a denim vest similar to the one Eddie wore all the time, complete with a cut shirt of a band Steve had never heard of attached to the back with safety pins.

Steve looked at his own outfit. He was wearing all black, but not as extreme as the others. He pulled a plain black polo out of the back of his closet, but it was a couple sizes too small, so it highlighted a bit too much of him for this environment. At this rate, Eddie was going to think Steve was revealing himself for Eddie, given how Eddie had already seen him in tights and Daisy Dukes, now this. And he most definitely was not doing that.

Soon, the lights went out, the crowd cheered and a loud guitar chord burst through the speakers. Steve jumped and covered his ears as the crowd screamed, including the kids. Steve tried to collect himself but then he saw Eddie.

Steve realized he might be done for.

Eddie was wearing black eye liner, his hair looked extra fluffy and touchable, and a leather vest. With no shirt. He also wore tight jeans and combat boots. Steve gulped, staring at the series of necklaces that laid against Eddie’s bare chest. Eddie was parading onto the stage, strumming his guitar, sapping up the crowd’s energy. Eddie stuck his tongue out and burst into a guitar solo. The crowd screamed even louder. Steve stared. Eddie flicked his hair back and soon other instruments burst from the speakers. It was then that Steve realized the rest of the band had come out and they were starting to play a song. Eddie wandered the stage with the singer, playing his absolute soul out on the guitar, and Steve couldn’t help but be mesmerized.

The way Eddie’s fingers flew over the strings, the way his forearms flexed slightly as he played, the dances and jumps he did when the crowd cheered. That bright midday smile on his face. Steve could feel himself smiling too.

Oh, yeah. He was done for.

[emsgoodthinkin]

my imagination cannot pick

Older Business man Mr. Steve Harrington and escort you 💎💴🖤💋 (Pretty Woman)

vs.

Dancer Steve Harrington and forbidden dancer you 💃🤞❤️ 🎀 (Dirty Dancing)

[stupditysholy]

coming someday…

[afewproblems]

Here is a Ballet Dancer!Steve/Fruity Four Dancer AU - courtesy of @magpiemuseum and this post! Thank you for sending this! I adore this idea!!

I’ll diverge from it slightly and suggest that Steve and Nancy met through ballet.

They dance together, are often partnered with one another in productions, they work well with one another and start dating fairly quickly, it works. Steve loves Nancy, and she seems to care about him deeply as well. But after Will and Barb go missing and only Will comes home, well…

Nancy just doesn’t have the heart to stick with it after that.

So she moves into jazz to express some of that anger and grief. Karen is disappointed in her daughter, that she didn't stick with it the way Karen did but she isn't going to be like her own mother, not again, so she agrees. Nancy has a knack for it, picking up the movements and techniques quickly, just like everything she does, it's with fiery, furious determination.

Steve keeps going with ballet, he's only allowed to because his teachers insist he's good enough to get a free ride to any school once he graduates. His father begrudgingly agrees but never attends another production after Steve turns 15. They don't talk about it.

The multiple concussions over the years eventually begin to affect his performance, the fight with Jonathan, the plate with Billy, the one lift another dancer in their company attempted as a joke during break that ended with Steve having to go to urgent care for stitches. Just his luck.

Now, he can't even handle one rotation in a pirouette without having to sit down until the spots in his vision go away.

He keeps at it, practicing, avoiding spins as much as possible, but since this won't enable him to get into college and his grades are slipping with the absenses and lack of interest, his father finally has the opportunity to tell him its over.

Steve starts at Scoops the day after graduation.

He meets Robin, it's not an immediate spark which is fine by Steve, he's still mourning the loss of his company and all the friends he had made along the way, the wonderful instructors he met over the years. Robin ignores him for the most part until she catches him in the back room one day, humming along to a Madonna song on the mall speaker system as he easily jumps through a pas de chat across the small space.

She interrogates him about this, but it's not as though he ever hid his ability, it's just not something he ever did through school. He had swimming for that.

