#the upside down

[storiesforallfandoms]

My friend sent me this meme, and gave me the idea to make this variation of it:

Please enjoy everyone.

[alyxdrawsthings]

The flickergate theory is real and no one can change my mind ✨

Heard about @bylerween2023 and was compelled to draw something last night

[orcdaddy]

I spent a whole day, 12+ hours on this, all because you Tumblr hos are encouraging my Billy art so hard, but I also wanted to jump on this art trend. Revamped The Fallen Angel with Flayed Billy Hargrove. The elements were just perfect to replicate with ‘Stranger Things’ scenery and fauna.

Had to make him thiccer in the torso, cuz Billy has the biggest endomorph body ratio I’ve seen and I am HERE for it.

YOU BETTER FUCKING APPRECIATE THIS, I SPENT SO GODDAMN LONG ON IT.

DIDN’T I DO IT

FOR YEW???

[elya-art16]

“You’ve been waiting all this time.”

[buzzcut-pinkdress]

[myeuphoricmindset]

As the world burns | Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Summary | You’ve been surviving in The Upside Down with Eddie for months, but tonight you and Eddie know you’re dying. So, would you sleep with the last person alive if it was Eddie Munson?

“Do you remember when you were younger and someone would ask if you’d sleep with a certain person if they were the last person on earth?”

You swallow. “Yes.”

“Well, here we are.”

Warnings/Tags | 18+ Unprotected sex, Hair pulling, Soft Dom Eddie (if that’s a thing?), Talks about death and world ending, Comfort Eddie, This one-shot is not about fighting or the Upside Down, it's focused on Eddie and the reader during their final night. Please let me know if I missed a warning.

Word count | 3.8k

Just keep moving. One foot in front of the other. Control your breathing. Don't let them hear you. Don’t stop.

Don’t stop.

Don’t stop.

It’s not unusual for you to disassociate during fearful situations. You’ve been doing this for so long that your body knows the motions and your mind wanders to keep you from panicking.

You focus on the back of Eddie’s jacket as you run behind him. DIO is the three-letter word that you say over and over in your head. You’ve asked Eddie about the band during the late nights of hiding beneath the trees. He is always happy to tell you about their music. Metal bands were never your thing and the you before The Upside Down wouldn’t have cared about Dio, but you’re not the person you were before. When living in darkness for so long you’re desperate to hear about anything that brings joy, especially when it’s bringing Eddie joy.

The crunch of twigs under your feet breaks your focus on your thoughts and you snap back to reality. Your leg gets caught in something and before you have a chance to look at what it is —you fall. A sharp pain ripples through your foot and you let out a cry.

“Shit! Are you okay?” Eddie says with panic in his voice. He kneels and touches your leg. His eyes are filled with fear as he meets your eyes.

“I-I’m okay.” You try standing up, but bite down on an uncontrollable whimper.

Eddie instantly wraps his arm around your waist, tossing your arm over his shoulder and lifting you. “I’ve got you.” He looks around the woods, making sure you both aren’t in danger. Loud screeching above grabs your attention and Eddie tightens his grip around your hip. “We’ve gotta keep moving. The cabin isn’t far. Will you be okay with my help?”

You nod. “Yes, let’s go.”

With Eddie’s support, you both make it to the cabin. He was right, it wasn’t far. Relief washes over you when the door closes behind you both and Eddie helps you down on the dusty couch. It’s obvious this place hasn’t seen a soul in years or maybe ever. The logistics of The Upside Down are hard to grasp. You only know that it’s a direct reflection of the real world. Is there a family currently sitting on this couch in the real world? Are they happy? Are they warm and safe? These are thoughts that always run through your mind when you and Eddie find a new place to hideout.

“There, that should hold,” Eddie says as he shifts the dining table in front of the door. He wipes his hands on his black jeans and takes a deep breath before joining you on the couch.

“I’m sorry. I should have been paying attention.” You say as you look down at your foot which is still tender.

Eddie looks at you. “Don’t apologize. Things happen. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

You hold his stare. His big brown eyes bring you so much comfort in this horrible world. You could have been stuck with anyone here, but you got stuck with Eddie Munson and that alone gives you hope for the future. Maybe someday you both will get out of here alive and live a happy and safe life.

Stop.

Stop telling yourself lies. This is it. There is no life outside of this. There is no happy ending. After months of running this is where it ends. It’s time to accept it.

“Does it even matter if I’m okay or not? We will be dead soon anyway.” You sigh and sink into the couch.

“You’re right. I just don’t like that you’re in pain near the end.” Eddie says softly.

“It’s just tender.”

Eddie looks at you and then around the cabin. “It looks different.”

“You’ve been here before?”

Eddie stands up and walks around the small living space. “A few times. This cabin belongs to Hopper. It’s the safest place I could think of for our…” he trails off and then clears his throat. “Final hours.”

You sit up on the couch and watch Eddie as he looks around. You never knew Eddie or his life before you found him unconscious in this dreadful place. You didn’t care who he was before, you were just so happy to not be alone. Trying to survive alone for two months does something to you. You end up so desperate for human contact that it ends up driving you insane. Eddie was a fallen angel in this place you call hell. You may have healed him, but he saved you.

“I’m glad we are together. You know, in the end.” You say. And you mean that. You’re glad to be with Eddie in the end. As this world burns up you’re at peace knowing you won’t burn alone.

“Me too.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. It’s hard to genuinely smile when you know you’re dying soon. Eddie leans against the doorframe and looks at you. His eyes soften as he takes you in from a distance. You rest your head on the couch cushion and stare back. A small smile spreads on his face.

