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pxrxcxa · 1 year

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Hello, this may be a little on the dark side idk. I lost my father 2 weeks ago and I guess I just wanted to request an eddie blurb or something making bestfriend!reader feel better mayhe some mutual pinning or something. Of course you don't have to if you're not comfortable with it 😞

Authors Note | Dear Anon, firstly I'd like to extend my most sincerest condolences, I am truly sorry and hope that you are okay. Secondly - a grateful thank you for entrusting my writing to capture what you need. I hesitated with your request because I wasn't quite sure how to do it justice, I haven't written a lot of fluff, but I've given it my absolute all, and I really hope this is what you were looking for 🖤

Here to stay

Pairing | Eddie x best friend

Post summary | Life has been a little bit hard recently, so of course Eddie is right there to comfort you exactly how you needed to be, both of you caring towards each other in a way more than most best friends usually would.

What to expect | Established friendship, mutual pining, soft Eddie, caring Eddie,

Post Warnings | Vague general mental health of reader, feels a little bit down

Word count | 1.8 K

You were hovering on the edge of the mussed bed, the sheets cold from where you’d refused to lie back down, afraid that the nightmare was still hovering on the surface, waiting to suck you back into its terrifying depths.

No sleep wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for you, these past few weeks had been hell, the most trying of your life. It felt like the kicks just kept on coming, refusing to give you a break as you scrambled to piece back the broken fragments of yourself.

You had support in the form of your goofy, charming and irrevocably blind best friend, Eddie. More friendly support and care than you could ask for, but it wasn’t a friendship you wanted anymore, and you knew that, after crying out your feelings for a better part of a day, you couldn’t deny it anymore. After everything you’d been through recently, after what you’d lost, you weren’t going to risk burning your friendship with him past the point of no return.

Sometimes, in the raging storm that was your life, Eddie was the only thing that kept you sane.

And so, you’d resulted in the coping mechanisms that had been embedded in you for years, curling in on yourself and refusing to let anyone in as you sorted through your own emotional turmoil.

You knew your prolonged absence was hurting him, having gone from spending almost every day with each other to barely catching glimpses of you as you slipped from the trailer park to the grocery store, only leaving the safe haven of your empty home to buy the necessities to live.

But you were exhausted, emotionally beat down from the woes of life and you knew that if you let Eddie in right now, he’d see through the cracks, you doubted that you’d be able to hold back the truth that was begging to be let go.

No, you’d suffer through this on your own, come out the other side of it as you always had, and then return back to life as you knew it, keeping your friendship with Eddie out of danger from exploding from an impulsive admission of love.

Your nail beds were raw from where you’d picked at them until they bled, your teeth slipped against the skin as a loud knock reverberated throughout the dark trailer. With a narrowed look at your clock face that read 0328, you slid from the bed, your footsteps slapping against the cold floor as you pulled back the curtains and peeked through.

Sigh

Eddie’s head turned just as you let the blinds flutter against the window, the smoke from his cigarette stinging his eyes as he fumbled with something large in his arms. It was too late to pretend to be asleep and sneak back to bed, you might have been hurting, but you weren’t rude.

He grinned through the haze as you tugged the door open a slither, tightening your robe around you as his gaze ran over you appreciatively.

“What are you doing here?” You couldn’t help being infected by his charming smile, begrudgingly returning it with a small one of your own.

“It’s good to see you to.” He scoffed, shifting the basket as his arms wobbled.

“I saw your light on, and I figured now was as good a time as any for some self-care from your bestie.” He dipped his arms so you could see the treats he’d brought you.

Packets of face masks, snacks that you had long forgotten telling him that you liked, a version of your own shower gel that you always used when you stayed at his trailer across the way, a candle, a new copy of your favourite movie, a CD with your name scribbled across it and a crumpled piece of paper that had his messy writing peeking out from the top of it. It reeked of a mix of perfume, random flowers that Eddie had picked himself – because you’d seen bushes of them around the trailer park – were filling each crevice of space in the basket.

Your face blushed with heat as you blinked back tears, letting him push the door way as he grunted under the weight of it and strutted across the living room to place it on the counters, grabbing the movie with a wide smile as he spun back around to face you.

“I’m not usually a sucker for these types of movies, but for you I might just –“ Eddie rushed across the floor to cup your face gently, brushing the corner of your lips as the tears flowed hot and steady, blurring your vision of him as he cooed and pressed you to his chest.

“Hey, hey. I’m sorry.” Eddie stroked your hair as his body hummed. “I know things have been hard, but I’m here okay? I’m here.” He pressed a kiss to the crown of your hair and pulled back, pressing the corner of your lip into a smile until it stayed there on its own.

