#strangerthingsdrabble

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Listen, I love Eddie gushing over his handsome boyfriend like all and any of us, but I have some thoughts. It's still planned for my set of fanfictions, Piece by Piece, but I'm drabbling my way towards happiness here.

Steve knows he is good-looking. He knows his hair is amazing, he knows he's toned, all that. People have been complimenting him for all his life, have been jealous, but most of all, it's all they have seen. The jerk with good looks. The jock with the hair. Then the babysitter, still with the hair. Steve isn't exactly proud of his looks, it's just what it is. He's a pretty boy and that's a fact. He doesn't argue against the compliments, he has learned long ago that any insecurity on his part is considered fake modesty. But he's terrified because he knows looks don't last, he knows he isn't as active as he used to be, he knows there will be wrinkles, grey hair, saggy skin and just like the enviable body he has now, he will not have any choice in it.

When he starts dating Eddie, he can tell Eddie likes the way he looks and that's fine, that's great even, but this isn't just a fling to him, it's his endgame. Steve likes making himself look pretty for his boyfriend, leans into his touch when Eddie strokes his hair, kisses his beauty marks, but there's this insistent, unrelenting voice in his head that keeps saying: "this is all you have to offer. This is all you are and all you'll ever be." He never shares this with anyone, but he dreads the day when Eddie finds out there is nothing else to Steve than his reckless disregard for his own health and his naturally but inevitably diminishing looks.

But Eddie is observant. When he gazes into Steve's eyes and whispers "you're so beautiful it hurts," Steve's lip quivers and he closes his eyes, as if he was memorizing the moment. It's subtle, but his muscles tense. Eddie knows in that second that there is something there, something he doesn't realize yet, but he's committed to unraveling the wire wrapping Steve's heart on his own. He doesn't push and prod, he experiments.

The next time, he doesn't go for the obvious, even if he wants to sing odes to Steve's shoulders, his back, his strong hands. Steve is cooking in the kitchen, fumbling around a bit, but the smell is delicious and he looks content. His hair is still ruffled from their night together and he's humming some pop song Eddie doesn't recognize. Eddie's heart swells with fondness and he wraps his arms around Steve's waist from behind, kissing the nape of his neck. "What a sight you are," he mumbles into his shoulder. "When you smile like that, when you sing along your horrible music...you're making me realize how lucky I am all over again." He knows he said something right when Steve turns the prettiest shade of pink and starts spluttering that he's the lucky one, really, and does Eddie really enjoy his heartfelt rendition of Take On Me when pop normally makes his ears bleed? Eddie says "it's not the pop I like, it's you. It makes you happy and I love seeing you happy," and Steve just melts into his arms.

From that point onwards, he makes sure to compliment Steve's choices, not just his looks, even though he never fails to whisper exactly what Steve's body does to him in the bed. He tells him that the new shirt makes him look even more radiant, he tells Steve he loves it when he lets loose once in a while and gets silly, he swoons over his voice, praises how well he handles the kids, his effort, his style. And Steve finally opens up about his insecurities, asking whether Eddie doesn't find him boring, with how straightforward he is, how one-dimensional. "I don't care for fireworks, Steve," he tells him and strokes that beautiful head. "They're pretty, exciting, but burn out soon and probably set your house on fire. Some relationships are like that, but not with you. Being with you...it makes me feel safe. I never have to guess what you mean, you just say it. Being with you is like sitting in front of a fireplace and having all the time in the world. I want that, nothing else."

Steve smiles at him and squeezes his hand. He chews on his lip and whispers: "All the time, huh? Even when I'm gray and ugly?"

Eddie gasps, offended. "The nerve of calling my boyfriend ugly, sir! Now I have to fight you for his honor! Ready your sword, scoundrel!" He tackles Steve to the bed, laughing like a madman. When he lands on top of him, he cradles his head gently and pecks him on the lips, just once, although he wants nothing more than to get lost in his embrace. "Seriously though, Stevie. You and ugly? Never to me, no matter what. But old? Hell yeah. If I get to see you all aged like fine wine or if you become the grumpiest asshole in this town, that's a victory in my book. Because it'll mean we survived all the crap life threw at us and you'll have kept me around. What's not to love about that?"

And it seems the wire constricting Steve's heart is loosening because there are tears in his eyes and he doesn't flinch when Eddie kisses them away. "I'll be looking forward to it then," he whispers into Eddie's hair.

From then on, Steve doesn't fear new wrinkles. He celebrates them with Eddie, counting each gray hair as a small step toward their victory, as Eddie called it. And it turns out that Steve is okay being complimented on his looks after all, because when Eddie kisses his laugh lines and mentions how much he enjoys them ("these are a proof you find me hilarious, Steve! Of course I love them!"), Steve finds himself seeing his body as a map of his life, the moments with Eddie, Robin, the kids, and as his wise boyfriend once said: "What's not to love about that?"

#stranger things #steve harrington #strangerthings #eddie munson #steddie #steve x eddie #steddie fanfic #steddie drabble #steddie brainrot #hair metal #strangerthingsfanfiction #strangerthingsdrabble

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Safe and Sound

When Eddie and Steve settle into their relationship, the Party notices some...interesting changes about their Dungeon Master and their favorite babysitter.

Eddie has always been one of the most alert people they have known. It probably comes with the drug dealing territory and also being the town freak, he never knew when he’d get jumped on the street or simply tossed around for a good laugh of the local jocks. He always watched his surroundings like a hawk, his dark eyes sharp in contrast to the laid back smile. Eddie was quick on his feet, always ready to move out of the way or jump to the higher ground.

The Party can’t exactly put a finger on it at first, but there is definitely something different now that Eddie and Steve sat them down, explained to them that they got their wish, they finally get along, actually, they might be getting along way more than they ever hoped, and after some clarification ("is it because all of your dates in last year sucked, Steve?" asked Dustin and got smacked by Max in return) the Party congratulated them and pretended to gag at every display of affection. The first one to notice the change is Erica, they are all walking to get some ice cream before they continue their campaign and Eddie is taking notes, mumbling to himself and scribbling numbers in his notebook. Steve walks next to him, just a mere friend to an outsider's gaze. Eddie is completely immersed in the campaign planning and he nearly walks into the street light - but only nearly because Steve is there, gently grabbing Eddie's elbow and redirecting him out of harm's way. The metalhead just mutters "thanks, love" and keeps taking notes as if nothing has just happened. Erica rolls her eyes and scoffs at Eddie. "What happened to attention to your surroundings, not cool anymore?" and Eddie just smirks, not looking up from his notes, while Steve answers: "It's okay, I got him. Let him work on your dragon hunting thing so he actually gets some sleep tonight." Erica doesn't say anything after that, but the wheels are turning in her head. 

The summer is very hot this time, and they decide to go swimming to the quarry, burying the bad memories under a pile of new ones, joyful ones. Steve stays with Eddie on the shore while the seven children test the water, splash each other and slowly escalate to a full-scale war. Mike spits out a mouthful of water after being dunked and prepares for counter attack, but his opponent - Max - is distracted. She's looking at their babysitters, slightly frowning. "I swear that normally Steve would be shouting his vocal chords away that we're taking it too far," she says and squints to look why they're not getting the usual load of motherly care. It appears that Steve is...sleeping? Well, that is unusual. His head is in Eddie's lap while the other man strokes his hair, watching the teenagers play. Max just shrugs and goes back to drowning Mike, but she makes sure to check on the two of them afterwards. 

"Something wrong, Red?" smiles Eddie, his voice quiet not to wake Steve up. The hand in his hair doesn't let up. 

Max shakes her head, watching the rise and fall of Steve's distractingly hairy chest. "No, it's just...I haven't seen him this relaxed in a while. I got kind of worried when he didn't yell at us for...well," she points towards the water where Mike and Lucas are wrestling. 

Eddie just smirks. "He deserves the rest. You know he's been watching you tiny shits for years nonstop, so I'm taking over when he lets me. And as far as I'm concerned, if there is no loss of life or limbs, you're good. But keep it tame. If you make me get over there and wake Stevie up, there might be loss of life after all. Now off you go, gang up on Wheeler or something."

