Eddie let me hug you

stranger things is gay (heartfelt🫶) 20 - blog dedicated to all things ST (mostly steddie content) +here since 2022

[fifthnailinstevesbat]

thinking of a new steddie fic/au hmmm.

It’s just the classic, Steve buys weed from Eddie in season 1 era, he and Tommy meet him at the bench in the woods behind school. Steve and Eddie have some playful banter and clearly get along, but it’s dismissed as just a drug deal and they go on about their lives.

Next time they meet is when a frantic Steve comes and finds Eddie after he’s just fought off the demogorgon for the first time. He’s rattled, and skittish, wearing a nasty black bruise on his eye, and just overall not acting like himself. He snaps at Eddie multiple times to just ‘hurry up’ and ‘get him his stuff’, and sure he’s being an asshole, but more than anything Eddie is just concerned. He has never seen The King Steve Harrington lose his cool like this. So Eddie cautiously gives him the weed, making sure not to give too much, and lets him go about his day, but not before asking if he’s alright. Steve clearly wasn’t expecting this and brushes it off defensively, but that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about it for the rest of his week. How the hell did Eddie Munson notice something was wrong, when his own parents didn’t? Nor his “friends”?

They cross paths again a year later, the beginning of season two. Steve is still with Nancy and has freshly dumped his old douchebag crew of superficial friends. He is still sitting quite comfortably on the higher ranks of popularity, but there is no denying his status is not what it used to be. He comes to buy weed from Eddie in the first week back at school, and it’s a casual interaction. He’s still as charmingly stuck up as he ever was, but now without Tommy there to judge his every move, he seems a little more at ease when making casual conversation with Eddie. Eddie doesn’t mention the year before and Steve is so glad for it, secretly very embarrassed that he went to Eddie for some refuge after arguably his most traumatic experience to date. He gets his stuff, giving Eddie a smirk when he notices he’s dropped the price significantly for Steve when it’s just him alone. Eddie gives him a challenging smile back, almost daring him to call it out, but he doesn’t. They both just laugh and part ways.

The next run in is tina’s halloween party. They notice eachother when Steve first arrives, making eye contact and giving a polite nod. Maybe Eddie lifts his drink up to Steve in a silly salute. They don’t speak at all or make any effort to hang around eachother. That is, until Steve storms down the stairs in a rage after he’d gone up there with Nancy Wheeler. But then are those- tears? Eddie was standing on the front porch smoking a cigarette, trying to discreetly hide from one Billy Hargrove to avoid having to sell him anything, but staying visible enough that he won’t lose all chances of making any money tonight. Steve storms right past him and hits his shoulder. Eddie whips around and is about to call him a dick before he sees who it is.

Steve tries to quickly wipe his face, he won’t make eye contact with Eddie, and he’s clearly trying to get out as fast as he can. Eddie doesn’t let him, though, since he’s obviously not thinking very clearly and is most likely about to do something emotional and stupid. He asks if Steve’s alright, and his answers are all short and rushed, so he’s definitely not. They’re not really friends, but Eddie’s not an asshole.

— “Did you drive?” Eddie asks

“Yeah”

“Well, you’re drunk, Steve. You can’t get behind a wheel right now. And if I knowingly let you, then that makes me an accomplice. I’ll take you home.”

Steve tries to protest, attempting to push past him, but Eddie interjects. “Yeah, yeah, alright! Don’t thank me yet, Steve’o. This is not for you, see, I’m not trying to get a criminal record, here. I cant go to prison, Steve. Do you know what they’d do to a pretty guy like me in prison? Nope, let’s go hot stuff.” —

Eddie takes Steve home. They don’t talk much. By the time they reach Steve’s drive way and Eddie has put his van in park, Steve is making no attempt to exit the vehicle just yet. Eddie doesn’t know what to do, he didn’t really plan this far, so he’s just tapping away awkwardly at his steering wheel while Harrington stares down the dashboard so clearly lost in thought Eddie fears his head might explode. Steve tells Eddie what happened, says it’s ‘relationship troubles’, and he’s not quite sure what compelled him into being so honest with Eddie Munson, but he’s blaming the alcohol. Eddie wasn’t expecting that. They chat for a bit, Eddie makes Steve laugh and considers the whole night a success after that. Then they start cracking jokes about their shared hatred for Hargrove, and Steve looks and sounds a bit more ok to go inside. He thanks Eddie, quite sincerely actually, and it throws him a bit. He stutters a ‘yeah, for sure. It’s no problem.’ And Steve goes home.

After that, it’s a little different. Steve, doesn’t actually really have anyone, anymore. When they go back to school he’s now greeting Eddie here and there in the hallways, making conversation when they find themselves alone together, in the lunch line or at the bathroom sink. He doesn’t approach Eddie when there’s too many people around, though. As much as he’s grown, Steve Harrington still carry’s some prejudice in him about how certain things may make him look. But it doesn’t bother Eddie too much. It’s not like they are really friends, they’re just like, strange acquaintances. And Steve would never deny that they get along, that really Eddie’s ‘not so bad’. So that’s a win.