“What?” You ask.

He doesn’t answer right away. His eyes drink you up. The weight of his stare has you shifting a little. “You’re beautiful. Do you know that?”

You roll your eyes as your cheeks burn. “Stop,”

His expression turns serious. “I’m not lying. You deserve to hear that. It should really be the last thing you hear.”

“Maybe it will be if you don’t die before me.” You say teasingly. It’s weird to joke in a situation like this, but it’s the only thing to keep you sane.

“That’s not going to happen.” He assures you as he walks back to the couch and sits next to you.

“How do you know? You could trip over something and hit your head on the counter. Or you could choke on a chip from our last remaining bag. Anything is possible.”

He laughs. “Imagine if a chip took me out. After everything I’ve been through that’s what got me. A chip.”

Now you’re laughing. “Yeah, forget the Demobats or Vecna. Watch out for the damn chips.”

Laughter fills the cabin and it’s as if the walls haven’t heard such a pleasant sound in so long that it echoes your voices, needing more.

As you catch your breath you imagine what’s to come and your smile slowly fades. “Where do you think we would be right now if we didn’t notice the atmosphere cracking?”

You think about it often. Where you would be and what you would be doing if Eddie didn’t realize that the cracks in the atmosphere were early signs of the Upside Down being destroyed. Eddie believes that Eleven found a way to take down this world. The first signs were the doors being sealed shut. There is no way in or out —no way to go back home. That’s when you both started to focus on surviving here. Until you can’t. Now there are fires consuming everything here. It started small and now it’s almost impossible to find shelter that’s not burned down. Today the sky is on fire and you both know, this is it.

“I don’t know. Probably running the streets looking for the next place to sleep.” He answers.

“Speaking of sleep, does this place have a decent bed? I don’t think I can sleep on the floor another night. My back is killing me from last night.” The thought of that hard ground in the woods makes you tense.

Eddie chuckles and stands up, offering you his hand. “You think I wouldn’t find a bed for our last night?”

You smile and follow him into the bedroom. Eddie removes the comforter that’s covered in dust, revealing the sheets in good condition. The pillows get tossed too. You are used to using your arm as a pillow now anyway.

Eddie and you strip off the dirty clothes from the day, leaving you both in your underwear. He is shirtless, but you’re thankful that your tank top is still clean to sleep in. This is normal. You aren’t fazed by sleeping in bed with Eddie anymore. It’s become a comfort to lay next to him at night. In a world of nightmares, you find yourself dreaming peacefully. But, tonight is possibly your last night alive and sleeping seems nearly impossible.

“Eddie?” You whisper into the silence.

“Mm?”

“Are you falling asleep?”

“No, not sure I can.” He says softly.

“Me either.”

A loud screech from outside catches you off guard and you jump causing the bed to shake.

“It’s okay. They won’t find us here. Not tonight.” Eddie says as he shifts in bed to face you. He lightly rubs your arm. He’s only ever touched you in comfort as a friend. You guys have never crossed the line between friends and lovers, even with the noticeable tension between you both. The lingering stares and soft touches have always been laced with something more.

“Can you hold me?” You ask nervously. Tonight you are not alone. Eddie is here, next to you, as the world ends. But somehow it’s not enough. You need to feel him. Because when everything goes black his voice isn’t the only thing you want to hold onto.

Eddie doesn’t answer, he simply wraps his arms around you and pulls you into him. You inhale sharply. Your body immediately relaxes. He feels like a warm blanket.

“Is that better?” He whispers in your ear.

You can’t form words, so you just nod. He nuzzles his head in the crook of your neck. You can feel him inhale and exhale, his chest rising and falling against your back. When he exhales a breath it spills over your chest sending goosebumps down your body.

“Are you cold?” He asks.

“No, I’m fine.” You’re more than fine, but you don’t say that.

His fingers brush over your arm and you freeze, forgetting how to breathe.

“Are you sure? You have goosebumps.”

You smile, even though he can’t see it. “It’s not because I’m cold. It’s your breath on my skin.”

“Oh.” He says softly.

He moves his head back slightly, his lips brushing your neck and he breathes. He breathes slowly and deeply, letting his breath hit your neck. He’s teasing you, being playful like he always is, but you can’t help the small moan that escapes your lips. Your eyes go wide and you bring your hand to your mouth in embarrassment.

Eddie laughs softly and squeezes his arms around your waist. “I haven’t heard a sound like that in…shit, I don’t know.”

Your face turns red. “Well, you won’t hear it again.” You smack his arm, still embarrassed.

Eddie’s laugh lingers and then fades. He pulls you even closer, and now you can feel him completely against your backside. He brings his mouth back to your ear. “Is it wrong to wonder what it would be like?” He whispers.

“What?”

“To touch you. Kiss you.” His lips brush your ear. “Fuck you.”

Your breath catches. “You don’t know what you're talking about.”

Eddie scoffs quietly. “I know exactly what I’m thinking about.” His thumb brushed over the hem of your tank top. “Aren’t you curious?”

“Eddie…”

“Do you remember when you were younger and someone would ask if you’d sleep with a certain person if they were the last person on earth?”

You swallow. “Yes.”

“Well, here we are.” He pulls you onto your back as he sits on his forearm, looking down at you. “And my question is…would you?” His voice is low and it brings back the goosebumps that once disappeared.

You take in his question, thinking about it as if you don’t already know the answer. But you hesitate because even though you feel lucky in this situation—maybe he’s not. Maybe he’s settling because this is what the cards have dealt him and he can’t do anything about it. You don’t want to be the ‘well, what other choice do I have’.

