#an AU where steve is dead

[trashpocket]

for @bonitabreezy ‘s third installment: Ghost Behind My Eyes (based off of my art and concept of: What if Steve died in starcout in s3 and became a ghost who haunted robin / platonic!stobin just to be clear)

#platonic soulmates #platonic!stobin #stobin #AU #an AU where steve is dead #stranger things #stranger things fanart #look at the siblings #i love them sm #i tried to do this as fast as i could #T-T #sorry if it's a mess #BUT LOOK AT THEMMM

[afewproblems]

Season Two Halloween AU Part Nine

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six Part Seven Part Eight

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...

As always, thank you thank you to the lovely Jess @strangersteddierthings for cheering me on, letting me send spoilers, and Steddie screaming with me!

***

Eddie moves, trying to find a comfortable position in the firm plastic hospital chair, letting his legs stretch out into the bulk of the hallway and sliding down the chair. 

He won't be able to stay like this for much longer either, but it's worth it for the irritated looks he can feel from the nurses station.

Eddie hadn't been allowed in the room with Steve while he was being assessed, forcing him to wait outside in the hallway.

He can hear them talking, not bothering to be quiet at four in the morning.

"There's no answer, who isn't home at this time of night?"

"Did you try the secondary number?"

"Yes, it's for a business though and all I get is the answering machine for a Richard Harrington". 

Eddie frowns, silently agreeing with the first nurse, why the hell aren't they here?

That's when he remembers something Steve had mentioned, so casually, Eddie realizes, feeling a little sick, that his parents wouldn't be home until Thanksgiving this year. 

Which is just shy of a month away still, give or take a week.

Just how long have they been gone, he wonders, feeling an anxious pit begin to form in his stomach, and what would that mean for him now?

He's saved from this train of thought for the moment by Hopper appearing at the end of the hall, his heavy step and squeaky boots announcing themselves well before he steps into view. 

He looks exhausted, and a little worse for wear, and Eddie has never been happier to see a cop.

He walks past Eddie, though he does spare him a single nod, and makes his way to the nurses station. 

"Morning," Hopper says gruffly, his voice crackles as though it's either been used too much or too little recently.

"'M'here about the Harrington kid, we have a few questions for him and his injuries and then I'll be taking him home after his statement".

"Sir, that's not--" one of the Nurses tries, only for Hopper to flash his badge and knock his knuckles once on the top of the desk.

"Which room?" He at least has the decency to ask this time, throwing a thumb over his shoulder. 

Eddie hears a long sigh as the other Nurse mutters, '206'; Hopper doesn't even wait for her to finish the word before he's turning on his heel, his boots making a horrible squeak against the linoleum tiles as moves. 

He slows to a stop in front of Eddie, finally looking at him, it's always been nerve wracking having the chiefs full attention on him, though there's a rather big difference between now and the last time, down at the station.

"They check you out?" He grumbles to Eddie, his fingers tap a nervous rhythm on his leg.

Eddie shakes his head, "Steve took the brunt of everything tonight". 

Hopper nods, his gruff face pinched with something close to worry, but it's gone in an instant.

He looks down the hall at something over Eddie's shoulder and lifts his hand in a muted wave before turning back to Eddie.

"You should head home Munson, I took the liberty of getting you a ride".

Eddie frowns at the words and startles slightly as another person sits down beside him, he hadn't even noticed until Wayne was all of a sudden right there.

Eddie blinks, exhaustion and emotion all encompassing; he feels as though he might sink into the floor or tip forward and fall away from the world right then and there, but Wayne reaches out, clasping his shoulder with his firm warm hand. Like he always does.

"Wayne," Eddie says in a tremulous voice, the weight of the night finally crashes over him, the dogs, Billy, the tunnels, it's too much. The image of Steve crumpling to the floor, shards of ceramic in his hair, plays over and over again.

Eddie's face is wet as Wayne pulls him into his arms, he ignores the way the hospital chair digs into his ribs as he moves.

"S'okay Ed," Wayne whispers, letting his hand rub soothing circles on his back, up and down.

Wayne says something above Eddie's head, most likely to Hopper, but he doesn't care, not now. He focuses on the grounding feeling of being held, the warm comfort of knowing that when he needed it, his uncle was there. 

He tries not to think about the fact that it's Hopper in Steve's room rather than his parents. 

***

They don’t talk after. 

It shouldn’t have been surprising really. After the whirlwind in the tunnels, learning that Dustin really had managed to bond with one of the creatures over a mediocre chocolate bar, and finally, finally, getting Steve to the hospital, it was like everything else was put on the back burner. 

The government gives them all NDAs to sign, including Wayne now --how was he not going to tell his uncle after the hospital? The government officials had given Eddie a bit of trouble about it during the debrief about their cover story, until Wayne and Hopper had argued his defense. 

The worst part though, about everything, is the pretending. 

Pretending that everything is normal, like there aren't monsters from an alternate dimension running around Hawkins, like the government didn't know about the real reason so many people, like Mr.Newby, had died. Pretending that small petty things like his late homework assignments, or who was dating who in the wilds of Hawkins High really mattered. 

With that being said, the news that Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers were officially dating now, surged through the school. 

Pretending that that news doesn't make Eddie feel relieved was also difficult.

Well, maybe relieved isn't the right word, but after Eddie's half-assed confession before the tunnels, and the stay in the hospital, Steve has been avoiding him. 

And if it wasn’t because of Nancy….

Well, Eddie tries not to dwell too much on it.

Two weeks after their trip into the Dismal Caverns, Eddie spots, speak of the devil, Nancy Wheeler leaning on his locker.

The last bell has long past so it's only the stragglers now wandering halls, those waiting for Band Practice to start, those just getting out of detention. 

Three guesses which one he's here for. 

Eddie hasn't seen or spoken to Nancy since their government meeting, not that either had been particularly chatty that night, but she had at least sent a grateful smile Eddie's way as one of the officials went through the whole story of that night.

So to see her now sets his teeth on edge and his stomach plummeting into his shoes.

Is it back, did something happen to Will, did another Demodog surface?

Is Steve okay? 

As if Nancy can see the terrified questions swirling around his head, she raises the hand not holding her books to her chest and says lowly, "everyone's fine". 

Eddie lets out the breath he's holding, trying to lower his heart rate, "haven't seen you around these parts Wheeler, don't tell me you need a pick me up?"

He tries for a swarthy smile but it falls flat as the adrenalin from his earlier panic is still running rampant, he runs a sweaty hand through his hair, trying to hide the slight shake.

Nancy rolls her eyes and pushes herself off the locker by her shoulder, tipping her head towards the far back door to the building. 

She says nothing as she leads him out of the school and towards his usual picnic table in the trees.

Eddie tugs his leather jacket around his torso as a harsh November breeze kicks up dead leaves and dust around the school building in small whirls. He wishes in this moment he had found a zip up closure rather than one with button snaps.

Eddie laughs nervously as they enter the treeline, "uh huh, you sure you didn't want something?"

Nancy turns to sit on top of the table, her face impassive, "Mrs. Click was still there, in her room, I don't need to have any meetings with her and my parents because they think I'm being corrupted," she lifts her hands and makes exaggerated quotations with her fingers before rolling her eyes again. 

"We can talk here," she says primly, setting her books down on the table beside her. 

Eddie grins, "you're probably setting yourself up for a meeting with the counselor tomorrow anyway, walking out of the school with me".

He kicks at a bottle cap in the grass and watches as it tumbles a few feet away. When he looks back up, Nancy is staring at him with a pinched brow.

"I'll bite, what's going on?" 

Nancy nods and it's like a switch flips, her spine straightens slightly and her shoulders square before a determined expression smoothes out her face, it's eerie how similar it is to Steve's.

"What is he to you?" Nancy asks, 

"Who?" Eddie stumbles over the word, already knowing exactly who Nancy is asking about.

She looks around now, prompting Eddie to do the same, just in case.

"I know it isn't," she hesitates for a beat as though searching for the word, "safe to talk about it, but," she blinks once, twice, "that's part of why I'm here, asking". 

"I won't see Steve get hurt, not again". 

"So," Nancy stands now, gracefully rising to her feet and stepping off the table, she takes a step closer towards Eddie, "what is he to you?"

He has a good five or six inches on her at least but the fire in her blue eyes makes him feel so much smaller in this moment. 

Eddie feels a snarl build in his chest, the words tumbling out before he can get a chance to really think about them.

"That's fucking rich coming from you, as though you didn't rip his heart out at that stupid Halloween party". 

Nancy's face pales slightly, but there's blood in the water now.

He never really had the heart to ask Steve this question, and he probably never would have been able to actually answer it. 

But Nancy can. 

"Steve is brave, fucking reckless but he's brave, and selfless, and he cares so much --about everything,"

Eddie forces himself to stay where he is, to not move, but his voice climbs in volume, carrying through the trees. 

"You had that and you threw it away Wheeler, and you come in here asking what he is to me?"

He watches as Nancy looks around them frantically watching for people, but Eddie doesn't care, he keeps going.

"He's more than some bullshit you toss in the trash".

There are twin spots of red on the high points of her cheekbones, matching the flush painting her ears, Nancy pins him with a frosty glare as she breathes out slowly through her nose.

"Well, you certainly care, don't you, that's a question answered at least".

She clears her throat and blinks again, and to Eddie's horror, her eyes shine with tears in the afternoon sun. 

"You don't know what it was like after everything last year, how hard it was".

She wipes roughly at one of the tears that rolls down her cheek, cutting it off.

"I wanted to talk about it, I wanted to tell Barb's parents what happened to their daughter, my--"

Nancy swallows roughly, her nostrils flaring, "my best friend, was dead". 

"And Steve wanted to pretend that everything was fine, that it was normal," she clears her throat and wipes at her eyes again, "and I can't do that, I don't have it in me to let it go yet". 

Eddie nods, he gets it.

He didn't understand how everyone was able to just go on like everything in the last week didn't happen, or if he will ever forget the sounds those things made as they screamed in the darkness, that people had died that night. 

He can't pretend either and it's a relief to know he isn't the only one.

Eddie opens his mouth to apologize but Nancy keeps going, her words softer this time.

"I don't really believe that Steve has been able to let it go either if I'm being honest," Nancy says, her eyes searching Eddie's face as she speaks, "he sleeps with the hall lights on, did he tell you? He can't stand the dark anymore". 

"Yeah," Eddie breathes out, "he's said it before, I didn't know about the hall, but.."

He lets the thought trail off, it makes sense. It's not as though he's been sleeping well since everything ended either. Wayne had woken him up that first night to stop his screaming and calm him down, he ended up crawling in with Wayne for the rest of the night, something he hadn't done since he was eight.

Eddie startles slightly at the sudden small hand touching his arm. Nancy pulls back almost immediately at his flinch, regret painting her face.

