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schrijverr · 1 year

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Life Is Ours, We Live It Our Way 15

Chapter 15 out of 18

Genderqueer Stevie with platonic soulmates Robin and Eddie living their best queer life.

In this chapter, the stress catches up and Stevie feels subspace inching up on him during dinner with Eddie and Robin. When they notice, Eddie explains to Robin, who understands and stays out of the way as they have a scene to calm Stevie down. Before she plays Lady Stevie in their game with the kids, who are good about it.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: unplanned subspace (consent is taken seriously), nsfw, anxiety, and dysphoria mention.

~~~~~~~~~

Lady Stevie

Robin skips ahead to the door, but waits for him to catch up, before opening the door. Trying to fly under the radar with the stress obviously isn’t working, but Stevie is more touched than annoyed by it. A true testament to how far she’s come with emotions, honestly.

Eddie isn’t home yet, so Stevie is the one to turn on the heating as Robin creeps on the couch with a blanket.

Stevie starts getting all the stuff for dinner from the fridge as Robin asks: “Are you doing okay? I saw you snap at Dustin. You good?”

She sighs, then answers: “I think so. Well, I hope so. Just a bit stressed out about tomorrow, since I have no clue what they’re going to say about my character, you know.”

“I’m sure they’ll be cool about it,” Robin says, though she doesn’t sound that certain. “And Eddie and I will be right here to back you up. I’m not afraid to fight a little kid for you.”

That makes Stevie laugh, shaking her head fondly. “I don’t know, Robs. Some of those little kids can win from you.”

“Uhm, excuse you,” Robin pouts, but she’s obviously fighting a laugh too.

“No, but thank you,” Stevie says. “But I’ll be fine. Just a little out of it, you know.”

Luckily, Robin lets it go and Stevie tries to loose himself in the cooking. It takes some mental energy and concentration, but not enough. The weight on his chest is still there and thoughts keep spiraling.

He misses it when Eddie comes in, startling when he wraps himself around him from behind. Only calming when he whispers: “You hands are shaking, sweetheart.”

Stevie looks down and sees that indeed the case. She drops the knife and mutters: “Oh, fuck, I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, princess?” Eddie asks.

“Being a bit of a mess,” Stevie says, taking a deep breath and leaning on the counter.

“You don’t need to apologize for that,” Eddie assures him. “Robin said that you were a bit strung out. Do you wanna tell me what’s going on in that noggin of yours?”

“Too much,” Stevie chuckles bitterly.

“Robin mentioned tomorrow?” Eddie tentatively brings up.

“Course she did,” Stevie sighs. “I’m fine about tomorrow. Maybe a little worried. But that’s natural, I knew that would happen. And I want to play her. I’m excited about it, promise. It’s just never easy, you know?”

“I do,” Eddie says sympathetically. He knew how bad it can go first hand. “But we’ll be here the whole time and I’ll kick out anyone, who is a dick about it.”

“Thanks,” Stevie smiles a little. “I’m half thinking to just let them be dicks about it. To play it as a joke, so that they won’t know it’s personal.”

“You shouldn’t have to do that,” Eddie says, turning her around in his arms, so that he can look at her. “If you want us to pretend like it’s not personal and just a game, we can do that. They still shouldn’t be dicks about it. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” The words are out without conscious thought, having changed the title only reserved for scenes when Stevie indicated she had trouble disconnecting Eddie his friend from Eddie his dom, if she kept calling his dom Eddie as well.

He says them easily, before he can really think about them. It’s just that Eddie is looking intently at him and he’s been strung out and in his mind for so long. They just slip out before he can stop them.

They both look startled at them. Eddie frowns, searching Stevie’s face, while Stevie tries to pretend that didn’t happen.

“Stevie, are you okay?” Eddie asks, voice low so Robin can’t hear.

“Sorry, yeah, I’m fine,” Stevie answers, unsure if she’s lying. “Just a bit out of it. I’m fine, Eds, really.”

“Okay…” Eddie doesn’t look convinced. “We’re eating pasta, right? I can do pasta. Just go and sit down, princess. You look like you need it, okay?”

It almost happens again, but Eddie purposefully kept his voice away from that warm tone. So Stevie just nods and goes to join Robin, who asks if he’s okay. She nods and plops down, spreading herself over Robin’s lap, needing a bit of attention.

Robin, for once, doesn’t poke fun at him, she merely wraps her arm around him and rubs his back with one hand, holding her book with the other.

She sinks into the touch, trying to only focus on Robin’s hand and Eddie whistling as he completes dinner. A bit of peace and quiet, a bit of not thinking, is exactly what he needs right now.

However, it has the unfortunate side effect that she’s feeling a little fuzzy when dinner comes around. She can feel it when Robin gets up and she feels a whine in her throat. He’s also a little slow in getting up, having to take a few deliberate blinks before the world comes back into focus again.

He’s not under yet, but he can feel it tugging at the edges of his conscious. He shakes his head and tries to pay attention, missing most of the conversation as he focuses on his cutlery.

Dinner drags on, seconds feeling like minutes as the slow realization that it’s a loosing battle creeps up on her. She’s missing everything, probably worrying both Eddie and Robin, but she can’t do anything about it. Everything is too much work and she just wants it to stop.

Hot tears burn in his eyes and he takes a shaky breath, putting down his knife and fork with a little more force than necessary. They make a clattering sound, which he flinches at, and the tears that were only burning before, now start to fall, his shoulders shaking to match.

“Stevie, sweetheart, what’s happening?” Eddie asks, concern in his voice the moment he notices Stevie crying. He knows that there could be more and he wants to know as fast as he can if Stevie is dropping.

“I- I- It’s all too much,” Stevie hiccups. “I thought I would be fine until Sunday, but I can’t get out of my own mind and I-” She doesn’t finish the sentence, crying again.

Because he’s crying, he doesn’t see Robin’s confused face. How she looks at Eddie, frowning when she sees him looking a bit horrified yet also understanding, before he’s out of his chair like a madman.

He only feels Eddie’s hands on his shoulders, getting her sideways on the chair, so that he can kneel and get into his field of vision. Eddie’s eyes are a bit wide, but he has a calming smile on his face and Stevie latches onto it.

Gently Eddie cups his face and wipes his tears away. His voice is warm yet stern as he says: “I need you to stay up here with me, princess. I know you’re overwhelmed, but I need you to breathe and stay here, okay?” Stevie nods, trying to keep her head above water. “Good, good, come on, breathe with me. In… and out… Yeah, like that. In…”

They breathe together for a little bit. Stevie still feels like he’s teetering on the edge, but it’s better than before.

She’s very aware of Robin looking at them with confusion, trying very hard to disappear in the background. However, she tries not to focus on her, knowing she’ll spiral again if she thinks about it too much. She just keeps looking at Eddie, giving him a watery smile when he fells more present again.

“There he is,” Eddie smiles. “Well done. Now, I don’t think you can stay up here with us tonight and that’s totally fine, sweetheart. But I need you fully here to say if it’s okay to explain this to Robbie. You can say no and that’s totally fine too, okay?”

Words never come easy to Stevie in these moment, but he manages: “It’s okay, I- I just need to be away from her right now. I- I can’t-”

“Shushhh, shush, that’s okay, princess,” Eddie soothes. “I’ll explain it to her. She’ll understand, I promise. You just go and put on pajamas and sit on the bed and wait for me. Crisscrossed. Can you do that?”

“Green, sir,” Stevie whispers.

“Good,” Eddie smiles. “Now go.”

Stevie doesn’t need to be told twice and scampers off to the bedroom, not meeting Robin’s eyes. It’s not how either of them imagined telling Robin and Stevie feels guilty about probably worrying her, but he’s also scared of her bad reaction. She can’t loose half her backup before tomorrow.

He tries to focus on what Eddie told him to do. Changing into pajamas and sitting down on the bed with his legs crossed, before waiting patiently for Eddie.

Usually Eddie makes him wait for a little to let him sink into it. But usually they scene in the living room and Eddie is puttering around nearby, ignoring Stevie but never leaving her alone. Now, she’s waiting alone on the bed as Robin gets told about all of this.

Safe to say, he’s only half under and an anxious mess when Eddie comes in the room, closing the door behind him. He doesn’t look like something bad happened, which calms Stevie a bit.

“So good for me, doing exactly as I said,” Eddie tells her in that warm voice, taking a moment to look at Stevie. “Robin is totally cool. I gave her a quick explanation, but she’s fine. She’s staying out of the way for now. You can relax now, sweetheart. Take a deep breath and let all that tension go for me.”

The words pull something loose in Stevie’s chest, a mix of relief and the free-fall after stress fell away. He breathes in and lets it go, nearly falling over.

“Good job,” Eddie praises her and warmth floods in, the fuzziness hitting with full force now that that’s been dealt with. “Green is all is good, yellow is pause and talk, while red is a hard stop. Repeat those colors for me, sweetheart.”

Dutifully Stevie repeats: “Green is all is good, yellow is pause and talk, while red is a hard stop.”

“Well done,” Eddie smiles. “Color?”

“Green, sir,” Stevie says, probably having dopey expression on his face.

With permission granted, Eddie grabs the brush and a hair tie from the vanity, before stacking pillows behind Stevie. They figured that Eddie being taller than Stevie helped and having her hair played with has become one of her favorites.

Once seated, Eddie puts the brush to the side, deciding to start with his hands. He massages Stevie’s shoulders, then neck, before carding fingers through his hair. Slowly Stevie sinks into the feelings, leaning into Eddie, who is embracing him from behind, one arm wrapped around Stevie’s waist as the other busies itself with his hair.

When Eddie deems her sufficiently melted, he switches to the brush. He doesn’t linger with it like he did with his fingers, since it’s not the same according to Stevie. So, he only brushes out the final knots, before twining Stevie’s hair into a braid.

Eddie embraces him when he’s done. He can give those perfect bear hugs with a little too much pressure, always on the right side of too much.

“I know it’ll mess up your hair schedule to wash it now, but it’s out of the way,” Eddie says. “Your color for a bath?”

Baths have been a favorite ever since they tried it. It helps Stevie relax and feel warm, taken care of, but Eddie can also make him feel more independent if that is what he needs, so it’s also good at the end of scenes. Right now, with Robin there Stevie needs to relax and get back up. However, Robin being there was an issue.

“Yellow, sir,” Stevie whispers.

“Thank you for telling me. What’s wrong, sweetheart? It’s okay,” Eddie says.

“Robin?” Stevie puts it eloquently.

Eddie nods, understandingly. “Robin is on the couch, she won’t see us until we’re ready. I can go out and talk to her for a minute if that would make you more comfortable,” Eddie says. “Do you want me to talk to her, princess?”

Stevie shakes her head no.

“I’m going to need words here, sweetheart,” Eddie requests gently.

She doesn’t want to tell Eddie this, doesn’t want him to think that Stevie isn’t aboard with what they do or ashamed of it. But Eddie asked and he wants to do as Eddie asks, so he whispers: “I don’t want her to know we share a bath. I’m sorry, sir.”

