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metalheadcowboy · 8 months

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“Hey-“ Tommy grabbed ahold of Steve’s shoulder, stopping his storming feet from taking another step towards his car parked along the street.

The face hit him first, the tell tale trembling bottom lip, paired with a set of misty puppy dog eyes that made the freckled boys heart sink deep into his stomach. He knew that face, had seen it more than his fair share of times. It’s the face Steve made when he ran his bike headfirst into Mr. Carters’ solid, brick mailbox when they were ten, or when Jacob Hill tripped him in front of everybody when he went to turn in his test during their 7th grade science class.

It wasn’t so much the face that scared Tommy the most, it was what came after that always terrified him. Remembering how Steve plopped to the ground with a hearty thud, dumbfounded, or sat back in his seat with his head held in his cross-crossed arms. The calm before the storm.

He swore if he thought hard enough he could still hear the stuttering sobs that echoed around the surrounding houses, or the silent sniffles that escaped his tightly barricaded face.

Tommy knew when Steve made that face, nothing good every followed.

The taller boy turned, spun on his heel like Tommy used all the force in his body to turn him around when in reality he barely applied any pressure at all, “What’s up?” he asked, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, though he was sure his own furrowed brow gave him away.

Steve said nothing, just looked back at Tommy with tears welling up in his eyes. And maybe if things were the way they used to be, maybe if they were alone, Tommy would have pulled him in and hugged him like he did when they were kids. Put a Scooby-Doo band-aid on his wound or rub his back and tell him everything would be alright.

But things weren’t like they used to be. Tommy could count the amount of times him and Steve talked within the past year on one hand. Both too stubborn to admit their wrongs and not man enough to say they were sorry, so nothing ever got fixed, relationships were never mended and in result they acted like each other never existed.

But Tommy couldn’t just stand there and pretend like that face, the signature Steve face of peril didn’t rip his insides to shreds with worry, didn’t eat him alive, "What's up?" Steve responded, voice laced with a thick venom that shot right into Tommy's chest like an arrow. If this were a cartoon the shorter boy swears this is when steam would start violently blowing out of Steve's ears.

After a few beats of silence interrupted only by the faint sound of slightly too loud music still coming from inside Tina's house Tommy spoke up, "Yeah..." he sounded guilty and he knew it, but what else was he supposed to say? It had been so long since he'd been faced with Steve this vulnerable, let alone at all. It would have been weird if he had said anything else, he thinks.

Steve just scoffed, wiping a stray tear from his rolled eyes before tightly placing his hands on his hips. A habit he most definitely picked up from his mother, Tommy hated that he still remembered that, that he remembered everything about the person who treated him like a stranger.

"I mean, what else do you want from me Steve, really?" He meant for it to come out snippy, but it came out more as a plea. Tommy never really was one for hiding his emotions, or being good even when he tried. His older brother called him a 'bitch', but his mom always fondly said he was 'sensitive'.

Steve sighed, scrubbing a hand roughly down his face before returning it to his hip, "God..." he mumbled so quietly that, if they hadn't been standing so close, Tommy wouldn't have even picked it up, "I don't even know." The latter looked down at his feet, cursing the soft sob that escaped the back of his throat.

Tommy just stayed quiet, tight lipped as he watched his former friend grit his teeth in a piss poor attempt to will away the tears that were already rolling down his pale cheeks. The freckled boy pitied him, knowing how shitty he must be feeling.

It took him back to when they were twelve, having dinner at Steve's house and the lanky boy dropped his whole plate of spaghetti onto Mrs. Harrington's brand new imported carpet and he immediately burst into tears. Mr. Harrington going in on him calling him a 'crybaby' and a 'kluts' and many other things he shivers thinking about. Or maybe that's just the brisk autumn air brushing his bare arms, who knows.

"Nuh- Nancy-" Steve choked through gasps of air, snapping Tommy out of his memory induced trance. His expression immediately softened, became less frustrated and more gentle. With just one word Tommy knew exactly what was wrong, always able to read his best- ex best friend like a paperback book.

"Oh," Tommy said, rather dumbly, hardly processing his own words, "Oh," he followed up, sounding much less apathetic than his first go. He reached forward to grab Steve's shoulder in comfort, fully expecting to be completely pushed away, but to his surprised he was smothered by an armful of Steve Harrington.