Steve finds Eddie again not long after the party to buy some more weed, a plan that sparked purely out of boredom. Eddie says yes, of course, but tells him if he wants it today he will need to wait till after school and meet Eddie at his place, since he was busy. So Steve takes a trip to the Munson trailer to make his deal. Eddie invites him inside and they sit together on the couch as he gets Steve’s bag ready. They end up making quite pleasant conversation, joking around and ultimately finding they are really enjoying each other’s company. They enjoy it so much so, that Steve ends up smoking there, with Eddie. So now they are kind of like, hanging out? And it’s fun, so they do it again. Still they’re not, friends friends, they just get along. Eddie just sells Steve weed sometimes and they keep it civil.

He doesn’t hear from Steve for a while, and the next time he sees him it’s from a distance, in passing. The man has the most roughed up face Eddie has ever seen, bruised and swollen in multiple areas, stitches and bandages all over. It’s really, concerning? completely metal, but alarming. This is the second time Eddie has seen the guy all beaten up like that. He knew that boys fight, but surely not that bad? As worried as he was, Eddie doesn’t approach him to ask questions, because they don’t know eachother like that. So he goes on about his day, and he doesn’t see Steve again after that for quite some time.

Then it’s summer, Eddie isn’t graduating again, and he’s not really sure what to do with himself over the break. The new mall has just opened up, and there’s a cool music store up on the second floor that he likes to visit sometimes with his band friends. And wouldn’t you know, working at the Scoops Ahoy located directly across from his favourite store, is Steve Harrington. The guy hasn’t come to Eddie for any weed since last year, and then there was that sighting where he looked like he’d just fallen face first into a flying fist or two, so it’s been a minute since Eddie’s seen him. And he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t a nice surprise. He only goes into scoops once. He’s curious, okay? Sue him. And, he knows the girl who works with him, Robin. So he plays it off like he had no idea he’d see Steve there. And to his surprise, Steve actually acknowledges him. He doesn’t act like Eddie is a total stranger just because they’re not in school anymore. The interaction is quick, they make very casual conversation, Eddie says hi to Robin, grabs his milkshake and goes home. That’s all. He doesn’t go back, and he doesn’t really plan to. Steve’s nice, and he knows Eddie’s around if he needs to buy from him again, and that’s really as far as their relationship goes. That’s all it ever was. It’s been fun getting to know Steve Harrington a little bit better, even if it was just for a short time. Eddie liked having the chance to see in past the quaffed hair and pressed polo shirts to learn that Steve was really just a person under it all. He never thought he’d say it, but Harrington wasn’t so bad. It was a nice little eye opening experience for Eddie.

Eddie was ready to write off his little blips of interaction with Steve Harrington as a thing of the past, no hard feelings, and move on with his life. That is, until he gets a knock at his front door in the middle of the night afew days after the big mall fire. And it’s Steve on the other side. And he looks awful, his face is the worst Eddie’s ever seen it. And he wasn’t really knocking, more like pounding. He says he needs Eddie’s help.

What the fuck?

[adverbally]

(Why Not) Go For It

Written for the @steddiemicrofic April prompt “long” | wc: 692 | rated: T | cw: none | tags: second chance romance, past amicable breakup, getting back together, unrealistic exes to cohabitating boyfriends speedrun

———

Dustin’s wedding marks the first time Eddie has seen Steve in three years.

It feels like no time has passed as they fall back into teasing and stealing touches and Steve’s crooked smile, the same except for a few extra crow’s feet. Eddie wonders who else has gotten to see that smile since he left.

Once Corroded Coffin got signed to a label, there was no way to reconcile Eddie’s life on the road as a touring musician with Steve’s desire to put down roots somewhere. The breakup was mutual but painful. They had kept in touch when Eddie had time to call, still laughed on the phone for hours and tried to remember not to say “I love you” before they hung up.

Now, though, Steve is pressed close and on his third beer and his hand is hot on Eddie’s thigh beneath the tablecloth. His eyes don’t leave Dustin, dancing with his new bride, but Steve’s fingers trace along Eddie’s inseam like they never stopped.

When the song ends, Steve leans in close enough that his lips brush the hair around Eddie’s ear. “Come outside with me?”

The music and laughter drifting from the reception hall barely reach them under the trees at the far edge of the parking lot. It makes the darkness feel more private.

Eddie breaks the silence first. “You, um. You look good. I guess things have been okay here?”

Steve snorts and lights up a cigarette. “Pretty much the same, except Melvald’s closed.”

“Huh.” Eddie shoves his hands in his pockets, wishing he could smoke too but not wanting to bum one off Steve. He doesn’t have the right to ask Steve for anything anymore.