“Why don’t you have a hot shower while I set this up?” He jerked his head down the hall as he grazed his palms along your bare arms, leaving goosebumps behind as you nodded through bleary eyes and blindly found your way to the cold bathroom.

The boiling water had helped to relax your muscles, drowning out the white noise of the broken world as you held your head under the streaming tap. But as the intrusive thoughts seeped back through, tightening at your chest as you yanked a hairbrush through the knots in your hair, your quiet whimpering turned into full blown sobs that echoed throughout the whole trailer, undeniably loud enough for Eddie to hear.

His small knock broke through your hyperventilating breath as you creased your arms around you, cowering over the vanity as silent sobs wracked you.

“Can I come in?” Eddie took your quiet whimper for permission as he slipped into the room ladled in steam, moving behind you as he pried the brush from between your tight fingers. His faster hands fluffed out your hair as he started moving the bristles softly between the tangled strands, holding it so it didn’t pull at your skull.

Eddie’s warm eyes met yours in the mirror as he smiled and put down the bush, running his fingers through your hair one more time before he pressed his face against the crook of your neck, tightening his arms around you until it became hard to breathe.

His heaviness was comforting.

“Come on pretty girl.” Eddie’s hold was strong as he cradled your shoulders and swept your feet out from beneath you, carrying you in a ‘wedding like’ style as he huddled you closer to his chest to make sure you didn’t knock your head along the wall.

He had the candle burning on the table in front of the couch, blankets already laid across the fabric with a hot water bottle warning them, fresh tears - but happy ones this time – threatened to reappear as you appraised the way he’d laid out all the goodies he’d brought, just waiting to be devoured.

You smiled as he settled you into the contours of the couch, recognising the scene on the tv as he plopped down beside you, tucking the blankets around your body as he pulled you into his chest, his arms snaking around you as his chin rested on top of your head.

You tried not to let your heart beat get away from you, this was normal best friend comfort, Eddie had always been a touchy person, this didn’t mean the same thing to you as it did to him, your heart clenched painfully as you bit back the ache that trembled through you.

Eddie’s eyes flashed down to your face as you tensed, offering you a pack of sweets he’d opened before he melted back down against the cushions, pulling you with him until you were practically lying on top of Eddie.

It was okay, for a while, you were able to ignore the heat and coiling pressure that Eddie’s body was flooding into you, you were able to ignore the words that bubbled on your lips as you watched his chocolate button eyes close slowly, his lashes brushing his pink cheeks before they deepened from a blush, his arms tightening around you as he shot you a sheepish grin when he caught you staring.

“What?” He whispered insecurely, his eyes darting back up to the screen as your lips trembled. The heavy words whispered between the couple on the TV, embedded in your brain from all of the years you’d watched it and desperately wished to have your own moment of clarity in love, broke the gate of your feelings.

His face turned to yours as his brows creased in worry. You couldn’t do it, you couldn’t risk him flinching away from your admission if he didn’t feel the same. You couldn’t lose Eddie to.

“I can’t lose you.” You cried, reaching up to clasp at his collar, his wild eyes swung back from your lips back up to meet your pleading gaze, confused by your outburst.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Eddie’s warm fingers enclosed around yours as they brought them to his stable, beating heart.

“I’m here to stay.” He promised with serenity.

“You will eventually.” You shook your head through tears, catching your lip between your teeth. “Leave” you clarified as Eddie scowled in confusion.

“How?” He challenged, his fingers flexing around yours.

“You’ll meet some girl, and you’ll forget all about me –“ His heartrate raced under your fingers, doubt flickering in his face for one split moment before his lips trapped yours, cutting off your rambling.

They were soft and firm at the same time, loving as they moulded against yours with a tingling spike, your words turning into a moan of surprise as Eddie’s free hand cupped the side of your face, twisting his fingers in your hair. You felt the rumble in Eddie’s chest as your heart soared, the broken edges of it miraculously knitting back together every millisecond his lips were pressed against yours.

“I did meet a girl. You, and from that moment I did forget about all the others.” Eddie left you gasping for air as he traced the corner of your mouth, smiling at the blush that crept your neck as your eyes dropped, unable to hold his gaze.

“I’ve been waiting do to that for a long time, but I’m really enjoying this movie, so can we finish that first before we finish this?” His fingers tugged you back down against his chest as you both laughed, cradling the back of your head as he traced light patterns up and down your spine.