"Steve needs something that I can't give him,"   and I need more than he can give me, it wasn't meant to last". 

"I didn't mean to hurt him, but that doesn't mean I'm good with Steve getting hurt again and again, he has enough of that with his parents".

Eddie nods again, "have they always been like that?"

Nancy's face darkens for just a moment before smoothing out again.

"In the year we were together, I met them once," she wraps her arms around herself and shivers as another breeze rips through the clearing, "he always made excuses for why they were gone or when they would be back".

She looks up at Eddie now, her wide blue eyes still red rimmed from earlier, "he told me about you, that night". 

Oh. 

Suddenly the weighted looks Nancy had been giving him make more sense. The small conspiratorial smile.

"Yeah well, he's been avoiding me," Eddie admits softly, lifting his hand to snag a lock of hair, "so I wouldn't hold your breath".

Nancy nods and shivers against a rough gust of wind that shifts the trees and swirls the leaves around the table. She looks into the distance suddenly, her eyes catching something behind Eddie as they widen before darting back to his face.

He turns his head to look behind him, only to see Hawkins Middle through the trees.

"Steve's good at pretending, but he doesn't have the same kind of friends around him that would just accept that version of him now, he's got us --well," Nancy stutters momentarily, "he's got you, and the kids, I'm pretty sure Dustin thinks Steve's an action here now".

Eddie snorts, prompting a smile out of Nancy. He takes a small step forward before offering his elbow. Nancy looks from his arm to Eddie's face once before reaching out to curl her hands around it.

"Alright Wheeler," he says with a grin, "how do we do this? I know you've got a plan rolling around that brain of yours and I'm cold as shit so let's move this to the van".

Nancy smiles again, tilting her head towards the Middle School once more, "How do you feel about Dances?"

Tag List: Please Note the List is Officially Closed

@eriquin @luvinthefreaks @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @goodolefashionedloverboi @ellietheasexylibrarian @bambibiest @sadboislovebeans @howincrediblysapphicofyou @coleys-a-nerd @whycantiuseunderscore @airconditioning123 @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @corrodedbisexual @starman-jpg @ilovecupcakesandtea @yoriposts @clumsiluni @pelinelin @phantomcat94 @lololol-1234 @anaibis @steveshairspray @hellfireone @eddielives1986 @sunswathe  @tentativeghost @robin-not-batman @estrellami-1 @manda-panda-monium @tinyplanet95 @perseus-notjackson @queenie-ofthe-void @rainbowsaw @sp0o0kylights @littlebluejane @hi-im-eff  @phantypurple @just-ladyme @thoroughlycollected @justrandomfandomstm @swimmingbirdrunningrock @finntheehumaneater @dynamic-powerm@nightmareglitter @genderless-spoon @zaddipax @thebiblesays @pyrohonk @emly03 @geekymagicalpotato @sidebarre @lemon-astra @cipounette @discreetapple @starlitlakes @saphhicwitchbitch @marvel-ous-m @lingeringmirth @honorarybrit81 @bookbinderbitch @finntheehumaneater  @lololol-1234 @eddie-munsons-missing-nipple @monsterloverforhire @gaydrieeen @starlight-archer @homosexual-having-tea @devondespresso @rennnnon @my-hyperfixations-hell-blog @carlprocastinator1000 @0o-queendean-o0 @emly03 @paintsplatteredandimperfect @louismeds @fruitmix

@lizzicleromance @fairy-princette @eddiethehunted

And a few people I think may be intersted!

@steddierthings @steddie-there @stevesbipanic @henderdads @spooky-brakers

Part Ten Now Up (Final Part)

#season two halloween au #stranger things #stranger things season 2 au #steve harrington #eddie munson #the party #steve and nancy breakup #eddie is having all sorts of complicated feelings about steve here #i will never get tired of halloween party aus #you can pry them from my cold dead fingers #afewproblems writes #pining Eddie #uh oh more problems #poor eddie #poor steve #where is robin when you need her #nancy and eddie need to hang out more #I tried to give nancy some nuance here because I do love her character and I almost never write her #she was a fun challenge #nance scheming with eddie to get her ex a boyfriend #its messy but in the best way

[sp0o0kylights]

ooo and 5 please! who's saying fuck no about what??

This waaaas a werewolf oneshot I was playing with, separate from Hungry. It features a transmasc Gareth, protective Eddie and Steve, and a personal favorite, Secret Berserker Jonathan Byers.

This was another oneshot that is made entirely of various scenes, so I wrote a quick introduction here to it. It wouldn't make a lick of sense otherwise lol.

(Similar to Hungry, we're playing with dominant/submissive werewolves. Think Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews & how they run their werewolf stories based on super outdated but very fun concepts of real wolf packs lol. I have my own little modern twist on them, but there's a difference between a social work/school friend group "pack" and a Wolf Pack TM. )

Snippet

Hellfire won't be out for another few minutes, but neither Steve or Jonathan talk much as they wait. 

It's a peaceful kind of silence they share, particularly between two people who aren't friends, but ended up as family anyway. 

Which is why both startle hard when the doors to the school slam open. 

One of Munson's wolves storms out, looking over his shoulder instead of ahead. "What part of fuck no don't you get!?" 

"Come on." Wheedles another voice, and Steve and Jonathan both watch as a sandy haired boy in a letterman jacket pursues the first.

Slowly, casually, and with the air of a predator.  

"Don't fight it so hard, baby!" The harassing party coos, in a smug mimic of Danny Zuko. 

"Do not call me that." Munson's wolf--Steve can't recall his name but he thinks it starts with a G-- whirls around.

The guy seems to be made of both fury and anxiety, backing away even as he spits and snarls--though his actual emotions are hard to get a read on given he's drenched himself in scent-neutralizing cologne.

(Steve almost sneezes when he scents it, but manages to keep himself together.)

The Hellfire kid's putting up a fight, but its clear from the way he holds himself that he’s a more submissive wolf--and a bad match to the dominate one chasing him. 

Jonathan tosses a glance at Steve. 

"I'll call you whatever I like." His pursuer tells him, a smile unfurling on his face. "Especially after I make you my bitch." 

Steve shoves off the car the same time Jonathan does, but he ends up being the first to the scene, surging forward to step in-between the two.

Hardened battle buddy he is, Jonathan takes this as his cue to fall in behind him, sticking near Munson's wolf. 

"Andy." Steve identifies, voice cold. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" 

"Harrington?" Andy replies, thrown off his target and showing it. "What are you doing here?"

"Putting you in your place, apparently."

Andy's head snaps back, eyes narrowing in mounting rage.

"Excuse me?" 

Steve cocks his hip, hands on his hips.

"Not until you swear off hunting down submissive wolves, you fucking walnut." 

"That isn't what this is, Harrington. Mind your business." 

He makes to go around Steve, and finds the older wolf won't let him. 

"I told you to back off." And the voice Steve speaks with then, is different. 

Weighted.

Steve's wolf is the dominant party here, and he's making Andy feel it. 

Andy growls at him, an inhuman sound, eyes darting from Steve, to Jonathan and back.

He's outgunned and he knows it.

Tension grips them all as Andy meets Steve's eyes in challenge, before clearly thinking better of it.

He drops his head, stepping back.

"Fine. But I'm not giving up, Grace. We're doing this, sooner or later." 

"My name is Gareth." Munson’s wolf snaps, and Steve knows Jonathan will hold him back if he tries to escalate things, 

Submissive has never meant unable to fight, after all. 

Steve keeps an eye on Andy as he retreats another step, and it's all too clear he wants a parting shot.

"Now we both know that's not true." He says, and Gareth hisses like a kettle, fury emitting off him in choked waves. 

Steve clears his throat in warning--he's done playing here, and no matter how much he hates fighting, his wolf has no such qualms.

Andy's eyes dart to him once more, before he whirls around on a heel and storms back through the school doors.

Right in time to plow through the rest of Hellfire.

"Get out of my way, freaks." Andy spits, shoving his way through. 

Will yelps in surprise, caught off guard and off balance, falling back into the lockers with a crash.

His head smashes against metal and he slumps for a moment, stunned.

Mike and Dustin both turn to shout at Andy, Lucas slotting himself to Will's side and trying to get a look at his head.

Behind Steve, Jonathan's eyes go dark.

Munson and Gareth both choke as power floods the parking lot, bloodlust pouring off the elder Byers in waves.

He knifes forward, past Steve, hands blurring in a slurry of shifting muscles and bone until his fingers elongate into sharp, wicked claws. 

It's a controlled change, a feat very few can accomplish--and a deadly one, given Jonathan's reacting out of instinct than anything else.

"Jon." Steve calls, power ringing out from his voice.

(Can see, from the corner of his eye how even Munson, the second most dominant wolf present, flinches from it in surprise.

Steve isn't. He might be a trash fighter, too worried about preventing injuries to inflict them, but his wolf doesn't share the same sentiments.

It's not a disconnect. Rather, it's an agreement he has, with his wolf half, and it serves them very well.)

Jonathan freezes, and it's immediately clear by how tense his muscles are that he's not doing it on his own.

That Steve's using his position in the Pack to hold him, magic and Pack bonds pulsing between the two.

"Steve." Jonathan warns, all too calmly. 

Steve's wolf doesn't rise to the challenge. Doesn't consider it a challenge, even if most wolves would. 

Amber pours into Steve's pupils, the mark of the two halves of a werewolf blending themselves together.

Just as Jonathan did.  

"Check on the kids." Steve and his wolf say together.

 Jonathan's face twist in a snarl as his body shudders under the command.

"Fine." He says after a beat, and Steve's Pack magic releases its hold.

Jonathan's hands twist again, bloodlust fading from his scent, frantic energy draining from the air like a hole punched into an inflatable pool. 

"I'm fine." Will calls out to him, and Steve eases himself back into his own natural state, the threat of Jonathan murdering Andy neutralized. 

He turns to check back in on Gareth, and finds the younger wolf has pressed his face hard into Munson's shoulder. 

"He okay?" Steve asks.

It's redundant because of course Gareth’s not okay--but that's not the question he's really asking.

What he's asking, is if Eddie has Gareth.

Steve has never quite been sure of Munson’s pack status--he knows some clubs and friendships are closer than others, and many can act similar to how Steve’s own capital P Pack does. 

Knows through the kids that Munson runs his group more similar to a proper pack than your normal little high school friend group.

That does not mean Gareth will get the care he needs right now, hunted down like he had been.

"Yeah." Eddie says, understanding relayed in a nod. He turns his gaze to the right of Steve's face, the polite thing to do when two dominant wolves to interact. "Harrington, we need to talk." 

It's in a tone that'd normally have Steve's hackles up, but given what's happened, Steve soothes down his wolf.

Follows when Eddie gently pulls away from Gareth, handing him over to a teen Steve is pretty sure is named Jeff before edging Steve away from the crowd. 