Like he can hear Eddie’s thoughts, Steve hands his cigarette to Eddie. They used to share like this all the time, an indirect kiss passed back and forth. The familiarity burns in Eddie’s lungs when he inhales.

Steve sighs. “I don’t think you came out here for small talk.”

“Not especially,” he agrees. Eddie waits for Steve to close the gap between them.

The kiss is soft, when it finally comes. Eddie might call it tentative, except this is Steve Harrington and Eddie has never known him to be tentative in anything. When one of Steve’s hands comes up to trace Eddie’s jaw, it’s shaking.

Maybe three years is a long time if you were the one left behind.

All evening, Eddie has been focused on the ways Steve stayed the same when he should have been watching out for the differences. He sees them now— the looseness of Steve’s suit, the speed with which he downed each beer, the way he clings like Eddie is going to disappear again.

“Hey,” Eddie murmurs against Steve’s cheek. He stomps the cigarette out on the asphalt. “You okay?”

“Sorry, I…” Steve swallows, pauses long enough that Eddie starts to worry. His voice is wet when he continues, “I really missed you.”

“I really missed you, too.” It's still easy to wrap Steve up in a hug, to guide his head to rest against Eddie’s shoulder and soak in his warmth, like muscle memory takes over.

Steve’s response is muffled by Eddie’s lapel. “I don’t want to miss you anymore.”

“So let’s not,” Eddie suggests gently.

“Eddie,” he sighs, reluctantly pulling back to look at Eddie with his kicked-puppy eyes. “We both know it’s not that simple.”

Stubbornly, Eddie argues, “Maybe it could be! The tour finishes in July, that would give us two months before the school year starts–”

“A visit doesn’t make a relationship–”

“I’m not saying ‘visit.’” He glances around to make sure nobody else is in earshot, then drops his voice. “Look, the band is taking a break before we start the new album. I can write music anywhere. Let me do it where you are.”

Steve gapes at him. “Here?”

“If you want.” Eddie bites his lip. “Or we could go to Chicago? Consider it a trial run.”

There’s that smile again, a little lopsided as Steve lets out a breathless laugh. “You’re really serious about this?”

“Deadly.”

When Steve kisses him again, there’s nothing tentative about it.

[resande]

they need some time alone too🚬

[river-nix]

Eddie "Stronger Than He Looks" Munson

The idea that Eddie is stronger than he looks is fun.

There's nothing else to it.

He doesn't have the stereotypical "jock muscles" that he teases Steve about and very much resembles a gangly, floppy-muppet creature (especially in the midst of his cafeteria speeches and other such performances). But he's not weak!

And everyone gets their own taste of what that means.

Exhibit A: The Party

Eddie will absolutely haul the children around with the same ease he hauls his laundry bag around (he is SLIGHTLY more careful with the children because they bruise easier than his laundry bag). If they're being particularly unruly, they're going over the shoulder to get the potato sack treatment.

Whenever they need to set up a space for D&D from scratch, Eddie's the one doing most of the heavy lifting. He brings the most stuff (from gear for the actual game to the snacks) and deals with the tables and chairs.

He is the only one allowed to move his throne. He's the only one who knows exactly where it goes for the best effect.

Exhibit B: Corroded Coffin

Similarly, there's a lot of heavy lifting. Eddie and Grant (the unnamed freak in CC) are the only ones who can lift their band's speakers on their own. Gareth and Jeff need to work together, or have help from Eddie and Grant.

He has carried each of them at least once after rescuing them from bullies or for the heck of it (this mostly applies to Gareth since he's still short enough that his feet dangle when Eddie lifts him up).

No one talks about it out loud, but they know Eddie's had to defend his "territory" in the woods on more than one occasion. Being a known dealer in Hawkins has never been as easy as he makes it look.

Exhibit C: Jocks

Eddie's not an inherently violent person, necessarily, but he will and has absolutely thrown down to defend his sheepies. And unlike Steve's track record with human opponents, he's won enough fights to make even jocks like Jason Carver nervous.

He's not afraid to get loud, he's not afraid to bear his teeth, he's not afraid to get in people's faces. No punches actually need to be thrown for jocks to get the idea.

His metal rings have left their marks on certain offenders. The smart ones have healed, but those stupid enough to keep going? Well, at least they'll always have a fun conversation starter when they meet new people.

Steve's not the only one who's been thrown against a wall. He's just one of the few who Eddie willingly let go before the fight was finished. He's also the only one who's walked away relatively unscathed.

Exhibit D: Steve

Eddie refuses to let Steve carry the grocery bags. Even if they're preparing a party that involves all of their friends and their families, and end up buying a quarter of the store to accommodate everyone, Eddie will fight Steve when it's time to get the groceries back to the car. He insists that they maintain the foundation of equal trade--Eddie handles the bags, Steve handles the food later on.