It's Will who manages to articulate what they're all unable to when Steve hosts the next Hellfire Club meeting, carrying trays of baked snacks to the table. His hand slips a bit, but before anything falls and ruins the pristine carpet, Eddie is there, stabilizing him. "I got you, love," he mutters and takes the tray from his hands. Steve just smiles back, no words needed. 

When they disappear into the kitchen to bring drinks, Will smiles to himself. "They look so in sync," he mentions to Max who seems to be sharing his thoughts. "They've always been so..."

"Sharp? Alert? Freaking out about the next catastrophe?" she supplies. 

Will nods. "Yeah. It's nice to see them finally being able to relax. I mean, I guess it comes with dating, but not for everyone. I'm happy for them. It...it must be nice," he finishes, a tinge of pink in his cheeks. 

Max just smiles at him and squeezes his hand under the table. "You will get there too," she assures him. "And then Erica will be on your case all the time when your...partner..." she says quietly, not daring to voice her suspicions aloud, "has to hold you back from jumping under a car because you're too caught up in sketching." 

Will snickers and Max joins in, giving his hand one final squeeze. "I'd like that," he says, his eyes bright, just like their future.

#steddie #domestic steddie #steddie drabble #steddie ficlet #strangerthings #stranger things #strangerthingsdrabble #steve harrington #eddie munson #will byers #erica sinclair #steve x eddie #hellfire club #max mayfield

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Steve is many things, but he's not a liar. He might not always tell the truth, sure, but that's either because of his stubborn denial of things or because people simply don't ask. However, if he's asked directly, he will absutely not lie.

Autumn of 1986 finds him in deep friendship with Eddie, except it's not just a friendship for him, it's love. Plain and simple. But Eddie never asks and Steve doesn't push it because having Eddie as a friend is much better than not having him at all. All is well, they still wrangle the kids, smoke together, see questionable movies. Eddie graduates, but he still sometimes does special campaigns for Hellfire when the kids ask him.

It happens more often than not that Steve barges in at the most inconvenient moment, glaring at Eddie. This time is no different. "I swear to god, Munson, will you ever finish your game on time? I've been sitting outside for half an hour and it's cold as hell! One more time and I swear I will strangle you!"

Eddie just smiles sheepishly, but before he can answer, Mike, puberty in full swing, rolls his eyes. "Oh shut up, Steve. You love Eddie."

And Steve doesn't deny it. He just redirects his frown at Mike and adopts his best pissed off mom posture. "So what if I do, Wheeler? You guys are still late! I'm not freezing to death for any of you!"

There's loud clattering of dice as Dustin drops his on the floor and then bangs his head on the desk when he tries to pick them up. Lucas, Gareth and Jeff are gaping at Steve and Mike is, for once, speechless. Will has the gentlest smile on his face and looks at Steve as if he was his hero. Erica snorts and mumbles "well, duh."

Eddie just stares at Steve and accidentally flips his DM screen. He keeps opening and closing his mouth and his pale skin is turning a very non-metal shade or pink.

And Steve doesn't see anything wrong with what he said because he doesn't lie, it's as straightforward as that. "If you have enough time to stare, Munson, you also have enough time to wrap up whatever monster hunting you have going on. I'm getting tea to thaw myself and then I'm leaving. You have 30 minutes."

None of Eddie's campaigns ever wrap up this quickly, but he outdoes himself. One "youliveasheroesinmemoriesofthistownandlivehappilyeverafterbye!" later, he basically barges into the kitchenette while the kids pack their stuff and secretly try to eavesdrop. And Steve just stands there, leaning against the counter with a mug in hand, as if he just hasn't dropped a bomb on Eddie's understanding of life, universe and everything. "So," Eddie begins and his voice croaks because he's not ready for this conversation, but he's not running away this time, "when were you going to share with the class, Steve? I mean me? The l-love thing?"

Steve just sips his tea, unbothered. "Preferably never, but Wheeler just had to push it, the asshole," he sighs and meets Eddie's gaze. "Look, it's not a big deal, it's my shit to deal with. Nothing has to change for us, but I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable."

Eddie just blinks. "Did you just call your love for me shit?"

"Um, no." Steve shakes his head. "But you have to admit, unrequited feelings are kind of shit."

And Eddie just throws up his hands and screeches "see Steve, this is why you do share these things because you misidentify shit!" and before Steve has a chance to ask for translation, Eddie kisses him, muttering between breaths how he's going to murder Steve for every week, day and hour that he kept this to himself. Steve is surprised, but also happy and they spend much longer in the kitchenette.

When they finally come out, hand in hand, Mike gives Steve the most shit-eating grin of his life. "Hey Steve," he says, voice smooth as honey, "you're late."

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steve x eddie #steddie brainrot #steddie drabble #steddie fanfiction #strangerthings #strangerthingsdrabble #stranger things drabble #mike wheeler #dustin henderson #will byers #lucas sinclair #erica sinclair #hellfire club

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Steve Harrington is infamous in his group of friends for saying no.

No to Dungeons and Dragons.

No to the Party's suicidal plans.

No to Max's attempts to persuade him to let her drive.

No to the oh-so-benevolent offer from his father, probably born out of guilt, to join him and his mother in their new life, to have a chance to be come their perfect son again.

No to Argyle's insistence on pineapple on pizza superiority.

He has a heart of gold though, so of course his "no" isn't set in stone, except for the one to his father. He says no to Dungeons and Dragons, but still drives Dustin to the Hellfire Club and makes himself comfortable on the couch, listening to Eddie's fantastic tales and all the voices he makes. He forbids the Party to do anything stupid, but when they inevitably do, he jumps in front of them, the spiked bat in hand, and protects them without a single second thought. He knocks on Max's door one day and tells her that if she intends to be a little menace behind the wheel, at least it will be on a parking lot and under his supervision. And when he hosts a pizza night, he does buy a canned pineapple, even though his nose crinkles in disgust when he slides it towards smiling Argyle.

So Steve's "no"s aren't set in stone, but they are still there, there's a "no" behind corner, waiting for another stupid plan, another silly decision.

But Steve Harrington can also say yes, and it's the sweetest sound in the world to Eddie Munson.

"Yes" to Eddie's insecure, panicked question if he's perhaps not misinterpreting the signs, if Steve perhaps likes him (Steve's "yes" is incredulous, accompanied with a bitchy roll of eyes, because he's just had his hands in Eddie's hair, his lips on his own, and how else would you interpret that, Munson?)

"Yes" to Eddie's question, hidden behind a strand of wavy hair and a shy smile, if Steve wants to spend the night.

"Yes" to whether Steve would happen to be free for Christmas, that there's always a free spot at his and Wayne's table (not for anyone, but Steve is special), and this "yes" is quiet, touched, followed by a lot of self-deprecating, typical-Steve rambles not to worry, that he's used to being alone on Christmas, but it's a "yes" all the same.

And finally, years in, when world perhaps becomes a kinder place, when all the horrors are behind them and Steve gets comfortable with a small belly over his muscles, when Eddie finds grey hairs in his mane and is overjoyed because they look like guitar strings, he slides a small box with a ring towards Steve, finally voicing the question that has been on his mind for years. Steve starts tearing up, almost spills his morning coffee as he grabs Eddie by his t-shirt and kisses him.

"I didn't think you'd want to, I mean, I do, so much but I never wanted to force you into anything, so...I...I don't know what to say," he whispers when they break apart for air.

Eddie smiles at him, traces those beloved moles with his fingertips. "That's an easy one, Stevie. Say yes."

And Steve Harrington does.

#steddie #steddie drabble #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things drabble #strangerthings #strangerthingsdrabble

[undreaming-fanfiction]

The Freak With the Plan

Steve, being the supportive boyfriend he is, would not only attend Eddie’s graduation, not only would he bring him flowers, drive all the kids there, clap like a maniac and whistle, but would also ensure the day is everything Eddie dreamed it would be. 

When he's done hugging Eddie (Robin and Nancy lean in and block the sight of them so Steve can quickly peck him on the lips), Steve frowns. “Baby, you forgot something.”