"Can you tell me what Andy said to him?" Munson asks, and his tone is odd.

Off slightly, like he's trying hard to be extra careful. 

Steve chooses not to read into it. 

"He called him names. Bitch and baby. Said Gareth shouldn't fight him so hard." 

Eddie stares at him then, eyes burning into Steve's own, and Steve's wolf itches under his skin at the audacity of it. 

"Anything else?" Eddie demands. 

"He said he wasn't hunting, that it wasn't what it was." 

Munson frowns. "No, did he call Gareth anything else?" 

Steve's dropped the polite urge to keep his eyes averted, now staring dead into Munson's eyes, unable to ignore the direct challenge offered in it.

"He called him Grace, but I figured that was just another insult."

Steve’s voice is clipped. He’s not eager for a fight, particularly not against the guy the kids won’t shut up about, but his wolf is already closer to the surface than it usually is.

Munson stares at him for a moment longer.

"Think you and Johnny boy over there can keep that last bit to yourselves?" 

It's too much like a command, a threat of force in Eddie's voice that's backed by hints of his own wolf shoving forward.

The Steve of old would have been downright violent when faced with that. 

The Steve of now, the one who'd gone three rounds with the Upside Down; who sat drugged out of his mind in a bathroom while Robin confessed to liking Tammy Thompson and then looked at him like he might kill her for it, keeps himself in place as he looks Munson over. 

He’s not imaging it, there is a challenge there--but Steve pauses to think about what he’s being challenged over before he responds. 

How Munson isn't so much focused on Andy, as he is on the name he'd called Gareth.

His eyes flick over to find the younger wolf staring right at them. 

The guy’s arms are wrapped tightly around the middle, a poorly hidden tremble rolling through his body.

Steve hadn't taken Andy's words at face value but Eddie’s request reframed things in his head, and he’s silent as he works out why, exactly Gareth's name matters so much. 

No wonder the kid had drowned himself in that awful, scent neutralizing cologne. 

"Yeah. I'll make that happen." Steve agrees, his words heavy with promise. 

"Thanks." Eddie inclines his head. 

#werewolf au #tw dead naming #transmasc Gareth #eddie munson #steven harrington #protective steve harrington #protective jonathan byers #thems their kids how very dare you #0o0 fanfics #tw warning in that Andy is very clearly pursuing Gary here for bad intentions and while I dont think it comes through as much its that #thing where a guy has something over you and is using threat of force to get it--the threat here being that he'd out Gareth as trans #and generally doesnt see gareth AS trans #oh yeah #protective eddie munson #lol #homie sees Steve fucking pull Jonathan out of a berserker rage with four words and still squares up

[fastcardotmp3]

I know there are plenty of Steddie aus where they get together pre-s4 in one way or another, but are there any where Eddie still dies?

Because like. Steve grieving in a way and to a degree he never has before; steve showing up on Nancy's doorstep with an apology on his tongue because I didn't get it before I get it now I get it now you can't ever go back to normal Nance I get it now; Steve facing a mortality other than his own because he was supposed to be the tank, the thing at the front lines that took the hits even if it meant going down but no one else was.

Steve who wonders why this had to be the time he fails, who hates himself for thinking that when he'd never give anyone else's life in place of Eddie's except maybe his own.

Steve down for the count while they try to regroup and only a spare few people understand why, Steve who comes out to his mother on accident just by merely cracking when she wraps him in a hug after he tries to explain that he lost a friend in the earthquakes, he lost a friend Mom I lost him, I should have-- I couldn't-- I can't--

Just.

Steve who adopted himself into this world, chose to stay despite not being all that connected to any of them after he and Nancy break up; he felt for Nancy when she lost Barb and he felt for El when she lost Hopper but he never got it like he gets it now.

To lose your person.

It's enough to make a warrior out of a boy or a self-imploding missile out of a lover.

It's up to Steve which one he becomes.

#dot post #steddie #steve x eddie #where my girlies (gn) who like being sad at #when I write both this /and/ the dead steve fic what then who is gonna stop me #i think steve and nancy bonding over what it means to grieve someone in that way would be... everything I need actually #this is an eddie stays dead au by the way do not doubt my insistence on that #more 5 minute posts from dot tonight but I shan't apologize

[shinebrightlikeanarwhal]

Steve being a middle school teacher and basketball coach that works in summer camps to give children the support system they needed and ends up unofficially adopting hundreds of kids.

Eddie, his emotional support nerd, the rockstar and his husband happily running into the building to drop off the lesson plans Steve left on their dining table. Sharing a quick peck on the lips before scurrying out fast enough to not be bombarded with ‘EDDIE MUNSON!?’

#steddie #eddie x steve #steve harrington #eddie munson #future au stranger things #where everyone lives and no one’s dead #well… some people might still be dead #stranger things au #stranger things #teacher steve harrington #rockstar eddie munson

[musicalchaos07]

Jancy Academic Rivals AU thoughts

Based on this post. I have spent all day thinking about it and here's what I have so far

1996 Maine

Robin is Nancy’s roommate 

Argyle is Jonathan’s roommate (I personally love the idea that Argyle is secretly rich)

Steve is also Jonathan & Argyle's roommate but he's never home so Jonathan goes like 3 weeks before ever seeing him in their dorm

Nancy’s best subjects are Chemistry, English, and Polisci-Debate

Jonathan’s best subjects are English, Polisci-Debate, Art, and Latin

Jonathan is from Hawkins and was friendish with Nancy but moved to Montauk, NY when he was like 7 so Nancy doesn’t remember him 

He remembers her bc of course he does 

Nancy is class president because she’s top of the class and is in charge of touring students around campus

Nancy begged her parents to send her here at the age of like 13 and she’s been there since

Jonathan is just now transferring in as a junior and a scholarship student

Jonathan applied because he wants to go to The National School of Photography in France or the Rhode Island School of Design 

While touring Jonathan Nancy makes an off comment about how that’s essentially a waste of an education and how she went to Paris over the summer

Jonathan is understandably annoyed because his assumptions that everyone at the school is going to be nothing but spoiled, pompous rich kids are proving true 

He’s also annoyed she does not remember him at all (but never brings up that they sort of know each other bc awkward)

So he asks in a snippy way what she plans to do and she tells him she's going to go to Oxford to study Journalism and he asks how that’s any better

They are very much giving pretentious and just another suburban girl in their initial introductions

Jonathan resolves to attempt to ignore her as much as possible which is very difficult because he has a crush (He may think she's ambitious and overly competitive but she's also gorgeous and wasn't mean about him being a scholarship student)

Anyways one night while looking for somewhere to smoke Jonathan & Argyle find Nancy, Robin, and Steve breaking into the school pool for a late-night swim/hang out (Picture s1 pool scene minus the murder and st*ncy scene)

And naturally, our intrepid little art hoe takes photos 

Nancy finds out and gets even madder at him because if anyone else found out she’d be in trouble and it could ruin her reputation

THEN as though all of that wasn’t enough Jonathan corrects Nancy’s Math error in class and she gets pissed 

Because she’s right she's always right (except this time)

And Jonathan teasingly offers to tutor her if she needs it 

Thus academic rivalry is born

Nancy is pissed because Jonathan’s Advanced Latin class counts as more credit. Jonathan is pissed because Nancy is so much better at Chemistry.

Nancy tries to transfer into Latin for the extra credit, and Jonathan tries to transfer out of Chemistry because he's better at Earth Sciences (Jonathan isn't successful and Nancy does transfer in but she's completely lost)

It gets to the point where the whole school knows that these two are just insane and trying to one-up each other 

Their polisci-debate class is just the two of them arguing over various issues (not that they necessarily disagree but they both approach issues with different viewpoints i.e. gender v class in s3) while the class watches

And the sexual tension is BAD which Nancy knows and hates because she’s mad enough he can challenge her academically but then he’s also hot??? (Robin is unrelenting until Nancy finally admits to thinking that Jonathan is hot but Nancy insists nothing is going to happen)

Jonathan is lowkey-highkey dying inside from the tension but he’s thriving in teasing Nancy over academics (Argyle thinks he's crazy over this and can't figure out why they won't just do hanky panky)

Argyle and Robin end up bonding and forming the “Jonathan & Nancy just make out already club” which they definitely treat like a skull and crossbones-ish secret society

Steve is also an unwilling member

This leads to Jonathan & Nancy having to hang out more outside of class because of their roommates 

This also leads to Nancy buying Jonathan a new lens for his camera ( I don’t think she’d get him a whole new camera) for his birthday (I HC his birthday as October 10th) and he feels guilty because it’s too nice of a gift 

So to "pay her back" he makes a mixtape for her (Purely platonic he assures Argyle. Can you believe she doesn't know The Cure?) (He def puts Just Like Heaven & Friday I'm in Love on it though)

And maybe on Halloween Nancy and Jonathan end up at a party in the woods behind the school and maybe he lets her borrow his sweater because she’s cold 

And maybe he walks her back to her dorm after this party because she’s been drinking a little (not like blacked out though) and there’s allegedly a bear in the woods (Jonathan might also be high and a little paranoid)

On the walk home, he finally reveals that they went to elementary together.

Plot Twist Nancy did remember him but she was still holding a grudge because he disappeared without saying goodbye

Jonathan then apologizes and makes a big deal about saying goodnight to her 

She returns his sweater a couple days later and everyone starts gossiping about why she had it and Nancy retreats after this 

But then it all comes to a head when their Polisci-Debate professor (Murray) assigns them to be partners on a research article (because he knows) 

One minute they’re whisper-arguing in the library and then Jonathan kisses her 

Nancy kisses him back 

They are hot and heavy making out in the stacks until the librarian catches them

They have to talk their way out of detention 

Then they go up to Nancy's room (because Robin is in Jonathan's with Steve & Argyle) and share a bed

They don’t tell anyone though (again Murray knows) because they don’t want to give them the satisfaction

They continue business as usual then one night over Thanksgiving break Robin, Argyle, and Steve catch them holding hands as they’re walking back from the woods and are like “busted”

Steve owes Robin money 

They still continue the academic rivalry part though because Jonathan knows Nancy likes the competition and he’s happy to indulge her 

They end up tying for the top of the class at the end of the semester effectively ending Nancy’s streak. 