“No need to apologize, sweetheart,” Eddie says. “Thank you for communicating with me. You’re doing so good. If Robin wasn’t here, would you want the bath, princess?”

Stevie nods: “Yes, sir.”

“Then I’ll go look if she can see us cross the hallway from where she is and report back,” Eddie says, pulling a spy pose, which makes Stevie giggle.

Soon Eddie is back, telling Stevie that Robin is fully engrossed in her book and not watching the hallway. So, they hurry to the bathroom together, Stevie feeling relieved once they make it there without Robin noticing.

Eddie orders Stevie to kneel on the bathmat and stay there, while Eddie goes and readies the bath, making sure that it’s the right temperature and all their stuff is within reach. He leaves Stevie for a moment to get a granola bar and a water bottle, because Stevie didn’t finish dinner and Eddie is really adamant about Stevie eating and drinking properly around scenes.

By the time he returns, Stevie is floating happily again. There is an ache in his knees and he’s feeling a little chilly, but the running of the water is soothing and his mind is blank.

“So perfect for me,” Eddie praises, tugging lightly on Stevie’s ear. “Now strip, princess,” he orders after he has taken a moment to take Stevie in.

She gets up from her knees and slowly takes of the pajamas she’d changed into earlier, shivering slightly, despite the steam starting to fill the bathroom.

Eddie just watches her and the embarrassment floods through Stevie as she stands there. It heats her up, like she’s just there for Eddie’s entertainment and nothing else. It’s nice. He’d do anything to entertain Eddie and Eddie knows it. It makes Stevie feel fuzzy.

So, he stands there, naked.

Then Eddie strips himself and gets comfortable in the bath, before gesturing to Stevie. “Come make yourself comfortable, princess.”

Once she has permission, she moves forwards, carefully stepping in the bath, before sinking down and making herself comfortable between Eddie’s legs. His back is against Eddie’s chest and once he’s seated the man brings his arms around her waist and holds her close.

The warmth of the water is a bit of a shock after the cold air and Stevie melts into it. Just sitting there as Eddie holds him.

Usually if they share a bath Eddie washes her hair. He’s always careful with it, making sure product is evenly spread and shielding Stevie’s eyes when rinsing it out with a cup. But today Stevie’s hair is up in a braid to keep it out of the water. So, Eddie only washes his body with a washcloth.

Eddie washes with pressure, gentle yet firm. Makes sure that Stevie feels the scrape of the cloth and the strength in Eddie’s hands. It hurts a little, but it’s also grounding.

He avoids her groin area while cleaning. Stevie can sometimes feel upset when reminded that he has a dick and Eddie isn’t chancing it with the mindset Stevie was in before she dropped.

When Stevie is clean, Eddie gives her a moment to bask. Stevie is now fully relaxed and down, which is exactly the point. The anxiety that has been gnawing at her for days is gone. She feels centered again, not having to think or worry.

However, this isn’t going to be drawn out. This wasn’t planned and they need to talk about how Stevie suddenly started dropping during dinner. Avoiding sudden drops is why they started this, thus they need to find why this happened and how they can make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Sadly, that means Eddie can’t let her luxuriate in the feeling of warmth and safety, Eddie behind her like a steady safety blanket. The bathroom as a little bubble away from the world.

Eddie orders him to take small sips from the water bottle he put next to the tub as well as eat the granola bar. Once those are gone, he orders: “Stand and turn, princess.”

Stevie starts to comply without thinking, shocked by the cool air against his now wet body. He shivers as he turns and looks back. Eddie is sprawled out, for as far that is possible in the tub, looking him up and down appreciatively without saying anything.

For a few seconds Eddie doesn’t move or say anything, just watches, making Stevie feel a bit like a decoration. Then Eddie smiles and says: “So beautiful. My pretty little princess. So obedient and sweet for me. Isn’t that right, sweetheart? All good just for me?”

“Yes, sir, just for you,” Stevie replies, head swimming.

“That’s right,” Eddie nods with a self-satisfied smirk. “One step back now.” Stevie does without question and Eddie dunks his head under, now having the room to do so.

He comes back up looking like a wet dog, getting the hair out of his eyes and grinning at Stevie. He is sitting in the middle of the tub and orders Stevie to sit again, facing him. Once she has, he pulls her closer by her ankles, making her squeak then giggle. Eddie moves her until he is happy with their position, Stevie’s legs over Eddie’s thighs, stretching to the bit of tub behind him, chest to chest.

“Hey there, sweetheart,” Eddie smiles. “Color?”

“Green, sir,” Stevie hums, happy to be in the warm water again and within hugging reach of the other.

“Good to hear,” Eddie grins, booping Stevie’s nose, before reaching to the nice curly hair shampoo Stevie had forced on him and Eddie now refuses to admit he likes. “Hold out your hand, princess. Yes, just like that. Good job.”

Stevie holds out has hand and Eddie squeezes shampoo on them, before ordering: “Wash my hair for me, sweetheart,” and tugging Stevie a little closer.

While Stevie adores being pampered, Stevie also loves doing things for others and Eddie knows that. So, this is honestly perfect. He is practically in Eddie’s lap, hands buried in the other’s mane and doing something for Eddie, being helpful and good for him.

Eddie is sure to tell her how good she’s doing. “I love how diligent you are, princess. Taking such good care of me. My sweet little protective Stevie.”

As he talks, he also uses the closeness to hug Stevie, looping his arms around Stevie’s waist and drawing random patterns on his back. It makes Stevie feel protected and safe, while also giving him full range of motion to complete the task set for him.

It takes a while, since Eddie has a lot of hair, but neither of them mind. They like sitting wrapped up in each other.

They haven’t had sex yet. Stevie has gotten more used to being in subspace and Eddie has gotten to know how Stevie operates while under better. Their scenes have gotten more intimate and they have decided to re-talk about boundaries sometime soon, but they’re happy with the physicality they have for now.

Both of them have sex drives, but they crave comfort more right now, so they can jerk off in the shower and have this space and when they sleep for cuddling and just finding comfort in the touch of another person.

When Stevie is done, he is again ordered to stand, once more shocked by the temperature difference between the water and air.

Eddie orders Stevie sit down in the tub, but gets out himself. He dries his body and slips into comfy clothes, before sitting next to the bath and letting Stevie put stay-in conditioner into his hair. This lets Stevie stay in the soothing tub, while also being more independent and having something to focus on.

With the conditioner done, Eddie puts his hair up in a bun to hide that it’s wet. Then he scoops Stevie out of the tub, making her squeal in delight. Eddie being strong will always make Stevie feel safe.

He lets Eddie pat him dry, glad his hair won’t be fizzy tomorrow, because the idea of doing his hair routine right now sounds horrible. She puts on her pajamas again and Eddie gives her a piggyback ride to their room again, Stevie having to muffle her giggles against his shoulder.

Stevie bounces on the bed when Eddie lets her go with a playful grin. He follows Stevie on the bed and pulls them in their post-scene snuggle position, Stevie between Eddie’s legs, face pillowed on his chest.

Eddie drops the warm, commanding tone he uses in scenes and talks about his day, Stevie slowly joining in. After a bit Eddie makes Stevie drink again, before he asks: “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

“Better, thank you,” Stevie says, knowing they’re going to have to talk about her dropping and he’s embarrassed that even happened.

“Wanna tell me what made you drop?” Eddie asks. “Was it because we skipped Sunday? Did I do something? Is it about tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’ve been worrying about tomorrow,” Stevie admits with a sigh. “I wanted to tell you before it got this bad. I’ve been anxious since Monday and I thought I would be fine until Sunday, but apparently not.” She lets out a bitter laugh. “I really want to play Lady Stevie, but I’m just scared, you know. It’s going to get a reaction. The what ifs got to me.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Eddie hugs him tightly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t talk to you sooner.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Stevie says. “I knew something like this might happen and I didn’t say anything, this is more on me.”

“Still, it’s my job to watch out for you and I knew you were stressed, but didn’t push,” Eddie replies, as if it’s that easy. As if Stevie had someone looking out for him like that before. “I hope you’ll tell me next time. Will you try, Stevie?”

“I will,” Stevie promises. “I just didn’t want to bother you, because writing the whole campaign took a lot of time and that’s important. And I didn’t want cancel on Robin, because she wants to get out of that house when she can, I didn’t want to take that from her.”

“Always looking after others,” Eddie shakes his head fondly. “You’ve got to think of yourself too, princess. I was really worried when you dropped.”

“I’m sorry,” Stevie whispers.

“I don’t need a sorry, but thank you. Next time we’ll both do better,” Eddie says in a way that puts an end to the discussion. Then he moves on: “Do you want to talk to Robin or pretend to sleep and talk tomorrow?”

Stevie thinks about it for a second then decides: “I wanna talk to her now.” Might as well face the music and not try to sleep with more what ifs.

“Alright. Let’s go,” Eddie holds out his hand. She takes it and he pulls her to her feet, leading her to the kitchen.

Robin is sitting on the couch with a book, but looks up when they appear. Stevie isn’t proud to admit he semi-hides behind Eddie. Luckily his worries melt away when Robin smiles as she sees him, getting up as quick as she can to ungracefully stumble over and hug him. “Thank god, you’re okay! You really had me worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Stevie apologizes.

“It’s okay, Eddie told me a little,” Robin says. Stevie grimacing at the mention that Robin now knew, this was not how she was meant to find out.

Softly, she says: “Sorry for not telling you earlier.”

“Hey, as long as you don’t fuck on the bed I sleep in, the way you unwind is none of my business,” Robin assures her. “And as long Eddie doesn’t mess with you,” now Eddie gets a little glare and he puts his hands up disarmingly.

“He’s good to me,” Stevie promises, smiling at her friend’s protectiveness. “And we haven’t fucked yet.”

“Yet,” Robin repeats, making a face. “I love you both, but I don’t want to think about you fucking, sorry.”

“We won’t tell you about it then,” Eddie shrugs with a smirk, earning him an elbow in the side from Stevie and a light slap from Robin. He pouts: “Mean!”

“You deserved it,” Robin tells him.

“In all seriousness, though,” Eddie says. “You are going to have to hear about it a little bit.”

“What?” both Stevie and Robin exclaim.

“Not much and within discussed boundaries,” Eddie assures them. “But we have to talk about what everyone is comfortable with. If Stevie is okay with you being here if we scene, if you are comfortable with it, how we’ll plan and accommodate those preferences, that sort of thing. And indeed rules, like no fucking on our bed.”

It’s quiet for a second, then Robin mutters: “That’s a lot of talking.”

“God, you don’t even know,” Stevie groans. “It’s worse than administration when applying to college, I swear. And I failed at that.”

The comment makes Robin snort, which sets off Eddie and Stevie, the three of them laughing in the middle of the kitchen.

Once they’ve calmed their giggles, Eddie claps Stevie on the back and says: “We had an eventful night, so we’re gonna sleep. Are you staying up a little more, Robbie?”

“Nah, I’ve read enough,” Robin says.

Stevie would have protested Eddie deciding it’s time for bed right in front of Robin, but he had been subtle about it and Stevie is pretty tired. Besides, Robin is going to bed too. So, he lets himself be dragged along to the bathroom.

