undreaming-fanfiction

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Modern AU, because our boys can be open about their relationship.

When Steve and Eddie get their shit together after one Corroded Coffin concert, the CC boys are equally confused, amused and avenged. Eddie kept saying that the tension between him and Harrington was just in their heads, that he didn't have a Big Ben, or rather a big boy sized crush, nope, and even if he did, which he didn't, Harrington was just as straight as Eddie wasn't, so nothing would ever happen. Yeah, right.

So once they finally get together, Gareth gathers all the victims to Eddie's gaslighting (unintentional, and they're pretty sure Eddie also gaslit himself), the CC, Robin, Nancy, the party, even Murray who swears Eddie's obtuseness cost him another portion of his hair, and they hatch a plan together.

See, Gareth has a friend in the gift item printing business. So they get mugs. Many, many mugs. And then they start visiting Steve and Eddie and leave these mugs behind, one by one.

Eddie spits out his soda when he notices a mug with a picture of him and Steve, gazing longingly at each other about a year before they got together, with "I survived 2023 with these two lovestruck idiots who only got their shit together in 2025".

Steve drops his bowl of cereal when he notices a mug with another picture and "JUST KISS ALREADY!!! SINCERELY, EVERYONE".

Eddie howls in laughter when he finds another mug with "I was right about Steve and Eddie before it was cool or official".

Steve grows beet red in the face when he finds a mug with a picture of a full tally board with "How many times Steve mentioned wanting to kiss/fuck/date Eddie Munson in April 2024".

Eddie finds another mug with a picture of his face and a quote: "Nothing's happening, Gareth! Steve's straight and he doesn't see me like that!" - Edward Munson, deadly wrong in 2023.

Another mug reads "When in doubt about relationships, trust Murray. YOU COULD HAVE BEEN DATING TWO YEARS AGO!"

The final mug is the only one that both Eddie and Steve get. It is a picture of everyone involved in the mug project, flipping them the bird, with a bold caption: "WE TOLD YOU SO!"

(also, Wayne sees these mugs, finds them hilarious and contacts Gareth. For his next birthday, Eddie gets a mug from Wayne with his picture, a look of disappointment and "I also told you so, Eddie.")

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Mary Harrington finally gives up one day, boards a plane home alone knowing that her husband is likely already in bed with a woman ten years younger than her. For the first time in her life, she doesn't feel hurt. Only mildly disgusted, maybe with herself too.

She arrives in Hawkins to ruins that are slowly getting rebuilt, smoke almost cleared, and weird whispers about her son and his new friend, the trailer trash Eddie Munson. Something about being too close, too intimate for two men. She feels the familiar disdain, the words "what would your father think" - and then exhales and lets them go. She is past caring about Richard Harrington.

Instead, she sits down with them. She is honest, she was in love once and she knows those eyes - Steve's look like her own, after all. Behind the adoration, she sees the darkness in Steve's face, the pain, and thinks - I couldn't fix my husband, but I can fix this. She gently asks them both if anyone has been giving them trouble. When she hears several familiar names of local God-fearing women, she laughs for the first time in what feels like forever. "Leave them to me," she says.

She stops by for coffee. Chats a little. Gently opens the topic of the rumors about her son. And then: "I understand, Linda. Homosexuality is a sin. What a funny thing, one could say the same about fucking my husband last spring. Of course, it's been so long...I'm sure your husband knows?" One by one, the rumors quiet down and Mary's smile grows into its old radiance.

The first evening back, she summons all the remaining rage, disappointment and sadness over wasted years, poking at old wounds until she's sobbing. And like that, she calls Richard and wails into the phone how everything is destroyed, their house almost gone, and gently guides Richard to the brilliant idea of signing over the small flat in the center he's been renting to Steve. She knows Richard has no patience for her emotions, and she sobs out how Steve has been fixing the town, how he'd become everything Richard had ever wanted, a true pillar of the community, but he has nowhere to sleep, oh how it's breaking her heart, what would the town think-

He promises to send over his lawyer the next day. She thanks him through the tears, says one last "I love you" and with the click of the ended call, dries her tears and pours herself a glass of wine. "How did I do?" she asks.

Steve just laughs and hands her a cheese plate he's been preparing in the kitchen. He nudges Eddie who is staring with wide eyes. "What?" asks Steve with a smirk. "You've always admired my bitchiness and pragmatism. Where do you think I got it from?"

The flat is signed over the next day. Mary kisses her son and Eddie goodbye - she would go back to her parents for a while, she says, just to get the divorce finalized. Plus, one of her old friends still seems interested, her being the one that got away and all that, and Mary intends to test that theory. She will keep in touch, she says. And for the first time, Steve believes her.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

it's almost spooky time!!

i have TWO pop-up events scheduled between now and the start of october for anyone who'd like to participate!!

APRIL 30 - MAY 1: Halfway to Halloween (#steddiehalfoween)

picnic ● fog (+ halfway to halloween)

JUNE 20 - 22: Summerween (#steddiesummerween)

trickster ● pines (+ summerween)

just like our main event, there will be no min/max word count, and no set rating limit just please be sure to include the rating and prompt(s) at the start of your post, and tag @steddie-spooktober so it can be added to the queue!

same applies to any artists that would like to participate! just tag us and include the prompt(s) you chose!

a '🎃' will be commented in the replies of your post so you know it's been added to the queue

happy creating!!! there's only 6 months until october!!!

~noelle

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Random AU go! Again. Someone - me - depends with their whole mental health on Only Murders In The Building, so...have an Only Murders Steddie AU.

Max is temporarily staying at the Arconia, working on some repairs for her mom's friend. She's in her late 20s, unsure about what to do with her life. She tried skateboarding, getting into college, finding a boring normal job, but she still feels like she doesn't belong. She moved away from her friends as a child and has struggled with forming connecitons ever since.

Steve is in his late 60s. He has done a bunch of stuff in his life, including a legendary role in a Baywatch-esque series, but that wasn't enough to get him a flat at Arconia. His father, however, was rich. Also, he had a mistress. He bought the flat for her. Steve found out about the flat and the affair in his mid-20s, and told his dad - give me the flat and you'll never hear from your disappointing son again. Richard Harrington took the deal. These days, Steve claims he isn't depressed, but being laid off as a teacher for being too old stings. He still exercises a bit, but he mostly waits for a call from his not-Baywatch-but-close screenwriter and best friend, Robin Buckley.

Eddie has no idea how he's still alive and breathing after the life he's had, the drugs, the alcohol, the lack of good or any judgment, but here he is. He's 70, no family, only remnants of his rock career and later music producer career scattered throughout his flat. He's doing fine, he says. He's sober, has a ferret, and he's surrounded by his beloved fantasy books. Nope, he isn't lonely at all.

So when their building gets evacuated, the nearby restaurants are full and Eddie uses his charm to sneak himself and Max to Steve's table, maybe they bond over the true crime podcast that's set in their former hometown of Hawkins. They each left it at different stages of their lives, but they bond over the podcast finally revealing what happened to a local student, Barb Holland.