Eddie blinks, confused. “I did?”

“Um, yeah! I’ve heard all about your big day plans from Dustin and I remember you mentioning wanting to,” he pauses, trying to recall the exact phrase, “flip principal Higgins the bird. So where was that?”

“Oh that.” Eddie is pulling a strand of hair in front of his face, trying to hide his smile. “Well, maybe I was feeling generous?”

“Hm. Well, I’m not.” Steve returns the smile, but there is a glint of something in his eyes that makes Eddie both terrified and excited. And sure enough, Steve is no quitter. When the principal exits the stage, Steve starts to clap, drawing attention to himself, and then-!

Eddie has his hands full, both trying not to kiss Steve right there and then and also holding down Dustin’s arms because the little shit just wants to join in and damn it, he’s not going to be the reason for Dustin being held back too. He sees Higgins’s eyes go large, but he doesn’t say anything, not when the former King of this humble establishment looks him in the eye, both of his middle fingers still raised for all to see, and calmly says “have a wonderful day, sir. Fantastic ceremony.” Dustin just beams at Eddie and mouths he’s so cool! and Eddie is ready to sign and laminate that quote. 

“You absolute madman,” he barks out in laughter when Higgins is out of sight. “You absolute lovable and beautiful madman. Not just one bird, but two. That’s exceeding expectations yet again.” 

Steve discreetly squeezes his hand. “Well, not really,” he winks at Eddie. “One of them was from you. I just joined in.” 

When a few days later Jonathan knocks on Eddie’s door and, smile tugging at his lips, hands Eddie a photograph of that exact moment, Eddie’s mouth comically open, Dustin radiating enough energy for ten suns and Steve just looking like a “fuck you” to the principal is the most natural thing to do during a graduation ceremony (and Hopper in the background pretending he needs to...see something...very tiny behind Joyce’s head, ostentatively NOT looking at the scene), Eddie could just kiss him too.

#eddie munson #steddie #steve harrington #steddie ficlet #steddie drabble #jonathan byers #dustin henderson #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #stranger things #strangerthings #stranger things drabble #strangerthingsdrabble #steddie brainrot

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Yet another crack idea/AU of sorts...modern setting.

Steve in his pure public mean girl/private sweetheart era, being an absolute sassy asshole about people's fashion choices. He's the master of roasting others. He should have that eyeroll patented. He becomes popular on TikTok not by his own choice, but by Robin, Nancy and Jonathan recording him, always showing him an outfit of someone famous/some stupid 5 minute crafts trend. He'd scoff at the "turn your t-shirt into a skirt" video and say "sure, why don't you include a pretty bow out of toilet paper when you're at it?". They also record him reading articles like "10 best and 10 worst red carpet looks", Steve never reads these things on his own, but he absolutely will comment on them when someone makes him look at those monstrosities.

Steve's praise ranges from "not bad" to "acceptable", sometimes even "could be worse." His critique is along the lines of "it's lucky they weren't trying to impress anyone. Oh, they were? Well...I'm certain they'll do amazing the next time." Soon people start sending their own outfits as messages to the account for Steve to roast.

Eddie, being the little shit he is, sends them a picture of his own in a crop top and leather pants. Now, Steve doesn't hide his crush on Eddie too well and Eddie is just flirting shamelessly, waiting for Steve to finally snap and admit his feelings. Of course, he tags Steve's account publicly and because Eddie is semi-famous with Corroded Coffin, it blows up. People patiently wait for the roast.

In a few days, Robin posts a video on Steve's account. She's facing the camera and with her most neutral expression, explains that while everyone is waiting for the roast of the century, it's not coming. Why? Well...

She turns the camera slightly to the side and captures Steve and Eddie, trading kisses and holding hands.

Eddie still sometimes sends joke pictures for Steve to judge, the more ridiculous the better. He steals Chrissy's cheerleading uniform. He wears a trash bag. There are no recorded answers from Steve, but comments appear under each one of them.

10/10 would bang again

12/10 are you free for dinner? You can be the dinner (yes, this one was in response to the cheerleading uniform)

10/10 but only because I love you, that shirt is hideous

10/10 but please never wear that again. Still love you BTW

10/10 baby please please PLEASE give that horrendous thing back to Wayne, I swear this wasn't fashionable even in the 60s (still love you though, the plastic pants are 1/10 but you are 10/10 as always)

#steddie #steddie drabble #steddie au #eddie munson #steve harrington #stranger things drabble #strangerthingsdrabble #stranger things

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Unlikely But Welcome

Hey, Duffers? Give me more Harrington-Byers content. Let me give you a suggestion.

Give me Jonathan who realizes that Steve has really grown as a person and eventually decides to give him a chance, they start a reluctant friendship. It's not easy or fast, but they often drop the kids off to the Hellfire Club campaigns and they sometimes have to wait together outside, maybe share a cigarette or something and chat about anything and everything.

Jonathan talks about the life he had in California and maybe admits to Steve that he never feels that carefree here, it's like having constant weight on his shoulders. It feels weird, talking to the former King Steve about the guilt and paranoia, but Steve actually listens and understands, he just chuckles and takes a drag from the cigarette, admits to Jonathan that he is going out of his mind whenever the kids don't walkie him for several days. "But that's what we're here for, right?" he smiles at Jonathan and passes the smoke back, "we're scared shitless for them and worry about every stupid thing so they can have a good time. As much as possible after all that."

They start hanging out at Steve's house, planning outings for the little shitheads, fairs, Halloween parties, anything with the promise of giving the kids back at least pieces of their lost childhoods. The rest of the young adults join in too, Argyle with his constant enthusiasm, Eddie and his manic energy, Robin with her undying sarcasm and Nancy who is ridden by the same guilt as the two of them, seeing what the Upside Down did to Mike and his friends.

It's there that Jonathan notices Steve's house is devoid of any personality, he only has a few polaroids in his room and those are carefully stored in his drawer, as if he's ashamed of them. So Jonathan picks up his camera again, after the long break in California, and gets to what he knows the best. He snaps pictures of Steve and Robin giggling, drunk on punch, as she re-creates the YOU SUCK / YOU RULE scoreboard on a random paper, he captures the exact moment Eddie tackles Steve into the pool when they're sweating like crazy while preparing a barbecue for their gaggle of kids. He smiles to himself as he captures Eddie shotgunning with Steve for the first time, documents Steve's wide smile as he's high as a kite and discussing very important topics with Argyle, such as whether tabby or ginger cats are superior. There are more pictures - Steve with Nancy as they argue about the format of the Halloween party invitations while Eddie sketches suggestions in the background, Dustin jumping at Steve to hug him, the reluctant fist bump between Steve and Mike, Steve sitting between Erica and Max, all three with sunglasses and a sign that says "the cool trio". When he knocks on Steve's door on one day and gives him the photographs, Steve's face lights up like a Christmas tree. He gets all of them framed and completely covers the walls of his room with his found family.

There is a stupid assignment that has Dustin frustrated, presentations on their families - apparently a male influence is needed, a single family member isn't enough, so Jonathan nudges him and whispers "what about Steve? Does an older brother count?" and Dustin's face lights up, drags Steve over for a picture for his presentation. They pose for several pictures, Steve holding Dustin in the air, leaning on each other like partners in crime, and everyone's laughing, maybe sheds a tear or two.

If Jonathan had any doubts about Steve, they disappear the second he takes the last picture and Steve comes over to him, hugs him with a quiet thank you. And then he taps his camera and asks: "hey, show me how to operate this thing? I'm pretty sure I need to take over for a second." Jonathan is confused for a moment, but then he sees Will looking at him with a shy expression and realizes - oh. Maybe this is why they work so well as friends, because they have this in common - filling in the roles they were never supposed to have, but would not give up for the world. He gives Steve a quick rundown and then drags Will to the living room, posing for pictures and reenacting Steve's suggestions, fighting with imaginary swords and slaying dragons (or Dustin who offered to stand in for the legendary creature). In the end, Steve's pictures are a bit blurry, but Jonathan treasures them.

