#steve and holly

[formosusiniquis]

intrada (sugar plum holly and her cavalier)

Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson; Steve Harrington & Holly Wheeler; Past Steve Harrington/Nancy Wheeler WC: 5708 | G | Tags/Themes: ballet, references to The Nutcracker, pre-relationship steddie, good babysitter Steve Harrington AO3

It was supposed to be a date that would merge their interests, something that had seemed classy enough for Nancy and athletic enough that Steve thought it would keep his interest. Supposed to be, in that when Steve had gotten the tickets -- begged his mom first for her and his dad’s season ticket seats and then for help finding a good seat when she said she wasn’t about to waste a sixty dollar ticket on a date -- he wasn’t even sure if it was the kind of thing Nancy would like. A year and a half into their relationship and he was only just realizing how surface level their conversations were, either talking about work or treating every conversation like an interview and parceling out information like they were afraid to reveal too much about themselves. So he was really working off of a jewelry box he vaguely remembered from her bedroom when he bought tickets for a ballet that wouldn’t even happen for another five months.

He wanted to have them when she got to Indianapolis, something to look forward to for their first Christmas together in the city. The Nutcracker, a classic supposedly but if anyone would know its cultural significance he figured it would be Nance.

And Steve isn’t an idiot, okay. He knows that Nancy isn’t exactly thrilled to be in Indianapolis, knows that she’s not happy to be at her safety school and not Emerson. Imagines having to wait to see if she made it up the waitlist all summer wasn’t the greatest experience; and he has to imagine because any time he wanted to talk to her about it she blew him off to focus on alternatives and next steps.

That’s why he does it. Hopes that having something to look forward to at the end of her first semester will help. Hopes that this is the first of many Christmases together, maybe a tradition that they can keep up. Going to the ballet together every year until eventually they’re bringing their daughter along with them. Maybe it’s too early to think about kids, but this is the kind of future he prefers to imagine over future careers and what he’s going to do with the degree he’s stumbling his way through. So he thinks about Nancy with pinned back curls in a nice dress humming along to songs they hear every year.

It was supposed to be that. Until it turns out that their relationship really couldn’t withstand being in the same city as one another. Until he’s forced to confront the hindsight that they never really talked about anything significant in the year they were doing long distance. Until Nancy tells him that she’s transferring next semester, and she isn’t interested in doing long distance; that she isn’t interested in continuing their relationship at all.

So Steve resigns himself to just being out the money for the two tickets. It’s not like he’s going to go to a ballet by himself, and it seems shitty to bring another girl to something that he imagined becoming a staple of his romantic future with Nancy. It’s not the first time Steve has cut his losses. (But he’ll die before he tells his mom she was right about not giving him her good seats.)

He honestly kind of forgets about the whole thing. Finals week has just ended. He’s pretty sure he flunked the one actual business course he took this semester to keep his dad happy, and he’s trying to figure out if he can change his major without screwing his whole life up. He’s ready to have a few weeks off. 

Then Karen Wheeler calls.

Karen is a nice lady, though if he’s honest he’s not that upset that she isn’t going to be his future mother-in-law. She’s a little… flighty, as his mother would say with a backhanded smile. He privately thinks she sometimes forgets that she has three kids, losing track of one or the other at any given time. So maybe he shouldn’t be too surprised when she calls him two months after her daughter broke his heart begging him to take Holly to the ballet.

“Nancy mentioned it off hand months ago, and Holly hasn’t stopped talking about it since. I know it’s a big ask,” she had said in a tone that made it very clear she didn’t entirely care and would think poorly of him if he answered the wrong way, “but if you still have those tickets it would mean the world if you could take Holly.” He hadn’t missed the emphasis on the you either. Clearly Karen had no interest in making the trip to Indianapolis and he hadn’t needed to ask about Ted.

He didn't think of himself as a pushover, but he did think of little, blonde, six year old Holly: too quiet and too shy for her age. Fighting to be seen by a negligent dad and a mom who loves her children, but cares about appearances just enough to be blind. And he finds himself saying, “It’s no trouble, Mrs. Wheeler, but could you meet me somewhere halfway?”

It’s not until they’re settled into their seats -- on the floor but in the back, a booth behind them occupied by a pretty boy in a headset that Steve refuses to look at for too long -- that he realizes that he has no idea what this show is even about. Holly has been quiet since he picked her up, the least surprising thing about this trip right above Mike glaring at him from the passenger seat of Karen’s car as he moved Holly’s booster seat, but she’s studiously flipping through the little booklet the usher handed them on their way to their seats.

“Thank you for bringing me, Steve. I’m sorry Nancy didn’t want to come.” It is somehow simultaneously the longest and worst thing Holly has ever said to him.

“I’d rather see it with you, Holly Jolly.”

He’s saved from having to find anything else to say by the lights around them dimming, a prerecorded voice letting them know that any photography is forbidden and to expect a fifteen minute intermission, a bright and bouncing song picks up once the talking stops. He relaxes in his seat a little, relieved to get a few minutes before he’s expected to entertain a six year old that he’s spent more time with today than he had the entire time he and Nancy had dated.

Now Steve, contrary to what he very much knows is the popular opinion, isn’t just a jock. He knows there’s no talking in ballet. He’s even been to one before this, when he was still a cute novelty in his suit and bowtie accompanying his parents to the theater. What he is, according to his old nanny, every teacher he’s ever had, and about half of his exes, is a selective listener. 

It’s not his fault though that his brain instinctively cues into different sounds. The buzz of the light above him louder -- and more interesting -- than a lesson on factorials. The sound of someone’s relationship imploding hard to tune out no matter how interested he is in his own conversation. So of course the sound of someone talking cuts straight through classical music.

“Someone remind David he needs to smile at his partner, he looks like he’s dreaming of a murder suicide.”

And it wasn’t hard to find exactly who the voice behind him was talking about. The only frowning face at this Victorian party who was glaring daggers at the magician who was bringing in new dancers.

“Well he should know better than to sleep around the cast shouldn’t he, Birdie?”

A practiced reader of body language, Steve could almost see, underneath the choreography, the traces of impropriety. David’s undisguised glare. The wistful way the woman in blue tracked him around the stage. The woman in pink who mooned at the woman in blue. It made him wonder what kind of things were going on backstage.

He expects that to be in. He doesn’t really do theater much, too many memories of pinched arms and snarling trips home, but he does remember the one rule is no talking. But it doesn’t stop, barely slows.

“If Mark sets himself on fire doing this stupid firepaper magic shit do we get to go home early?

“Sure, Robbie Bobby, I’ll swap out for the Rat King last show of the run. Jay can do my job and I’ll do his.

“Five bucks someone slips on the snow as they exit.”

He wants to know if that stranger wins the bet but the curtain closes and Holly is shy and asking Steve where the bathroom is. So instead of working up the nerve to turn and talk to the man behind him, he’s smiling his best mom-charming smile and asking the first woman with kids he finds to take his guest into the girl’s room.

By the time she’s out of line, and Steve buys her the doll and the novelty sucker she’d been pretending she wasn’t looking at, they slip back into their seats as the lights dim again. No chance to make his own witty jokes or observations, break the ice and show off some of the Harrington charm.

The first dance goes by with little fanfare and Steve’s almost disappointed. Holly is wiggling excitedly in her seat next to him, clutching her own little nutcracker, and he’s not even paying attention to the stupid show that’s got her so excited because he’s too focused on a snarky stranger he’d only even looked at once.

“Jeezus christ, is Tom stuffing his dance belt? That’s some Bowie level shit happening up there.”