If Robin notices that the bathroom is steamy and Eddie’s hair a damp, she doesn’t mention it as they brush their teeth.

When they’re all cuddled up in bed, it becomes a little obvious that this is for Stevie’s sake, because Eddie and Robin are softly talking about something or other. At first Stevie tries to talk along, but she quickly gets lost, so he’s just dozing, on the edge of falling asleep with the comforting sound of his soulmates in the background.

The next morning, Eddie takes care of breakfast and they talk a little more strategy about the introduction of Lady Stevie that evening. Robin is mostly there as cheerleader, though Stevie gets a smack when she tells her that.

They all work that day, but it goes by pretty smoothly. Since Stevie did a scene the night before, he’s feeling calmer, which is reinforced by the talk of the morning as well as Robin carrying on like normal.

It’s not like Stevie expected her to keep away like he had the plague. Except maybe a little. It’s not the most conventional, he knows and even if she’s cool, he expected… more. Especially since he has always been her rock.

During their break, she can’t take it and asks: “You’re not weirded out and hiding it, right?”

“No, Stevie, I’m not,” Robin assures her. “Like I said, it’s not my business how you unwind and I’m honestly relieved that you’ve found a healthy way to deal with everything. I’d been worried you were bottling it all up. I feel better knowing you have an outlet.”

“That’s- That’s good,” Stevie nods. “I just- I guess I thought you would have had more questions or something. I don’t know.”

Robin laughs, then sees his confused face and says: “Remember when I came out to Eddie? With the friends of Dorothy code?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I kind of already knew he was safe because he was flagging,” Robin explains. “That handkerchief he always has in his pocket? That’s to signal he’s gay and what he’s into. He’s walking around with a big ‘I’m kinky’-sign on his head. When we were in the city I asked around about it. Did some research.”

“Oh,” Stevie says, blushing also remembering Eddie wanting to keep why Madame Tucker would already know he was kinky a mystery, which makes a lot more sense now.

“Don’t worry, no one will know unless they’re cool with it,” Robin shrugs. “But that’s why I don’t have as many questions. I just never brought it up because it wasn’t my business and you didn’t seem interested, but I guess I miscalculated that part.”

“Shut up,” Stevie giggles.

And with that settled they set back to bitching about everyone who ignores the ‘Please be kind and rewind’-stickers, because it’s fucking annoying.

Once they can finally clock out, they run like hell out of there and go to gather the merry band of kids. Well, the half Stevie is supposed to pick up. It’s one of the benefits of having two cars with the amount of kids they have amassed.

The ride is lively, all the kids excited to dive into this new story with their updated characters. It’s infectious and Stevie feels less stressed. These are his kids. It’ll be okay.

It’s just the DnD players and Robin this evening. They’re sitting around the coffee table, Eddie behind his DM screen with a maniacal grin on his face that has all of them a little nervous. Not helped by Eddie going: “This is the worst one yet.”

Their adventure starts of with Lady Applejack, who has returned victoriously from the quest that claimed her friends and fellow adventures. She has survived. She is going to live. So, she is back to find new danger and new allies.

Trouble is easy to find when there is an uprising in town. Mike the Mutinous is leading a small rebellion against a local corrupt leader. Lucas is a ranger of the lord, who has defected to their side as a spy. Dustin is a famous musician, who is on their side, also in secret. He is in town on an invitation of the local lord, since he is getting married. Will is a traveler like Lady Applejack, swept up in it by being in the middle of a riot and being swept away by Mike’s crowd, joining his cause after hearing his plea.

Lady Stevie is also involved, but her character hasn’t been revealed yet. However, Stevie is alright with not playing and watching his kids work together. Erica is smart as a whip and comes up with strategy as Mike keeps everyone in line and the story going.

Lucas is loyal to the core and watching the backs of everyone. He can be sneaky and the corrupt lord trusts him. Watching him interact with Eddie as the lord is amazing to see. He’s as smart as his friends, but knows how to undersell it and fit in.

Dustin is indeed dazzling. He gathers information by being disarming and charming, somehow worming himself into places he shouldn’t be and into hearts of people, who truly shouldn’t trust Dustin so easily. Because Dustin is a crafty son of a bitch.

He and Erica work especially well together and Stevie is reminded of Starcourt. They’re a great duo and she is a little scared of further team ups between the two.

Will and Mike are another duo. Mike is hotheaded and wants to move forwards and act. Will keeps him mild and offers insight and changes to plans that will make them work better. Will also ensures that Lucas and Dustin remain in the loop as they’re gathering information.

While they play they keep trying to guess who Stevie is, but so far they haven’t.

Currently, the theory is a prisoner, which is close enough, since Lady Stevie is in the dungeon of the palace to keep her from running. Every time Lucas or Dustin come close to the cellar, she rolls to see if she can make contact with them, which Dustin has put together. However, he needs to roll above an 18 to succeed and so far no luck yet.

The plan they come up with is simple. On the day of the wedding, the guards will be in ceremonial clothes and less prepared, it also gets their message to the important people there.

So, they’re going to steal the evidence of his corruption while everyone is at the ceremony, then crash the wedding and expose the lord, hopefully taking him prisoner and installing Mike as the new lord.

Lucas and Dustin can’t help until the others get to the wedding, Will and Mike have to get close enough despite both being wanted, and Erica needs to steal the evidence.

Naturally it doesn’t all go to plan. Erica is fine, but an NPC traveling with Mike and Will gets spotted and they have to book it. Trying to keep out of the clutches of guards, while also getting to the meeting point on time.

They end up in the cellar and everyone thinks they’re finally going to meet Stevie. However, there is no roll and they’re confused as they take down the guards without his help.

“Can I check the prisoners there?” Will asks, confused.

“Yeah, sure, roll perception,” Eddie answers, with a smirk.

Will rolls a 15.

“The people there are what one expects of the prison of a small town,” Eddie says. “There are some drunks, some unsavory types trying to entice you to set them free and a few people who are obviously not meant to be here, yet captured to keep the lord’s corruption quiet.”

“Can we free those people?” Mike asks.

“You can,” Eddie tell him. “If you have a proficiency with thieves’ tools.” Mike does not. Neither does Will. Will however has exploding magic.

They break down the door.

In the end, it works out. The freed prisoners either join their ranks or serve as distraction so that they can make it to Erica in time. Who demands what they’ve been doing since there has been unrest in the castle.

Eddie informs them that they’re lucky. It seems the lord is anxious to get married and has tried to keep the commotion away from the chapel.

Their entrance is very dramatic. “You swing open the heavy doors and see the lord in front of his bride. Her veil has not yet been lifted, the marriage is not yet done. Everyone turns to you, commotion going to the crowd. Will roll a history check.”

Will rolls a 17, perfect.

“You recognize the people sitting on the side for the bride,” Eddie tells them. They all perk up, none of them has paid the wedding much mind and it is now appearing to become important. “It is an influential, noble elven family. Marrying into their family, means marrying into lifelong protection and wealth. They are respected internationally. They can make anything disappear. You realize that if this wedding goes through, you can say your plans goodbye. The rest of you just recognize the crest as important people. Logical for a lord trying to climb up in ranks.”

“‘We object,’ I yell,” Will says.

Eddie snorts, before slipping into DM mode: “A lady in the front gets up and turns. She has a severe face and a grace about her as she asks: ‘On what grounds, does who speak?’”

“‘I am Will the Worldly. We are here to prevent you from marrying a corrupt man into your family,’ I tell her,” Will says.

“I back him up,” Mike says. “‘We have evidence of his corruption. Payments to bandits to make the roads unsafe, to make people depend on his safety for which they have to pay, as well as assassinations of opponents of his policies.’”

Erica pipes up: “I show the evidence.”

“Roll perception, please,” Eddie asks with a big, gleeful grin.

They anxiously roll perception, noting that Stevie is also rolling, thus in the room. Lucas and Mike roll too low, but to the others Eddie says: “She hears what you say, but does not seem surprised at your words. She knows who she is marrying into her family. This was planned.”

Mike sighs and says: “I walk forwards in the assumption we’ll have her backing us in arresting the lord as I tell him we are going to arrest him.”

Everyone groans and Mike defends: “What! I don’t like it either, but it’s what I would do with what I rolled.”

“Can I stop him?” Erica asks.

“Hmm,” Eddie thinks for a second. “How would you?”

“I’d yell ‘Stop,’” she shrugs.

“Sure, roll persuasion.”

“It’s a 4.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t work,” Eddie says. “Mike walks forwards and is surrounded by fighters from the elven family. The guards draw around the lord and his bride-to-be. Everyone, roll initiative.”

Stevie rolls as well and Dustin asks: “Who are you? Are you one of the guards?” and Stevie doesn’t answer except for a wink, which makes Dustin scowl. It’s partially to mess with him and make the reveal dramatic, partially because Stevie want to delay it.

“Okay, Dustin, you’re up first,” Eddie tells them after looking at his notes.

“I cast charm person on the lady and try to convince her to join us or at least lay down their weapons,” Dustin says. “‘Fighting is useless. We just want peace. There is still time to think about this. You don’t have to tie yourself to the wrongdoings of him.’”

Eddie rolls and shakes his head: “She doesn’t listen. Just glares and says that you know nothing. The guards attack Lady Applejack and Mike the Mutinous. What is your AC again?”

They both tell him and he rolls again. Erica and Mike both get hit, but it isn’t much. The guards and fighters are low levels to keep it interesting and moving, but not a huge threat. The lady, who goes after, on the other hand, very much is. She deals a huge blow to Will on her turn.

Lucas has the element of surprise when he goes, but misses the shot he takes at the corrupt lord and he has now only made himself a target for their enemies.

“Stevie, your turn,” Eddie says and all the kids whip around in interest. They’re dying to know who Stevie is.

“Can I hit the lord from where I am?” Stevie asks, knowing damn well he can.

“If you beat his AC, sure,” Eddie grins.

“I go into a rage,” Stevie says and rolls. “19! That has to be enough.”

“It is,” Eddie confirms. “Lucas the Laureled has just released his arrow and missed. The lord is shaken and distracted. Then you hear a yell and watch as the bride throws of her veil, revealing an ethereal, beautiful face, and punches her groom-to-be right in the face. Stevie roll damage and introduce yourself.”

The table is chaos. At first there are cheers at the lord getting hit, since Stevie rolls high damage and Eddie narrates how the lord staggers back in shock at the hit.

Then Stevie introduces the character: “Uhm, so I’m playing a high elven barbarian, Lady Stevie. She wants to get away from her family and fight for what is right, not get swept up into a world of backstabbing politics where she is supposed to be a fancy lady.”

“It’s not a disguise? You’re actually playing a girl?” Mike asks, with a frown.

“Yeah, it’s just a game, Wheeler,” Stevie laughs, trying to play it off. “I figured Lady Applejack would like the company and not be the only girl on the team.”

“Is it just a game, or just a game?” Will asks, remembering last time Stevie did something out of the ordinary and said it was just a game.

“This is really just a game,” Stevie rolls his eyes, hoping the action with cloak the lie.