When they come back to the building, police is present. And the body of a young but successful girl, Chrissy Cunningham, is found. The police says suicide, but Steve, Eddie and Max disagree.

Throughout their investigation, they grow closer, Eddie and Steve learn how to use modern technologies, they all record a podcast together, and at the end, Steve maybe admits to Eddie he put him as his emergency contact, because he's his closest friend.

Maybe they move in together after a year or two. Just in case one of them falls, you know. It's safer that way. At least that's what they tell their neighbors.

And maybe Max inherits Steve's old apartment under one condition - she has to keep Steve's old still-not-Baywatch-but-totally-a-ripoff promo picture above the sofa. Not because he's proud of it, he says, but because it's an amazing conversation starter.

Max keeps the picture up. And if she finally finds her true calling by making podcasts and maybe signing up for criminology studies...well. Steve and Eddie couldn't be prouder.

Also Eddie is totally jealous of Max for possessing the beach picture of Steve, but he won't tell her. He will steal it here and there though.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

I'll merge my two major ships here. Eddie and Steve as musical actors and dancers who slowly fall for each other during their tour of the Cats musical.

Steve plays Rum Tum Tugger, the Curious Cat. His hair is simply majestic. He has a presence that has all the ladies swooning. He's a bit of a bitch, but people love him for it. He is used to being admired and adored.

Eddie plays Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, or Quaxo in his normal persona. He's quiet as Quaxo and is one of the very few cats who is unimpressed by Tugger/Steve. He calls him a bore and generally dislikes how loud and obnoxious he is. But as Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, he is skilled, confident, and incredibly magnetic.

Steve and Eddie's production of Cats leans into the mutual admiration/attraction angle of these two characters. Steve gets told the basics of his character first.

For their first meeting, Steve marches to Eddie, in all his attractiveness, fluffy hair, adorable moles and bitchy smirk. He shakes Eddie's hand with a strong grip, and announces: "Hi, I'm playing Tugger, and I was told I'm basically head over heels for you. So prepare to be loved!"

Eddie, who has just gotten off the plane from London, hasn't slept in about two days, and is at the point of exhaustion where he's slowly starting to hear and see ghosts, just blinks at him. To his tired brain, Steve looks like a shiny god, too beautiful to be real, but Eddie didn't get this far by being shy. He activates the bullshit confidence mode.

He shakes Steve's hand, winks at him and pretends to swoon a bit. "Oooh, I'll be looking forward to that! I'm not sure if I can love you back based on the script yet, but in person? I'd be flattered."

Then he spills his coffee over himself, because he's still Eddie, and he's massively sleep-deprived. And this beautiful man, bless his heart, helps him dry his t-shirt, checks him for burns, and even offers him a replacement T-shirt because Eddie's suitcase got lost somewhere on the way.

When Eddie thanks him and apologizes, Steve winks at him again. "Don't worry. I'll still love you, even when you smell like Starbucks."

Eddie really hopes the script says Mistoffelees loves Tugger back, because if not, he's going to have a horrible time acting like he doesn't.

They practice a lot, often separately. As Quaxo, Eddie just has to announce that Tugger is a terrible bore, and the hurt side eye that Steve gave him tugged at his heartstrings. He finds it hilarious how all the queens just dance around Steve/Tugger, trying to get his attention, and he's enjoying it a lot, but then there's always a small glance towards Quaxo. Just to make sure he's watching.

And then they get to the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees song, and Steve ramps it up even more. Eddie hates the wife guy trope, but damn, they should all be learning from Steve, because Steve's Tugger is Mistoffelees's announcer, agent, ad company and biggest cheerleader all in one. Eddie can focus on all those jumps and turns, while Steve cheers and points at him and well, loves him, just as promised.

They spend a lot of time together between the shows and become good friends. They help each other with stretching, Steve keeps bringing Eddie water to keep him hydrated, and they learn a lot about each other. Eddie tells Steve about his uncle, waiting for him in Manchester, about his asshole of a dad. Steve joins in about being nearly disowned for choosing musical theatre instead of finance, and now that he's successful, he's being paraded by his father like a circus act.

They both love Star Wars. They bond over that.

When the tour is over and Eddie already has a ticket back to London, he can't help but feel crushed. After their last performance, when they wash off the makeup and Eddie is nursing his cup of tea, he manages to smile at Steve. He's still picking out the long wig hairs from his own.

"That was something," Eddie says, and he manages to keep his tone light. "Gotta say, I'm going to miss all that adoration and love, Steve."

Steve is still frowning, dropping the remaining yellow hairs on a napkin, but this catches his attention. One of the hairs is stuck in his eyebrows, but Eddie doesn't have the heart to tell him. "What do you mean, you're going to miss it?" he asks. "You have my number. I'm stalking you on Instagram already. It's not stopping or anything."

Eddie squeezes his cup even tighter. "Um. So...that wasn't a Tugger thing?"

"At first." Steve shrugs and sneezes when another yellow hair tickles his nose. "But I liked you from the start. After those months with you on the road? I didn't even need to act. Even if you're cast to play the tiniest mouse in a school rendition of Cinderella, I'm going to cheer for you, Eddie."

And Eddie's dumb heart gives that treacherous squeeze. He drops his cup and moves to hold his hands - he didn't say it was love!, his brain shouts, but he's too emotional to stop himself. "I wish I could just pack you into my suitcase and take you with me to London," he whispers, finally getting that hair out of Steve's eyebrow. He wants to touch him so much.

Steve squeezes his hands, and oh, his smile. Eddie shouldn't have doubted it was love. Because there's no mistaking that. "Actually, it's just going to be two weeks," he says sheepishly. "I...um. I asked to be transferred to another company. In the UK. I've been looking for a good fit, somewhere to go to put some more distance between me and my parents. See the world. And England sounds cool, I mean, I can speak the language, right? And your uncle also sounds cool, if you ever want us two to meet. Uh."

Eddie just stares at him. He will kiss him in less than a minute, but before that, he needs to remember all of it, Steve's barely visible blush, the fear in his eyes, but also hope. "Steven Harrington," he says slowly. "Are you saying-"

"It's too much, isn't it?" Steve interrupts him. "I knew for weeks, but it wasn't confirmed or anything, and then I didn't want to impose and I get it, it's kinda crazy, but I thought - maybe I can be selfish for once. Do something crazy because it feels right. And I know I'm rushing things and I'm too much, and this maybe feels a bit stalker-y, which I only realize now, but-"

Eddie kisses him then, silences those thoughts. When they part, he strokes Steve's cheek and tells him, "not too much, nope. Never enough."

"Wrong musical," says Steve, but he looks really kissable, so Eddie does that again.

(also when Steve meets Wayne for the first time, he's worried, but Wayne just pulls him into a hug and grumbles "Finally! Eddie wouldn't shut up about you for MONTHS.")