He had almost given up, so it figures the guy decides to speak up once Steve’s attention started to shift back to the stage. He nearly chokes on his own tongue, eyes darting straight down to the issue in question. Holly, the sweetest kid he’s ever met, pats his back softly, hesitantly, like she’s only seen the gesture before. “There’s a water fountain by the bathroom,” she tells him in a library whisper, “I can stay here and not move.”

“I’m okay Hols,” he lies, ignoring the itchy, squeezing feeling at the back of his throat and forcing the cough away.

It’s easy to do when there's something else to focus on, “No, Lizzie, I’m not going to shut up. No one cares if I’m occupying the channel.” The stranger seems to be gearing himself up for a monologue, “I’m not going to miss my cue, I am the cue. Robin’s not going to miss her cue  because it’s to music. Her cue doesn’t exist without me and she knows all of these songs and what note her cue goes with because it’s the eighth fucking time we’ve done it this week. If you or props have something you’ve got to say clearly you can get a word in edgewise.”

A few numbers go by after that, quiet except for the occasional professional, “Light cue, go.”

And then a song he actually sort of recognizes starts. A pretty strawberry blonde with a dainty smile tip toes and spins across the stage to plucked strings. Holly is enchanted, perched at the edge of her seat she reaches a hand over to clutch at Steve’s sleeve. A ‘tell me someone in the world is experiencing this moment with me’ sort of gesture. Awestruck and world rocked, stars in her eyes. Any resentment, any hard feelings that might have still lingered at babysitting evaporated. He got to be the person that let Holly experience this. A moment just for her, no family to take second place for.

The dancer on stage spins, clearing the floor in a series of tight, controlled rotations. Her arms guiding each step, swinging out and pulling her in, the driving force of her momentum. She’s moving fast, it’s an impressive display. Something shoots off in the opposite direction of that controlled turn, almost distracting in its break from that clean motion.

“Tell Props Chris just lost an earring.

“Fine, tell Wardrobe then.

“I’m not being a creep, I know she’s your girlfriend, Birdie. I merely observed her earring launching across the stage like an arrow from an elven bow.”

It’s like catching half of an Abbott and Costello act, like who’s on first being done through a telephone. It’s a strange sort of connection, listening in on a conversation that isn’t meant for him. He thinks for a sad second that he hasn’t ever had a friendship like this.

The show is wrapping up, dancers from scenes past making their way through for quick appearances. Holly is vibrating in her seat. Dancers in intricate costumes glide across the stage to bow toward the petite dancer in the nightgown and the strawberry blonde, Chris, beside her. A few moments later it's finished, the lights rising up around them and he shifts his primary focus back to Holly. 

In the middle of the room, they had the best view of the stage and the longest wait to leave. Steve tries to be subtle as he shifts Holly in front of him, afraid of losing her if she's out of his eyeline. He doesn't want to baby her by making her hold his hand. She's wiggling in place, but she keeps herself small. Careful not to bump into the people slowly moving out of the aisle in front of them. 

“Hols,” he starts to whisper, not wanting to embarrass her before he asks if she needs to hit the bathroom again.

But she grabs his sleeve in a child's iron grip,  "Steve, I want to meet the princess."

It turns out, it's hard to find a way to tell an excited kid that there aren't meet and greets after a show like this. Pleading blue eyes and a nervous smile looking up at him, desperate but scared to ask for too much. The least he can do is try.

The guy behind them is still there. 

The back of their line, Steve isn't holding anyone up by taking a minute to look. He's lithe, all in black. Hair pulled up in a half-assed bun, a headset tangled in the curls. He's wrapping up a thick cord, Steve couldn't guess why, but it draws focus to a toned arm that he's curling it around.

“Hey man,” the booth is a little bit above them, forcing Steve to rise up on the tips of his own toes to make sure he's visible, “I know you're working but I wanted to ask. The girl at the end- I, uh, I overheard you say she's your friend's girlfriend is there anyway you could convince her to come meet us.”

The guy startled a bit, probably surprised at being addressed. If he’s embarrassed at being overheard it barely shows a soft flush that could be from the warmth of the room. "The girl at the end?”

"The princess,” Holly shouts, bouncing up and down to try to see over the lip that blocks her view of the booth.

A change falls over the guy, his smile softens and eyes widen. He carefully drapes himself across the board of buttons and sliders to look Holly in the eyes. "Oh she's even better than a princess, she's a fairy. The sugar plum fairy. Is this your first time seeing the show with your dad?”

“Steve's not my dad.” She tells him with a little giggle, no doubt comparing Steve and Ted in her brain.

“Holly is my ex-girlfriend’s little sister.” He places his emphasis carefully.

“There’s a lot happening in that sentence.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, my Lady Holly, I bet I could convince Chrissy to meet a fan.” He promises with a flourish, “As long as your companion doesn't care that her faithful company will definitely be there the whole time.”

“Are you part of the group?” Steve asks, confident enough in his read of the situation to lay on a bit of charm. Letting his eyes trail down the sprawl of the guy's back. A thrill of victory at the little nod he gets back. “Then I won't mind at all.”

“Rockin’ Robin, tell me you still have your headset on?” He directs into his headset, “Great, remember that favor you and Chris owe me? I've got a fair princess who would like to meet our dear Sugar Plum Fairy.”

There's a lengthy pause. Even without the music playing the response is too quiet to be made out through his headset. “I don't see how that's relevant.” He hisses, “and she didn't ask to see an awful hag so you don't really even need to be there.”

His face clears after a second, looking to Steve like he wants them both to pretend that the earlier conversation hadn't been overheard. “Go through that door at the end of the front row right beside the stage.” The auditorium has cleared out enough he's got a clear view of the door the guy points to. “You'll end up in a hallway with a locked door at the end, wait there.”

“And if someone asks us why we're waiting there?” Steve asks, “I can tell them..?”

“Eddie, I'm- I Eddie Munson told you to wait there, if someone stops you before I get there.”

It's hard not to grin now that he has a name, Eddie, so he doesn’t bother. He puts on his best smile, the boyish and winsome one that always flusters whoever it's directed at, at least a little. Eddie is no exception looking back down at his work quickly. Steve takes a little pity, turning his attention back down to Holly.

She's twisting in place, hands clasped in front of her, as she stares off into space. He feels bad immediately, too familiar with what it's like to be a kid forced to entertain yourself while adults talk above your head.“C’mon, Holly Jolly, let's go wait for your fairy.” 

She takes his hand the second it's offered, swinging it back and forth, humming one of the songs from the show. “Steve, do you think she's a fairy like Tinkerbell or a fairy princess like Barbie?”

“I don't know Hols, what do you think?”

“Tinkerbell is kinda mean to Wendy, but she can do magic and fly. But Barbie is really nice so if she were a fairy she'd be a fairy princess and have a crown and help people.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes! And this fairy looked nice when she was dancing, but it didn't look like she had a crown. Can you be a fairy princess without a crown?”

Holly was buzzing, bouncing in place, clearly over whatever earlier nerves she'd had about talking to him. With her back to the door that they were told to wait by, she’s started listing all the different jobs Barbie has had and why they should make a fairy princess doll -- Karen’s homemade Barbie clothes, he learns, are not as well made as the hand me downs from Erica and Mrs. Sinclair, so she needs the real thing. Holly misses the way the door creaks open, the woman from onstage inching her way out of the half opened exit. 

Chrissy presses a finger to her lips, happy to help her surprise Holly, Steve keeps listening to her talk about why there should be a Barbie movie. He only nearly ruins the surprise when the dancer pushes down on the front of her saucer like skirt and it smacks her in the back as it flies up, letting her exit the back room.

Focused on her story, Holly doesn’t notice as the woman crouches down beside her. Not until she says, “This must be the princess I was told about.”