With a gentle oh he leaned away from you to grab the letter with his almost ineligible writing, slipping it into your palm with an embarrassed smile.

"Just uh, it's a list of things I like about you, about why you're my favourite person. I guess things are pretty obvious now but um, it's there for you to read whenever you're feeling down."

You snuggled deeper against him as you pressed the paper to your heart, pure unbridled happiness that whatever happened from now, however many more kisses you shared (and from the way Eddie’s arms wrapped around you like he was never letting you go) you were sure that there would be plenty. But the carefree laughter that swirled between the two of you, still so natural after all these years, it seemed that Eddie would always be your best friend, here to stay.

Eddie tag list } @mavex @fckyeahlames @harrys-tittie @sl-tfor-joseph-quinn @eddiemunsons-missingnipple @chickennug90 @miss-momma-drama @luceneraium @eddiesgffff @sammararaven @nightless @dotslabyrinth @relocatedheads @princessbubblehoe @muggleluna @sagittariughs @gloryekaterina @e0509 @urlivingdeadgirl @crimsonsabbath @lem0nb0iii @lelenikki @bebe0701 @bratckerman @the-tacos-unite-blog @extravagantplant @plethoravellichor @justmesadgirl @corrodedcorpsess @fanfictioniseverything @maximizedrhythms @sleepygery @ms1oftheboys @brittanyyydamnit @xsecretsirenx @clincallyonline17 @tlclick73 @aaaasdfghjjkkllll @figmentofquinn @daydreamerblues @hellfire-puppet @wonderful-outcast @drakensmainbitch @iamaslutforcoffee @emolooswrld @tayhar811 @winterbuckystan1943-1917-1982 @alana4610 @princesscutie23 @leahthesith

#Eddie Munson fluff #Eddie soft #Eddie caring #eddie munson #eddie munson fan fiction #eddie x reader #eddie fanfic #eddie munson imagine #eddie stranger things #eddie munson headcanon #eddie munson x reader #stranger things 4

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nyaslashthreat · 8 months

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shout out to when i told my dad about goncharov and he figured out it was fake because i told him "1973 martin scorsese film with robert de niro" and he said that wasn't possible because the godfather came out in 1972 and the godfather part II came out in 1974 and they wouldn't have had time to make a movie in between. a perfectly good jest, foiled by this man's weird and vast knowledge set

#edit i remembered this incorrectly #i confused robert de niro with al pacino he was actually what tipped my dad off #i'll be honest i've never seen the godfather? the only mafia movies i've watched are goodfellas and 1996 lesbian masterpiece bound #so i'm not really familiar with the genre lol #EDIT AGAIN IF ANYONE CARES: I HAVE SEEN GODFATHER PART I AND II NOW. I KNOW HOW WRONG I WAS. WHY DID THIS GO UP 500 NOTES IT'S BEEN MONTHS #goncharov #goncharov 1973 #eddie genius posting

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evankinard · 6 days

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also im just fucking cracking up at oliver going "at the beginning of the season I was going to play buck as having a sexual awakening whether the writers were doing it or not" and that translating to buck looking at eddie with the most down horrendous blushy heart eyes possible in every scene cause WHAT would he have done if tim didn't decide to make it canon. at some point he would've been in a scene with eddie and marisol and you would just see buck in the background gagging. he would give that boy Hanahaki disease in the name of character development.

#i dont care if i cant see your vision mr stark i respect it far too much #evan buckley #weewoo brainrot #eddie diaz #buddie #911 abc #oliver stark

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acecroft · 2 years

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Still super jealous as hell, by the way.

#strangerthingsedit #scifiedit #tvedit #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #steddie #joe keery #joseph quinn #stranger things #m/m #mygifs #chewieblog #televisiongifs #cinemapix #useroptional #stranger things spoilers #that's all i care about in this season

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bethsvrse · 2 months

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when I find a brilliant, jaw dropping, amazing x reader fic but suddenly I’ve been given a first name, last name, hair colour and eye colour

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whatohitsonfirewelp · 22 days

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You know what? I don’t WANT an awkward double date. I don’t WANT buck coming out and people having the ‘I know’ reaction or the ‘is it Eddie’ reaction.

You know what I do want?

I want Buck panicking over what to wear for the date. I want Buck flopping on his bed like very teenager after their first kiss all giggly and happy and touching his lips because he kissed a boy

I want Buck smiling every time he says Tommy’s name because maybe it isn’t forever and maybe he’s not even looking for forever anymore but he’s so happy and he’s so light and being with Tommy feels good

I want Tommy to keep calling him Evan, because before Buck was Buck he was Evan and Evan deserves to be happy to be treated so softly and lovingly and Evan deserves to be free.

