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elvenisms · 1 year

Text

drunk on you —; s.h.

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader [2.4k]

summary: Steve is a needy, needy drunk, and you just can't get enough of it. 18+ MDNI

cw: smut, fluff, established relationship, no use of y/n, sub!steve, dubcon (they are both drunk), unprotected p in v (don't try this at home), mention of oral (male receiving)

author's note: always need more sub!steve in my life, so i got a little carried away. my first piece of writing on tumblr in, like, 5 years. enjoy!

masterlist

Tonight was one of your favorite kinds of nights.

Eddie’s trailer was littered with empty bags of snacks, beer bottles, and nearly bursting at the seams with how loud the music was playing. In the middle of the room, Robin and Nancy were holding hands, jumping around in a circle, screaming out the lyrics to I Wanna Dance With Somebody; they were just drunk enough to go full slumber party mode, which was highly typical. Coincidentally, Eddie was just drunk enough to sing along, sat back on the couch with a huge grin on his face.

You would’ve joined the pair, had Steve’s arms not been so cozy around you. You were sitting in his lap, hips between his thighs, his arms snugly around your waist. Now and then, he’d drunkenly rest his head on your shoulder, nuzzle his nose into the side of your face, or press a kiss to your neck. God, he’s adorable, you thought. You thought that every day, but when you were drunk, it turned into every minute or so.

During one of his nuzzles, Steve’s lips ghosted over the shell of your ear. “Take me home.” His voice was breathy, higher in pitch.

There were lots of reasons tonight was one of your favorite kinds of nights, but one in particular: Steve was a needy drunk. Needed to kiss you, needed to touch you, and needed you to take care of him. It was a special, wonderful change of pace from being constantly cared for by him—one that sent a warm, jittery feeling down your spine.

You could feel his arms around your waist tightening as he began to pepper soft kisses behind your ear, down your neck. It made thinking through the logistics of getting your drunk selves back to his house harder, to say the least. And speaking of hard…

You turned your head towards him, trying to keep it together. “We’ll have to walk. There’s no way either of us are driving.”

“I don’t care.” He replied immediately, his lips coming off of your neck just long enough to say it.

Unsure if you could last another minute without taking him on Eddie’s couch, you redirected your attention to the group; a lull in the music made for perfect timing. “I think we’re gonna head out.” You bit back a smile, trying to be discreet. Oh, who were you kidding, Steve was still mouthing at your neck, he’d just moved to the other side now.

Eddie laughed out loud when he noticed the spectacle, kicking his feet like a little kid. Robin did much the same. “No driving!” Nancy, as motherly as she could in her state, wagged a finger at you. “Why don’t—” She hiccuped. “Why don’t you just use Eddie’s room?”

“Absolutely the fuck not!” Came from Eddie, causing Robin to drop to the ground in an even bigger fit of giggles. Even Steve was laughing now, all five of you trying to catch your breath.

“We’re walking!” You managed to get out, patting Steve’s leg to signal you were getting up. “And I would not be caught dead banging in your room, Eds, no offense. I don’t think you’ve cleaned in… like… seven years.”

“Eight, actually.” He held back more laughter, the stupidest things hitting everyone’s funny bones at this point. Within a few moments, you and Steve were saying your sheepish goodbyes, the rest of them poking fun until the door was closed behind you.

Absolute idiots, you thought, and I love them to death.

The walk to Steve’s was cold, but the promise of what was to come paired with the alcohol in your systems made it bearable. He was all smiles and gentle touches; at one point you said you’d race him, but you both nearly fell flat on your face, so that stopped pretty quickly.

By the time you reached his door, he could hardly keep his hands off of you—clinging to you anyway he could, kissing any spot he could reach. His silly grin had been replaced with a furrowed brow and a desperate look in his eyes. He had no idea how crazy it drove you to see him like this, needing you so deliberately, hair messy, nose red from the outside air. So, as soon as you were inside the house, you kissed him with a ferocity you’d been holding back since Eddie’s.

It was enough to make him stumble backward, but he immediately adjusted, gripping you like you might float away any moment. It was messy, a little rough, not how you’d usually handle him in this state, but you needed to get it out. Your hands slid into his hair, grabbing the strands with your fingers, and he practically whined. “Need you, baby, please.”

“I’ve got you, Stevie.” Your voice was warm and low as you thumbed across his pouting lips. “Gonna take care of you, babe. Let’s go upstairs.”

He nodded, entwining your fingers with his and leading the way to his bedroom. He immediately flopped onto the bed, causing you to giggle as you fumbled with your shoes, tossing each one aside. Soon enough, you were crawling into the bed as well, lowering yourself so that you were lying on top of him.

You put your lips on his gently, and he brought a hand up to cup your face, deepening it. “You’re so pretty like this,” You whispered between kisses, feeling him harden against your abdomen. “Needy for me.” You needed to tell him now, instead of sober, when he’d get all shy and embarrassed about it. One of these days, you’d convince him it was the sexiest thing ever.

His hips softly bucked up against you, unintentionally, and he made a beautiful noise. “Couldn’t stop thinking…” He pushed some of your hair aside to kiss your jaw. “...At the party.”

“What were you thinking about?” You asked sweetly, hand traveling down to palm him through his jeans. “About—oh—about you r-riding me,” His hips began moving to meet your hand, fingers squeezing your hips. “Cumming in you.” God, help me, you thought.

“I can make that happen.” You bit your lip, resisting the urge to absolutely ravish him right now. It’s always better when you wait. “Need some of these clothes off, though.”

Steve nodded, already completely lost in you, and pushed himself upright, allowing you to grab the edge of his t-shirt. You pulled it over his head, and quickly did the same to yourself, his hands immediately finding your chest as he laid back again. His eyes were open wider than they had been the past three hours, and it made you chuckle.

“I love this one,” His fingertips traced over the red lace on your bra. “S’my favorite one.”

“I know it is.” You preened, consistently amazed at how you’d bagged the sexiest dork in history.

His fingers traveled around your back, and it took a bit more effort than usual to undo the clasp. Once he did, though, he was kneading at your breasts, his hips beginning to cant up again. “Fuck, baby, so gorgeous,” His eyes squeezed shut, and the combination of his hands, hard-on, and praise made your breath hitch. “Need you so bad, so, so bad.”

Your head fell back, enjoying the sensation for a few more seconds, until you started toying with the button on his jeans. You were trying with all of your might to go slowly, to fight against the way your brain was going fuzzy, but Jesus Christ, you just wanted him mewling beneath you—and you knew he would be soon enough. The role reversal was intoxicating.

Both of you were nearly nude within a few moments, Steve straining even harder against his briefs as he felt the warmth pooling in your underwear. You leaned down to kiss him, lifting your hips to keep him from grinding against you, though everything in you screamed to let it continue.

“Want you in my mouth, Stevie,” You breathed against his neck, kissing the moles there. “You want that?”

He whimpered then, at both the loss of contact and the proposition. “I do, but, don’t think I’d last,” His hands ran down you wildly, your neck, stomach, thighs, as if they wanted to be everywhere at once. “Close just from this.”

Embarrassingly, a small noise left your lips just from hearing that; it almost sounded like a beg. You quickly decided that you couldn’t deny him anything else. “That’s okay, baby.” You cooed, brushing some stray hairs away from his forehead. “Want you so bad, gonna take care of you, okay?”

He was all uh huhs and pleases now, and you moved down to slowly remove what was left between the two of you, chests heaving in anticipation. Steve was achingly hard, which made him look even larger than usual—you wanted to take a photo of him like this, a sheen of sweat on his skin, hair mussed, lips kiss-bitten and pink. A piece of heaven.

“D’you need me to,” He panted, far too gone to form a full sentence. “Don’t want it to hurt.”

On a normal day, he was insistent about getting you ready for him, opening you up with his fingers; he refused to let you experience any kind of discomfort, unless, of course, you asked for it. You found it highly endearing that he considered it now, as desperate as he was.

“No, baby.” You laced your fingers with his, a small smile on your face. “I’m ready for you, promise. Sit up for me, yeah?”

He nodded quickly, removing his hand from yours to push up from his palms, his back now against the headboard. You moved forward to straddle him, and his hands found your waist, squeezing the skin there. “Love you so much,” You cooed, drunkenly, pressing more kisses to his jaw. “My boy.”

“My girl.” Was all Steve could manage, though you knew that meant I love you, too.

You reached between the two of you, rubbing the head of his cock between your soaked folds, and it made him keen beautifully, jaw slack, eyes closed. Finally, you began to sink down on him, elliciting a long, low moan from both of you.

“Baby, baby,” He whined, his face finding the crook of your neck, and your hand slid up the back of his neck. “I know, Stevie, feels so—” A groan broke through your lips, feeling yourself filled to the hilt. “—so good, you feel so good.”

You moved your hips, beginning to slowly grind against him. His fingers immediately dug into your back, pulling you as close as possible. His skin against yours was warm, safe, perfect. The small, choked noises he made caused you to clench around him, making his cock twitch in return. You were both completely adrift in each other, sure that the house could be burning down around you without notice.

His hands began to wander again, searching for purchase, and you could feel his breathing grow more labored against your neck. “What do you need, baby?” You whispered softly, hips still moving at an agonizing pace. When his head tilted back, you had to choke back a sound at the way he looked. A complete and utter mess.

“Need—just,” Words failing him, his fingers gripped at your hips, pushing you down on him even harder with each grind. It hit you right where you needed him, and a filfthy sound fell from his lips, the combination making you wonder how longer you’d last.

“Shit, baby,” You breathed, your fingers coming up to card through his hair. “Need it harder, yeah?” Steve nodded furiously, nosing against your cheek. There was no way you could deny him this way, pupils blown, jaw slack.

Your fingers wrapped themselves in his locks, like an anchor, before picking up the pace with your hips. He cried out immediately, pressing himself even deeper in you, making that familiar warm feeling spread through your abdomen. “Sh-shit, fuck, thank you, thankyouthankyou,” He babbled, fingertips certainly leaving bruises on your hips, and you relished in the feeling, your mind an endless stream of Steve Steve Steve.

“M’gonna, fuck,” He sounded almost pitiful, and it made staving off your release difficult.

“Let go, Stevie, c’mon,” You coaxed, giving his hair another tug, and that was all he needed to turn white-hot.

The noise he made was obscene, hips stuttering up into you, face pressed to your chest. It sent you straight over the edge with him, your walls squeezing him desperately, amplifying the near-pornographic sounds between the two of you. You clung to each other through it, coming down slowly, entirely blissed out. Your grip on each other subsided, but you stayed where you were, chests heaving, tangled together sweatily.

“Thank you.” Steve kissed your collarbone, coming to rest his forehead against your own. He was smiling sweetly, eyes hooded from drunkenness and exhaustion.

“Thank you.” You emphasized, probably looking much the same. “You’re… God, you’re something else.”

He chuckled at that, and you slowly rose from his lap, careful not to overstimulate either of you. You grabbed one of his t-shirts from the dresser, sliding it on, and padded your way to the bathroom for your responsible, post-sex pee. Once you’d returned, Steve was tucked beneath the comforter, already asleep.

You took a moment to admire him from the doorway, shaking your head softly, before climbing in beside him, drifting off just as fast.

“Last night was amazing.” You smirked, seated at Steve’s kitchen table the next morning, tucking into some breakfast. “Love it when you get like that.”

“Like what?” He asked from the kitchen, feigning innocence. He rounded the corner, holding his own plate, and took a seat next to you. You gave him a look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The smug look in his eyes said he definitely did know what you were talking about, and he had enjoyed every second. You decided two could play at this game.

You shrugged, taking another bite. “Maybe you should ask Eddie, Robin and Nance.” He choked a little on his food, making you grin. “You started pretty early.”

He groaned, bringing his hands to his face. “No I did not.”

“Oh yes,” You stifled laughter, “But, it’s alright, I’m sure they’ll have no idea what you’re talking about.”

His fingers parted over his face, one eye peeking through. Your smile was enough to break him, both of you dissolving into a fit of giggles, his face slightly redder than it was before.

#eeek can't believe i'm posting writing again #steve harrington smut #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n #stranger things smut #sub!steve harrington

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steddieas-shegoes · 11 months

Note

Request:hard of hearing Steve who realizes that the party are doing their best to accommodate him by learning ASL, using subtitles, etc and he is overwhelmed with joy about that bc nobody else seems to be doing it. Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, Eddie, Argyle & Wayne go to ASL classes with Steve. And just being supported the whole time

MY LOVE! This one's a bit on the shorter side because the struggle is real with words today. I still feel like it gets the emotions across that Steve feels about the party loving him and supporting him, which is what's most important. That post-vacation depression is hitting me so so hard. Enjoy! - Mickala ❤️

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The hearing in his left ear went first. It wasn’t a slow and steady loss of hearing so much as one day he could hear fine, the next sounded like water was blocking it, and the next he couldn’t hear at all.

No doctor could explain what happened, and they’d assumed it was just a delayed reaction to the head trauma he’s experienced.

They recommended he prepare for hearing loss in his other ear.

They said it so casually, like it was fine and something easy to handle. Like he wasn’t panicking at the fact that he wouldn’t be able to hear anything.

He started learning sign language, late nights sitting with Robin as she worked through VHS tapes from the library with him and Eddie.

He didn’t tell anyone else at first, didn’t want to scare them or make them feel like they had to treat him differently.

But they noticed.

They saw the way he turned a certain way when they were talking, leaning his head subtly so his right ear was facing towards conversations.

They saw his hands moving in fluid patterns when he thought they weren’t looking. El was the one who pointed it out, her own limited experience with sign language just enough to figure out he was practicing basic sentences.

They saw how he kept touching his left ear, like if he touched it, maybe his hearing would come back.

So they went to Robin, all of them, begging her to teach them sign language, begging her to keep it a secret from him.

But even Robin didn’t really know much, and all she knew was self taught, so they struggled after a few lessons.

Eventually, Steve had to tell them.

He could tell some of his hearing in his right ear was going, though at least it was happening much slower.

He sat them all down, Eddie next to him holding his hand, Robin on the other side with an unreadable expression on her face.

And when they all already knew, he felt Eddie squeeze his hand, felt tears run down his cheeks without his permission as everyone surrounded him in a group hug.

Within a week, they all signed up for ASL classes in Indy, Eddie and Nancy driving everyone, everyone chipping in for gas even though Eddie offered to pay for it.

As if that wasn’t overwhelming enough, knowing his chosen family all loved him enough to learn an entire language just to be able to communicate with him, they all started figuring out subtitles for movie nights.

Dustin, Eddie, and Jeff figured out a system that let Steve feel the actual note changes of Eddie’s guitar instead of just the same vibrations through the whole song.

They kept a whiteboard in every room, called it Steve Sharades (“for the alliteration!”), and used it as a message board when they weren’t sure of the signs for certain words or phrases.

He was thankful for that when he woke up one morning to near silence.

Just a slight buzzing in his right ear.

When Eddie said good morning, he only knew because he read his lips.

He cried, he felt lost, scared, alone.

But only for a little while.

His family had been preparing for this, had taught themselves how to still give Steve as much of “normal” as they could.

That night was dinner with Wayne, who had been warned about this possibly happening, and probably got a warning from Eddie while Steve was in the shower earlier.

When they arrived at his trailer, he pulled Steve into a hug, arms tightening until he could barely breathe.

He could feel Wayne’s heartbeat against his chest, felt ihs hands on his back, wide and strong, holding him together.

When he pulled away, he started signing as he spoke so Steve could read his hands or his lips.

All okay, son?

Steve sobbed, but nodded.

Wayne had learned sign language, too.

Steve turned to Eddie to hug him, knew he was the one responsible for teaching Wayne secretly.

Steve told them both he loved them, showed them in every way he could, too.

Just like they showed him.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #robin buckley #the party #request #ficlet #hard of hearing steve harrington

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theladybarnes · 2 months

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CRIMSON AND CLOVER: CHAPTER SEVEN

“What if I'm not good? What if I'm the monster?”

▸ summary: things get messy between the group and you feel as if you’re out of luck (&time) ▸ characters: steve harrington, eddie munson,dustin henderson, robin buckley, max mayfield, & nancy wheeler ▸ word count: 10k ▸ warnings: angst, semi-fluff, mentions of death, slight canon divergence ▸ series masterlist

“I guess the old man taught me well, huh?”

The sudden weight of falling down into the cold street hit you harder than you expected. Forcing you to reach out and grip onto the blue car behind you. Wait, you know this car.

“What?..” you whispered, taking a step back. It was Billy’s blue Camaro, still warm from being recently used. But you weren’t anywhere near his car– Your thoughts are cut off when you suddenly take in your dim reflection from the car window.

The entirety of your right eye was black and teary. Instead of being trapped in the mall again, you’re suddenly back from having just left the tunnels that had run beneath Hawkins. But if you're by Billy’s car then..

Turning around, you nearly gasped at the sight of Billy. He’s healthier than the last time you saw him. No Flayer tentacles stuck in his chest. No dead look in his eyes. He was back to the regular asshole you knew before. The sight of his former appearance has you taken back.

“Billy..” you croaked, unsure what to say. “I-...”

“She’s speechless.” Billy laughed, taking a step towards you. “What a nice change.”

Every part of you is aware that this isn’t real, but seeing him before you is leaving your mind puzzled. “You should go inside, Billy.” you got out eventually, gesturing toward his home, but the moment you glanced over, you noticed it was gone. The land stripped down to just the gutted floor of the house. Only the lawn had been laid intact.

“I don’t have a home anymore. I don’t have anything.” he said slowly, voice dark as he inched closer. You tried to step back, but something about his tone had your feet frozen in place. He took the chance to stand behind you now, wrapping his arms around you in order to pull you close.

He was ice cold.

“All because of you..” he said into your ear, tickling your skin with his cold breath.

“I didn’t..I didn’t do anything to you, Billy.”

“Exactly,” he agreed. “You didn’t help me..you didn’t save me. You let me die, you let the flayer get me.”

His grip got tighter, causing you to wince out in pain. You had to get out of this. “Let me go.” you said calmly despite the chill that was now coming up your spine. “Billy, let me GO.”

“It’s sad when you consider what’s happened,” he continued on, pressing his face against the side of yours. “Billy said that he loved you, tried to get back together with you, and you left him in the dust for a guy that wouldn’t even consider leaving town for you.”

There were so many alarms going off in your head but you couldn’t help but focus on one in particular.

“Billy? You mean yourself, right?” you asked, trying to turn your face to look at him. But he simply reached one of his cold arms up to pinch at your cheeks, forcing you to look at the empty lot in front of you.

“No one is ever going to pick you, you know? At the end of the day it’ll always be someone better, someone worth sticking around you. There’s no happy ending for you.” His lips ghosted around the base of your neck before he chuckled lightly against you. “No happy ending for us..”

You shook your head, trying to get his daunting words out of your head. “I’m nothing like you..”

That only made him even more amused, raising a laugh out of his chest. “We’re a lot alike, actually.” he hummed, “We use people for pleasure and toss them aside when they decide to go against what we want.”

“I don’t do that.” you said, turning around enough to face him. He looked at you with a smirk before he pinched at your cheek. “I would never do that to anyone.” you added, swatting his hand away.

“So you didn’t dump Steve for saying no to the big move?” he gasped, feigning shock. “Or better yet, you’re not ditching your poor Eddie after he left you alone to wander the forest? I mean, you didn’t even bother to let him speak. He’s probably beating himself up but you don’t care. Not when Stevie is giving you the ol’ love and attention you need. Which, let’s be honest, babydoll, is pretty shitty of you to use him for a quick fuck instead of talking things out. Thought that’s the sort of shit girls like to do.”

His words cut through you like knives, dredging up thoughts you tried to bury deep down. But then, something shifted. Billy mentioned Eddie, someone he couldn't possibly have known about. Their paths never crossed once if you thought hard about it.

"You don't know Eddie," you said slowly, voice struggling between sounding calm and trembling. "How could you possibly know what I’ve done with him if you’re dead..”

A sinister smile twisted Billy's lips as his grip tightened, sending searing pain coursing through your body. "He’s been watching you," he confessed, his voice dripping with malice. "And boy does he have plans for all of you..”

The world around you began to fall apart. The dark sky falling apart like fabric unraveling to reveal a dark crimson sky. The distance etched with bursts of lightning to light up a world in an ominous glow.

“This isn’t happening..” you promised yourself, eyes squeezed shut, desperately trying to convince yourself that this was just a dream, that none of it was real.

“Oh babydoll, did you still think this was just a dream?” (tick)

The arms around you felt different, and you opened your eyes in time to see Billy back to looking like the night of mall fire. His eyes glistened with tears and smile oozed with the dark bloody liquid that seeped from all over his wounds.

“Time for a wake up call.” (tock)

Before you could react, he shoved you with a force that sent you crashing to the ground. Landing hard on the unforgiving concrete that shot your body in instant pain. Just as you began to process what had just happened, a deafening roar filled the air.

To your right, the blinding headlights of an oncoming car came into your vision, hurtling toward you at a terrifying speed. You barely managed to get your hands up to cover your face right as it was about to hit you.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, you woke up.

Gasping for air, you sat bolt upright in bed, heart racing with adrenaline. Sweat soaked your skin, and a sense of lingering dread clung onto you like a heavy cloak. The warm glowing light of the sun peeked through your curtains. Nothing like the red haunting sky that was in your dream. New day, new nightmare. You thought.

“Hey, are you awake?”

Dustin burst into the room, nearly sending you back into panic mode as you scrambled to get out of the bed. Defensive position ready for the attack. The younger boy held onto the door knob in shock, holding a hand out too in case you were about to strike him.

“Whoa,” he chuckled nervously, looking at you carefully. “You okay? You’re all sweaty.”

You licked over your lips, pushing back the hair away from your face. “I’m fine.” you nodded, trying to calm yourself down. “Just got spooked.”

“Right,” he said slowly, skeptically, even. “Well, Steve called. Said he was going to head over here if you wanna shower or something before leaving.”

Turning away from your cousin, you tried to gain some sort of control over yourself as you trudged over to your dresser. Picking out some clothes you could change into after your shower. But from behind you could feel Dustin lingering at the door, a familiar worry still in the air.

“I’m fine, Dustin.” you said, before he could ask. You focused on the clothes before you gathered for your shower. “It was just a bad sleep.”

“You sure? Because..we’d all get if it you needed a day to jump back into–”

“I said I’m fine!” you snapped, turning around finally. The glare on your face is enough to have him take a step back. As if your words were a slap to his face. Guilt quickly filled into your gut and you rubbed a hand over your tired face. “I’m sorry I’m just tired.”

“I get it.” he cleared his throat, “I’ll be in the living room.”

Without another word, he turned on his heels and made his exit. Not two minutes into the day and you were already messing things up again.

“Time for a wake up call.”

You shuddered at the words that repeated in your head and quickly left the room. Hoping for the shower to wash away the remnants of your latest nightmare and give you a chance to start the day fresh.

The car ride to the supermarket was spent mostly with Dustin yammering to Steve about the plans for today while you sat quietly in the back. The nightmare that pulled you out of your sleep still left you frazzled. Even with the help of a hot shower that tried to wash away the haunting memory. So while Steve kept checking over you now and then, you managed to keep to yourself until you guys arrived at the market.

Instantly Dustin wandered off in search of snacks for Eddie once inside. Leaving you and Steve to navigate the supermarket aisles together as a small awkward tension lingered in the air. You focused on gathering supplies, your mind preoccupied with thoughts of what would be enough to last Eddie for the unforeseeable future.

"Hey," Steve's voice broke through the silence, causing you to glance up from the decorated can of the Smurf’s Beef Ravioli you were inspecting. His curious gaze met yours, and you couldn't help but notice the worry etched into his features.

"You look exhausted," he remarked softly, his tone filled with genuine concern.

You wanted to sigh.