The screech she lets out is so joyful he almost doesn’t mind that his ears are ringing. Steve finds his smile mirrored on a freckle-faced girl dressed in the same all black as Eddie who is sliding out the door now as well. She sidles up to Steve, letting Holly have her moment with the fairy uninterrupted. “And you must be the prince charming.”

“Shut up, shut up,” Eddie pants, coming to a bent over rest beside Steve, “whatever she’s saying ignore it. Fuck.”

“You jogged like twenty feet,” the girl says, clearly unimpressed.

“Sorry Nancy Reagan, I say yes every time.”

“There are children present, have some class, Munson.”

The child in question could be on another planet, that’s how much she’s aware of their existence, Steve thinks.

“I have class every Monday, Wednesday, Friday; Saturdays are fair game.”

“Oh! That’s why you look so familiar,” the girl says, she’s looking at Steve now but he’s not really sure why. “We were in the same Communications and Public Speaking class, Prince Charming. Steve, right?”

He did have that class last semester, the only one technically tied to the business major his dad wanted him to have that he actually passed. “I, yes- sorry I don’t. I spent most of that class zoned out waiting for my turn to speak.”

“No, yeah, I figured. You sat a row in front of me and always looked shocked when you got called on, then you’d brush your bagel crumbs all over the floor when you’d go to speak.”

“Yeah,” he agrees, not really sure what to say to that especially not when it’s being said right in front of a guy he was kind of into.

“Birdie holds the strangest grudges in the history of the world, take it as a sign of respect, Big Boy. She hated me for half of our music theory class because my handwriting didn’t look like it matched my general demeanor.”

“No, I hated you because you always smell like weed and never do the homework but somehow are still the professor’s favorite. And I still hate you for all of those things, but your unfortunate personality grew like mold on my girl- I mean grew on,” her face takes on a look of panic as she pivots her word choice. It’s confusing, at first, until he realizes he’s the source of panic. A familiar joke made with a friend, forgetting the new, possibly untrustworthy stranger until too late.

The siren song of new friends and a possible date is alluring, but with Holly in the room he does have to be careful of what gets back to her parents. He remembers Ted’s political alignments and gossip tends to reach his parents faster than he can. So he does his best at assurance, “Chrissy, right, she seems cool. It was nice of you guys to do this, Holly is probably only a little bit more into fairies than I am.”

Eddie sputters beside him, hard to tell if it’s a good sign or if Steve has just royally fucked up his chances at anything; but if it means easing Robin’s fears of queerbashing he’ll ruin his chance for a date every time.

“Into fairies,” Robin asks, nodding over to Chrissy, who’s showing Holly how she balances on the tips of her toes, “or…”

“I’m light in my loafers, or half, light in one-”

“Ex-girlfriend,” Eddie supplies.

“Right.”

“Worst way anyone has ever described being bisexual,” Robin says. 

“Sounds like a challenge,” Eddie says.

“It was not.”

“I really appreciate this,” Steve says again to avoid the argument. Chrissy is helping Holly spin around on the toes of her patent leather mary janes, she’s giggling as Chrissy holds her pointed finger helping her twirl and twirl. “How’d you all get involved in all this? You’re still in school.”

“They always need a little help around the holidays, normally the theater kids get first dibs but there’s only like five tech kids and they’re all working the school show so the music department gets next go.” Robin explains.

“Chis is a prodigy so she put in a word for us specifically,” Eddie adds. Before he leers and leans deep into Steve’s space, it’s not an unwelcome move. “Unless that was you fishing for friends, Big Boy. Trying to figure out if you’ll see us on campus?”

“Oh,” Robin exclaims, like the thought had never occurred to her. “Are you finished with your gen eds? Wait, what's your major? Eddie, show off your party trick.”

He isn’t a total loser, so he doesn’t fidget or blush as Eddie runs his heady brown eyes up and down the length of him, taking him in. “Business and Marketing,” he declares after a second, but he doesn’t sound sold on it.

“I’ve been thinking about changing it,” Steve isn’t sure if he’s admitting Eddie’s right or just trying out what it sounds like to admit that he’s sick of being everything he’s supposed to be instead of what he likes. “I took Children’s Psychology for the whatever requirement and it was a million times more interesting than Intro to Econ.”

It feels like it’s going well. When Nancy broke things off Steve had resigned himself to finishing out college without any real friends, dating around and hoping for something that stuck. Here with these people, he can feel something starting. He wants to take that feeling and capitalize on it, follow through on something so another good thing doesn’t slip away from him.

That’s not the kind of luck that he has though. 

“Steve,” Holly buzzes, grabbing his hand with no hesitation, “Fairy Chrissy said that I can be a dancer too! Can Santa bring me shoes like hers?”

Christmas is a week away, if Stever were guessing, he’d say the Wheelers have had Holly’s presents picked out and put away for most of the month. “I don’t know, Hols, Christmas is pretty close and the North Pole is pretty far. Do you think the mailman would have time to get all the way up there?”

Her shoulders slump, making Steve immediately feel like the worst person in the universe for crushing her dreams. “He's watching though, so I bet he saw you ask right now,” he does his best to smile, hoping it's comforting since it feels tight-lipped and desperate.

“Yeah!” She brightens, starts to hum along to the song just a little off pitch, getting more excited as she goes until she's murmuring, “Knows if you've been bad or good.”

“Hey Holly Jolly, why don't you tell Fairy Chrissy bye and thank you. We don't wanna be late to meet your mom.”

She's still singing but she nods, turning and shuffling back to Chrissy, still a few steps away.

“Would she know where to get those, Chrissy, the shoes that Holly would need?” He asks Eddie and Robin in a whisper, hoping Holly is distracted enough by her goodbyes that she won't hear.

“Are you..?” Eddie asks, a blush staining the tops of his exposed ears. “Ex-girlfriend?” 

The emphasis catches his attention and, yeah, he can see how that looks. “Her parents aren't going to drive up to the city before Christmas, but the town over does lessons.” Barriers to entry, that's what his marketing classes called it, maybe he did learn something. He wants to make it as easy as possible for Holly to get what she wants. “She's a good kid, she should get what she wants for Christmas.”

That blush spreads, bleeding down from his ears across his cheeks. “You're a good dude.”

“Steve, I said bye. Do we have to leave now?” Holly asks.

“Let me say bye too, Hols, and we'll grab a treat before we meet your Mom.”

There's a pen tucked behind Robin's ear that he snags before he can second guess what he's about to do. Grabbing her arm first, he scrawls his number across it. “I've got a place off campus, no roommates if you ever want someplace to hangout or to study,” he tells her. 

He grabs Eddie's hand next, rubbing his thumb along the palm and slowly writing the same number on his arm too. Keeping a hold of his hand for as long as he can. “I've got a place off campus, no roommates, if you ever want to come by and do something, have dinner?” He'll start there, let his interest be noted, and hope that Eddie is the type to like guys who dive in head first heedless of the water below. 

Steve can already imagine a future where he's sneaking into the booth with Eddie. Watching shows he's never heard of before with a warm commentary murmured into his ear. Gossip and behind the scenes rumor, distracting him from a plot that's less important than the company. Maybe next year, after double dates and a growing closeness, he'll be able to sneak Holly backstage and she can meet other dancers too.

Maybe next year, he'll be convincing Eddie, and the girls he hopes will be his new friends, to drive down to Hawkins with him to watch Holly do jumps and spins of her own in their small town showcase. Eddie was good with Holly, Steve hopes it isn't a fluke, he's always wanted kids.

He's probably getting ahead of himself. Falling into the same trap he'd built with Nancy that had gotten him here in the first place. The romantic in him wants to spin this all as fate, it could be true after all. 

Steve takes Holly's hand, they both wave goodbye, and leave the empty arts center. The winter sky is lit up by a full moon, fat snowflakes slowly float down to the ground beside them as they head back to his car, and for the first time since Nancy broke up with him he feels good about the future.