I am attempting to write this as a full fic but I cannot write fanfic to save my life so if someone wants to take this plot bunny be my guest (just tag me when you're done)

#I am attempting to write it but I feel like so far it's not great #we'll see #Somewhere in a cross between Anne of Green Gables Dead Poets Society The Secret History and an indie movie called Strike! is this #Did I change the time setting to the 90s purely based on Vibes and that Jonathan needs Nirvana? Yes Yes I did #Also because I think Nancy deserves to listen to The Cranberries #also because Dark Academia is the mid-90s in my brain I don't make the rules here #Do not ask me where Steve & Robin are from it's not hawkins maybe it's Chicago #In this fic they've had to go to the same boring rich people parties for years and that's why they're besties #Also I feel like they def stumble into a rabbit in the woods which gets Jonathan talking in the first place #And then he opens up about how much he misses his brother and Nancy says she has a brother the same age and Jonathan says I know and reveal #stranger things #jancy #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #academic rivals AU

[the-faultofdaedalus]

"what if the avengers died"-- fury sends them to tahiti he's got this figured out he's SOLVED this problem next question

#do you think if steve had been dead in that iceberg fury would've tahiti'd him #i think he would have i think it would be fun #au where all the avengers just keep dying and fury just keeps tahiti-ing them #like steve is already dead. tony in a1. cyoa for everyone else #EVERYONE gets to go to tahiti #posts incomprehensible to people who dont watch aos

[poisonouspastels]

actually im kind of thinking abt how all the main players in the AU are probably way more mentally Not Great than it may appear at first

#like Alex is constantly worrying she isn't doing enough for her family and pushes herself way too hard physically and mentally bc of it #no one expects it out of her but she kind of just got herself into that mindset and ends up hurting herself by pushing too hard usually #(Rana is working with her to help break the habit) #Herobrine lived in caves for like 7 (I think. im too lazy to go check the rough timeline rn) years straight #like i already dont have to explain why thats bad on its own but hyperfixating on a dead civilization that long #to the point where you almost entirely forgot your first language is Worse. #he's had so many spider bites and eaten parts of spiders that he's literally just immune to the venom now #Rana you'd think would be better off since she's like the traditional happy cheery character but I guess that's also why she's Not #being happy is a choice to her. she's lived through some of the worst shit but she keeps persisting because the world needs more love in it #she's going to be happy out of spite despite all the odds and she wants to give that to others as much as she can #this girl walks in and out of the Nether every other month for potion ingredients like how 'okay' can she actually be really #Steve is probably like the most normal by comparison #but im not really sure how sane you can realistically qualify yourself to be when you've previously done DIY top surgery with a sword #that was not a fun day for neither Steve nor (pre transition) Rana but it worked! please dont do that again #no one else do it either neither of them would recommend it #he's not traumatized from that or anything but ill be damned if the gender dysphoria didnt win that day #but at the same time so did he. via the use of like 20 healing potions #thanks Rana #minecraft au mastertag

[megmeg-chan]

That’s not creepy at all...

#stranger things gif #joe keery edit #stranger things edit #steve harrington edit #steve harrington gif #pleaseeee why does it look like he's renovating a house out of context #hallmark!au where steve is the handyman you enlist to help out with fixing up the house you inherited from a dead relative #mine #my gif #my edit #spoilers #stranger things spoilers

[figbian]

title: haunted house with a picket fence pairing: steve/eddie word count: 7975 chapters: 1/4 summary:

Sometimes Steve gets these crazy dreams. He wakes up from them shivering, hand reaching for something under his bed that doesn’t exist. The plots of them mostly fade after a minute, so he’s left with unsettling images that haunt him whenever he closes his eyes: vines, pulsing like a muscle; caustic spores stuck in the back of his throat; a creature’s mouth unfolding like a toothy flower.

or, it's 1983, & steve keeps remembering things that haven't happened.

#steddie #stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #My writing #me posting this : cringe culture is dead its fine to write st fic in 2022 cring culture is dead its fine to write st fic in 2022 cringe cul #etc #for my friends who are wondering where the crip!eddie au is....this concept took me over and so that au is on a back burner #i WILL complain about the utter lack of wheelchair wheelies in post s4 fics & right that lack eventually. just have 2 finish this first #rambles

[hausofmamadas]

| Gone. Like that |

⁂

Pairing: Mika Camarena & Connie Murphy

Written especially for @kesskirata - Narcos Fanfiction Exchange 2022

Word count: 4K

TWs: Canon-typical violence, major character death, grief/mourning, loss of significant other just like don't fuckin' read this if you're in the middle of grieving the death of a loved one, I implore thee

"But Colombia? It made no sense. It sounded nuts. It was nuts. But it was also something different ... So, she did it. She went nuts."

It's 1991 - six years after Kiki Camarena’s death. His widow Mika Camarena has been living in Colombia for about three years. She’s best friends with Connie Murphy, she's homies with Steve Murphy, she’s made Javi hopelessly smitten with her, and she’s maybe, possibly the only person who can save Steve from ending up worm chow.

⁂

“Kikito can you answer that please? This is the third time they’ve called and given how often your nenita calls, I’m pretty sure it’s not for me."

Kikito closed the fridge with a groan and strode down the hall. 

“Don’t you growl at me. And– hey. Don’t stay on too long. You still gotta finish your homework before bed. I don’t have it in me to help you write another essay about Ernest Hemingway or whoever at three am, mijo.”

Mika scrubbed the rust off the pan, wishing the scouring pad on the back of her sponge was steel wool. Or a blowtorch. Connie insisted she’d get used to the weather, but so far, she and her cookware had failed to acclimate to the humidity. The air was so thick, sometimes breathing felt like being water boarded and the kinds of bugs they had would be right at home in National Geographic issue about insects that look like aliens. But even if the tropical weather didn’t agree with her, Colombia did have something Guadalajara didn’t. Connie and Steve had been a godsend. And Javi too … in his own way. Or, he tried at least.

When they finally sat down to eat, Connie kept making faces at her. Mika didn’t know what she was on about but she’d find out later it was related to why Javi was, as Connie said, “on his best behavior” or as Steve put it more colorfully in that homegrown Tennessee drawl, “all minding his Ps and Qs and shit.” But before that? The only thing out of the ordinary that Mika detected was an occasional, well-disguised but evident look of awe that came across Javi’s face whenever she glanced at him, like a kid trying to play it cool while meeting his favorite baseball player. That and the downright robotic way he shook her hand when he said goodbye. You would've thought they’d just closed a great deal on the sale of a condo. 

“Right. Ah, thanks for dinner.” He practically ran to his car. The only thing that could’ve made it more awkward was if he’d tacked on ‘ma’am’ at the end.

“Right. Ah, thanks for dinner.” He practically ran to his car. The only thing that could’ve made it more awkward was if he’d tacked on ‘ma’am’ at the end.

When they were clearing the table later, Connie finally told her why she was pulling faces all throughout dinner. She had been surprised at Javi’s newfound sense of propriety. 

“Look, I’m just shocked he didn’t make a pass at you. I think that says something,” Connie said, handing her a plate.

Mika noted wryly, dunking it into the soapy water, “I think what it says? Is he’s that guy."

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. Javi’s a good guy, he’s just the kind of— where— okay, you know how generally speaking, everyone’s prone to feeling a little lost in life?”

Mika nodded. She had no idea where Connie was going with this, but wherever it was she was intrigued.

“Right. It’s a transient thing. We've all been there, we get it." Her voice shot up half an octave, "Let's just say being lost is a permanent destination for Javi? And uh, like a kid looking for his mom in a supermarket, he grabs onto any woman’s skirt in the hopes it’ll help him find his way.”

Mika laughed at the way Connie threw up her hands, like she was giving up, stumped by the exceedingly complex math problem that was Javier Peña.

“I feel like that’s a really long-winded way of saying he's a lost cause.” 

Connie shook her head, “Mm, see that just doesn’t fully convey the true depth, the scope of 'lost' that I’m talking about here.”

“Huh. Well, since it seems like he is that guy,” Mika turned to look at her reflection in the microwave, “I don’t know what I did wrong. Shoot, I guess I styled my hair a little differently today. Or, I mean— I know I put on a couple pounds in the last couple of months - y'know too much arequipe - but damn, I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Connie’s laugh sounded more like a screech. She snapped the dish towel at Mika. “Oh, c’mon! You know that’s not what I mean.” 

Mika doubled down, chuckling, “Well sure, you’re my friend. That’s what you’re supposed to say.” 

“You’re just going to watch me dig this grave aren’t you.” 

“What? I’m right there with you, manita,” a sly grin spread across her face, “handing you the shovel.” 

Connie smiled and scrunched her nose, twisting the dish towel in her hands like she was going to snap it again.

“Let’s go, guera. I can take you,” Mika threw her hands up and cocked her head, channeling the teenage-wannabe, Calexico cholita she was back in the day. 

They both giggled. Connie bumped Mika’s hip with hers, “One of these days, cabrona.”

“Ey, there we go. You pick things up that quick, I’ll have you talking like a real chola in no time. Steve won’t know what to do with you.”

Connie murmured, “The better to scare him with,” a cheeky smile on her face.

“Yeah, show him who really wears the pants because he loves that so much.” 

“As if he could ever forget.” 

Mika wagged her eyebrows up and down knowingly, “True.” She turned off the faucet and wiped her hands on her jeans. 

Connie tossed the dish towel by the sink and hopped up to sit on the counter, “No, but seriously, I only bring it up because Javi— well, he fancies himself some kind of Casanova. I call it a bad substitute for therapy. And I’m sorry but you’re exactly his type. Brown-eyed, brunette knockout. A smart, resilient, kind-yet-uncompromising woman,” she suddenly lowered her voice like a she was narrating a movie trailer and leaned forward, “with a dark past and a deep well of sadness.” 

Mika threw her head back and laughed.

“No! But I’m serious!” 

Connie busted up too, both laughing so hard until they were gasping for air. Steve walked into the dining room tucking his shirt in, eyes squinting, cigarette planted firmly between his lips, wearing the look of a perpetually confused and disgruntled man. He leaned on the counter of the breakfast nook, waiting expectantly. Connie and Mika just stared at him, then looked at each other and cut up all over again.

"Is anyone gonna let me in on the joke here, or are we cracking up 'cause I'm the joke?"

Mike teased, "I don't know Steve, maybe if you'd stayed and helped us clean up, you'd be in on the joke. I thought they were all about manners in the South."

Connie composed herself with one of those long, drawn out laugh-sighs and leaned over, putting a consolatory hand on Steve's cheek, "Oooh, no it's not you. Not now, anyway. No, this time, the punchline is Javi." 

Steve's cigarette bobbed a bit as his tense jaw and pursed lips relaxed into a sly smirk. "Shoot, that's some of my favorite stand-up material. Guess I should've stayed and helped y'all after all. Lemme guess, y'all are discussing that school-boy crush he's desperately trying to squash."

"Actually, Connie seemed to be suggesting the opposite. He's the kind of guy who'd hit on a rock, but he didn't put the moves on me. So, it can only be concluded I am an unsightly, old wench."

"That is not what I was saying and you know it!" Connie play-smacked her in the arm.

Steve leaned back, eyes wide with mock shock, "Connie, how is that any way to treat your friend? And a widow at that?"