Of course Steve would be the first one today to distinctly look past all the makeup you expertly applied this morning to notice the exhaustion you were feeling. After the harsh nightmare, the bags in your eyes seemed to take a permanent residence. Offering a weary smile, you attempted to brush past his observation in order to change the mood. “Is that your subtle way of saying I look terrible?”

His eyes widened, worried for a second that you were being serious. “Of course not!” he scoffed, moving closer to you. “You’re gorgeous..but I can tell you look exhausted.”

You watched him carefully, waiting to see if he’d crack from the line of questioning, but when he tilted his head at you, keeping a worried gaze, you let out the withheld sigh, giving in a little bit. “I had a pretty harsh nightmare, don’t think I really slept well the whole night.”

The palm of his hand met your cheek gently. Thumb rubbing against the soft skin before he reached over to push a piece of hair away from your face. "That bad, huh?" he murmured, looking at your features. "Why don't you let me stay over tonight? Just a friendly sleepover. You can wake me up if things get too intense."

You couldn't help but chuckle at his offer. Recalling the past summer filled with nights of him on the pretense of just sleeping. "A sleepover, really? With just the two of us?"

He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's not like it's the first time I've slept over at your place."

You raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress a teasing grin from tugging on your face. “Well, if I recall correctly, we didn’t really sleep at those either.”

A faint blush crept up Steve's cheeks, and he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Okay, fair point," he admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring his voice. "But seriously, I just want to help. You don't have to go through this alone."

It would be so easy to say yes. Give in to that natural urge that always wanted the company of the man before you. To have him by your side and give you all the attention and care you know he would willingly give to you. But your nightmare played in your mind again and you couldn’t help but feel the familiar twist of guilt form in your stomach again.

You opened your mouth to decline the offer when a case of YooHoos was placed quickly into the cart. An out of breath Dustin wiped over the sweat from his forehead, looking between the two of you expectantly. “It’s almost ten and we still have to pick up the others. Let’s go.”

Steve looked over still waiting on an answer from you but all you could do is offer a meek smile. “All right,” you nodded to Dustin. “Let’s head out.” Without looking back, you made your way towards the registers. Stomach twisting more than ever now.

Thankfully picking up Robin and Max turned out to be quicker than expected. Max had taken the bus to the other girl’s house, making the trips cut down less after Dustin explained you’d also have to make a stop at the hilltop to use his Cerebro. And after some unsettling updates from the Hawkins police department, you all were able to finally make the drive over to the Lipton boat house.

A part of you was slightly nervous to face Eddie again after yesterday. You never really felt the best after chewing out people you cared about. But add the hurt from the day before, plus the predicament with Steve, and the newest bit of information, your body was slowly aching in all sorts of places as you tried to navigate each feeling.

“The streets should be busy today, most of Hawkins are probably over their hangovers from Friday and have to go back to shopping for the week. We’ll have time to look for clues around the trailer later.” you heard Dustin say to everyone as he and Max took the lead towards the boat house.

“God,” you said suddenly, stopping in place. The days quickly calculated in your mind and you couldn’t help but feel another worry. Robin and Steve both turned at your voice, looking at you curiously before you wiped your hands over your face. “I was supposed to work with Keith today..”

The two of them looked at each other for a second before letting out amused chuckles.

“What’s so funny?” you frowned.

“Honey, Robin and I closed up the store at seven o’clock last night so we could all go find Eddie.” Steve cleared up.

“Not to mention Steve was gone a whole hour before that to go find you.” she snorted, trudging over with the groceries still in hand as she draped an arm over your shoulder. “We’re totally fired.”

“Fired?” you gaped, slightly worried by how easily over it they seemed to be. “B-but you guys needed the jobs!”

“There’s thousands of other part time jobs in Hawkins, kid.” Robin sighed, giving you a tight lipped smile. “We’ll just have to update our resumes..again.”

She left with that, leaving the two of you behind to join the others down the hill. Glancing at Steve, you opened your mouth, ready to apologize about his likely termination, but he quickly leaned over to press a finger to your lips.

“Don’t even think about apologizing.” he said sternly. “Because no one in the whole world could have stopped me from leaving. Not when it comes to you.”

Again, you’re left speechless by the man before you.

There couldn’t be any proper explanation as to why Steve continuously gave you more than you deserved. Not one that you would believe in anyway. You’ve hurt him, pushed him, and left him with no reason to do things for you. And off he’d go, ditching his life’s responsibilities just to look out for your well being.

It’s all so overwhelming and you find you’re stumped enough that it’s taking a second longer to think of a reply.

“Trouble..” he said after a second of your silence.

You quickly scrambled together a response good enough to divert the seriousness that he seemed to be leading things to lately. Something you know he’ll grow tired of eventually and confront you about. But for now, you’d stick with easing the already harsh day as best as you could.

“I was just going to say I’m glad we won’t have to wear that vest anymore.”

“Right.” he said, sucking in a sharp breath. Then suddenly, he leaned over enough that he could look at your face closely. “Are you..okay?”

Okay seemed to be the last word you’d use to describe yourself. Especially after this morning’s nightmare. But considering the man lost his job to help you out the last time, you figure you should cut this worrisome question short.

“I have a lot on my mind.” You shrugged. “Just..girl problems.”

His brows were knitted tightly together, skeptical of your response. But before he could throw in a follow up question, the sound of Robin calling out to you guys put a stop to that.

“We should go..” he said eventually.

Not wanting to lag behind any longer, you dashed down the hill to the others, catching a glance back to see Steve rub at his face until he remembered to follow after you. The two of you joined just in time to open the door into the boat house.

There’s a slightly yelp sound and the five of you watched as a frightened Eddie looked over at the doorway with wide eyes. Apparently he didn’t notice or hear any of you approaching at all.

“Delivery service!” Dustin exclaimed, a wide grin on his face as he lifted up the grocery bags.

Apparently, you weren’t the only one whose morning was off to a rough start.

The five of you gathered around Eddie, giving him a few minutes to calm down. But that calmness quickly left the moment Dustin gave him the box of Honeycomb. All there was after that was the crazy amount of crunching as Eddie stuffed as many as he could into his mouth.

“So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news.” Dustin started hesitantly. “How do you prefer it?”

“Bad news first, always.” Eddie said as if there’d be any other way.

“All right, bad news. We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they’re definitely looking for you.” he said before blinking hard, forgetting the last important fact. “Also, they’re, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy.”

“Like, one hundred percent kind of convinced.” Max said next, looking at him solemnly.

“And the good news?” Eddie asked, perplexed.

Robin looked down at him with a familiar gaze to Max’s as she spoke up next. “Your name hasn’t gone public yet. But if we found out about you, it’s a matter of time before others do too. And once that gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be gunning out for you.”

You can’t help but feel worse hearing everyone lay out the information than from the dispatch. From where you stood behind Dustin, you could see as Eddie’s face paled at the truth.

“Hunt the freak, right?”

“Exactly.” Robin confirmed.

The memory of the crash came to mind from his words. Freak of the town. Now it was going to be a man hunt with him as the prey. Dustin before you held a hand out, piping in with what he figured would be words of encouragement.

“So, before that happens, we need to find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence.”

“That’s all, Dustin? That’s all?”

“Yeah, no, that’s pretty much it.”

You can’t help but snort at Dustin’s reply. Feeling the pessimism seeping into your mood. There were too many variables to this idea that made it almost impossible to complete. And while you didn’t want to join in on adding salt to Eddie’s wounds, you couldn’t help but shake your head.

“And after all this we’ll have you back home in time for dinner.” you said offhandedly, keeping your eyes down at your nails. Steve and Dustin turned their gazes over their shoulders to look over at you questionably, making you sheepishly wave them off as you stepped closer towards the group.

“Listen, Eddie,” piped Robin as she attempted to lift up his spirits. “I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but we’ve actually been through this before. I mean, they have a..a few times,” she said gesturing to the three of you. Steve confirmed her words with a reassuring nod as she went on. “And..and I have once. Mine was more human-flesh-based, and theirs was more smoke-related, but bottom line is, collectively, I really feel we got this.”

“Yeah, see, we usually rely on this girl who has super powers. But, uh, those went bye-bye, so uh..” Steve said quickly, adding a true fact that you felt didn’t really help much considering El wasn’t even in town in the first place.

“So, we’re technically in more of the–” Robin volleyed in.

“Kinda..”

“Brainstorming phase.” Max finished, seeming to conclude where Robin and Steve were going with their words.

“There..There’s nothing to worry about.” Dustin spluttered, attempting to bring the group in together.

Eddie was rightfully stunned at everyone, tilting his head in shock as he stared at his friend in disbelief. But he’s soon after glancing over to you finally. Looking for what you had to say. In fact, everyone glanced over at you, almost waiting for you to say otherwise.

And while you parents always said they admired your candor, not everyone around you reacted the best to it.

So, you shot him a small tight lipped smile, nodding your head to everyone. “We’re gonna help you, Ed.” you said honestly. “Just..hopefully without any more..complications.”

As if the universe was waiting for their cue, the sounds of sirens cut through the silence of the group. Grabbing all the attention off of you as everyone quickly reacted to the new possible threat.

“Tarp.” Robin pointed out. “Tarp!”

Eddie quickly concealed himself underneath the fabric while the rest of you dashed over to the windows. Peering out through the dirty glass in time to watch as police cars and ambulances zipped past the front of the house.

“Where the hell are they going?” you heard Dustin mutter under his breath. His gaze shifted up to you curiously.

“I don’t know, but we need to go find out.”

As the group dispersed from the boat house, you felt a hand gently grab at your arm, halting your exit. Turning around, you found Eddie out from the safety of his tarp. Looking at you with remorse in his eyes. You could practically feel how nervous he was.

"Hey," he began softly, "I need to talk to you for a sec."

Sensing where this conversation was going to go, you almost wanted to reject him. You weren’t sure how many tense conversations you could handle for the day. But seeing as you weren’t certain of when you’d actually see Eddie again, you nodded your head and stayed in place.

"I wanted to apologize," he continued, his voice tinged with regret. "For that shit back at the van, the woods, all of it. I know it was messed up,..I never meant for any of that to happen."

His words stirred conflicting emotions within you. Anger, frustration, but also a bit of understanding.

At this point, you knew Eddie. He was the same guy who’d get annoyed with your lectures about his fashion taste, or who’d try and kiss you whenever you had a bad day at work, and who would bring out that ridiculous Mick Jagger impression that made you laugh before the first bell rang. He was impulsive, but never malicious.

Still, the wounds still lingered inside of you.

"I was terrified, Eddie," you admitted, voice barely rising above a whisper despite the anger behind it. "Being lost in those woods...I had no idea where I was going or what was around me. I just saw Chrissy die and woke up to a world of mess."

His expression softened, and you could see the heavy remorse returned back to his features. "I'm so sorry, Princess.” he croaked, hands reached out to grip onto your arms. “I promise I'll make it up to you, however I can. I won't let you down again."

You pushed away remaining doubt that wanted to linger behind. Wanting to believe that there were still ways to turn things around. At least in terms of your friendship with Eddie. He was there for you through your shitty moments, it was time you took your turn in being there for him.

In this case, his moment being a murder case.

“Well, let’s make a habit out of not ditching each other in the woods then.” you said finally.

He snorted excitedly, chuckling a bit at your reaction before he pulled you in a tight hug that had you patting his back just to calm him down. “Sounds reasonable to me.”

“Good.” you laughed, giving him a final pat to release you out of his tight hold. “Uhh, Eddie? Kinda need to go work on saving your ass now.”

“Sorry,” he muttered, loosening up his grip. “I was just kinda worried we’d stop being friends..”

You pulled back to look up at him, searching his eyes for a moment before you nodded your head. “We’re still friends..”

“Good, because now that we’re square again, I really gotta say, you look like shit.”

“What is it with you guys today? I mean, I am tired, but seriously what the fu–” your words are cut off when Eddie leaned in to press his lips against yours. It wasn’t the most unusual reaction from him. There had been many times he’d say something to annoy you and cut off your anger with a sloppy kiss. But at the current time you couldn’t help but think about the last kiss you had from a freakout. And many other things you did with the man who gave it to you.

"Eddie, I..." you trailed off, unable to find the right words to explain the complexity of problems you had going on. Especially the ones in your love life.

He quickly retreated, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"

Suddenly, a throat cleared from behind, cutting into the moment. Instantly your heart plummeted as you turned to see Steve standing under the threshold of the door. Expression unreadable. How much did he see? How much did he hear?

"We’re ready to go," he stated curtly, avoiding your gaze. “If you two are done.”

Without waiting for you to reply, he quickly turned and left the doorway to join the others back up where the car was. You let out a tired sigh, unsure how you were going to even explain anything of what he just witnessed. All you knew was this was slowly turning from a bad morning to a crappy day.

“Did I just make things worse?” you heard Eddie chuckle behind you.

“No, Ed, I think I did.”

Despite the awkwardness of your late entrance to the car, the group made it just in time to catch the location of where the cops were heading to. It was towards the main road that led over to Forest Hills.

Everyone slowly began to murmur out curious questions as to what it could be. Chrissy’s body had already been covered, what could have happened in just a day?

The car came to a slow stop and the group slowly made an exit out of the car. Looking around what looked like a scene of a crime. Amongst the cars surrounding the area was one that caught your attention quickly. Coroner. But before you could mention that, the sight of a brightly colored skirt caught your attention.

Talking close to the newly appointed Sheriff Powell stood Nancy.

You stepped out on the road, ready to make your way over to join her when a hand tugged on your elbow. Steve, who despite still held some difference towards you since the boathouse, did not want you going forward. Only cocking his chin in the direction of the girl.

She looked relieved to see you guys but you could tell from the furrow in her brow that she was more than upset. Looking close to crying. Still, she held up a weak hand, waving over at the group with a pained expression.

“Shit.” you heard Max whisper. She pointed over towards the side of the road. On the floor, just past your friend, was another body, covered up in a white sheet.

Vecna’s second victim.

Picking at your nails had seemed to be a new habit of yours now. Previously used to keep you busy from conversations slowly turned into you using it to distract yourself from the reality of things. Like right now, as the group gathered around one of the lunch tables just outside of Eddie’s trailer, listening to Nancy explain what the police had found, you were currently tearing at the side of your hangnail.

Fred was gone. Just the same as Chrissy. Meaning that Dustin was right about this not being the last of Vecna’s attacks. But the idea of it being people you all knew seemed to make this whole thing more sickening.

It was eerie to be back in the trailer park. You made it a point to sit at the side of the table facing the Munson home. Needing to keep your eyes locked on the place again in case of anything odd happening. At one point you felt a hand slowly pat over at your leg, making you jump a bit before glancing to your left.

Steve stared at you expectantly before he shook his head in confusion. “You with us?” he asked softly, voice with the familiar tinge of worry.

Nodding your head, you tucked your hands down into your lap, looking at the three girls across from you.

“So, you’re saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it’s from the Upside Down?”

“If the shoe fits,” Steve said simply before he looked at you again. “Right?”

“Well, considering the lights blinked like usual before the attack happened. I’d say yes.”

“Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or a curse.” Dustin added. “Now, whether or not he’s doing the bidding of the Mind Flayer or just loves killing teens, we don’t know.”

“All we know is that this is something different.” Max joined in, a frown etched on her face as she glanced amongst everyone. “Something new.”

“Doesn’t make sense.” Nancy muttered, shaking her head.

You reached over to place a hand towards her, gaining her attention to you. “Has anything about the Upside Down ever made sense?” you asked honestly, “Besides, this is still a work in progress.”

“She’s right, it’s only a theory.” Dustin said after you.

“No, Fred and Chrissy don’t make sense.” Nancy explained, putting together something in her head. “I mean, why them?”

“Maybe they were just in the wrong place. “ Dustin tried. “They were both at the game.”

Max nodded her head, following the pieces coming together. “And near the trailer park.”

“We’re at the trailer park.” Steve pointed out slowly. “Uhh, should we maybe not be here?”

You sucked in a slow breath before leaning back to look around the area. It looked the same as when you’d come to visit Eddie. Max’s trailer was still just across the way, and the sound of wind chimes still echoed in the distance. But one glance back to the Munson trailer and you felt your stomach dip.

“There is something about this place.” Nancy said after a second. “Fred started acting weird the second we got here.”

Robin looked over at Nancy curiously. “Acting weird as in..?”

“Scared, on edge, upset.”

It completely bothered you how similar you felt to that right now. But you could practically feel worried glances from some of the people at the table, so you bottled down speaking up on that in favor of hearing what Dustin had to say next.

“Max said Chrissy was upset too.”

“Yeah, but not here.” she shook her head. “She was crying in the bathroom at school.”

For a second you couldn’t help but feel a twist in your stomach at the idea of Chrissy. She was so nice in the van that night. Wanting to take the special K just to get through the night without feeling overwhelmed. But her troubles were vastly bigger than she laid out for you and you couldn’t help but feel bad for not reaching out more when you had the chance.

“Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right?” Robin asked, cutting into silence. “So, maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this Vecman–”

“Vecna.” Dustin quickly corrected.

“I don’t know about you guys but if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone.” Steve said. His eyes looked to you, almost like he was expecting you to agree with him. And while the logical side of you did, something deep inside was stopping you entirely from speaking out.

“Maybe they did.” Max considered slowly. “I saw Chrissy leaving Ms. Kelley’s office. If you saw a monster, you..you wouldn’t go to the police. They’d never believe you. But you might go to your–”

“Your shrink.” Robin concluded.

The idea of Fred and Chrissy having a connection through Ms. Kelley did little to ease your growing anxiety. Especially when you remembered that amongst the few students that happened to be stuck in her counseling sessions, was you.

Not wanting to waste the day, the group quickly left the bench to head over to the next destination. Hopefully Max could find her way into getting out some information about the others from Ms. Kelley.

You’re walking close beside Nancy when she elbowed your side, raising a brow to you before nodding towards the direction of her car. You almost wanted to ask her what she had meant when she gave you a familiar look. Quickly getting the hint that she had something else in mind, you casually turned towards the car. That is until the group’s den mother seemed to take notice.

“Whoa, whoa, HEY! HEY!” Steve said, jogging after the two of you. “Where are you guys going?”

“Oh, there’s just something I wanna check on first.” she explained simply, nudging at your side quickly.

“I’m gonna go with her, you know Nancy Drew needs Bess Marvin and all that.” you waved, trying to make a turn for the car again.

“Something you guys wanna share with the rest of us?” Dustin asked, slightly offended.

“I don’t wanna waste your time. It’s a real shot in the dark.” she said shyly, kicking at the dirt for a second. You nodded your head, looking over at the rest of the group with a small smile.

“If she’s got a hunch, it might be worth checking out guys. We’ll be back soon.” you reassured them.

“Hey, you can’t just ditch us.” Dustin scoffed. “Besides, it’s better to keep an eye on you if you’re suddenly turned into a suspect and we need to hide you up with Eddie.”

Max looked over at Dustin before she nodded her head, agreeing. “There’s still a chance your name could come up. If we can’t reach you then we wouldn’t be able to help you on time.”

Something told you that there might be another reason Dustin and Max wanted you to stay and while you were sure nothing would happen while going with Nancy, you also didn’t want to make things harder on anyone. Especially with these two out of all them showing concern openly.

“Looks like I’m with the kids.” you sighed, turning defeatedly to Nancy. “Think you’ll be okay?”

“I’ll be an hour or two tops.” she nodded. “We’ll regroup after that.”

“Yeah okay. Are you guys out of your mind?” Steve asked, looking at you two a little perplexed. “Flying solo with this Vecna creep on the loose? No, it’s too dangerous. You need..you need someone to..” His face turned hard with a sudden frustration as he looked at Nancy worriedly. Your stomach caught onto that tension quicker than your brain and twisted slightly at a growing feeling you haven’t felt in a while. Steve didn’t seem to notice as he turned to toss his keys over to Robin.

“Here you go. I’ll stick with Nance.” he said quickly. “You guys take the car, check out the shrink.”

The girl caught the keys awkwardly, giving Steve a confused look as she pointed over to the car. “Don’t think you want me driving your car.” she said wearily.

“Didn’t think he let anyone drive the car.” you scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest. “Last time he nearly had a heart attack and that was just driving in the streets.”

Steve blinked over at you confused before he turned back to Robin. “Why?” he asked, ignoring your jab.

“I don’t have a license.”

“Why don’t you have a license?” he asked frustratedly.

“I’m poor.” she reasoned with a shrug.

“I can drive.” Max offered, only adding fuel to Steve’s emotions.

“No, No! Never again. Please. Anybody but you. NO.” he argued.

Dustin, ever with his perfect timing, looked at Steve with his arms out. As if he were ready to take on the responsibility that no one on the team could take. From behind Steve you could see as his body deflated at his choices.

“No chance.”

“Come on!”

Nancy looked a little uncomfortable at Steve’s persistence, only casting you an apologetic look. You on the other hand could not stop the familiar green monster from trying to crawl its way up from the depths of your soul. Unsure where Steve’s need to be around Nancy came from just yet. But you knew by now that it wasn’t the best idea to act on those feelings just yet.

Finally Steve glanced back to you, raising a brow questionably.

Bastard.

“Fine,” you said calmly, earning a small shock from the group. As if they expected some other reaction from you. Taking a step towards him, you held out your hand, giving Steve a sweet smile. “I’ll take your car.”

Steve nervously licked over his lips. Eyes shifting from your hand, then to Nancy, and then back at you. “No,” he gulped, shaking his head lightly. “I sense I made a mistake of some kind.”

Fed up with everything, Robin reached for the walkie in Dustin’s bag and stepped in. “All right, okay. This is stupid. Us ladies will stick together.” she confirmed, putting the keys back into Steve’s hands. Her eyes gave him a warning look before she marched over to join Nancy’s side. “Unless you think we need you to protect us?” she said with a humorous chuckle.

The two of you didn’t move from your spot. Only watching as Robin made her way towards Nancy’s car. Taking the lead for their exit. Nancy gave you both a sympathetic shrug before she mouthed an apology to you before turning on her heels to catch up with the other girl.

“Be careful!” he called out, Robin turned around, shooting out a peace sign before she glanced at you.

“Should be saying that to yourself!” she laughed, giving you a wink.

From the corner of your eye you can feel as Steve nervously looked over at you. His previous annoyance went away when he noticed your change in demeanor. Without another thought you walked towards his car, avoiding his gaze as you made your way towards the car doors. He quickly rushed over, moving to open up the passenger door for you, a small tight lip smile on his face.

Ignoring that offer, you carefully opened up the backseat and slipped in beside Max. Avoiding his gaze as you slammed the door shut. From the outside you could hear Dustin chortle at his friend as he moved to take the free spot. “Nice one,” he said to Steve. “You just gonna stand there and gawk?”

“Dude, shut up.”

“Why don’t we go? Okay?” he said teasingly.

“Shut up and get in the car.” he ordered. “Wipe your feet.”

You watched as Dustin carelessly began to wipe his feet inside the car. Almost comically as he patted the shoe against the clean interior floor, earning another explosive reaction from Steve.

“On the outside, not the inside!”

There was a bit more huffing between the two as they finally got into their seats. Leaving the car in a second of silence. Steve glanced back at you, opening his mouth to say something. But instead of giving him the chance to say anything, you turned in your seat, facing your direction to look out the window. Giving you the chance to give him a bit of the silent treatment.

“Always the babysitter.” Steve muttered angrily, turning on the engine of the car. “Always the GODDAMN babysitter!”

You watched carefully from your side of the car as Max entered inside Ms. Kelley’s home. Only looking back at you guys once before the door closed up behind her. Hopefully the whole thing wouldn’t take as long and the four of you could make your way back to others and give you space away from Steve.

“So..we gonna talk about..it?”

Glancing to your right, you looked into the passenger mirror to find Dustin looking at Steve. He seemed to have purposely left his window open enough that you were able to eavesdrop into their conversation.