You sigh. “I don’t want to be the pity last fuck.”

“Are you joking?”

“No. I’m serious.” You say, turning back to your side and away from him.

He laughs. “I’m sorry, I’m confused. Do you really think you would be a pity fuck? No, you’ve got that wrong. Being with you in any capacity is a fucking privilege.”

You look over your shoulder to meet his eyes. He gives you a soft smile, but his eyes are serious. “Then, yes. My answer to your question is yes.”

Eddie's eyes glimmer with desire as he grabs you by the waist and pulls you back against him. His hair tickles your neck as he moves his head back to the crook of your neck. “How do you want it?” He asks, his lips brushing your neck again.

“Like it’s the last time.”

Eddie chuckles against your skin and you can’t help but laugh because it tickles. But that laugh turns into a gasp when Eddie lowers his head to kiss your collarbone as his fingers slide down with the outside of your panties and slowly back up. There is no hesitation in his touch as if he’s thought about doing this before.

He kisses up your neck as he moves his hand back down. He’s not wasting any time. You arch your back which causes your butt to press up against him. Eddie let’s put a moan in your ear. He’s already hard against you and he feels big.

“Can you feel me?” He says grabbing your hip as he pressed harder against you.

“Yes.” You breathe.

He grabs your hand and rubs it gently against the outside of his boxers. “Feel how turned on you make me?”

You nod as you feel him, your arm outstretched behind you. He’s against you like the big spoon and you’re the little one. You can't see his face, but you feel him everywhere. Eddie guides your hand from his boxers to your own breast. He brings your hand up your tank top and pulls your bra down enough to guide your hand to cup your breast. You’re confused but follow his lead.

His hand leaves yours and travels down your stomach to the seam of your panties. He whispers in your ear, “Touch yourself as I touch you. Imagine your hand as mine.”

“Okay,”

Eddie's fingers slip under your panties and travel between your legs. He uses his elbow to open your legs wider. His finger lightly moves over your clit and you think your eyes might have rolled back at his touch.

“Mm, Eddie…” You moan.

“Touch yourself. Let me see.”

You move your thumb over your nipple and massage your breast as you remember his request. It feels good, but it feels even better with his hand between your legs at the same time.

“That’s it.” He says watching you. “Doesn’t it feel good?” His finger moves in a perfect circular motion and you wonder if he’s playing you like his guitar.

“Yes, so good.”

“Good. Such a good girl.” He says between kisses on your neck.

His fingers move down where you are soaked for him. You hold your breath with anticipation. He rubs his index finger around your entrance, teasing you. “So wet. Fuck. I can’t wait to feel you.”

You’re aching so badly for him. You look over your shoulder and say, “Then feel me. I don’t want your fingers. I want all of you.”

A deep groan of delight comes from his throat. He doesn’t say anything. He grabs your panties and swiftly rips them off, causing you to jump. He kisses your shoulder and smiles, “Don’t think you need those anymore.”

“Probably not.” You laugh.

Eddie doesn’t change positions, he presses on your back in request to have you bend toward your knees a little. “Atta girl,” He says as he guides himself behind your legs. You’ve had sex before and you’re familiar with doggy style, and even though this is basically the same, laying down like this isn’t something you’ve tried before.

You can feel the tip of his cock press against you. You grab the edge of the mattress as you wait. Eddie slides his hand between your legs and slightly lifts your leg to gain more access. “Is this okay?” He asks.

“Yes.”

And within seconds he’s pushing into you. You suck in a breath at how big he feels inside you. You arch your back further, which gives him more access. He whimpers and drives into you deeper.

“Oh god,” You moan into the mattress. It’s slow but so good. The position he has you in is almost a tease at what he can do. As if he wanted a quick taste of what it’s like.

His fingers dig into your thigh as he moves in and out and his breath is warm against your ear. It’s dark in the room and you aren’t facing him so you are fully focused on his deep thrusts and every part of your body that he’s touching.

“You feel so good, I need more.” He says breathlessly.

Eddie pulls out, leaving you aching. He flips you on your back as he moves on top of you. He looks down at you and smiles. You notice his hand moving to his cock and he wraps his fingers around himself as he looks at you. “I like the way you feel on me.” He says as he moves his hand up and down his wet length.

You blush at the sight of him touching himself. “Oh?”

“Don’t be shy.” He leans down and kisses you.

His lips are soft and gentle. You almost melt into the mattress. His tongue slides over your bottom lip. You are about to give him access to your mouth but your lips part for him in a moan as he slides his cock into you. Eddie tastes the moan on your tongue. He tasting, touching, and fucking you so perfectly. There isn’t one part of his body that isn’t touching yours.

A loud bang and crack come from outside the cabin. The room is now a little brighter —a little warmer. Eddie notices the worry in your eyes and he kisses your cheek. “Stay with me. Focus on this.”

“Okay,” And as the world burns around you both, you moan Eddie’s name and drown yourself in love instead of fear.

Eddie thrusts harder and as he moves in and out he brings his mouth to your breasts. Your hands find his hair, needing something to grab onto.

“Fuck,” He moans against your nipple as you tug on his hair.

“You like that?”

He looks up at you with a devilish smile. “Mm, yes. Harder.” Eddie’s voice is low and primal.

His soft curls tangle around your fingers as you embed them deeper, getting a better grip. As Eddie pushes into you, your fingers pull back on his hair. He lets out a moan as his head falls back. A laugh spills from your lips and you bite his exposed throat lightly.

“Jesus H. Christ,” He groans. He kisses you hard as his hands grab your hips and he drives into you harder and faster.