She studies him for a moment before launching into a quick tap solo as Tiffany's, I Think We're Alone Now, plays softly in the background.

Steve claps with the biggest grin on his face as Robin shyly explains how she's been taking tap for years, in between band practice and the drama club, she hopes it will help her get to Julliard eventually.

It's better after that.

And after the Russians and the awful truth-serum makes its way out of their system, they sit in the bathroom stalls of Star Court. Steve tells her he's never felt like this with almost anyone else, and Robin closes her eyes.

She tells him about Tammy Thompson, and about Nancy Wheeler who she's seen in passing after tap, aggressively dancing in the small studio in Indianapolis her mother takes her to. She tells him that she'd always been jealous of how they'd look at him, how they would never look at her that way, and how it crushed her.

And Steve gets it. He slides under the stall to sit with her, and his heart hurts as he sees her tense up in front of him, he can't have that.

Steve bites his lip as he softly tells her about the guy in their company, the one who had tried the lift with him, you know, as a joke. The one Steve had tried to kiss the day before, not as a joke.

Danny had insisted it was fine, he wasn't interested in Steve like that, but they could still be friends and it didn't have to be weird.

And then he dropped him the next day. You know, accidentally, as a joke.

Robin grabs his hand at this and squeezes it tightly.

He tells her Tammy Thompson sounds like a Muppet so maybe they both have terrible taste.

They don't talk about Nancy. Not quite yet.

After Star Court burns down they are inseparable, two halves of the same heart, platonic soulmates Robin will say in the same breath as she calls him dingus.

He loves it.

They start at Family Video together, complain about Keith and his aggressive annoyance with Steve, but the job is easy enough and actually pays a dollar above minimum wage so Steve tries not to complain too too much. They dance in the break-room, Robin tries to show him some simple tap sequences while Steve corrects her positions. It's harder for Steve to nail down the foot rhythm, but the movements are easy enough. Robin is a little stiff, but she manages to eventually mimic the positions enough to satisfy Steve.

But if course it couldn't last.

Vecna nearly tears apart the world, he succeeds with tearing apart Hawkins and the Upside Down monstes rear their ugly flower faces once again. They meet Eddie, Hopper comes back from the dead, they close the gates, and Steve carries Eddie out of the depths of hell without bleeding out.

Max dies, or nearly dies, the explanation goes over his head as they sit in the waiting room of the hospital after Steve is finally stitched and bandaged up.

They all make it.

It's a long road to recovery, especially for Max with the extensive damage to her eyes and legs, but eventually she walks again, now with a cane which she uses to catch Mike in the ankles every chance she gets, so it helps.

Mike has no idea how she always knows it's him, it's baffling.

It's harder for Steve to move now with the build-up of scar tissue on his sides, it isn't until he cries out in pain after trying a simple jete that he grieves yet another loss.

He stops dancing after that.

Steve tries to be happy for Robin and Nancy, who finally, finally, start dating. Jonathan seems to understand, but his grief has always been quiet. Argyle helps, the two of them are seen together more often than not in the wake of Jon and Nancy's breakup. Steve knows exactly how it feels not to have someone to lean on in the aftermath of Nancy Wheeler. He's happy for them, or he tries to be.

He wishes he had that.

Steve still see's Robin, they are soulmates after all, but it isnt quite the same anymore. Nancy seems to have taken up the mantel of the other half of Robin's heart, and Steve?

It's fine. He's fine.

He starts spending a lot of time with Eddie. They commiserate about the kids and their attitude, Steve tells Eddie more about the Upside Down and how he  got roped into it all.

The topic of dance comes up as an accident.

Eddie makes a comment about college and the future which prompts Steve to snort. It isn't as though he has any options anymore, he can't continue with ballet, he barely had the grades to graduate, he's going nowhere fast.

Eddie looks at him, his face surprised at first, whether by the information or by the dejected tone of Steve's voice.

He tells him about his own experience with dance, how after his uncle took him in that he found channeling his frenetic and nervous energy into contemporary dance.