“Huh? Sorry, talk about what?” Steve asked, barely paying attention.

“Your temporary insanity earlier today when you basically threw yourself at Nance? And in front of my cousin of all people.”

It took everything in you not to react to what you just heard. Your cousin’s words basically confirm the worries that hit you in the trailer park. The little green monster inside was practically dancing as it festered on the negative energy building up inside of you.

“Okay, first of all, that’s not what happened.” Steve said defensively.

“Pretty sure that’s what happened.” he countered. “It was public, there were like, a lot of witnesses. The prime one being at the back of your car right now.”

He made it a point to glance at you through the mirror, catching your glaring gaze. He looked like he was about to change things up from his expression but you quickly shook your head, nodding in the direction of Steve’s side of the car for him to continue.

“Uh-Are you implying I still have a thing for Nance? Really? Me?”

“No, I’m not implying.” he said, shaking his head. “I’m stating. And, as it relates to your current break up leaving you to go on various dates, it’s pretty much the only logical explanation.”

“That’s not the only one.” Steve denied quickly. “You know what I’ve been going through. What I’ve been thinking. And as for Nance, I was just trying to protect a friend.”

From the mirror you could see Dustin’s face turned amused, like he was beyond believing that statement in the slightest way. You let out a small sigh, glancing down at the ground almost..defeatedly.

This wasn’t even something you had the right to be angry about. If anything, the only reason you had room to speak on the situation was the fact that Nancy was currently dating your best friend and you couldn’t just let Steve of all people step in on that.

God, that thought alone made you feel sick.

“A friend, Henderson. Okay?” Steve said after noticing Dustin’s silence.

“Okay.”

“I don’t wanna find her in the morning with her eyes sucked out of the front of her skull by this Vecna creep.”

Dustin let out an amused giggle. “You’re bright red in the face right now!”

Not having it in your stomach to listen to anything else, you stomped away from the car. Trying not to let the stinging tears in your eyes slip out. Your mind viciously shoots you into a memory from the first fall when Billy arrived. His terrorizing had slowly come to an end that night but not without some parting words to you.

“He’ll never get over Wheeler. It’s that first love shit that chicks are so keen for. He’ll never get away from that feeling. Trust me, I’d know.”

Back then you convinced yourself that he wasn’t telling the truth. That he took your weakness that night to try and get under your skin. But now? Now your mind is so frazzled and so broken lately that everything is turning into doubt.

“Get in the car.”

You turned around to find Max rushing over to the car door, giving you a wide look before she entered inside. Quickly, you joined in after her, closing up the door in time to catch her giving Steve an order to drive. He’s quick to start up the car, setting all of you to hit against the seats as he sped away from the house.

Eventually Max briefly explained what happened inside and stated that the best way to get more information would be in Ms. Kelley’s office at the school. You tried to explain it’d be a lot harder to break in due to the break but she simply held up a pair of office keys.

Suddenly the walkie in Dustin’s lap let out a loud squawk before a voice suddenly spoke through.

“Dustin. It’s Lucas. Do you copy? Dustin.”

The sudden sound of your friend’s voice had you and Max quickly leaning over your seats, trying to listen in on the incoming message.

“Lucas? Where the hell have you been?” Dustin asked into the walkie.

“Just listen.” Lucas pleaded. “Are you guys looking for Eddie?”

“Yeah and we found him, no thanks to you.” he chided back.

“You found him?”

“He’s at a boathouse on Coal Mill Road. Don’t worry, he’s safe.”

“You guys know he killed Chrissy, right?” Lucas asked worriedly. The car seemed to grow tense at that. Now the teens at the school surely knew he was the main suspect. Time was beginning to run out.

“That’s bullshit. Eddie tried to save Chrissy. My cousin was there!”

“She was there too?! Wait, then why do all the cops say he did it?”

Max, having had enough, reached over for the walkie. “Lucas, you’re so behind it’s ridiculous, okay? Just meet us at the school. We’ll explain later.”

“I..I can’t. I think some real bad shit’s about to go down.”

“What are you talking about? What bad shit?” she asked, but there was no response back. Almost as if the connection was lost. “Lucas? Lucas?”

“Line got cut off.” Dustin said, reaching back for the walkie. “What do you think he meant?”

“I’m not sure.” Steve said, gripping the wheel tightly. “Let’s just get to the school.”

It was dark by the time the four of you arrived at Hawkins. The air held an eerie atmosphere as you guys parked discreetly in the back of the school. Couldn’t exactly have anyone checking by to see there was someone at the school this time of night.

Your cousin was thankfully prepared for the night again and quickly passed around a couple of flashlights, giving you guys some light to venture through the creepy halls with.

“I gotta say, didn’t think I’d be coming back here anytime soon.” Steve muttered to you, smacking at the side of his flashlight before it fully turned on.

“It’s definitely not the way I wanted to spend my Spring Break.” you nodded, flashing towards one of the classrooms.

There’s an awkward building tension between the two of you. A part of you wanted to squash down that anger from before, use it to keep focus on the problems at hand. But there was a bigger part inside that was gleefully ready to make a mess out of things.

Per usual.

“Didn’t think I’d spend the day like this.” he chuckled lightly, looking over at you. “Kind of a bad way to end the weekend don’t you think?”

Something in his words, while innocent, just irked you. Making your whole body shift as you finally let free some of the venom that had been building up since the trailer park.

“Yeah, you must be having a pretty bad day considering you’re stuck babysitting with me instead of chumming it up with Robin or looking out for Nancy.”

Steve looked almost as if your words were a slap to the face, staggering back a second before his expression quickly changed to annoyance. He reached a hand out to stop you from walking.

“Where’s that coming from?” he asked slowly.

“Seriously?” you laughed, raising a brow at him. “Did you suddenly forget that little show you gave back in Forest Hills?” You made an effort to dramatically reenact tossing invisible car keys. “Here you go. I’ll stick with Nance.” you said in a dramatically deep voice.

He was unamused by that, pressing his lips together before he scratched at his hair. A nervous tick he got whenever something got under his skin. “I’m sorry I’m a little particular with who I hang out with at the moment. I figured you’d feel the same way considering you probably wanted to stick around with Eddie so you guys could make out and weirdly flirt again.”

Sometimes you forget that Steve’s as much of a former bitch as you were. Making his bite hurt particularly bad right now. Still, you weren’t one to back down from a verbal fight.

“Wow, I’m not really surprised you noticed everything I’m doing considering how you’ve been trying to figure out ways to keep me at home.” Tilting your head you step closer to look up at Steve. “Was worrying about me too much for you now that you want to display your macho-man persona to Nancy again?”

“You’re pulling that out of nowhere.” he scoffed, shaking his head at you. “I mean, really, how is me wanting you to stay home because I’m worried about how tired you look, suddenly turn into me trying to get back with Nancy?”

“Oh, so now it’s suddenly trying get back with Nancy?”

“No, you just said–”

“I said you were showing off!”

He let out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his face before he turned to look at you seriously. “All I offered was to go with Nancy so that she wasn’t alone. Her friend just died the same way Chrissy did and I didn’t want her to end up the same way. I was just trying to be a comforting friend.”

“So you wanted to comfort her? Well, that’s great to hear considering we both know how you like to comfort people through their crisis, don’t we?”

“I-It was different with you, okay?” He stuttered a bit, before he held his hands up, looking annoyed again. “You’re the one who is kissing some other guy and it’s me that’s trying to get with someone?”

“As always, you always take one part of the picture to paint the story, your highness.” you sighed, pushing a hair out of your face. “But don’t worry, I’m sure Robin will put in a good word for you with Nancy since you’re so keen on chivalry.”

“That’s not fair. That is not what I want.” he spat. “Look, I know that you two have a thing okay? I’m not going to step in on it but that doesn’t mean I have to be nice about it either. So, quit using the friendly friendship I have with Nance to compare your beneficial one with Eddie.”

“There isn't a thing. God, Steve.” you frowned. “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Eddie kissed me. I didn’t ask him to, nor to hold me, or anything. He’s just a friend..and I pulled back.”

“That’s not the only thing you two have done, quit acting like it’s just some innocent friendship.”

“If you can’t seem to remember, the only person around here that I’ve willingly done anything with in the past twenty-four hours, is you, so..” you said as a matter of fact. “Also I think it’s unfair that you get mad at Eddie for kissing me but quickly go around to play the brave knight in shining white Adidas to Nance.”

“They’re Nikes!” he countered weakly.

You could only scoff at him in disbelief. “This conversation isn’t going anywhere. I’m sorry I’m not the one you want to be around right now, let’s just leave things at that.”

Taking a step to leave him you made an effort to follow after the two kids when Steve reached forward to grip at your arm. “I don’t want you to think that I don’t want you around. But I know you’re not okay right now. And the more you try and push yourself in this, the more I can tell that something else is bothering you.”

He’s staring down at you with the familiar look of worry he’s been doing these past few days. Something that would have comforted you the other day, but not with how you were feeling right now.

“You’re right.” you said softly, reaching up to gently pat at his hand. “There is something bothering me.”

From the tone of your voice, Steve could easily tell where this was going to go, only giving you a pleading look as he tried to diffuse the comeback you were about to give him.

“Don’t say it’s me-

“It’s you.”

Without a sparing glance, you pushed out of his grip and brushed and brushed past a nosy, lingering, Dustin in order to join Max at the front of the search. Her gaze stayed ahead, looking away from you, but from the corner of your eye you could see as she shook her head. A small smirk on her lips.

“Well that was really nice.”

“Oh, shut up.” You huffed, crossing your arms over your chest. “Like you have any room to talk about niceties.”

“I don’t?” She asked amusedly.

“Well considering your on and off history with Lucas, I’d think it’s fair to say you’re just as good with dealing with exes as I am.”

She frowned for a moment, seeming to think it over before she shrugged. “Guess we’re both kinda messed up.”

A part of you wanted to argue. Say how she’s wrong and that aside from what was currently going on, you were fine. But considering the dramatic fight you just shared for the two kids, you figured she wasn’t entirely wrong. “It’s kinda nice.” you said eventually, nudging her side playfully.

“It’s nice that we’re messed up?” She chuckled, looking a little taken back.

“No,” you hummed lightly, “it’s nice we’re messed up together.”

She finally glanced over at you, giving you a weird look before laughing. “You’re so weird.” she said, nudging you back.

With that small bit of comfort, the two of you silently led the other boys the rest of the way to Ms. Kelley’s office.

The familiar lingering scent of her relaxing lavender candle hit your senses quickly once you entered inside. Which you were thankful for considering the small stress you seemed to be adding onto yourself. You were happy to finally have a moment where all you guys had to do was focus on the clues needed to progress your theories and not your current problems.

“It’s like a mini-Watergate or something.” Dustin said behind you. “Hawkinsgate.”

“Wait a second, didn’t those guys get caught?” asked Steve.

You made your way over towards the desk, looking over the papers laid out neatly at the center of the table while Max peeked through the cabinet for the files.

“Holy shit.” she said suddenly.

“You found it?” Steve asked, as the rest of you gathered around her.

“Yeah, and not just Chrissy’s file. Fred was seeing Ms. Kelley too.” Her hand reached back into the cabinet, pulling out one more manila envelope before she turned over to face you. Her eyes focused on you intently as she held the file up in the air. “And so were you.”

Even with your eyes looking down at your file, you could feel the intense stare from Steve’s eyes. He hasn’t stopped looking at you ever since Max revealed your file to everyone. You couldn’t help but find it all worthless to bring up. To you, it was just your regular file. There was the first meeting recorded, the goals she wanted you to have for the next couple of years. Nothing out of the ordinary until this year. When she began to take notice of your reaction towards Billy’s death.

“God,” you scoffed, looking down at her words. “Behavioral avoidance? What a load of crap.”

You carefully threw the file onto the desk, plopping down in her chair to look over at what Max had been reading across from you.

The folder containing Chrissy’s sessions quickly caught your eye. Making you curious to know what the girl truly had been going through before her untimely death.

“Can I see Fred’s file?” she asked suddenly.

“Yeah,” Steve said, passing the folder over to her. She quickly laid it out before her, flipping through the papers to collect whatever information caught her attention. From the side you could see as Steve carefully tried to reach out for your file. You made it a point to move away from him on the other side of the desk.

Leaning over, you reached over for Chrissy’s file, looking over the small details listed on her last session. Headaches, nosebleeds, nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, trauma.. All things that made sense but..oddly familiar. Moving closer, you peered over to look down at Fred’s notes that Max had stopped at.

..They were almost similar to Chrissy’s.

But that didn’t make sense. It couldn’t. Because if that were the few connecting signs to what made Vecna attack Chrissy and Fred then what did that mean about you? Glancing back at your folder, you pushed through the notes again, trying to figure out if there was anything similar to what was on the other two folders. But there was nothing.

Only the small note written at the corner of your last session.

Might benefit if suggested with a group therapy. Perhaps with Max M. Both suffer from related trauma.

Related trauma? You thought.

Glancing up from the papers, you peered over at Max worriedly. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think she looked a lot like how you felt at the moment. But this couldn’t be right. You never voiced to Ms. Kelley any of these things. You weren’t seeing any weird Vecna monster or dealing with trauma. You were-

“Perfectly fine?” (tick)

You felt a cold shiver run down your back and glanced up in the room. Almost expecting to see if anyone else had heard that. There’s a heavy weight suddenly over you and you feel as if the air in the room was slowly being sucked out. This couldn’t be happening. You weren’t like the others. You weren’t going through these struggles you weren’t–

“Going crazy? (tock)

“Max! MAX!”

The sounds of Dustin and Steve calling out to Max instantly pulled you out from you haunting thoughts. Before you was a frozen Max, still frozen in place. “Max?” you called out, getting out from your seat to kneel beside her.

Steve’s hand rested on your shoulders, concern on his face as he began to breathe heavily. “What’s going on?” he asked, voice uneasy. “What do we do?”

“She’s just..I don’t know!” you panicked, shaking at her shoulders. “Max, c’mon. Talk to me!” But as you gazed into her vacant eyes, a chilling thought swept right through you.

Did you guys just run out of time?

A/N: okay so this chapter is kinda messy. Reader is seriously losing her mind but I promise that trouble is gonna get her head on screwed right soon enough. Maybe after she remembers that Nancy is in love with Jonathan and Steve practically dropped everything to go to her. I blame Vecna tbh. And Billy from the afterlife.

TAGGING LIST: @cluz1babe , @starofavolonea , @darlingimafangirl (won’t let me tag), @primroseluna, & @siriuslysmoking

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x henderson!reader #steve harrington x henderson reader #steve harrington x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x henderson!reader #eddie munson x henderson reader #cac #angst

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eddiemunsons80sbaby · 2 months

Text

Never Say Never

Chapter 19

Pairing: SingleDad!StevexReader

Summary: You are a 32 year old single mother, raising your seven year old son on your own. After being widowed at 30 and going out on awful dates with disgusting men for the past month, you have decided that you're giving up. You already had your great love. One person can't possibly get lucky enough to have two in their lifetime. But then your son starts playing baseball and the coach might just change your mind about that.

No posting schedule.

18+ only for eventual smut

Word Count: 7.4K

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The peak of summer had hit. Humid days meant lots of time at the local pool and lake. You and Steve were enjoying every moment of the boys' break from school with them. Picnics in the woods, cookouts with friends, mini-golf, and trips to the zoo filled up your weekends. Evening bike rides had become part of your routine, often ending with ice cream cones or slushies from Scoops Ahoy. Nights spent chasing fireflies and roasting marshmallows over a fire. You and Steve had taken to enjoying evenings on the deck after the boys were in bed, glasses of wine in your hands.

Mid-July found everyone once again sitting around a large table at Sage and Salt, minus your parents, as you were all there for an entirely different reason this time.

“To Mike!” everyone cheered loudly, glasses clinking in celebration all around the table.

Mike’s cheeks blazed bright red, his lips disappearing in embarrassment at everyone making a fuss over him. He’d told you last week that he finally got an offer for his book. The book he’d been working on for years was finally going to be published, he was getting a decent advance for a new author, had signed the contract just that afternoon, and everyone had insisted on going out to celebrate.

“Thank you but this all feels a little…premature, doesn’t it?” he asked. “I mean, yeah, I got an offer and signed a contract but we have no idea how the book is going to do. Getting published doesn’t mean anything. Lots of people get published and their book just sits on a shelf collecting dust. It could still horribly flop.”

“It will not,” insisted El, looping her arm through his, a proud smile on her face. “You are going to do incredible. Michael Wheeler is going to be a household name.”

“Yeah, man. You could be the next Stephen King,” Lucas said.

Dustin snorted, “Nobody’s the next Stephen King. Stephen King is the only Stephen King there is or ever will be. Besides, his books are in a totally different genre. You can’t even compare the two.”

Max rolled her eyes, “Jesus Christ, Dustin. Can you just say yeah and be happy for your friend?”

“I am happy for my friend but it would be more appropriate to compare him to Eddings or Brookes as his book would be of the fantasy genre and they are fantasy authors. Of course, those are big shoes to fill. If his books do even half as well as theirs I will be impressed.”

“Okay, we get it,” Steve sighed, shaking his head. “Anyway, this is a huge deal and I am sure your book is going to be great. Congratulations Mike.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes, we’re so proud of you,” Karen beamed, teary, reaching over the table to pinch his cheek as he grimaced and pulled back from his mom.

“It’s about time,” Tedd grumbled, taking a long drink of his beer. “Only been working on the damn thing for five years, letting his wife pick up the slack.” Karen elbowed him and he looked over at her, completely unaware of how rude he was being.

“Well,” Joyce added, “I think it’s great. I can’t wait to read it. I will be first in line to buy it the day it comes out.”

Mike smiled at her, “Thanks.” He glanced around the table at all of his friends. “And thanks to all of you. If you wouldn’t have pushed me so hard, I’d probably still be editing it over and over again, too scared to ever actually put it out into the world.”

Nancy ruffled his hair, “No problem, kid. We all knew you had it in you even if you didn’t.”

“It’s an amazing story,” Will told them. “Mike really did his research. It’s well planned out, the plot is gripping, the characters are amazing, and the world building is on point.”

Dustin’s mouth dropped open, his fork hitting the plate with a clang, his eyebrows furrowing, “Wait. You’ve read it?”

Will shrugged, “I mean, yeah. Mike wanted me to look it over to see what I thought. I actually helped him with some of the editing.”

“How come he got to read it?” demanded Dustin, offended. “You said we couldn’t read it until it was published and perfect?”

“It’s Will,” Mike stated as if that should be enough explanation. “I trust Will to be honest with me.”

“We’re honest,” Lucas scoffed.

Max’s eyes rolled into her head, “Boys, boys…calm down. You all will have a chance to read it in a few months when it comes out. No need to bicker over who got to read it first. You’re all very important to Mike.”

“Speaking of people who are about to be famous, you will never guess who I saw at the record store today,” Robin said, turning to Steve as the boys continued to banter back and forth, her hand reaching across the table to grab a roll from the basket sitting in front of Steve.

“Who?” he asked.

“Eddie Munson.”

Steve’s eyes went wide, “For real?”

Robin nodded with a grin like she’d just spilled the juiciest news ever but being that you had no idea who she was talking about, you just munched on your bread. It didn’t appear that June had any idea who it was either as her and you shared a look of confusion. Based on the look on Steve’s face, this was very big news indeed.

“But I thought he took off,” Steve continued. “After senior year…well, his third try at senior year, anyway. He said he was getting out of this hellhole and never looking back.”

“He did get out. Hasn’t lived here for years but he came back to help Wayne pack up the trailer. Apparently, his band just got a record deal with this big label in L.A. He said they’ve been playing in clubs for years and were just thinking of packing it in and giving it up when this big record executive came to one of their shows. Anyway, they gave him this huge advance and he bought a house out there and Wayne is going to move in with him.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Steve remarked, his hand on your shoulder, thumb stroking the bare skin along the strap of your tank top. You had learned over the last few months that he was a very physical guy. Some part of him was almost always touching you and you weren’t complaining about it. “Good for him. You know, the way this town treated him, I always hoped he’d do well and show them all.”

“Who’s Eddie Munson?” June questioned just as you were about to ask it yourself.

“He’s this guy we went to school with. He’s Steve’s age but he had some struggles in school so he wound up graduating with my class. Honestly, I think he might have had ADD but of course they didn’t really talk about that back then. They’ve only really started talking about it in the last couple years. If you couldn’t keep your ass in the chair and learn like everyone else then you were just out of luck. Most of the teachers wrote him off as a lost cause so he lived up to it. He was sent out of the classroom so many times for being obnoxious or causing a disruption. But he was crazy talented at the guitar and he always had a book he was reading. People called him dumb but I never thought he was. Annoying, absolutely, but not dumb. I think he just couldn’t get it the way they were teaching it and no one took the time to figure out how to teach him.”

Steve shrugged, “He had it hard here. The town treated him like trash because his dad was trash. His old man went to prison for selling hot car parts and his mom took off when he was just a toddler. He wound up living with his Uncle Wayne when he was in middle school. Wayne had a trailer in Forest Hills. So on top of being a felon’s kid, on top of having trouble at school, he also lived in a trailer. It was the trifecta of judgement for the people in this town. Everyone always said he was up to no good and he was going to turn out just like his father.”

“You know,” Robin mused, tearing off little bits of her roll and stuffing them in her mouth, “one time some of the cheerleaders were being mean to me. Not that it wasn’t something that happened all the time.” She snorted, rolling her eyes. “I was a band geek so the jocks and the popular kids loved to give us shit. Anyway, they took my trumpet and were playing keepaway. Eddie stepped right in and swiped it from them, depositing it in my hands with a flourish and a bow before strolling off down the hallway. I always kind of admired him. He never let those asshats get him down. He just was who he was and he didn’t care what anyone thought of him.”

“I don’t know,” countered Steve. “I think everyone cares what other people think of them. I just think some of us are better at pretending like we don’t. I think that obnoxious, boisterous exterior was a shield he put up to protect himself once he realized he was never going to be accepted by this place. It was easier to pretend it didn’t matter than to allow himself to be vulnerable to the mockery. Dustin sure loved the guy though.”

“Loved who?” asked Dustin, catching the sound of his name.

“Eddie Munson,” Steve answered.

“Hell yeah I did. All of us did.” He gestured down the table to the other boys. “He was a Dungeons and Dragons Master. He was the head of our D&D club, Hellfire, and we all joined our freshman year of high school. Me, Lucas, Mike, and Will were never what you’d call…popular. Lucas was a bit once he started playing basketball and helped them win the championship game. But Eddie, man, he just accepted us from the first day. He gave us a place to belong. We were happy to be one of his sheep.”

Steve snorted, “It was like a damn cult. He referred to them as his sheep like he was a shepherd leading the flock. All four boys loved him but Dustin freaking worshiped the ground he walked on.”

“He passed the reins onto Dustin when he finally graduated, appointing him Dungeon Master,” Robin said, pausing to thank the waitress as she brought their food. “But he was heartbroken when he found out Eddie was going to completely skip town.”

“He was my friend. Hell, he was more like a brother, and he was a hell of a Dungeon master. I tried to fill his shoes but nobody really could,” Dustin stated. “I’ve been out there to visit him a few times, actually. He’s in town right now. Did you know that?”

“That’s what I was just telling him, doofus,” Robin said. Dustin stuck his tongue out at her and she laughed.

“And were you close to Eddie?” you asked Steve.

“Me? No. Not so much. Eddie and I…we didn’t have a lot in common. He was a metalhead who loved to play nerd games. I was an athlete who would rather do just about anything than Dungeons and Dragons. But I never had an issue with him like some people. I always thought he was a pretty good guy. Henderson’s a good judge of character. If he says you’re solid, you probably are. My few interactions with him were alright.”