He despises Steve's morning runs, and makes sure Steve knows it. He will cling to Steve the night before and refuse to let up, even when still under the enchantment of sleep. It's only when Steve uses all his might to try and escape that Eddie finally wakes up--no alarm clock needed anymore. Whether Steve proceeds with his run or not depends heavily on his skills of persuasion that day. He's found that bribery usually works best.

Eddie will regularly trap Steve in blanket burritos when he feels like Steve is running himself ragged or notices that he's especially stressed. He's the only one who can get Steve in the blanket and the only one who knows how to secure it so that Steve can't get out on his own.

Steve might be The Party's resilient knight, but he's Eddie's fair maiden. And Eddie treats him accordingly. He loves scooping Steve into his arms with loud declarations of adoration, spinning him around, and then settling him on his lap. Bonus points if Steve ends up falling asleep--it warms Eddie's heart that Steve trusts him enough to NAP in his presence when he's usually too worried about everything to randomly fall asleep.

He will carry Steve to bed if they stay up late watching a movie, or Steve needs some time to come down from a nightmare. That includes braving the stairs with so much care that Steve doesn't realize he's been moved until the next morning.

(If he and Steve had been together during the latter's encounter with Billy Hargrove, or even just friends, Eddie would have left Billy with a permanent limp for laying his hands on Steve and Lucas.)

Some NSFW prompts

Eddie likes pinning Steve against the wall when they make out. He likes it even more when Steve lets Eddie hold him completely--jumps up and wraps his legs around his waist and everything. It feeds his ego to know that he's the first of Steve's partners who can pick him up and hold him where he wants.

When given permission to manhandle Steve around during sex, he doesn't hesitate. He TAKES it. He loves the way Steve moans and whines and tries to grind back into him at Eddie's show of strength. Just as much as he loves watching Steve's blush extend past his face and travel down his body.

He likes holding onto Steve hard enough that his fingerprints leave bruises. His fingerprints on Steve's ass have been a favorite between the two. Hawkins isn't a safe place to be out, but Steve likes physical reminders that he's with Eddie to substitute not being able to freely take him out on dates or commit to his usual grander romantic gestures, and Eddie will leave his mark any way he can.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk!

[cosycryptid]

After putting a lot of hard work into making it big in the music industry on their own terms, Eddie and his band are very proudly anti-record label. Steve on the other hand is a rising pop star under a huge label and is also managed by his rich parents all seemingly without having to put in much work for it.  

Eddie hates the concept of Steve and everything he stands for. He thinks that his admittedly beautiful singing voice is wasted on a music industry puppet who doesn't seem to have his own personality beyond being handsome and selling things to the uninformed masses.  

However, when they have to be in the same space for a few days' work on a charity single with a bunch of other artists, Eddie's eyes are suddenly opened to just how little he really knows about Steve. How much of his life is relentlessly controlled by his parents and the people he works for.  

Steve is such a sweetheart, he's so kind to the staff and supportive of the other artists. He’s also extremely dedicated. He does take after take at his bosses' requests without a single complaint, even when Eddie fails to see anything wrong with his previous ones. There’s this little notebook he always has with him where he meticulously writes down every single miniscule thing he needs to work on.  

Eddie doesn’t think Steve’s gone home at the same time as the rest of them a single day this week; he always stays to listen to everyone else, then moves to one of the rehearsal rooms to go over some tracks for an album he’s due to start recording. He had no idea so much work went into making cookie-cutter pop music. 

Something in Eddie's chest pangs when he sees the look on Steve's face as he finishes a perfect take only for his dad to frown and say, “He was pitchy. Have him do it again.” 

He experiences the same feeling as he watches Mrs. Harrington literally slap an item from the snack table out of Steve’s hand. Steve picking it up from the floor and disposing of it with a frown a few seconds later so the cleaning staff don’t have to do it. 

Something surprisingly like anger on Steve's behalf is bubbling under the surface like water about to boil over. And Eddie has never been the best at minding his own business when something he believes is unjust is happening. So, Eddie waits until Steve’s parents have stepped out for a while, sets a few of the pastries from the snack table onto a plate and cautiously approaches an unsuspecting Steve, who’s got his head buried in that notebook again.  

He taps him on the shoulder and says, "Hey! Wanna sneak off somewhere and split these with me?" 

To his astonishment, Steve doesn't look at him weird or tell him to fuck off and mind his own business. Instead, a conspiratorial grin spreads across his face. 

"You're on." He says, slamming the book shut and setting it aside. 

Good. Eddie kind of wants to throw the thing into an incinerator at this point. 

Five minutes later they're sitting in the nearest stairwell, slouched across the steps and breaking pieces of pastry off as they get to know each other. Eddie makes sure Steve gets most of it, noticing how he eyes the baked goods with all the desperation of a thirsty man in the desert gazing upon an oasis. 

"Never thought I'd see the Steve Harrington, prince of pop, sitting with bad posture. It's almost uncanny valley." Eddie teases. "Think I'm gonna have nightmares later about you slouching." 

"Shut up," Steve laughs, playfully shoving him. 