And then there's the incident outside of Hellfire, they're smoking together again, laughing about the secret Santa they're organizing for the kids ("I swear to god, Jonathan, Dustin's learning to knit. He's determined to send Suzie-poo a handmade scarf and I'm trying to be supportive, I really am, but it looks like a blob of cotton"). The kids barge outside, excited as always, and Will is beaming too, he found so much in common with Eddie and they're rapidly talking, exchanging ideas for the next sessions. But of course, there's no rest for the freaks - the basketball practice ends around the same time and one of Jason's lackeys bumps into Will, snarls at him. "Of course you two get along. A freak and a fag, hard to tell which one is which." The smile instantly drops from Will's face and Eddie's straightening up, glaring at the sophomore, and Jonathan's blood runs cold when-

It's Steve who takes the first step towards the boy and even though his legend is long gone, the boy staggers back. Memories flash in Jonathan's head, remembering how he lost the first camera, how terrifying Steve's anger could be, but Steve only grasps the boy's shoulder and smiles at him, as pleasant as possible. "I remember you, kid. Aren't you the one who always tries to sneak into the adult section of the Family Video, hm? And smokes in front of the store. Now if I recall, your mother is a very strict lady, I've met her once or twice...does she know?" And when the bully shakes his head, Steve's voice lowers to a growl. "Do you want her to know?" Another shake. "That's what I thought."

And with that, the bully his gone and Jonathan wants to check on his brother, except there is something happening in the group before him - Steve is whispering something into Eddie's ear and the older boy nods, his face serious and determined. Steve shoots an apologetic look at Jonathan, mouths "just a second" at him and they take Will to the side, talk to him in hushed voices. The rest of the party is chatting again, recalling their latest adventures, but Jonathan only has eyes for his younger brother and the strange new friend he made. He watches as Steve reaches under the collar of his shirt and pulls out a familiar looking pendant with a guitar pick. Watches as Eddie moves his watch to the side and reveals a fresh looking tattoo of a spiked bat. Will's eyes water and he hugs both of them, laughing into the embrace and Jonathan finally understands what Nancy meant, that Steve's grown up and he's a different person now, in more ways than one. He sees Steve and Eddie's fingers brush against each other, the shy glances masked in their usual teasing. And Will looks so much happier now, so much more confident that he knows - he could never hate Steve Harrington again.

When they both manage to get the kids (and Eddie who rides with Steve, of course he does) into their cars, Jonathan and Steve smile at each other, and then Jonathan, the distant Jonathan who is used to only observing, never initiating, embraces Steve. "I don't know how to repay you for what you did for Will, Steve," he admits.

Steve just laughs and pats Jonathan's back. "I only did what felt right. The kid deserves the world. But," he adds and grins at Jonathan, "if you're insistent on the repayment, how about you pick up some good beer for this week's movie night? I don't think I can survive more experimentation, Eddie and Robin are competing who can get a more obscure brand and I'm too old for that crap."

Jonathan snickers and gives Steve a thumbs up. Lame, but he doesn't seem to mind. "You've got it."

#steve harrington #eddie munson #jonathan byers #the party #will byers #dustin henderson #steddie #steddie drabble #stranger things #stranger things drabble #stranger things ficlet #steddie ficlet #strangerthings #strangerthingsdrabble

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Steve often wonders how Eddie's hair manages to catch anything and everything. Leaves, tiny branches, blooms, if he sets a foot outside, his hair collects souveniers. Steve is in awe, laughs at him having to be special again, but always stops Eddie when he sees something sticking out of his curls and picks the collected items from his hair. Eddie always jokes that Steve's hair is way more distracting, but turns around obediently and if he leans into his touch a little too much, he can't be blamed. Steve's fingers are strong but soft and he's just a man, sue him.

It becomes their routine. They hang out, Steve tells Eddie to turn around and picks out whatever his hair collected that day. It's not that Eddie doesn't brush his hair, but there seems to be some kind of unnatural magnetism pulling things towards his locks.

Or not.

Steve arrives one day too early (he couldn't sleep but when can he?) and he notices something...curious. Eddie sneaks to a bush nearby and picks a few leaves, arranges them into his hair. He jumps in surprise when Steve laughs out loud, starts muttering apologies and paws at his hair, trying to remove the leaves, in vain. Maybe he expects Steve to be mad, but the man just shushes him and reaches in with his fingers again. Eddie grows beet red.

When Steve asks why he does that, Eddie first tries to play it cool, he claims it's a joke, but then, in a burst of stupid bravery, admits to Steve that he likes his fingers in his hair, and yes, he knows, he's a freak and he's sorry if he made things awkward-

But Steve just strokes his hair and Eddie near purrs if he could get over the shock and embarrassment. "Well, that's good to know," Steve says, "because I also like your hair. Enough so that I sometimes think about sneaking in a few branches so you'd let me touch it."

And Eddie feels stupid but also lucky, so he blurts out "I'd let you touch anything, anytime, Stevie. Not just the hair. You don't need to ask."

He half expects Steve to leave, too much too soon, but he just buries his hand in Eddie's hair and sighs as if that was the best feeling in the world. His eyes dart to Eddie's lips and Eddie is a goner. "Anything, you say?" he whispers, leaning closer.

Eddie's fingers find Steve's other hand and move it to his cheek, nuzzling into the warm palm. "Yeah, anything. And then some." And because stupidity seems to be a sound strategy with Steve, he looks at Steve's lips too and licks his own, an open invitation, and that seems to be enough. Eddie always thought that the Harrington experience was overrated, but oh, he gets it now.

From that day on, Eddie is always greeted by gentle fingers in his hair and even gentler lips on his own. He still sometimes leaves flowers in his hair for Steve to find. And when he jokes that he can never cut his hair now, no way is he losing Steve over a haircut, Steve just kisses him, long and sweet, and says: "Good. But if you ever wanted to cut it, you should know that it's not the hair, Eddie. It's you. You're never losing me over anything."

Eddie plucks a beautiful red blossom and reaches out, tucks it into Steve's perfect locks. "I can work with that."

#stranger things #strangerthings #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steddie drabble #strangerthingsdrabble #steddie hc

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Banished (1)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

After the shitshow of spring 1986, all parents are kind of worried about leaving their kids with Eddie again, even when he was proven innocent. It’s not that they think he killed Chrissy, but they are afraid that their kids might be targeted for the association with Eddie, like Dustin and Lucas were before. 

Even though Eddie doesn’t want to show it, it breaks his heart because he really loves his bunch of gremlins (and the new additions as well, El, Will and Max who finally joined some of their sessions after healing). He tries to accept it though, perhaps stepping back a bit, not hanging out too much because he wants to keep them safe, damn it, they survived the Upside Down and they’re not going to be harmed by a town mob. Especially not because of him.

Steve notices Eddie pulling away first, of course he does, but he has no way to fix this. The kids’ parents trust him, yes, but he’s not that much older than the party so his voice doesn’t have the power to persuade them. And he tries, he really, really tries. The answer is still the same - “maybe when things settle down a bit”, but damn it, they need Eddie now, and he has a feeling that Eddie needs them too. 

When Steve vents to Robin, he mentions how hurt the kids are, especially Dustin (and he doesn’t also say so about himself, no, doesn’t admit how much he misses that loud laughter, the endless fantasy ramblings, the odes to his guitar), Robin just smiles at him and pats his back. “Can’t make any promises, but I might have an idea what to do.” 

What happens is as follows.

Robin goes to Nancy to ask for help. She refuses to have Steve present and there might have been some gossip involved because Nancy looks at him in a funny way afterwards and says: “Give me a bit more time, you might just get what you want.” And winks at him. Nancy Wheeler winks at him. 