They all look at her a bit skeptically and Eddie jumps in: “And that should be none of your business. We respect how others play on this table. It is just a game, but there are people sitting here, so respect it or get out. We don’t judge Dustin for his horrendous outfit choice either.”

That gets some laughs as Dustin squawks to defend himself: “It’s a bard’s outfit, okay. I am a musician.”

“And so am I in real life, but you don’t see me putting on yellow and purple puff pants,” Eddie shoots back. “Now, it’s your turn, Will the Worldly, what do you do?”

Stevie’s reveal has been, not forgotten, but moved to the background as Will makes his play, so that is nice. Though there are a few looks still send her way that she is trying not to think about. It didn’t turn into a hate crime or disgust, just confusion. Stevie can deal with confusion.

Robin, bless her heart, knows about what time Stevie would be revealed, and walks up with a glass of coke for Stevie, awkwardly saying: “Hi, babe, how is the game?”

“It’s going well, Robbie,” Stevie assures her, having to bite his lip to not repeat ‘babe’ with a wheeze, because that’s fucking funny.

“Good to hear,” she smiles, relief evident.

“How’s your book?” Stevie asks in turn.

Robin is about to start a ramble when Eddie interrupts: “As much as I want to encourage your young love.” That is a lie. “There is a rule at the table. No distractions. So, shoo.”

“Party-pooper,” Robin sticks her tongue out, but leaves. Eddie shooing her off is double confirmation that it is fine and Stevie is not deflecting.

The party battles on, but they discover they cannot beat the lady and her men. The lord is taken down as are his guards, but the numbers are starting to overwhelm them. Mike makes the decision in the end: “We have to retreat. There is something larger at play here.”

“Okay and how do you plan on conveying that?” Eddie asks.

“I yell out ‘Retreat! And take the bride!’ before trying to move to the exit,” Mike replies.

“You’ll take an attack of opportunity.”

“That’s okay. Also can I cure wounds Will the Worldly?”

“You haven’t done your action yet, so go ahead.”

After that a few fighters attack Lucas, who is fine, luckily. Then it is back to the top and Dustin is again. He asks: “Can I see that Lady Stevie wants to go?”

“Roll perception,” Eddie says.

Dustin roll and: “God, a two. Fuck.”

“Lady Stevie looks like a happy bride, who wants to stay here and be with her family,” Eddie tells him, despite the fact that Stevie has been fighting on their side and punched her groom.

“This sucks,” Dustin pouts.

“Such is the game,” Eddie shrugs. “What do you do?”

“I cast charm person to try and convince her to come,” Dustin says.

“Do I feel he casts that?” Stevie asks.

“You do.”

“I don’t fight it.”

“Alright, you have successfully charmed her and she’s coming with you,” Eddie replies.

“Then I also start and move towards the door.”

After that they all try to get out and Eddie has a pretty cool carriage chase through the city, wherein Lucas truly shines as ranger and Will as Cleric, aided by Dustin. It’s a really fun way to escape and it tells them they made the right choice in running.

With the successful escape, they focus on unraveling the beginnings of the plot they have encountered.

Lady Stevie naturally gets interrogated, most of the people wary of the supposed bride in cahoots with the enemy that they kidnapped, though they warm up to her when she reveals she’s been dying to get away. However, Lady Stevie has been quite sheltered, so Eddie gave her only a little of what she knew. It wasn’t much, but enough for her to not want to be there and married off, and enough for Dustin and Erica to figure out a clue.

The clue gets them a new location and they set off again.

As they travel they roll play a little for the characters to get to know each other and explore their new selves a little and for Erica her old (“and badass, don’t forget that, you nerds”) self. And just to have fun of course.

Stevie is glad that DnD gives guidelines on how to act, because she’s a little nervous about playing a girl and interacting with everyone in a more feminine way. It’s partially why he made Lady Stevie a more masculine girl, who isn’t a lady-lady.

He puts on a voice when talking as Lady Stevie. It’s the same one he used for Princess Dingus, Madame Tucker having taught her how to sound a little more feminine. It gets a few looks, but it’s part of the character so no one comments. And Stevie finds he enjoys talking like that.

Robin comes by a couple times to check in, but the whole night passes without incidents or a fight or Stevie wanting to cry. All of which are definite wins in her book.

Once they finish up, Stevie brings all of them home. It’s a bit of a squeeze and Erica has to sit on someone’s lap, but Stevie doesn’t mind. It’s not the safest, but Hawkins is quiet and gas is expensive, though he won’t ever put that above the kids’ safety.

She first drops off Erica and Lucas, then Mike. The car getting quieter as half the party is gone and they can’t loudly argue about where the story will be going next week.

Now it’s just Will and Dustin. Dustin has claimed his custom spot in the front, messing a bit with the radio and not looking at Stevie. That is odd and Stevie feels like something is coming, but doesn’t know what.

Will finally speaks up and softly asks: “When you say Lady Stevie is just because it’s a game. Is that the same as Sir Stephen flirting with a man was just a game? Because both are cool, but we couldn't talk about the Sir Stephen thing. So, I just wanna check.”

Stevie is quiet for a second. She doesn’t want them going around town talking about it with anyone, but they already don’t do that. Honestly, she’s mostly scared of the reactions from Joyce and Hopper. However, he doesn’t want the kids to know this is something and maybe letting Joyce and Hopper hear it without having to be present for it would be nice.

“It’s just a character,” Stevie settles on, which is true. “I truly don’t want to be a girl.” Also not a lie, he just doesn’t want to be a boy either, but they don’t have to know that.

“That’s a thing?” Dustin asks.

“Yeah,” Stevie shrugs. “Some people don’t want to be a boy but a girl, while others don’t want to be a girl but a boy, and some don’t want to be either or both. Gender is fluid.”

“Gender?” Dustin repeats.

“Oh, yeah, so you’re a boy, you’re male, that’s you gender,” Stevie explains. “I’m not the best to explain this, honestly. We have some zines at home if you ever want to borrow some.”

“You have zines!” Will exclaims, an excited look in his eyes.

Stevie nods and smiles gently, he has to include Will more often in their queer bubble. It’s just harder without Robin being out and he won’t ever force her there. Still, he says: “We do. You can also borrow them, no problem. A friend from Indy sends them.”

“Is it the same friend you were on the phone with Wednesday?” Dustin perks up, not passing up the opportunity to be nosy.

“Yes, that friend,” Stevie rolls her eyes.

“What’s the name?” Dustin asks, practically whining. “Please, Eddie would tell me nothing, except that you met on that trip you guys took all the way back in June. That’s nothing. We’re best friends, you’re supposed to tell me these things.”

He looks so earnest about it, like he can’t believe Stevie isn’t telling him everything about all his friends.

She pulls up to the Henderson house and gives in a little: “I met her at a book store. She works as a manager and in a night club. That enough?”

Dustin lights up at the information, glad to have something, before nodding and saying goodbye, bouncing to the front door. While Will moves over to the front seat.

As they drive off, Will asks: “Both a manager and at the night club?”

Stevie gives him a look, the kid is more observant than people give him credit for. And in line with his earlier thought, he winks: “Don’t tell Dustin, but she’s a drag queen.”

“A drag queen,” Will repeats with big eyes, he obviously knows what that is.

“Yeah, I know her real name and that she isn’t a girl, but it feels more natural to call her Madame Tucker,” Stevie says.

“Madame Tucker,” Will repeats the name too, with a bit of awe, like having that piece of queerness outside of Hawkins and his friends, is everything to him. It makes Stevie’s heart swell and break at the same time.

“She’s really cool. Helped me with a lot,” Stevie admits. “It’s comforting to see older queer people who made it. Who are living their best life.”

“It is,” Will agrees softly. “It’s nice to have you and Eddie. I’m still sorry about when I got mad at you for being with Robin.”

Stevie smiles, her heart warming at Will’s confession. He wishes he could tell him about Wayne and Robin, about how there are more of them than Will thinks, how he’s going to be fine. But he can’t, so he settles for: “I get it and I’m over it. It wasn’t the worst. I’m just glad we’re good now and that you have me.”

“Thanks,” Will whispers before the two fall quiet.

Stevie only breaks the silence when they’re in the driveway, stopping Will before he could get out of car. It might make it a bit obvious, but he wants to know and Will knows how to stay silent. So, he says: “Hey, Will.”

“Yeah?”

“You can talk about the character no problem, but tell me if Joyce or Hopper are weird about it?” she asks. “Just so I can talk to them and assure it’s nothing, you know.”

“I will, Stevie,” Will replies, before leaving. Indicating that he knows something is up, but saying in the gentle tone that tells Stevie that it’s safe with Will.

“Thanks, now be safe,” Stevie says goodbye.

“I will.”

Then Will bounces up the stairs of the porch where Joyce is waiting in the doorway. She waves at Stevie, before putting her arm around Will as she leads him inside, likely already asking him about the campaign.

Will is taller than her now, but he automatically slouches down to fit comfortable in his mom’s arms. Her interest and care common enough to make it a habit.

It tugs at something in Stevie, so he drives off before he can think about it.

When he pulls up in her own house, Eddie throws open the door, calling out: “Stevie, come save me.”

Robin spills out after him, yelling: “Don’t listen to him. It’s his turn to do the dishes!”

“But I wanted to cuddle Stevie on the couch,” Eddie pouts.

“Then do the dishes and then you can,” Robin shoots back. “Until then, she’s my teddy bear and you can fuck off.”

Stevie giggles at their antics and hurries to the door, the light beckoning him to the warmth of the home and the people in it. He offers: “I’ll help you do the dishes, so it’ll be faster.”

“Dingus, no,” Robin protests.

“You’re not doing doing the dishes, princess,” Eddie says. “You’ve already worked hard enough today, you need to rest,” and with that he swoops her into his arms and carries her to the couch, with Robin hurrying to catch her when he drops her off.

He squeals a little, not yet used to getting carried like that and bounces a bit, before Robin snatches him up. She says: “I’m in a hug mood, that okay?”

Stevie is always in a hug mood, so he nods: “Fine by me,” and snuggles into her arms.

They watch Eddie as he washes the dishes and whistles a tune, singing lyrics from time to time, before humming when he doesn’t know the words. Robin heckles Eddie whenever she doesn’t like the song he’s singing and Stevie just soaks in the warmth. The tinge at the Byers house long since forgotten.

When Eddie is done with the dishes, he makes sure to splash his wet hands in Robin’s face, who is trapped beneath Stevie and can’t get away, calling him a dick over it.

Eddie sticks out his tongue and grins back, before draping himself over the pair and making himself comfortable. The three of them fitting on their tiny couch with room to spare as they all squeeze together.

Once they’re all settled, Eddie says: “That went okay, I’d say.”

Both of them turn to Stevie, searching his face for any doubt or sadness or upset. It’s so nice that Stevie nearly does tear up, but he manages not to as he replies: “It went really well. They seemed confused, but that’s valid. I honestly expected worse.”

“Hell yeah,” Eddie cheers.

“I’m happy for you,” Robin says.