You both are lost in each other as the world falls apart. This is exactly what you needed. Exactly what you wanted. And you know Eddie feels the same. He’s as desperate for you as you are for him.

Your body begins to shake as the warm build-up begins to reach its peak. Eddie looks at you and says between moans, “Together,” and you find his lips in answer. Stars flicker around the room as you come undone and the sound of Eddie’s release sends you riding the climax longer. His shaking body falls beside yours, still holding you close. He doesn’t let you go.

He plants small kisses against your shoulder. “Last person on earth or not and I’d still consider that the best fuck I’ve ever had.” You laugh and agree.

As you try catching your breath you seem acutely aware of the loud cracking and screeching outside the cabin. At first, you thought you were hot because of what just happened, but it’s the room. Your eyes flick to the window and notice a subtle red hue in the sky.

“It’s the fires. I think it’s happening.” Eddie says softly.

You look at him nervously. “Why aren’t you scared?”

He pulls you close. “I’ve died before —or at least thought I was dying. The first time I was in the arms of a friend, I wasn’t alone in what I thought were my final moments. And here I am again. I won’t be alone and I know that it’s peaceful when you’re lucky enough to be held by someone you love. I mean, fuck, I’m still scared as shit but I’m not alone and that sounds more terrifying.”

A tear rolls down your cheek. You both lay facing each other, almost nose to nose. The noises outside become louder and the red hue is illuminating the room. Eddie pulls the sheet over your heads as his eyes stay on yours.

“I’m right here with you. We are together. Okay?” Eddie says as he gently cradles your face in his hands.

“Okay,” You whisper.

You wrap your hands around his wrists as your legs intertwine together. You’re both so close that you could be one. The sheet covers you both creating a safety cocoon. There is another loud bang followed by the sound of something exploding. It shakes the cabin and vibrates the bed. You close your eyes in fear.

“Look at me,” Eddie says.

You take a breath and look at him. You’re already entering darkness soon, so why not enjoy the view before it’s gone forever? If Eddie’s brown eyes are the last thing you see then it’s the perfect way to go.

Eddie wipes a tear from your cheek with his thumb as he whispers, “You’re beautiful.”

‘You deserve to hear that. It should really be the last thing you hear.’ You don’t know if you’re crying because this is it, you’re dying, or if it’s because Eddie’s last words were for you.

A blinding light flashes in the room and a loud bang breaks through the cabin. Both of your eyes close with instinct and you hold your breath. You and Eddie cling to each other in hopes that you won’t lose each other as you enter the afterlife.

It’s silent.

Until it’s not.

“Eddie?” A faint female voice calls from a distance.

You both don’t move, completely frozen in each other's arms. Is this heaven? Is this hell?

“Eddie?!” Another voice calls. It’s a little deeper, but you can’t tell who it is. Or what’s going on.

You finally open your eyes and just as Eddie’s brown eyes meet yours the voice calls him again, but from inside the bedroom. Only feet away. The room that you thought you died in. This isn’t hell or Heaven, it’s home.

“Eddie, are you here?”

Eddie’s eyes go wide with shock and hope. Hope for our future, because this isn’t how it ends.

Only one word escapes Eddie’s lips before he smiles. “Dustin!”

**

Part 2:

[netflix]

Trauma monster coming through. whole timeline duck and cover!!!

[bebx]

I used my last brain cell to make these

[pinkeoni]

The Show is Telling Us That Will Shouldn’t Have Survived

Inspired by a conversation with @aemiron-main I wanted to point out how it seems that the show is deliberately telling us, that Will shouldn’t have been able to survive the Upside Down.

In season one, there is this brief exchange a lab worker and Joyce.

He makes note that the atmosphere is toxic, to which Joyce remarks “But my son’s in there.” There isn’t really a resolve to this line? We never hear how Will was able to survive, just this suggestion that his survival is odd without much elaboration.

And Will does seem pretty weak when he gets to the hospital, but this is also post-agressive Hopper CPR. Either way, Will was at least keeping alive until he was taken and had a vine shoved down his throat. Who knows how long he could’ve stayed alive without intervention.

And then we get this line about water from Erica in season 3—

So the human body will die without water, and yet Will survived in the specifically waterless Upside Down for a week?

I feel like these lines are here to plant the seed in the audiences mind that Will’s survival in the Upside Down is strange, and that there is something that is yet to be revealed in season 5.

[satan-wishes-he-was-me]

duffer brothers please let the metal head kiss the jock and the journalist kiss the talkative one and the sad gay nerd kiss the repressed gay nerd and the angry redhead kiss the telepathic one and the basketball player and the weed smoker kiss the other weed smoker and the-

[cat-cosplay]

Strange-purr Things

[interstellar-wanderer]

I think the funniest part about the whole 'Vecna' thing is that Peter kind of... still call himself Peter? and that a gang of teenagers from Hawkins took the Vecna Lore from DnD and used it as if it was his real identity, we all know they're gonna storm into the Creel's attic at some point and yell for him to come and fight

Dustin: Hey Vecna we are here to fight you to the death, show yourself you little sh*t!

Peter: *perched in dozen of tentacles waking up from his trance and seeing eight teenagers at his feet pointing at him with made-up weapons*

Peter: ...

Peter: I think you might have the wrong guy

[skyebounded]

Well Don’t! part i.

© Skyebounded, do not use my work, but you may share it.

.main masterlist. .stranger things masterlist.

premise:  Being in love with Steve Harrington comes with great difficulties.