It's a long drive back to the McDonalds where he's meeting Karen, with Holly already dozing in the back seat, it's time that he can sit and be happy. Regardless of whether there's a message blinking on his machine to welcome him back home or not; what was supposed to be a relationship compromise ended up being the most fun he's had in weeks. So maybe Chrissy will tell him where to get Holly's shoes, maybe Robin will invite him for coffee or swing by to compare classes, and -- if he's really lucky -- maybe Eddie will invite himself over for dinner.

But, as he hums along to the waltz whose melody lingers in the back of his mind, the possibilities are something to look forward to.

#steddie #good babysitter steve harrington #my fic #steve and holly #steddie fic #holly wheeler #apologizing for my sins against nancy wheeler i'm sorry i needed plot #but also wait listing and getting rejected from first choices happens even if you are wonderful and smart #secondly know that steve does get holly her ballet shoes and then worries it's weird and everyone gets a present from “santa” #mike complains to the guys about the comics steve gets him (but also doesn't let anyone else touch them cause they're his) #and dustin has the epiphany that there's a cool adult figure that's now available in indy that he can use #mostly to explore stores and stuff that hawkins doesn't have without his mom cramping his style #babysitter steve and the henderfam bros forever in every universe

[findafight]

He doesn’t even care that Steve’s faces are obvs Dustin and Lucas (he maintains however that Max “jumping the line” is some bullshit and he *will* stay mad about it, Mayfield, thanks for the suggestion). So long as everyone knows (including Steve) that out of the Wheelers he’s *Mike’s* first.

He was the first person to call Mike a bitch and, a week later, the first guy who Mike called a bitch. He got a proud little laugh out of him. That is a greater and more powerful bond than anything you could *hope* to share with him, Nance!

(Holly barely pays attention while this unfolds over the years, secure in the knowledge that *she’s* Steve’s favourite. Her fail siblings could never)

Hehe so true!! Max is sooooo smug about being one of Steve's faves and this feeds the max and Mike petty rivalry.

When Steve and Nancy broke up Mike was secretly pleased, not because he didn't like Steve, but because now he was so obviously the favourite Wheeler! Nancy tanked her score and Mike didn't have to do anything. He won!!

He called Steve a bitch and got a chuckle, a noogie, and an approving nod out of it. It was awesome. Nancy has nothing on Mike, especially now she's broken Steve's heart.

Little does he know Holly is placing a little Crown on Steve's head in preparation for a princess tea party because she is pushing her parents out of the house for date nights so Steve can hang out with (babysit) his ACTUAL favourite Wheeler. She's got him wrapped around her finger. She holds onto this knowledge for years until it becomes strategic (or hilarious) to reveal to Mike.

#steve and mike #mike wheeler #holly wheeler #steve harrington #stranger things #steve and holly #findaanswers #anonasaurus

[imactuallyreallycool]

Hello every-pony lmao

Here’s some of my mlp x stranger things designs :)

#stranger things #mlp #lumax #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #eleven hopper #dustin henderson #mlp x stranger things #stranger things x mlp #mlp au #stranger things au #jopper #jim hopper #joyce byers #henry/vecna/001 #karen wheeler #holly wheeler #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #steve harrington #robin buckley #billy hargrove #argyle #eddie munson #vickie stranger things #byler #mike wheeler #will byers #🎨

[hitokas-gf]

breaking news: teenage girl who has never had a crush posts about love

#web weaving #poetry #on love #steve lacy #frank ocean #phoebe bridgers #adrianne lenker #big thief #faye webster #taylor swift #holly warburton #clairo #parallels #lyrics #yearning

[admireforever]

Michael & Holly

#mine #screens #the office #michael scott #steve carell #holly flax #amy ryan #michael and holly #holly and michael #michael x holly #holly x michael #kiss #kissing #cute couple #proposal #proposing

[angelynmoon]

More Eldritch Steve

Holly does not get scared easily she knows that her Stevie, her monster will protect her from anything she is afraid of no matter what or who it is.

Holly has always known Steve was a monster, she saw him as he really is when Nancy first brought him home.

She should have been frightened, should have hid from him in fear, but Holly has seen monsters, she saw them in Will's wall, she knows that Steve isn't a bad monster, not when he crawls under her bed to growl at the ones that live there or the way he sat all night against her closet door to keep the one that lived there inside.

He's a monster but he plays dolls with her when she asks, even after Nancy broke up with him.

Nancy got upset when Holly didn't warm up as easily to Jonathan as she had Steve.

But Nancy doesn't see Steve, not really, she sees his human image, his mimicry of humanity, she can't see, or maybe won't see, the monster that Steve is.

But Holly sees it, him, sees too many teeth bared at Ted the first time Holly heard him raise his voice at her mother, she sees him in the darkness that crawls through her window to check on her late at night.

Holly can see Steve the way he really is, he's her monster, her protecter, her safety net that she knows will always be there for her when she needs him.

So, when Holly gets scared, when Ted raises his voice and her mother's rises to match, she crawls out her window, uses the tree to get down and starts off to the dark of the woods where she knows her monster hunts.

Holly knows Steve will know she's there as soon as she enters the woods, he has never once lost her while babysitting with Nancy, even when she wondered off too far from them, he knows where she is, always.

He's her monster, he'll always find her and keep her safe.

Holly yawns and lifts her hands up when Steve looks down at her, she's safe now, nothing bad would be allowed to happen to her now.

Safe and sound in Steve's hold Holly Wheeler falls asleep, unaware of how her life is about to change.

--

Don't ask me what happens, I don't know yet but enjoy Holly pov.

@addelyin @merricatty @lesbiabrobin @apuckishwit @0o-mushroom-o0 @starlight-archer @darkwitchoferie @just-a-tiny-void @swimmingbirdrunningrock @intergalactic-president-awesome @vampireinthesun @goodolefashionedloverboi @adhdsummer @purpleanimeoverart @space-invading-pigeon @lilaclilyroses @nohomoyesbi @plantzzsandpencilzzs @korixae @subversivecynic @flusteredcas @persnicketysquares @freddykicksasses @little-trash-ghost @cupcakesnwhiskey @cats-ate-all-of-my-pasta @planetsoda @paintsplatteredandimperfect @irregular-child @daydreamsandcrashingwaves @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @steddieassheg0es

#eldritch monster steve #upside down creature steve #steddie #because of the rest of the story #holly wheeler #holly wheeler & steve harrington #steve harrington #from the rot #part 14

[claraoswalds]

STOBIN APPRECIATION WEEK ↳ Day 4: Lyrics

#stobinweek2023 #strangerthingsedit #stedit #stranger things #userbru #tuserdee #userrachel #userjacko #tuserzoe #userspree #robin buckley #steve harrington #steve x robin #stobin #* #(​the song is deep end by holly humberstone) #anyway. smth smth their willingness to join a fight that was never meant to be theirs. or whatever #like their connection to the events of the show is simply that they saw it happening. realized they could do something to help. then did it #literally trauma bonded by choice

[steddieas-shegoes]

Headcanon: Steve & little Holly Wheeler remain really close after Steve/Nancy break up. During an intense storm she calls Steve in tears while Nancy & Mike watch is shock. They didn't know she was still close to him.

"Hello?" Steve answered the phone on the third ring, hoping it was Robin letting him know she got home okay after band practice.

The storm came out of nowhere, and since everyone was still a bit on edge after Vecna, he needed to make sure everyone was alright.

"Stevie?" Holly Wheeler whispered on the other end of the line.

"Holly? Are you okay? Where's your mom?" Steve was suddenly even more worried that Holly was somehow alone at home during this storm.

They never left her alone, she was way too young, but if something happened-

"She's not home. Nancy's in her room. I'm scared."