And that’s the thing, he thought talking to Steve was going to be like trying to squeeze blood out of a stone, but they have this natural banter right from the jump that has Eddie completely blindsided. 

"Seriously though, Harrington," Eddie says, shifting his tone to one of sincerity and looking Steve straight in the eyes. "It's so much better seeing you like this than seeing you all polished and perfect. It's good to know you're a real human being." 

"Thanks," Steve says, then sighs. He fidgets with a chunk of glazed dough absentmindedly before popping it in his mouth and chewing as he processes his thoughts. "I would be like this more often, but perfect and polished is what sells apparently." 

Eddie sits up a little at that, intrigued by the bitter tone in his voice and the little eye roll he follows up his statement with. 

“You say that like you hate it.” 

“I do hate it,” Steve admits. “I don’t want to be used to push a standard that even I can’t live up to. But that’s what you get when you're handed a contract as a child, don’t bother to read it and you have asshole parents who only care about money.” 

“Damn,” Eddie whistles low. “And there’s nothing you can do about it?” 

“Not for now,” Steve says. “But lucky for me I have a cool uncle who’s a lawyer and hates my dad as much as I do. He’s looking over it all for me. So maybe things will be different soon.” 

Well shit. Now Eddie feels like a bit of an asshole for making assumptions. 

“If it’s any consolation, I also have a very cool uncle and an asshole dad. So you aren’t alone in that department,” he offers. “Seems like we have all kinds of things in common.” 

“Yeah,” Steve agrees with a little smile that causes his nose to scrunch ever so slightly. “Seems like we do.” 

Suddenly Eddie is acutely aware of how hundreds of thousands of pop fans all over the world feel when they look at this man. Particularly when they turn on the music channel and Steve’s there singing about some romance or another. Eddie’s sure it's entirely fictional because practically everyone in the industry knows Steve’s label enforces dating bans and other such bullshit.  

Feeling the urge to swoon over a random cute thing Steve Harington did is not one of Eddie’s proudest moments, but he’s chalking it up to Steve being a master manipulator who knows how to make an audience feel things for him.  

He needs to change the subject. Fast. 

“So, what got you into all this in the first place?” 

“I just love performing,” Steve answers simply, honestly. “The stage, the lights, the adrenaline, taking everything I feel and putting it into that one moment. It just feels like I’m untouchable when I’m in it, you know?” 

“I do know,” Eddie confirms. It’s one of his favourite parts of the job too. 

“I also like creating songs,” Steve continues. “It’s nice to hear the finished product for the first time and think ‘I made that’, even if a lot of the ones I write end up as B-sides or get sold to someone else.” 

Eddie hums thoughtfully for a second then says, “Why don’t you sing about it, sweetheart?” 

Steve pauses, frowning in confusion. “What?” 

“What you’re feeling about all these shitty adults around you and the role they’re making you play. Why not try writing some songs about that?” 

Steve seems to be deep in thought, so Eddie continues. 

“Your contract probably includes something about having to produce a certain number of singles or albums, so you can’t just stop and wait it out. Am I right?” 

Steve nods, a crease appearing between his eyebrows that makes Eddie want to reach out for him. 

“So, make the music they want so desperately, but use it to expose instead of comply,” Eddie explains. “Make everyone else see what you’re seeing and do it right under the noses of the people who’re exploiting you. Make them applaud you for it without even realising they’re applauding you showing the world their poison.” 

“That’s an interesting idea,” Steve muses, “but they’d never let me release songs like that.” 

“So, wrap it up in a nice package. Make it catchy and just vague enough that they’ll never know any better, but people will theorise and figure it out. They’ll know what you’re trying to warn them about. There are a lot of scumbags in this industry. You could destroy all of yours with that pretty voice if you wanted to.” 

Eddie’s train of thought is suddenly captured, derailed and held hostage by wide brown eyes and a slow growing smile.  

“You think my voice is pretty?”  

There are these tiny dimples that materialise at the corners of Steve’s mouth for the sole purpose of being Eddie’s personal undoing. Unable to look away, Eddie can only nod in response. 

"Yeah. I do."

Steve leans in ever so slightly, his captivating stare flitting to Eddie’s lips. 

Eddie’s drawn closer like a moth to a flame. 

The door to the stairwell slams open, forcing them to pull back. 

“Steve! Eddie! There you are.” A rather frantic looking PA says. “They need you both back in the studio.” 

They give the woman an awkward nod and rise from their seated position. As Steve dusts off his jeans, Eddie grabs the now empty plate that was perched on the step between them like a bridge, a successful olive branch.

Eddie’s heart sinks when he sees the way Steve’s posture straightens up, his shoulders settling into their usual down and slightly back position as his expression switches from relaxed to practiced and professional. 

He reaches out and touches Steve’s arm gently before he can get too far out of reach.  

Steve casts a curious glance back at him.  

“Just think about it. What I said,” he says softly. “You have more power than they realize.” 