I want Buck to be happy. To be happy and free and queer in the way we all deserve.

#the other things are nice I guess #buddie would be nice #but honestly I don’t care anymore #I just want to see a happy queer character in media #because we don’t even fully have that with hen and Karen #their journey wasn’t an easy one #and why can’t we get queer characters who have a soft loving kind story #whatoh back at it again #evan buckley #tommy kinard #eddie diaz #911 abc #give me a giddy buck who’s nervous and unsure but so excited #give me a Buck who’s awkward but so determined to make this work and to discover more about himself #give me a Tommy who is so soft with him so gentle so kind #because don’t we all deserve that love? doesn’t Evan Buckley deserve that love?#for once I don’t want the angst for him I just want him to be Happy and Free

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annieontheside · 7 months

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"we need buck having a mental breakdown in s7!!" "we need buddie kissing in s7!" you know what I NEED? Christopher being in danger and buck getting so worried he growls "get your hands off MY kid" without thinking about it. that or the 118 answering to a fire at chris's school and when buck finds Christopher he yells "dad!" instead of buck. ANYTHING to get these people to finally acknowledge each other as father and son.

edit: of course we can't forget, as Christopher screams "dad!" and reaches out for Buck, he answers with his own desperate and scared "i got you! i got you!"

#we definitely won't be getting this in season 7 #I don't care if we get it in season 8 #i just need a moment like this #PLEASE #911 abc #buck x eddie #buddie #eddie diaz #evan buckley #christopher diaz #911 show

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solarmorrigan · 2 months

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Any time Eddie reaches for Steve's hair, Steve stops him. Whether it's when they're kissing and Eddie wants to bury his hands in it, or something more casual, like when Steve is sitting in front of Eddie while they watch a movie and Eddie idly tries to play with it

The moment Eddie's hands start to stray backwards from Steve's face, or upwards from his shoulders, Steve stops him. He's actually grabbed Eddie's hand midair once

Everyone assumes it's because Steve's hair is Off Limits

It's actually because Eddie keeps forgetting he's wearing his dumbass chunky rings and they once got so tangled in Steve's hair that Eddie had had to slip his fingers out of them before he could actually work them free, and now Eddie isn't allowed to touch Steve's head unless he takes the rings off first

#speaking as someone who used to have long hair and got it tangled in my jewelry more frequently than I'd care to admit #I cringe a tiny bit every time I see pictures of Eddie carding his fingers through his own or Steve's hair while still wearing those rings #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #eddiesteve

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steddielations · 2 months

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steve has to console eddie for a week when he finds out their kids only like the sped up chipmunks version of corroded coffin songs

#eddie with tears in his eyes: i don’t care if they don’t like my music at all but what do those singing rats have that i don’t #steve: there there #steve harrington #steddie #eddie munson #steddie headcanon #rockstar eddie munson

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rogueddie · 3 months

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Eddie, who has never wanted kids and always feels guilty about it even though Steve had been more than understanding and happily agreed, suffering the horror of baby fever from the second he sees Steve gently cradling Nancys newborn.

Eddie, who immediately falls head over heels for the idea of having kids with Steve when he hears the soft little coos Steve makes whilst ranting about how he's going to the best uncle in the world and squishing the little babies fat cheeks.

Eddie, who slams the forms they have to fill out in front of Steve the very next morning and says "I think if I don't get to see you raise a child and be the best dad the world has ever seen then I think I might die actually".

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #he drags steve to their bedroom as soon as they get home bc ''i dont care how many times i gotta try steve im putting a baby in you''

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lowlifesymptoms · 2 years

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the boys gettin up to trouble in some (somewhat) private back rooms 😌

#steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #theyre the only thing i care about in that entire show tbh #literally dont acknowledge anything else

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jaebeomsbitch · 3 months

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Eddie pressing a kiss to your forehead leaving you boneless and panting for air on the bed as he puts some boxers on. The elastic band low on his hips as he walks out of the room making his famous post sex snack. Which really is just quesadillas and some easy mac. He walks back into your bedroom with a plate in his hand jumping into bed, peppering your face and neck with kisses.

“I fucked you that good?” He grins as you groan, too tired to speak.

“Alright, alright” he chuckles, lying next to you as you tuck into his side. He places his plate on his stomach, occasionally feeding you while carding his fingers through his hair.