Thank god. She just wanted to talk to him like they used to do during afternoon storms all the time.

"You're safe, Hol. Remember it's just some angry clouds. They must have had to wake up early today, huh?" he smiled to himself. "What about you? Did you get up early for school?"

"Yes and my teacher was late." He heard thunder on her end and hoped she would keep talking. "She said it was because her no good husband left with her keys."

Steve bit back a laugh.

"Oh yeah? I bet she was mad at him."

"She was so mad! And then she yelled at Rose two times cuz she kept getting out of line on the way to lunch!"

"Isn't Rose the one who always colors on other people's pictures in art?" Steve loved to hear about the 1st grade drama as much as possible.

"Yes, and then Ben always distracts the teacher for her so she can say mean stuff to everyone. She is so mean."

"It sounds like it."

"Holly, who are you talking to?" he heard Nancy's voice on the other end.

"It's Steve!"

"Steve? Did he call for me?"

"No, I called him."

"Steve? Did Holly call you?" Nancy's voice was on the other end now, and Holly could be heard arguing about wanting to talk to him more.

"Yeah. She calls sometimes when she's upset or scared. The storm must be freaking her out a lot," Steve said.

"Hey, I need the phone," Mike's voice could be heard in the distance. "Who are you even talking to?"

"It's Steve," Nancy replied.

"Our Steve?" Mike asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. Apparently, Holly calls him when she's scared."

"Why?"

Steve rolled his eyes.

"Is it so hard to believe that Holly and I are storm buddies?" Steve asked.

"Yes!" Nancy and Mike said at the same time.

"Put Holly back on the phone," he said, slightly irritated now.

"I think the storm is going away," Holly said into the phone. "Do you have the teddy bear?"

"Of course I do. He always sits right next to my bed so if I get scared I can hold him. Do you have yours?" he asked.

"Yes, but he has a hole in his leg and mommy has to fix him."

"Okay, well I can hug mine extra tight for now so he knows you're safe."

"Okay! Bye Steve!"

"Bye Holly," he laughed.

"I don't understand," Nancy said just as he was about to hang up.

"What?"

"Why does she call you? We're right here."

"I guess it's just our thing. I dunno, Nance. But I'm gonna go. I'm waiting on Robin to call. You guys good?"

"Uh-huh."

"Great. Bye."

Steve hung up and smiled to himself. Holly Wheeler was probably, almost definitely, his favorite Wheeler.

#steve harrington #stranger things #headcanon #drabble #holly wheeler #nancy wheeler #mike wheeler

[little-bumblebeeee]

*Eddie peacefully playing guitar*

Robin: hey. Hey Eddie. Do the thing

Eddie: *sighs before playing the Buddy Holly lick*

*Cheering ensues from a certain someone and her emotional support himbo*

#stranger things #joseph quinn #maya hawke #robin buckley #platonic stobin #steddie #joe keery #steve harrington #eddie munson #joe quinn #Steddie and stobin #Stedobin? Either way she's a permanent third wheel and she and Steve LOVE it #Eddie is indifferent to steveandrobinandeddie because rob always steals his fries #He loves her #Loves that Steve loves her #But good lord lady stop stealing my fries #weezer #buddy holly #I listen to Weezer for the memes #for shits and giggles #oo wee oo #i look just like buddy holly

[imactuallyreallycool]

Um yeah 😔🫶💖

Healing myself from my last post (if you know, you know 😔🙏)

#art wip #byler #stranger things #mike wheeler #will byers #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #dustin henderson #eleven hopper #jane hopper #jim hopper #joyce byers #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #steve harrington #eddie munson #argyle #mr clarke #vickie stranger things #robin buckley #erica sinclair #holly wheeler #bob newby #karen wheeler #ted wheeler #henry/vecna/001 #billy hargrove #the party #I’m sorry 😫💖 I’m obsessed with making them ponies 😭🙏 #stranger things x mlp

[aprill-99]

Since the beginning of time there have simply been some works of fiction built entirely around the protagonists being given a very simple list of steps to follow and then systematically failing each one.

Depending on the story, those steps might technically be laws.

No they will not be learning from their mistakes. Oh okay I’ll be fair, they might learn something…

But bet your ass it won’t be the right thing.

#the odyssey #I’ll take your questions but I am right #think about this #feyre archeron #holly short #artemis fowl #alex rider #harry potter #eloise bridgerton #luke skywalker #dream of the endless #sandman #lucifer #sabrina spellman #john snow #arya stark #clary frey #jim kirk #steve rogers #yennefer of vengerberg #cirilla of cintra #bellamy blake #sam winchester #dean winchester #josh lyman #sirius black #these are the folks who are perfectly aware what’s up and they also would prefer not to be doing what they’re doing #‘step 1’-immediately fails step 1 #leverage #to be clear I am here for it

[spaceshipsandpurpledrank]

#talkin #tik tok #wwf #hardcore holly #wrestling #william regal #stone cold #stone cold steve austin #world wrestling federation #kane

[thezombieprostitute]

'Tis the Season, Sir

A/N: Written for Vee's Holly Jolly Challenge (@sstan-hoe). Reader is implied fem (Ms. Y/N). No physical descriptors used.

Prompts - Steve Rogers - CEO AU

Summary: CEO Steve Rogers is a real grinch and gets upset when he keeps noticing your seasonal attire that is technically within dress code regulations.

"Y/N. My office," Steve barked at you as he walked by your desk. You follow without hesitation, bringing your notepad and pen for the notes you undoubtedly were about to take.

You sit in the chair across from his desk but he stands at the windows of his office.

"Ms. Y/L/N," he starts, "are you aware of the dress code policy for this office?"

"Yes, Mr. Rogers. I went through them rather recently."

"Is that so," he asked, turning towards you like a predator. "Then why are you dressed like you are?"

You shake your head, "’Tis the season, sir. I made sure to go through the updated handbook just to make sure I was still compliant with company policy."

Steve pulls out a physical copy of the handbook. You start at the sound of him slamming it on his desk, "then show me where it says you can wear that stupid holiday jewelry."

While you didn’t have the exact policy numbers memorized, you knew how to find them. You got to the pages on corporate dress code and read aloud, “employee personal effects should be minimal and not detract from the professional appearance expected of them. I’ve been wearing this jewelry for weeks and you only just now noticed. No one else has said anything or acted differently around me so clearly they’re minimal enough.”

“Weeks? I know you haven’t been wearing that jewelry for weeks,” Steve complained. “You are lying right to my face.”

“How do you know I haven’t been wearing this set,” you asked, eyebrow raised.

Steve sees the trap you’ve set and attempts to sidestep, “I would’ve noticed that obnoxious holiday stuff before.”

“And yet you didn’t,” you assert. “Not just you, but others in the office. Even clients haven’t commented because I made sure to only wear things that would gently accent, not stand out. Face it, Mr. Rogers, if you had a case against me, I’d be meeting with HR. Not you!”

Steve sits down grumbling something about hating the holidays. You don’t pounce on his words, you know how these games work. The less you say, the less he has to use against you. He dismisses you with a growl and you quickly return to your desk.

As the holiday gets closer you’re more aware than ever of Steve’s eyes on you. Just about all the other women in the office (and some of the men) were quite jealous of the attention you were getting. You were tempted to tell them the secret but didn’t want to risk getting someone fired based on your bad advice. For all you knew, someone would get in trouble for actually breaking the dress code and blame you for it. That could be grounds for you to be fired as well and you know you have to be extra careful.

You find yourself working later than usual most days. With an upcoming holiday a lot of people are planning to be out of the office so a lot of projects need to be worked on if not outright finished. You straddle the fine line between helping your coworkers and not doing their work for them, mostly handling data entry stuff that’s time intensive drudgery. You get to pick up extra hours and catch up on your podcasts while they get time to prepare for family get-togethers and buying gifts. 