“I will,” Steve promises, the real him bleeding through in his body language again just enough to give Eddie hope. 

Later, Steve calls out to him as he’s leaving. 

“Hey! Eddie!” He shouts, voice wavering ever so slightly from constant use.  

The sound snatches Eddie’s attention away from thoughts of dinner and a warm, comfortable bed.  

Steve parents are standing nearby, confused and judging stares equipped. Eddie pays them zero attention. 

“Thanks for today.” Steve says with the same arresting smile from earlier. “I mean it.” 

This time, Eddie’s ready for it, having already been exposed to the intensity of it once. 

“No problem,” he says with a slow grin. “Just mention me in the next album.” 

A few months later, a signed copy of Steve’s new album comes in the mail. It’s clever and emotional and thought provoking. And more importantly, Steve has written a lengthy thank you message on the cover of Eddie’s copy in gold permanent marker, followed by his phone number and a small heart. 

It sits proudly in the collection of his most prized albums on his shelf as Steve kisses him on his doorstep after their third date. 

It's the only pop album Eddie would ever go to war over. 

Permanent Taglist:

@mensch-anthropos-human @motherofpirates @scoops-aboy86 @imchespin @mentallyundone @leavemealoneiwasbeingjoyous @number1steveharringtonlover

[kaleidoscopicbee]

lucas sinclair, who is a dark-skinned black man in the middle of nowhere indiana

lucas, who most definitely has been othered all of his life

lucas who, even when surrounded by people he trusts, so rarely sees himself reflected in them

lucas, who has always been an outcast in ways the others aren’t, in ways that are more – god knows he’s been called much worse things than freak

lucas, who has seen people avoiding his touch, crossing the street when he’s walking, distrusting him like it’s a default setting

lucas, who knows what it’s like to do everything right and still be looked at like he’s wrong

lucas, who hears will saying he’s not like them and gets it in ways the others can’t

lucas, who knows will is going to experience all of the same things – the othering, the distrust, the mistreatment, the slurs, the being avoided like the mere touch of you could kill, the dangers that come with just being – despite the differences in their circumstances

lucas who, even if he’d ever felt some kind of way about queerness, would grab that feeling and squeeze the life out of it because that right there is will. his will.

his in the way all of lucas’ people are his. his to carry when unconscious, his to tackle out of the way, his to use himself as bait, his to take a slashing to the chest, his to jump over tables and traps and interdimensional monsters. his to protect, his to kill for, his to die for.

lucas sinclair who of course is the first one to say you won’t ever lose me – who also means i’m here, i love you, there’s nothing wrong with you, i’ll protect you, i’ll stand by you, i understand you

[sweetheartsinclair]

MY SON I LOVE YOU SO MUCH LUCAS.

[lemonnaises]

EVERYBODY STAND UP FOR OUR BOY

[starshideurfics]

At first, it’s just about the convenience. Eddie is safest at Steve’s house while his name gets cleared. While they both recover from the damage the Upside Down has wrought upon their bodies.

Which means they’re alone a lot. Just the two of them hanging out, watching movies, talking about everything and nothing.

They both need space, spread out on the couch (Eddie) or sprawled on the floor (Steve). Eddie sleeps in a guest room, but he screams them both awake enough nights that Steve ends up in there with him.

Then Steve’s head ends up in his lap while they watch tv. His fingers trace patterns over Eddie’s knobbly knees. He falls asleep, lips pressed to Eddie’s thigh, an absent kiss that becomes open mouthed drooling as he sinks into the deepest of sleeps, safe as Eddie plays with his hair.

Add in the number of times Steve’s woken up with a boner and he shouldn’t be surprised when he blurts, “Wanna make out?” while they’re watching Moonlighting one night.

But it does.

It surprises Eddie more, his face burning red, looking away, only to whisper, “Please say this isn’t a joke.”

“I wouldn’t joke about this,” Steve breathes. He suddenly knows that there is nothing in the world he wants more than to kiss Eddie and hold his hand and in the very near future touch his dick. And Eddie not knowing that—not feeling it too—feels worse than nearly choking to death did. “I’d never hurt you like that.”

Eddie finally looks at him with his big, dark eyes, and he nods.

It’s all the permission Steve needs to close the distance between them and cup Eddie’s cheek. He leans forward.

And he waits.

Eddie presses those last inches forward, tentative until their lips touch. Until Steve sucks on his lower lip.

Then it feels real.

In the end, Eddie gets his hands on Steve’s dick first.