Steve crumbled into him like a landslide, slowly and then all at once, not wrapping his arms around Tommy's middle, but letting his face nestle into the crook of the shorter boys neck.

What was that expression? Old habits die hard? Well if that was the case, old habits must be buried six feet under because in an instant Tommy was wrapping one arm around Steve's waist, the other carefully cascading up and down his blazer clad back.

"Shh..." he coaxed gently, fully feeling the power of Steve's breakdown wash over him. The wracking of his body, the harsh tears boring themselves into the thin fabric covering his shoulder. Steve's warm breath broke through the stark fall cold front making its way through Indiana, wrapping around his neck like a warm embrace, even if the boy wasn't actually hugging him back.

Tommy had held so much hate towards Steve for so long, but now it all seemed to slip away. All the sleepless nights spend wondering what could he have done differently. All the pretending that Steve ignoring him from across the lunch room didn't make his heart ache. All those times he cried to his mom about it just like Steve was crying to him right now.

He knew this wouldn't last, it couldn't last, Steve just needed a shoulder to cry on, but he had forgotten how much he missed this, his best friend that he couldn't bring himself to care, "Shh, Shh, Shh you're okay, I'm so sorry mi príncipe."

And there it was, something he hadn't said in years. My prince, something he used to tease Steve back in their middle school days, when he was first becoming popular. But now it came out with nothing but true admiration and delicate care. Because it was always true, in his eyes Steve would always be his prince. For the most part, kind, caring, charming, handsome, his prince. Though it was meant as a joke, the nickname always meant something to him, like a well kept secret.

They stood there for a while, just like that, hugging as Tommy slowly swayed them back and forth in an attempt to soothe his heart broken friend. Little by little Steve began to calm down, sobs once shaking his frame turning into a soft sniffle, desperate breaths evening out so much that Tommy could barely hear them anymore. But Tommy didn't dare let go until Steve began to peel himself away like a sticky note.

Tommy would be lying if he said the shell of Steve Harrington standing in front of him didn't look like a wreck and a half. Tussled hair, swollen eyes paired with dreadful tear marks, cheeks and nose a sort of burning red. But to the shorter boy he was still beautiful, always.

"Feel better?" He asked with a small half smile, dropping one hand back to his side, the other giving Steve's bicep a comforting rub. But Steve just stared at him with a blank expression, like he was either caught in deep thought or staring off into space.

"Steve, are you al-" Before Tommy knew what was happening, Steve's lips crashed against his in what had to have been the most ungraceful attempt at a kiss known to man. It was smooshy, loose lips, and slick snot. The freckled boy was dumbfounded to say the least. Not even having time to close his eyes before Steve was pulling away.

The look on his face said it all. It was all horror mixed with a bit of self loathing and Tommy couldn't help but feel upset. Steve's eyebrows furrowed deeply like he was confused by his own actions. And if Steve was confused, Tommy was outright bewildered.

It wasn't so much that he didn't like it rather than: What the fuck just happened?

It was like night and day the way Steve was there one second and gone the next, turned around, making a mad dash the few feet to his car.

"Shit," Tommy cursed himself, "Steve, wait-" But it was too late, Steve had already turned on his car and slammed it into drive, flooring it so fast past him it's a wonder he didn't run over Tommy in the process. Or maybe that's what he was going for, if so, that was one way to avoid your problems.

Tommy just watched, still in shock, as Steve's BMW turned the corner racing impossibly fast, but not faster than Tommy's own thoughts. Deep down he knew it had to be a weird phenomenon of rebounding. Steve latching onto the closest thing he had for comfort, which just happened to be Tommy.

He could pretend to be offended all he wanted, but the butterfies that formed a frenzy in his gut betrayed him.

He had to find Steve Harrington, now.

#Still a Steve and Tommy hoe at heart #Steve Harrington #Tommy Hagan #Tommy H #Stommy #angst #Season 2 Halloween Party #Writing is so hard like I've been writing forever what do you mean I have to consistently practice to stay good tf #Anywho Billy and Eddie Next? LMAO #Giggling and kicking my feet I forgot how much I love writing

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afewproblems · 8 months

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Eddie downs the last of his beer and tosses the empty red cup into the kitchen sink, right between a couple who were clearly gearing up to claim one of the spare rooms upstairs.