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Still pushing everything Stranger Things into myths, fairytales and cursed settings and I'm not quitting!

Eddie Munson is the pied piper.

He travels the country and plays cheerful songs that will make you dance and call out in joy. But many villages dread his melodies - it is said that some children will fall under a spell and follow him away, never to be seen again. There is no use stopping them or locking them up before the piper is gone - once the song is heard, they are lost.

He is untouchable. The music shields him better than a full army of men. When you hear his melody, you can't feel anger, can't feel fear. And when the magic fades, he is long gone, along with the children.

No one knows why some children are left behind and why some leave with the piper. Not before his visit. After several days, a royal mage visits the town, along with the king's trusted messenger. It is said that someone from the village called them, asked for royal intervention of this brazen kidnapping of children, but no one wants to admit they were the ones to request help.

The mage and messenger examine the village, talk to the remaining children, and then call the whole village to hear the results of their search.

The messenger's name is Robin. She clears her throat and calls out to the villagers. "Hear the official stance of the king on the happenings in your village. We have investigated your claims about the presumed kidnapper, the pied piper. You claim magic was involved. That is why the royal archmage, Nancy Wheeler, has been summoned." She takes a step back and lets Nancy share her findings.

Nancy's eyes are cold as she watches the villagers. "The crown's stance is that the pied piper indeed uses magic. However," she adds as the villages start stirring, murmuring, "it does not children, as you have thought. No, the piper's magic calls out to the victims of cruelty. It calls into action those who are continuously beaten, disparaged and made feel small. It is the cruelty in your hearts that called the piper here. For this magic, there is no remedy other than removing its source."

She looks in the eye of a villager who is known to beat his wife. "Take a deep look inside yourself, inside your anger and the violence you bring. Because if you don't, the piper will return. And the next time, the magic will call out to you."

Some men and women in the village shudder. Others try their best not to look too hopeful.

Robin wraps things up by announcing that the crown will continue searching for the piper and the taken children, but that even if they were to return, unless they felt safe, the magic would take hold of them again. She doesn't seethe with cold fury like Nancy does, but her words bite more than usual.

They depart the village and the villagers have a lot of work to do. They make amends, either out of guilt or fear. And the legend of the piper spreads.

No one needs to know that the pied piper always leads the children towards the woods, where Nancy opens a portal for them. No one needs to know that the portal leads directly to the castle of the king himself, Steven the Brave.

Steven waits for the children on the other side, wearing commoner's clothes. He charms them with his smile, makes them feel safe, and explains to them that this is their new home, at least for some time. "Your parents were told why you were taken away," Steven says, "and know it might take some time before you come back. For those who don't want to go back home - you will always have a place here. Others can return in the spring. But now," he claps his hands, "this is your home. Who is hungry?"

The royal chef Argyle ushers them away. Later, they would be led to their beds by the keeper of the castle, Jonathan. For many of them, this is the first time they get to sleep feeling safe.

In next months, they would be given classes, nurtured, loved. Some would later opt to go home and would be let go - if their parents were deemed worthy, and if the children agreed to never admit where they were. Maybe a distorting spell would be placed on their memories, their experiences intact, but location a identities of their caretakers hidden. Others would stay and would later relocate to the villagers around the king's castle.

But now, the children are cautiously but happily (the smell is divine!) following Argyle, and Steve stands up, addressing his three friends. "Thank you. I couldn't do this without you."

Nancy just shrugs. "It's the right thing to do. I wish I could call a blizzard on some of them, for all that evil. But if you say there's hope for some of them, I will trust you."

Robin wraps her arm around Nancy's waist. "Which is why I always come with you. To keep those freezing tendencies in check." She pecks a small kiss on Nancy's cheek. Then she turns towards Steve. "The conditions in this village were pretty bad. There are some concerning households, Nancy placed surveillance enchantments there. If they don't get better, we'll know."

Nancy nods towards Eddie. "How is the enchantment on the pipe? Is it holding up?"

He reaches into his pocket and hands her the pipe. "It seems to be, but I'd appreciate another check up. After all, villager mobs lack intelligence, but boy, are they fast."

After Robin and Nancy retire to their room, Steve pulls Eddie close and kisses him. "I'm so grateful, Eddie. But you don't have to do this, you know. I hate that this all makes you look like a villain. Even if we all know better."

But Eddie just waves his hand and returns the kiss. "It's all good, Stevie. I've always wanted to use my music for good. And while I love being your court bard, those noble parties get so boring."

"Don't I know it." Steve is laughing now, pulling Eddie towards their room. "Will you at least accept the bottle of your favorite wine as a token of appreciation?"

Eddie clutches his hand over his heart. "Now those words, king Steven, are magic to my ears. I might just follow you anywhere."

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Do You Believe in True Love’s Kiss?

For @undreaming-fanfiction | prompt: fairytale | WC: 1101

Happy Valentine’s Day Aneta! I’m so grateful that I get to call you a friend and while it’s late, I hope you were able to feel loved on the day. You deserve the world 💕

Steve hates being a prince.

It’s constant nagging from his parents to find a beautiful princess that he can marry so that he can take his rightful place at the throne.

There’s talk of glorious balls and true love’s kiss; but none of that interests him. He would rather spend his days with his childhood friend, Robin, even though his parents look down on the friendship as Robin is part of the help.

Despite the balls being held for him to “find a suitable girl to marry”, he’s been promised to Nancy Wheeler, a princess of the neighboring kingdom, since a very young age.

They’re friendly enough. They’ve even become something along the lines of friends. Though they both know that neither of them actually want to marry each other.

Nancy asks about Robin often, and Robin seems to have a similar interest in Nancy based on their conversations.

It’s not until they’re 17 and 18 that Steve officially meets Nancy’s brother, the Prince of the kingdom, Edward. He’d met the younger siblings before, Holly and Michael, though Edward was often traveling, supposedly helping with their trade.

He knows he shouldn’t be avoiding Nancy. He should be parading her around the ballroom as the two of them politely smile and make small talk about how the wedding planning is going, despite Steve having not even given her a ring yet.

However, Steve finds himself wandering the palace grounds instead. He walks the dimly lit path of the eastern garden as he finds himself lost in thought, desperately wishing he was anywhere else at that moment.

It throws him off guard when he notices a figure not far from him, also walking through the gardens and clearly trying to avoid the crowds, just like him. The figure is tall and slim. As he makes his way closer, he finds that it’s Prince Edward.

Steve finds himself filled with curiosity, slowing his steps as he ducks behind a nearby bush. His gaze lingers on the man in the dim glow of the lamp light and he feels his breath hitch.

Everything feels sudden as his head is filled with a fantasy of parading the Prince around instead of his sister. The two of them walking arm in arm as Edward says something that makes Steve throw his head back in laughter. The kingdom watching in awe as the two of them dance in the center of the ballroom.

Shit. That explains so much.