#eddie munson #eddie munson fic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x gender neutral reader #eddie munson smut #after care #Eddie Munson aftercare #eddie munson headcanons #eddie munson hcs

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strangersteddierthings · 5 months

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Here's a lil idea that I simply do not have the time to make a full fic of, but I gotta get it out or it won't leave me alone.

Steve thinks he's in a happy, fulfilling relationship with Eddie, while Eddie's insecurities have him believing he's just a place holder for the future Mrs. Harrington.

It comes to light when Steve does something cheesy and romantic and Eddie, not able to handle it because it's too romantic, tries to joke about it like "why would you bother to put all this effort in just for me?"

And Steve like "what do you mean? You're my boyfriend and I wanted to"

And then Eddie like "yeah, no, I know that. I just don't understand why." And then he goes on a little self-deprecating rant, explaining all the ways he's not good enough for Steve, all while Steve just stares at him, brow furrowing more and more as Eddie speaks.

When Eddie finally runs out of words, Steve says, "I don't understand? What have I done to make you think this?"

And Eddie kinda blue screens. Because Steve hasn't done anything to make Eddie think this; he's been a perfect boyfriend. It's just... it's inevitable, isn't it? That Steve'll move onto to bigger, better things? Eddie says as much.

"Why?"

"Because it's- because you're Steve Harrington!"

Since Steve's brow can't possibly furrow anymore, he starts to frown now. "I still don't understand?? Why did- do you think I'm just going to be going through the checkout at Melvald's and just decide I want to marry some random woman instead of being with you?"

"What? No. It's not- I don't think you'll intentionally decide you want someone else more just randomly but, like..."

"There's no 'but' here, Eds. I asked you out because I want to be with you. You said yes because, I assume, you want to be with me, too! Was I wrong to assume-"

"NO! No! I do want to be with you!"

"Then.... you think I don't want to be with you?"

"I didn't say that."

"Sorry, it felt like you were implying it. So. If I haven't done anything to make you think I don't want to be with you, and you just said you want to be with me, then what... I don't understand where these thoughts have come from. Have you- were you just going to go through our whole relationship waiting for something bad to happen?"

And Eddie can just look down and shrug because, well, yeah. He had been thinking that. He has been waiting for the other shoe to drop. And now they're having this conversation and he's ruined Steve's sweet, romantic gesture with his own bullshit. So, even if the shoe wasn't going to drop before, it will now, because he's gone and fucked it up by putting his insecurities onto Steve and-

"What can I do to help you believe I'm in it, for as long as you want me?"

Eddie looks back to Steve then, because that's not what he expected to hear. "What?"

Steve steps closer, the furrowed brow and the frown gone, replacing it instead is the sappy look he catches on Steve's face every now and then, when Eddie's doing something particularly Eddie-ish. "Tell me what I can do to help you believe in this. In us. And I'll do it. Every day until we die."

"Steve," Eddie warbles out, surprised by his own watery voice. "I-I'm sorry. I-"

"Hush," Steve says, gentle and sure as he takes Eddie's face in his hands. "No apologies. I get it, so you don't have to apologize. Just. Talk to me, okay? Because I'm not holding out for something better. Not when you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Besides Robin."

"Besides Robin," Eddie agrees, nodding his head as much as he can in Steve's grasp. "But, uh, things like this. This helps." He gestures at the romantic candle-lite dinner slowly getting cold. There are flowers in a vase, and a cheesy little Garfield plushie sitting on the table, leaned against Eddie's wine glass. It's a Tuesday night in June and nowhere near a birthday, or holiday, or anniversary. Steve's just made him a sweet, romantic dinner just because.

"Oh good. You have no idea how much I'm restraining myself by not doing this weekly," Steve whispers before placing a kiss to Eddie's forehead, nose, then lips. "Now. Let's eat dinner before it gets too cold."

And it might take a while, for Eddie's insecurities to fade, but Steve keeps being Steve, which means perfect if not a little snarky, and then the next thing Eddie knows, it's been several decades and Steve will walk with him hand in hand to the courthouse and stand in line for hours to quickly get married. (They'll spend another two years planning the actual wedding because Eddie's dramatic and Steve's a perfectionist.)

#steddie #my fic #i just like the idea of steve having already worked out his insecurities with the help of his bestie #so hes better equipped to help eddie through his #is it realistic? who cares. its cute and thats more important

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sp0o0kylights · 25 days

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Wayne takes in a Beat to Shit Steve Harrington after Starcourt as n Owed Favor to Hopper Part 4

Part Three: link

First Chapter (parts 1-3 on tumblr) on A03: Link

The kid was madder than a wet hen.

Just as slippery as one too, when he got like this--music pulsing like a living thing to signal all his rage and upset.