Eddie snickers and winks as the girl tells him to fuck off while her boyfriend flips him the bird, god he loves highschool parties, and this one is no exception.

It's Halloween and business is booming for Eddie Munson.

He imagines Dian Fossey felt similarly, wandering through the Congo studying the great apes' behavior patterns and social structure from within rather than observing from afar.

So far Eddie's observations have paid off in spades and he's managed to sell out most of his stash by targeting the basketball team and their girlfriends. No one wants to get high all by themselves after all, it's almost too easy the way these sheep all flock together.

Eddie leaves the kitchen behind him, but not before snagging a can of something cold from a nearby cooler of half melted ice. With a decent buzz going, what's one more? He's done working for the night after all.

Eddie climbs the stairs, dodging drunk teens left and right as they make their way past him, shirts ruffled and hair messy. Eddie snorts, ignoring the wistful pull in his chest as a tall boy on the swim team pulls his girlfriend closer to press a chaste kiss to the top of her head before smoothing her curls away from her forehead.

Unfortunately no one Eddie would be interested in would accept him brushing their hair like that without punching him in the face.

He shakes his head and continues forward, he's an observer, nothing more.

Eddie passes a closed door on the second floor and pauses as a raised voice splits through the wood.

"It's bullshit, you're bullshit," the voice slurs out and Eddie feels a wide grin pull at the corner of his mouth.

He takes a step closer, nearly pressing his ear to the flat of the door.

"Like we're in love?" Another voice says softly, a guy, "you don't love me?"

A small part of Eddie knows he shouldn't be listening to this, he can hear the waiver in this guy's voice like his heart is slowly cracking in his chest. Shit, he almost feels bad for this guy.

But the people that go to these stupid parties, the Hawkins elite, the gorillas in the mist, deserve their bullshit --to use this girls turn-of-phrase.

The only reason they didn't mess with Eddie was because he was these highschool shit-heads main source of weed.

Its karma, plain and simple, Eddie reasons as he presses even closer now.

"It's. Bullshit". The girl hisses emphatically and for a second Eddie hears nothing.

It happens so quickly after that.

The door swings inward, causing Eddie to stumble into a tall firm chest as the bathroom guy collides with him.

"What the fuck?" The guy says as he pushes Eddie away from himself and --no way.

"Harrington?"

Steve blinks once, his wide hazel eyes red rimmed and shiny in the dim light of the hallway, the tip of his nose is pink as he reaches up to pinch it roughly before swiping across his eyes as well.

Even though Eddie's fairly certain that he and Steve are the same height, he seems smaller like this, deflated, standing in the hallway while a party rages down below them both.

A cheer rings out, startling Steve into action.

He steps widely around Eddie, enough that his shoulder connects with the wall in his haste to take the stairs down, two at a time, as though Hell is hot on his heels.

And Eddie should leave it, go back to the party, see if there are any snacks left before calling it a night, but something pushes him to follow the path Steve took.

It's like he's possessed, the haunted look in those hazel eyes forcing him forward until he's outside on the lawn.

A few other teens are outside, including a couple making out on the porch, Eddie steps over them and jogs to the end of the driveway.

He spots Steve down the street sitting on a large rock at the end of another neighbor's lawn with his face in his hands.

He looks up as Eddie gets closer and curses softly.

"Seriously? It wasn't enough that you were listening, you're following me now?" His voice cracks on the last word as he wipes his eyes again, he can't quite hide the way the moonlight catches the tear tracks running down his cheek and neck though.

"Oh come on Harrington," Eddie says, walking up to Steve. He sits on one of the other rocks and takes a crumpled pack of smokes out of his vest pocket, "it's no fun if you're sad".

"What is?" Steve mumbles after a beat, wiping his eyes again as he stares at the ground.

"Making fun of you," Eddie shrugs as he takes a cigarette and puts it between his lips, he smiles at the startled bark of laughter from Steve.

"You're a prick," he huffs softly, the barest of smiles slowly blooming across his face.