“It wasn’t much,” Stevie shrugs, trying to play it off. “I still have to actually come out and talk about it and shit.”

“Don’t do that thing were you undersell yourself, princess,” Eddie scolds.

“Yeah, it was really brave and we’re so proud of you,” Robin backs him up, the two holding her close like weird moral support cheerleaders.

“Thank you,” Stevie chokes up. “I love you guys.”

“Love you too,” Robin says.

“Yeah, love you too,” Eddie echoes.

A/N:

Anyone watch Dimension20? Like remember Brennan about that first campaign he ran? Yeah, this is like that with Stevie is the ‘kidnapped’ bride lmao. I had to y’all xp (also just the mental image of Lady Stevie going ham in a full wedding dress, iconic)

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schrijverr · 2 years

Text

Life Is Ours, We Live It Our Way 7

Chapter 7 out of 18

Genderqueer Stevie with platonic soulmates Robin and Eddie living their best queer life.

In this chapter, Will and Eddie have a talk, before he apologizes to Stevie. Later the party has a movie night and Stevie comes out to the kids as bisexual. Meanwhile, everyone is making plans for thanksgiving.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: Stevie's childhood mention, talks about biphobia and dysphoria and misgendering that comes with not being out.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Coming Out

No one is saying anything to the revelation Eddie just dropped. Will is staring at him with big, shocked eyes, but also like he’s in awe. The other boys are still processing and even Erica doesn’t seem to have a reply to it.

Stevie can see Eddie tense up as he starts to worry, so he steps in like Eddie has been doing for her and says: “Thank you, Eddie, for trusting us with that. I’m proud of you for sharing.”

Then he turns and gives each of the kids a glare that shows he means business and they need to get their acts together right now. She has never been more grateful that they decide to listen to her as they trip over themselves to assure Eddie it’s fine.

She can see how the stress and anxiety leaves Eddie’s body as they assure him. By the time they calm down he’s smiling again.

“Alright, alright,” Eddie says, blushing a bit as he swats away their attention. “Thanks for being cool. I get it. Thank you really. Now I propose we take a bit of a break, gather ourselves. Sound good?”

After everything that happened no one is in the arguing mood, so they all quickly agree.

Stevie makes sure to get out of there, before he can get dragged away by one of the kids, demanding answers or something. So, he makes his way to Robin, who is reading on the couch, walkman playing loudly.

When she sees Stevie she knows something must have happened by the look on his face. She takes her headphones off with a frown and asks: “Taking a break already? What happened?”

He falls down, practically on top of her, shuffling them so that she can be on top, since she knows how Robin hates being restrained. Needing to hold her and decompress. It’ll do nothing to dissuade the couple notion, which is good, though he doesn’t know why she feels so bad about it.

Softly she repeats to Robin what just went down at the table, letting Robin comfort him. In the background, he hears Eddie says: “Byers, with me. We need to have a little talk, okay?”

~ Eddie’s POV ~

Eddie is still slightly shaking. Holy shit. He just came out to the kids. Fuck. They at least took it well, so that’s nice. He’s been terrified about it for months, started playing with the idea after Stevie tested the waters. However, actually doing it? Fucking scary.

Still, there’s a relief there too. Because they were chill like he and Stevie predicted and now Eddie doesn’t feel like he has to put up some sort of performance. To tiptoe around who he is.

But the how it happens bothers him. It makes his skin crawl, really, to remember how Stevie froze up at Will’s words. How she’d panicked, eyes flicking to where Robin was reading, before turning back to Will and having to take it to protect Robin. The hurt in his eyes and the desperation as he failed to find a good yet safe explanation.

This is amplified when he calls for a break – needing one himself too honestly – and Stevie immediately stumbles away and into Robin’s arms.

“Byers, with me. We need to have a little talk, okay?” he calls out to the kid, knowing they need to clear the air, before they can continue the game.

Will looks like he would rather do anything else, but follows Eddie to the back porch anyway, falling into one of the chairs and looking down. He’s sulking in the way only fifteen year olds can do.

“You know why I want to talk right now?” Eddie asks.

“Because Steve is your favorite and you’re mad because I got mad at him,” Will answers, crossing his arms. He’s obviously still on the defensive.

Eddie sighs and sits down himself. He knows this is a delicate situation and he has to watch what he says, while also making Will understand that he’s with him but that what he did was very much not okay at all.

“That’s partially it,” he says. “I don’t do favorites, but I am mad about you yelling at Stevie like you did. I know that you’re feeling angry and hurt, probably betrayed even, but that doesn’t excuse how you nearly outed him in there.”

“What are you talking about? You saw what he did last time when he flirted with the barman,” Will frowns. “Everyone was there.”

Ah, there is where this has gotten crossed in his brain, Eddie gets it. Kindly he says: “That he did, yes. But in the game.”

He can see a bit of horror in Will’s eyes as he starts to understand. Eddie can’t know how Will connects the words to the advice Stevie had given him about coming out to his mother.

“Stevie told me he confirmed it with you later. Only with you,” Eddie gently explains. “He trusted you with that part of himself, because he thought you needed to hear it. If you said anything about yourself to him, then I never heard it, because he understands it’s not his place to do that. But you threw that in his face.”

“But I- I didn’t mean it like that. He told everyone last time,” Will replies, his voice is shaking as it comes crashing down on him. Guilt eating him up.

“No, he said Sir Stephen did that,” Eddie reminds him. “He kept it in the game, so that he could deny it if necessary. He isn’t ready to tell the others yet. And when he is ready, that's for him to tell them, not you. You really hurt him there.”

“God, I’m a terrible person,” Will exclaims, a few tears leaking from his face. “He must be so mad at me right now. He’s never going to forgive me.”

“I think he will,” Eddie tells him. Knowing Stevie, she already has honestly. “He loves you kids so much, he can’t stay mad, even if he was. But you might need to apologize to him, let him know you didn’t mean it.”

“I didn’t, honest,” Will quickly agrees. “He was just telling me all these things and then he shows up with a girlfriend all of a sudden.”

Eddie puts an arm on Will’s shoulder, before he can work himself into a panic, and says: “Hey, I understand. I get it, I do. But Stevie is bisexual. He can like girls and if he likes Robin, then he’s allowed to date her.” God, it’s weird to think of those actually being together, but he needs to sell it for Robbie. “That doesn’t make him less queer. He still gets the struggles. He knows. Trust me, kid.”

“I feel so bad now,” Will whispers, ears burning with shame.

“And it’s no use letting it tear you up,” Eddie says. “It happened. You can’t change that. However, you can learn from this and apologize to Stevie. How does that sound?”

“Good,” Will nods.

“That’s good to hear,” Eddie smiles, hugging Will. “I get it. Just take a moment. You need it. Do you want me to send Stevie to here so you can talk?”

“I would love that. Thank you,” Will says. “Also, sorry for being a dick during the game.”

“You’re forgiven,” Eddie says easily. He has been a kid himself after all. He knows that you have to learn these things, that sometimes you haven’t learned to control your emotions yet. That you just need some time.

In the end, Eddie is mostly glad he was there to step in before it went wrong and someone got outed and hurt. Glad he’s there to tell Will, before he can do it again.

~End Eddie’s POV ~

“He’ll come around,” Robin is assuring her, rubbing her cheek as they lie on the couch. Vaguely Stevie is aware of the kids fluttering around, pointedly not coming too close after the whole mess of emotions at the table. But he can’t really bring himself to care.

She’s startled out of her thoughts by a hand landing on his shoulder. He looks to the side and Eddie is kneeling next to the couch. His eyes are worried as he asks: “You okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah,” Stevie assures him softly. “Just surprised me. Robbie’s been keeping the kids away, I’m more grateful than I should be for that. I don’t know what they’re going to say or what they’re thinking. It’s scary.”

“I know what Will is going to say,” Eddie offers.

Stevie perks up at that, remembering what she heard as she laid down. He asks: “What’s he gonna say? Did your talk go okay?”

“It went well, princess, don’t worry. Will is very sorry about what just happened and wants to apologize,” Eddie informs him and it’s like a burden has been removed from his shoulders. “He’s waiting on the back porch. I told him I’d get you. Now, I know you have that big heart, but don’t tell him it’s okay, sweetheart. You’re allowed to be hurt.”

“I don’t want to be mad at him,” Stevie says softly. “I get it. I would be confused too.”

“And I’m not saying you have to hold a grudge,” Eddie replies. “You can forgive him if that feels right. All I’m trying to say is that you’re allowed to be upset at him, Stevie, and you don’t have to pretend like you don’t have emotions to comfort him.”

Stevie doesn’t really agree with that, it hurt but he can take it. It wasn’t Will’s fault that he is Robin’s beard and that made it confusing.

“I’m with Eddie here,” Robin pipes up. “You’re this amazing mom and you always put them first and that’s great. Very you. But you also have feelings, Stevie. That’s okay.”

He’s quiet for a second, the sighs: “I guess,” which makes both Eddie and Robin smile.

“Now, go talk to Will and we can talk to the kids,” Eddie offer.

“We?” Robin protests. “They’re scary. Erica can, like, eat me. I don’t deserve to be eaten by children. I’m too young to go like that.”

That makes Stevie laugh, snorting in a very unflattering manner with Eddie joining in. They both laugh at an indignant Robin for a bit. Then Stevie gets herself under control and asks: “What will you tell them?”

“Nothing you don’t want me to,” Eddie promises. “Just that you and Will had a misunderstanding and made up now. And that they need to shut up about it if they want to survive the campaign. Robs will be your supportive girlfriend backing me up.”

Both Stevie and Robin pull a face at that. No matter how much they love each other and how close they are, people talking about them like they’re together is still weird. Though something they will have to get used to.

But she is grateful to Eddie for doing that for her. He smiles: “That would be nice. Thanks.”

“Hey, no problem, princess,” Eddie smiles back, before patting his leg and getting up. “Now, go talk with Will the Currently-Not-So-Wise.” And with that, they split ways.

When he gets outside, Will is looking very small, kind of like that time in ‘84 when he’d been taken over by the mind flayer. A pang of sympathy goes through him as he sits down. “Hey there, baby Byers. Eddie said you wanted to talk.”

Will looks up at her, guilt in his eyes turning to tears as he says: “I’m so, so sorry, Steve. I swear, I didn’t mean to out you.”

Stevie is able to ignore the name, just feeling connected to the kid. He knows firsthand how hard it can be. Where she isolated herself and floated away, Will became angry. It’s natural. The kid could use a bit more bite and to stand up for himself, it’s just a pity that it had been directed at Stevie when he finally did.

“Come here,” she offers, holding out his arms so that Will can fall into them. Something the teen does eagerly.

For a moment, Stevie holds him like he’d done on Halloween. They sway a bit, before Stevie murmurs into the top of Will’s head: “I’m not going to say it didn’t hurt, it did. I shared it with you to help you and it hurts that you don’t trust be to be honest with you, that you think I would lie to you about that.”