He feels dizzy as he stumbles back into reality, his hand reaching for the bush to steady him which only rustles the branches, giving him away as he sees the other man look over in his direction.

He straightens himself, trying to act like nothing happened as he sees Edward take a few steps towards him, a knowing smirk creeping over his face.

“Are you always this flighty?”

Steve sighs, “Only when my parents insist on throwing elaborate parties to parade around the girl I’m supposed to marry.”

“My apologies. Prince Steven is it?”

Steve scoffs, “That’s too formal. It’s just Steve.”

“Well ‘just Steve’, how do you feel about this girl you’re supposed to marry?”

“She’s kind and pretty, but I view her more as a friend than a future romantic partner. She’s not exactly my type.” He pauses for a moment as he realizes he still hasn’t let the man introduce himself. “I’m sorry, you are?”

The man chuckles softly, “Prince Edward, but please, call me Eddie.”

Realization hits Steve as everything clicks into place. Of course Eddie is Nancy’s brother.

She’s told him about Eddie before. How she’s jealous of the journeys he goes on. How she wishes there were more she could for the kingdom like he does.

Now that he thinks back to their conversations, he has a feeling she talked about him the way she did because she always knew that Steve could never love her. They never spoke of their respective sexualities, but Steve wasn’t stupid. He saw how Nancy interacted with Robin, and he knew he could never love Nancy the way his parents wanted him to. Because at the end of the day? He wanted to end up with someone like Eddie.

“Are- are you alright?”

Steve clears his throat as he meets Eddie’s eyes, god he’s beautiful,

“I- yeah. I guess I just needed some air.”

Eddie smiles at him nodding over his shoulder to signal for the two of them to walk together.

They walk in silence for a moment, enjoying the comfortable presence of the other by their side as they walk through the dimly lit gardens until they reach a clearing close enough to the ballroom that they can hear the faint sound of music and laughter.

Steve cautiously questions the man as he reaches a hand out, giving him his own as he nods and brings him in closer, the two of them beginning a slow sway to the music.

“Now tell me ‘just Steve’. Do you believe in true love’s kiss?”

The question throws him off a little, causing an unexpected bark of laughter.

“What’s so funny?! It’s a fair question!”

Steve shakes his head with a fond grin on his face. “What, like the fairytales? I suppose that it could be real, though I’ve come to find royalty is vastly different than what fairytales make it out to be.”

“I’ve always wondered what a true love’s kiss would be like. Though I guess normally it’s paired with a damsel in distress and I have a fear of heights so climbing abandoned towers probably isn’t the move. And,” Eddie stops for a moment, tentatively scanning Steve’s face for some sort of answer, “I guess a damsel isn’t really what my type would be at all. Maybe more of a duke. Or a stable boy. Or possibly another prince.”

Steve huffs out a nervous laugh as Eddie pulls him in closer. His breath hitches as he feels an undeniable tension embrace his chest, lowering his eyes to Eddie’s lips. He tilts his head as he comes closer, bringing his hand from Eddie’s shoulder to wrap around the back of his head.

There’s an instant spark as their lips meet, and he’s suddenly lost in the moment, everything finally making sense as it all clicks into place.

He knows it’ll be a nightmare explaining this to his parents. Calling the wedding off. Telling Nancy there’s been a change in plans, but none of that seems to matter right now.

As they part, Steve can’t help but smile as he leans his forehead against Eddie’s.

“Definitely real.”

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Just My Type

This one is for @henderdads with her prompt - accidental first kiss. Happy Valentine's Day, Cass! I hope this will bring you some joy!

Steve Harrington wasn't known for sharing his problems with others. He was the one who resolved all your issues, not brought more to the already very overcrowded table. The kids needed some stability, and as much as he loved Nancy, Robin, and Eddie, they weren't exactly fit for that role. The girls would soon leave Hawkins for college (Steve was so proud his heart could burst), and Eddie had his hands full with the whole finishing high school thing while still recovering from being nearly eaten by demobats.

No, Steve had this handled. He was the least fun of the four, but reliable. As far as the kids knew, the only issue Steve had was his inconsistent and ever dramatic love life, nothing else.

When Steve's eyesight started getting worse, likely from all those concussions, he handled it on his own. No need to worry anyone. A secret pair of glasses for home, prescription sunglasses for driving (and yeah, he looked cool in them, despite the kids' grumbling), and that was it. They didn't need to know. Everything was working out just fine. He was great at faking things.

At least until that fateful day. But we’ll get there. First, something about Steve’s love life.

See, Steve was dating around. He had been feeling anxious, unfulfilled, and the more he thought about it, the reason wasn’t Nancy for once. Even stranger, he knew he was over her, but the feeling of needing something and not being able to get it wouldn’t leave. So he got out there, used his charm, and prayed he’d finally find the one.

So far, it wasn’t working out. Most of the girls he went out with were lovely, kind, and gorgeous, but there was always something missing that made him break things off before anyone could get hurt. He had a type - curly or wavy dark hair and even darker eyes, but hey. It wasn’t his fault that Nancy had been the closest to an ideal relationship he’d ever had! That had to be the reason, he thought. Maybe his concussed brain decided that curly hair meant a good girlfriend.

“It’s not like I can help it,” he lamented, pretending not to see Eddie’s amused smirk. They had become good friends after their Upside Down near death experience, and as Dustin never failed to mention with a truckload of disgust, they were now practically inseparable. “Who doesn’t like curly hair? They’re making it this whole thing. I’m over Nancy.”

Eddie snorted and tossed his chemistry textbook somewhere towards the pile of stuff that might have included his desk. “Uh-huh. Sure thing. So this new one-”

“Jenny.”

Eddie snapped his fingers. “Yes. This Jenny. It’s just a coincidence that she’s a dead ringer for Wheeler.” He nudged Steve’s side with his bare foot. “Come on, Harrington. Be honest with your only adult friend.”

Steve kicked him in retaliation. “Wow, rude. I’ll let you know, I have Robin!”

“Buckley is so much more than a mere human, Steven. She doesn’t count, she surpasses our species. Whereas I,” he announced to the broken ceiling fan, “am very human, non-judgmental, and I have seen you go through half a dozen ladies of the same type since the spring break. So?”

Laughing, Steve kicked him again. “So nothing. She doesn’t look like Nancy. Hell, she looks more like you - her hair is darker, more wavy, and she has those really pretty dark eyes. And she’s tall. Are you saying you’re my type too?”

Eddie rolled over and batted his eyelashes. “I don’t know, Steve, am I?”

Steve hit him with a pillow in the face. If he hadn’t been so busy laughing, he might have just noticed the tinge of longing in Eddie’s voice.

..

To recap: the two things that led to the most important day of Steve’s life were a) his tendency to date a certain visual type of girl; b) his unwillingness to admit to anyone that he needed glasses.

Here’s what happened.