Eddie can count the constellation of freckles and moles across his face, giving the blanket of stars above them a run for their money. His hand twitches at the thought of touching the ones on Steve's throat.

Eddie coughs once, mentally tallying the number of drinks he must have had for those kinds of thoughts and shifts on the rock to adjust his pants.

He holds out the pack to Steve who looks at the nearly empty sleeve before his eyes shift to the house behind Eddie.

"Nance hated cigarettes," Steve murmurs as the corner of his mouth twitches into a terrible frown. It's gone in an instant as Steve blinks once and reaches out for the pack.

"I got something stronger if you want?" Eddie offers, he shrugs when Steve looks up at him with suspicious eyes.

"Come on Harrington, I'm not gonna keep kicking you when you're down, you need a pick-me-up and then I can get back into it," Eddie stands up and without thinking, holds out a hand towards Steve, "what do you say?"

Steve stares up at him, his eyes flick once to the outstretched hand before he snorts dryly and slowly takes his hand.

It's warm in Eddie's own. The fingers squeeze gently as Steve uses it to hoist himself up until he's once again eye level with Eddie.

From this close Eddie can see the way his eyelashes have clumped together with leftover tears and the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes

Oh…this, this was a bad idea. Eddie swallows roughly as Steve finally nods.

"Lead the way Munson," Steve says with the barest of smirks as he wipes his face one last time, "and if you tell anyone about this, I'll slash your tires".

Eddie cackles at that, "there he is!"

He claps Steve on the back as he leads them towards where he parked his van down the road, "our chariot awaits!"

Eddie ignores the small voice that whispers in his ear, the one that sounds remarkably like his uncle, as it asks him just what the hell he thinks he's doing with Harrington of all people?

It'll be fine, he tells himself.

Besides, what's the worst that could happen?

Part Two

#stranger things #stranger things season 2 au #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve and nancy breakup #what would have happended if eddie had been there #let me know if yall want a part two #eddie took one look at this pathetic sad man and said #I will love him and squeeze him #steve cried when nancy called him bullshit you cant tell me otherwise #afewproblems writes #steve x eddie #steddie au #getting back into writing after not being able to for weeks #cw drinking #cw smoking #i will never get tired of the halloween party au

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abisbookshelf · 2 years

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happy spoopy season <3

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hargrovesswifee · 11 months

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I own Halloween Billy and that is a FACT 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️

#billy hargrove #stranger things #dacre montgomery #halloween billy #eddie munson #steve harrington #joe quinn #joe keery #I WANT TO READACTED THIS MANNNNN #i’m so feral #billy hargrove deserved better #dacre in a mullet #him.#I need him to spit on me like he did at that party #season 2

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yahoo201027 · 7 months

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Day in Fandom History: October 21…

When Enid finds out that her old friends from Ghoul School are coming by to visit from her parents, she needs some help from KO to impress them but is also afraid of what they think about her being a ninja. “Monster Party” premiered on this day, 5 Years Ago.

#Day in Fandom History #5 Years Ago #OK KO Let's Be Heroes #OK KO #Season 2 #Episode 27 #Monster Party #Cartoon #Animation #Halloween Themed

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naifphbn · 1 year

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Victoria Black as Pumpkinhead II│The Boulet Brothers' Dragula, Titans, Halloween House Party

#victoria black #dragula #boulet brothers #titans #pumpkin #halloween party #pumpkinhead II #victoria elizabeth black #season 2 #resurrection #winner #drag #drag queen #queer #rupaul #drag race #fashion

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dontcallmeeds · 2 years

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Whoops

#I saw a post on tumblr and immediately ran to rewrite the entire episode into steddie #I know it’s been done but bro I watched the party scenes like over and over and over last night #bc there’s so many random Steve time gaps he could’ve been meeting Eddie #very fitting I was Charlie Kelly for Halloween the year bc I’m hitting that Pepe Silvia hard #I CANT WRITE SMUT RN IM FULLY SEC REPULSED IM SORRY SO HERE WE ARE WRITING DISGUSTING STEVE PAIN #idk how I never noticed he’s crying when he leaves the bathroom #season 3 is my main comfort season then season 4 then season 2 so that’s probably why #eddie munson #stranger things #steve harrington #steddie #pre st4 Eddie Munson #joseph quinn #stranger things 4 #Joe keery #stranger things season 2 #ST Halloween party #the bullshit incident

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lawboy06 · 2 years

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the promo photos killed me immediately

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cormancatacombs · 6 months

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Even if you ignore the dick-sucking of dead colonizers, Thanksgiving is so superfluous when the Christmas season is right after and being thankful is a part of that holiday, too.