Nancy goes for the throat and ambushes her mother. Karen Wheeler is a caring, sympathetic woman, and Nancy talks to her about who Eddie is, how he’s helping the kids, how he made Mike’s high school experience bearable, even enjoyable. She tells her bits and pieces (not all, definitely not everything, but enough) about his home life and what Eddie means to the whole party. She also mentions (maybe with a small smirk. Definitely with a smirk) that Steve will be driving the kids around anyway and while the mob might go for a few teenagers, they definitely will not mess with Steve Harrington. If nothing else, the Harrington family would absolutely sue. “Please, mom,” she finishes her plea, leaning into Karen. “There aren’t many people those kids can relate to. And Eddie doesn’t deserve to be punished even more, especially for something he didn’t do.” 

And Karen Wheeler just nods with a deep sigh, hugs her daughter and picks up the phone. She makes several calls and Nancy doesn’t want to listen in (well, maybe she does, but Karen is very assertive on the phone so it doesn’t take much), but she hears phrases such as “Claudia, do you know he actually saved Dustin during the earthquake? Exactly. I’ve reconsidered my decision and frankly, so should you,” and “I get that you are upset about the incident with the police car, but please understand. It’s exactly the kids sticking together that saved them and I absolutely don’t intend to dissuade them from doing that.” 

A few hours later, Karen Wheeler emerges from the phone with a victorious smile on her face. She knocks on Nancy’s door and asks her if she could make sure Steve is available tomorrow, to drop the kids off. Also for dinner, they might not be together anymore but she still likes him, considers him family. “But please call him in twenty minutes or so”, she adds, “I have one more call to make.” 

The phone is not picked up immediately, but when it is, there is a cautious “hello?” at the other end. Karen’s heart skips a beat when she hears the fear in that voice, fear of more accusing calls, of insults, assumptions. She curses herself for ever taking a part in that, even if with the best intentions. 

“Hello, this is Karen Wheeler,” she announces, making sure her voice sounds normal and collected. “Am I speaking to Eddie?” 

There’s a gasp at the end of the line, and then a quick “Y-yes, this is Eddie. Look, Mrs. Wheeler, I swear your son is safe, I haven’t been around him in-”

“Eddie,” she interrupts him, strict but kind. “I know. And I thank you for indulging me...and the other parents. But there have been some changes. Would you be free tomorrow at...let’s say, six PM? Join us for dinner, from what I understand, all the kids will be here for their fantasy game. They have been complaining nonstop it’s not the same without you,” she finishes in a soft tone. 

“I’d...I’d love to, I really would,” he says, voice strained, and Karen grips the receiver tightly. She is a social person by nature, but she really wants to meet Eddie now, properly meet him and talk to him. “But it’s not just you, Mrs. Wheeler, even if I have your permission, the others-”

“Will not be a problem,” she completes the sentence for him, smiling into the phone as if Eddie could see her. “I talked to them before calling you. They all gave their okay and will drive their children over, so you can check with them too. But I assure you, it will not be necessary. You are welcome to join us, Eddie.” 

“O...okay.” There is a quiet sound at the other end, perhaps a sniffle, rustling of a tissue? “Thank you, Mrs. Wheeler. Thank you so much. I will...I will be there. Six, you said?” 

“Yes, six. See you tomorrow, Eddie.” 

As she hangs up the phone, she sees Nancy leaning on the wall, smiling. “You’re the best, mom,” she whispers and hugs her. “You really can’t tell where I get the fighting spirit from?” 

Karen Wheeler just laughs, returns the embrace and starts planning tomorrow’s dinner. The phone is finally free. 

Steve picks up almost immediately and when Nancy tells him the newest developments, there is a huge sigh of relief and she can just tell the way Steve is smiling into the phone, running a hand through his hair. “I could just kiss you and your mom,” he laughs after he confirms he’ll be there no matter what. 

Nancy just snickers because there is no expectation, no unfulfilled hope there, just warmth that comes with Steve’s friendship. “Hmm...thank you, but I’ll pass this time. How about you kiss Eddie instead?” 

She hangs up the phone to Steve’s sputtering and, once she’s certain he can’t hear her, laughs until her sides hurt because a shy Steve Harrington? That’s a new one and something she definitely cannot miss. 

#steddie #steddie drabble #implied ronance #I mean very small but I see them at a similar relationship stage to Eddie and Steve #eddie munson #robin buckley #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #karen wheeler #strangerthings #stranger things drabble #strangerthingsdrabble #stranger things

[undreaming-fanfiction]

We all know that Steve isn't big on reading, possibly because of all the head trauma. Eddie is the opposite, he basically lives in books. Sometimes he reads to Steve before sleep, or when Steve cooks, bakes, anything that requires his focus. Even when audiobooks become a thing, he says he can't fully focus on a book unless it's in Eddie's voice. That might be a lie, but Eddie never tries to disprove it.

What Eddie does, however, is note down interesting quotes from the books he reads. He scribbles them onto sticky notes in his messy handwriting and then leaves them for Steve to find - in his pockets, on the fridge, in Steve's favorite coffee mug.

Sometimes they are short. Sometimes they take up several sticky notes. But there is always an addition from Eddie, something to make it personal.

"What is love? There is nothing in the world, neither man nor Devil nor any thing, that I hold as suspect as love, for it penetrates the soul more than any other thing. Nothing exists that so fills and binds the heart as love does. Therefore, unless you have those weapons that subdue it, the soul plunges through love into an immense abyss." - The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco. Made me think of you.

"He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." - Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë. Shows that music taste doesn't reside in the soul, don't you think, big boy?

“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” – The Fellowship of the Ring, J. R. R. Tolkien. I've read this so many times, but I only get it now, Stevie. You made it make sense.

Of course, there are funny ones too, inspirational ones, but the ones about the two of them are Steve's favorite. He keeps all the sticky notes organized in a binder, with dates and maybe even snippets of the books when he attempts to read them. He rarely finishes any of them, but Eddie finds himself not caring about it anymore. The moments reading for Steve are sacred and he often throws the party out of the kitchen when Steve bakes. Well, sometimes with the exception of Will and El, those two are always welcome to their quality book time.

As Steve bakes snacks for the latest Hellfire campaign and Eddie's voice carries him to a different world full of adventure, knights and doomed romances, Steve stops him from time to time. "Um, could you- oh fuck, wait a second, I don't want this to burn..."

And before he finishes saving the pastries, there is a sticky note ready for him, with a small note: for my cute pastry savior.

Steve wonders how many binders he'll manage to fill during their life together. He can't wait to find out.

#stranger things #strangerthings #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steddie drabble #steddiedrabble #steddie hc #strangerthingsdrabble #stranger things drabble #steddie ficlet

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Reasons why I love Steve and Eddie together no 24858: 

They've had the opposite life experience when it comes to expectations. They both disliked the way people treated them, but they didn't fight it. What can you do, toss the hand of cards you were handed with no chance of getting a new one? Only when they meet each other do they realize that the other way, the freedom on the other side of the fence they dreamed about, is nothing ideal, it fucks you up, but in a different way.

No one ever expected anything of Eddie. He was a kid of a criminal, trailer trash, so whatever he did, grew his hair long and wild, dealt drugs or reportedly dabbled in Satanism, it wasn't entirely surprising. The world expected him to fail from the beginning and who was he to prove them wrong. No one ever believed he would make it not even big, but just normal, just have a standard, boring and honest life. And so Eddie always did what he wanted, not caring much for anyone's thoughts because he had no one to disappoint. Perhaps Wayne, but one person did very little against the whole world. Eddie had all all freedom and all the indifference and contempt.

On the other hand, there were always expectations tied to Steve. Ever since he was born, maybe even before, his father knew he simply had to be great. He was the only Harrington child, a tick in the list of life goals his father had planned, but he could never be his own person, not really. He was expected to excel at sports, to do well in school (not necessarily academically, but to be popular, a leader), to either study business or start in his father's company. Down the line, there would be a white picket fence, a girl with a blinding smile and one or two children, preferably sons. But when Steve didn't get to college and didn't start in his dad's company, this illusion crumbled. All his life had been directed by these expectations and now that it became obvious he'd never live up to them, it was like Steve never mattered, as it the only thing worth the world's attention and affection wasn't himself but the potential that people who never really knew him saw. Steve's life was shrouded in poorly hidden shame, because he was supposed to be more but just isn't.