“I’m sorry,” Will replies, speaking into her chest. “I- I was just so happy that I wasn’t alone and that you were nice about it that I- I just got angry when I saw you with Robin. It just felt like you left me alone again. And I know that’s stupid now and I got mad at you for no reason and that’s really unfair and I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you, kid, promise,” Stevie assures him. “All of this is so fucking hard when you think you’re alone and I can’t image what it feels like to think that has been taken from you.”

“Still, I never meant to make you feel like you faked it or something,” Will says. “I hadn’t even realized until Eddie reminded me that you can like girls too and that doesn’t mean you’re not still one of us.”

“Thank you, I’m glad to hear you say that,” Stevie smiles, holding Will closer.

God, the kid doesn’t even know how fucking queer Stevie is, even by gay standards is what she’s doing a lot. But he has learned not to care. Eddie and Robin have been accepting and he has Madame Tucker in the city. He has found people that accept her and that’s enough.

“It’s all just about finding your people,” Stevie says, pulling away so that she can look Will in the eyes as she presses: “I hope you won’t forget that I’m you people. I’m in your corner. Always. Talk to me next time, alright?”

“Of course,” Will promises. “Again sorry and thank you for letting me sort my stuff out and letting me apologize for my shit behavior.”

“Not a problem. If anyone knows the importance of second chances, it’s me,” Stevie says. “I don’t know if Jonathan ever told you about our fight when you were missing.” Will shakes his head. “I called him a queer,” Stevie admits. She has never told anyone, too ashamed of it now. “Bit ironic in hindsight, isn’t it?” Will nods. “Anyway, I learned to be better than that asshole. And let me tell you, that guy? Much worse than you are, you’re gonna be fine. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, mom,” Will says again. “I won’t forget.”

“Good,” Stevie smiles. “Now how about we play some more DnD? I’ve heard Eddie mumble all day and if we don’t find out what’s in the dungeon I might rip my hair out.”

Will giggles and nods, returning to the boy Stevie has known these past three years. It’s good to see him again as they make their way back.

The others are all seated around the table, Eddie at the head, smiling reassuringly at them, which calms Stevie’s nerves. She can’t place the looks yet and it’s a bit unnerving. Surprisingly it’s Will, who breaks the silence: “Sorry for being a dick about nothing. I hope we can continue to play like normal.”

Dustin, Eric and Lucas assure him they can, but Mike raises his brows, looking suspiciously between the two. He asks: “You sure?”

“Yeah, I was in the wrong,” Will admits easily. He has always been the most emotionally mature out of them all and Stevie is incredibly grateful for that now.

Mike looks like he’s about to protest, but Eddie kicks his foot under the table, a move that is totally obvious with how he has to slouch to reach all the way there. Stevie snorts at it while Mike grumbles something agreeable.

It’s again a bit tense at first, but soon Mike misses a stealth check and miserably fails, flailing like an idiot. This has them all cracking up as they go back to normal and play for the rest of the night like usual.

At one point Robin comes in to complain that she’s hungry and Stevie has to make her favorite snack. He rolls his eyes, but Eddie calls a break and immediately demands that Stevie makes his favorite too. So, Stevie makes special popcorn for both, as well as a bunch for the kids.

When it’s time to leave, the kids put up their usual protest, none of them willing to leave yet. It’s nice to see them back like that. However, Stevie has to put his foot down.

This time Eddie is driving too, since their parents hadn’t driven them to school they have their bikes with them. Stevie can take one bike, so he’s taking the two Sinclairs and Will again, while Eddie drops off Mike and Dustin. Stevie is supposed to take Robin too, but she says: “No, I’m staying here. I told my mom I’d be with you. You can stay over too?”

She gives her eyes she’s never been able to say no to and both of them know he has nothing better to do. So, he just shrugs: “You checked with Eds if it’s okay?”

“Course, he said he slept well with us there and he can probably use the support after today,” she tells her and that’s all the convincing he needs.

He first drops of the Sinclairs and then it’s just him and Will again. They drive in companionable silence for a few moments, before Will says: “I was thinking about coming out to my mom and stuff.”

“Yeah?” Stevie replies, managing the right balance between interested and supportive to prompt Will more.

“I told her I read about Elton John being gay when his song was on the radio,” Will explains. “And she seemed nice about it. I want to be able to talk to her about this stuff, you know. I guess that has been putting me on edge.”

“That’s okay,” Stevie says. “Remember when I was out of it in July and August?” Will nods. “That was me figuring myself out. Everyone reacts differently.”

“You seem happier now,” Will notes.

“I got lucky with people who support me,” Stevie says honestly. “That makes all the difference in how you feel. And being comfortable with who you are. That’s the most important, becoming home in your own skin.”

“Yeah,” Will agrees. “California was really good for me in that regard. The school was much bigger and no one really knew us, so I found a bit more of myself.”

“That’s so good to hear, kid,” Stevie smiles.

“So what do you think? About telling my mom, I mean,” Will asks.

Stevie bites his lip, she doesn’t have any experience here. Deciding honesty is the best road, he replies: “I don’t know. I don’t have that relationship with my parents, they’re never going to know, but Joyce is different. She loves you very much. If you have faith, then I trust your judgment. In the end, you know what’s best for you.”

Will sighs, slumping in his seat. “I don’t know either.”

“Do you think you can tell El?” Stevie asks. “You’ve lived with her for a year, you’ve gotten closer, right?”

“Why?”

“Well – and I hate how we have to look at this – but strategically, she hasn’t grown up around the same bullshit as us, so she won’t be judgmental. You can explain to it her. Or let me explain it to her if that will make you more comfortable,” Stevie explains. “El also isn’t your mom, so if it’s bad, she won’t have the same emotional hurt. Think of it as a test run. Besides, if she is cool – which is more likely – you’ll have super powered back up.”

Will mulls it over, then says: “I guess you’re right. Thanks.” He’s quiet for a beat. “Will it always have to be like this when coming out? Like some sort of war meeting?”

He sounds defeated and Stevie’s heart breaks for him. “Hopefully not one day. And in some spaces there is already the acceptance. Once you’re old enough, I’ll take you to the big city. We can go to a gay club and you can be yourself. I promise.”

“A gay club?” Will repeats, sounding excited and surprised. “You’ve been to a gay club?”

“Contrary to popular belief, I do have a life,” Stevie laughs, Will joining in.

There’s a short silence, then Will says: “Would you talk to El for me?”

“Sure,” Stevie agrees easily. “Do you have a timeline in mind? Because I’ve been thinking about coming out to the whole party, Max and El too. Just not Hopper and Joyce yet. If I do that, it’ll be less suspicious for you.”

“You have?” Will asks.

“Yeah,” Stevie answers, though it’s the first time she’s admitted it like that. “I don’t know, I feel like I’ve found a piece of myself and I want to share that. I’m looking to move out, get a place of my own. I’m carving out my little spot and I want the people I care about to be part of that. Plus, I want to be able to tell Dustin that I only watch Star Wars because Han Solo is hot. His reaction will be hilarious.”

He covers up the serious with a joke, but it works as Will laughs and agrees that that will be funny and he must wait until Will can witness it.

“Well, I don’t have a timeline yet,” Will answers the earlier question. “But thank you.”

“I told you I would be looking out for you,” Stevie says as they pull up to the Byers house. Hopper waiting on the porch as he smokes. “Say hi to them from me. Bye.”

“Bye, will do!” Will greets him, running up to the house, looking more settled and at ease then when Stevie picked him up. She did well.

At Eddie’s bungalow, Robin is already waiting by the door alongside Eddie, van parked haphazardly in the driveway. Stevie easily pulls up next to it and gets out, asking: “How are you two? Eddie?”

“I’m doing good,” Eddie assures her. “Now get in here before you catch a cold. It’s fucking November.”

“And what about me?” Robin pouts. “Why does Eddie get a special shout out? Don’t you love your girlfriend?”

“Stop that,” Stevie grimaces. “You don’t get special girlfriend privileges. I refuse to give you that power.” He closes the door behind him. “I just wanted to check in since Eddie came out to the group and that got kind of overshadowed by my argument with Will.”

“It’s okay,” Eddie assures her. “It went well, I’m happy. And after tonight those kids know how to keep their mouths shut about it.”

“I’m glad,” Stevie says. Then hugs him as she whispers: “Also thank you so much for stepping in like you did. For coming out. For talking to Will.”

Eddie holds on just as tightly and says: “It wasn’t a problem, sweetheart.”

Robin wraps her arms around the two of them and says: “I was feeling left out of the feelings pile, disgusting as it may be,” which makes them all laugh.

They get ready for bed, all having stuff at all of their houses to sleep in, though Stevie slips back into the comfy clothes he picked up earlier. Now that she’s out, she’s going to be comfortable and after Eddie’s good reaction, he doesn’t think Robin’s will be bad.

Still, she’s a bit nervous as she steps into Eddie’s bedroom. Naturally that’s for nothing, because when Robin sees him, she squeals: “Oh my god, you look so cute!”

“Thank you,” Stevie smiles, unable to stop himself from doing a little twirl. It feels unreal that she only came out this morning. With everything that had happened and the reception from her friends, it feels longer.

Robin bounces over to him excitedly and asks: “Can I do your makeup? Is that a thing I can do? I know I’m not a girly girl in that sense, but I like doing makeup, I just don’t always like the feeling of it on my face, you know. Or is that not a thing for you? Because it’s fine if not, I was just offering. You can say no, no worries.”

His eyes glimmer and he’s nodding before she can finish. “You can 100% do my makeup at some point, Robbie. I’d love that. That is a thing for me, yeah.”

“Is there anything else that is a thing? Like something we can do or help you get?” Eddie asks.

“Uhm,” Stevie blushes, not sure if he’ll be able to admit this yet. She bites her lip and says: “I- I’ve stolen a few of my mother’s skirts. She hasn’t been home to notice. But I’m not really, you know, ready to wear one with anyone there. And it’s more about the figure of it anyway.”

“That’s okay,” Eddie smiles and Robin nods vigorously.

“It’s hard to explain,” he tells them. “It’s not like I want to drastically change things about myself or anything, but there are all these little things that just add up.”

“Add up in a bad way or a good way?” Robin asks, always observant.

“Depends on the day really,” she says, flopping down on the bed. He stares at the ceiling, which is starting to be taken over by Eddie’s posters. The whole room screams Eddie and it’s comforting, but makes him sad too, because her room isn’t like that at all. It’s picture perfect, like he’s supposed to be, but she isn’t.

“Stevie?” Robin nudges him, sitting down on one side, while Eddie gets on the other.

“I don’t want to bother you with it,” Stevie says. “It’s all probably nonsense. Sometimes I feel like it’s all in my head, you know.”

“Bother away,” Eddie tells her. “Robbie has complained at length about her love life and I have bothered you endlessly about hot guys. So now you get to bother us about this. It’s called mutual exchange, sweetheart.”

Stevie snorts at Eddie’s delivery of the words. Then takes a breath and says: “I’ve been growing my hair out and some days I really like it, makes me feel cute. But other days I feel like I’m a dad going through a midlife crises, you know. Or it’s my face that seems too sharp some days, but too broad on others. Like it will never be anything but masculine, which sucks.”