It’s definitely after hours on the day before Christmas Eve. You stretch away from your computer and are surprised when your hands hit someone. It’s Steve, and he does not look happy. You take off your headphones and hear him snarl, “my office. Now.” You suppress the urge to roll your eyes and grab a pen and paper before following him. 

When you sit down in his office sits across from you and asks, “why are you doing everyone else’s work?”

“I’m only doing the data entry type of work that takes time, not brains,” you reply as calmly as you can. “I’ve made sure that everyone I help knows that I’m just doing the little things. They still have to do all of their primary work functions, the things that require thought, tact, personal touches and know-how. Everything was manager approved.”

“And why are you doing this?” With how tight his jaw is, you can tell he’s eager to unleash his anger. You have to handle this delicately.

“Primarily to prevent mistakes and lapses in timelines due to worker stress and fatigue.”

He blinks a few times, clearly not expecting your answer. He opens and shuts his mouth a few times as he tries to think of a response. Finally he’s able to ask, “are they so overworked?”

“No, sir,” you’re quick to reply. “It’s mainly a holiday thing. The work-life balance is a lot harder for many people to maintain this time of year. Whether it’s buying gifts, cooking, baking, visiting or even having to attend all the kids' plays and events, the holidays just make it difficult to find the balance. I help people in my department because I understand that. The overtime doesn’t hurt either. I’ve got loans to pay.”

His brows furrow, his confusion growing, “I would’ve thought you had plenty of holiday things to attend to yourself.”

“I actually don’t do much for the holidays.”

“But…your jewelry?”

“I think the jewelry looks pretty and I don’t get to wear it much because it’s Christmas themed. Doesn’t work well at other times of the year.”

“Ms. Y/L/N you flummox me.” 

“Why? Just because I don’t celebrate doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the aesthetics. My hours have me walking to the bus when it’s dark out. All those pretty lights people hang? That the city hangs? They’re lovely! They make the commute, the longer nights, so much more bearable. Yeah, it’s cold and snowy, but the decorations, the looks of wonder on kids’ faces? Warm me right up. It’s a nice light in the growing darkness of the season.”

Steve doesn’t respond, seemingly lost in thought.

“If there’s nothing else, Mr. Rogers,” you say, standing up, “I’m going to go ahead and get back to work.” 

He dismisses you with a wave.

It's the day after Christmas and the office open, though you're probably the only person actually in the building. You genuinely enjoy the quiet of everyone being out the week between Christmas and New Year's. You don't hate the people at your office, but there's just something special about working without having to worry about someone wanting to talk to you.

Well, normally you wouldn't have to worry about it. You're startled out of your thoughts by Steve knocking on the wall of your cubicle.

"I want to apologize," he states. "You were right about your jewelry, earlier. It is well within the dress code guidelines. I hate the holidays and I took it out on you and I'm sorry for that."

"Apology accepted, sir," you smile back at him.

"Just that easy?"

"Well, 'tis the season, sir."

Steve smiles at that, "I was definitely expecting more of a smug response or that I would have to earn the acceptance of my apology. I even got you a gift to apologize."

"I'll accept the gift as well," you smile up at him.

He chuckles and hands you a small jewelry box. You open it and are delighted to see a pair beautiful, colorful pair of seasonal earrings. You quickly put them on and thank him for the gift.

He smirks and responds, "'tis the season."

#vee's holly jolly challenge #ceo!steve rogers x reader #ceo!steve rogers fluff #steve rogers fluff #ceo!steve rogers

[inklessletter]

No, but hear me out; Steve is genuinely good with kids and toddlers. Like, absurdly good. He engages with them because he finds them not only adorable, but really fun to be around. Steve kind of gets how they think, loves to play with them, their funny logic, how seriously they take what’s happening in their busy little minds. He finds them fascinating, and they often surprise him in the best ways. Steve respects them, and kids perceive that and love and respect him back. Also, to Steve, spending time with kids is socially freeing. When he’s around kids he’s not worrying about social cues, or saying something wrong, or can stop paying attention to his manners or his looks.

Steve loves kids, and kids love him back. 

And Holly Wheeler is the living proof of that.

Read it on Ao3

There is a bonus scene of this, just saying

—

You drew stars (around my scars)

Mike was the only one in the family who actively resisted to like Steve. Since he set foot in the Wheelers household, everyone in the family seemed to be head over heels for him. He had heard his father admitting more than once that Steve was a fine good young man; his mom was delighted with him since the very first dinner because he helped with the cleaning up after every time (he even brought flowers every now and then, ugh); and of course, he had to endure Nancy’s annoying pining and giggling for months. Then they started dating and he was at home almost every day and it was insufferable having him around every goddamn day. 

But the worst one was Holly.

Before Steve, Holly used to chase Mike around, wanting to be with him all the time. Of course, Mike shoved her out almost every time, especially when his friends were over. Lucas understood him; he knew what having an annoying little sister was like. Sometimes she was around, when they were drawing their D&D characters, Will would save a seat for her and let her borrow his big box of colors, or Dustin gave her treats under the table.

Mike Wheeler didn’t want to deal with Holly after him all the time, but when Steve showed up, Holly got totally smitten with him. He wouldn’t pressure her to give him a kiss, but instead, he high fived her. Steve called Holly “Super Star”.

“Hey, what’s up, Super Star? How was school today? Did Timmy borrow your doll? Again?”

“Hey Super Star, wanna sit next to me for dinner? I bet I can beat you, I’ll eat my baby carrots faster than you!”

“I heard Super Star was feeling funny in the tummy today. Are you okay? Will you feel better if we make a tea party with your stuffed buddies? Yeah?”

Then, suddenly Super Star didn’t want to do anything with Mike anymore. Now it was all Steve. 

(Sure, Mike didn’t like having her around, but he didn’t want Steve to steal her from him either. That’s two out of two, not that long ago, Nancy actually DMed campaigns for him and his friends, and then she decided she liked him and now it was suddenly a dumb game.)

When Nancy dumped his stupid ass in November of 1985 Mike almost made a happy dance. The nightmare was over.

But the fucker appeared at the door the day before Christmas with a gift for Holly. He didn’t stay for dinner, but he handed it to Karen. 

It was a stupid light board.

Dustin was suddenly attached to him now. Now they were friends. Lucas was also fond of him. Steve was cool now for his friends too, apparently. And don’t get him wrong, what he did to defend them was amazing. He hated to admit that it was a little bit cool (but Steve’s panicked face when he woke up in the back of Billy’s car driven by Max was awesome). 

Yeah, after all that shit they talked a little bit. Mike made himself crystal clear that he still didn’t like him, and Steve just sighed and told him that he knew. Mike was about to go victorious after that, but Stupid Steve had to add “anyhow, if you need anything, you can always reach me.”

He still kept showing up for Holly’s birthdays. He still brought her Christmas presents secretly. Mike knew that Steve showed up considerably early when he was going to pick him up and his friends to give them a ride to the arcade, or to the mall, or wherever just to spend half an hour playing with Holly. 

Holly laughed the loudest whenever they were playing in the living room together. And it’s not that Mike wasn’t glad that his sister was happy, it was just— He couldn’t be so flawless. Nancy called him bullshit, she must have seen something in him. No one was that perfect.

He was still around for the upcoming apocalypses. He was starting to make peace with the fact that Steve wasn’t going anywhere, when he stole yet another friend from Mike.

Now he and Eddie had bonded. 

They were often together and that riled Mike up like no other. Hawkins was full of people, did Steve have to put a goddamn spell on anyone around him?

Even when Mike hosted in his basement the Hellfire campaigns after Eddie graduated, Eddie showed up at his front door with Steve.