[offbeatrinkydink]

My Spring of Love

“So which should we watch next?” “We?” Eddie shoved the cap back on the pen and slipped it out of his mouth, setting it on the counter next to the list. “Well, like you said, I don’t pay enough attention when I watch movies so I need someone to explain to me why these are so life changing.” “Okay, in that case, let’s start off light. How about Four Weddings and a Funeral?” Eddie said, pointing to it on the list.  “Sounds good to me. Where can we watch it?” “My place? My uncle works nights so I usually rent a movie on Friday’s and chill out.” “Perfect, it’s a date!” he studied the other man’s face for a sign of something, excitement maybe, but the smile was still plastered on his face so he continued, “I’ll come over tomorrow after work, around 6?”  “Sure thing, Steve-O, it’s a date,” he said, with a rye laugh. “Now, get back to work, you have customers to serve.” And with that, he pushed himself off of the counter and back towards the door. Usually, he’d turn around and wave over his shoulder, but not today. Today, he walked backwards, almost like it was his normal way of walking, as he waggled goodbye to the other man. When his back hit the door, he finally turned, breaking their eye contact, to push the door open and himself into the sunshine of the day. It’s a date, Steve thought as he picked up the pen and placed it into the front pocket of the Family Video vest, it’s a date. It’s Spring 2003 and Eddie Munson just survived the Upside Down. Now he has to make it to graduation in one piece without losing his heart. (Or, the one where Steve Harrington discovers some important new information about himself thanks to Eddie Munson's video rental history and is remarkably chill about it.)

Rent it from AO3!

[novacorpsrecruit]

Eddie Munson is in heaven.

Or as close to heaven as he’ll ever be allowed.

Steve’s sleeping body pressed against his chest, his head tucked underneath Eddie’s chin. His hair slightly tickled Eddie’s nostrils that brings a sleepy smile to his face.

Heaven might as well be a full sized mattress in the trailer and Steve’s his angel. Thank god Eddie finally had the guts to kiss Steve last night or he’d never experience this.

Eddie gently ran his hand up and down Steve’s bare back, allowing himself to drift back to sleep. It’s too early —

“Ed!”

Eddie’s eyes shot open.

“Ed!” Wayne called again, a hard warning knock on his door. Steve stirred awake on his chest. “Wake up, boy!”

“Whutsgoin’on?” Steve murmured, rubbing his face against Eddie’s chest.

The door swung open, jolting both the boys awake.

Wayne leaned against the door frame annoyed.

“Boy we got the pancake feed,” Wayne said. “Told you ‘bout it yesterday. Get dressed we gotta go.”

He pulled the door shut, leaving the two boys in silence.

The door reopened.

“Bring your friend, too,” Wayne nodded towards Steve. “Need all the help we can get.”

“Hi,” Steve said sheepishly. “I’m Steve.”

“Wayne,” Wayne replied as a matter of fact. “Now hurry up, before we have to deal with a bunch of hungry vets ‘nd wives waitin’ for their sausage to cook.”

Wayne shut the door again, leaving the boys once more.

“So — uh — that’s my uncle,” Eddie said breaking the silence.

“Uh-huh.”

“We’re volunteering at the VFW this morning,” Eddie explained. “Pancake feed. The — uh — hungry vets thing isn’t a joke. They get pretty passionate about free breakfasts.”

“Yeah,” Steve nodded, his fingers curled tight around the comforter. “And you’re … okay?”

Eddie furrowed his brow. “Okay?”

“With him knowing,” Steve said. “About me?”

Eddie let out a soft laugh, kissing the top of Steve’s head. “Once he figures who you are, he’s gonna say ‘about damn time’ he’s been hearing me whine about you for weeks.”

Steve pushed himself up, looking down at Eddie with a mischievous grin. “Weeks?”

“Months,” Eddie corrected. “And I hate to leave you, but I really got to go help Wayne.”

Steve’s grin softened into a pout. “You don’t want me to come?”

“You want to come with?” Eddie asked. “We’re just cooking breakfast.”

“I’d love to,” Steve said. “I enjoy spending time with you.”

Eddie grinned, leaning forward to kiss the pout off Steve’s lips. “Then let’s go flip some pancakes.”

A few minutes later, they left the trailer to hop in Wayne’s car. Steve’s wearing yesterday’s clothes and Eddie’s in his least offensive t-shirt and jeans.

Wayne leaned over Eddie in the bench seat to look at Steve. “You the Harrington boy? The one from spring break?”

“Yes sir,” Steve agreed cautiously. He knows his last name carried some weight, but it was a burden to carry. Steve was afraid of what Wayne might associate with his name.

Wayne broke out into a grin, leaning back into his seat. “‘Bout damn time, Eds.”

[sundown-sundays]

*taps mic* is this thing on?

[islenskur]

Someone was knocking on the door. Steve dragged himself up off the couch and peered through the peephole.

Gareth was standing on his porch. That could only mean—

Steve yanked the door open.

“Tell Eddie I'm not fucking interested,” he snapped, and tried to shut the door in his face. He didn't succeed, because Gareth stuck out his foot and wedged it in the gap, wincing when the door smacked full-force into it.

“Eddie doesn't know I'm here.”

“So, what? You came over here to tell me I'm overreacting and Eddie's a nice guy, really, and I should suck it up and take him back because you're tired of watching him mope around and skip out on band practice? Guess what. Still not interested. Fuck off.”