He rubs his face and sighs as Robin makes a soft noise and Eddie lays his head on Stevie’s shoulder for comfort.

“And then my arms,” Stevie goes on, encouraged. “They make me feel conflicted. Because I like being strong, knowing I can protect the kids and step in when necessary. That makes me feel good, that’s nice. But on bad days I just look at them and my shoulders and I’m a jock. A stupid jock, who won’t ever be anything else, no matter how hard I try.”

“Don’t call yourself stupid, sweetheart, we talked about this,” Eddie reminds her gently.

“Yeah, I’d have to fight you for being mean to my soulmate and honestly, I’m not coordinated enough to win that fight,” Robin adds.

Stevie laughs at her, Eddie joining in, before Robin whines that they shouldn’t be laughing at her serious struggles.

The laughter dies out and Stevie says: “Thanks. It’s just- ugh,” she makes a frustrated noise, “things that make me feel good one day, suck the next. And it’s never like I hate something huge about myself, which is nice, but it’s just little things. I try doing little things to balance it out, like the higher waists or things that flare out in the middle to give the illusion of hips. Sometimes it works, others it doesn’t. But it’s just little things. Does that makes sense?”

“I think it does,” Robin replies after a second. “It’s a bit like me and my anxiety, you know. I do get anxious over big things of course, but some days it’s just that the coffee machine didn’t work well and I ran a bit late and then I tripped and before I know it I’m having an anxiety attack about something that I’d usually just brush off. It makes sense. And I do, like, little things to soothe myself, like talk to you or like gesture as I ramble, but those don’t always work.”

“Huh, that does make sense,” Eddie comments. “You truly operate on the same frequency, it’s creepy.”

“You love us,” they say in sync, both giving the other a surprised look, before the three of them burst into laughter.

They talk for a little more, before getting into bed. Stevie doesn’t know when they’ve developed a usual placement, but they slot together like it’s natural. All the most comfortable. She tries not to think about how he’s being held so tenderly. How nice it is. How rarely it used to happen, before he met Robin and Eddie.

The night is peaceful and all of them couldn't be more grateful for it.

Next morning, they’re all up early, since they all have a morning shift. That means they run into Wayne, who is eating his dinner. Even if they are regular guests there, Wayne’s schedule made that they’re only familiar with the man in passing. Stevie freezes a little, highly aware of the outfit she’s wearing, but Wayne doesn’t say a thing.

So, Stevie makes breakfast, like she always does for the three of them, as they say their good mornings, while Eddie and Robin sit down. He’s familiar in the kitchen and he can feel Wayne’s eyes on her as he works, though he quickly gets distracted by his rambling nephew.

She puts down the plates and sits down, Eddie is telling Wayne something about the game last night, nonchalantly adding: “And I came out to them.”

There’s an immediate silence as Stevie and Robin give him ‘what the fuck are you doing’-looks at just telling his uncle that.

“That’s good, kid. Did they take it well?” is Wayne’s only response, which is all the more confusing.

Eddie catches their look and quickly assures them: “Oh, Wayne is cool. Didn’t you know that? I thought I mentioned that. Sorry. And yeah, they took it well.”

“I’m glad,” Wayne smiles and Stevie is reminded of their stay in the hospital, of Wayne’s casual acceptance of everything that makes Eddie, Eddie. How jealousy he was of that, how he still is, though she knows Eddie deserves it so much and she doesn’t begrudge him. How it apparently extends to this too. How much she wants that.

Then Wayne speaks up again, sounding a bit tentative. “Eddie told me you were good sports about it, you’re always welcome here. I know it’s none of my business, but if there’s a reason you took it so well, know that you’re safe here.”

Both Stevie and Robin stare at Wayne with wide eyes, as if he’s a miracle from the heavens, a mirage in the desert.

“I’m a lesbian,” Robin blurts out and Stevie whips her head around. This is the third time Robin has ever come out and he’s so proud of her, but also scared. He thinks they know Wayne, but what if Eddie miscalculated.

“Thank you for trusting me with that,” Wayne nods and Robin smiles, bright and happy.

The longing from before calls out again, tugging at Stevie’s chest and he hears herself say: “I’m bisexual. I like men and women.”

Again Wayne says: “Thank you for trusting me with that.”

It’s foreign, the acceptance of a parental figure, but it feels great even if he isn’t close with Wayne himself. She vows to make it soon so that he can talk to El and help Will come out to his mom. If anyone deserves this, it’s that kid.

All at once it hits him that this is what a parent is supposed to be. She hasn’t seen her own parents since a short visit in late September that lasted two days wherein he only saw them for a few hours total, sharing one dinner with them and breakfast before they had to leave.

In their brief visit, her father had taken the time to inform her how disappointed he is and how Stevie – sorry Steven – isn’t living up to the Harrington name and how he expected so much more from him. His mother had been in the background tutting and shaking her head. She never stepped in and has always taken his father’s side, despite the fact that he’s an asshole.

And it’s not like she didn’t know that already. He has long since known that she’s not going to be the businessman her father wants her to be, that he’s not going to keep the Harrington name high like his mother has always done, that he wants to move out and get away from them. That she wants to build her life away from them and their toxic ideals. A small part even subconsciously realizing that neither of them have ever loved him.

But it all just hits him again at Wayne’s easy acceptance. Wayne loves Eddie for everything. It’s unconditional and endless in supply.

And she suddenly accepts it, instead of just knowing it. His parents don’t love him and she doesn’t want to be a person they can love. It feels a bit like a burden is being lifted, a piece clicking in place as she works out who he wants to be. She doesn’t have to keep pleasing them.

Yet, he refuses to cry, looking up like she does when he’s wearing mascara and getting emotional about something. She’s not going to cry about parents that she doesn’t care about anymore. He has support. Wayne is there for him and hopefully so will Hopper and Joyce. He has made her own family and she’s not going to waste tears over those assholes.

“Are you okay there, kid?” Wayne asks when he stays silent. Eddie prompting: “Stevie?” as Robin asks the age old question if he ODed there.

She takes a breath and forces a smile. “I’m fine. Sorry. I refuse to fucking cry again. It’s bad for your skin.” Making Eddie and Robin huff with laughter. He turns to Wayne. “Thanks, that means a lot to me.”

“I could tell,” Wayne says and it doesn’t sound mean. Then he adds: “I went to school with your daddy. If you ever need to get out, you can come here.”

He nearly starts tearing up again, but manages to push it down as he says: “I’ll keep it in mind, but they’re hardly home. It’s not so bad. And I’m close to being able to move out.”

Eddie and Robin both smile sadly, they know of his rocky home life. He always insists it wasn’t that bad, but they shut her down every time, so he stopped trying. However, Wayne just frowns and asks: “When did you see them last?”

“I mean, they stopped by for two days in September and they called in August,” Stevie shrugs, decidedly over trying to maintain their image. “They were busy when me and Eddie were recovering, but they also came by in May. Business is moving to the West Coast. I think they have a house there too.”

“Fucking hell, kid, those assholes don’t know who they’re missing out on,” Wayne whistles, before saying, “If you want, you can come over for thanksgiving. We never do anything big, but it has to beat whatever they’ll do.”

Now Stevie is smiling so very wide, his parents are never in town for thanksgiving, since it’s supposed to be a holiday for family and therefore not something they can show off at. Still, it is a family holiday, so he asks: “Really? I wouldn’t want to intrude or anything.”

“Really,” Wayne assures him. “If you feel guilty, you can help in the cooking. Eddie has all his cooking skills from me, which are very little. And you looked plenty comfortable there.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Stevie says, feeling like her face is splitting in two.

After that Wayne finishes his dinner and bids them all a good day, before disappearing down the hall to his room to sleep. The new bungalow giving him the luxury of a room with good curtains, which have helped according to Eddie.

Fuck, Eddie, she turns to him and quickly asks: “You don’t mind me coming, right? I can not come if you want me to.”

“Stevie, sweetheart, I’d love nothing more,” Eddie assures him.

Robin complains: “Ahw man, I was hoping to invite you to my thanksgiving, since you’re supposed to be my boyfriend. You would make it so much more bearable to listen to auntie Linda and her stupid gossip.”

A warmth blooms his chest at the words. He knows his friends want her around, but it’s never not nice to hear. An idea pops in his head and he says: “I mean, if Wayne and Eddie agree you can tell them you’re celebrating thanksgiving with me.”

At the suggestion Robin’s eyes practically light up and she turns her puppy eyes on Eddie immediately, who laughs: “No need for the eyes, Robbie. Of course you’re welcome.”

“Hell yeah,” she cheers, already rambling on what she needs to tell her mother to get her to agree to let Robin come, which devolves into her complaining about said mother while they get ready for work.

Saturday is a busy day as is Sunday, but the week drags on rather peacefully after.

On Wednesday he calls Madame Tucker as has become customary to do every other week and fills her in on what has happened. “So Eddie and Robin took it well and I’m thinking about coming out to the kids as bisexual. The whole gender thing is further away, but you know, baby steps.”

“Oh, I’m so proud of you, honey,” Madame Tucker squeals into the phone. “It’s absolutely criminal that I can’t pinch your cheeks right now. I feel like a proud mother.”

Stevie laughs as he jokes: “Still a single mother?” before asking, “Or did your date work out? If he was a dick I can come up there and beat him up.”

“Don’t worry just yet, doll, I have my security beefy friends here too. And it’s not necessary at all, by the way,” Madame Tucker assures her. “The date was lovely. Brian was an utter gentleman. I’m seeing him again this weekend, actually.”

“Tell me everything,” Stevie demands and they’re on the phone for a few more hours.

Friday they play DnD and Stevie tells them that he’s invited them to her house for a sleepover tomorrow and that he got Hopper to agree to let El come and Max is coming too. Tells them it’ll be fun, just dick around with the only adult supervision him, Eddie and Robin.

The kids jump on the idea already making snack demands and arguing about what movies they’re going to watch. Stevie looks up at Robin in the door way, eyebrow raised, she nods at her, then looks to Eddie and smiles. He’s going to confirm it.

That Saturday she has a double shift wherein in the kids come in and annoy him about what to watch. All of them are there. Max with her crutches and big, thick glasses (she had confided how him wearing glasses too made her feel better about it, Stevie stopped looking into contacts) and El, who has never been, usually fine with the others picking.

El wins getting to pick something, since she never has before, which only leads to all the kids trying to influence her. It’s really funny when Mike tries to pull the boyfriend card and El tells him he doesn’t show her all the things, before turning to Max for a recommendation.

Max naturally dawns a smug grin as she leads El to the good movies as the boys protest. It’s nice to see them act like that, Stevie thinks. Like kids.

There is so much fondness in her heart for them, his own little family. He thinks they’re going to be solid after this. He hopes so. She never thought she would have this, but he’s getting more and more used to the idea of having people, who won’t leave. It would break her if they did now.

Eddie picks up a few of the kids, Stevie the others. It’s routine. They’ve fallen into a co-parenting act together, which Robin teases them for relentlessly. Stevie secretly thinks it’s nice. It’s nice to work together, to not be responsible alone.