One of Robin’s eyebrows lifted, her elbow dropping to the table as she leaned forward, “Oh please! You hated that Dustin and him were so close.”

“Yeah he did! He didn’t like that I had another older male friend. He wanted to be the only one.”

Steve’s lips came together, making a noise of disbelief, “Okay, one, gross. And please. Like I cared who you spent your time with. I was just relieved you weren’t constantly following me around anymore.”

Robin turned to you, “Don’t let him fool you. He was so jealous that Dustin was spending more time with Eddie. He got used to being the only one that the kid hero worshipped.”

“Aww,” you teased, poking him in the side, giggling when he jumped. “You didn’t like having to share your little brother?”

His eyes narrowed, “Please. Like I cared who Dustin Henderson hung out with.”

“Oh, he did,” Dustin shot back. “He can act like he didn’t want me around but he’d be lying. Steve loves me.”

“Okay, anyway, onto another topic please,” Steve begged, popping a fry into his mouth as the other guys caught wind of the conversation and started asking Dustin about Eddie.

“Alright, how about we talk about how my amazing girlfriend had some brilliant ideas about how to get more business into the coffee shop?” June offered, her hand covering Robin’s. “I was telling her how weekday evenings can be pretty dead and I wasn’t sure if I should start closing early and she had some amazing suggestions.”

“Oh yeah?” You leaned forward, arms folded on top of the table. You smiled at how red Robin’s cheeks flared at June’s compliment. “What amazing suggestions did you have?”

Robin shook her head, fingers tearing little pieces of her napkin nervously. “It wasn’t really anything spectacular…”

“Yes it was!” June huffed, rolling her eyes. “She’s just being modest. She mentioned starting a book club night. We could have specials to lure them in. I mean, what goes better with a conversation about a good book than a cup of coffee and yummy sweets?”

“Oh, I think that’s a fantastic idea!” you exclaimed, bringing your straw to your lips for a sip of Coke. “We don’t really have anywhere in town that does book clubs. I think you’d get a lot of people interested. You could even make a special dessert to go with the book they’re reading.”

June’s eyes lit up. “I love that idea! Like I could make something with orange marmalade for Bridget Jones's Diary. We think that might be the first pick. I could even come up with some fun drinks to go with it. Maybe instead of coffee, have a fun tea beverage.”

“Yes! I’m totally in for the book club.”

“Oh, did I hear you say you’re starting a book club at the cafe?” asked Nancy, making her way down the table to join them. “I’m in.”

“Really?” Robin asked. “I mean, you really think it’s a good idea?”

“I told you babe,” June sighed, “it’s an amazing idea. We’re thinking about Tuesday nights. We’ll feature one book a month. I’m partnering with Terry, who owns the bookstore. He said he’ll make sure to order extra of whatever we pick so people can buy it directly from him instead of having to drive into the city to find it.” She shrugged. “I mean, it’s a win-win for both of us, you know?”

“I also mentioned a live music night and maybe a poetry night where people could come in and perform,” Robin added, posture straightening as her confidence built seeing that everyone thought it was a good idea. “That’s why I was in the record store today. I was talking to Tom about the local bands he knew of. We want to get the word out but we need to know where to find the people to give the word.”

“Yeah. But we’re thinking of waiting on the live music for a couple months. I want to make sure we have the book club thing down before I try adding in anything else. If that all goes well, then maybe in a couple more months we can phase in poetry night.”

“The Hideout would probably be the best place to find bands,” Jonathan offered as he headed down to join them as well, his arm slipping around Nancy’s waist. “I mean, that’s where Corroded Coffin always played.”

Robin nodded, “I know but we want to host a variety of music. I think The Hideout is pretty heavy stuff. Not that we don’t want that too but it would be nice to do a variety to get more people in.”

Steve snorted, “Yeah. Not everyone wants to listen to a bunch of screaming. Makes my ears want to bleed.”

“You know, Matt works with a guy who’s in a band. They play more acoustic stuff. I could talk to him and see if his friend would want to play at your shop,” you told them.

“That would be great. Like I said, it wouldn't be for a couple months. Probably not until the end of summer but I wouldn’t mind lining up some talent so we have a schedule and are ready to go when it’s time. Plus that would give us some time to figure out logistics.”

“If you’re looking for something Monday through Friday, you could always eventually add a local artisan night too. People who make things could have small displays in your shop and in front of it. From my experience, people love that kind of stuff,” Nancy said. “There’s just something so gratifying about finding that unique something special that you can’t find anywhere else because it’s not mass marketed. You know?”

“That’s not a bad idea, either,” June agreed. “And I love getting to support artists and small business owners. Especially given that I am one.”

“Oh, I wanted to ask, would it be okay if Eli stayed over tonight?” asked Nancy, turning to you. “Jere has been bugging me all day since we were all going to be here together. We rented Space Jam and he refuses to watch it without Eli.”

Steve glanced over at you, eyebrows wiggling suggestively at the thought of the two of you having a night alone. You weren’t used to having Eli gone as much as he was these days. He usually wound up hanging out with one of the gang or having a sleepover at least once a week but you’d learned to appreciate any time you could have alone with Steve.

“Yeah. Absolutely. I’m sure he’d love that.” A soft smile lifted the corners of your mouth as you glanced down the table, watching as the boys took turns shooting straw wrappers at Dustin and Lucas, a skill that Hopper was apparently teaching them. The man was like an over-sized child sometimes.

“Thanks. We’ll bring them both back around lunchtime tomorrow if that’s good for you,” Jonathan said, him and Nancy sharing a smile. “Give you some morning time too, you know, if you need a little extra.”

A couple hours later found you strolling next to June as Steve and Robin argued ahead of you. Everyone had headed home and the four of you decided to walk off some of your food first. You were only able to catch a word here or there of Steve and Robin’s conversation and had no idea what they were arguing about. But considering it sounded playful, you weren't worried. If there was such a thing as platonic soulmates, those two were it. They bickered like siblings but their love for each other knew no bounds. That was obvious to anyone who witnessed their interactions for even a few minutes.

“So, it seems pretty serious with you and Robin,” you observed, hooking your arm through June’s as you walked along the main street.

A smile like a crescent moon curved the raven-haired beauty’s lips, “It is, I think. I’ve been crushing on her for months. I didn’t think she’d ever get the nerve to say anything. I mean, honestly, I wasn’t even sure if she liked me for a while. The girl never made eye contact with me. I knew she was into girls but I just figured maybe I wasn’t her type and she didn't want me to get the wrong impression or something.”

“Oh, she liked you,” you laughed, pausing to look in the window of the general store. Eli had been begging you for the Batcave playset that had come out a couple weeks ago. With his birthday coming up next month, you were going to need to stop in and get it. If you waited too long, it might not be there and you’d never hear the end of it. “She liked you a lot. I just think she was scared to say anything.”

“Obviously. But she’s…I mean, she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She’s so kind and thoughtful. I love the way she rambles when she’s nervous. It’s just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. And those little freckles…I just want to kiss each one.” She giggled. “I often do, actually. It’s only been a few weeks but somehow I just know. I know this is going to be something amazing. I know it’s going to last, you know?”

You curved your lower lip in, nodding as your eyes instantly moved to Steve, “I do know.”

“You sure seem to. You and Steve are the freaking cutest. Anyone watching you two can see it’s something special.”

It was special. It was everything. It was more than you could have ever imagined you’d get in life. After losing it all, you’d never expected to find something this magical again, someone this amazing. You knew exactly what June meant because you just knew. You knew that Steve was it for her. You knew six months from now, six years from now, sixty years from now, the universe willing, that he would still be by your side and you would still be just as deliriously happy.

Robin shoved Steve, his hand coming to her face and shoving her back, both of them laughing. You watched the exchange with amusement. You already loved both of them so much. They had seamlessly been sewn into the fabric that was your life. What girl not only got to have the perfect guy but also the amazing people who came along with him? Sometimes it felt like too much, like you couldn’t possibly deserve this much.

“Are you two talking about us back there?” Robin questioned, walking backwards ahead of them.

“Only good things,” June promised.

“My girl's not complaining about how I don’t hang up my towel after a shower?” Steve asked, spinning around to face them. “Or how I leave little hairs in her sink when I shave? Or how she trips over my shoes because I don’t put them by the door where they belong?”

“I can accept all of those things if you can accept how I hog all the blankets at night,” you replied. “Or how I take showers so hot you feel like your skin is melting off. Or how I always take the last of the coffee and don’t make another pot.”

Steve stopped walking, waiting until you were right in front of him. His arms wrapped around you, hand locking at the small of your back, a gentle kiss pressed against your lips. Those lips, so damn soft. The man always had a ChapStick in his pocket. You knew because you’d run it through the washing machine more than once.

“I can accept every single one of those as long as it means I get to have you,” he whispered, his lips pressing softly against your nose.

“Did we just watch them exchange vows?” teased June. “Because those sure sounded like vows.”

“Seriously, when are you two just going to bite the bullet and move in together?” asked Robin.

Steve’s eyes went wide, zeroing in on you, examining you and you knew why. He was waiting. Waiting for you to sink into the dark abyss of an attack the way you had the last time moving in together had been brought up. You hated the way his body tensed, readying himself to try to pull you out of it. You hated that he assumed you would fall apart at the mention of the future with him.

Because you weren't. You weren't panicking. The two of you spent more nights together than not these days. You had toothbrushes at each other’s places. You had a drawer with a spare change of clothes for those last minute decisions to stay over. He had a thermos in your cupboard for his coffee for work when he woke up at your place.

“Robin, we’ve only been dating for a few months,” Steve urged, darting a warning glance at his friend. “We’re taking things slow.”

Robin guffawed, her head thrown back with loud laughter, “Moving slowly? You sleep at each other’s houses every single night.”

“Not every night,” Steve argued.

“Practically,” she stated. “You already act like a married couple. Aly packs your lunches for work for crying out loud.”

You shrugged, “I mean, I’m already packing Eli’s and mine so I just…”

“I don’t care that you pack his lunch. But if you’re packing lunches, taking turns picking up the kids from school, and sleeping next to each other every single night, what’s the difference if you just go from two houses to one?”

“She’s not wrong,” June agreed. “You’re basically living together in two different spaces. Just sell one. It’s definitely more economically logical. You’d only have one house payment.”

“And if you sell one, you’d have a decent chunk of change. You could use it for…oh, I don’t know…a wedding?” Robin’s eyebrows wiggled tauntingly.

“We haven’t…I mean…we’ve talked but not…” you stammered.

Steve’s hands found yours in an attempt to ground you. Oddly, you didn’t need it. This talk about weddings and living together, talk that used to make your heart run a marathon, that used to suck the air right out of your lungs, wasn’t doing anything. You just didn’t know how to respond. After the hospital incident, you hadn’t really discussed it anymore.

It wasn’t like it wasn’t there, a thought that kept jabbing at your brain every now and then. But you’d been happily just going along the way you were. If he had Jere, you would stay at his place so Jere could have his things. If he didn’t, they stayed at your place. Miles had even gotten comfortable at both houses. The dog was at home at your place, leaving dark hairs everywhere that you could never seem to fully vacuum away. Somehow you always went to work covered in him but you didn’t mind.

But did Steve want to take that step? He’d told you that he hadn’t meant it when he said he liked his space. But the man had been living on his own for a while. He didn’t have to be attached to a child seven days a week. If you moved in together, he would have Eli around all the time. Maybe he wanted to be able to head back to his own place, his sanctuary of peace and solitude.

“Okay Robin. Your suggestions and opinions are duly noted,” Steve said, putting an end to the discussion. “Thanks for the input.”

Robin shrugged, grinning, “Just wanted to get my two cents out there. Voice the idea into the world. Because we both know you two will never do it if left to your own devices.”

____________________________________________________________

Steve stroked your hair as you lay with your head on his chest, the two of you relaxed back on a blanket. A cool breeze tickled his skin, crickets creating a soundtrack for your evening as you enjoyed a moment of quiet together in his backyard. Stars twinkled like diamonds in the night sky, the half moon providing what little bit of light you had.

He felt completely at ease with you right here where you belonged, cocooned in his arms, your hearts beating rhythmically against one another, sharing each other’s warmth to ward off the chill of the early summer evening.

He’d been expecting you to go into a full blown anxiety attack earlier when Robin started talking about moving in together. He’d expected another call to 911 when you'd mentioned marriage. But he’d never been so glad to be wrong. You had taken it in stride. You'd stammered a bit, looked a little nervous, but you hadn’t lost control. It was a small step in the right direction.

Steve hadn’t broached the subject of living together since that night when he almost ruined everything. You were spending most nights and mornings together as it was. It wasn’t enough. He didn’t think it would ever be enough but you seemed to be okay with it and so it was what he would make himself okay with for now. He’d made a silent vow not to push you anymore and he’d stuck to it, waiting for you to let him know when you were ready for the next step.

Had he wondered if you never would be? Of course he had. With your past, your struggles with anxiety, it concerned him that this could be what your relationship looked like forever. You frozen in place, terrified to move even an inch in a forward direction. Him never saying anything for fear of pushing you away. The two of you at a standstill, your relationship never evolving, never changing past two people who dated and stayed over at each other’s places.

Steve had thought you'd fallen asleep until you said softly, “Maybe Robin has a point.”

“Hmm?” he questioned, pulling himself from his thoughts.

You lifted your head, placing both hands over his heart before resting your chin on the backs of them. You took his breath away. Every time you looked at him it was like he had forgotten just how beautiful you were and he was stunned all over again. Every damn time. His fingers slid a strand of hair behind your ear.

“I said maybe Robin has a point,” you repeated, turning your face into his touch, your lips pressing a kiss to the center of his palm.

Steve snorted, “Robin’s never right about anything.” At the look you gave him, he relented. “Okay. Fine. Yeah, she has some great ideas about June’s cafe. I think those things will really help bring in the business. We’ve yet to see but maybe she does have a point.”

“Steve, that’s not what I’m talking about.”

His heart stuttered in his chest. You couldn’t be saying what he thought you were saying, right? No. That was just him getting his hopes up far too high. It had only been a little over a month since that night in the hospital. There was no way you were going from barely able to breathe at the idea to suddenly saying you should move in together.

He swallowed, trying to rein in the desire that was raging in him for you to open your mouth and say those words. Because if you didn’t, the disappointment would come crashing down on him like an avalanche, his heart crushed under the weight of hundreds of tons of rock and rejection.

“So, what are you talking about?” he asked, attempting to keep the hope he was feeling out of his voice.

Your head tilted, your mouth curving into a gentle smile, “I mean, we are practically living together as it is. We’re just doing it in two different spaces. It does seem kind of silly, doesn’t it?”

Steve swallowed hard, nodding, barely trusting himself to reply with more than that. He wanted to grab onto you, pull you into him, kiss you breathless, and beg you to move in together. To choose a place. He didn’t care which. If you wanted to keep your place, that was fine with him. He just wanted you to be in his life, all of it, every day for forever.

“I understand if you’re not ready. I know you’ve probably gotten used to having your own space. I’m sure it’s nice to come home to a quiet house on the days when Jeremiah is with Nancy and Jonathan. So, I’m not pressuring you or anything. I’m just saying maybe it’s something to think about?”

He nodded. Emotion was clogging his throat. He knew he needed to say something. He needed to respond to you but he couldn’t seem to get sound past the lump in his esophagus.

You blinked quickly, burying your head against his chest again as you muttered softly, “Anyway, just a thought. No big deal. I wasn’t saying we have to do it now.”

Jesus Christ, he chastised himself. Open your mouth. Say something. His arms wound around you tighter. Those beautiful eyes, eyes he hoped he was lucky enough to look into for the rest of his life, opened wide. He traced the back of his hand over the soft skin of your cheek.

“Move in with me,” he urged. “Or I’ll move in with you. I don’t care. But let’s move in together.”

Those perfectly pink lips arced up on both sides, “Really?”

“Yes, really. Invade all of my space. I told you, I don’t want space. I don’t want quiet. I don’t want alone. I just want you. You and Eli and Jeremiah. I want you to fill up all the space until there’s none left.”

“Are you sure? You’re not just saying that?”

“Honey, I’ve never been more sure of anything than I am of you,” he said. “I know I want you forever. I know you’re it for me. I don’t need to wait and see. I don’t need time to figure anything out. I’ve known from the moment I saw your face that you were going to be something special in my life. And you are. I want you and everything that comes with you.” He cradled your face in his palms. “I want this face to be the first thing and the last thing I see every day.”

Tears sparkled in your eyes under the light of the moon. “Me too. Maybe it’s quick but I don’t care. I thought I needed to move slowly. I thought I would need time to know if this was right but I don’t. I feel it, so deeply in my bones. You’re right. This is right. I was worried about Eli but I don’t have to be because I am certain. I love you and so does he. It won’t matter if we decide today or six months from now. I will be completely certain it’s you.”

“So, your place or mine?” he asked.

“I…” You paused, inhaling sharply.

“It’s okay if you want to keep your house, honey. My house is just a house. Your house holds a lot of memories for you. I know that. I truly don’t care where I live as long as you and the boys are there.”

“No. I mean…I don’t think I want to keep the house. That house is full of memories but they’re memories from a different life. I want to start fresh. I want to build new memories with you. I don’t need the house to remember. Those memories will always be with me but I’m tired of living with a ghost and that’s what it feels like there. I mean, I should probably talk to Eli about it and see how he feels. But what would you think about buying a new house? Something we choose together? Something where we can create our own history and stories?”

“I think that sounds perfect.”

And it did. A whole new space where you could choose things together. You could slowly make it your own. A house that you would turn into a home by filling it with love and a shared history. A place where you could raise your boys together and then a space for just the two of you when the boys were grown and out creating their own futures. Four walls that would contain all the memories of your years, the happy and the sad, that you would look back on years down the road.

“I love you,” you whispered, beaming from ear to ear.

“I love you, too. God, I love you so much.”

You pushed yourself up, resting both knees on either side of his hips, straddling him under the stars in his backyard. Miles lifted his head from where he lay observing on the deck and Steve raised his hand, his command for stay. The dog released a heavy sigh but dropped his big head back down on his paws.

“You are everything I never thought I could have.” Whispered words as your mouth, hot and sweet, covered his, your tongue teasing, flicking and brushing over his lips, teeth, and tongue. “You are a damn dream, Steve Harrington and I hope I never wake up.”

Your words, transmitted on your breath from your mouth to his, traveled throughout, spreading, inhabiting every single space. His hands ran over your body, grabbing and squeezing, as he made a vow to himself to keep you feeling like that. To ensure you never woke up, never looked around and doubted your choice right here on this blanket, never was disappointed to find the dream wasn’t your reality.

You ground your hips over him and hissed at the feel of rock hard denim pressing over your clit. One hand slid up your shirt, taking your breast in his palm, while the other slid underneath your skirt, grabbing a handful of your ass. You rocked harder against him, whimpering when he sucked your bottom lip into his mouth between kisses.

Steve sunk into your mouth, taking the kiss even deeper, his tongue exploring, gliding and dancing over yours. His hand on your ass grabbed onto the lacy fabric covering your hip, his fingers wrapping around it, wanting to tear it off of you and bury himself to the hilt right now.

“Should we…?” you tried but gasped when he pinched your nipple, rolling the pert little bud between his thumb and forefinger. “Should we go inside?”

“No, honey…can’t wait…wanna fuck you right here…under the stars…” he mumbled against your skin, sucking and nibbling a path up your neck to your chin. “Wanna have you under me…take you in the moonlight…”

A squeak escaped you when his arms came around your waist, flipping you to your back beneath him. His fists came down on either side of your head, taking in the sight of your wide eyes, parted lips, flushed skin.

“Fuck, you’re so damn beautiful,” he growled, his lips crashing down over yours again as your fingers dove into his hair, your legs locking around his waist as your heat sought out the friction of him again.

“But neighbors,” you protested weakly when his fingers wrapped around the edge of your panties, yanking them down and away, tossing them carelessly somewhere in the yard. “What if someone sees?”

“No one’s gonna see,” he assured you, his lips traveling down your body, lifting your shirt to press open mouthed kisses over the soft skin of your stomach. “Maybe Miles, but he won’t tell anybody. He’s good at keeping secrets.”

You giggled at that, the sound filling his ears, delighting his senses. It was one of his favorite sounds in the world, maybe his most favorite. It was a sound he wanted to cause you to make every single day but it’s not the sound he wanted right now.

Sliding down the blanket, he slipped his head under your skirt, taking your pussy in his mouth, and that’s when he got the sound he wanted. You choked out his name when he sucked on your clit like a throat lozenge. You writhed, whimpered, when he licked you from top to bottom, swirling his tongue over you teasingly.

The taste of you made him feel drunk, his head fuzzy in that delicious way when the world just goes soft. He wrapped his arms around each of your thighs, holding you in place, as he feasted on you. Your back arched, fingers tangling in his hair, as he flicked his tongue over your clit.

“Jesus, Steve,” you groaned, your hips rocking against his face, seeking sweet release.

Fuck, he would never get enough of you. Your taste. Your scent. Your sounds. The way you felt. He could spend the rest of his life buried between your thighs happily and it still wouldn’t be enough.

You were panting softly above him, your chest rising and falling rapidly. Your thighs trembled around his head and he knew you were close to coming undone. Steve wrapped his mouth around your clit and your entire body froze as you cried out his name loudly. He gently lapped at your sweet center, not stopping until he felt you relax beneath him.

“Steve…” Your voice was raspy with lust, your fingers threading through his hair, leading him up your body. He stared down at you, the way your skin glistened under the faint light of the moon, your eyes heavy, your lips curled in a satisfied smile. “I think the neighbors might have heard me.”

He grinned, pressing his forehead to yours, “Let them. Then they all know you’re mine.”

“I am, you know? Yours. Just yours,” you whispered, bringing his mouth to yours again, kissing him deeply.

Those words did something to him, scratching an itch in his brain he hadn’t even known was there before this woman came into his life. Steve worked at his belt, undoing his jeans and kicking them down his legs, needing to be inside of you.

Nestling himself between your legs, he took his cock in his hand, sliding the tip over your clit and through your folds, teasing. You moaned, low and deep, your eyes fluttering as he slipped just the tip in before bringing it back out to run through your slick tauntingly. Your feet slid over his calves, your hands slipping under his shirt, nails running over the skin of his back.

“Steve…stop teasing…” you pleaded.

“Lift up your shirt for me, honey,” Steve told her. “I want to see all of you while I fuck you.”

You obeyed, tugging your shirt up and over your head, leaving you lying beneath him in nothing but your little black skirt and a scrap of lacy pink fabric that was so sheer he could see your nipples, dark pink and hard. He couldn’t take it anymore, his hand grabbing onto your hip as he thrust inside of you, burying himself in your heat.

“Oh fuck, yes…Steve…” you groaned, your nails digging into his flesh.

Jesus, you felt so damn good. He thrust again, sinking even deeper into you if that was possible, both of you moaning. Your legs locked around him, your bodies melding together until he could barely pull out. His hips rocked into you, small movements that kept him sheathed the whole time, his cock dragging over your walls.

“I love you…Jesus Christ, honey…I love you…so fucking good…you feel so fucking good,” he grunted, rutting against you, chasing his own high as he felt you already starting to tremble beneath him again.

“Love…you…” you panted, fingers gripping his shoulders, your mouth catching his for a moment before you broke off, head dropping back. “Don’t stop…please don’t stop…oh god…Steve…right there…I’m gonna…”

His head fell back, riding it out as your pussy clenched down around him, clinging to him as you rode out the wave. He was almost hyperventilating as he thrust into you hard, fingertips digging into the flesh of your hips, his eyes squeezing shut as his own orgasm crashed down over him with force, spilling into you.