Not like Wayne hadn’t expected it.

He just wished it wasn’t quite so damn loud.

The music had started up almost immediately after Eddie had stormed to his room, startling Steve awake and nearly making Wayne curse for it.

Normally it was a good thing--music meant Eds was willing to listen instead of heading for the hills.

Normally, they didn't have a house guest who looked like he'd gone ten rounds with a bear.

They had a routine for this, was the thing and the music was a key part of it. It worked all the edges off for Wayne, and he'd long figured out that about thirty minutes was a the perfect length of time for Eddie to stew before he could actually talk things through.

Given the hand Harrington put to his forehead, Wayne wasn't eager to give him that thirty minutes.

Not when Steve deserved little peace he could have.

Unfortunately, so did Eds.

Still.

Strutting through the door and demanding to talk right now was a bad move and so, with a sympathetic look given to Steve, Wayne did what he did best

Gave space.

Let Eddie rage, as Wayne got up and shuffled about the kitchen.

Pulled out the soft earplugs he pretended weren’t there for Eds to steal (playing that damn loud guitar all the time could not be good for his ears) and offered them to Steve, before making two cups of what Wayne privately thought was the Munson “chitchat” drink.

One cup of hot water, one packet swiss miss, a small amount of maple syrup drizzled in, topped with little marshmallows they reserved for these types of situations.

Wayne took his time with it, thinking through what he wanted to say.

‘I understand that this is a screen door on a submarine kind of situation...’

Nope.

‘Son I know you hate listening to anyone for anything but this is serious...’

Absolutely not--that would end up with the boy bolting for sure.

‘Ed’s, I love you but could we please turn Ozzy off while we talk? That man wails louder than any damn cat I have ever met.’

That one was purely self indulgent, mostly because the wall was starting to shake.

Wayne put the finishing touches on the cocoa before staring at both of them.

Perhaps if he stared the Garfield mug in its eyes hard enough, the right words would come through.

They did not.

He kept trying, standing there long enough for the cocoa to reasonably have cooled and for Eddie’s song to flip over to something with more screaming in it than singing.

Wayne supposed that this was the hardest part of being a parent. You just didn’t get to have the magical one liner. The right thing to say at just the right time.

The joke that would ease all the tension and let things progress forward nice and easy.

Instead, you got to fumble your way through the dark with a flashlight up your ass and hope you were going in the right-ish direction. Ideally without making things worse.

Wayne was here though, and that had to count for something.

(Knew it counted for something--because Eddie was still here.

They had cleared hurdles far higher than this when it came to trust. They’d get through this too, come what may.

Steve too.)

“Can I just ask,” Eddie started, aggressive as always when Wayne finally gave in and entered his room, feeling all sorts of awful for the migraine Steve had to have, “what the absolute fuck is happening?”

Sure as fire he was sitting on his bed, leg bouncing a mile a minute.

An unlit cigarette hung between two fingers, looking a little chewed on, but otherwise undisturbed--as it should be, because one of Wayne’s few rules was that smoke stayed outside the house.

“You could.” Wayne said loudly but agreeably, as he turned himself around and dropped down next to his kid.

Held out the Garfield mug, and was happy when it was taken from him.

“Figured you might have other things to say, though.”

Likely a lot of things.

It was as good an opening as any, and his kid didn’t disappoint, launching right to it.

“Why is he here and not at a hospital?”

‘Here’ was punctuated by Ed’s hand winging towards the door, and while it wasn’t the righteous fury Wayne expected, it was at least, an easy answer to give.

“Steve has some people looking for him. Bad people. Hospital makes him an easy target.”

Wayne was still talking loud. Could only hear Eddie himself because he was looking at the kid’s lips more than he was actually hearing his voice.

Eddie took that in, swallowing it about as well as he’d swallowed anything he hadn’t liked.

And thank the stars above, he finally reached a hand out and turned the music down. Not a lot--Steve wouldn’t be able to hear them over all this--but enough that Wayne didn’t have to struggle.

“We’re hiding him from the cops now?!” Ed’s spat.

“Cops know he’s here. Hopper’s the one who asked me to take him.” Wayne reminded him, because it was the truth.

Not the full truth, but given how Ed’s pissed off half the local PD on a good day, Wayne absolutely did not want to see his nephew take on Federal Agents.

(Particularly not the kind who were going ‘round killing kids.)

“So--what?” Eddie yanked hard on his hair, a gesture that looked less intentional and more like he was trying to fight his own anger down. “Hopper just called you up and said ‘Hey, we had a whoopsie with the rich kid, the hospital’s not safe anymore. Can we stash him with you for a few days?”