The kids have settled on The Goonies and Top Gun. They all settle in to the blanket fortress they’ve built. They have so many snacks that Stevie just knows they’re going to be hyper before they all crash.

He decides it’s time while they’re watching Top Gun. They’re at the volleyball scene and she comments: “I get why Nance has a Tom Cruise poster. He’s fucking hot,” desperately trying to be casual about it.

“Hm, he does look like he’s sweating,” El, sweet innocent El, says in turn and they can’t help but crack up.

Max softly says: “He means hot as in attractive. Or at least I think so.” She gives Stevie a look asking for an explanation.

She nods: “Yeah, I’m bisexual.”

Stevie is studying all the reactions. Will look so proud and relieved as do Eddie and Robin, while the other Hellfire kids nod, they’ve been eased into it and already suspected. Max luckily looks like she knows what he’s talking about and is okay with it.

That leaves El, who looks incredibly confused as she asks: “Bisexual? What does that mean?”

“Well, it means that I like both girls and boys. In a romantic sense. If someone’s gay they’re a boy who likes other boys, while lesbians are girls that like girls, just like straight boys like girls and straight girls like boys. I like both and that’s bisexual,” Stevie explains patiently, glad the others have all shut up and don’t try to interrupt.

El nods in understanding, mouthing the word to herself, which makes Stevie smile. He knew that El would get it and be cool. Still, she’s glad to confirm it.

“I need to tell you something important about it, El. It’s important to me that you listen. Can you do that?” he asks, hating that he has to tell her this too.

She nods, frowning at the serious tone and confirms: “I am listening.”

“Not everyone is accepting of people who like people who are the same gender,” Stevie says, her own heart breaking as she does. “They think it’s outside the norm, unnatural, wrong. These people are of course incorrect, but they still attack gay people, if not physical then verbal. It’s very dangerous for people to know.”

Her frown deepens, anger mixing with the confusion, hardening her face which is starting to soften again as her curls get longer again.

“Me telling you is trusting you to tell no one, who wasn’t here. I know you take friends don’t lie very seriously and I can respect that, but you cannot tell Hopper or Joyce. Anyone,” he has to press to drive the point home, no matter how much it sucks. “If the wrong people find out, then I could be in serious danger. Do you understand?”

“But- But dad, Hopper, he’s not a bad man,” she says, like she can’t understand that Hopper would ever hurt a friend.

“I know he’s not,” Stevie assures her. “But even good people can have bad opinions. And until I think he’s safe, I’m not ready to tell him. Not to mention that this is something personal. It’s my thing to tell people, my decision. It’s polite not to say until someone has said so themselves. Please, tell me you won’t say. Promise.”

“I promise,” she says. “I won’t tell. People who think like that are stupid and if anyone hurts you I’ll crush them,” she adds to her promise in a matter of fact tone, making Stevie smile.

“Then you’re also safe to tell that I’m gay,” Eddie tells her, piggy backing on Stevie’s explanation to tell Max and El as well. “I only like boys.”

El looks at him just as seriously and says: “I won’t tell.”

“Thank you, supergirl,” Eddie smiles.

“I won’t either, by the way,” Max adds. “And I think it’s cool. Thanks for trusting us and shit.”

“No problem, Red,” Stevie smiles and Eddie winks with a thumbs up.

Then Max ruins the moment, by saying: “But really? Tom Cruise? Do you have to be a basic bitch about it?” which makes everyone laugh as the room returns to normal and they watch the move for a bit longer.

After they finish Top Gun Max reveals she has brought nail polish for her and El, trying to pull Robin into it too. They demand girl bonding and want gossip on her dating life with Stevie. With a suffering look, she goes with them, Stevie laughing at her misery.

Will has brought a few board games and they collectively discover that Stevie hasn’t played many of them, because she always portrayed himself as too cool for them, while not wanting to appear stupid in front of friends, who already knew the rules from playing with their families.

However, the kids don’t mind explaining at all, even if they yell over each other or correct the person who is speaking and devolve into arguments. It’s warm, homey.

He looks through the room, his parent’s house never feeling like home unless others are there. She meets Robin’s eyes, who winks at her, before making up a ridiculous date that never happened.

Robin doesn’t want to tell the kids just yet, Stevie asked when telling her and Eddie about wanting to come out. She now knows they’re cool, sure but she isn’t as close with the kids as Stevie and Eddie are. Save maybe Dustin and Erica.

Besides, Robin’s parents will disown her if they ever find out, no matter how nice they are, and she needs them to get through college, unless she gets a scholarship. So until Stevie has his own place (he doesn’t want to risk his parents coming back with her there), she is staying comfortably in the closet.

Nothing wrong with that, and if she has some fun with it, then it’s her business. And Stevie’s, who will have to endure the kids’ teasing over it. And Eddie, who will also make fun of the kids making fun of him.

In the end, he is right about all the kids crashing. It’s only the physical therapy that both Eddie and her have had to do, that allows them to carry the kids to the blanket fort.

Eddie, Robin and Stevie retreat upstairs to Stevie’s room, loving the kids, but being too old to sleep on couches and mattresses on the floor. So, they get into her bed, Robin muttering: “Stevie, your bed is the most comfortable, but your room is just creepy.”

“I think it’s because it feels like it’s from a catalog,” Eddie replies, getting behind Stevie. “When you move out, we’re gonna make sure your room has personality. I swear it, princess.”

Stevie is very excited for that day. He has never known what to do with his room that would make it feel more like home without angering his mother. She never succeeded, but he thinks he can without her mother’s expectations. He never fit in there anyway.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “I’m looking for something, you know.”

“Yeah?” Eddie hums.

“Found something yet?” Robin asks.

“I was thinking of trying to find something with two bedrooms. It’s easier with the house prices going down after everything, you know,” Stevie says. “And it’ll be a good investment for when we want to get out of here. Value should go up.”

“God, you’re such a business child sometimes, it’s creepy. Don’t sell into the capitalistic overlords, promise me, Stevie,” Eddie says.

Stevie rolls her eyes, but laughs. He says: “I won’t. What I was going to say, I don’t know how much either of you moving in is still a plan or possibility when it happens. However, with two bedrooms we can share, but still have a bed for if someone doesn’t feel like being touched. Plus, we can tell people that Robin and I share, because we’re supposed to be dating and Eddie can live there too without it being weird.”

They’re both quiet for a second, then Robin shuffles closer, hugging the other two as she says: “I can’t believe you’ve put this much thought into it. That sounds amazing, dingus. Gosh, we’d be the best roommates.”

“That’s smart,” Eddie agrees. “Though I don’t think I’m ever not sharing. I hate sleeping alone. I get nightmares easier and I move around more. I fell out bed last week, my ass hurt for days afterwards.”

All of them snicker, talking a bit more about how they’ll decorate. However, they also feel the exhaustion after the fun night, so they drift off during their conversation.

The next morning is naturally chaotic. Stevie is making breakfast but with him included there are ten people to cook for. Ten people who just woke up. Ten people who are grumbling as they get dressed. Ten people who have to use the bathroom.

It’s a lot.

However, this isn’t the first time he’s hosting the hoard and he has the mom pose and the voice down, so they do listen to her. Sometimes. Enough times.

After breakfast, Robin has to be brought to work, Stevie having afternoon shift. Eddie also has to work. So, they split the kids with what is handiest direction wise.

Eddie takes the Sinclairs and Mike, along with El, who is going to the Wheeler house. Stevie is bringing Robin to work, then dropping off Dustin, Max and Will in that order. Soon they’re loading in the kids, who all reluctantly say goodbye, only hurrying because of Eddie and Robin yelling at them about being late for work.

Stevie only speeds a little – trying not to think of the safety of the kids in Eddie’s car – but makes it on time for Robin’s shift, telling her she’ll see her later when he clocks in.

Dustin teases him the whole ride about his girlfriend, which she takes with an eyeroll, making up some embarrassing shit about Robin as a little act of revenge.

Will and Max together are pleasant company. Will is content to silently sit by, only offering his input from time to time, while Max tells Stevie about school. Max has a lot to make up after recovering, but she’s managing and Will says he’s been settling in okay after moving back over the summer.

Both are nice to hear. Good news is always nice.

They say goodbye to Max, watching her disappear into the Mayfield’s new government appointed bungalow. Then it’s just him and Will.

She drives in silence for a moment, then says: “El took it well.”

Will nods, staying quiet for a second, then he smiles: “Thank you, for talking to her. And explaining so I don’t have to. I really appreciate it. Especially after everything.”

“It’s okay,” Stevie assures him. “I don’t mind talking to El about it. And we all have to learn not to talk, I just got lucky with people to tell me before I did it. It worked out in the end. Plus, despite the fact that it was aimed at me, it’s nice to see you stand up for yourself. You deserve to take up space and I’m glad you’re learning that.”

“Thanks,” Will blushes. “Like I said, Cali was good for me. I’m glad we’re back, because I missed my friends and having more people that get it, but I needed a break from it all to accept myself more, I guess.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Stevie agrees.

It’s quiet for another moment, then Will says: “I’m going to come out at thanksgiving. It’ll be easier and Jonathan will be there. I want him to know.”

“That’s nice,” Stevie says. “I hope it goes well.”

“Me too,” Will sighs.

“Hey, look at me.” Will does. “It’s gonna go well. You’re going to have El there and you’re telling people who love you so so much. This isn’t going to change that. And when you’ve done it, you’re gonna get hugged and accepted and it’s going to be great. When that all happened, I want you to call me. Me and Robin are going to the Munson’s for thanksgiving. You know the number?”

“I do,” Will assures him, smiling with tears in his eyes.

“You’re going to call me and I’m going to congratulate the shit out of you and you will have another thing to be thankful for, okay?” she says, feeling a bit bad how part of this reassurance is for herself. How he subtly gave Will a number to call if it should go wrong.

“Thank you,” Will sound so sincere that it physically hurts.

“Of course, baby Byers,” Stevie says.

Then Will offers: “You could come to our thanksgiving. Mom adores you, Hopper too. You’re family, they would want you there.”

Stevie chokes up a bit and replies: “That means a lot, thank you. But I already said yes to Eddie and Wayne, maybe another time. Besides, Jonathan will be home. You guys should get to spend as much time together as possible. We see each other plenty.”

“I guess,” Will says. “But you can’t think you’re not welcome, you are. We’re each other’s people now, right? You look out for me, I look out for you.”

God, this kid is going to make him cry. “Yeah, yeah, of course,” she tells him with a lump in her throat, happy that he’s pulling up to the Byers house.

Joyce is already waiting on the steps, waving at them and offering Stevie a cup of coffee. For a change, Stevie accepts the offer. It’s nice to talk to Joyce again and to hear Will talk excitedly about the movie night, both her and Joyce smiling fondly at the kid.

Life is looking up.

A/N:

I know, random POV switch there, but I felt the need to show that conversation, because it is important, you know. We all had to learn. Lets hope this teaches someone before they can make the mistake themselves. Anyways, no hate to Will, he’s one of my favorites and deserves the world <3

And I will keep making my little PSA’s here in the notes, bc you don’t have to come out. Ever. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to, even if you know you can.

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