You spend time & exchange gifts with the people you’re thankful for PLUS the food, decorations, and music are better.

#if you don’t like your extended family or football then yeah the Puritan party doesn’t have much to offer #i’d rather have Halloween Part 2 while it’s still autumn #thanksgiving #fuck thanksgiving #fuck puritans #fuck colonizers #fuck colonialism #christmas #holidays #holiday season #autumn #fall #november #thankful #thankfulness

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tooquirkytolose · 2 years

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Finishing strangers things 4 vol 2 but vibing to the end credits song

#stranger things 4 #stranger things 4 spoilers #i mean spellbound cmon how could i not #will never ever ever ever forget season 2 halloween party siouxie sioux costume girl #and jonathan asking if she were dressed like kiss the band

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mrs-jake-blues · 2 years

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You can’t tell me that Hellfire Club and co vs the jocks and the rest of the town isn’t partially inspired by Animal House with the Delta’s vs everyone else. Jason is literally Greg Marmalard 2.0.

#i mean season 3 ends with Steve saying it’s his favorite movie and there is a bluto at the Halloween party in season 2 #imagine the squad crashing through the episode down in the deathmobile lmao #animal house #stranger things #stranger things spoilers

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cantquitu · 2 years

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#babysitting for a 2 year old today with a hangover from a Halloween party last night...the true horror of the witching season

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afewproblems · 8 months

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Season 2 Halloween AU Part Four

Part One, Part Two, Part Three

A very big thank you to @strangersteddierthings for chatting with me today and being such a great sounding board for the next update!

Synopsis: What if Eddie had been at Tina's Halloween Party in Season Two? Featuring Steve!Whump, Stancy Breakup, and Eddie just trying to keep up with all these new revelations about who King-Steve actually is...

***

"So…I have to ask," Eddie blurts out, cutting through the awkward silence that has fallen between them, "how were you gonna pick up your car before you ran into me?"

"I don't think it counts as running into you, if you were waiting for me Munson," Steve side steps the question expertly, flashing him a strange smirk that seems out of place. It falls after a second and twists into something pained.

"I was hoping Nance would take me," Steve says eventually, his voice soft, "which was pretty stupid in hindsight, 'specially cuz she was counting on me to drive her this morning, which--"

Steve cuts himself, snapping his mouth shut with a harsh click of teeth, he shakes his head and lifts his hand to run roughly through his hair.

"Doesn't matter anymore".

Eddie holds his breath, feeling the conversation begin to shift. It's as though he's stepped onto a tightrope and any wrong move could potentially send him over the edge.

He settles for nodding once, turning the key in the ignition.

Steve sighs and lets himself fall back into his seat, "I know you know already, the whole fucking school does, Billy saw to that," Steve gestures to his face, "say what you really want to ask".

Eddie's fingers tighten around the wheel as he turns them out of the parking lot, fighting the immediate urge to say, 'why did Miss Priss throw it all away?'

"You think I believe the rumours that come out of that shithole?" Eddie lies, keeping his eyes on the road this time.

He can feel Steve's unimpressed stare as they continue down mainstreet.

"Right, so you had no clue I was in detention?"

Eddie chews the inside of his cheek to fight the sly grin that begins to creep over his face, "Alright smart ass".

He hazards another glance at Steve as they begin to hit the residential area, he looks so different from the night before.

His limbs are loose, tension free, if it weren't for the heavy bags under Steve's eyes and the nervous tap of his fingers on the passenger door, Eddie would think he was finally relaxed.

"I knew a fight definitely happened, it's Hargrove," Eddie says slowly, carefully weighing his words, "but I typically prefer to hear the whole sordid story from the source before I pass any judgements, ya know?"

Steve doesn't say anything as they continue driving through residential the houses getting progressively bigger as they go.