His cock throbbed within you as your pussy pulsed around him. He dropped down, his elbows on either side of your head, his hands cupping your cheeks. You looked like a fucking vision glowing and flushed in the subtle light of the moon above them. Your hand came to his cheek, smiling up at him, looking as satisfied as he does after he’s power washed every damn thing outside of his house.

“You’re mine, huh? Just mine?” he teased with a smirk, thumb coasting over the curve of your cheekbone.

You turned into his touch, pulling the tip of his thumb between your lips, “For as long as you want me to be.”

“Careful what you wish for, honey because that’s a long time. I’m thinking forever.”

“Works for me,” you beamed, grabbing a fistful of his shirt, pulling his lips down to yours.

Chapter 20

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Thanks so much for taking the time to read my little story! 😊 And replies and reblogs are always appreciated if you enjoy it. I love to hear what you think! ❤️❤️❤️ Only one more chapter to go and then this story will come to an end.

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gloomysoup · 6 months

Text

when the world stops turning (my heart stops beating) - pt. 3

happy holidays to all who celebrate! as it stands, i'm posting this on christmas eve after a full evening with my dad's mom and his siblings and all my cousins, before i go to bed to deal with even more family all day tomorrow (we have my mom's side in the morning for brunch and then my dad's dad's house in the late afternoon/evening) BUT i did FINALLY get this part figured out and i couldn't wait to share it! i would apologize, but we all know i'm not actually sorry... oops

anyway i hope you all enjoy it!

ao3 pt. 1 pt. 2 pt. 3 pt. 4

cw: mentions and discussions of drug use, addiction, sobriety, relapse, referenced overdose, etc. y'know, the usual

The first time Steve ever got high, he was fourteen. Tommy had scored some weed off one of the older basketball guys, Steve’s parents were gone for a weekend. It was perfect. Steve, Tommy, and Carol laid back on the roof of Steve’s childhood home, overlooking the blue glow of the pool and the line of trees beyond the yard, passing a joint back and forth. It was a warm buzz, making his head go all fuzzy. It was nice. Until it wasn't, at least. He liked the feeling of being high. What he didn't like was what came after.

The comedown from that first high was rough, to say the least. Carol was fine; Steve didn't know why it didn't affect her as badly. Steve and Tommy, however, were not so lucky.

It was a while before he ever smoked weed again. He never did anything more than that, though there were plenty of opportunities. And he never smoked alone. It was always parties, or hang outs with Tommy and Carol. It slowed down when he met Nancy. She wasn't a fan of drugs, and always asked him to stop. He never could, but he definitely cut back. Then Nancy shattered his heart, so he picked it back up again. Started smoking on his own. Anything to chase the free feeling of the high. He spent so many nights trying to escape his nightmares and heavy thoughts. He smoked until his head was floating in the clouds. He kept the high until he ultimately passed out, hard, into a fairly dreamless sleep.

And then Starcourt happened.

That was a different high. Slower. It was loose lips, but firm thought. Tethered, but not quite there. It took longer to hit the peak, to really float. When he finally hit it, it was the best he'd felt in a long time. And then he came crashing down. It was the worst he'd felt in his life, aside from the time Billy bashed his head in with a plate. It sucked. It ruined weed for him, if he was honest. Every time he tried after that, his body panicked. His brain would get fuzzy, he'd start to float, and then he'd seize up. His brain would shock him back into reality. He vowed, with the help of Robin, to never get high again. He would finally quit. It wasn't worth the panic attacks and anxiety and trauma response that came with it anymore. He was successful for a while, at least. He'd been sober for almost a year.

That didn't last long after the final battle with Vecna. He and Eddie were friends. They were starting to grow into a little more than that. Steve’s nightmares were awful again. His body was sore and his scars stretched uncomfortably every time he moved. It was Eddie who initially suggested weed, even though he had stopped smoking himself.

“It's actually a pretty good method for pain management,” he said with a shrug. “You just gotta be careful about it. Stick to the natural stuff.”

Eddie didn't know that Steve was sober. Steve never told him. He'd been itching for a good high again anyway; something to clear his head, take some of the pain away, get a good night’s sleep for once. Eddie had handed him an extra joint, leftover from his own stash that he hadn't touched in weeks. Steve went home that night and lit a joint for the first time in almost a year. His sobriety went down the drain, just like that. The worst part? He didn’t even regret it. Not one bit.

He didn't tell Robin. He couldn't. He knew she'd be disappointed in him. She would go back to watching him like a hawk, following him around, and never leaving him alone long enough to even think about getting high. She'd spend every night with him, just like she did those first few months before. He couldn't let her do that to herself again. Not when she was doing so well with Vickie. He wasn't going to ruin her good thing with his own problems. So Robin never knew he relapsed. And Eddie never knew that he was supposed to be sober. He never told a soul.

Steve carried it with him for years. Every time he lit a joint instead of a cigarette, he thought about Robin. Two puffs in, he wasn’t thinking about her anymore, just how nice it felt. He smoked until his head was empty and floating, and then he smoked some more. He smoked by himself a lot. Then the band got recognized, and they were all smoking again too. Steve would smoke with them any chance he got. He never told anyone the secrets he was hiding. He never told anyone the weed wasn’t quite enough anymore. He was perfectly content with what he had, sure, but some deep part of him itched for more. He got cross-faded more times than he could count, just to feel something more.

His first experience with harder drugs was at a party with the band. Their manager had gotten them an invite for promotional purposes. There were supposed to be some high-end producers and such they wanted to network with, and Steve always went with them to these sorts of things. It was innocent, at first. Steve stepped out on the back deck of whatever big shot artist’s house they were at to light a cigarette while Eddie talked music with some people in the living room.

He took a deep inhale, feeling the nicotine saturate his lungs before he blew out the smoke. What he really wanted was some weed, but Eddie had it all on him and Steve didn't want to bother them. This was good for the band. They needed this. Still, a cigarette couldn't only do so much for the itch under Steve’s skin. He had a beer on the railing in front of him, but that's not what he needed. He took another inhale, holding it, hoping it would keep him satisfied until Eddie brought him a joint. It wasn't really working, but Steve was trying to convince himself otherwise.

“Mind if I join you?”

Steve turned to see a slightly older man standing in the doorway. He vaguely recognized him as another musician, but couldn't place his name. “No, not at all. Honestly, I could probably use the company.”

The man nodded and stepped onto the deck, closing the sliding glass door behind him. He took up a place beside Steve, holding out his hand. “Billy.”

Steve laughed at the irony and took his hand. “Of course you are. I'm Steve.”

Billy gave him a curious look. “Something wrong with my name, Steve?”

He shook his head. “No, not at all. It's just a little funny, I guess. I knew a guy named Billy once. Broke a plate over my head, gave me a nasty concussion, and then he died a few months later in a fire at the mall I used to work at. The universe likes to have a good laugh, apparently.”

“Ah, yeah, I'd probably feel the same way then.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a joint, gesturing toward Steve. “Mind if I light?”

“Only if you share,” Steve replied with a laugh before taking another drag of his cigarette.

“Of course, man.” Steve watched Billy pull a lighter from his pocket and light the joint, taking a puff before holding it out toward Steve.

Steve stubbed out his cigarette on the wood railing before taking the joint between his fingers. He took a deep drag, holding it for one, two, three seconds, and then breathing it out slowly. He looked up at the stars as he passed it back. “God, that's exactly what I needed.”

“Tough day?”

Steve shrugged. “More like a tough life. I'd usually be smoking by now anyway, but my, uh, friend has all the weed on him. He's busy talkin’ shop with some other music guys in there, and I didn't wanna bother them. It's important to him.”

“Not your scene then, I take it?”

Steve huffed, taking the joint back between his fingers. “I'm more… emotional support for his band, I guess. Though, I'm not sure they ever needed it. They do just fine on their own.”

“I'm sure they appreciate it anyway.” Billy glanced back at the house as he took the last drag before putting it out. “What do you say we go back in, Steve? I know a guy upstairs with something a little better than weed, if you're interested.”

“Hell, at this point, I might try just about anything. I don't do needles, though. Bad experiences and all.”

Billy laughed and motioned with his head. “Promise, no needles unless you ask.”

“Lead the way, then.”

Steve was floating on the best high of his life. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he didn't really care. He hung out upstairs with Billy and some other industry people for God only knows how long, smoking and laughing and snorting lines of cocaine. Eventually, Steve stumbled his way back downstairs with Billy, laughing the whole way. He bumped into Eddie, physically running into his back where he was scanning the house.

Eddie turned and wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist, holding him up. “There you are. I was wondering where you went.”

“Eddie!” Steve exclaimed, grinning brightly. He turned to Billy, who had his arm around Steve’s shoulders. “Billy, Billy, this is him. This is Eddie.”

“Oh, yeah! So you're Eddie! You've- you've got a good one, man. Steve's such a riot.”

Eddie seemed taken aback at first, looking between the two of them. His eyebrows furrowed as he took in Steve’s slightly disheveled appearance and wide eyes. “Steve, are you high right now?”

Steve giggled, leaning his face into Eddie’s neck. “Soooo high, baby. I feel great.”

“Alright, I think it's time we go home,” Eddie declared. “Come on, let's go find the guys.”

“But I don't wanna leave,” Steve whined with a pout. “I wanna dance, Eddie. Can't we dance? Please?”

“We can dance at home, Steve. Come on. It's time to go.”

“No fun,” he huffed.

“Steve, look, here, I’ll give you my number,” Billy said, still leaning heavily against him. “You call me. We’ll hang out again sometime, yeah?”

“Definitely. Definitely do that.”

It took Eddie fifteen minutes to drag Steve through the house and track down the rest of his friends. When they found the rest of them, Jeff frowned at Steve.

“What's up with him? Is he okay?”

“Apparently the whole time we were talking to that producer, my boyfriend was getting high off his ass with Billy Corgan. I'm sure he’ll be fine once he sleeps it off.”

“Wait, Billy Corgan?” Gareth asked, eyes wide. “Like the Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins?”

“Apparently they're best friends now.”

“Oh, yeah, Billy’s great,” Steve said through another bout of giggles, leaning all his body weight on Eddie. He cupped his hand around his mouth to whisper, but it wasn't really a whisper. “He knows who has all the good shit, guys.”

“Okay, he is really high,” Grant said. “Guess that's our cue to leave?”

“I don't care if you guys want to stay, but I'm taking Steve home. Just didn't wanna leave without letting you know.”

When Steve and Eddie finally got back to the apartment, Steve sloppily kissed Eddie in the entryway. His hand slipped under Eddie’s shirt, but Eddie pulled him back.

“Baby, no, not tonight,” he murmured. He pushed a lock of hair from Steve’s face. “You're too high for that right now. You need sleep.”

“Want you, though,” Steve whispered, ducking down to suck at his jaw and throat.

“Steve, no. I'm serious. You need to sleep this off.”

Steve huffed, a pout on his full lips. Eddie kissed him softly before wrapping his arm around his waist and leading him to the bedroom. Steve slumped back against the bed immediately upon impact. Eddie carefully and gently undressed him before tucking him into bed. He brought a water bottle and some meds for the morning, placed them on the bedside table, and then changed his own clothes. Steve was out like a light, snoring softly. Eddie held him all night, unable to sleep. He'd never seen Steve get that high before. Part of him worried it was more than weed, but he trusted Steve. He'd ask him in the morning, but he wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn't think Steve would do more than that. He didn't think he had to worry.

The next morning, Eddie made sure Steve was safe and okay before bringing it up.

“So, last night,” he said over breakfast, poking around at the scrambled eggs he'd whipped up for them.

“Oh, right! How'd it go with that, what was he, a producer?”

“It was fine, but that's not what I'm talking about, Steve.”

Steve frowned. “What is it then?”

Eddie swallowed, not looking at Steve. “You were really high when I finally found you after you wandered off. I need you to be honest, Steve. What did you take?”

“It was weed, Ed. Strong weed, but just weed.”

“You promise?” He looked up, meeting Steve’s eyes. “You promise it's just weed, Steve? I can’t- You have to understand how dangerous that other shit is. I can't lose you to it.”

Steve smiled so easily, like he wasn't lying right to Eddie’s face. Like he didn't have a baggie of coke in the pocket of his jeans, which were laying on the bedroom floor. “I promise that's all it is.”

And Eddie believed him, like an idiot. He trusted him, because it was so easy to fall for those eyes and that smile. He didn't think Steve would ever do anything like that. He had no reason to believe otherwise. He didn't know that Steve had been sober for almost a year before that spring break from Hell.

Steve lied for years, to everyone. He was good at it. It was easy. He didn't even think twice before the lies tumbled past his lips. The problem was how simple it was to score. How easy. He never had to turn far. He was listed as a personal assistant to the band. He was handing drugs to pass on to them all the time, but Corroded Coffin didn't do any of that stuff. They always turned it down. They knew what it did to people, especially in the industry. It was a dangerous thing. Every time the members ignored the drugs being passed to them, Steve slipped them in his pocket instead. No one ever noticed. The more fame and recognition the band got, the easier it became for Steve to score whatever he wanted. Pills, tabs, cocaine, heroin, the works. He never strayed far from coke and pills, still wary of needles from the Russians, but it was a high he couldn't get with weed alone. It was addicting. He wouldn't have been able to stop on his own even if he wanted to.

He snuck off to do a line or two every chance he got. If the band’s backs were turned for even a few seconds, he was popping a couple of colorful pills. He smoked weed every other night, whenever Eddie wanted to smoke. He smoked on his own occasionally, slowing down his body through the rush of a good high. It was nothing like he’d ever experienced before, and he couldn't get enough of it.

Then he was at the biggest show of Eddie’s career. Sold out at Madison Square Garden. Roaring crowds, electricity flowing through Steve’s veins. He was only going to do a quick line. He just wanted to keep the energy, soothe the itch. One line turned to two, then three, then some pills. Then everything went dark.

The first thought to cross his mind as his vision tunneled and his body began to shut down was that he should have told them the truth. He never should have lied to Eddie, or Robin. He never should have taken that joint from Eddie all those years ago. He should still be sober. But he wasn't, and now he was going to die, and it's his own fault. He fell to his vices. He didn't talk to Robin, like he always promised he would do if the urges came back. Instead, he got into the harder stuff, and now it was going to kill him. The clock had finally run out. The Reaper was knocking on his door.

That would be the end of Steve Harrington.

-----

tag list: @mugloversonly @djohawke @acowardinmordor @hallucinatedjosten @geekyfifi @slowandsteddie @estrellami-1 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @canmargesimpson

(if you saw this upload twice no you didn't. i definitely didn't forget the tag list)

#gloomysoup #gloomysoup ao3 #gloomysoup writes #stranger things #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #steddie fic #stranger things fic #steve harrington angst #steddie au #steddie angst #steddie fanfiction #tw drugs #tw addiction #tw overdose

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n3kk1tty · 15 days

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" Hawkins held so many bad things and memories you just had to run away so you could actually live your life before It was cut short. In your new home you expect the paranormal not to find you but what happens when four vampires fall madly in love with you. "

(Y/n) - Your Name. (E/C) - Your Eye Color

Stranger Things ( Reader ) x Poly! Lost Boys

Fic requested by @whatchamacallthis

As soon as you graduated you hit the road running. Just as far as you could go, as far as you could get away from the cursed town. The last few years of your highschool life in Hawkins had been filled with other worldly phenomena, blood, and the loss of one of your closest friends. All you got for your troubles was your life, a gnarly scar, and enough trauma to last you a couple lifetimes . You had gotten your huge four clawed scar from taking a hit from the demogorgon for good old Steve Harrington. Even though at the time the dude was another one of those school bully dick heads you knew Nancy cared about him and you didn't even think before you took a slash to the back like a champ.

It haunts your nightmares that fucking monster, but you knew it was dead. It has to stay dead. That thing took a sawed off shotgun to the face and you riddled it with bullets till Nancy had to stop you as you cried and screamed. Your childhood friend Barb was dead. Your friend was never coming back and that scar just burned that truth into your brain every single day you breathed. You'd never spend another night with her using face paint to paint sunflowers on her arms or telling her about how Munson got you to paint him miniatures for his hell fire club. You, Nancy, and Barb could never go back to that time in the past but you tracked on. That cursed night you were lucky to be wearing the heavy duty leather jacket your dad gifted you, the doctors said if it wasn't for the thick padded jacket the slashes would have done life threatening damage to your back and you would have died or been crippled for the rest of your life. Sometimes you wish it had but I mean I guess there was some kind of luck watching over you.

Oh your poor lovely father though. It had only ever been you and him since your supposed mother dropped you off at your father's gun shop and shooting range not but six hours after you were discharged from the hospital as a baby. Your dad never talked about her and you never cared to ask but the woman was a real piece of work. He said he didn't even know she was pregnant but the tests proved you were his so he built his life around you. Growing up with a gun shooting, alcohol drinking, motorcycle riding mean son of a bitch for a father meant most of Hawkins thought your dad would have been tough on you. He was notorious for being a town hard ass like Hopper but the day he picked you up was the day he raised you with the kindness of a gentle giant. It broke his heart to see the wounds on your back as you fought blood loss in the hospital.

The man sobbed like a baby as he didn't know if you'd come out alive. He didn’t even understand what had happened to you and your friends wouldn't say anything. Needless to say he almost killed Johnathan and Steve as they stood in the hallway of the hospital as you fought for your life that night. It was worse though when you came out broken something fierce. When you first woke up all you did was cry and scream like the heavens had wronged you. You wailed until you couldn't no more as you screamed that it had to be dead and that you should have been there to save Barb. Nancy could only calm you down by holding you as you to cried into each others arms until your shirts were soaked and nothing but whimpers came out. You never once blamed your friend or anyone else but that monster for what happened but you wished so much that you had been there that night or had taken her place. While Barb was being killed you were at a Hellfire DND game and it hurt you ever day to know.

You eventually started healing, moving on in your friend's name but you were still facing troubles. Your scar became something you didn't want anyone to ever see and it took you ages to repair your jacket. You remember how long it took you to repair it. Nights spent cleaning and cutting new leather for the scratches before you finally decided this was gonna be your permanent battle jacket. Something Barb would have loved to see you in. You had used one of Barbs red flannels to fix the slashes as you tried healing your pain. This way your friend could live on with you. You’d give everything to swap places with her and give your amazing friend your life but the more you cried and screamed and begged the more you knew Barb would have been sad to see you like this.

Then you got into tattoos to help with your trauma and eventually it became your passion of sorts. You were on the track to a normalish life but before you knew it Hawkins was under attack again. All your old wounds turn to anger and an urge to protect your friends like you'd give your life every time you walked out the door. While you grew distant from your friend Eddie and the hell fire club because they couldn't understand what you went through Nancy and Steve grew even closer to you. It led you to once again blindly charging into battle armed with your sawed off shotgun and other weapons strapped to you. You crawled through hell and back, you knew they closed the portal to the upside down but just like the feeling that told you Barb was gone the same feeling told you this cycle wasn't gonna end that night.

When you graduated your dad gifted you a truck with a RV attached to it. He told you to get the fuck outta dodge. That he didn't want you charging into trouble no more after he discovered the truth. He knew that you'd die for your friends if they asked but all he wanted was for you to actually live before dying. That next week you were gone in the wind with your motorcycle and things in the back. Having said your goodbyes and making sure they knew you were a call away you ran to find some sense of calm. That's how you ended up in Santa Carla, the most unconventional choice you could have made but something called you here. It had just enough life and charm for you to enjoy but none of the other worldly danger like you had in Hawkins. Maybe more populated cities would be safer, you thought.

You had spent some time in Santa Carla truly finding your place amoung the weird, blooming into the person you always wanted to be but felt too restricted to in your small town. Piercings, tattoos, and punk rock T-shirts is all you paraded in down the boardwalk to the tattoo shop your dad's old biker friend owned. The man took you in allowing you to park your home on wheels on his land with all the hookups you'd need for free as long as you worked in his shop. You'd spend most the time running the counter or getting or giving tattoos and not a paranormal on sight. It was bliss. That was until one night a fight broke out outside the shop and like your nature in the past you didn't hesitate to come outside barreling to break it up. You remember slipping on your brass knuckles from your pocket and running outside charging as the others followed.

Needless to say to have a bunch of punk rocker tattoo artists come barreling out a shop to break up a all out brawl between these bikers and surfer Nazis was a hell of a way to meet your future boyfriends. Pulling a curly haired dude out the onslaught shoving him into the shop before socking an aggressor left quite the impression on the boys. They remember hiding in the back as security came and the whole store covered for them. When you came to the back they were hooked on sight. You stood before them rocking a killer leather jacket with this cool claw mark design on the back. Your hair messily tied in a bun with snake bite piercings and tattoos covering you sporadically.

From that day on you didn't know a moment of peace again as these four men tried desperately to pick you up. They always came to the shop to see you. Even Marko begged for you to give him a tattoo and of course he got one where you'd have to be touching him constantly on the chest. The curly blonde flirted the whole time telling you how good you looked or how he'd let you use his body for practice any day. They would sit in the lobby hanging out shooting the shit going through your art books you brought for hours to the point the shop owner gave up trying to shoe them off. They became a permanent staple in your new life and every time they asked for a date you turned them down. It didn't matter you were playing hard to get it's not like when you went home from your shifts they didn't follow behind you or stalk outside your trailer ever night.

They were obsessed with you and wanted you. They wanted to comfort you on the nights you wailed and cried your eyes out, you would always end those nights with calling back home. Eddie didn't know why you left so suddenly or what happened to you so you couldn't lean on him for support. He hated how close you got to Steve Harrington after your attack but Eddie, Nancy, and Steve would always call you no matter what. Sometimes you'd get a call from Johnathan but it wasn't consistent. Tonight though you were having such a hassle with your trauma worried something was gonna happen to your friends as visions plagued your brain that you called out from work entirely. You sat at the secluded beach by your trailer. Sawed off shotgun by your side unloaded with rounds carelessly tossed in the sand you sat by the water in a bikini as you kept just your legs in the cold water.

You had made a fire and sat with a picture of Barb next to you as your scar sat exposed for the world to see. You couldn't go to the beach during the day or when anyone else was around. It's the same reason you kept turning down the boys even though you wanted nothing more to run into their arms. It was your scar. Your trauma. Your demons. You were too afraid something was gonna come back. All it took was some fucker opening that portal again and everyone you loved could be in danger. You knew though, everyone knew, even though you ran away from Hawkins all it took was a call and you'd be speeding down to the nearest airport and sprinting home to protect everyone. It was just the person you were.

You cried talking to Barb telling her you had been doing good and how you wished you could have at least brought her body back. You wanted nothing more than to bring her home one last time like the good old days. This time she wouldn't be cautiously riding on the back of your beat up motorcycle in the middle of the night as you took her home from a party but you'd make sure to bring her back one last time. Healing was hard, it was even tougher alone but you isolated everyone just for their safety. The first the boys noticed when they pulled up that night when you called out was the stereo and fire in the distance. When they got closer there was their new love interest so weak and small crying next to a picture and a shotgun. Anyone seeing this would have been exactly like David who damn near tore down the sand to stop you from what he thought you were gonna do.

Then the boys froze in place and were shocked running from your right shoulder to left lower back was this gnarly almost beastly looking scar. Matching almost one for one the design on your jacket. It looked like something huge had attacked you and with how you'd been known to cry about your friend and screaming in nightmares about killing the thing it's like puzzle pieces clicking into place. Something had attacked you and had killed your friend. Something had damaged you in a way the boys had been known to do to others. David couldn't stop himself before he was calling to you trying to get the gun away from you. When the boys words startled you it was like lighting and practiced motion took over. You loaded the gun quickly before pointing it straight at them, caulking it ready.