Steve, being both a good friend and a good boyfriend, took Jenny to see Eddie perform with the Corroded Coffin. Was metal his favorite music genre? Not really, but he wanted to support Eddie, and Jenny didn’t seem to mind, she even agreed to wear a Corroded Coffin t-shirt from Steve’s wardrobe.

Steve found himself enjoying the concert way more than he’d expected. The alcohol helped, sure, but it was so heartwarming to see Eddie in his element, scarred, but still the same. Steve had even learned to recognize the lyrics within all the noise, and even if he wasn’t ready to discuss that with Eddie yet, Steve considered them surprisingly deep. He really hoped Eddie would make it big, he was a wonderful guy, and life owed him big time.

After the concert, Jenny excused herself to the bathroom, and Steve went to grab some beers. His head was pleasantly buzzing, and even though his eyesight was more blurry than usual, he found his way through the crowd with ease.

He put down both beers and wrapped his arm around Jenny’s waist. He’d lost track of time at the bar, she must have come back in the meantime. And so, as they tended to do, he touched her cheek and turned her face into a quick kiss.

Steve noticed several things at once.

First, stunned gasps from the Corroded Coffin members, along with Robin’s snickering.

Second, Jenny’s cheek felt different. Almost stubbly?

Third, it was the best damn kiss he’d ever had.

And fourth, before the kiss could end, he felt something wet - the beer he’d just brought - hit his head and back, along with an angry shriek.

What happened next was a blur, and not just because he had trouble seeing it. He was vaguely aware of a second Jenny hitting him with her purse and storming off, Robin trying to control her laughter, and the person next to him, also drenched in beer? That was Eddie.

“Eddie, I’m so sorry!” Steve instinctively grabbed napkins and started drying off the beer in Eddie’s hair, on his jacket. “I...OK, not the best time to tell you, but I’ve noticed I can’t see shit, and normally I wear glasses, but I couldn’t take them with me because I look like a baby accountant or something, and I didn’t want you guys to worry. And uh, you probably know, but your hair looks kinda like Jenny’s, and I’m really sorry I did that without asking.”

Eddie was motionless, letting Steve fret over him. He was just staring into the distance, cogs turning in his brain.

Robin, bless her heart, re-directed the Corroded Coffin guys to grab a mop and a dry t-shirt from Eddie’s van for both Steve and Eddie. After that, she started ushering the unlucky pair towards men’s bathrooms, to “wash off that smell before it’s too late.” She snapped her fingers in front of Eddie’s eyes, getting him to move.  

As she shoved both of them towards the sink, she grabbed Steve’s hand and pulled him close. “Since you are freshly broken up, I would strongly suggest you think hard and fast about why you made that mistake, Steve. I can’t spell it out for you, even if it would be easier for everyone involved.”

Steve took a deep breath. “Yeah, uh...I think I might know.”

“Might?”

“I definitely know.” He rubbed his forehead. “I’m so dumb. That...even if I didn’t mean to, it wasn’t fair to Jenny. Or the ones before.”

Robin smiled at him and, not unkindly, patted his shoulder. “They’ll get over it. In the meantime, your man looks like he’s about to faint. Don’t mess this up, OK? I couldn’t stand to see you brooding again and going through another set of Eddie substitutes.”

After she closed the door behind Steve, she grabbed the mop and started cleaning the mess. She could say it would cost Steve a lifetime of driving her around, but she knew he’d do that anyway.

..

In the bathroom, Eddie was slowly finding his words. “You...you kissed me.”

Steve took a step towards Eddie, trying not to spook him. “Yeah. I know it sounds like bullshit,” he said, pushing down the bitter memories of that word, “but I really mistook you for Jenny. I can’t see much, especially when it’s dark. I’m really sorry, Eddie.”

He couldn’t see Eddie’s face, but his voice didn’t sound fine. The music from the club drowned out most of the quieter sounds, but Steve could swear he heard a sniffle. “Of course,” whispered Eddie and he seemed so sad. Steve wanted to punch his own face. “Of course it was a mistake.”

Eddie straightened his back and wiped at his eyes before turning towards Steve. “Don’t worry, Steve. It happens. I mean, you should feel more sorry for yourself, you’re single again, and if Jenny or anyone from the club talks, they’ll think you’re a-”

“I don’t care.”

With a bitter chuckle, Eddie shook his head. “You don’t get it, Steve. You have a reputation to protect. Our lovely and pious citizens of Hawkins expect something like that from me, they know I’m...wrong. But you? You’re the golden boy. Steve, you should think about what this will do to you.” He wasn’t looking at Steve, his eyes were glued to the floor. Steve didn’t need a hint to know why Eddie was blinking so rapidly, why he sounded so strained.

He reached out and grasped Eddie’s hands. “Eddie. I really don’t care. I won’t feel sorry for what someone might think. The only reason I’m sorry is that I kissed you without you agreeing to it, in front of people, because...” He took a deep breath and squeezed Eddie’s hands. “...because I wanted our first kiss to be something special. Not a case of a mistaken identity caused by my shitty eyesight. And I wish I could have done it differently, that we wouldn’t be in this dirty bathroom, and sticky and disgusting from that beer. But even if I’m sorry for not asking you, I’m also glad. Because it made me realize something really important.”

Eddie was staring at him with wide eyes, still wet with tears, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. A hint of hope. “And what is that?” he asked.

Steve moved several wet strands of Eddie’s hair from his face. He looked just a little bit like a wet rat, but to Steve, he was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. And he couldn’t wait to bury his hands in Eddie’s hair properly, when it was freshly washed. Maybe smelling of Steve’s shampoo. That was a thought.

He stroked Eddie’s cheek and for the first time in so long, he felt puzzle pieces falling in place. This was right.

“I realized that I didn’t answer you when you asked me,” he smiled and pulled Eddie closer. “You, Eddie Munson, are exactly my type.”

[undreaming-fanfiction]

@hoples Hey, how about some suffering?

The Whumps of March: 2025

This is a multi-fandom whump event with prompts inspired by literature. For the second year of this event the prompts are inspired by the Father of Modern Fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien.

Rules and Info:

You can make your entries in whatever format you desire (Fanfic, art, Gifs, etc)

You can do as much or as little as you desire.

All entries are to be uploaded during March 2025. Earlier is discouraged but late is fine.

Tag all works #thewhumpsofmarch2025

There will be a completionist and participant badges.

A link to the AO3 collection will be added here closer to the event

Feel free to send me an ask if you have any questions about the event.

The Whumps of March Prompts

Day 1: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

Day 2: “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life."

Day 3: Werewolves

Day 4: Sacrifice

Day 5: Amputation

Day 6: Guilt

Day 7: Back From The Dead

Day 8: Addiction

Day 9: “He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.”

Day 10: Trees

Day 11: Magic

Day 12: Torture

Day 13: Manipulation

Day 14: Trapped Underground

Day 15: Stabbed in the Back

Day 16: “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”

Day 17: Shapeshifters

Day 18: Arrows

Day 19: Poisoned Blade

Day 20: Betrayal

Day 21: Lost All Hope

Day 22: Fire

Day 23: “I can't carry it for you but I can carry you!