“You are not a Hellfire member, Steve,” Mike deadpanned.

As an answer, Steve lifted a box. A brand new toy doctor kit. He smiled.

“I didn’t come to see you anyway. Isn’t Holly’s birthday this weekend? I have an early gift for her.”

“You’re so lame.”

“Get new material, Wheeler,” Steve rolled his eyes.

Eddie observed the interaction, both of them coming in. Mike closed the door.

“Well, I mean, I’m not surprised you want to spend so much time with Holly, I guess you need someone of your intellect so you can stop feeling stupid all the time around adults.”

Steve stopped for a second. He looked at him as if he wanted to actually reply. He let out a sigh, and went upstairs. God, Mike resisted the urge to fully smile. He glanced at Eddie, who was giving him a dead serious, borderline angry look.

Mike rolled his eyes.

“Wheeler, while I do appreciate that you’re hosting the new campaign, I’m gonna say something, and I’m gonna say this just once, so listen carefully. Treat him like this once more, and you’re out of Hellfire.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“That’s bullshit!” 

“No, you being an asshole with him is. I already lectured Dustin for this, and now I’m lecturing you. I will not tolerate any Hellfire member to behave like this towards friends. That, that is bullshit.”

“He’s not my friend.”

“Like hell he’s not. He cares for you, he does shit for you and you not only do not thank him, you pay him by treating him like shit. He’s saved your ass several times. He pays your fucking late dues, man. Like, shit, give back the tapes on time, Christ.”

Mike was fully uncomfortable now. He crossed his arms and bit his tongue to not snap at Eddie any more.

“Look,” Eddie said, calming his tone. “I don’t know if anything happened between you two, and I don’t want to know, but he’s going through a lot lately. A lot, Mike. You don’t—Shit, you don’t have to like him. Just—just don’t treat him like this, okay? I’m serious about cutting you off Hellfire if you keep this shit.”

Eddie headed down the basement, and Mike was left uneasy.

That afternoon was by far his worst performance in D&D. He had been replaying the conversation with Eddie in his head on and off all the time, but Eddie didn’t give him shit for it, because he knew.

Eddie, an understanding DM as he was, called on a break, and Mike bolted upstairs.

He headed to Holly’s bedroom, the door wasn’t closed all the way. He stopped before coming in to put his thoughts in order and apologize properly. He heard the voices behind the door.

“Doctor Super Star, there are no more patients for you to save! You did great! You cured them all!” Steve said in a funny voice.

“But your tummy hurts!”

“My tummy hurts? Oh, no, ugh! It hurts so bad!”

Mike peeped, still hidden, observing the scene. He saw Steve doing a pretty poor performance of a faint, and he fell, belly up over the rug, amongst the plush toys scattered around. Holly, dressed as a doctor, rounded him and kneeled at his side. 

“I’m going to give you an injection to save you!”

“Oh, please, Doctor Super Star, please, it hurts so bad! N-no, Holly, holly don’t lift my—”

Holly did, and Mike froze. 

Both Wheelers looked at the sudden exposed skin of Steve, all covered in nasty, pink scars. Eddie’s words resonated in the back of his mind loud and clear, and he suddenly understood what Steve was going through lately. Those scars were—God, they were gruesome. That must have hurt like shit. He heard what happened, but now he was seeing it.

That could have been his sister.

Or Robin.

That could have been anyone there, but it was Steve.

Mike gulped, feeling a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach. 

“It’s okay, Holly,” Steve spoke softly, but Mike could feel the nervous, vulnerable tone after his words.

Holly passed a finger ever so slightly, over one of the scars. She looked both curious and serious. Steve’s abdomen flinched a bit.

“Does it hurt?” Holly asked, softly.

Steve closed his eyes and put on a flaky smile, facing the ceiling.

“Yeah,” Steve whispered. “Yeah they—they hurt sometimes.”

Steve let her wander her small hand, examining his torso. 

“They’re pretty.”

A silence. A broken voice. “They’re not.”

“Yes, they are. They look like stars.”

Then, Holly, slowly, put against his stomach a bright pink toy syringe and faked an injection.

“Now you’re cured. Now it doesn’t hurt.”

Mike couldn’t see Steve’s whole face, but he saw enough before he turned away from Holly to see. His expression crumpled, and he saw Steve’s bob apple up and down a couple times. If he wasn’t crying, he was about to.

“You cured me, Doctor Super Star. Good job!”

“Wait! I’m not finished!”

Holly jolted to his drawer, where he kept all her drawing stuff. She came back with a few colored sharpies, and got back to the same position she was before. Steve observed her. 

Then Holly put the sharpie nib softly against Steve’s belly, and he observed.

She drew stars over Steve’s scars.

“See? They are pretty. They’re stars.”

Steve smiled at her. She beamed.

“They are stars. They are pretty.”

After a few seconds, Steve cleared his throat and suggested Holly tidy up all around and draw for a little bit in the living room. Only then Mike reacted, and left the hallway, going back down to the basement.

By the look he gave Mike when he came back, Eddie must have noticed something weird in Mike, but didn’t say anything.

When it was time for all of them to leave (seriously, Mike had been a total disaster), Eddie hushed them all to the van. Steve was saying his goodbyes, and then Mike spoke before he left.

“Hey, Steve.”

He turned around. “Yeah?”

There was a silence, in which Mike tried to find the words. Steve waited.

“I never—I will give the tapes back on time from now on. I’m sorry for that.”

Steve was puzzled. 

“Okay?”

Mike was shit apologizing. Mike was shit communicating, at best. He was shit at being vulnerable. Mike was shit at feelings.

“Yeah, and—thank you for—you know. The, um—yeah.”

Mike pursed his lips, crossed his arms. He pinned his eyes to the floor. He could feel his ears and his cheeks grow hotter and pinker.

“Yeah. No problem.”

He could feel Steve’s soft smile in his voice.

“You can go now.”

“Yeah, okay. Bye, Mike,” he said. “Good night Doctor Super Star!” 

Holly waved him from Karen’s arms. She even threw him a kiss. He captured it in the air and put it in his pocket.

Mike rolled his eyes.

Ugh.

#stranger things #stranger things fanfic #fic #ficlet #mike wheeler #steve harrington #eddie munson #holly wheeler #fluff

[yelenabemylova]

hi

i was wondering if your doing requests and if you are can you do like a fluffy maybe angst thing w nat where it's christmas eve and it's like late at night/early in the morning and r can't sleep so she is wrapping christmas presents but nat is in the room next door and hears all the noise and the swearing of r not being able to tape the wrapping paper and thinks r is having a nightmare so goes into checks and then r ends up breaking down in mars arms cuz she just wanted to make everyone happy and feels like she's never enough and doesn't get to thank the team as much as she wants to and nat comforts her

Christmas Presents - Natasha Romanoff x Reader

summary: wrapping presents amidst a storm never ends well

thank you for the request you lovely anon! sending you so much love this holiday season, merry christmas, hope it's a good one!

The whistling wind outside your window was just as loud as the heavy rain pouring from the dull sky. Your active mind was worrying about the repercussions of the storm. How many people would be injured? How many people would have their homes destroyed before Christmas?

Deciding against being alone with your thoughts, you noticed the pile of unwrapped presents in your wardrobe and began to get to work. You had tried your hardest to get every member of the team the perfect gift, they had been so welcoming to you as the newest Avenger and you wanted to show them how grateful you were.

The enormous box of pop-tarts for Thor was fairly easy to wrap, you had even gotten wrapping paper with the whole team on it. Next up was a box of Lego for Steve. You had gotten him a set which was a replica of his shield, including a note inside which said that if needed any help, you were more than willing to join him.