“ Hey! Yo freeze, we come in peace. “Marko says, jumping back. You pause before running to hide your scar tears welling in your eyes mumbling you were sorry and you knew it was hideous before Dwayne grabs your jacket. “ Your breathe taking (Y/n) if you want to cover it you can but I think it makes you look so strong and beautiful. “ Paul gently touched your arms trying to take the gun from you as you unarm and unload it. “ It's okay you don't have to be alone. “ Paul rubbed circles on your shoulders as you fell apart against David's body that night. You told them everything. You told them you liked them but was terrified your past would come back to hurt the ones you love. They held you as you told them the unbelievable life you had lived in your home town of Hawkins Indiana. You told them about the beast that took so much from you and the thing threatening your peace every day. You thought they wouldn't believe you and would think your were crazy but all the boys did was mumble praise against your skin promising you'd never be harmed again.

After that you started dating the four bikers. They were chaotic but they loved you dearly. It didn't take you long to figure out their secret though. I mean you can only dodge so many day time date nights with out someone from back home making a vampire joke and well Hawkins taught you anything was possible. At first you tried avoiding them when you figured it out. You didn't want any part in any more crazy but having your boyfriends show up to your job confused and then you ditching work till they are banging on your front door. Let's just say David was not pleased to have the door swing open and his beloved girlfriend pointing a sawed off shotgun to his face.

You shot it in the air to prove you meant business. “ I know your vampires boys. I don't know if this will kill you but sure turned the demogorgon into ground beef. So y'all and your fucked up game is over. “ Lots of flowers, jewelry, chocolates and apologies and explanations later you took your boyfriends back into your heart. I mean at least you could reason with them and you had worse problems to worry about in Hawkins so truly while it was fucked up they were the lesser of two evils. “ Just knock the people out then eat from them. Try leaving them alive and if you're gonna kill people be it bad people please. I don't have the energy to fight you and I ain't got nowhere safe to go. Plus I know you'll chase me wherever I do run so what's the point fighting my love for you fanged idiots” You and the boys were laying in your trailer's bed one day when David popped the question. “ Join us (Y/n) and you'll be stronger than ever. You can protect everyone with the powers vampirism gives you. We won't ever have to worry about time, sickness, or danger taking you from us. We love you too much, to let you go. Please be ours till the sun gives out”

You sit up in the bed throwing a pillow at David. “ Way to ruin the moment dude that's like asking me to marry you goof and what a bad proposal.“ Marko sat up cuddling into your side. “ What you don't love us enough to be ours forever. “ “Maybe we should have gotten rings “ Dwayne smiles. You shake your head at them. “ We haven't been together for a few years yet. Nor have you met my father or friends. So no weird vampiric wedding bells yet.” Paul jumps up to blocking you from leaving the room. “ Hey you said yet! So does that mean you will some day. “ You laugh scooping his face up as you put a slow lazy kiss to the man's face. “ Maybe after you actually meet the other people in my life who I care about and ask my dad to marry me. Though if you really want me to follow you to the ends of the earth you'll have to be prepared for when I probably go running off into the hordes of hell again. “

Dwayne and David look at you as you say that statement. “ Your thinking of putting yourself in danger again. “ You freeze in Paul's arms as you think back to your nightmares. They were like visions of Hawkins under attack again and Barb calling you home. What was worse was seeing Eddie standing dead before you wailing for you to save him. You try to clear your head before David can see but it's to late. Vampires are pulling you into a pile kissing you gently and whispering praise. A tangle of limbs and heart beats; kisses and fangs. It was like you couldn't think when all four boys worshiped every inch of you, chasing away the pain of the past before tears could fall from your ( E/C) eyes. You felt so unbelievably loved and pampered every night by them it made it hard to remember you were sleeping with monsters.

To others they were beasts feasting on carnage while to you they guarded you like loyal guard dogs. Vicious and aggressive to others while kind and caring to you. As you slipped back into consciousness from your blissful sleep the boys cradled you in their arms. “ We will follow you through hellfire.” Dwayne whispered as he kissed your neck. “ We will kill anything that harms you. “ Marko said as he placed a kiss on your thighs. “ We will love you no matter your past or your future. “ Paul said, kissing a trail up your arm. Finally David placed a kiss to your cheek as a tear fell from your eye, joy filling your heart. “ Our hearts, bodies, and souls belong to you (Y/n). If our princess of the dark decides to charge into hell we will make sure she will rule all the damned. “

The next day you and your lovers were on your way to Hawkins in a moment's notice. Your vampires would always treat your worries and intuition as truthful gospel as they knew you'd never lie as long as you breathed. If you were set on chasing what was coming to Hawkins that was plaguing you with nightmares, your four lovers of the night were going to make sure to follow you. After this battle was over they were sure to follow through with making you their queen of the damned and you promised to cherish them for your future eternal lives. Not before you could produce them heirs though of course as what was the point of having vampiric lovers if you couldn't have your own vampiric family someday? Soon Hawkins world would be rocked by the creatures heading straight for it again. This time though you had the damned on your side.

This was written based off a request in my ask box. I hope people can enjoy it even if it is a one shot fic.

#stranger things #tlb 1987 #the lost boys #poly tlb #tlb x reader #stranger things x reader #x reader #one shot

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pelorsdyke · 8 months

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ronancetober - day twelve: spell [practical magic au, nancy wheeler as sally owens, robin buckley as state investigator gary hallett]

“Did you or your sister kill Jason Carver?” The state investigator asks Nancy, both hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket.

It’s stupid, but Nancy can’t help her instinctual deadpan reply. “Oh, yeah,” she says, leaning back against her kitchen counter. Distantly, she can hear Max and Mike taunting each other, the jingle of her aunt’s wind chimes as the pair race in and out of the porch door. “A couple of times.”

The investigator— Robin, she’d said her name was, insistent when Nancy defaulted to Detective Buckley instead— smirks. Nancy traces the line of her lips with her eyes.

“Nancy,” she begins, the word as hard-fought from the respectful detective as Robin’s own name had been from Nancy, “please. Tell me what you saw.”

“Jason Carver was a no-good shithead of a man, a bully and a bastard, and the worst kind of man, which is to say, one who put his hands on my sister. To be honest, Detective,” Nancy replies, pressing in on the word as she says it, watching Robin roll her eyes with barely constrained pleasure, “I couldn’t give a rat’s ass where he is now.”

It’s true, is the thing. When Nancy had first hit him— and she had been the first, the crunch of her car against his bones somehow a relief even as her mind had started racing through the implications of killing a man— a not exactly small part of her had thought about just leaving him where he was. A hit-and-run, maybe chalked up to his mob connections or violent behavior, letting Jason Carver rot in the woods. Better than he deserved, anyway. But Chrissy had insisted, fearful, that they needed to at least move the body, and once the two of them had hustled him in the car, it had seemed a little stupid to just… what? Bury the body in Joyce’s backyard? Hope no one dug the gardenias up too deeply next year? So they’d done something probably far stupider, if she was honest, and paged carefully through books Nancy had sworn off years ago to find a spell neither of them should’ve even considered casting.

And the second time, to be fair, he’d been a breath away from killing Chrissy. So Nancy had done it, in the end, had killed the man twice, the second time by shattering a pot over his head, and if she was honest, she’d kind of enjoyed it. Nancy didn’t intend to become a murderer, but she did revel some in getting to hand-deliver the comeuppance Carver had deserved, after what he’d put her sister through.

And then, yes, sure, they’d buried him in the garden. Fuck off, okay? Where else were they supposed to do it? Maybe one of their cousins had something resembling a better hiding spot for bodies by their mother’s house, but Nancy wasn’t about to start making calls to ask.

Robin mulls over Nancy’s words for a moment, and Nancy takes the time to observe the woman in front of her. Robin was tall but thin, most of her frame hidden away behind the bulk of her thick jacket and flannel, but where the sleeves were rolled up, Nancy caught a peek of muscled forearms. The detective was no desk jockey, certainly. She’d passed on the coffee Nancy had offered her on coming in, citing that it made her inexplicably sleepy, and had smiled fondly at Max and Mike when they’d scampered by, quietly letting on that they reminded her a bit of herself and her older brother. Nancy isn’t really sure why she’s so determined to hold onto every piece of information about Robin, but the woman is just so intriguing to her. There’s something about her presence at Nancy’s kitchen table, steady even as she thrums with energy, that Nancy can’t stop staring at.

It’s the moment when Robin opens her mouth, actually, that it clicks into place for Nancy. She’s saying something about how she’s certainly not about to deny Nancy’s assessment of the situation, not after chasing Carver across the country following a string of murders, but Nancy is only half-listening. Instead, she’s focused in what might be a semi-intimidating way for Robin on the blue of the woman’s eyes, how they flit between shades as the light changes.

—“And they’re going to have… bright blue eyes! Not like me, but like… like the ocean on a summer day.” Nancy remembers saying, Chrissy listening attentively at her side. “And one of those faces like an old Hollywood movie star, and an older brother who was born into parents who adopted them.”

“Is all of this important?” Chrissy had asked, and Nancy had shrewdly raised an eyebrow, breaking her concentration for only a second.

“Chris, it’s about making somebody impossible. I want to make sure I never fall in love,” Nancy had said, resolute and avoiding the sad curve of Chrissy’s lips in response. “Now shut up! I have to finish. And she’s going to hate coffee because it makes her sleepy instead of waking her up, which makes no sense to her or anyone else—“

“She?” Chrissy had piped in again, and Nancy had felt herself blush to the roots of her hair.

“Maybe,” she’d said, defensive and immediate, and her sister had just laughed and wrapped her in a hug, reminding her that they’d always have each other’s backs, no matter what. It was a promise they’d made with blood before Chrissy had run off, but it had been deep in both girls’ souls since long before that.

Nancy comes back to the moment with Robin with a certainty that grips her all the way to her soul. It’s her, she thinks, eyes locked on the cabinet beside her to avoid staring a hole into Robin’s head. Nancy’s magic impossible woman. And she’s doomed her to die.

#yes Mike is her kid and Chrissy is her sister because this isn’t canon I do what I want!#this is my stupid self indulgent au and I bend the characters to fit the narrative!#I really was excited about this one I hope you like it!#robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ronance #stranger things #mine #ronancetober #practical magic #fic tag

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valyrfia · 2 months

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RE: this ask

Sorry about to go off on one, gender studies and online fan culture from an academic standpoint is a special interest of mine because being film and literature student wasn't annoying enough (participatory culture studies my beloved)

From a general standpoint, I think the reason M/M ships in fiction have always been more popular is because male characters are historically more developed and complex. I think it’s only in recent years have their been an influx of popular F/F ships, with the added development of women on screen (e.g Clarke and Lexa, Kara and Lena, Regina and Emma, Nancy and Robin) - I think there is also a point to be made this has coincided with gender expression, genderqueerness and more general knowledge of being outside the typical gender spectrum.

I can’t explicitly say that being in M/M fandom spaces encouraged my personal discovery of being transmasc but it certainly helped to have an avenue where I could project onto these “male” characters and see myself in them. I was so uncomfortable in my own body and what I didn’t know at the time as dysphoria, I can see why I didn’t go for F/F ships.

There are of course a lot of “fandom elders” but young (early to late teens) afab people do make up a large bulk of it and I get why it may be easier for them to fixate on M/M ships as a, sort of method of exploring their own sexuality and gender expression. F/F ships may hit too close to home and F/M ships are what they are trying to escape from so it leaves M/M ships to project onto. Which, unfortunately then can become warped by the persons own comphet and/or binary ideas about gender.

A male character may have more stereotypically “feminine” traits (in terms of interests or emotional reactions) and I can see why people who also have those traits would project there own insecurities onto them, reinforcing the feminisation of the male character but not being comfortable enough in your own gender expression to genderbend the character or write them as trans.

It’s the same reason I think mafia romance, dark romance etc etc is so popular with cishet women because they can read about a fantasy where instead of the very real every day misogyny and violence they face leading to abuse, assault and death, it brings “positives” ; protected, loved, a happy relationship.

Which, side note. I think this has A Lot to do with y/n, self insert fics becoming “cringe”. Because, I think a lot of people just want to fuck/date a character and feel like they can’t write a self insert anymore, so just project massively onto one character, leading to a lot of these issues. I don’t think Tony Stark/Peter Parker would be as popular as it is if people just let young women write their self insert fic about being Tony Stark’s sugar baby and then we wouldn’t have the wildly mischaracterised version of Peter Parker that we do!

But, all this being said. I’m talking about fiction. Dean Winchester isn’t actually affected if people online only talk about him in a stereotypically “female” way.

RPF is a different kettle of fish (and I’m not going in RPF ethics that’s different - I have no issues with rpf creators/consumers to be clear, I am one) because a real person does become affected. Even if you are keeping your fan works and discussions to private spaces, it can leach over into how you speak about the actual person. That’s where it becomes so incredibly important to remember that your RPF version of celebrities are just as fictional as Dean Winchester is.

sorry I used mr. supernatural as an example, 13 year old me is still alive and kicking in my head somewhere.

I love to hear your perspective on it with a trans worldview (and academic credentials), and I do agree that that might be a big driver of some young people only wanting to engage with MLM fic and feeling uncomfortable with WLW fic. You've brought up so many great points so I'll try and address them all.

I can add the perspective of a lesbian who was closeted for the first two decades of my life, came out less than five years ago, and still struggles on and off with comphet now. MLM fics in my teens were a way to consume queer content and relationships without having to think about the implications of enjoying consuming WLW content, and I think that's true for a lot of young closeted teens so it's no surprise that some comphet/hetnorm/cisnorm stuff bleeds through there because it's a framework the authors haven't managed to detach themselves from yet.

But yeah, I agree the issue lies with people wanting characters to be self-inserts partially so that they can experience sex, sexuality, and romance without any of the hang ups of thinking about patriarchy. And I agree with your solution: make y/n fics cool again! The ability we have to hallucinate while we read is magic! You can put YOURSELF in as a character's love interest, how cool is that?

Ultimately, yeah. There's nothing wrong with RPF as long as it isn't actually affecting the person that the RPF is based off, but I've seen a lot of takes escaping containment so to say (ie. leaving this website) with takes about the actual racers so obviously picked up through RPF. The main culprits are Charles, Lando, Max in my experience.

#You always send the longest and most thought out asks and I really don't know how to answer them because you're so eloquent #thank you for your POV!#enigmabird #asks #charles in makeup and lace discourse #hate it slightly too late to change it now

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aloneinthehellfire · 1 year

Text

Eight Months (Part 2)

Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Summary: Y/n went missing at the end of spring. A note was left explaining that after her father, Bob Newby, died, she just couldn’t bear to stay in Hawkins. The others were shocked but after gaining no leads on where she could be, they had to accept that she was gone. But when summer rolls in and Hawkins starts getting scary, Steve and Dustin find themselves venturing into a Russian base and uncover more secrets than they bargained for.

Word Count: 3.1k

Warnings: swearing, torture, mentions of blood, knives, needles, mentions of a drug

[A/N: So I’ve written loadssss for this but it was super long and I’ve had to split it into separate parts so I promise it gets better. Will be posting Part 3 as soon as I have time outside of uni!]

Eight Months [Masterlist]

Eight Months: The Serum

[Part Two]

“What are they going to do to him?”

Robin’s voice was small and quiet, knees brought up to her chest as he sat across from you, cautiously eyeing the cuts and bruises across your body. She already knew, the fear had latched onto her mind even before Steve was dragged off by the Russians. But she had to hear it from you.

“Do you really wanna know?” You counter, lips tightening as her head nods slowly. “Um… it’s his first time, so they’ll just keep asking who he works for, how he got in… all that shit. And when he doesn’t give an answer they like… let’s just say we’re gonna have matching bruises.”

“Shit.” Robin mutters, squeezing her eyes shut and resting her head on the wall behind her.

You watch her intently, the worry and fear that she is radiating. She and Steve were obviously close, as friends or more, you weren’t certain of. You couldn’t deny the jealous pit of anxiety in your stomach just thinking of the possibility. You had been in love with Steve Harrington since middle school. You stuck with him even when he lost himself to Tommy and Carol, being his reminder that he was better than them, that he actually was a nice guy. You even supported his relationship with Nancy Wheeler despite how much you and her had despised eachother.

And now you find out that it’s been eight months since you disappeared. A lot can happen in eight months. If she made him happy, you were just gonna have to put up with it. And make sure that they both make it out of here alive.

“First time.” Robin mutters and you whip your head up to see she was looking at you, “You said it’s his first time.”

“Yeah.” You nod, avoiding her eyes as you look to the ground. “It took them more than a few punches to actually believe that I’m not some kind of spy.”

“I’m sorry.” Robin offers and you shrug, “Seriously. If anyone had known-”

“It’s fine.” You smile sadly.

“No.” She suddenly shuffles her way over to you, sitting cross legged in front of you with a worried frown. “Steve talked about you all the time. Like, all the time. It was kind of annoying actually. The urge to hit him with a scoop grew bigger every day.”

You chuckle at her words.

“But…” She continues, reaching out and tapping the tip of your shoe, “I know for a fact that Steve would have come here guns-a-blazing if he had known.”

You open your mouth to speak but the distant footsteps echoing in the corridor brought you to your feet immediately. It took Robin a few seconds longer to understand before she was right up with you. Instinctively grabbing her hand, you squeeze it for comfort as you both stare to the door, waiting.

It swings open, two guards stood there with ropes in their hands. You knew exactly how this went.

“Stay still and do what they say.” You whisper to the girl next to you. Her eyes widen before a guard suddenly drags her forward.

“Hands.” He orders with a thick accent. She looks to you while doing what she was told, wrists suddenly bonded together.

You hold out your own to the other guard, your hands quickly tied together before you and robin are escorted from the room. Walking down the corridor in complete silence is something you’ve grown accustomed to. In fact, you knew it took exactly 14 steps to reach the room they usually threw you in.

13. 14. And you were there, the door being opened before a guard stops the other, looking to you.

“The boss wants her.” He speaks in Russian and your eyes widen. They had no idea you understood what they were saying but they kept the conversation brief.

You suddenly were pulled away, Robin’s startled reaction causing her to try and move to you, yelling when she was thrown into the room and out of view.

Panic flowed through your body as you were taken down a hallway you hadn’t seen before.

***

“Get your hands off me!” Robin yells as she’s thrown onto the floor, the door locked behind her.

As she turns her head from the fall, back already hurting from the contact, her eyes widen. Steve was led next to her, barely moving. And blood covered his face.

“Steve? Steve?!” She patted his face as best she could with bonded hands, fear rushing in. You were right. They had tortured him just like they tortured you.

Another door opens into the room, and Robin turns to look. She could almost feel the blood drain from her body when she recognised him as the man that had taken Steve before.

“What did you do to him?” She begs, angry. “What did you do?!”

Her efforts get her nowhere when a sharp slap is sent across her cheek, knocking her back to the ground.

Russian words are spluttered out everywhere around her as she’s dragged towards a chair, back to back with Steve who still wasn’t responding. She had never felt more terrified and alone in her life. Steve could be dying, and she couldn’t help him. You could be dying and that terrified her. You could already be dead.

“Steve? Steve?” Robin begged for him to wake up, to let her know she wasn’t the only one left. “Steve, can you hear me? Don’t touch him! Steve!”

“I think your friend need a doctor.” The man spoke in broken English, a cruel smile on his face. “Good thing… we have the very best.”

Once they all break out into mocking laughter, Robin took her opportunity. She spat, directly into his face, refusing to show her fear. She had dealt with cruelty all her life, and she’d be dammed if she let another person break her down.

“You are going to regret that, suchka.” He threatens, holding her gaze until she felt her fear bubbling to the surface. She had seen your scars. And you didn’t seem like the person who had given up easy.

But, to her relief, they left the room.

“Somebody help!” She shouted out once they had left, praying Dustin and Erica had gone to the authorities. “Help! Help!”

“Hey, would you stop yelling?”

Steve’s grumbling voice almost made her cry in joy.

“Steve! Oh my god!” She breathed. He was alive. “Steve… are- are you okay?”

“My ears are ringing, and I can’t really breath.” He states, the pounding in his head only worsening from the harsh hues of artificial lights. “And my eye feels like it’s about to pop out of my skull, but, you know, apart from that, I’m doing pretty good.”

“Well,” Robin nods, trying to find a silver lining. “the good news is that they’re calling you a doctor.”

Steve finally raises his head as Robin chuckles nervously, focusing on the room before a frown appears on his beaten face. “Where… where’s Y/n?”

“I don’t know.” She admits, shaking her head. Steve’s heart rate quickens. “They- they took her into a different room. God, and she looked scared at whatever they said. I don’t understand Russian as well as that though, like the alphabet thing is all you’re getting from me.”

She pauses, tilting her head to the side as if she’d be able to see Steve. “Steve?”

“They’re gonna hurt her again.” He whispers out and Robin’s breath hitches.

“No-no.” She tries squirming against her restraints, “No, I’m sure she’s fine. Okay? She’ll be just fine.”

“It’s my fault.”

“No, Steve, it’s-”

“I told them.” He mumbles and Robin stills, silencing herself. “They kept asking and asking and asking and I… I got angry. I told them I knew Y/n.”

“Maybe they didn’t hear you?” Robin suggests with a high voice.

“It was the last thing I said before they knocked me out.” Steve groans, his face throbbing in pain. “She only just convinced them she wasn’t a spy and I ruined it.”

“She’s strong.” Robin nods, mostly to herself, “And from what I heard, she’s a badass, right? She already made it eight months in this hell hold, she’ll be okay. Us, however? I’m not so sure. If we make it out of here, we’ll find her. We just need an escape…”

Her voice trails off and Steve frowns, looking back as best he could.

“So, okay, do you see that table over there to your right?” Robin’s plan was already forming in her mind, and it all rested on their capability of shuffling over to a scalpel.

“You lied to us.”

His voice was low, head staring out of the lab window.

Being dragged from Robin had sent you spiralling, wondering what they were doing to do to you, but mostly her. You didn’t know the girl, barely met her half an hour ago, and yet you were afraid for her. She didn’t deserve any of this. Steve didn’t deserve any of it.

The room they had taken you to was new this time. You had barely enough time to take in the giant windows overlooking busy bodies in a computer lab before your eyes drifted to the giant laser in the building, pointing at a gate into the Upside Down.

You had known they were trying to open another gate, courtesy of your ability to pick up languages pretty quickly, but you hadn’t expected them to be getting this far. The rift was already being torn through with immense power. If they succeeded, Hawkins would have more than just the demo-dogs you faced last year to deal with.

Once the man in charge had returned to you, your instinct was to stay quiet. He was busy wiping away something from his face with a scowl, discarding the napkin in the palm of a Russian soldier’s hand before facing the windows and clearing the room.

So now, it was just him and you.

“Your friend told us.” He finally looks back at you as your heart dropped. “Tell me, are you working with these Americans?”

“I know him from middle school.” You say quietly, already expecting the worst. “What did you do to him?”

“Not as much as I’m going to do to you.” He sneered and your blood runs cold. “They won’t talk, that much is clear. But now I know their weakness. The boy seems to… care for you.”

Your mouth runs dry once you immediately understand. He was going to use you against them. And it was going to hurt.

“They aren’t a threat to you.” You insist, eyes drawing back to the gate. “If you let them go…”

His eyebrow perked up while you stay fixated on the red gaping hole inside the lab. You knew what they wanted from you, you’ve known it all along.

“I’ll tell you everything I know about that.” You point to the window and he smirks, glancing behind before walking straight towards you. Guards suddenly enter the room, grabbing your arms and keeping you still.

“Stupid American.” He tuts, grabbing your face and tilting to the side so he can see the scar on your eyebrow, the one he gave you with a knife months ago. “We don’t need your information. But we do need you for something else.”

Just as you went to question, a sharp blow to the side of your head blackened your vision and you fell into a deep sleep.

Robin’s plan had failed.

She had completely overestimated their abilities for spy work, her hope only landing them both on the floor, shoulders aching from the impact. Part of her was glad when the Russians came back and picked them off the floor. And then the dread set in. They were back for answers they didn’t like.