Pouring his breath and emotions into the movements, it's always helped to slow his brain down from the constant mile-a-minute thoughts that used to over take him.

He tells Steve that despite the new scars that littler his torso, he's managed to keep up with the movements, that the practice seems to even help with the pain.

Steve is enraptured by the description, a small flicker of hope burns in his chest as he asks to see in a small voice.

Steve is immediately blinded by the 1000 watt smile Eddie gives him.

And oh.

Oh he's in trouble.

Eddie is beautiful when he dances, it's a fascinating departure from the precision of ballet and even the fast pace of tap that Robin has shown him. Eddie left his hair down so the curls sweep around him as he moves.

This is all storytelling and emotion, it's deliberate but free, and Steve can hardly breathe as Eddie finishes.

"So what's the verdict big boy?" Eddie pants as he pushes his wild curls out of his flushed face.

Fuck, and that image alone has Steve blushing as well.

Steve swallows roughly, "Think you could show me a thing or two Eds," he murmurs softly as Eddie laughs.

They spend the rest of the afternoon with Eddie correcting Steve's posture and positions, slowly directly his movement, and letting his hands linger on Steve.

He's still physically sore by the end of it, and he wants nothing more that a couple of tylenol and a long warm bath once he heads home for the night, but Eddie's smile and the memory of his hands and gentle patience leave Steve feeling warm and hopeful for the first time in a long time.

He doesn't have to give up something that had been such a large part of himself for so long.

He can still dance.

It feels like he can breath again.

Steve goes to sleep that night and dreams of dancing with Eddie.

And in this one, he doesn't drop him, not once.

[ro-doodles]

Where are the ballerina Steve AUs?!

I want Steve who started taking ballet lessons to help with sports and found he really loves dance and is really good at it. I want Steve keeping his dance a secret because stupid macho stereotypes. I want Eddie finding out and seeing Steve be super graceful and athletic and getting super flustered.

Give me Ballerina Steve!

[ohwowimlonley]

What if

He was a punk

And he did ballet

[italiansteebie]

Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer

also on ao3

TW// TW// Steve gets drugged in this story, there's attempted rape, nothing explicit but the themes are present. Please protect yourself and do not read if this is going to trigger or upset you in anyway.

Eddie had been sitting at the bar, mindlessly tapping his fingers along with the song that played over the speakers. Robin had told him about the bar a few weeks ago, a safe place y'know? And he finally worked up the courage to go. 

He was playing it cool, came alone to check out the scene. 

He’d just gotten a refill when he spotted him. There on the dance floor, in all his glory, was Steve Harrington, just, going to town. He was swaying his hips, and he was actually… Good. 

Eddie would look like a total idiot if he tried to go out there like that but with Steve, it looked beautiful, natural almost. And the outfit he was wearing just accentuated it all. Short, tight cutoffs and a flowy crop top that looked like it came out of Nancy’s closet. Honestly, he wouldn’t be that surprised if it did come out of her closet. 

The song was over almost as quick as it started and the sensual movements were over, Eddie felt disappointed, almost. Based on the cheering from the bartender and the other patrons, this dance moment was a regular occurrence. 

“He’s good isn’t he?” The voice startled him out of his trance, “Uh, what?” He said, ever so eloquent. The bartender smirked, “He’s a good dancer, right? He comes almost every Friday night and just… Lets loose. It’s kind of admirable.” She smiled in Steve’s direction. They watched as the patrons surrounded Steve, a few being more aggressive with their grabs and cheers, and Eddie darkened. He turned back to the bartender who also had a sour look on her face, “Yeah. That’s been happening a lot. We’ve had to walk him out to his car on more than one occasion. We’ve even banned a few people for the way they treat him. I feel bad. I don’t even know his name.” 

Eddie sighed, “It’s Steve,” The bartender raised her eyebrow, “You’re not some kind of stalker are you?” Eddie laughed, “No, no. We’ve got mutual friends, and we’re… acquaintances.” The bartender laughed, “So, that means you guys are dancing around the feelings y’all have for each other, right?” Eddie blushed at that, she got it just by talking to him for five minutes, was he really that obvious? 