Warnings: swearing, angst. SEASON 4 SPOILERS

WC: 3.7K

A/N: I can’t stop thinking about this boy, lord help me!

Fifteen minutes late, highly unlike you, but all things considered you felt it appropriate. You had been glued to the Tv watching the horrific news from the past few days unravel. Talk about a poor Hawkins student brutally murdered, on every channel. You couldn’t seem to pull yourself away from the staticy screen, not until your roommate strutted into the living room, reminding you that you had a job to get to. 

You hurried as quickly as you could, grabbing all of your things before you rushed out the door. You felt uneasy as you drove to work, thinking about that poor teen, and everything that their family might be going through. You had heard the rumors, the ones saying that Hawkins was cursed, diseased, and the more you thought about it, the more you started to agree. Nothing but heartache and tragedy lived in this town. 

You pull into the video store, spotting Steve’s car immediately, wondering what he would say as soon as you walked through the doors. Climbing out of the car you make your way into the store. 

“Did you guys see the news?” you blurt, ignoring the way that everyone all stopped dead in their tracks as if they were doing something that they didn’t want you to know about. Steve looks up at you, his eyes widening as if you had just caught him doing something he shouldn’t be. 

“Uh-?” he looks to Robin who looks as though she was going to be sick. 

It's then that you notice Steve’s ‘children’ standing behind the counter, leaning over Robin’s shoulder looking at the computer. 

“What-?” you point at the kids, looking to Steve for an explanation, your brows knitted together in confusion. Steve makes his way around the counter to greet you, grabbing your arms as he pulls you away to talk. 

“Hey you,” he says awkwardly, smiling quickly at you. 

You return the gesture, confused by his sudden odd behavior. 

“Hey,” you pause, “what's going on?”

Steve takes a deep breath, his eyes darting around the room. He was acting strange, and you couldn’t help but wonder why. He lets out a chuckle, wildly gesturing behind him, “they are um. it's funny actually, but um-you know.” 

You shake your head not understanding in the slightest what he was talking about. In the entire two years that you and Steve had become best of friends, you had never seen him so flustered.

“No actually, I don’t know Steve, that’s why I am asking?” you retort, bringing your arms to fold over your chest. Your eyes slowly start to narrow on him. 

He rubs the back of his neck, his smile faltering. “Um..” He was stumped, at a loss for words. Never, not once had you seen Steve Harrington at a loss for words. Normally all of this wouldn’t bother you, it's not like his ‘children’ ever really kept to the rules, especially not when it came to your place of work, or come to think of it,  anything for that matter. So seeing them behind the counter wasn’t what was bothering you, but it was the way that Steve seemed on edge, lost on an excuse to hide the truth of the matter. 

“Steve, we found it, Lipton!” Robin calls out. Steve looks at her, his brows shooting up, and you’re left trying to figure out what the hell is going on, his mouth slightly slack, clearly thinking of something to say. You look over his shoulder to see Dustin and Max collecting their things, and Robin scribbling down something on a piece of paper before they practically jump over the counter making their way over to the door. Steve’s eyes fall closed, sighing before he looks at you again. “I’ve got to go do something really quick, but we’ll be back soon, okay?” He pecks your cheek, which he never did, giving your hands a squeeze before all four of them rush out of the store and into Steve’s car, leaving you completely alone without any chance to ask questions. Odd. 

You had no time to process anything except for the fact that you were extremely confused, and slightly peeved at now realizing that you were left to work the shift alone. You stare around the empty store, gritting your teeth together as a bitter taste fills your mouth. You couldn’t help but feel like you had just been left out of something extremely important, and it didn’t sit well with you. 

********

Four hours, that's how long they had been gone. You kept replaying what Steve said, ‘real quick…be back soon’. 

  “Real quick, my ass,” you grumbled, shelving the fifth copy of Howard the Duck. You had been nothing but busy all day, tending to everything that desperately needed to be done before the new shipment of movies came in. Clearing the shelves to make room for all of them, reorganizing the displays for new ones to go out, and not to mention the growing amount of returns that needed to be logged. You’d also had a non-stop flow of customers in and out all day, each one needing more attention than you wanted to give. 

What didn’t help was the fact that it was Saturday, your busiest day of the week, and yet you were being forced to work it alone. Normally you wouldn’t mind it if it was any other given day, or if you’d had been given a heads up, but neither of those things had been presented to you. You were more than annoyed, and bordering on angry. There was nothing that you could think of that made sense as to why they all left you, and worst of all, with no idea as to where they were going or what they were doing. It felt like they had decided to skip out to do something ten times more entertaining, and you simply weren’t invited.  

“Excuse me, ma’am, can I get your help?” 

You let your head fall, taking a deep breath before you plaster on a smile and lookup. A tall lengthy boy was standing in the next aisle overlooking at you, his lips pressed into a thin line. 

“Yeah, what can I do for you?” 

With a quick smile, he says, “I was looking for Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke?” 

“Um, I believe we have it,” you make your way around to where he’s standing to see that there were no copies left. “Let me see if it's been returned,” you add.

“Okay, thanks.” 

You make your way over to the computer, signing when you hear the bell to the door, five new customers filing in. You shake the cursor, waking the computer to see someone's account still open. What caught your eye was the last movie on their account, ‘Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke….Late’ You look at the top of the screen, the name Rick Lipton at the top. 

You look around aimlessly for a moment, wondering why the name sounded familiar, only to realize that was the name Robin called out hours ago, right before they all hurried off. 

“Well?” 

Startled, you look at the boy, now standing in front of the counter looking at you. “It’s still checked out.” you snap.