“Let us try this again.” The man says and Robin scowls at him.

He positions himself in front of Steve.

“Look, man. I already told you. I work at scoops, we were expecting a delivery-”

“Shush.” He orders and Steve closes his mouth. He really didn’t want another punch to the face. “We have different ways of finding the truth.”

“That is the truth, shithead.” Robin scoffs.

“Tell us or we kill her.”

Steve’s anxiety heightens when he walks to the girl behind him, on edge. “No, no. Me! Hurt me, not her!”

Robin waits for the pain but is surprised when the man circles back around, towards the door to their right. They both watch as it is swung open and someone is dragged in, a long streak of red running down the side of their face. You.

“Y/n!” They both yell and Steve immediately feels his heart drop.

“Now then,” The man smiles as they bring another chair in, situated where they both can see, and you are strapped down into it, head hung low. “Who do you work for?”

A choked sob leaves Robin’s lips as Steve sits frozen in fear. Eight months you had survived here. And it had all come crashing down because of a stupid mistake he had made.

“Please.” Robin begs, eyes staying on the wound to your head.

“She doesn’t have anything to do with this.” Steve tries and the man simply nods.

“Very well.” He snaps his fingers and another man enters the room, dressed in a white lab coat. ‘The Doctor’, they assumed.

The Doctor walks over to you and picks up the scalpel they had tried and failed to obtain earlier. In a swift motion, he brings it to your neck, causing them to scream out.

“No!”

“Stop!”

He holds it there while the man in charge laughs bitterly. “How sweet.”

“What the hell kind of doctor are you?” Robin pants. Her breath hitches once you begin to stir awake, a quiet groan leaving your lips as you blink away one hell of a burning headache.

“Ah, finally.” The man stands and walks to you. “For a moment, I thought we had hit you a little too hard.”

He takes the scalpel out of the doctors hand and takes his place, tugging hard at your hair to bring your face up.

“Leave her alone.” Steve spits out and you finally focus on the situation.

You had tried your best, you did, but you couldn’t help the whimper that left your lips when you felt the cool metal blade against your throat.

“Who do you work for?” He said again and your heart raced faster.

“Scoops Ahoy!” Robin yells, practically kicking and screaming, “It’s a shitty underpaid job that we had to get because of our shitty overpaid parents, okay? Just don’t hurt her!”

“I don’t like that answer.” He shrugs and slices at your throat enough to start tearing the skin, a trickle of blood slipping down as they yelled out. He stops pushing before he makes any real damage. “One last chance.”

Steve looks directly into your eyes and he feels sick. He’s stuck in a chair, the fight already leaving him from the torture, and you were one slice away from death. And he couldn’t do anything to help.

Death didn’t really scare you anymore. In fact, you’d been expecting it for a while. But knowing that your best friend would have to watch the life drain from your eyes? Not a single cell in your body could allow him to see that.

So, you did what you had to. You lied.

“They don’t know anything because they don’t know I’m a spy.” You choke out and Steve’s eyes widen. He knew you were lying, after all he had known you for years. He just couldn’t believe you were going to sacrifice yourself for them.

“Finally.” The man chuckles.

“She’s lying.” Steve blurts and you try and shake your head at him. What was he doing?

The man looks between you both with a scowl on his face. “I am not finding this humouring any more.”

“Just let them go and I’ll tell you everything.” You insist.

“No, he’s right, she’s lying.” Robin chimes in. She didn’t know you well but you had proven yourself to her long before this moment. There was no way she was letting either of her friends die down here.

You could almost cry at their words. They didn’t know you had given up. You needed an escape just like they did. But ‘escape’ meant very different things.

“Hm.” The man beside you slowly nods, bringing the knife down from your neck. “It seems no one wants to tell the truth.”

“Or you just won’t accept the truth.” You grumble and he laughs at you.

“I like you.” He continues to chuckle, The Doctor beside you hiding a snicker. “You are feisty.”

“You have no idea.” You spit, trying to think of a way out. You knew what was coming next. This wasn’t your first encounter with The Doctor.

The man nods his head briefly and The Doctor walks to his table, messing about with vials of blue liquid you’ve come into contact with one too many times. He stands in front of Steve with a scowl on his face.

“Try telling the truth this time, yes?” He strokes the hair out of Steve’s face. “It will make your visit with Dr. Zharkov less painful.”

“Wait a second, wait. Wait, wait, wait!” Steve tries to scurry away from the giant needle headed his way and you struggle against your restraints.

“No!” You yell, “Leave him alone you mudak!”

The Doctor abruptly stops, the needle barely a centimetre away from piercing Steve’s skin.

“What did you just say?” The man in uniform narrows his eyes and you smirk.

“I’m sorry,” You tilt your head, “did you want me to translate for you?”

“So… the little girl knows Russian, eh?” He steps closer to you and his hand flies to grab at your face, hard.

“Shit, leave her alone!” Steve panics as he watches the Doctor bring the needle towards you instead.

The needle is pointed at your neck and your breath hitches, your glare never leaving the man’s face.

“Change of plan.” He suddenly says and you frown. “We should not give this American what she wants.”

The Doctor smiles before turning and plunging the needle into Steve’s neck.

You and Robin scream, thrashing about so much it would give you whiplash. Then, the needle is injected into Robin’s skin and you feel the colour drain from your face. You knew what the serum did; calming your nerves just enough to send you a little loopy, perfecting the vulnerable state that would make you spill out information to anyone who asked.

But you knew that most people didn’t survive it unless they could reject it from their systems in the next hour. You just needed to remember how to get the drug out. You needed to remember.

You squeeze your eyes shut as The Doctor approaches you, finding no reason to fight. The last you felt was the sharp prick of cool metal against your skin.

To be continued…

#steve harrington #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington one shot #steve #stranger things #stranger things x reader #stranger things imagine #stranger things 3 #stranger things fanfic #the battle of starcourt #fanfic

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ronancexists · 10 months

Text

Ronance/Platonic Stobin drabble that may become a story if I have the motivation for it (and if enough people that like it and actually want more) 😅

~~~

Robin huffed exhaustedly as she flopped onto Nancy's bed, ignoring the other woman's huff of annoyance as the sudden movement jostled the papers that had been spread out on the cover.

"Rough day?" Nancy asked, gathering the papers she had been using to study for her upcoming calculus test in her arms and setting them on the nightstand. She then shifted her gaze to Robin, who had flung an arm across her face while Nancy adjusted herself so she was lying on her back, turning her head to stare at Robin.

"The roughest," Robin agreed.

"Want to talk about it?" Nancy offered.

Robin merely shook her head, removing her arm so she could meet Nancy's gaze.

Nancy's entire demeanor softened when she noticed the red-rimmed and teary eyes. "Come here," she murmured, holding her arms out as an invitation.

Robin accepted the invitation, diving into Nancy's arms just as a fresh round of sobs escaped her. Her entire chest was heaving as tears streamed down her face, creating a wet spot on one of Nancy's favorite shirts.

The journalist would worry about that later. For now, her sole focus was on her beautiful yet devastated girlfriend who was an inconsolable mess in her arms.

"It's ok Robs, I'm here," Nancy whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Robin's head as her arms tightened around the younger woman. "I'm here, I've got you."

Robin let out a choked whimper, nails digging into Nancy's arms. She wanted to tell Nancy, she did, but she couldn't get the words out. The memory had been replaying in her mind on a loop since she had left Family Video in a rush.

~~~

Robin arched an eyebrow as Steve sighed in boredom for what had to be the millionth time since their shift started less than an hour ago. "Knock it off, dingus," she said.

"But Robbie, I'm sooooo bored," he said, looking at her with sad puppy dog eyes.

She merely rolled her eyes at the childish man. "Really? I couldn't tell."

"You're so mean," Steve said, sticking his tongue out as Robin flicked him off.

"But you love me anyways," Robin said through a grin, ignoring the flicker of guilt that passed through her at the fact that Steve still didn't know that she and Nancy had become a thing.

After everything that happened at Starcourt, Steve had been the one to drive Robin to the Byers home, where everything about the Upside Down had been explained to her, starting from Will's disappearance all the way up to what she had just witnessed at the mall.

Of course, it wasn't an easy explanation to get through as everyone wanted to contribute and pitch in their own versions of what they had experienced, but they managed to get through it with a question here and there from Robin.

Much to everyone's surprise, she had taken everything in stride. Though they supposed it was much easier to take in after you had witnessed the Mind Flayer and been drugged and tortured by evil Russians.

Everyone spent that night at the Byers, dispersed throughout the living room. The older teens took the couches while the younger ones piled onto the floor in a mountain of blankets and pillows and intertwined limbs.

Steve and Robin fell asleep a few inches apart on the couch, but when they woke up, Steve's arm was around Robin's waist and his head was resting on her shoulder, puffs of breath hitting the freckled woman's neck. They sprang apart rather quickly, but after a few nights, it became their thing.

And a few days after that, Robin unofficially moved with Steve. With both of their parents never home, she was practically at his house every day. She got her own bedroom, but one of them always ended up in the other's bed. Steve started driving her to and from work, even on nights they weren't scheduled together (which was a rare occasion).

A few weeks later, Nancy had called out of the blue to check up on Robin and see how she was handling everything. The younger woman confessed that she was still having nightmares and sought out Nancy's advice on how to make them disappear. Nancy offered to come pick her up and take them somewhere to go eat, and Robin readily agreed.

Their friendship was tentative, but after everything that had happened with Vecna/Henry/One, it blossomed. Nancy had never met anyone like Robin, who so easily went along with her ideas, never doubting her for even a second. Someone who was sarcastic and intelligent and quite the rambler. She had also never met a woman as beautiful as Robin, and it made her question everything she thought she knew about herself, especially when Robin finally worked up the courage to tell her that she was into girls.

After Robin's nervous confession, it was like everything clicked into place for Nancy. Without hesitation, she cupped Robin's cheeks in her hands and leaned in, pressing her lips against Robin's as she had been dreaming about for days. She had thought she had made a horrible mistake and was on the verge of pulling away when Robin finally reciprocated the kiss. Electricity crackled between them, running through their veins and leaving them absolutely breathless and dazed when they finally pulled apart.

Shortly after, the two began dating, though not without a thorough conversation about everything that had happened between Nancy and Steve. Nancy confessed that yes, she had hurt Steve, but he had also hurt her by trying to pretend as though nothing ever happened, as if her best friend in the entire world, Barb, hadn't been murdered by some vicious creature in a haunted world that mirrored their town.

Robin told Nancy that Steve was her best friend, her platonic partner, and that yes, she really, really liked Nancy and absolutely wanted to date her and be her girlfriend, but she didn't want to do anything that would hurt him or make him feel as though Robin had betrayed him.

Nancy reassured Robin that Steve wanted nothing more than for the both of them to be happy, and that he wouldn't have a problem with the two of them being together. She understood that if Robin really believed they shouldn't be together because of him, she would step away from the younger woman, as heartbreaking as it would be to do so.

Robin was certain she fell even harder for Nancy in that moment, and pressed a firm, loving kiss to the journalist's lips. "Wish me luck," she said.

"Good luck," Nancy said, chastely kissing Robin before she escorted her downstairs and to the front door, where Steve was waiting to pick her up so they could head to work together.

That had been earlier in the day, and now, Robin's heart was beating ferociously in her chest. Her hands felt sweaty, her eyes were zeroing in on everything except for Steve, and her mouth felt extremely dry. She couldn't help but to fiddle with her rings, inhaling and exhaling deeply to try and calm her nerves.

Of course with Steve being an expert on everything Robin, he instantly sensed the shift in the air, a concerned frown adorning his face when he noticed Robin was playing with her rings. She only did that when she was extremely bored or when she was utterly nervous about something. "You alright Robbie?" he asked, brow pinching in concern as she looked at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"Y-yeah, yeah, of course. Everything is completely and totally fine. Why wouldn't it be? I'm working with my absolute best friend in the entire world who happens to be none other than Steve "the Hair" Harrington. Hey, don't you think it's funny that your nickname also matches your last name? Because I do. I think it's absolutely hilarious, actually. Even though it's not spelled the same as the type of hair that's on your head, it still makes for a really funny thing. God, it's really hot in here. It's making my head spin. Is your head spinning, Stevie? Because mine is."

"Robin," Steve interrupted, placing his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Breathe with me. In, and out. In, and out," he instructed, exaggerating his own breathing until Robin's breaths were slowing down and matching his. "There ya go. Nice and easy."

"Thanks," she whispered, pressing her forehead against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him tight.

"You're welcome," he replied, hugging her just as tight. "Want to tell me what that was all about?" Steve questioned as they pulled apart, looking at her expectantly.

"Not particularly, no," she said, slender fingers instantly going to twist her rings around and around and around.

"You know you can tell me anything," Steve insisted, staring directly into Robin's eyes to prove he was serious, his frown returning when Robin tore her eyes away from his own.

"Promise you won't get mad? That you'll let me explain?" she asked, and Steve absolutely hated how her voice trembled.

"I promise Robbie, I swear it."

Robin inhaled sharply, steeling herself before meeting his concerned gaze. "I'm dating Nancy."

She flinched away from Steve as though she was expecting him to hit her. What she didn't expect was for Steve to brace himself on the counter, in absolute tears due to how hard he was laughing.

"You! A-and Nancy!" he spluttered, gasping for air as he continued to chuckle. "That's a good one. Really, that was fantastic. Oh, you just made my day."

Robin scowled, hands on her hips as she sent a death glare his way. "I'm being serious, you asshole."

Steve looked up at Robin, his amusement fading into confusion. "You're serious?"

"Yes, dingus. I'm serious. Nancy and I have been together for a few weeks now. I've been dying to tell you but I didn't know how to. I know you guys hurt one another and you're slowly becoming friends again and I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that but God, Steve, Nancy is absolutely amazing. She's passionate and brilliant and kind and a badass and cares so deeply even though she's been so badly hurt in the past and she doesn't even—"

"You and Nancy?!" Steve exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch. "You and Nancy Wheeler?! The very same Nancy Wheeler you declared was a priss in the bathroom at Starcourt?! The Nancy Wheeler you know tore my heart up before stomping on it?! Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister Nancy Wheeler?!"

"Yes Steve, that Nancy Wheeler!" Robin shouted back in exasperation. "Do you know another badass woman named Nancy Wheeler?!"

Steve's mouth flailed open and shut as he tried to come up with a response.

Robin softened as she took notice of how confused and hurt Steve was. "I never meant to hurt you, Stevie. That's why I'm telling you. I'm just a girl whose in love with another girl who happens to be your ex. That's all."

"That's all?" Steve repeated sarcastically, venom dripping off every word. "Robin, you know what she did to me. You know how much she hurt me and how devastated I was. Hell, you were the one to comfort me when I would get down on myself about our relationship and talked me out of calling her like the drunken idiot we both know I can be! Was that all just some ploy to keep me from her so you could have her all to yourself?!"

Robin narrowed her eyes at her friend, ignoring the tears that were beginning to gather due to Steve's accusation. "No, Steve, it's nothing like that. I fell for Nancy because of who she is, not because it would hurt you. That's the whole reason I wanted to talk to you. I didn't want to keep this from you any longer because I knew you would react like this!"

"Like what?!"

"Like this! Accusing me of shit you know I would never do! You're my best friend, Steve James Harrington, and I would never do anything that would jeopardize our friendship!"

"Well you did, Robin! Out of all the girls in Hawkins to date, you chose Nancy!"

"You know that I have to be careful and that I actually don't have many options in this small, homophobic, bumfuck of a town," Robin growled, practically nose to nose with Steve.

"Well it's not my fault that it's unnatural, now is it?"

Both of them froze in place as soon as the question dropped from his lips, Robin heartbroken and in disbelief while Steve was horrified and shocked.

"Rob, I—"

"Fuck you, Steve," she spat, ripping her Family Video vest off her person and slamming it onto the counter, enjoying how it made Steve flinch.

Steve faltered as he reached out for Robin, the devastation and resignation in her eyes breaking his heart more than Nancy ever did.

"You are the one person I trusted," Robin said, swallowing past the lump in her throat. "I never thought in a million years that you of all people would be the one I trusted with that part of myself, because you were an absolute douchebag in high school. But you managed to get me to open up to you and despite all of my instincts telling me not to, I did. I trusted you because you weren't King Steve anymore, but clearly I was wrong. You haven't changed, and you never will."

With that, Robin rushed past Steve and out the door. She ran straight to Steve's car, grabbed her bike out of the trunk, and pedaled as hard and as fast as she could, ignoring Steve's desperate calls for her to come back. She paid no attention to the tears streaming down her face. There was only one thing on her mind.