Day 24: Dragons

Day 25: Battlefield

Day 26: Magic Ring

Day 27: Madness

Day 28: Singing in the Dark

Day 29: Exhaustion

Day 30: “A man that flies from his fear may find he has only taken a short cut to meet it.”

Day 31: Darkness

Alternate Prompts:

Alt 1: Missing/ Presumed Dead

Alt 2: Homesickness

Alt 3: Eagles

Alt 4: Tied Up

Alt 5: Always Watching

Alt 6: Hunted

Alt 7: Fingore

Alt 8: Spiders

Alt 9: Leave It All Behind

Alt 10: Broken Blade

Alt 11: Stripped

Alt 12: Hunger

Alt 13: Ancient Evil

Alt 14: Eruption

Alt 15: Grief

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Home for Christmas

Written for @thefreakandthehair's Spicy Six -Ber Month Fanworks Challenge, thank you so much for organizing this, Lex! Prompt: Haunted House.

Also on Ao3.

"How is the turkey?"

Eddie peeked inside the oven and frowned at what was soon to be come their dinner. "I'm sure it's not feeling great," he said slowly, and then dodged a kitchen towel thrown at him. "Hey, I don't know what you want me to say. You can't ask me things like that! You know I don't cook!"

Steve rolled his eyes. He had that expression he'd perfected over the years, the one saying I'm suffering from all the stupidity in the world. Eddie loved it. "I thought you knew colors. We all learned them in the kindergarten, right? Is the turkey less pale now? More golden?"

Squatting in front of the oven again, Eddie did his best to assess the state of the unfortunate bird. It didn't have feathers anymore, which counted as good enough in the Munson household. "Look, Steve, I'm really trying, and I can tell you the thing is darker than before. Looks crunchier. But gold...how are you even able to tell? The light in the oven is yellow."

In a few quick steps, Steve was next to him and nudged him away from the oven. Of course, the turkey was still pale. "Out of all people in the world, I had to fall for a clown," he sighed.

Sneaking behind him, Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve's middle, smooth, perfect. "You love me," he whispered in his ear.

Steve didn't need to answer that, but he decided to do so anyways.

--

"Do we have potatoes?"

"Not sure. Things keep moving around here. Who knows where she put them."

One desparate and thorough search later, Eddie and Steve were standing in the kitchen, empty handed. "OK, unless she buried them in the backyard, I'm pretty sure we're potato-less," said Eddie, rubbing his eyes. "Do you want me to start digging?"

Steve shook his head. "Nah. I think...let me try. Sometimes it feels like she knows we want to contact her, so...uh. Hey, El?" He involuntarily looked upwards, as if she resided somewhere in heaven. Even if he knew it wasn't true. "Could you...uh. I know this is a really bad time and all, but we really need some potatoes.  Would you by any chance-"

He didn't even need to finish speaking. The cupboard doors flung themselves open, and in the place that they'd checked at least twice, there was a bag of potatoes. On it was a bright sticky note with a wobbly handwriting that said Sorry, forgot. Merry Xmas!! and the world's most crooked smiley face.

"Thank you, the same to you!" smiled Steve. "Do I...uh. Can I ask how is everything? I know you don't-"

He was interrupted again. Another set of cupboard doors moved, but this time it just swung from side to side, as if it was a head, shaking in a silent "no".

"I thought so. Thanks, El."

--

They pinned the sticky notes next to the other ones, on the fridge. Steve absentmindedly stroked his fingers over the tiny drawing, lost in thought, or maybe a memory. But then he remembered Eddie, the Christmas dinner they were making, and he turned away from the fridge. What was it that Robin once said? What I can't change, I have to let go. Or something like that.

The turkey was taking forever, but neither of them minded. There was no rush, everything else was ready, and so Steve decided to whip some egg whites to prepare Eddie's favorite meringues for when the oven would eventually be free. From time to time, a small amount of sugar would get dropped into the bowl, even before he could tell Eddie he needed his help. "I appreciate it," he muttered, "but don't you have better things to do?"

In the flour spilled from their earlier baking, an invisible finger drew a sly smiley face, and then - NO.

"That's okay then."

--

The tree was ready. Well, almost. Eddie was running around the house, looking for the last, most vital piece. He was one hundred percent sure he had seen it somewhere. Maybe in their room? No? What about the storage room? In the washing machine? His short term memory wasn't great, but this was a bit too much even for him.

There were still sounds of whisking coming from the kitchen, but that had to stop eventually. And Eddie didn't want to put more on Steve's plate.

He glanced at the familiar looking electrical tablet thingy that they used what seemed ages ago to communicate from the Upside Down. Had that always been there? He decided not to worry about it. Steve worried enough for the both of them. "Uh...hey, El?" he asked, glancing around the room. "Wasn't there a star for the top of the tree somewhere? Did you...did you maybe hide it?"

A moment of hesitation, and then - YES.

Eddie curled a strand of his hair around his finger. "Okay...but, why? Can we have it back?"

Another moment, then another message. NOT YET.

Eddie wanted to repeat himself, ask why, because El wasn't malicious, so there was obviously something else. But before he could speak up, the lights revealed another word. VISITOR.

--

Normally, Eddie would leap down the stairs, superhero landing style, but now he was walking down slowly, lost in thought. "Hey, Steve. Please don't freak out, but. Uh. Apparetly we're gonna have a visitor. Or something."

Steve's face grew pale. "Do we know who?"

Eddie shook his head. He didn't want to think about it too much, and he didn't like putting another worried frown on Steve's pretty face. "Nope, but hey, now we know what we need to do, right? A third plate!  I bet they're hungry. And the turney smells so good. You'd better guard it, Steve, or I'll bite into it right as it comes out of the oven!"

Just like magic, Steve's frown disappeared. He grabbed a kitchen towel and slapped Eddie's outstretched hand. "No, you absolute goblin! It's for the Christmas table. And you'll burn your mouth!"

Eddie fake gasped, hand clasped over his mouth. "He knows goblins! I have spoiled the pure, formerly incorruptible paragon of jockery, Steve Harrington! He's a Dungeons and Dragons nerd now, oh what a joyful days, what an achievement-"

"I'll give you a nerd-"

This time, the kitchen towel slapped Eddie's ass, and he lunged to the side, cackling. "There's no changing that now, Steve! I have ruined you for everyone else!"

And wasn't that the truth?

They had just finished preparing the third plate when their doorbell rang. Hearts wildly beating in their chests, they opened it. And there she was, with the same scowl, same snark, in her light blue jacket and jeans.

Max was wringing her fingers, looking anywhere but at them. "I think..." she said in a unusually quiet voice, "I think I got lost for a while. It's that stupid fog. Sorry it took me so long to get here."