Your hands began to shake from the loud storm outside, you were subconsciously extremely anxious and your distraction method wasn't helping as much anymore.

You had gotten Wanda a little wind-up music box which played a Sokovian lullaby and you handwrite the lyrics for her and attempted to wrap it. The gift was an awkward shape but thankfully with a little bit of help from Google, you figured it out. It wasn't as perfect as you would have liked it to have been but you were happy with it nonetheless.

Natasha was the girl you loved most in the world, you had always felt something for her since you first joined the team however it was only recently she confessed the feeling was mutual.

Her stone cold demeanour instantly melted when she was around you, however none of the other Avengers believed you when you called her your big teddy bear.

You had recently taken up pottery classes and your first craft was a slightly flawed mug, there was a small dent in it that looked identical to the Black Widow symbol so you decided to paint the mug black and the little hourglass in red.

There was a whole pile of presents left to be wrapped but you decided to wrap all of Natasha’s first so you could make sure they would be perfect.

The handle of the mug was quite inconvenient to wrap, you struggled to hold onto the wrapping paper and tear the tape at the same time. You looked away from the tape holder for a second and when you tried to break off a new piece of tape, you accidentally scraped your finger along the sharp edge, causing it to start bleeding, “fuck,” you continuously muttered words you were glad nobody was around to here. Amidst your panic, you brought your other hand to it to hold pressure onto the wound, however in the process of doing so, you dropped Natasha’s mug and it broke into three pieces.

“Shit,” you shouted, “you fucking piece of shit,” you slammed your hand against the door of your wardrobe, smearing blood all over it in the process. In your attempt to pick up the broken mug, you didn't realise how sharp it was and ended up further injuring your hand.

You continued to wrap the other presents until the sun began to rise. Natasha was always an early riser, she liked to get to the gym before anyone else. As she passed your room, she heard your muttered swears and peeked in to see what you were doing, only to see the red blood splattered across the wooden furniture.

“Detka!” she gently took the pizza dog toy for Kate from your hands and led you to the bathroom. “What on earth do you think you're doing?” she scolded you, gently wiping your hands with a wet cloth. “Just fuck off, Romanoff,” you attempted to walk out of the room, but she stood in the doorway to stop you.

You scoffed down at her, she was shorter than you, but you both knew she had a hold on you that nobody else did. “Malysh, let me wipe this blood away and stitch you up and then we can cuddle,” your ears perked up at your favourite activity.

Begrudgingly, you allowed Natasha to bandage up your wounds and kiss them all individually. She gently guided you to your bed, laying down with you.

“Now, do you want to tell me what you were doing?” she asked, although this time much more compassionately. Tears began to roll down your face, sobs wracking your body, “everyone on the team has been so kind to me since I joined and I just wanted to repay that somehow.” Natasha gently pulled you into her arms, your head resting on her chest as you listened to the calming sound of her heartbeat.

“Moya lyubov, you don't need to repay anyone, everyone on the team loves you because you alone are more than enough,” she gently held your hand. “But I feel like I haven't had the opportunity to thank everyone for welcoming me into their team,” you sniffled and Natasha gently wiped your nose with a tissue. “Except you have, detka. You go on runs with Sam and Steve, you practice archery with Kate and Clint and you cause mischief in the lab with Tony and Bruce. Whenever you spend quality time with them, they will perceive that as thankfulness and love,” she brushed some stray hairs out of your face.

“I got you a gift, but I broke it,” you pointed to the mess on the floor. Natasha carefully got up, picking up the pieces of it and leaving the room. Your heart began to pound, you didn't know where she had gone.

She returned moments later with a little tube of gold glitter glue. Sitting next to where you lay, she carefully began to glue the piece back together as you lay your head in her lap and watched. Once she had finished, she delicately placed it on your bedside table to dry and gently kissed the tip of your nose.

“Tasha?” you whispered. “Yes, malyshka?” she gently kissed the top of your head. “You said the team loves me, does that mean..?” you paused.

“Yes, krasivaya, I love you.”

#ybml writes #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #christmas #marvel #avengers #fluff #natasha fluff #natasha #comfort #holly <3 #thor odinson #tony stark #bruce banner #wanda maximoff #kate bishop #clint barton #steve rogers #sam wilson

[nekoannie-chan]

Not another lonely Christmas

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!Reader.

Word count: 489 words.

Summary: Steve feel lonely in Christmas until he found you.

Warnings: Fluff, angst, feelings of loneliness.

A/N: This is my entry to @sstan-hoe’s Vee’s Holly Jolly Challenge with the prompts:

"I’m not a lot of people’s favourite person..."

"Therapist."

"Steve Rogers."

"(Fear of) Spending Christmas alone."

You can read it on Wattpad and Ao3 too.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

I don’t give any kind of permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or languages (I translate myself my work) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don't steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other people. The only exception is the ones I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. If you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts, please let me know. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. 

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @angrythingstarlight @shield-agent78 @charmed-asylum @pandaxnienke @real-fbi @smokeandnailz @white-wolf1940 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @xoxonotme @bluemusickid @leyannrae @harrysthiccthighsss @marvelatthisonee @caplanbuckybarness @sapphire-rogerss @lizzieolseniskinda @notyourtypicalrose @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia-rumlow @writingshae @alexxavicry @azulatodoryuga @daemonslittlebitch @chaoticcollectivenightmare @endlesstwanted @chemtrails-club  @marigoldreamer @whiskeytangofoxtrot5555 @here4thefanfics @theestorm @patzammit @kmc1989 @somegirlfromasgard

As the Christmas season approached, Steve began to feel a knot in his stomach. Ever since he woke up from the ice, his Christmases had been spent alone. For several years, he had tried to spend them with others, but there was always some excuse, and now he found himself tormented by the thought of spending the holidays alone.

Steve looked at the calendar; he was still going to the therapist, as the adjustment process was more difficult than it seemed, and yet Steve felt he didn't belong anywhere... Steve, his voice trembling, confessed his fear of spending Christmas alone.

Steve left the office feeling a little more relieved but still worried about how he would spend the holidays.

While walking through the busy streets of New York, Steve stopped at a small bookstore to take shelter from the cold. That's when he ran into you, as you were browsing through a book in one of the aisles. Steve recognized you immediately; there were a few times they had crossed words, although basically it had been on missions.

Maybe it was a good time to meet you and distract him from his thoughts. So, it was time to take the first step. He approached you.

“Are you all right?" Steve asked gently.

You looked up, surprised. Since no one knew that this was your secret place, you were stunned for a few seconds to see that Steve Rogers was the one who was in front of you.

“I'm just looking for something to read during the vacations. I'm not a lot of people's favourite person… So I don't usually have plans for Christmas," you answered sheepishly, not even understanding why he was talking to you.

“I don't have many plans for Christmas either, so how about spending Christmas Eve together? We can share stories and make the night a little more special."

You were dumbfounded; you had never expected such a proposal, but you could tell it was different. Probably what Steve needed was a friend or someone to talk to. Many times, you had heard what others said about him, but deep down you thought he was lonely, so you accepted.

Christmas Eve came, and the two of you met in a cozy little cafe. You spent hours chatting, sharing laughs, and telling each other stories about your lives. As the evening progressed, you and Steve discovered that you had a lot in common and enjoyed each other's company.

At midnight, you two decided to take a walk through the city illuminated by Christmas lights. You stopped in front of a brightly decorated Christmas tree and held hands.

“You know, I really like Christmas, but I never usually say it. I decorated my house with a huge tree and lots of bows. I have the best Christmas village in the whole city." You boasted proudly.

“Next year we could decorate together," Steve proposed.

“Is that a promise?"

“It's a promise.“

#vee's holly jolly challenge #vee'shollyjollychallenge #steve rogers x reader