Steve caught his eye and waved excitedly, “Eddie! Hey!” He cheered, walking his way towards the bar, “Your usual honey?” The bartender asked to which Steve nodded enthusiastically. Steve got his drink, and they talked for a minute, small talk, nothing of substance. “I’m gonna go mingle, see ya later Eds!” 

And then Eddie didn’t see him for a while, but when he did… Something was very, very wrong. 

He watched carefully as a guy draped Steve’s languid body over him, as he got closer, Eddie could see the way his pupils were blown wide, and the lazy smile on his face. He tensed as the guy practically carried Steve out the front door. He followed them quickly, making it to the parking lot just as the guy reached his car. Steve seemed to recognize him in his haze, slumped against the car, “Eddieeeee, heyyyy.” It was dragged out and weak. The guy glared at him, “Look pal, I don’t care if you guys talked earlier, he’s mine, so move along.” The guy made a shoo-ing motion, hushing Steve harshly when he let out a whimper. “You’re holding my arm too tight, it hurts,” He weakly pushed the guy's hand away, Eddie got closer, and the guy puffed up at him. “Steve. Do you want to go with this douche?” Steve shook his head, “I don’t feel good, I wanna go home Eds.” The guy shoved at Eddie’s shoulder, making him stumble “I’m taking him home, so back off ‘Eds’.” 

Oh, so this guy wanted a fight. He pushed Eddie around, postured up, and obviously slipped something in Steve’s drink, so yeah. He was gonna get a fight. The douchebag released his grip on Steve, causing him to fall against the asphalt, groaning at the impact. 

After the upside down, Eddie took it upon himself to learn how to fight, and the guy being drunk off his ass, would go down like a sack of potatoes with one punch. So they postured, Eddie let the guy get comfortable, land a few hits, before he reared back and punched him square in the jaw. The guy hit the ground, knocking his head on the curb as he fell. He was out cold, Eddie couldn’t bring himself to care. 

He picked Steve up from his spot on the ground, “You okay, baby?” Steve whimpered but nodded, Eddie pressed a kiss to his temple, and set him in his van. He locked Steve inside, before heading back into the bar to let the bartender know what happened. “He’s out front passed out on the curb so you know who to look for.” The bartender sighed sadly, and nodded, “Looks like another ban, go take care of Stevie, okay?” Eddie nodded curtly and jogged back to his van.

By the time he got there Steve was asleep, leaning against the window, curled up in the seat. Eddie sighed as he got into the van, staring at Steve for a minute before starting it up and making his way home. 

He carried Steve bridal style into the trailer, Wayne casting a glance at him before sighing, “Oh, Eddie.” Eddie scoffed, “I didn’t do anything, Wayne, I saved him from some asshole who drugged him, okay?” Wayne shook his head. “I have no doubts that you did, son. Always had a soft spot for the strays.” He hummed, turning back to the flickering TV. “Make sure to keep him on his side, son.” Wayne called as Eddie walked back into his bedroom. 

Eddie laughed softly, “And I’m the one with the soft spot, huh, old man?” He asked quietly, more to himself than anyone else. 

—--

When Steve woke up, he didn’t know where he was, he thrashed about in the bed before finding his bearings and prepared to sneak out of whoever’s house he was in. He sat up and took in his surroundings, he knows this place, Eddie’s trailer. He remembers seeing Eddie at the bar last night… Did he? No. Eddie wouldn’t do that. Just then Eddie walked into the room, Steve failing to hold back a flinch. “Oh, Stevie.” “Uh, what. How did I get here?” Eddie smiled sadly, “Someone dropped something in your drink last night, baby.” He said softly, watching as Steve’s eyes cast downwards and well up with tears, “Not again,” He whimpered. “This has happened before?” Eddie asked, keeping his tone soft, Steve nodded, “Usually the bartender finds me before anything happens.” Eddie sighed, brushing the hair off Steve’s forehead. 