When they meet each other for the first time, sparks fly, but not the good ones. There is jealousy and bitterness. Eddie looks at Steve and sees someone who has it all handed on a silver platter, who always had people in his corner while Eddie was struggling to even have others look at him. Steve looks at Eddie and sees someone free to be whatever he wants, no pre-planned life from his birth, no constant measuring up to an ideal that was created long before his birth. Eddie can be himself and people just let him and that makes Steve's stomach twist with a helpless feeling of injustice.

And then they get closer and they both see that the opposite to what they have is not all sunshine and rainbows. Steve sees how the town treats Eddie, hears the residents say "of course it was that Munson kid who caused all this, the apple doesn't fall down from the tree after all" and suddenly he's marching to the man who is staring at Steve with wide eyes and only when he feels Eddie's long fingers squeeze his shoulder and hears the muttered "don't bother, Steve, it's not worth it, they will believe it anyway" does he feel anger, hot and burning, because Eddie is smart, Eddie is resourceful and kind, but no one ever gave him the chance to prove it, while Steve just had to smile, flip his hair and they would believe the best things about him, even if they weren't true. Eddie sees the resignation with which Steve accepts that he's dumb, just the muscle of the group, nearly the oldest but never respected. He hears Steve jokingly refer to himself as a failure and when he asks what exactly did he fail at except not following his dad's life map, Steve stutters and cannot answer, because he is so, so convinced he is a fuck up that he can't see the tiny victories, how loved he is, how he is managing to keep so many people safe. 

With Eddie's help, Steve learns to relax. Eddie praises him for things that Steve never though would count as achievements because they were useless in the grand Harrington perspective, but Steve is learning there is more to life. Eddie tells him he did such a great job boosting Dustin's confidence before going to see Suzie, that he'd never be able to do something like that for the kid. When Steve calls him after a long work shift, yawning and muttering he still has to clean the kitchen before he goes to sleep, Eddie just asks him if the world is going to end if those stupid dishes wait for tomorrow and Steve has a revelation. He goes to sleep and cleans the kitchen the next day. He gets back into reading with Eddie, but there is no pressure, if he stumbles over words, Eddie is there with gentle words of encouragement and help instead of criticism, instead of saying that Steve is still not good enough. 

And Eddie feels for the first time that he wants to do better, and not just as a "fuck you" to Hawkins and all the people who judged him before getting to know him. Steve believes in Eddie completely, Steve looks at Eddie as if he actually sees him, not just the exaggerated persona he presents himself as, he sees him as a separate human being from his dad, his trailer home, all of it. Eddie finds himself really trying in school, going as far as to ask Nancy for tips on effective learning and having her tutor him, searching for jobs that would lead somewhere in the future, not fast, but step by step, even army crawling, and he doesn't give up when it doesn't work for the first time. Because it turns out that having a group of dedicated kids and a loving uncle definitely helps, but having Steve Harrigton comb fingers through his hair and ask, not jokingly at all, if Eddie wants him to punch the asshole who warned the shop owner against hiring a Munson, that's a completely new world for Eddie, one that finally doesn't root against him. 

There is no finish line, no sign saying YOU MADE IT, YOU BROKE FREE, but when Eddie celebrates a year in the same job, even earning a promotion, and Steve quips back at someone insinuating he's stupid by saying "I'm trying not to be, so how about you save the insults and actually explain it?", they start feeling that they will be alright. And they are.

#steddie #steddie drabble #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #strangerthings #stranger things drabble #strangerthingsdrabble #stranger things

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Give and Take

It's not like I don't have a fanfic about this already, but let me just extract the headcanons from it...

Eddie hates when people tell him what to do. Steve cares for people to a degree that he's sometimes overbearing. That's not an ideal combination. But.

The thing is, both of them suck at taking care of themselves. Eddie smokes, drinks and eats any junk food he finds. He's completely willing to half freeze to death for "style". If he's preparing a campaign for the kids, he won't sleep for days. Steve could get his leg chopped off and mostly worry about slowing the party down and possibly ruining yet another one of Nancy's sweaters. He doesn't want people worrying about him to an extent of hiding his injuries or pretending they don't hurt. Eddie has never seen him go to a doctor.

So when Steve starts nagging him about eating better, more frequent, about not ignoring pangs of hunger (and even going as far as to blame himself for not seeing into Eddie's head and not preparing something for him, what the fuck), Eddie senses an opportunity. Once he swallows the incoming "fuck your vitamins and nutrients, Harrington!", he proposes a trade - he'll try to eat better, but as an exchange, Steve will let him take a look at his back. Steve's spine is a mess, his uneasy sleep and numerous injuries not helping, but he's stubbornly refusing to have it looked at. When Eddie gets concerned, he even starts muffling his grunts of pain while getting out of the bed in the morning. "So what about it, Harrington. You get a massage and I eat what you call "real food", do we have a deal?"

Steve, surprisingly to both Eddie and himself, agrees. And while it's a pain in the hankie, the plan actually works, that's a first. Steve hates being the cause of worry for others, but his concern for Eddie is even greater. So he begrudgingly allows Eddie to work the stiff muscles on his shoulders loose in exchange for a side of vegetables. He bitches about it like the drama queen he is, but he gives Eddie the disinfectant and lets him clean the injuries he's unable to reach himself, only if it means Eddie will eat three meals a day that aren't cereal, beer or cereal with beer. It takes Eddie a week of nonstop arguing, gentle persuasion and not so gentle blackmail to arrange a deal that Steve gets his sight checked and Eddie will eat the prepared meals in his fridge when Steve has long days at work.

And while Eddie sometimes wants to yell into the void that his boyfriend is wonderful, he's so loving but could he also not be this suicidal, thank you, Steve's brain slowly starts connecting Eddie's well-being to his own. He still doesn't feel fully comfortable being cared for and treated like the breakable human being he is, but he accepts it as a price for Eddie's cooperation. He tosses the massage lotion at Eddie and mutters "fifteen minutes and then I'm making you breakfast," adds a piece of fruit to Eddie's lunchbox for every bruise or scar Eddie intends to see and treat. When they can't meet, they make an agreement in advance - Steve will get a hot bath for his back and wear a long t-shirt to make sure his muscles survive the cool autumn night while Eddie calls him on the phone, angrily munching on lentils with god knows what and growls into the receiver "this is disgusting, Harrington. I'm suffering. Are you enjoying my suffering, you sadistic veggie-obsessed lunatic?!"

Gradually, they build habits. They still bitch about it, but it's a routine and it's theirs. And if Eddie sometimes forgets himself and buys carrots and a bunch of apples because hey, they were on sale and he doesn't want Steve carrying anything heavy with that back of his, or if a box slips on Steve's shoulder during moving and his first instinct is to ask Eddie if he could assess the damage, well. The bitching might as well be worth it.

(and sometimes, just sometimes, Eddie absentmindedly stands behind Steve when he watches TV and works his fingers on his nape and shoulders, losing himself in the movie or whatever Steve’s watching. When he snaps out of it, Steve gives him the look and Eddie whines, marches into the kitchen and emerges seconds later with a carrot stick in his mouth, glaring at Steve and complaining “happy now? Look what you made me do, Steve! Look what you made me do!”)

#steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie brainrot #steddie ficlet #steddie fanfiction #steddie drabble #strangerthings #stranger things #stranger things drabble #eddie is the master of passive aggressive munching #steve is convinced he's like wolverine #but without the regeneration and weapons #basically a giant bruise with awesome hair #headcanons #strangerthingsdrabble #strangerthingsfanfiction

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Before Dustin goes to his summer camp in 1985, he has a very tearful goodbye with Steve, lots of lightsaber fights and last minute dating advice. They can’t communicate much, both will be very busy, but Steve promises to get over his distaste for writing and send Dustin a letter with news from Hawkins. He also promises to keep an eye on his mother, even though Claudia is more resilient than she seems.

Around the middle of Dustin’s stay, Steve applies for the job at Scoops Ahoy. He goes to the shop Joyce works at and awkwardly asks her if she has any postcards or envelopes, and walks away to her knowing smile. 