The boy scowls at you before turning to leave. You grab a pen, and quickly write down the address, collecting your things and turning off the computer and lights. 

“Hey everyone, um-we're closing early, sorry but you all need to leave, now!” 

Nobody moves at first until you snap again, “Now!” You ignore the glares and snarky quips as you usher everyone out the door, following closely behind and locking it. You climb into your car and start it up, before setting off to investigate.

********

You weren’t sure what you were going to find out here, especially not with it being as dark as it was, and out in the middle of nowhere. You had hoped that you wouldn’t find Steve here, especially with it being so late, but there his car was, unmistakably so. You drag yourself out of the car, grabbing the flashlight that you so conveniently carried in your glove box, making your way up to the front of the house. Heartbeat hastening as you bring yourself to knock on the door. 

Looking around at the exceedingly dark woods behind you, a shiver runs up your spine, an unnerving feeling that someone was watching you.

“Hello? Steve?” 

You knock again, this time beating the door a little harder. 

“Steve, I know you’re in there! I see your car out here!” you move to peek through the window, flashing the light inside. If this was a joke you didn’t find it funny in the slightest, if anything it was beginning to make you angrier. 

“Steve! Robin!” 

You bang your hand against the glass, slowly making your way around the house, looking through each window. “This isn’t funny you guys! Hellooo?!” 

Something clatters in the distance, making you jump, your ears ringing as you look down towards the lake, not fond of the eerie feeling that was lingering in the night air. You catch a glimpse of a boathouse a few yards away, bordering the lake, and curse under your breath, as you slowly make your way down towards it.

“I swear to god if this is some sick prank I will strangle each of you,” you mumble. 

As you get closer the door opens and Steve appears, nearly scaring the shit out of you. “Shit! Steve.” you gasp, shining the light directly in his eyes. He throws his hands up to block the light as he makes his way up the hill to you, lowering the light in your hand once he does.

“What are you doing here?” He asks. 

You’re slightly taken aback by his tone, harsh and demanding as if you were the one who disappeared hours ago. 

“Excuse me?” you retort, taking a step back. 

“No seriously, y/n, what are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here! And how did you even-” he starts.

“You didn’t log out of the customer's account and so I took a wild guess! And as far as I am concerned Steve, I came to look for you, so that's why I am here, but the real question is why the hell are you here?” you say, gesturing wildly around you with the flashlight.

He runs his hands over his face, then through his hair, with a deep sigh. His hands find his hips, a stern and hostile look on his face. He wasn’t pleased, and that was easy to see, but why? You weren’t sure. 

“You need to leave, please I need you to leave now.” he instructs. 

You scoff at his statement, deciding that you plan to go nowhere without some explanations first. 

“No, you need to tell me what is going on, now,” you make sure to punctuate the last part. He shakes his head, firm on his standing. “Y/n, I’m not playing, you need to leave right now, okay? I will tell you what's going on later, but right now I am begging you, go home.” 

There was a hint of desperation and urgency to his tone, followed by the struggle for him to meet your gaze, as he kept looking behind you as if he expected to see someone standing there. The unsettled feeling growing deeper in your stomach. Something clearly wasn’t right, you didn't know what he was hiding, but no matter how hard you tried you couldn't seem to figure out what it was. Betrayal, hurt and most of all confusion, that's what you were feeling.

You look past him at the door, Robin’s head poking out along with Max and Dustin peeking out the windows. You sniff, fighting back the sudden urge to cry. Your jaw tenses, as you shake your head slowly. “Seriously, Steve?” you mumble. Your voice is becoming shaky. “Just tell me what-” 

“Y/n, leave. Now.” 

You nod your head slowly, biting the inside of your cheeks, “Okay..okay.” You turn on your heel, head held high and head back to your car, letting the tears fall down your cheeks. 

*******

You spent the entire night tossing and turning, wondering when Steve was going to come home, but much to your dismay he never did. Your mind had begun to wonder, thinking about the dead teen that had been found the other day, and you couldn't seem to stop picturing Steve in the very same situation, mangled and alone. You hadn’t had any sleep at this point, too busy watching the news to make sure you didn’t hear about another death. 

“Wow, you look like hell.” 

You manage to pull your gaze from the screen to see your roommate, Emma, on her way out for the day.

“Thanks” you retort. 

“Just this morning another body was discovered out by Lover’s Lake. The body is still unidentified, but what we do know is it was seemingly a male, somewhere around the age of sixteen to about twenty years old…”

You droned out after the words lovers lake and male. Panic started to rise inside you as flashes of Steve lying dead flooded you. You never should have left him last night. You should have just stayed, fought him harder, and forced him to tell you what was going on. 

“Hey, Steve’s home.”  

Letting out the breath that you didn’t know you were holding, you turn to look at Emma, who is currently peering out the kitchen window. You clammer your feet, albeit running to the door, and swinging it open. A look of surprise and relief formed on his face as you threw yourself into his arms. He grabs you, wrapping his arms tightly around your body, as he holds you in silence for a moment. 

“Oh my god, you’re okay,” you mutter into the crook of his neck. He pulls away from you, with a soft smile, “I’m okay,” he says. 

He pulls you inside, shutting the door after Emma, who was rushing out of the house. Steve looks at you, the same guilty, flustered look coming back to his face. 

“I just came home to grab some things,” he says, biting the inner corner of his cheek. 

You simply nod, still too relieved and dazed to ask any questions just yet. Steve moves around the house, collecting all manner of things, muttering to himself. 

“Have you seen the news today?” you ask, standing frozen in front of the television.