“Thanks for taking care of me last night, Eddie.”

“Always, Stevie. Now that I’m here, I’ll always take care of you.”

And he kept his promise, attending every dance session, walking out with him, arms wrapped around each other's waists, always holding his drink, never letting him out of his sight. They took care of each other, until it involved into something a little bit more, something a little softer. It was good for them, and soon Steve’s solo dance sessions turned into couples dance sessions. Maybe Eddie was a little awkward and floppy, but Steve wouldn’t haven’t any other way. They wouldn’t have it any other way.

[neonponders]

Billy had no idea what to wear to a ballet. He didn’t have a tuxedo. He’d grown out of the only suit he possessed. And the worst part of it, Robin being the only girl he could go to for such input, proved no help at all.

“I was going to ask you and Steve! But Steve’s Houdini-ing all over the place—it’s a wonder he even got my ticket to me in person.”

Indeed, Steve only got Billy his own ticket because Billy had taken to spending the night at Chez Harrington on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Which was extra weird with Max in tow, but that key was getting mileage since Billy had to take her home before midnight.

Now he and Robin faced reality: they had to ask an expert. The only person available to them was Robert Harrington.

[bmodiwrites]

Ever wondered what a Steddie Coyote Ugly AU would look like? Steve is a bouncer at the notorious club while Eddie lights up the bar with his combat boots and easy dance moves. Read to find out why you just can't stop the moonlight.

Steve didn’t really understand the gem of a place he was in until an hour into his shift when the lights went down, the bar’s residual noise vanishing with them.

“Ladies and gentleman,” Joyce said from the far end of the bar, holding a microphone to her lips. “It’s time for my favorite portion of the evening. I know everyone’s here for a good time, so let’s get the party started.”

Steve watched as everyone in the bar clapped loudly, almost on cue. That died down the moment music started to play. It was a tune that Steve didn’t recognize, something kind of country, though dark and eerie, too.

“First up on the bar is Fancy Nancy,” Joyce shouted into the microphone, making everyone cheer.

A spotlight jumped to the bar where a pretty brunette was climbing up to stand atop of it. She was wearing a bright colored dress that flowed like water down around here. As she spun, the wide skirt flared up and moved with her. Nancy pirouetted one more time before landing perfectly in her chunky cowboy boots. She looked up and smiled at the crowd, flicking her hair at everyone playfully.

The light cut back to Joyce who was grinning from ear to ear. “Up next is our long legged bombshell, Robin!”

Unlike Nancy who moved with grace, Robin clambered up onto the bar, slamming her cowboy boots against the surface. She wore jeans that hugged her legs, leaving nothing to the imagination. When Robin moved, her body demanded the eye’s attention. She didn’t need a flowy skirt or loud colors to draw focus. Robin danced with a precision that made it hard to look away.

The next two girls were announced with the same fan fair, though Steve wasn’t nearly as mystified. He was starting to shift his attention back to the crowd to actually do his job when the atmosphere changed completely. The crowd started to stomp their feet in that boom-boom rhythm that Steve recognized from one of Queen’s most famous songs. The clap followed, yanking a happy laugh from Steve’s chest.

Joyce’s voice got serious as she pointed to the large gap on the bar the crowd was anxious for her to fill. “Last but most certainly not least, one of Coyote’s favorites, our dark horse, the devil in black – Eddie!”

Steve’s eyes widened as the most beautiful man he’d ever seen jumped onto the bar. His hips and mile long legs were covered in black leather that clung tighter than Robin’s jeans. Unlike the rest of the crew on the bar, Eddie’s feet were covered in combat boots that moved each time Eddie slammed his foot on the wooden surface. Narrow hips were framed by a leather vest that was barely tied together, showing off Eddie’s stomach and chest. His long curls shifted uncontrollably around him as Eddie spun on his toes, light as air.

Read the rest of Chapter 1 on AO3

[stevesbipanic]

Ok ok ok hear me out.... Ballerina Steve.