"Did you," Steve pauses and breathes out slowly before shaking his head and lifting his face to meet Eddie's gaze, "is that offer for something stronger still open?"

Eddie smiles, "I think that can be arranged".

***

Eddie pulls over beside Tina Cline's house, wincing as the right front tire rolls over the curb and bounces the van as it lands on the street once more, startling a snort out of Steve.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up Harrington," Eddie huffs as Steve shoots him a grin.

"Didn't say a word," Steve hums, unbuckling himself from the seat. Eddie watches as he opens the door and hops out. For a moment Eddie worries Steve will pull the same disappearing act from last night but he simply stops beside his car door and motions for Eddie to roll down his window.

Eddie cracks his door open instead, "window's broken, what?"

Steve rolls his eyes, "whatever Munson, you know the way? It's north on 5th and--"

"Then two more rights, yeah man," Eddie says with a laugh in his voice, "I dropped you off remember?"

"Fuck off," Steve huffs out, he's grinning though.

Steve swings the Beemer’s door open and slides in. He turns on the ignition and flinches at the loud burst of music from the stereo, the volume obviously set from the mood of the previous night.

'I want to know what love is, I want you to show me--'

Steve slams his hand against the console, cutting off the song with a harsh crack.

The van is parked just behind the Beemer so Eddie can't see Steve's face, but his head drops down onto the wheel for just the briefest moment before he slowly lifts it, turns on his signal and pulls away from the curb.

***

Steve beats him to the house.

He's getting out of the car, which is parked on the long driveway as Eddie pulls up to the street.

Eddie hops out of the van, hiking his backpack higher up on his shoulders, not bothering to lock it. Who would even want his shitty van among the BMWs and Mercedes parked down this street --hell, Eddie could have sworn he saw a Jag three houses down.

Eddie stops short of the lawn. The Harrington house is so different in the light of day, the strange emptiness that seemed to ooze out of the dark windows the night before has disappeared, leaving an ordinary house in its wake.

"Well?" Steve calls out as he pulls a pair of keys from his back pocket and spins them once on his finger, "you coming or what Munson?"

Eddie rolls his eyes and jogs to catch up to Steve who turns on his heel to stride up the walk. He stuffs the key into the deadbolt and swings one of the double doors inwards before shucking off his sneakers.

No shoes? Fucking rich people man.

Steve must notice Eddie's expression because he blushes and shrugs, "I know, I know, but my parents will be home for Thanksgiving this year so…may as well…"

He gestures around the sterile foyer with a tight smile, as though it explains everything.

If anything, Eddie has more questions.

Steve cuts off the thought by clearing his throat, "we should smoke outside, last thing I need is for you to burn a hole in the couch or something".

Eddie steps over the threshold and has to stop himself from whistling, were the ceilings always this high in this place?

He lifts his foot to unlace his left chuck, snorting at the strange little table in the middle of the foyer. A giant vase sits atop it filled with a mixture of what have to be silk flowers --no way they were real. He pulls the shoe off and tosses it to the side before lifting his right foot.

Eddie never had the greatest balance so he hops back and forth with his right foot in the air before hopping as close as he can to the wall of the foyer and leaning back against it.

He finally gets the knot in his laces undone and throws the sneaker to the floor, dropping his right foot to the hardwood.

Eddie looks up to find Steve staring with a bemused expression on his face, he ignores the wide hazel eyes and removes the backpack from his shoulders -which can't have been helping the balance issue.

Eddie unzips the top and yanks out the trusty metal lunchbox, sliding a wicked grin into place.

"You said something about outside?"

***

By the time they've settled, facing one another on a couple of pool loungers, the sun has begun to dip low, painting the patio and empty pool a warm glowing copper. It catches Steve's hair, which shines like gold in the dying sunlight, like some Autumnal Fae King--

Eddie wants to slap himself, suddenly thankful for the November wind that cuts through the backyard, forcing him to chillout.

He picks up the grinder from his lunchbox, unscrewing the cap to open it.

"You good with a joint this evening my good King?"

He pours a handful of a new strain Rick let him try the other day into the grinder and starts twisting. It's not something he would typically share with anyone other than Jeff, but Steve seemed like he could use something a little more special tonight.