He sits down in the evening, mostly rambling in his letter, but doing his best. He even draws small ice cream cones on the sides, adding a PS: If I get the job, I expect you to stop by on your fist day back. If I don’t get it, still stop by, my treat. He sends the letter and hopes it will make Dustin smile. Or just brighten his day a little.

Whenever he sees the other kids, he asks: “Have you written to Dustin yet? You promised him at least one letter, so get to it!” 

Even though he has to work on the day of Dustin’s return and he hates it, he refuses to let the kids to the back corridors if they don’t tell him whether they’re planning a welcome back party for their friend. Of course they are, but he needs to be sure. 

The day before Dustin’s arrival, he receives a poscard in the mail. It has a drawing of a crossed ice cream cone and a nail bat on it, with a simple message: I don’t know if you get this before your interview, but I believe in you. You’re going to ace it. See you at the end of June!

That postcard never leaves Steve’s car now. Whenever he feels nervous, whenever he needs a small boost of confidence, he looks at the scribbles and reads them again. I believe in you. 

#dustin henderson #steve harrington #stranger things drabble #strangerthings #stranger things #strangerthingsdrabble #scoops ahoy

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Take It Back

Sometimes the names we have don't carry the best memories, they don't bring out the best in us. Steve and Eddie know this all too well, both weighted down by the legacies of their fathers, and it takes them a while to come to terms with the way they feel about their surnames. They both work around them, evade the connection as well as possible, and are determined to build their identities around these rotten spots, not allowing them to spoil more in their lives. The child of a criminal and a child of a cold, widely-hated businessman. What a pair they make.

At one point, they consider changing their surnames. Or moving. Maybe both, anything to escape the unfeeling, ever critical stare of Thomas Harrington and the tainted memory of John Munson. They give it a lot of thought, drink some more than they should, but it's a heavy topic and it requires a heavy dose of liquor. At the end of their discussion, they wobble back from the Hideout, leaning on each other and only stopping here and there to consider the option of throwing up. "You knoo-ow, Steve," hiccups Eddie and the sway of his hips almost has him do a pirouette, "I think I got it. The...grand plan. The mmmmaster plan. Evil. Sssso evil." He looks at Steve from under his heavy-lidded eyes. "Am evil, no?"

"You, Eds," slurs Steve and hugs the street light, "can be anything. Aaanything. So yesh. You can be evil, babe. Go do it. Spread chaos. Fight...someone. Heroes. But not El. El is cool." He looks up at the light bulb and mutters "so pretty" before realizing he's nearly blinding himself.

"I love you. I do. You...support. Me and my viles," Eddie swings around the lamp and crashes into Steve, giggling. "You will be my villain wife. The...blood bank to my Dracula or something. The electricity to my monster." He sways against Steve for a moment, then pointing vaguely behind his shoulder. "You think we can make it to the other lamp? Wanna swwwwing. Around it." He smacks his lips and repeats the word. "Swing. Swwwing. Sounds all whooshy. Like it."

Steve nods solemnly and grabs Eddie's waist. "Let's whoosh. Can you..oh shit, the other leg, didn't we come from there? Who the fuck cares...um. Can you tell me? The masterrrplan?" The last word is a bit slurred, but the next lamp is far away and it takes more than he has to just walk in a slightly squiggly line. Or just walk.

Eddie nods too, although a bit too enthusiastically, and that does it for their fragile balance. It's only thanks to Steve's reflexes that they don't smash into the ground but dive into the nearest grass patch, although the style of the dive leaves something to be desired. "Whoops. Soft," Eddie giggles and squeezes Steve's chest. "My plan, love, is to stay in this shithole. It's devious, I tell you."

Steve blinks and shakes his head, perhaps harder than necessary. "Can you...el...laborate when the moon settles down? It's ssspinny. Spinning...Sleeping beauty? Is the moon spinning the string thingy and falling asleep?"

They lie next to each other on the grass and stare at the moon. "Maybe?" mutters Eddie, his hand tracing circles in the air. "Spinning wheel? Spinning...Wheeler," he giggles and snorts several times, making more and more undignified sounds as he tries to stop himself. "Spinning Wheeler. In the sky. That would be bad."

Steve howls in laughter too and starts hiccuping. "Y-yeah. I mean. Not s-sure which is worse, Nancy seeing ev-verything from there or Mike..." He rubs his head in the grass, his hair slowly becoming more and more like a dryad. "Sorry, you were...yeah. Your master plan?"

"Oh yeah," and Eddie is giggling again, the usual undertones of bitterness smoothed over by their proximity, the smell of freshly cut grass and held hands. The night is quiet, they are alive, they are okay and if they're at a point of their lives when their surnames can actually become a concern instead of, oh wait, the world ending, Eddie will take it. He turns to Steve and nuzzles his forehead into that silly polo shirt. "What do you say to this...we stay. We keep these shitty names. And we make them...ours," he finishes, as if that was the most astute sentence in the history of mankind.

"...Eds, I think I already have mine?" Steve rubs his grass-covered head, leaving green streaks over his eyebrows. "I think..it's on my ID or..."

"Shhhhhh," Eddie presses his finger to Steve's lips and giggles again when Steve starts nibbling on his fingertip. "Not what I mean. Let's stay here and f-fuck them over. Like they fucked us over, but better. Because..." he taps his finger on Steve's lips and teeth, "...we will destroy them. What they mean in this stupid town."

There's a small light in Steve's eyes, or maybe it's just the reflection of the moon. One more kiss to Eddie's index finger and then Steve leans back, making himself comfortable on the grass. "I like it. Erase them."

"That's my big boy with his big words," grins Eddie and ruffles his hair. "Yeah. Let's...let's build something. I'll...open a garage or something. A record store. I don't care. But when that...piece of shit...gets released from prison, he will come back and find out...he doesn't exist here anymore. That Munson means...it means something else." His dark eyes travel to Steve's face, careful. "Is...is that stupid?"

"No," Steve whispers and he suddenly seems sober, gently grasping Eddie's shoulders. "Let's do it. You'll be a...small business owner or something. A honest guy. Your dad will get a heart attack," he snorts. "And I...I want to do something...with my hands. I'm good with my hands, I could do some maintenance stuff or...you know. Just help around the neighborhood. Harrington, the reliable manual worker," he muses, watching the moon again. "My dad will be so...so pissed. I wanna do it. I won't hide as a failure. I will be a proud failure!"

"Right!" Eddie nods and almost falls on Steve's face. "Let's fail the fuckers!"

They burst into laughter again and kiss, once, twice, still not enough. Eventually, Robin finds them collapsed on the lawn, giggling like maniacs. She hides her concern behind a scowl, informs them that this is absolutely NOT why she got a driver's licence, but they seem in such a good mood that she doesn't have it in her heart to yell at them more. She just makes sure they both get into bed safely, but if she's just a little smug when she hears retching sounds in the morning and if Eddie exits their bedroom, a lovely shade of green on his face (both the alcohol and the grass), well, who can blame her.

It's a long road, but they stick to their plan. Eddie starts working in a local garage, partially thanks to Hopper's persuasiveness, and soon his natural talent and hard work earn him a reputation. When people actually come in and ask for him specifically, Eddie's eyes become glassy and he might have to bite his lip to stifle a squeal of joy. Steve talks to Hopper and Wayne, the closest father figures he has, and in the end decides to apply for a job at the Hawkins PD. He is calm, reliable and well-liked, enough to resolve neighborly squabbles without much damage. And if he has the pleasure to meet his father at the station once, complaining about an overgrown bush next to the Harrington residence, he just smiles politely at that face which haunted him for decades, and tells him "I am truly sorry, sir, but they are well within their rights. There is nothing I can do and I would advise you against pursing any sort of...forceful persuasion. Because I will know if that happens and I will be obliged to act in accordance with law. Have a pleasant day." The look on his face makes it all so worth it.