Wayne nodded once, slow-like.

Always remembered how too fast movements had made Eddie flinch and jerk back when was littler, and given the way Steve was looking, figured it was a good time to be cautious again.

“He did.”

“And you just--agreed? Just like that!?”

“I did.”

He pretended not to see Eddie boggle at him at the simple admission, so furious that he seemed to struggle for words when he normally had too many to say.

Wayne took advantage.

“We did talk a bit more than that, I’ll admit.”

Ed’s scoffed. “About the weather I’m sure.”

“‘Bout trust.”

Eddie blinked at that.

“Trust.” He echoed flatly.

“What have I always told you? People like to ask you to trust them, but you they don’t get to have it until--”

“They provide proof or a reason.” Eddie finished with an eyeroll. “So which did Hopper provide then?”

Wayne took a noisy sip of his coca. Smacked his lips a little before saying: “Both.”

Didn’t bother to say anything else, because he knew Eddie would finish the thought for him.

“One of them was me, wasn’t it.”

Eds didn’t say it like a question, but Wayne hummed in agreement anyway.

He wasn’t gonna shame his boy, but he wasn’t gonna sugar coat Eddie’s involvement in this either. Not when he’d already admitted that was half the reason Hopper had gone to Wayne to begin with.

“No one is expecting Steve to be here.” He said, seeing the chance to hammer home the most important part of this entire shitshow. “So long as no one finds out he’s here, he’ll be safe. Everyone will be safe.”

Steve from the Feds who were hunting him for while he was busy being involved in shit he couldn’t control and Eddie because he had a mouth that most people didn’t like.

Not small town people anyway, and absolutely not authority figures with guns.

“Who’s even after him?” Eddie was theatrical as always, hands waving away as he talked. “Did he make a deal with the mob? Piss off some other rich guy? I know it’s not anything drug related, I’d have heard about it by now.”

After years of experience, Wayne knew exactly how far to lean away to stay out of range, too used to his nephew talking with his entire body.

“That’s his story to tell ya, Ed’s. It ain’t mine. Same way it ain’t my place to tell him your story.”

That at least got the boy to think for a minute. Put down that frustration he carried with him all the time, and use the brain they both knew he had.

“How long is he staying here?”

Wayne shrugged. “Don’t know.”

Eddie sighed and mockingly mimicked Wayne, taking an obnoxious slurp of his cocoa. “The neighbors are going to notice if he’s here more than a few days. The trailer park isn’t exactly big.”

“They didn’t notice that time you decided to make fireballs with the cooking spray and about blew up half the driveway. Don’t think they’re gonna notice someone being quiet in the house.”

Eddie snorted, and probably rolled his eyes again, not that Wayne could see it given the kid was looking into his own mug as he thought it all through.

Wayne sat with him as he processed.

Eds worked at his own pace with things, and while life at large might be against that, Wayne was happy to let him do it. Found it easier that way, then trying to poke and prod and force him like so many father figures did.

Wayne’s patience was rewarded not even a full minute later, when Eddie turned to him and asked;

“What if he finds out?”

This in a quieter voice. An unsure one--words and body hunching in a way unlike the Eddie the world outside knew, but very much like the little boy Wayne had brought inside his home.

It took Wayne a moment to connect the dots--he’d been speaking out of the place parents and authority figures often do, and in doing so hadn’t thought much of the fact his nephew had a real secret.

The kind small town minds didn’t like--and would kill him over.

This all wasn’t about Wayne taking in Steve, he realized abruptly. It was that Steve being here meant Eddie couldn’t be himself.

Could not relax in a place he was accepted for who he was, because Wayne knew and made sure Eddie understood he was wanted here, had a place here, regardless of who he loved.

Now, Wayne had gone and removed it.

‘Shit.’

“He won’t.” Wayne said.

Knew that wasn’t enough, and so, promised: “But if he does, I’ll make sure he understands his safety here relies on your own.”

Ed’s chin jerked in a nod, the two of them sitting in silence for a moment before the boy did as he often did when he wanted a hug but felt too awkward to ask for one, and tipped himself into Wayne’s side.

“Thanks old man.” Eddie whispered into his shoulder and not for the first time, Wayne wished things were easier for the poor kid as he put his mug in one hand and hugged his kid with the other.

Hoped that in the future, it would be.

Even if he had to force everyone and everything coming after him--and now Steve--to do it.

(Wondered vaguely, how bad it was that he was already getting as protective as Steve as he was of his own kid.