He doesn’t respond, just continues his search for god knows what. The unease starts to set in again as he makes his way to the garage door, pulling it open and disappearing inside.

“Steve! Steve talk to me.” you call out, following behind him.

“I’ve just got to get a few things and then-” he trails off like he doesn't want to finish his sentence. 

You move over to him, grabbing his arm, “Can you stop for a moment!“ you pull him away from the toolbox, pulling him to face you. “What are you doing?” you ask, watching as his body stiffens and his jaw tenses. You can see the bags under his eyes, he almost held the look of a crazed man who hasn't slept in ages. “Talk to me, what is going on? What happened yesterday?” you continue.

He just looks at you, his eyes glazed over and his lips pressed together. 

“Steve?” you press

“Nothing, it's nothing.” His tone is dismissive and harsh, as he turns back to sift through a box full of random shit. You were tired of the empty and vague answers, or even the lack thereof. He had given you nothing and it wasn’t going to fly anymore. 

“That's bullshit, Steve! I am your best friend and I deserve an explanation. You can’t keep hiding things from me.” you snap.

“I can’t tel-…” “Do you know what this feels like Steve? It feels like I am completely left behind, watching everything from afar. Everyone knows everything but me, I am always four steps behind, and I hate it. It's humiliating. I have done nothing but worry, and panic and you have done nothing but lie to me! Feeding me bullshit, when I can clearly see that you are hiding something, that all of you are! “Do you know that there is a fucking killer on the loose? Two dead bodies already, Steve! two!” you pause, sniffing as you blink your tears away, “I don’t know when we started keeping secrets from each other, but I hate it Steve, I fucking hate it. So please.. Tell me what the hell is going on?” 

He stops and faces you. shoulders hung low, eyes trained on the door behind you, and you can’t help but think he's planning an escape. 

“I need you to just trust me!” he grabs an extra flashlight, mumbling something about Nancy ‘needing one of these’, and you snap. 

“No, that's not good enough! I need answers,” you pause, grabbing his arm again to grab his attention. You can see literal steam rolling off him. “Why does it involve Nancy…Steve?” His eyes fall closed, shaking his head. 

“We are trying to hunt down whatever is doing this.” he snaps back. 

Dumbfounded by his confession you take a step back, tugging at your hair as you try to make sense of what he was saying. 

“That’s incredibly stupid! Like really really stupid, Steve!” you huff, “Are you doing this as some dumb ploy to get back with Nancy, prove to her that you’re cool or something because you can catch a killer?” 

He scoffs, rolling his eyes as he picks up a hammer, twirling it around in his hand. 

“You’re going to get hurt, or even worse..killed!”

“Why do you care!?” he snaps. He looks slightly shocked by his own question, wondering what he meant by it, but says nothing about it as he runs his hand through his messy hair. You were fuming, it was like he couldn’t see how dumb he was being, and all for a girl who dumped him, if that was the case. Regardless he was setting off on a suicide mission. “Huh?” he prods. 

“Because I am in love you, Steve!” you bark. You sigh heavily, feeling only the slightest amount of relief at telling him the truth. This isn’t how you wanted nor pictured how you would tell him. However, it worried you that no matter what you would say, he wouldn’t listen. That he would continue on with his heroically stupid quest. You watch the color drain from him as if you had just shot him, like your words were something utterly foul to his ears.

“Well don't,” he exhales, unable to bring himself to look at you. 

It was your turn to feel the color drain from your face. Daggers, it felt like you had just been stabbed in the heart, only to have it ripped from you and crumbled before your eyes. “What?” It was more of a rhetorical question; you didn’t particularly want to hear his response. What you wanted, was to take back what you had said, pretend like everything was okay, and not like you just completely fucked up your entire friendship with him.

 “I don’t need you to care about me, and I don’t need you to love me. I never asked you to-”

“Yeah, but I did!” you cut him off. “I fucking fell for you, even though I promised myself I wouldn’t.. you charmed the shit out of me, Harrington.” You sigh, throwing your hands up in defeat. 

“I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have..” he mumbles as if he didn’t want it to be heard. 

“Yeah well, sadly I can’t turn it off, now can I.” You retort, biting the inside of your cheek. You wrap your arms around your body, a form of comfort and a means of warmth. It was now your turn to not meet his gaze, despite feeling his boring straight through you. You didn’t understand why he was being this way, so callous with your feelings, it was almost like he was purposefully trying to hurt you, to push you away. Perhaps it was one of his ploys to protect you, it wouldn’t be the first time, but this time hurt like no other. 

“I’m a complete moron,” you sigh, letting tears fall down your heated cheeks. “I’m so fucking stupid.” 

You see him move forward slightly, his arm coming up only to drop back at his side, and you mistakenly thought that he was going to comfort you, take it back and apologize.

“Why would you tell me that?” As if you weren’t already in pain, he had to ask. 

You scoff, shaking your head. “Tell you what?” you ask lowly, finally bringing your gaze to meet his. All you could see was pain and sorrow. 

“Why tell me you love me as soon as I mention Nancy?” 

Your brows knit together as a scowl forms on your face. Was he serious to think that your confession had anything to do with her? Some jealous spat, that you thought would fix things or change his mind.

 “What are you implying?” you ask, your voice quivering as you swallow hard. 

He looks back at the door, the very one you could claim that he was waiting to escape through.

“I just never thought-” he pauses, as if he didn’t want to say what he was about to, “ I just didn’t think that you’d be the one to throw that phrase around out of jealousy.” he shrugs, his eyes falling to the ground. It pained him to be so cruel to you, to shatter your heart right before your eyes, the very heart that he wanted so desperately to be his, but it was the only way he could think to keep you safe. As far from the threat as possible. 