He looked at Mika, chuckling out a puff of smoke. Her nose scrunched as she giggled and high-fived him.

"You can't co-opt my friend with humor and Southern charm, Steve. I won't stand for it."

"Look baby, you set up such a perfect shot —can't expect me to let that one go."

Connie threw up her hands and swept them around in a semi-circle, "May I just remind everyone that I was the one who thought they should meet. I didn't expect Javi to suddenly grow a conscience and adopt the manners of a 1950s house-husband."

"He was a little uptight, wasn't he," Steve mused. "Poor little guy, just don't know what to do with himself."

That’s when Mika finally realized what Connie was trying to say. Javi was awkward, but he was on his best behavior for a reason. Despite the fact that he never knew Kiki and despite the fact that apparently anything with a pulse was fair game, it seemed Javi respected Kiki too much to let his playboy antics to get the best of him, almost like making a pass at Mika would’ve been an affront to his memory. It was naive but well-intentioned. It was also sweet in a way that made Mika want to lock herself in a closet and cry for days. 

The truth was, Javi didn’t need to shut anything down. The mainframe broke a long time ago. Because no matter who it was or how hard they tried, it just wasn't Kiki. It didn't matter what all those self-help books said about grief, how "it got better with time," how "the load would lighten, float away a little more each day," enough time had passed now that she knew she’d never stop missing him like he’d just left. 

Without him, no place on earth was ever going to feel like home. But Connie and Steve came close. They tethered her to reality the same way Jaime and Ana did back in Guadalajara. After Kiki was killed, Guadalajara of course wasn’t the same but Jaime and Ana took her in like she was family. So, when Jaime eventually got transferred after a couple of years, and they had to move to El Paso, the city felt downright alien. Nothing looked real and each mundane reminder of the empty space where Kiki used to be began to disassemble her, piece by piece: their favorite open-air market, favorite restaurant with the homemade, hand-pressed corn tortillas, favorite little, date-night, divey cantina, the route through the neighborhood they used to take Danny for walks in his stroller, the too-big, King-sized bed with that hideous palm-tree bedspread he hated, the one his mother gave them for their anniversary one year. Worse yet, the void of Kiki was starting to replace him, memories of precious moments going fuzzy at the edges more and more each day. 

At first, she thought maybe she’d go back to Calexico. Until she realized surely, there would be little echoes of him, them, in their hometown. It would’ve been just as bad. Probably worse. She never considered Colombia until Jaime brought it up. 

“Yeah, it’s a hotbed of cartel activity, fixin’ to be a war zone over there,” all pecan pie in that Southern drawl of his, “what with that Escobar at odds with the Colombian government on extradition and such.” 

“Jaime. Ugh—” Mika let out a huff as she struggled to untangle the telephone cord, “you’re not really selling me on this whole Colombia idea. Why the hell would I want to live in a war zone?” 

Jaime’s laugh always filled her with warmth and relief. “Look, I’m not saying it’s Sandals Resort in La Paz by any means, but you don’t want to come here to El Paso which—” he said with more than a hint of irreverence, “heck, understandable. You can’t go back to Calexico. You certainly can’t stay in Guadalajara. Maybe it could be a new adventure for you guys. With all the action, you’re bound to find some community there. ‘Sides,” he concluded dryly, “it’s not like Guadalajara has been a pacifist utopia these days.” 

By community, Mika knew he meant DEA. An interesting point, given it was really the only one she’d known for several years. But Colombia? It made no sense. It sounded nuts. It was nuts. But Jaime was right, it was something different. She tried to dampen the budding hope that she might live in a place that wouldn’t haunt her. A place where maybe she could be closer to Kiki than the absence of him. And, Jaime was three for three because Guadalajara really wasn’t the ‘burbs. She’d stayed somewhat for practical reasons, to keep things like school consistent for the boys. But the other part of staying, Mika reasoned, was to raise them in a place where they’d stay connected to their heritage, their father, know where they came from. An environment with a diversity of people from all walks of life, so they could see that not everyone had what they had, so they could see and understand the harsh truths of the world before being stuck in it alone. Some of that could be achieved in a place like Colombia. So, she went nuts. She did it.

They’d only been there a few months when she happened to meet Connie at one of the colonia’s many farmer’s markets. Danny had been wandering around looking at all the exotic fruit and handmade wares when he saw a girl about his age, in denim overalls and a pageboy haircut, looking at the dream-catchers. He and Livvy made fast friends. He tugged on the hem of Mika’s jacket, “mama, venga a conocer mi nueva amiga,” pulling her closer and closer to Olivia and a no-nonsense blonde woman, swearing at one of the vendors in broken Spanish. From what Mika gathered, it seemed like they were haggling but the guy running the stand wasn’t being straight with her, trying to take advantage of who he thought was a clueless gringa. 

“Estas haciendo pasar un mal ratito a mí amiga?”  >*Are you giving my friend a hard time?*

The slimy little man and Connie were both startled. The man’s eyes darted to Mika and then down at the ground, as he adjusted the brim of his faded baseball cap and sputtered. “No señora, solo estaba—”

She cut him off, grabbing the dream-catcher they were haggling over. 

“Pues, a esto se debe todo el revuelo? Pinshe huevon, lo podría hacer por la mitad que estás cobrarle. Una gabacha y con su niña? En serio pues, guey?” She held up the trinket. “I’ll spell it out for you. We’re taking this, sin cargo alguno. Estamos pues?”  > *All the fuss over this? Fucking moron, I could make this for half the price you’re charging her. A foreigner, with her kid? Really, dude? I’ll spell it out for you. We’re taking this, free-of-charge. Got it?*

He jiggled his head up and down in agreement. 

She handed it to the blonde woman, who smiled smugly at the guy. Mika stifled a laugh when the guera offered him her fakest, “muchas gracias.” 

They walked out onto the pebbled street together, Danny and Livvy skipping ahead, playfully shoving one another. 

“Oh my god, thank you. You have no idea how long I’ve been arguing with that asshole. I’m Connie by the way.”

“Mika.” She shook Connie’s outstretched hand and smiled warmly. “Honestly, I’m just happy to see another expat from the States. Colombians aren’t especially welcoming to us Chicanos I’ve learned. The combination of gringo and Mexican is really not— tsk tsk." She cut the air with her hand the way film directors do.

“Oh no, so you're like Double Jeopardy. But wait— I mean, I know I stick out like a sore thumb with my half-assed Spanish. But how can they even tell you’re not Colombian when you’re not speaking English?” 

Mika chuckled sarcastically, “it’s the brand of Spanish that gives me away. Every country kind of has its own brand. One of the dead giveaways that I’m not Colombian is the lack of ‘vos’ but what really gives the Mexicana away are things like ‘chela’ and ‘chinga.'” 

Connie looked at her with blank curiosity. 

“Chela is like cerveza, just means beer, but a very Mexican thing. And I think I heard you say ‘puta madre’ back there? In Mexico, more often it’s ‘chingada madre.’”

Connie laughed, “wow, so your version of ‘motherfucker’ is as neon a sign as my gringo Spanish and Disney-princess blonde hair.”

“Ha, sorta yeah. Well, close. I mean, no matter what Mexican slang I throw around, they at least know they can’t get one over on me like that guy just tried to do with you. So, you’ve probably dealt with more bullshit. That’s is why I butted in —can’t stand crap like that.”

“My husband’s partn— mm— one of my husband’s coworkers speaks English and Spanish. I’ve asked him to teach me but trying to get that guy to do anything you want him— well, or don’t want him to do,” Connie whistled, “phew, in one ear and out the other.” 

“Classic. Sounds like a keeper.” When Connie didn’t say anything, Mika clarified nervously, “Sorry, the coworker. Not your husband.”

Connie laughed, “Oh no, I wasn’t— sorry, I just stuck a piece of gum in my mouth. No, trust me,” she spoke quietly now, like she was revealing trade secrets on the stock exchange floor, “I love Steve, don’t get me wrong. But I am well acquainted with what a grade-A ass he can be.”

“Oh, no kidding! Glad to know I’m not the only one who knows what it’s like to be married to a lovable grade-A ass.”

“Oh yes,” Connie swept her hand out next to her in a presentation-like gesture, “welcome to the support group. So far it’s just me, but uh— Hey! It reeks of stale liquor and cigarettes and the coffee’s barely drinkable, so I’m sure there’ll be more butts in these seats soon.” 

That lit both of them up. Before they knew it, they were wheezing those noiseless laughs with no air left. Danny looked back at them, “What’s so funny?” 

“Aw mijo, it’s too hard to explain. Don’t worry about it.” 

When they settled down, Connie noticed Mika’s left hand. “You said 'be married to a lovable, grade-A ass.' Was that past-tense?” 

Mika nodded gravely. 

“Can I ask what happened?"

Mika looked down at the ground, watching her feet stepping on the cracks of the pebbled street as if they weren't her own

Connie ventured nervously, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to pry. You have full license to tell me to fuck off, if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Mika smiled softly, without joy, “He died.”

She worried her impassiveness made Connie uncomfortable, but she figured out years ago that if she allowed herself to really feel every time she answered the question, she’d never stop screaming.

“Oh gosh, forgive— I didn’t mean— Fuck. I’m just ... I'm so sorry.”

They walked in silence for a bit, watching Livvy and Danny dodging between the crowds of shoppers ahead, playing some kind of make-believe game about pirates it sounded like. Mika gave a small, sad smile and a nod to reassure Connie she’d done nothing wrong. If anything, she was grateful that Connie didn’t ask how Kiki died. She wasn’t ready to be Mika Camarena, Kiki Camarena’s widow just yet. Eventually, she’d have to give up the ghost and put that mourning veil on again, but she was relieved Connie didn’t force it on her. For now, she was simply Mika. 

In some ways, that was the first sign of an almost innate mutual understanding between them. When Connie eventually discovered who Mika really was after spotting a stray bill left out on the kitchen table, she was able to finally tell the truth about Steve. That no, he was not in fact a “janitorial services professional” for the US embassy building, but a DEA agent. And the infamous janitor “coworker” who wouldn’t teach her Spanish was actually his partner, Javier Peña. That revelation only expanded their mutual understanding into a kind of easy shorthand, so that, despite the fact they hadn’t known each other long, Mika and Connie knew each other.

That’s why it felt like such a knife to the gut, when Kikito rushed in with the phone in his hand. “Mom, mom, mom,” she could tell he was scared. “It’s Connie. I can’t understand what she’s saying, she’s crying.”

Mika took the phone, trying her best not to look alarmed. She didn’t want to frighten Kikito more than he was already. 

She kept her voice, low and calm, “Connie? What happened?”

Connie was lucid but hysterical, “Steve’s gone. I don’t know where he is. No one’s seen him anyw— anywhere for several hours. Javi just left. He didn’t tell me—” She trailed off, choked by the force of her own panicked sobs.