As she got pulled into a tight and "absolutely non-consensual hug, Steven, what are you doing?!", and Steve just muttered "I don't see you letting go of me either, Mayfield!", Eddie closed the door behind them, just as he too got pulled into the same hug.

When they finally let go of each other and looked towards the table, the star was there, gleaming in the light.

Max kept walking around, exploring, touching the table, the plates, even the turkey with awe. "How the hell did this happen? I have so many questions-"

The cabinet doors did their usual no-no routine.

Eddie laughed. "It seems our hostess thinks that Christmas should come before your questions. Let's finish the tree, and then-food! And then maybe we can fit some of your questions into our inevitable food coma. Did you know that Steve cooks? I mean, really cooks. Deliciously. Stylishly. And he's hot when he's doing it."

She gave him a deer-in-headlights look. "He's what?"

Steve clicked his tongue and ushered them into the living room, grabbing the star on his way. "I knew you two together would be insufferable."

The star was placed on top of the tree. The dinner was delicious and question-free, except for one - "how the hell did this," Max said, pointing her fork at the two of them, "happen? When did this happen?"

Steve squeezed Eddie's hand. "It happened...after. And how...do you really, really want the details, Mayfield?"

She immediately dropped her gaze to her turkey. "Ew. No. Thanks, no." But even over Eddie's cackling, Steve could make out her next words: "But good for you two, I guess."

After the dinner, Max wished them good night and retreated into her new room. Eddie wanted to note that he was pretty sure the door wasn't there before, that he'd never seen it, but Steve shook his head. "Gift horses and all that," he smiled at Eddie and pulled him into their own bedroom. He hoped, for Max's sake, that the magical walls were soundproof too.

--

They unwrapped the presents together, with hot cocoa and quiet carols playing in the background. There was one for Max too, because Christmas miracles were a thing now, even if Steve and Eddie knew it hadn't been there before.

When Max tore the wrapping paper off and saw the Wonder Woman comics inside, she may have cried a bit. But Steve and Eddie won't confirm nor deny that, because they value their lives.

Clutching it to her chest as if it was the holiest of books, Max turned her eyes upwards, just as Steve had done, and mouthed a quiet "thank you."

The cabinet door waved at her. "It was nothing", it seemed to say.

--

They talked afterwards. Not too much, not about everything, but enough to understand.

"It started with me," said Steve, clutching his mug. "I...well. You know what happened. I mean, not the details, but...it was two demogorgons for me. And I mean, it was fine, I figured it would end that way eventually, but...then I heard her. El. She told me-"

"You're not going," whispered Max. "She told me the same. After the Creel House."

Steve nodded. "Yeah. And then I found myself here. It was beautiful, but...I was alone. And I think she knew I couldn't handle that, because the next thing I knew, Eddie was at the door."

The other man scratched his head, wincing. "It was wild. One minute I'm demobat feast, it's going dark and all that. I can't remember much, but then I see a light, which, wow. Great, I think, I made it to heaven. But then I see the light is coming from an open door and it's none other than Steve Harrington greeting me. I thought the pearly gates were supposed to be different, but hey, I'm not complaining. And that's it. We've been here for a while. Nowhere to go. No one to fight."

"I mean, we tried, at first," laughed Steve. "Broke a window. Tried to climb up through the chimney. Couldn't get anywhere past the backyard. We thought it was all a trick. But then El started leaving us notes. This is her work. Her way of saving her world, that's what she said. She must have been trying to guide you here ever since."

Max's fingers were restless on her mug. She was tapping it, almost spilling the hot liquid. "So you're telling me that when there's other people-"

"Yes."

"And we can't do anything. Anything to prevent it."

Eddie shook his head. "Nope. We can't prevent it. We were talking about it a lot, you know. We wanted to help, but in the end, the best we can do is give El what she wants us to have. A future. I don't know what she did, if she just," he wiggled his long fingers, "did some magic and created a piece of reality for us, if we're in another dimension, if this is our personal afterlife or something, but I won't waste my second chance wondering."

"The one thing we can do," continued Steve and, despite her glare, put his hand on Max's shoulder, "is to be here for the others when they arrive. With a warm bed and a good meal."

Max dropped her head and blinked. There were more ripples in her cocoa mug, even if her hands were still. "Then you'd better teach me how to cook, Steve," she muttered.

--

There would be more, of course. Some older, some younger. Some beaming like the sun itself, some crying. A lot of them would do both.

One day in the future, Eddie would barely be able to speak through his sobbing when Wayne appeared on the doorstep. Moments after that, a small collection of very strange mugs would find their way into their kitchen.Another day, Steve would greet Hopper, with his beard now fully grey. They wouldn't talk much, but Steve would see the pride in his eyes when Hopper learned what his daughter did for all of them. "I knew she couldn't just let you guys go," he'd mutter and pour himself another cup of coffee.

The house would remain warm and loving, with the number of rooms still growing. Everyone would have a place there.

Finally, the hostess would come home one day, her hair long again and hopefully grey, with crow feet from a fulfilled and happy life. She would knock on the door, unsure what she'd find, but she wouldn't need to wonder for long, because there would be many voices saying the same thing: "Welcome home, El."

And then...who knows?

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Steve is a one hit wonder, or at least that's what most of the world thinks.

You'd assume that he peaked in high school, and his claim to fame was a kegstand record or something, but no, that's not it. He was the "king", sure, but one day he just happened to sit on a bench in his uni's campus, and because his lips felt really dry from the windy autumn weather, he re-applied some lipgloss. A photographer taking pictures of the campus for a promotional brochure saw him, approched him, and voila! The biggest success (or maybe a mistake) of Steve's life was born.

He starred in a lipgloss commercial.

Look, in his defense, he needed the money. His parents cut him off, he was finally finding himself in his new major, and he was passionate about being able to afford rent and groceries. So he went to the studio, let them powder his face to oblivion and apply some lipgloss. They also gave him a shirt two sizes too small, which was really uncomfortable, but apparently made his shoulders look nice. He tried his best to recall wooing girls in high school, put on a hopefully seductive face, repeated some silly lines, and that was it.

He bought a new mattress with what he called the "lipgloss money" and thought that he could get back to his life with no change.

Except that didn't happen. Because the ad took off. Really, really took off. It got sold out almost immediately. The restocks were so sought after, there were lines forming in front of drugstores. The lipgloss was nice, thought Steve, non-sticky and with a nice flavor, long-lasting as per the ad, but he failed to see the mass appeal.

As it turned out, the appeal was himself. People recognized him on the street. They asked him to repeat that stupid line he said for the commercial. Somehow it got him more modelling gigs, all good and well-paid, but sometimes he thought he'd forever be the lipgloss guy.

As he's now standing in front of his class of students as their new PE teacher, he realizes it's not that much of a curse. Not if they consider it insanely cool that their teacher is famous, and if he can use the famous catchphrase as a motivator. "Alright, alright," he laughs and tosses a basket ball to one of his students. "Score at least twice in this game and I'll say it."