Probably very, given his kid clearly hated Harrington.)

xXx

Wayne took the first night of Steve’s stay off.

He wasn’t the type to use his PTO lightly. Was used to rationing it for any possible thing Eddie might need him for.

A night up sick when he was younger, to a night spent chasing him down during some of their bad spots--but the last year or so Wayne had slowly realized he hadn’t had to use it much.

He was still careful with it though, precious as it was, and was thankful for it now as it ensured his nephew didn’t murder their house guest.

Or at the very least, didn't sit there pecking at him.

The kid might've failed English a few times, but he had a real gift with words and an even better one with insults.

(Wayne wasn't quite clear on what all the "King" jabs were about, and absolutely did not get why Steve looked far more hurt at the comment about his "sad ass floppy hair" but given the increasingly flat look Steve was throwing Eddie's way, Wayne figured it couldn't be anything good.)

Thankfully a pointed reminder about Steve's injuries had finally gotten them all some peace, enough for Harrington to drop back to sleep--and for Wayne to realize he looked a little too dead while he did it to be comfortable getting any sleep himself.

The kids chest barely moved, and that it ate at Wayne’s until he got up and shoved a hand under his nose.

Felt his breath, and told himself the poor sod was fine.

Hurt, absolutely, but alive.

Over and over again, until the sun had made its rotation in the sky, bringing the morning with it.

‘Better than nightmares, I suppose.’ Wayne figured, as exhaustion scraped at his eyelids.

Those Wayne knew, would come later. When Steve’s brain caught up to the rest of him, and stopping dumping survival chemicals through his battered body.

He'd given up on sleep entirely sometime around 1 am, and now he sat at his small kitchen table, writing out a medication schedule for Harrington so he and the kid both knew when he could have his next Tylenol.

Wasn’t even halfway through it before Eddie made his typically late appearance and blew through his door.

Had his back up from the moment he’d stepped a foot in the kitchen and it didn’t take a genius to see he’d worked himself into a snit again.

Unfortunately for him, whatever scenario that imaginative brain of his had cooked up fell flat to the reality that was the poor kid on the couch.

Steve Harrington was one a hell of a sight.

Didn’t help that he was doing his level best to make himself as small as possible, curled deep into Wayne's ancient couch.

The blankets covered the ribs and hid away most of the damage, but there wasn’t much Steve could do to hide the shiners on his face--or the marks around his neck.

Not when they’d grown worse overnight, practically inviting questions.

It was almost laughable how quickly Eddie ate whatever words he’d prepared, mouth awkwardly chewing around them as if they were tangible.

The less-than-sneaky looks he threw at the younger teen were equally amusing, and if Wayne wasn’t trying to peace keep, he’d have given in and chuckled when Eds split attention caused him to pour half his coffee into the sink rather than a cup.

Looked utterly lost when, after finishing putting his coffee together and grabbing some junk food thing that absolutely was not a breakfast item, he came to stand awkwardly at Wayne's shoulder, openly staring as Steve blatantly ignored him.

Eds didn’t know what to do, and Wayne couldn't blame him.

Seemed to keep thinking he was going to encounter a boy that likely no longer existed, and whose blood tinged specter just made things sad.

Shit like this, Wayne knew, took a man’s ego and warped it, shaping it to something else entirely.

At least for Steve, it seemed that getting wrapped up in whatever mess he had had shaped him for the better, instead of pretzeling him into something worse. That, Wayne thought, spoke to the boy's character more than anything he’d done prior.

(It helped to know what Hopper tolerated and what he didn’t. That he’d vouched for Steve in the same way Wayne knew he’d vouched for Eddie, even if Eddie didn’t yet realize the cop he antagonized so much would do that for him.)

That didn't erase the history his kid had with Harrington, though.

Wouldn't stop him from seeing the old Steve, first.

‘Don’t you got school?” Wayne asked when he decided Ed had stared enough.

“Yeah, yeah.” Eddie waved him off, trotting out the door. “Bye old man, house parasite!”

It was clearly a jab, meant to nettle, but Steve barely acted like he heard it.

Wayne rolled his eyes.

“Goodbye, Eds.” He said firmly, much of a warning as he ever gave, and fondly watched his nephew scuttle out the door.

Turned to see how Steve was taking things, and was once again given a reminder that Steve wasn’t doing a hell of a lot other than feeling his injuries.

“I think I promised you a game, son.” Wayne said gently, startling Steve out of the distant, dim look he had trained on the wall.

It wasn’t a lot to offer in terms of a distraction, but it would have to do.

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