No. Not again. This was not was happening again. Not after Kiki. She couldn’t abide a world that would put someone else through everything she went through. What he went through. The memory of his mangled body on that cold metal slab hit her again; all caked in mud, riddled with cuts and burns, pieces of rebar still stuck in the wounds on his head, his swollen, bruised face barely recognizable yet still her Kiki all the same. Sometimes, she felt it would’ve been easier if he’d been completely unrecognizable.

Mika squeezed her temples - think - then covered the receiver. “Mijo, go get your brother dressed, pack a bag, and call Laura, her phone number's on the fridge. Tell her there’s an emergency and ask if you guys can stay there. Livvy too. I'll explain the rest in the car.” Kikito skittered off down the hallway. “And hey! Don’t forget your toothbrushes. The overnight bag is in my closet on the top shelf. Just use my office chair if you can’t reach it.”

She took her hand off the receiver. “Okay Connie, how long as he been missing?"

"I— I don't even know. You know how it is on the job. It's— " she sniffled, voice growing thick again with tears, "It's not a regular nine to five."

"Do you know who the last person to see him was?"

"We think it was the Agent in Charge at the embassy. The older lady who wears the Miss Piggy make-up. But— I do—" she broke down again, sobbing into the receiver, "I don't even know for sure."

"Hmm." Mika chewed on the inside of her cheek, "Before he left, did Javi tell you where he looked so far? I'm sure he checked all of Steve’s normal, routine stops, but did he check places they go to meet their C.I.s, has he talked to any of the informants? Did he check the hospitals? Churches? Shelters? Morgues?” 

Connie sucked in a huge breath and exhaled slowly. A few heartbreaking stray whimpers escaped the back of her throat.

“No, he didn’t say much and he left before I could ask him anything. All he said was that he thinks Steve’s alive, but … all that really means,” her voice broke again, “is he’s not certain he’s dead yet.” 

“Listen to me. I need you to breathe. You have every right to be upset, and unlike those smug, patronizing assholes that you’re gonna inevitably have to talk to at the embassy or the DEA, I mean it with every fiber of my being. But right now, you need to have your wits about you.”

“Okay?” The sound of Connie’s voice, hoarse and confused, nearly broke Mika. It took everything not to burst into tears herself. 

“We’re going to have to deal with this on our own. No federales, no Search Bloc, no DEA, no Martinez, no Javi.” 

“What? Even no Javi? Why?” 

“Because as much as they all mean well,” Mika chuckled with an apocalyptic edge and punctuated each word, “All they’ll do is lie.” 

Connie said nothing.

“They’ll lie to save face. They’ll lie because they think it’ll protect Steve. And they’ll lie to protect you because they think you can’t take it. And because they don’t want to deal with the ‘hassle’ of your tears, your sadness, your rage.” Mika sighed the whole weight of the world, “All they’ll do is lie. And that? What they project as compassion or strength that’s really a pretense for apathy? That’s a death sentence.” 

Mika waited for Connie to speak. She didn’t. Praying she wasn’t catatonic, Mika continued, “But it doesn’t have to be. No one’s contacted you, the embassy, or the DEA for ransom, so whoever it is doesn't want money. And anyone in the game who wanted him dead, no matter which side of the law, would’ve shot him walking to his car and left him somewhere. He’d be gone,” Mika snapped her fingers, “like that. So, Steve is probably alive. For now.” 

Neither of them said his name. The silence was already heavy with it. But Connie knew what they did to Kiki, every gory detail. She was probably picturing Steve right now, battered and bloody, tied to a chair in some dank shed in the middle of the jungle. The irony that Steve was probably alive, and that it wasn’t much more consolation than knowing he was dead, struck Mika painfully. 

"Okay." Connie blew her nose and took another breath, this one more even, chilled by determination. “What do we do.” 

“I need you to get a piece of paper and something to write with.” She waited patiently through scuffling sounds as Connie fiddled with the receiver. 

“Okay, got it.”

“Ready?” 

“Ready.” 

Mika recited the number. 

“Who’s this for?” 

“It’s the number for the DEA field office in El Paso. Now, you need to wake up Livvy and get ready to leave. Kikito’s calling my neighbor Laura. She and her mom can take the kids. Wait for me outside your place. Listen to me very carefully. If I’m not there within a half an hour and you can’t get ahold of me? Call that number and ask for Special Agent in Charge Jaime Kuykendall or Agent Walt Breslin. Do not let them pass you off to receptionist or another agent. You have to talk to one of them.”

Connie asked breathlessly, “Wait, Mika. Who are they? And where would you— Why wouldn’t I be able to get ahol—” 

“They’re people who’ll know what to do.” Mika stared at the spine of Kikito’s battered copy of Charlotte’s Web on the living-room bookshelf. “But more importantly, they’ll tell you the truth. Now c’mon manita, we don’t have any time to waste. Every second counts. I’ll see you soon.”

⁂

#Mika Camarena & Connie Murphy #Connie Murphy & Mika Camarena #connie murphy #mika camarena #javi peña #steve murphy #Narcos/Narcos Mexico crossover AU #narcos #narcos mexico #narcos imagine #narcos mexico imagine #Narcos Fanfiction Exchange 2022 #javi is a ho always and forever #but mans has standard's when it comes to hitting on dead fellow DEA agent's wife #so like ... go javi? #HOWMEVER #if i were to continue this ... #which i won't because i have no fucking idea where tf to take it... #but if i did ... you bet your bottom dollar i'd find a way to make Javi/Mika happen #could she fix him? ... hell no #would it be hot and probably accidentally hilarious if she tried? ... you do the math #would there be limitless bickering wherein javi realizes that he's wrong about everything? ... what do you take me for #oh also if you really wanna ruin your day #go ahead and pull up the Nmx soundtrack on apple music or spotify or wherever tf #scroll on down to a little ditty called 'Charlotte's Web' and throw that bitch on about halfway thru the fic #it will wre- aherm make your fuckin day

[chasingmidnights]

Where You Lead (Part 2)

Chapter One: The Beginning (2 of 3) 

Summary: Whisper (Y/n), helps out a family friend with a horse that keeps acting up at the gates. A new ranch hand is hired as part of a probation outreach program and learns the ropes of what it’s like living on a ranch. 

Warnings: This is still kind of some light/fluff part but maybe with a little bit of angst. Not really too much to look out for, just maybe some minor language. I apologize if I miss anything but you are responsible for what you read. I’ll post warnings for each section though. 

Wordcount: 3,915

Part Two

The final bell rang for Riverdale High and all of the students were in a rush to either get to practice or to head home. You were waiting for M.J. when your ex-boyfriend, Steve Harrington, comes up to you. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, you didn’t want to deal with him today. Where is M.J., you think to yourself. 

“Hey Whisper, you got any plans for Friday? I was thinking of throwing a party and was wonderin’ if you wanted to come.” Steve inquired as he tilted his head. 

“Steve, I’m sorry, I think I have plans for Friday night.” You reply and just then M.J. shows up and you couldn’t be happier. 

“What’s going on Friday night?” She inquires, glancing between the two of you as she adjusts her pack. 

“Party at my house. Trying to convince Whisper here to come. You’re more than welcome to come to M.J.” Steve is quick to answer before you could respond. 

You watch as your friend nods her head as she thinks about Steve’s offer. “Hmm, I’ll think about it. Come on Y/n, before we miss the bus.” 

The two of you didn’t get very far before Steve was stepping in front of the two of you. He gently grabs you by the elbow causing you to stop. “Ya know, I could always give the two of you a ride home.” 

“We’re fine takin’ the bus Steve.” You couldn’t help but be a little snappy with him. He just wouldn’t take no for an answer and that was one of the things that always drove you crazy while in your relationship with Steve. 

Steve holds up his hands in defeat and steps out of the way. “As you wish.” 

The bus ride home was long and you were usually the last one to be dropped off, so it was nice having M.J. with you. When the bus finally came to a stop at the end of your long drive and just as you and M.J. were stepping off of the bus, a young girl came riding up on a bicycle. You and M.J. side eye each other with small smirks on your lips as the young girl skidded to a stop right in front of you. She flashed you and M.J. a bright smile. 

“Hey you guys, what’s up?” She inquires, her voice chipper as can be. 

“Hey Max, nothin’ really. Just gonna help M.J. with some practice.” You and M.J. begin to walk down the long drive as Max hops off of her bike and walks alongside it. 

“Oh, what kind of practice? Show jumpin’?” Max inquires as she tilts her head. 

“Yup, there’s a show comin’ up in Greendale that I’ve entered.” M.J. answers, giving Max a small smile. 

The excitement in Max’s voice was unmistakable. “Can I watch? I would love to learn how some day.” 

“Sure Squirt, I don’t mind.” M.J. smiles at the young girl. 

Max Mayfield and her parents were family friends but Max didn’t always have the best home life, especially with her step-brother Billy. So, she was always hanging around at the ranch and she was almost like a little sister. You always liked it when your friends accepted her and made her feel included. When the house came into view, you were glad to see Ari working on getting the last of the jumps set up. You couldn’t help your face from scrunching up in confusion at who was helping him. As you walked by the big course pen, you and the stranger made eye contact and you couldn’t help but begin to feel butterflies. You’re brought from your thoughts when M.J. speaks up. 

“Who’s the cutie? I mean, other than Ari.” 

A smile tugs up on the corner of your lips and you couldn’t help but giggle at your friend. She’s always had a crush on the older man, ever since you could remember. “You know, one of these days I’m gonna tell Ari about your little crush.” 

She wraps her arms around you as she glances back at the older man before quickly returning your attention back to you. “Don’t you dare!” She couldn’t help but laugh herself. “Seriously though, who’s the cutie?” 

“I’m not sure M.J. but I’m sure my dad will fill me in at some point.” You couldn’t help but take a quick look back at the new worker, a small smile tugging up at the corner of your lips. 

Max looks back at who they’re talking about and a small smile forms on her lips before she leans in to whisper to you and M.J. “He is pretty cute.” 

The three of you burst out in laughter and before you know it, you’re at the front of the house. As you were walking up, you noticed the unmistakable trailer that belonged to Carol Peletier and noticed the beautiful horse in the round pen. When you entered the house, you weren’t at all surprised to see Carol Peletier sitting at the table with your dad. The two stop their conversation at hand and Carol is the first to speak up with a bright smile on her face. 

“Hey girls! It’s so good to see ya!” Carol gets up from her chair and greets you with a hug. 

“Hey, I’m gonna set my stuff down in your room if that’s alright.” M.J. speaks up before you and Carol could continue. You nod your head at M.J. motioning that it was alright, she and Max then headed off to your room. 

There’s a brief moment of silence before you speak up. “So, what’s goin’ on?” 

“Well, I was wonderin’ if you could help me out with a horse. If you have the time, of course.” Carol answers with a hopeful expression on her face. 