He's never seen a game so competitive.

In the end, the students fulfill his condition. He grabs the lipgloss that one of the girls hands him, applies it to his lips, and assumes the well-practiced pose. He's so deep into his lipgloss model persona he doesn't realize the door to the gym opens.

"Just try kissing it off," he whispers in the most exaggerated, seductive voice he can muster.

His class explodes in laughter and clapping, but there's also an unfamiliar sound - a guitar case being dropped on the ground. Eddie Munson, the new music teacher who is supposed to prepare the gym for a students' concert that evening, stares at Steve as if he's a snack. A sweaty, lipgloss-covered snack.

In the awkward silence that follows, Steve rushes to pick up the guitar case, apologizes for shocking his new colleague and tries to explain the situation.

Eddie chuckles with him and assures him that no, it's all good, at least their first meeting was memorable. Steve sends his students to tidy the gym, and has to laugh when Eddie asks - "Sorry, what was that phrase again?"

"The lipgloss is supposed to be long-lasting, that's why," he explains. It's "Just try kissing it off."

And Eddie doesn't laugh at him, he just smirks and whispers:

"Well, don't mind if I do!"

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Aaand that's a wrap.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

And finally.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

What I want for Steddie is to develop a weekend morning ritual together - crosswords.

I want the joint power of dyslexia and ADHD navigating the treacherous waters of words and definitions. I want Steve to re-read a single line three times while muttering "I survived demogorgons for this", and Eddie making a special shirt for this occasion with I'D RATHER BE EATEN BY BATS (AGAIN) on it.

I want them to forget their coffee until it gets cold while they guess, argue and ponder. I want Eddie to give a tiny smooch on top of Steve's head with "see! I told you my boyfriend is smart" when Steve gets something right. I want Steve to guide Eddie back to the topic when he gets lost in word associations, gently retracing his thought process.

And of course, I want them to call Dustin afterwards, who is more mature now, listens to them, praises them for what they know and correcting their mistakes. Because even years later, when Dustin has a small daughter, he will make time for the two older brothers he's never had.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Catching up to Inktober.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Day 24 for @steddie-spooktober, Pumpkin. I'll just finish this hellish month and then write all the good Halloween-y stuff when people already look forward to Christmas. There.

"Oh my god. That's Eddie Munson!"

Steve's eyebrow did that treacherous twitch. Here we fucking go again.

Robin just snickered. "Oh wow. That's like what, the fifth one today?" She didn't even look sorry for Steve, the traitor! She just kept making the coffee order, creating a lovely heart in the milk foam.

The woman who ordered the coffee didn't even bother to try and whisper to her friend. She was squealing and pointing at the unsuspecting rock star who had earphones over his head. "What do you think he's reading? It must be something dark. He has a reputation, you know."

Another twitch in Steve's eyebrow, but he was a professional. It was fine. He could do his job even when annoyed. Maybe.

Robin flipped the whiteboard with their seasonal specials. The other side revealed a meticulously prepared game of Eddie Munson-themed bingo. "Wanna play, Steve?"

He scowled at the board. All of those were classics, the stupid shit people say when they meet a rock star like Eddie Munson.

He took an erasable marker and scribbled X next to the questions, comments and other atrocities he managed to catch.

I wonder if he'll show me that special tattoo if I ask nicely. Check.

I heard he's unforgettable in bed. Check.

People say he has a...you know. A piercing down there. Check.

I don't believe the rumors. A guy like that can't be taken for long. He was made to sleep around. Check.

I wonder what he's drinking. Probably something dark and bitter. Mmm, how mysterious!

"Bingo!" whispered Robin. "Now, as per the rules of this humble establishment, once we have a bingo, you get to go there and be a bitch. Do your worst, oh platonic soulmate of mine. I'll be watching."

Who was Steve to deny Robin one of her favorite hobbies? He fluffed his hair and re-applied his lip oil, arranged some pastries on a kitten-shaped plate and made his way to Eddie Munson.

Eddie was lost to the world, but there was a familiar pattern in Steve's footsteps, one that reverbated through the wooden floor. In a second, Eddie had dropped his book and gave Steve the widest smile. One that he couldn't even conjure up on stage. This smile was only for Steve, and Steve fucking hoped the women noticed that.

Eddie made grabby hands at him, pulling him down into a quick kiss. "Is your shift over, Stevie? Can we go?"

Steve shook his head. "Nah, two more hours to go. Ish. Are you sure you don't want to wait for me home? You must be tired."

"Tired?! Pffft. I mean, yeah, but I want to spend time ogling my boyfriend when he's at his sexiest - covered in flour and sugar. And speaking of sugar..." He glanced at the plate. "Is that for me?"

Steve laughed and set the plate in front of him. "Honestly? Even if it wasn't, those doe eyes of yours would persuade me in a second. But yeah. It'll be Halloween soon, and I was testing out some spooky cookies. Do you like pumpkins?"

Eddie gasped and clutched his heart. "Do I?!"

Steve kissed Eddie on the top of his head and put his earphones back on. In a few seconds, Eddie was back in his own world, book, music and cookies.

In a corner of his eye, Steve saw the two young women, speechless. Robin was serving them their coffees, giddy with anticipation. She'd prepared them in to-go cups, just in case.

Steve stood in front of them, flipped his hair and smirked. "Well, ladies. You've had many questions or guesses, and I'm happy I can answer them. You know. To give you some peace of mind" He nodded to Robin. "The list, Rob?"

Robin glanced at their bingo board. "I wonder what he's reading!" she read out.

Steve nodded and returned to the frozen guests. "The book to end all books. That's what Eddie calls the...uh. Tolkien bible thingy. Silmarillion." He pronounced it gery carefully. "He reads it to me sometimes, when I can't sleep. Works like a charm." He might have smirked at the blush creeping up the woman's face. "Next."

Robin saluted him. "Special tattoo?"

"He won't show it, I made him promise he'd no longer get arrested for public indecency. Besides, it's only me that gets to see it. Next."

Robin fake gagged. "Is he unforgettable in bed?"

"Sure is. He talks to my chest hair. I think they're a couple."

Robin gagged again. "Why...ladies, get better questions! That piercing down under?"

Steve snickered. "Very real. Very...effective." He sneaked a glance at Eddie. Sexy and charismatic, yes, but more importantly warm, happy and home.

In a sing song voice, Robin got to the next point. "Is he really taken?"

"Take a guess," Steve winked at them. Or at least tried to, because the customers were already halfway out of the door with their coffee cups, and a very generous tip left on the counter.

"Aw," muttered Robin. "Shame, I thought these two would last longer. It's been ages since someone lasted the full Munson reverse bingo."

Steve laughed and helped her clean the table. "Would a pumpkin cookie console you?"

"Only if I don't have to hear about your bedroom rituals ever again," she said and reached for a cookie. "Or at least until the end of the shift."

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Two more Inktober scribbles.