Yes, there are still people who remember the murder charges and the old criminal, the cold-hearted tactics of Harrington senior and the King Steve persona, but there are also those who pat Eddie on the back when he makes sure their old car is able to make a journey across the state lines, there are old ladies who invite Steve over for coffee to share their troubles with neighbors and that's just enough. They finally feel like themselves, their surnames no longer a brand, but something that is purely theirs. Steve always comes home a bit later than Eddie, takes off his shoes and hat and kisses Eddie's shoulder as he heats up their dinner, the smell of oil still on him. "Good evening, Mr. Munson," he whispers into his ear. Eddie just grins, turns around and gives Steve a peck on the lips. "Welcome home, Mr. Harrington."

#ok so the name thing is kinda personal to me #sorry if it doesn't make much sense but it can be really difficult to have a name that is a stigma #and I just want to see Eddie and Steve tackle this in a healthy way #steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #wayne munson #jim hopper #strangerthings #stranger things #strangerthingsdrabble #stranger things drabble

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Steddie Corpse Groom AU (1)

I'm sorry if there are any typos, I'm hardly able to focus because I'm in a fuckton of pain, but I wanted to share because hey, it's the spooky season! I'm also writing most of my stuff in hospital waiting rooms, so that's great. My brain is already planning this as a fanfic, but I'm too distracted to do any proper writing these days, so have a Burton-esque Steddie AU.

Hawkins, a small town in Indiana, undefined time. Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler are childhood friends of two well-established families. There is an expectation that they are going to get married - only the best for the Harringtons, the family line needs to continue and so on and so forth. Steve's parents are lawyers and, frankly, tyrants. Nancy's mother is a wonderful lady, but her father has no spine and Mr. Harrington basically announced that it would be beneficial for their families to merge via marriage. Both are respected, Mr. Wheeler works for the government, the Harringtons deal with law, their kids know each other...it's perfect.

It's not. 

Steve and Nancy are friends, they used to be together, much to their parents' happiness, but they broke up a few years back. They just wanted different things in life and while it hurt, Steve has to admit they actually work better as friends. He still pretends to be with Nancy to help her conceal the fact that she's head over heels for the local librarian, Robin. Robin doesn't come from a prestigious family and she's a girl, so Steve takes Nancy on "dates", drops her off at Robin's and spends the rest of the "date" sitting by the piano, his restless fingers traveling over the keys and producing melancholic melodies. He wishes all the happiness for Nancy, he just hopes that one day he'd find companionship too. He's lonely, no one wants to talk to a Harrington. He sometimes thinks about a boy with wild hair and a wolfish grin he used to know, who taught him to play in secret because Steve's parents considered the instrument too soft for their only son. "I didn't raise some artsy weakling," scoffs Mr. Harrington when Steve mentions he'd like to take lessons, maybe even teach in the future. Hunting and sports, that is appropriate. Music? Useless in the world of the Harringtons.

The fragile balance continues for a while, but not long enough. One day, the parents sit Steve and Nancy down and tell them it's time, the wedding will happen soon. It doesn't matter when Steve and Nancy tell them they've broken up, marriage is a union of families, it cannot be based on something as fickle as feelings, Mr. Harrington says. Mrs. Wheeler looks like her heart is breaking for Nancy and Steve wonders if she maybe knows. But her marriage isn't about love too and her protests fall on deaf ears. The wedding is on.

Steve, Nancy and Robin, who also became Steve's close friend, try to come up with a plan. Maybe if they botch the wedding rehearsal badly enough, the Harringtons will back off, the threat of public embarrassment too severe to go through with their plan no matter what. 

They give it all they've got. Nancy spills the ceremonial wine on Mrs. Harrington's white blouse and when "panicking" (Steve finds it hard to keep a straight face, the only time Nancy's nerves of steel ever experienced panic was when Robin confessed she loved her and Nancy blurted out "thank you" as a response), she sets her father's trousers on fire with a candle. Steve trips on the carpet and falls into the priest, ripping off his robe. Then he messes up his vows beautifully ("with this candle, I will...burn your sorrows?" he tries and very pointedly looks at Mr. Wheeler), but it's all for nothing. The fire is put out, the blouse is changed, the robe is put back on and Steve is sent away to practice his vows because "your lack of intellect isn't a sufficient excuse for your unwillingness to commit to the right thing", his father says.

And so Steve leaves. He walks around the woods around Hawkins and mumbles more and more ridiculous vows to himself ("with this hand I will punch my father’s perfectly shaved face. Your cup will never empty because we'll become alcoholics together if this stupid wedding ever happens"), tossing the ring into the air and kicking random branches and moss. Of course, he could just marry Nancy and continue the ruse, being the eternal third wheel to the girls' romance. They've talked about it at length, but it just wouldn't be fair, not to Nancy, not to Robin and definitely not to himself. Steve dreams of meeting that one right person, someone who'd make him feel truly alive, make him discover who he really is, although Hawkins probably isn't the place for that...if anywhere is. 

He sits down by an old oak tree, the trunk and its roots long destroyed by lightning, and he starts humming a song. It takes him a while to remember the melody, but he does eventually, his voice gaining confidence and strength. It's the song the long-haired boy taught him, his own creation. Eddie, Steve remembers, his name was Eddie and he loved spending time together, until his father found out about them and forbade them ever meeting again, threatening the livelihood of Eddie's uncle. Steve often watched the boy walk past the Harrington residence, waving at his window, but he never dared to wave back, he couldn't bear to be another Harrington to destroy people's lives. The best he could do for Eddie was to pretend he didn’t exist, no matter how painful that was. Eventually, Eddie stopped coming around and Steve didn’t see him in their fancy part of the town anymore. Perhaps he moved away, away from the town’s bigotry, the threat of Harrington influence...away from him. 

He's so caught up in the song he doesn't notice the slight movement of the ground. He just hums the song and wonders if Eddie ever published it, if he ever became famous, enchanted crowds with his dark eyes and wild personality. The boy he knew was ready to take on the world, no matter what life threw at him. 

As the last note fades into the silence of the forest, Steve finally notices that something is shifting underneath his feet. He jumps up and tries to take a step to safety, he's so sure he just stepped on loose soil or something, but then a dirty claw grabs his ankle and tugs. No, not a claw - a hand. Steve screams, scrambling back, but the grip is strong and as he retreats, he doesn't just drag the hand with him, but a whole body. A corpse. Its clothes might have been black once, but they're dirty now, its long hair matted and tangled. He doesn't even know if it used to be a man or a woman. He can't see the face, but the skin is pale, with a blue tint (surprisingly intact, his brain supplies and he can't believe this is what it decided to focus on). 

And when he thinks it couldn't get much worse, he’ll just run to Chief Hopper and report the weirdest discovery of a body possible, the corpse coughs, spits out a mouthful of soil and clambers to its feet, tossing its mane back. Steve probably forgets to breathe at this point and he drops the ring to the ground. He watches in horror as it rolls quietly towards the reanimated figure. 

Eddie wipes his face and picks the ring up. "That for me, Harrington?" he grins through his dirt-covered teeth. "I expected at least one date, perhaps a dinner first, but beggars can't be choosers. I do."

#steddie #steddie au #steddie drabble #steddie ficlet #stranger things au #strangerthingsau #strangerthingsdrabble #corpse bride au #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #stranger things drabble #ronance

[undreaming-fanfiction]

I love the idea of Robin painting Eddie's nails, but I'll do you one better.

Steve hearing Eddie mention that nail polish helps toughen his fingernails for when he plays his acoustic guitar and embarking on a quest to get the blackest nail polish for his boyfriend.

Steve painting Eddie's nails before each show, learning how to be very precise and starting a nail care routine for Eddie that he never does for himself.

Steve sitting with Eddie, waiting for the nail polish to dry, turning pages of his book for him and removing the strands of hair that get stuck on Eddie's mouth when he fidgets.

Steve taking care of Eddie's hands after each concert, carefully removing the chipped nail polish and massaging cream into his hands afterwards.

And Eddie using those pretty nails to their full potential in bed because the nerves in Steve's back got a bit messed up when he got dragged through the water gate and he likes to feel something through the numbness.

#stranger things #eddie munson #steve harrington #strangerthings #steddie #steddie brainrot #steddie drabble #steve x eddie #strangerthingsdrabble