You take a moment to think and steal a quick glance at your father, who simply shrugs his shoulders. A small smile curls up on the corner of your mouth as you look back at Carol, meeting her gaze. “Sure, I can take a look at him and see what I can do.” 

Carol claps her hands together as a bright smile forms on her face. “Great! Well, he’s all set up in the round pen if you wanna go meet him.” 

“Sure, let me just put my stuff up and get M.J. set up real quick, ya?” You arch an eyebrow at her. 

“Sounds great! I’ll meet you outside then?” She inquires, tilting her head as she does. 

You give her a short head nod. “Ya, I’ll meet you out there.” 

True to your word, you got M.J. set up with Buttercup and suggested a few warm up before she started jumping. Surprisingly, you were a little disappointed to find Ari and the new worker already gone. You watched M.J. begin her warm up for a few minutes before you leave Max alone to watch M.J. practice. When you got to the round pen, your dad and Carol were already there leaning against the railing of the pen and admiring the horse inside the pen. You stand next to your dad and watch as the horse grazes on some hay. 

“Wow, he’s beautiful.” You comment as you continue to study the horse. 

He was a beautiful strong horse and you couldn’t help but smile as the horse shook out his mane, letting out a small neigh as he does. There’s a peaceful quietness that settles over the three of you, even if it was brief. 

“So, this is Falcon Rising. Like I was tellin’ your dad earlier, I just bought him at an auction. He’s meant to be my next racing horse but when we get him up to the gates, he begins to freak out.” 

You nod your head in understanding. “Well, I would love to work with him. Are there any videos of his previous races?” 

Carol glances over at you as she responds. “Yeah, I think I could round some up for ya and email them to you.” 

“Mind if I get in there and greet Falcon?” You ask politely, glancing over at her. 

Carol motions her hands towards the horse as she replies. “Be my guest.” 

Your father then unlatches the gate to the round pen and you begin to enter the space. Falcon lifts his head and he looks in your direction, his ears begin to twitch as he watches you approach him. You take slow, steady steps towards him and you stop when he stomps his hoof on the ground. 

“Easy there Falcon, I’m not gonna hurt ya.” You say in a calming voice. 

Falcon shakes out his mane and resumes eating the hay that was in the pen. You begin to walk up to him again. When you reach him, Falcon allows you to pet him and do so with gentle strokes. 

“So, what’s Falcon doin’ exactly when he’s at the gates?” You inquire and you begin to examine the bay colored horse. You bend each leg to check the hooves and to see if the horse had any sensitivity in his legs. He didn’t react to anything and let you do what you needed to do as his tail whipped around. “You’ve had him checked out right? Had him vetted?” 

Carol nods her head as she speaks up. “Yup. Hershel said he was a perfectly fine, young, and healthy horse.” 

“Alright, well, I’ll work with him for a few days before we take him to the tracks.” You tell Carol as you give Falcon a few more pats before you start to walk back towards the gate. Your dad unlatches the gate and opens it for you, closing it behind you once you are out. The three of you begin to walk towards Carol’s truck and she speaks up again. 

“Sounds great, thank you so much Y/n, I really appreciate you doing this. I’ll get those videos sent over to ya.” Your dad then opens the door for Carol and she climbs into her truck. 

Once she was fully seated in her truck, your dad shut the door behind her. Before you know it, Carol was taking off down the drive and it was just you and your dad, if only for a moment. Your dad pulls you into his side and he gives you a gentle squeeze before planting a kiss to the side of your head. You enjoy this moment as long as you possibly can. 

“Oh, so, who’s the new worker?” You ask after a while, peering up at your dad. 

Your father chuckles before he answers. “That would be Peter.” Rick then goes into more detail and explains the whole situation as the two of you walk over to the big pen where M.J. and Max were. 

It was late in the afternoon hours the next day and you were in your mother’s old office looking at the videos that Carol had sent you. In the office with you, you had Lucky with you and every now and then he would let out a huff of air. As you continued to watch the videos, getting lost in them, you had completely missed the sound of someone coming down the stairs from the loft. Peter was about to make his way to the house when you caught his attention, he had to do a double take. He stood in the doorway and he watched you for a few moments. He couldn’t stop the small smile that had started to form on his face even if he had wanted to. He had to admit, you were quite beautiful. When he finally knocked on the doorway to the office, a chuckle slipped from him as you jumped in reaction. 

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle ya.” Peter apologizes and the two of you make eye contact. 

You tuck a piece of your hair behind your ear and your mouth begins to curl up in a small smile. You do your best to push away your shyness as you speak up. “No, it’s alright. Can I help you with anything?” 

Peter clears his throat. “Um no, actually. I was just on my way to the house and I saw you in here. I-I don’t think we’ve met. I mean, I’ve seen you around but haven’t officially met yet.” Damn, his nervousness trying to take over. “I’m Peter, Peter Parker.” 

You couldn’t stop your smile from growing even if you had tried. “Yeah, I know. My dad kinda explained everything to me. But it’s nice to meet you, I’m Y/n.” 

Peter nods his head as he says your name. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it then. Nice to officially meet you.” 

“You too Peter.” You could feel your cheeks begin to tinge pink. 

After an hour of watching Falcon’s race videos, a knock comes from the office doorway. You look up to see your father leaning against the frame and you greet him with a smile. 

“How’s it goin’ sweetheart?” He inquires as he walks into the office and walks behind you to see what you’re working on. “The videos from Carol?” 

You nod your head in response. “Yeah. He’s an incredible racer. No previous issues at the gates and his times are great. I think I’m gonna have to watch how the jockey interacts with Falcon to get a better idea of what’s goin’ on.” 

You then press play on the video you were about to watch to show your dad. Rick leans in a bit to get a better look at the video. Rick was pretty impressed with the horse, as soon as the gate opened Falcon shot out like a bullet and he was instantly ahead of the other horses. His hooves kicked up the dirt as his jockey encouraged him to go faster. Rick saw the same thing that his daughter was talking about, there was absolutely nothing wrong with Falcon. Rick straightens back up before he looks down at his daughter. 

“So, what are you gonna do?” He asked, he couldn’t help but be intrigued by his daughter’s work. 

You let out a huff of air causing Lucky to perk his head but he quickly put it back down when he realized nothing was wrong. “Well, I would still like to work with him in the round pen a bit just to see how well he handles basic commands. Then maybe later call Carol and see if we can’t set something up at the tracks.” You pause for a brief moment as you close your laptop and begin to stand up. “For now, I’m gonna take a quick break and head into the house.” 

“Of course darlin’.” Rick assures you, nodding his head as he did. 

The two of you began to walk towards the house but before you could get across the lot, a red convertible corvette with a black hood came to a stop in the drive. You internally groan as you know who it is, even without being able to see past the dark tinted window. You and your father exchange a look as the car shuts off and the driver’s side door opens up. Steve Harrington steps out of the car with his shades still on, he closes the door before he begins to walk over to you. When he reaches you and your father, he reaches out his arm to give your father a handshake. Your father looks down at Steve’s hand before eventually accepting it and shaking it. After your break up with Steve, your father was almost relieved that the relationship was over. He was not a big fan of Steve. 

“Mr. Grimes, it’s good to see you.” Steve greets as he shakes your father’s hand. 

You glance over at your dad to see him give Steve a short nod before replying. “Likewise. I’ll be in the house if you need anything.” 

You did your best to control your laugh, clearing your throat instead as you watched your dad walk away. A brief moment of awkward silence filled the air as you looked anywhere but at Steve. He finally removed his sunglasses and set them on top of his head. 

“Whisper, what’s goin’ on? Why won’t you look at me, uh?” Steve inquires as he crosses his arms across his chest. 

You stop avoiding him and look right into his hazel eyes. “What are you doing here Steve?” It was your turn to cross your arms. 

“Is it a crime to want to come see you? I miss you.” Steve answers and he uncrosses his arms as he takes a step towards you. 

You shake your head in disbelief and couldn’t help but scoff at your former boyfriend. “I don’t believe you.” 

He takes a few more steps towards you and he reaches to uncross your arms but you step back from him. “Come on, please give me another chance. I promise, I’ve changed.” He then gives his best pout and puppy dog eyes. 

You keep shaking your head in disbelief, a small part of you wants to believe him. The two of you did break up for a reason and you were just finally starting to get over it. 

“Please, baby. I’ll get on my knees and beg if I have to.” He raises his eyebrows at you as he tilts his head forward. “Okay, look. How about this, Friday night, if you come to my party then that means there’s a chance. If not, then I’ll back off, for good.” 

You take a moment to mull over Steve’s offer and you let out a defeated sigh. “I’ll think about it Steve, that’s the best you’re gonna get right now.” 

What you said must have been good enough because he then got excited and a huge, bright smile formed on his face. “Alright, I’ll take it!” He goes to give you a hug but stops when he sees your stern face. “Sorry. Okay, this is great. Well, I gotta get going but hopefully I’ll see you Friday.” 

You watch as Steve gets in his car and drives off. Now you have a decision to make, one you’re not sure about what to do. It was times like these that you wish your mom was still around to talk to, she would be able to give you advice. You let out a huff of air and just then your faithful pooch shows up by your side and you give him a few scratches on his head. You begin to walk back towards the house with Lucky right beside you. Little did you know, you had someone watching you from the loft of the barn. Peter had witnessed the whole thing and as he stood there, he couldn’t help but feel jealous? Is that what he was feeling right now, jealousy? He should’ve known that you weren’t available. He walks away from the open loft door and goes to grab his leather jacket and helmet. He needed to clear his mind and a ride was just what he needed. 

The final bell rang at Riverdale High and the usual buzz of excitement of it finally being the weekend spread throughout the building. You had stopped by your locker to make sure you had everything you needed for your homework filled weekend. You were lost in thought when you felt someone tickle your sides causing a yelp to escape as you jumped in surprise. When you turned to see who it was, you should’ve known that it was Steve. You shove his shoulder playfully as you speak up. 

“You’re an idiot Steve Harrington.” You couldn’t stop the small smile from forming as you watched Steve put his hand on his chest, acting hurt at your words. 

“Words hurt Y/n, don’t you know that?” He leans against the lockers next to yours. “So, have you made up your mind about tonight?” 

You let out a soft sigh before turning to face Steve. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea Steve. I mean, we broke up for a reason.” You can see the guilt in his eyes as he averts his gaze to the floor. 

He stays like that for a moment before looking back up at you, running a hand through his thick brown hair. “I know and that was the stupidest mistake of my life. I would do anything to take it all back.” 

You study his face and you can see the regret that filled his eyes. “But you can’t Steve, I’m sorry.”