She needed to get to Nancy.

~~~

Nancy wasn't sure how much time had passed since Robin had broken down in her arms. All she knew was that something had to have gone terribly wrong between Robin and Steve for her girlfriend to be so inconsolable and so obviously crushed.

"I've got you Robin, I promise. I'm here for you, whatever you need," Nancy vowed quietly so as not to further overwhelm her girlfriend.

"Thank you," Robin replied, her voice even raspier than normal.

"There's no need to thank me," the journalist said, smiling down at the the younger teen.

"I got snot all over your favorite shirt," Robin mumbled, a small grin appearing as Nancy chuckled.

"You're more important than a shirt, Robin."

"Mmhmm," she agreed through a yawn, snuggling closer to Nancy.

Nancy simply held her girlfriend tighter, running a hand through Robin's hair to help soothe her to sleep. "I love you, Robin."

"Love you too, Nance," she said, looking at the curly-haired brunette with half-lidded eyes.

"I'll be here when you wake," Nancy assured her, absolutely melting when Robin promptly closed her eyes and dozed off within minutes.

While she wasn't sure about the specifics of what went down between the two friends, she was sure about one thing.

Steve Harrington was a dead man.

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goldenmorningglory · 2 years

Text

the idea of will sacrificing himself (not dying) to the upside down so the gates can be closed and being assumed gone for 2 years only to return when vecna begins his final move is something i can't get out of my head.

like imagine will can close the gates with touch. because his essense has vecna and the gates automatically close cause of that (idk the technicalities). imagine him realising that if he himself entered the upside down, he could essentially close every gate opened.

imagine him walking to a gate and mike, shaky with disbelief and drawing horror following him, trying to stop him. imagine will turning around and smiling, "i know how to save hawkins mike. I'm casting protection." imagine him teary eyed going, "I wanted you to know, telling you that el asked me to make that painting was the only lie i ever told you." imagine will turning around and slipping into one of the gates and all around the gates closing. mike collapsing to the ground as the party gathers around. mike silent with shock as nancy holds him. el's cries rending the air.

imagine two years later and the party's in a different place, but stuck toegther even then. separating feels risky even now, when the upside down has remained dormant for two years. max had awoken days after will's disappearance. will had saved her from vecna's mind by somehow piggybacking vecna's own mind and cloaking his presence. now she's well on her way to recovery, but the shadow of will stays.

so imagine the party everyday, going to school coming back, doing homework and having fun even as they all feel the loss everyday. mike is the worst hit. he'd still, 2 years hence, turn around and talk to will before he catches himself. mike takes one look at the painting that's still rolled up in his room and runs for the bathroom because the idea that till the end, he didn't know how will was so brave, makes him sick to the stomach.

so imagine mike coming down the stairs, sitting down to pretend he has any appetite for breakfast before school when he hears it.

"Reports of outages are coming in from various parts of Indiana. The people have been assured that it's the effect of the recent cloudbursts that have hit the state. In other news, 12 year old James Frank was found after an anonymous tip was called in near the place that marked the disappearance of Will Byers back in 1983. James told the police that the young man who called in the tip told him to not reveal his identity. He also said that he was saved from a "dark and cold place" by the young man. The search is on for the anonymous good samaritan. Meanwhile the residents of Indiana wonder if the town of Hawkins is having its curse revive."

Mike looking at Nancy and Nancy knows. Her brother won't rest until they're back. The radio is cackling with all their friend's voices. They all heard.

They come back to the town. Hawkins is as Hawkins has been, sleepy and cold in a way no place, even actual Polar regions could be. They stay at Hoppers Cabin that they maintained and visited every other month.

It's nighttime and the news meanwhile tells them of mysterious animal killings in the woods. Nancy and Jonathan have a hunch so they get out of the house, armed to the teeth. Sure enough they can hear the demogorgon growl and it's almost a familiar memory, the fear. This demogorgon is sharper though. It sneaks and prowls and before they know it, it's leaping out at their backs, mouth open with many more razor sharp teeth than before.

They're armed though and ready to use it when the demogorgon stops midstep and its head falls to the ground. In a second, the shadow that downed it has gotten out a lighter and burned the monster.

"Are you out of your mind? Don't you know how dangerous these woods are? You could have been killed!"

Jonathan brings his torch up from the burning demogorgon to the persons face. In the steady light of his flashlight and the flickering of the flames, Jonathan and Nancy gasp.

"Will...?"

His brother is older. His hair is a shaggier, unkempt version of Jon's own, tied at the back. The shock on his face doesn't hide the grime, the hardness in his eyes. But the hardness can't hide the kindness that has always been Will either. This is a Will who has seen and dealt with horrors on such a daily basis that it has changed him as a person but kept his soul the same.

"Jon- Jonathan?"

If nothing, the softness in his voice speaks to who he is.

Will was found again and that's where the final battle starts.

The reappearance of will byers.

#stranger things #stranger things s5 #stranger things theories #will byers #mike wheeler #byler #eleven jane hopper #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #dustin henderson #stranger things spoilers

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lonesome-witching · 7 months

Text

That's My Fiancée

Another prompt from @rabbitofdeath-atcastleaarrggh. This one is somewhat of a follow up to Engagement Talks but can totally be read independently.

You can read my previous prompts or send me some new ones.

Robin priced herself lucky that she wasn’t often scheduled to work with Keith. In fact, she never really was. But unfortunately he was still her manager and once every month he would supervise one of her and Steve’s shifts. And today was that day.

So far, all Keith had done was nap on the breakroom couch and flirt with female costumers. It was annoying enough. But at least he had stopped hitting on her.

“Do you think I could get away with drawing a mustache on his face while he sleeps?” Robin asked, leaning against the counter

“Probably,” Steve replied without looking up from his magazine.

Robin chuckled. “Do you have a marker?”

“No.”

“Well, shit. There goes my afternoon entertainment.”

“Bring your own markers next time.” Steve turned the page of the magazine.

Maybe she would have been annoyed with that reply on any other day. Just like she would have been more annoyed with Keith. But today she couldn’t be bothered, today all she thought about was the diamond ring that she had put on Nancy’s finger.

The bell above the door echoed through the nearly empty store. Robin turned around with the shadow of a smile still present on her face.

“Nancy?”

Steve looked up. “Hi, Nance.”

“Hi,” Nancy replied as the door to the breakroom opened.

“Nancy, how can I help you today?” Keith pushed his way in front of Robin and Steve.

“I can help her,” Robin interjected.

“No, no, that is fine. You and Steve can shelf the returns and the box of new releases that’s in the back.” He waved his hand at them.

“But—”

“Robin, go shelf those movies.”

She nodded her head with a soft groan. Begrudgingly she walked around the store, pushing tapes into their rightful spot. It was a tedious job, but she didn’t mind it. What she did mind was Keith grating voice.

“You know, Nancy, I am single at the moment,” Keith said. He was leaning on the counter.

“Good for you, I’m not,” Nancy replied, looking over his shoulder at her girlfriend. At her fiancée.

“Well, I was hoping we could grab some dinner. I’m free tonight.”

“I’m afraid I can’t. I have plans and I’m in a relationship.”

“Maybe this Friday?”

“Keith, I’m not going to go out with you.”

“Oh, come on, Nancy. We both know you want me.”

Nancy’s polite smile fell off her face, her eyes searching for Robin and finding the other girl looking at her.

“Keith, I really don’t.”

He reached out, his fingers grabbing Nancy’s arm. “Come on, Nancy.”

She pulled her arm back. “Please stop.”

“Your boyfriend doesn’t need to know. He’s not here.”

Robin dropped the tape she was holding. Her blood was boiling, and this boy may be her manager, but he was not going to get away with this. She took the few steps to the counter.

“Actually, Keith, that’s my fiancée,” she said with a tight-lipped smile and daggers in her eyes.

Nancy bit her bottom lip as she held up her hand, showing of her diamond ring.

Keith had the decency to look mortified. When he looks back over to Nancy, she is flipping him the bird with a bright smile on her face. He pushed his way past the girls and out the store.

Steve stood looking at them for a second. “You’re engaged?”

Robin couldn’t even get a word in before he pulled them both into a hug, squeezing them close.

“Yeah, we are,” Nancy said as Steve let them go.

“I’m so happy for the both of you. And the way you handled Keith was incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if he never set foot in this store again.”

“What can I say? That’s my fiancée.” Nancy leaned to press her lips against Robin’s cheek.

#prompts #ronance #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #my work #stranger things #fanfic #robin x nancy #nancy x robin

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steddieas-shegoes · 1 year

Note

For the requests: Steve has a good relationship with his parents & when they come back from wherever & someone (Nancy/Robin) tells them about the UD & his parents react by calling out every single adult involved. Maybe he got badly hurt, & they were called in & upon finding out they call out Joyce, Hop, Owens & Murray for the way no adult inthese kids lives had any clue about what their kids were going through. Nor were their parents given notice esp bc having underaged kids sign NDAs is not legal nor legally binfing (Maybe all the parents of the party kids are there and get all the info just like the Harrington's)

MY DARLING! LIGHT OF MY LIFE! HONESTLY this one hit different. You know how much I love making Steve suffer and when he has good parents, a lot of his suffering disappears. But it was nice to branch out a bit. Also finally some common sense! KIDS SHOULD NEVER BE SIGNING AN NDA THEMS THE FACTS! Steve's parents are here to fight for everyone so WELCOME TO THE CHAOS OF STEVE'S OVERPROTECTIVE LAWYER PARENTS! - Mickala ❤️

--------------------------------------------------

Steve Harrington had managed to avoid the hospital for years. Not because he shouldn’t have gone, but because he refused to go.

But this time, he was unconscious, which means he didn’t have a choice.

And now, staring at his parents’ shocked and appalled faces next to his bed, he realized he wished he’d just died, actually.

“This happens…often?” Anne Harrington asked Dr. Owens, who looked like he wished he was also dead.

“It does happen more often than we like. But it appears to be fixed now! Steven has been a wonderful asset to us, which is why we want to make sure he is comfortable and all his medical expenses are paid.”

He handled that well, Steve thought.

“And this is the first time anyone has bothered to call us?” Richard Harrington asked much too quietly.

That was his ‘I’m about to lose my shit’ voice and Steve didn’t have the energy to deal with it.

“I do apologize, we had to deal with enough NDAs as it is,” Dr. Owens replied, not realizing that he was speaking to two lawyers who were about to ruin his life.

Steve let his head rest against the pillow of the hospital bed, sighing.

“At what age did Steve sign his first NDA?”

“I believe he was 16.”

“And did he have a lawyer present?” Anne didn’t wait for a response before continuing. “I can tell you he didn’t. We’re his lawyers and we were not even called. Are you the one in charge of this shitshow?”

It wasn’t often Anne Harrington said a curse word. Steve only ever heard it a handful of times, usually after hanging up with a client who would lose their case.

“I am one of the people who is tasked with this, yes. But if you don’t mind, I need to check in with a few people before I can truly devote time to this conversation.”

“Oh, please. Continue on with your day. Don’t mind us sitting next to our son in the hospital.”

Dr. Owens sighed, knowing this fight was barely even starting, and left the room.

Steve’s parents turned to him.

“How many concussions have you had?”

“Why didn’t you call us?”

“Who else knows about this?”

“Will this happen again?”

The questions were too much, and Steve’s head was pounding. He couldn’t do this right now.

“Hopper.”

“Jim Hopper? I thought he died.”

Admittedly, his parents had been out of town for a while. They didn’t know Hopper was back as of a few months ago, and probably didn’t realize he’d taken over as chief again.

“He didn’t. He’s around here somewhere.”

“He knew about all this?”

“Mom, I love you, but my head is splitting down the middle. I need to stop talking.”

Anne slowly brushed her hand through his hair, planting a kiss on his forehead.

“Of course, honey. We’ll be back soon. Do not sign anything without us here, okay?”

“Okay.”

His dad briefly touched his shoulder before they both left the room.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

Until he was woken up by yelling.

Not just any yelling. Richard Harrington yelling.

If he wasn’t chained to the bed by an IV and blood transfusion bag, he would be up and in the hallway.

Apparently, he didn’t need to worry, though.

His mom came into the room, leaving the door open to the hallway so he could hear everything.

“I’m glad you’re awake, honey. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Who is he yelling at?”

“Every adult who didn’t bother to take care of you the way they should. Not just you, but all of these kids,” she said, tone more annoyed by the second.

“I don’t understand.”

“Honey, you’ve been protecting these kids in ways you never should have had to. All these adults who were involved never told any of us what was going on. They let you keep standing in the line of fire, getting hurt, seeing things you shouldn’t have to and never even bothered to call us. You signed NDAs with the government without parents or lawyers present. That alone is illegal, do you understand that?”

“So I’m in trouble?”

“Oh, honey, no. You’re not in trouble. Your dad’s having a few words with the chief and Dr. Owens.”

Steve tuned in to what was being said in the hall.

“I cannot fathom what you’ve done. Expecting these children to save this town, the world, and not even have their own parents know? Who are they supposed to turn to? You? And what have you done to help them? As far as I’m concerned, you should be arrested and imprisoned. If I have anything to say about it, you will!”

“Mom, can you please get him to stop? I know he’s upset, but Hop really protected us a lot, okay? And Dr. Owens was just doing his job.”

“A lot of people have just been doing their jobs instead of considering that maybe children shouldn’t be responsible for defeating actual monsters.”

Well. Yeah, she did have a point there.

“Where is everyone?”

Anne sat on the edge of his bed, holding his hand, running her thumb along the back of it.

“The Munson boy is in the room next door, he’ll be okay. Robin is home with her parents. Most of the kids are now with their parents, but that Sinclair boy is still being watched for concussion symptoms.”

Steve sighed with relief.

No one was lost. Everyone had pretty minor injuries. Maybe he was able to protect everyone.

“That Dustin boy is relentless,” Anne said with a smile. “He really looks up to you.”

“Yeah, he’s like a brother to me.”

“His mom didn’t know about any of this either, did she?”

Steve thought about it.

Honestly, she probably had some idea. Maybe not of the real details, but she had to know Dustin was involved in something he couldn’t talk about. Same with most of the parents.

But Steve’s parents were gone a lot. Their main office was in Boston, and they would often have to travel around the country for their clients. He was used to not seeing them, only getting to talk to them on the phone once or twice a week.

It’s easy to hide shit over the phone, and when they did manage to make it home, the Upside Down monsters were safely tucked away underground.

They had no way of knowing anything was wrong. He did it on purpose, just like all of the kids did.

Even without signing the NDAs, he’s pretty sure they wouldn’t have told their parents.

“I think we just thought we were protecting you guys.”

“Honey, it’s not your job to protect us. It’s our job to protect you.”

She looked so sad.

Steve didn’t want her to be sad.

“Mom, you couldn’t have done anything. And we’re all safe.”

His dad walked in the room, face red. He closed the door behind him and ran his hand over his face.

“Doctor said Steve can go when the nurse comes to disconnect him from everything soon,” he said, coming to sit in the chair by his bed.

“That’s good news. We’ll get you home and settled. We canceled our flight out so we can stick around for a while and make sure you’re okay,” Anne said with a smile.

“You guys don’t have to cancel your trip. Your clients need you.”

“Not as much as you need us, son,” Richard said, giving him a soft smile.

“I’ve handled it before, though.”

“And you shouldn’t have. Trust me, this town, the government, they’ve got a shit storm coming and I’m leading it,” his dad huffed.

A knock interrupted Steve’s response, the door opening slightly before they answered.

Eddie.

“Steve? You okay?”

Steve’s parents looked at the door, then back at Steve, who was doing his best to hide the fond smile on his face.

It wasn’t working though, not when he saw the way Eddie was trying to take inventory of his injuries from across the room.

“You can come in, Eds.”

“Who’s this, honey?” Anne asked.

“This is Eddie.”

“Oh! You poor thing. I heard all about what you’ve been through. Let me just say, if we had caught wind of it earlier and knew you were Steve’s friend, we would’ve been representing you in court,” Anne rushed to say, her hands fluttering over Eddie’s when he got next to the bed.

Eddie’s wide eyes would have been amusing if Steve didn’t worry that he might run for the hills at the care his parents showed.

“Uh. Thank you?”

“Do you need anything right now? Do your parents need anything?” Richard asked, sitting forward in his chair, business face on.

“Um, just me and my uncle, but no. I’m heading home, but wanted to check on Steve before I go.”

“Of course! You guys are close friends?”

It was an innocent question. His parents just liked to know who was in his life, that’s all. But Eddie looked at him with panic written all over his face.

Steve gave him a small smile, then turned to his parents.

“Actually, he’s my boyfriend.”

They were quiet for a moment, which Steve expected. No matter how well he thought they’d take it, he knew it would be a shock.

But his parents didn’t let him down.

“How long have you been together, Steve?”

“Since March. Four months?” He watched as Eddie started to back away, probably expecting the worst.

Anne smacked Steve’s arm, forgetting for a moment that he was in the hospital for a reason.

“Sorry,” she said before crossing her arms. “You’ve had a boyfriend for four months and didn’t tell us? We could have come back and arranged dinner to meet him. I’m so sorry our son is rude, Eddie. He wasn’t raised that way, I assure you.”

Eddie’s jaw dropped.

“Um. What’s happening right now?”

“We’ll be home for a while to make sure Steve is alright. We’d love to have you over for dinner soon. With your uncle if you’d like,” Richard added as Eddie just stared between them.

“What do you like? I just got a new cookbook that has so many European dishes I want to try. Are you a fan of Polish food? You know what, no, what about Greek? We haven’t had good Greek food in so long.”

Steve was laughing, he couldn’t help it.

“Steve, what the hell is going on here?”

“Eddie, that’s my mom, Anne, and my dad, Richard. They’re kind of the best, and apparently they want you and Wayne to come for dinner. Think you can find time in your schedule?”

“Uh.”

“Oh dear. Do you have a concussion? They should monitor you kids better,” Anne worried, moving her hands up to cup his cheeks and look in his eyes. “Should I get a nurse?”

“No, mom, he’s okay. He just expected you two to freak out.”

“About what?”

“The fact he’s a man.”

“Oh! I do suppose that’s a reasonable concern.”

“Eddie, let me ask you this: do you make Steve happy?” Richard asked.

“I think so.”

“And he makes you happy?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then it sounds like we have no reason to be upset. Now, dinner? Maybe tomorrow night?”

“Okay.”

Steve laughed loudly.

“Eds, come here,” Steve gestured for him to come closer.

Eddie moved next to the bed, his arm bandaged, and a new cut with stitches in it on his forehead.

“Closer.”

Eddie leaned in.

Steve leaned up and kissed his lips. Just a quick peck, just enough to get the point across that this was really okay and really happening.

“Tomorrow at 6?” Steve asked before he pulled away completely.

Eddie nodded.

“And please bring your uncle, we need to discuss our plan for a lawsuit on behalf of all of you,” Richard spoke up from his chair.

“Oh. Yes, sir.” Eddie pulled away from the bed, nervously playing with his rings.

“Richard is fine, son.”

Eddie was blushing, which Steve was absolutely going to make fun of him for later.

“See you tomorrow, then?” Eddie asked awkwardly.

“Love you, Eds.”

“Oh. Uh. Yep. Love you too, Stevie.”

He raced out of the room, leaving Steve and Anne laughing quietly.

“Poor boy. Didn’t know what to do, did he?”

“No, I think he isn’t used to a positive reaction when people find out about him.”

“His uncle knows about you two, though, right?”

“Yeah, Wayne’s been great.”

“Good. Well, I’m going to find a nurse so we can go home. You should be comfortable in your own bed.”

“And I am going to make a quick call to my buddy in Chicago to see if he can pull some information on this Owens guy. We have a lot of work to do.”

Steve was used to this. For some kids, maybe this wasn’t good parenting. Maybe his parents being gone for a lot of his life had a negative impact.

But Steve never doubted how much they loved him. They still came home for every birthday, every Christmas. They still managed to take a family vacation every year. They gave him everything he needed and most of what he wanted. They supported him through everything, the proof right here in front of him now.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #the party #steve harrington has good parents for once!!!#and they're about to fuck shit up!!!#ficlet #request

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constantlywriting1 · 2 years

Text

If Only I Could. Steve Harrington x F! Reader.

Summary: You and Steve work next to each other and visit one another often. You love to banter with him but you don't know whether or not you could actually see yourself with him. That question will be answered sooner than you think.

Word Count: 2444

A/N: This is a pretty fluffy fic. There's some light smooching but it's pretty clean compared to some of my other stuff lol.

You waited at the cash register as a few patrons roamed around the record store. It had been a long and boring shift and you couldn’t wait to get home. That was until a worker from the video store next door made his way inside. Steve Harrington had been visiting you almost every day since you had begun working at the record store. He wasn’t very sneaky with his endeavors but it was charming. You had even begun to pop into the video store on your breaks and you couldn’t lie, it was fun.

“Hey, you get any new cassette’s?” He shouted over to you.

“I don’t know why don’t you look.” You teased.

Steve couldn’t help the smirk that appeared on his face. “You know you could try being a little nicer to such a loyal customer.” He replied.

“Oh, a loyal customer are you?”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, but I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.” He smiled while sifting through the cassettes.

You checked out a couple of customers before Steve made his way to the register. “How’s it been so far?”

“Eh, pretty dead so far, how about you guys?” you questioned.

“Yeah, it’s not even my break right now so I made time to come see my favorite neighbor.” He said, causing a small chuckle to escape your lips.

“Okay smooth guy, why don’t you go try that on your Hawkins High girls.” You shot back.

Steve put his hand to his heart and pretend you had physically injured him. “Wow, that actually hurt.”

“Well, sometimes the truth does hurt.” You smirked.

Though you and Steve did have a very back-and-forth relationship you were worried you had taken it too far this time. He had been going on dates with almost every girl in Hawkins since Nancy broke up with him. Maybe it was too soon to joke about it but you couldn’t help it.

“Hey, I’m just trying to find Mrs. Right, don’t be jealous.” he attempted to defend himself.

“Jealous? That’s probably the funniest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” You replied.

“Oh come on admit it, you wish you were on my hit list.”

Both of you froze and looked at each other. Steve realized what he said and you tried hard not to laugh before calling him out on his phrasing.

“Your hit list Harrington? What the actual fuck.” You laughed.

“I didn’t mean to say it like that, you know what I meant.”

“No. you know I don’t think I do. Why don’t you just explain.” You continued, leaning on the counter and staring up at him with a big smile on your face.

He stood quiet for a moment and tried to think of anything he could say to justify his terminology. “Yeah there’s no way I can fix this can I?” he smirked.

“Nope, I don’t think there is.” You replied.

You looked down for a moment, trying to come up with something to do besides stare directly into Steve’s eyes. When you lifted your head Steve was smiling over at you.

“What?” You questioned, unable to stop the smile that crept onto your lips.

“Nothing, I just can’t believe you think my lines only work on girls still in high school.” He said, a little too seriously.

“Oh my god Harrington, you are actually unbearable.” You scoffed, rolling your eyes and turning away from him and toward the records behind you. To your surprise, Steve wasn’t giving up. He walked around the counter and stood across from you.

“Come on, we should go out sometime, I’m serious.” He continued.

You smiled and patiently waited for him to stop blubbering. “Listen, Steve, we’re better as friends. No offense but I don’t particularly want to be on your hit list.”

He seemed genuinely upset for a moment before quickly switching his demeanor. “You thought about it.” He forced out a small chuckle.

“Sure I did.” You smiled.

“I probably should get back to work, but I’ll talk to you later, okay?” He said, motioning toward the door as he backed away from the register.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.” You gave him a pitiful smile before returning to your job.

The night continued on slowly after that. You couldn’t help but wonder if Steve was being as serious as he seemed. It’s not that you didn’t like him, or that you didn’t imagine what it would be like to share a bed with him, but you couldn’t let yourself get into it. You knew how many girls Steve had been on dates with. Robin had told you how he was hoping to find the one, and you were certain that girl was not going to be you.

Suddenly you were dragged out of your thoughts by the main landline of the store ringing. You walked over to the phone and took it off the hook, immediately resighting the store's mandated pick-up line.

“Hey honey, I won’t be able to pick you up from work today, They put me on an extra shift so you’ll have to find another ride home.” Your mother said on the other line.

“Okay, I’ll probably just walk.” You replied, picking at your nails as she continued to speak.

“You shouldn’t walk, it’s not safe at night.” She suggested.

“I’ll be fine.” You tried to convince her, but she was not having it.

“No, get a ride home.” she insisted.

You sighed and agreed before hanging up the phone. Though she wouldn’t know whether or not you actually walked home you knew she only had your best interest at heart and that she was definitely right about it not being safe at night.

You walked out of the record store and locked the front door for closing. The video store was still open and looking through the window you could see Steve and Robin at the register.

“Hey guys,” you said as you opened the door, trying hard not to be awkward.

Steve looked up at you as if he were trying to figure out the words he wanted to say. Robin immediately perked up, moving in front of him to block the awkward eye contact. “Hey, what’s up?” She questioned.

“Nothing much I just closed up next door and my mom can’t pick me up so I need a ride.” You replied.

Robin froze, knowing that the question was for Steve. She moved over allowing you to see that he had not stopped looking in your direction.

Steve looked back and forth between you and Robin. “I need to bring Robin home-” He began but he was unable to finish as Robin but in.

“But I’m sure you can make two stops.” She added.

You continued to look at Steve who was still seeming extremely awkward. “Is that okay with you?”

“I mean, yeah that’s totally fine.” He replied with a strange smile.

When the video store finally closed you walked out and into the parking lot, allowing Robin to sit in the passenger seat beside Steve. You listened to them bicker and couldn’t help but laugh along as Robin kept making fun of your mutual friend.

Eventually, she was dropped off and you took her place in the front seat.

“You too are cute.” You teased.

“Nah, me and Robin are just friends.” He replied earnestly.

“Oh, so you are capable of having female friends.”

“Come on, am I really that bad?” He sighed.

“I’m just kidding Steve, just take a left up here.” You continued to give him directions until finally, you made it to your house.

You could tell that Steve was looking at the driveway, noticing that you were home alone. “What are you doing for the rest of the night?” You questioned.

“Probably going home.” He answered smugly.

“Do you want to come inside, I have some leftovers from the other night we could eat.” You suggested.

Steve thought about your offer for a moment. He wanted to respect that you just wanted to be his friend but you were the one who was inviting him inside. After some careful calculation, he shrugged his shoulders and turned off his car. “Yeah, sure.”

You got out of his car a lead the way into your house. As you unlocked the door and walked inside you realized that Steve had never been into your house. As he closed your front door he looked around your house and tried hard not to seem too interested in the place you lived.

“I have some spaghetti if you want.” You shouted from the kitchen.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” He replied. You took the bowl from the refrigerator and put it inside the microwave. You watched as Steve made his way over.

“So do you just live with your mom?” He asked, genuinely curious about your life.

You took a seat on the kitchen table, taking in a deep breath. “Do you really care?”

Steve rolled his eyes, clearly not finding your comment amusing this time. “You really think that low of me?” He sighed.

You smiled, not allowing his frown to get to you. “No, I don’t. It’s just hard to think of you actually wanting to know anything about a girl.”

“I was in a relationship for a while. You do know that right?” He said, moving so that he was leaning on the table next to you.

“Yeah I know that, but I know you too.” You smiled down at him.

“How. How do you know me because I visit you at work sometimes?” He was getting defensive again, but you kept calm.

“I’ve heard some things.” You chuckled.

“You listen to everything we hear?” He smirked moving a little bit closer to you so that his elbow was touching your thigh.

You looked down at his arm then back up at his eyes. His hair was swooped loosely over his face and you wanted so badly to brush it out of the way. You wanted to do so much with Steve, but before you could move the microwave beeped, pulling you back into reality.

You hopped off of the table and grabbed the bowl, giving it to Steve and walking up the stairs to your bedroom. He followed close behind you, eating his spaghetti as he walked.

When you got into your room Steve seemed mesmerized. Looking around he noticed the large music and movie posters that completely covered your walls. Then he looked over to your bed which has been almost the exact same since you were a child, which was easily evident by the teddy bear perfectly placed between your pillows.

“Oh god, is this yours?” He laughed, placing the bowl of spaghetti on your vanity and hopping onto your bed. You watched as he grabbed your teddy bear and shook it around.

“Ugh, yes it’s mine.” You said, quickly going over to the opposite side of your bed and snatching the bear out of his hands.

“It’s cute.” He teased.

You sat down on your bed and watched as Steve leaned onto your pillow and stared up at you with child-like glee. “Haha, very funny.” You said sarcastically, pushing his shoulder lightly.

“No I’m serious, it’s cute,” he repeated, this time with no sort of sarcasm in his voice.

The two of you looked at each other for a while, comfortable in your silence. Once you felt as though you were falling too deeply into his gaze you force yourself to look away. “You're the worst.” You scoffed playfully.

When you looked back at Steve he was still staring up at you.

“Why don’t you like me.” He genuinely asked.

You weren’t able to ignore him this time. He was being serious and there was no other way to interpret it. You straightened yourself out and held your teddy bear a little closer.

“I do like you.” You replied sheepishly. “It’s just, you go on a lot of dates with a lot of different girls, and who’s to say you won’t just blow right past me and move on to the next.”

From looking at his face you could tell you had made a point he wasn’t able to completely deny. “I know that’s kinda weird but your different and I’m not just saying that. I talk to you almost every day, I’ve never done that with any of those girls.” He tried to convince you.

You smiled sadly at him, knowing he was being honest.

“I don’t just wanna be your friend. I really like you.” He continued.

You sucked your teeth. It was hard not to believe him. You looked away for a moment, thinking over your options. Turning back toward him you realized Steve had sat up and was now inches from your face. You watched as he looked down at your lips and back into your eyes, giving you a moment to deny what you both knew he was about to do but you didn’t move.

You let Steve’s lips touch yours and slowly closed your eyes as you placed a hand on his shoulder. He started softly, letting your top lip sit peacefully between both of his. When he realized you weren’t going to stop him he began to move. Inching closer to you as your lips moved together in unison.

Eventually, he attempted to slip his tongue into your mouth which finally made you realize what you were doing. You pulled away from him and quickly he began to apologize.

“I’m sorry, you said you just wanted to be friends, that was really stupid of me.” He frowned.

“No, no, no, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked you to come in. I don’t know what I was expecting.” You replied, pacing around the opposite side of your room.

You both walked around frantically before Steve spoke again. “Do you want me to leave?” He asked.

You looked up at him while biting your thumbnail. There were two opposing notions running through your brain. You wanted so badly for him to stay but every part of your brain was screaming to let him walk out the door. But you couldn’t.

You couldn’t help the grin that crept onto your lips. “No.” you finally answered.

Steve smiled back at you as you both began to walk toward your bed. Meeting in the middle, both on your knees you began to kiss again. This time more patiently as Steve let his hands go down to your waist.

As he took your shirt off and you did the same to him, you felt no regrets about your decision. Maybe Steve wasn’t the guy you thought he was.

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