Eddie looks up after a beat of silence, "yo, Major Tom, you with me?"

Steve's face is pinched, tilted towards the empty pool, "please don't call me that," he says quietly.

"Major Tom?"

Steve raises his eyes to meet Eddie's gaze, his mouth cuts a hard line across his face, the typical easy grin it usually houses is gone.

"King-Steve," he runs a hand through his hair, letting the fingers linger to grip and pull, "I just, that's not who I am anymore, I don't--"

Steve swallows harshly, "that's all anyone could talk about this morning".

He drops his voice and octave, "oh, King Steve is so pussy whipped he let his girl fuck Jonathan Byers before she dumped him".

"Is that what Hargrove said?" Eddie asks quietly as he pours out a portion of weed onto a paper.

Steve shakes his head, "that was Tommy, but that wasn't why I hit him".

Eddie nods, and lifts the joint to his mouth to run his tongue along the edge of the paper. Steve watches him from the lounger, his eyes follow the movement before he blinks and continues.

"Tommy and I had been best friends since we were five, he uh, he knows a lot about me," Steve lifts his hand to his mouth and chews the nail of his thumb briefly before dropping it back into his lap.

"Stuff I don't tell anyone, stuff he knows will hurt".

Eddie nods, twisting the joint closed, he can kind of understand that, although the only person in his life that knew him like that was Wayne.

And Wayne would never hurt him.

Did Steve really not have anyone else like that in his life, someone he could tell anything to that wouldn't look at him weird or judge him. Someone safe.

"Anyway, Hargrove started in on me after that, but he's been fucking with me for awhile so," Steve shrugs again, "he saw his big opportunity here".

"Hargrove's been messing with you?" Eddie asks sharply as he pours more weed onto another paper. He lifts it and runs his tongue along the edge of the paper before twisting it into shape. When he looks up, Steve's ears have gone slightly pink and he's sitting strangely, slightly hunched and twisted.

"Yeah," Steve says after a moment, he clears his throat and straightens his back, "yeah, it's just been at practice so far, and I thought it was just because he wanted to one up me for my spot but," he shakes his head, "it's getting worse".

"You know, I have a bit of a reputation around school," Eddie says slowly, carefully, watching as Steve freezes and looks at Eddie with wide eyes.

"The Hellfire club is more than just the game we're playing, it's also kind of a sanctuary for kids that don't have anyone to lean on, we look after each other," Eddie continues, ignoring the way Steve relaxes slightly, "you wouldn't need to play or anything but if you need somewhere to sit at lunch now…"

Steve looks at Eddie for a long time, his expression blank, guarded, "really? Just like that?"

"Yeah man, besides I get to use my 'Mean and Scary Guy' persona on these fuckers so it's a win-win for me".

Steve grins, raising one skeptical eyebrow, "mean and scary?"

Eddie bristles a little bit at the questioning tone in Steve's voice and can't quite swallow the urge to snarl, "yeah I mean you looked plenty scared of the town freak yesterday".

Steve winces and immediately starts to shake his head, inching forward in his seat so he's even closer to Eddie, their knees are almost touching.

"That's not, I wasn't," he stops and takes a deep breath, "I was upset about Nancy and it was so dark outside, the trees--"

"You afraid of the dark Harrington?" Eddie cuts him off, the lingering irritation still simmers in his voice as he coos.

Steve just looks at him, there's something strange about the haunted expression on his face that makes the hair on the back of Eddie's arms stand on end.

"Things happen in the dark, in the woods," Steve says softly, his eyes drift to the empty pool again.

Eddie opens his mouth to ask Steve what the hell he means by that, when a voice shouts across the yard.

"Steve? STEVE?!"

The sound of someone running through the grass has them both of their feet, the joints forgotten on the pool loungers.

"Dustin?"

A kid, he can't be more than twelve or thirteen, skids into the porchlight that has replaced the last copper rays of evening light, the sun fully set by now. The kid's blue eyes are wide underneath a mop of curly hair and hat, he's breathing hard.

"I need your help".

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Part Five

and for some peeps that I think may be interested! @steddierthings @steddie-there @steves-strapcollection @outpastthebrakers @henderdads @stevesbipanic

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