You can’t stop yourself; the words just fall from your lips at this point, “Fuck you, Steve…fuck..you..” You close your eyes quickly, stopping the flow of tears as you turn and leave the garage. If his heart hadn't already shattered, it sure as hell did now. 

”Good luck with your venture, Steve,” you note, taking one last look at him, because if by some miracle he did survive, it would still be the last time you saw him because when he returned, you’d be gone. 

[estrellami-1]

If I Should Stay

I mentioned in the last part (the part before that?) how I was leaving on the 15th… I’m not. I’m leaving on the 13th. This fic will be on hiatus until at LEAST the 8th of January, but I WILL come back! This is my baby and I’m not going to abandon it.

Part 1 | . . . | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41

Okay,” Robin says, and somehow just that is enough to soothe Steve. “We know how to fix this, Steve, but you need to focus. Can you focus?”

He takes a breath, feels it shake on the way out. “Yeah. I can focus.” He squeezes his free hand, clenches then releases, clenches then releases, startling when he feels something against his hand.

Eddie offers him a half-smile and a shrug, and Steve manages the expression back, taking his proffered hand and squeezing gently. Thank you, he thinks, and somehow he knows Eddie understands.

He and Robin talk for a few minutes, about how to do this, and he ends the call feeling slightly more confident than before.

“Okay,” he says, as much for Eddie’s benefit as his own. “We need her favorite song.”

Eddie bites his lip. “I’m guessing you don’t know it?”

“No, but I know someone who should. Do you happen to know the Hayes’ number?”

Eddie laughs. “Yeah, their middle kid, Ronnie? She’s our drummer.” He recites the number, and Steve punches it in, waiting eagerly.

“Hayes residence.”

Steve doesn’t really recognize the voice, so he tentatively asks, “Ronnie?”

She hums. “To some people, sure. Not to you. It’s Veronica.”

Steve winces. “Sorry. Veronica.”

Eddie narrows his eyes, then grabs the phone before Steve can say anything else. “Ronnie, be nice,” he whines, then laughs. “Yeah, yeah. Hey, there is actually a reason we called, though. D’you think Cassie knows Alli’s favorite song?” He covers the receiver and whispers to Steve, “‘Should I Stay or Should I Go,’ The Clash.” Back to the phone he says, “Thanks, Ron. I gotta go but I’ll talk t’you later, ‘kay? Yeah, you too. Bye.”

Steve turns to Allison, who’s beginning to float. “Shit,” he whispers. “C’mon, you gotta- d’you know the song?” He asks, clambering onto the counter to get closer to her.

“I know a little bit of it,” Eddie admits.

Steve nods. “Just… please. Whatever you know, sing.”

Eddie nods, and then Steve starts. He sings the first verse, then Eddie joins in, and Steve starts whispering to her. “C’mon, Al. You gotta fight, please. I just got you back, c’mon, I can’t lose you again. Not this soon. I won’t let him have you, Al, but you’ve gotta fight too.”

Just after they start the second verse, Allison drops to the ground. Steve yelps and scrambles down. “Al!”

“Bubba,” she murmurs, and he collapses into her.

“Thank God,” he murmurs. “Holy shit, Al, you’re okay. You’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” she agrees, clutching onto him just as tightly. “‘M here, bubba. You got me.”

He finally lifts his head and sees Robin, El, and Wayne standing in the entryway of his kitchen.

Evidently, Eddie sees them at the same time, because he yelps, “Wayne!” As he scrambles across the kitchen to hug his uncle.

“Hey,” Steve manages from his position on the floor, halfway on top of Allison.

Robin smiles, steps forward, and offers him a hand, which he takes with a grateful smile. He helps Alli stand after.

“So best I figure,” Wayne says, “You’re in a war and the enemy just made his next move, so your timeline’s moved up now.”

Steve sets his jaw and nods. “Just about.”

Wayne nods. “Your friend here said somethin’ ‘bout shootin’?”

Steve studies him for a moment, then nods. “You a good shot?”

“I was in a war, son, I’m as good as anyone else here.”

Steve nods and offers him a hand to shake. Wayne does, then asks, “So why don’t you tell me why my nephew is suddenly singing your praises?”

Eddie flushes and buries his face in his hands. “Wayne!”

Steve chuckles. “That’s actually a pretty long conversation, sir. How about some coffee?”

“Coffee would be great,” he nods. “And it’s Wayne, none’a that sir crap.”

Allison grabs his wrist before he can move. “Steve,” she murmurs. “That’s what you’re fighting? And have been?”

Steve nods, and she pulls him into a hug, tears pricking at both their eyes. “I’m gonna tear him apart,” she grits out, squeezing Steve until his back cracks. He squeezes her back just as hard.

“Okay,” he whispers, pulling back. “Go get a Walkman. Play your song on repeat. We don’t know why, but it helps.”

Alli chuckles. “Of course it does, it’s music.” She ruffles his hair and steps back, and suddenly Steve misses her like a limb.

“Robs-”

“I’ll go with you,” Robin volunteers, linking her arm with Alli’s and giving Steve a significant look. “C’mon.”

“That works,” Alli says, “I’ve been wanting to get to know you.” They both grin, and suddenly Steve is terrified to see them together.

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[medlilove]

About 10k notes ago @herelieskurt asked someone to redraw this photo of Dave Mustaine feeding pigeons into Eddie. I’m sure it’s already been done but here’s my take!

Here’s Eddie in the upside down, doing his very best.

Please click for full res, k?