You then closed your locker, now that you had everything and began to walk away from Steve. Once outside of the school, you walked over to M.J. and your other friends, Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. The four of you stood there and talked for a while and you found out that both Betty and Veronica had entered the upcoming show jumping competition. When you told them that you hadn’t entered, they all encouraged you to enter. You’re not sure if you’re ready, you haven’t jumped in a show since your mom passed away a couple of years ago. After a while, you and M.J. excused yourself and made your way towards your bus. Thankfully, the drivers were a little more lenient on Fridays. On the bus ride home, you and M.J. sit together and the conversation is mainly about the upcoming show until she decides to change the subject. 

“So, what took you so long earlier?” She raises an eyebrow and her face is unreadable. 

“Steve.” You simply say, letting out a sigh. 

“Again? Tell me you didn’t cave in to him.” Just like your father, M.J. was not a big fan of Steve. 

You shake your head no. “I mean, I thought about it for like a second but ultimately decided against it.” 

A smile tugs up on the corners of M.J.’s mouth at your response. “Good, I don’t think I could handle it. Besides, you deserve so much better.” 

You couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at M.J.’s response. “Thanks, M.J.” 

“So, I take it we’re not going to the party tonight?” She inquires, jolting forward a little bit as the bus hits a bump in the road. You jerked forward and did your best to steady yourself. 

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. You can go if you want too but I think I might just stay home tonight.” 

“What, and leave my best friend hangin’? No way, tonight we’ll have a girls night. Maybe go to Maggie’s for dinner?” M.J. suggested, looking over at you as she did. 

Just as you were about to reply, the bus came to a stop and the door squealed open. “Grimes, this is your stop!” The bus driver calls back to you. 

You and M.J. stand up from your seat and make your way off the bus. As the two of you step off the bus, you speak up again. “A girls night sounds amazing. There’s some work that I need to do with Falcon but once that’s done, I should be good.” 

“Well, I’ll just practice on Buttercup while you work with Falcon, especially since it looks like the jumps are still up.” M.J. suggests with a smile on her face.

#where you lead au #where you lead moodboards #the walking dead au #marvel au #multiple fandoms #the walking dead characters #marvel characters #stranger things characters #stranger things #rick grimes #horsewhisperer!reader #carl grimes #shane walsh #daryl dixon #peter parker #mj mcu #steve harrington #max mayfield #carol peletier

[catknives]

soulmate-esque au where steve is born with a psychic power where the first time he touches someone who will be important to him, he gets flashes of future moments between the two of them.

the first time he touches nancy he sees flashes of the two of them happy together, then an argument. the flashes clearly jump ahead a few years, as if they maybe stopped talking for a while, but they still look happy in that future. he thinks that maybe they get in a big fight, but clearly they’re still in each others lives for a long, long time.

when he ruffles dustin’s hair looking for dart, he gets flashes of laughter and jokes and a long life of brotherhood. he sees secret handshakes and little plastic dice and being invited to thanksgiving.

they’re not always positive. the first time he brushes past billy in the locker room, he’s filled with flashes of anger and dread and pain, and none of what he sees makes sense in the moment.

on his first day at scoops, he shakes robin’s hands and gets his biggest vision yet. there’s so much love and happiness and joy there, including a montage in which they seem to work a frankly absurd variety of jobs. but he gets stuck on an image of himself in a tux, robin in a wedding dress, and thinks this must be my future wife.

it isn’t until much later, on a dirty bathroom floor, that he realizes he was standing behind robin in that vision of her in a wedding dress, and, oh, he’s her best man.

almost a year later, when eddie pushes him against a wall with a broken bottle to his neck, steve is almost convinced he’s passed out because of the sheer number of visions running through his head. some of the flashes are innocent happy moments—sharing a joint, laughing at a movie, making dinner—but there’s also flashes of pleasure and adoration and devotion on a level that steve’s never felt before.

he sees flashes of waking up next to eddie in bed, walking a dog around a lake hand in hand, watching eddie perform on stage, a soft kiss to a bare shoulder.

and suddenly steve yearns, thinks he’s never fully known the meaning of that word until now. he tries to play it cool, doesn’t want to freak eddie out, but he’s seen so many visions of them holding hands that his fingers itch with the need to interlace with eddie’s.

when eddie is attacked by demobats, everyone tries to get steve and dustin to leave eddie’s body behind, because clearly eddie is dead. and steve can’t explain to them why he knows that can’t be true, he just stubbornly insists and drags eddie to a hospital as he promises again and again to dustin that eddie is going to make it.

everyone but steve is shocked when the doctors find the barest hint of a pulse.

it’s touch and go at first, but they put eddie in a medically induced coma and he starts to improve. steve is there the whole time. he tells the unconscious eddie about all of the things they still have to do together, about how he knows eddie will live a long, happy life because he’s seen eddie with gray in his hair, laugh lines etched into his face, as they welcome their first grandchild to the world.

and eddie makes it, and when he was up eddie tells steve he heard everything. steve steels himself for denial or disbelief, but eddie tells him that it’s the first thing he’s heard in the past month that actually makes sense.

they share their first kiss right there in the hospital room, and even though steve has seen this moment before, it still takes his breath away.

as he grows older, steve notices more and more of the moments he’s seen in visions as they happen. he happily discovers that there’s so much the visions don’t show, and there’s still so much to see.

because yes, just like he saw all those years ago, he stands behind robin at her wedding, and it’s as moving and special as it always looked. but he also gives max away at her and lucas’s wedding, and he helps dustin propose to suzie, and he helps erica pick out her wedding dress. and, of course, robin stands behind steve at his own wedding.

steve lives a long happy life, with so many memories—seen and unseen—to look forward to.

#ficlet #steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #stranger things #platonic soulmates stobin

[strangersatellites]

modern au where steve makes a hinge profile and one of his prompts reads:

the one thing i’d love to know about you is: your guilty pleasure song you love but wouldn’t want your boys to know about

eddie replies with some snarky comment about not being ashamed of anything he listens to. that music is more than just a personality trait and that no one should try to keep up a reputation over it.

steve matches with him and sends him a: “it’s a musical, huh”

to which eddie replies: “you’ll find out which one over my dead body”

#it’s wicked #‘for good’ got him crying #if you disagree you can kick rocks #steddie #hcs by g

[rogueddie]

the cruel urge to write a time loop au where steve finally realizes that the only way to defeat vecna, whilst keeping eddie alive, is to completely rewrite the timeline and he has to see it playing out differently, invisible and unmoving, forced to watch as he dies instead of barb.

but it works. vecna is dead and eddie is alive... but he keeps looking to the side, expecting someone to be there. he doesn't know why he dreams of a boy in a yellow sweater. he doesn't know why he's grieving. he can't remember and, when he asks el to make sure he's not cursed, she offers him reassurances.

bc eddie isn't cursed. he's dreaming, that's all. the boy in the yellow sweater doesn't exist.

not anymore.

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #longficidea

[stevieschrodinger]

Part One

Baker Steve and Rock Star Eddie wrong number AU

Part two

"Steve! You have no idea!" Eddie's laughing, and that always makes Steve laugh, too. He's clearly a little tipsy. "Everyone went mad for the cake! It's was just, gone! Here, I'll send you some pictures!"

"I know what it looked like Eds," but Steve's grinning, knowing he's talking to empty air, can hear Eddie very vaguely mumbling to himself as he looks through his camera roll. Next to Steve' ear, his phone vibrates several times.

"Anyway, Stevie, I was thinking," Eddie's back now, still clearly tipsy but sounding uncharacteristically sheepish, "it's Christmas kind of soon right? Going to need a cake or two there. New year. Easter. Birthdays and bar mitzvahs and...and... independence day...so I was thinking I should get my orders in now, you know? Avoid disappointment."

"Eddie," Steve starts, finds himself turning shy himself, "you don't have to have a cake on order just to talk to me."

"I, ah, don't?"

"No, I mean, pretty sure we're friends, right?"

"Friends," Eddie starts slowly, "there's, like, lots of different kinds of friends."

"Sure, sure," Steve agrees easily, butterflies running rampant in his stomach, "there's even, kind of, more than friends, really."

"That sounds really really great-"

"Eddie!" There's a cacophony in the background, people shouting, "man, you're missing your own party-"

The line goes dead, and Steve's left standing in the dim light of the evening, just staring at tomorrow's cake order where it's cooling on the racks. A minute later, his phone buzzes in his hand, "so sorry baby, talk tomorrow."

Steve smiles at his phone. He had gone a little quiet after finding out who Eddie really is. It had kind of surprised him. But then Eddie had text him, "did I do something? 😞" and Steve realised Eddie's entitled to his privacy, the same as anyone.

"Hey Stevie, how's your day?"

Steve has Eddie on speaker phone as he mixes batter, "pretty good so far, you? You hungover?"

"No, no, didn't get that wasted, too old for that nonsense now, you know?"

Steve laughs, "aren't you like, 25?"

"I mean, maybe. Definitely old enough to, like, think about settling down, you know?"

Steve's breath catches in his throat, excitement and nerves after their interrupted conversation last night, "yeah, you, thinking about that? With, uhm, someone?"

"Yeah, I am, it's just..." Steve's heart sinks in his chest," my job, you know, I travel a lot, and that would be a sacrifice for anyone, and I couldn't ask someone to live with that, you know?"

"Well...what if it wasn't? What if they just...went with you?"

"What if...this person...had a job they loved? Their own business they worked hard for?"

"Yeah," Steve agrees slowly, "but what if...well, take me for example. I love to bake, but I don't love my business. That's just a means to an end, you know? I don't always love the orders, I'd choose to make something else if I was doing it for fun. So if it were me, i'd give it up in a heartbeat as long as I can keep baking."

"Yeah? You mean it?"

"Yeah. Yeah Eddie, I mean it."

"I, I mean, sure. Good. Thanks. I mean, not thanks, I mean, good, that's great."

Steve grins at Eddie's ramblings.

"I'll be away though, soon, for a couple of months, like four months, so, maybe, we could keep talking and when, I mean, if you want, what I get back..."

"I'd like that." Steve fist pumps, silently celebrating. "You never actually told me what you do for work?". Steve's teasing him, but Eddie doesn't know that Steve knows so, Steve grins to himself and keeps his voice even.

"I ah, music?"

"Yeah, you have mentioned that before, but what about it?" Steve knows he's being a dick, he just can't help it though.

"I ah, travel, with the band," Eddie starts slowly, and that is technically not a lie, Steve thinks, "and I kind of, look after some of the instruments and...have a lot to do with the sound checks? Like I'm definitely always there, for every sound check, like, I have to be."

All of that is probably true, Steve thinks, and god bless Eddie for not wanting to actually lie to Steve.

"Oh right, and what's the band called?"

"Oh, they're like, heavy metal, you've definitely never heard of them."

After they get off the call, Steve laughs all afternoon.

#eddie munson #stranger things #steddie #steve harrington #baking #baker steve Harrington #rock star eddie munson