Gareth looked taken aback by the force of Steve's anger. Well, tough. Steve was allowed to be angry, if he wanted.

“That's not what this is,” Gareth said, shoving his hands in his pockets and shifting his weight from one leg to the other. “Eddie's my best friend, but he can be a real asshole sometimes, you know? He was a fucking dick to you, man. And yeah, he is acting pretty pathetic and he's barely made it to a single practice since you dumped him, but that's not your fault and I'm not gonna tell you to forgive him.”

“Then why are you here?” Steve said. It sounded rude even to his own ears, but he'd had a long fucking week and he wanted to proceed with his plan of getting wasted by himself and watching crappy movies until he passed out.

Gareth shrugged. “I guess I just wanted to see how you are? And to tell you that, like, we can still be friends. If you want.”

Steve sighed and swung the door open wider.

***

“He thought everything I liked was stupid,” Steve complained an hour later, pleasantly buzzed. Well, it would be pleasant, if it weren't for the whole Eddie thing. “And he wouldn't shut up about it! We had to listen to his music and watch the movies he liked and if I ever suggested anything he was all some of us have taste, Steve. Fucking asshole.”

“He sucks,” Gareth agreed from his spot on the couch next to Steve. “You're better off without him.”

“I played DnD for him,” Steve continued. “And he wouldn't even watch a baseball game with me.”

That had been the final straw. And Eddie had had the gall to look bewildered when Steve had dumped him later that night. Asked if they could talk about it. Steve had said sure, let's talk, and run through a list of every time he could remember that Eddie had mocked him or laughed at him or otherwise made him feel like crap just because he had interests that weren't Eddie's nerdy shit.

He'd been avoiding Eddie's calls ever since, and refusing to open the door for him when he came around. Because Steve missed him so fucking much and he absolutely did want Eddie back, even knowing that Eddie would go right back to making Steve feel shitty about himself.

He'd talked to Robin and they’d agreed: Steve had to stay away from Eddie until he could be trusted not to forgive him in a moment of weakness. Robin wasn't picking up Eddie's calls either, in solidarity.

Gareth patted him tentatively on the shoulder.

“If it helps, I think he's really sorry.”

“Yeah, sorry that he's not getting his dick sucked any more,” Steve said without thinking, and had to pound Gareth on the back when he started choking on his beer. “Sorry. Too much?”

Gareth waved a hand at him, coughing. “All good,” he wheezed. “Just caught me off guard.”

***

The phone was ringing.

“It's probably Eddie,” Steve said morosely, now solidly drunk. “He's been calling every night.”

“Want me to tell him to fuck off?” Gareth offered.

Steve burped. “Be my guest.”

Gareth grabbed the handset. “Hello?”

They were sitting close enough together that Steve could hear Eddie's tinny “Gareth?” over the line.

“Yep,” Gareth said.

“What are you—nevermind. Can I talk to Steve?”

“Oh!” Gareth said, apparently having remembered why he answered the phone. “No. Fuck off.”

Eddie started to say something, but Gareth hung up on him before he could finish. They both stared at the phone.

They were still staring at it thirty seconds later when it rang again.

Gareth picked up. “We don't wanna talk to you,” he said, and promptly hung up again.

“Was that even him?”

“Dunno,” Gareth said. “Probably?”

When it rang a third time they both jumped.

“Should I?” Gareth asked, then answered anyway without waiting for Steve to make a decision.

“Yeah?”

“Please let me talk to Steve.”

Gareth eyed Steve. Steve shook his head.

“He says no,” he reported.

“Gareth, man, c’mon. I thought we were friends.”

“Steve's my friend too,” Gareth said. “And you were a dick to him.”

“Yeah, I know, I—can he hear me right now? Steve, baby, if you're listening…I'm so fucking sorry, okay? I was an idiot and I'm sorry. I had my head so far up my own ass I didn't realize how much I was hurting you. I miss you so much. I want you back.”

“Eddie,” Steve blurted out. Fuck, his fucking heart hurt.

“Steve? Gareth, give the phone to Steve.”

Gareth offered the phone to Steve, who said a silent apology to Robin, grabbed it, and curled up with his back to Gareth.

“Eddie,” he said again.

“Thank fuck,” Eddie said. “I thought you were never gonna talk to me again.”

“Wasn't gonna,” Steve said. “You made me feel like shit.”

“I know and I'm sorry. Wayne about bit my head off when I told him what happened. Said he raised me better than that. And he's right.”

Steve should’ve hung up. Steve definitely should've hung up.

He didn't.

Instead he said quietly, “I miss you too.”

There was an audible sigh of relief.

“Give me another chance,” Eddie said. “Baby, please. I'll do better, I promise.”

Steve was not strong enough for this.

“One date,” he said, clutching the phone so hard his hand hurt. “Then we'll see.”

“This Saturday,” Eddie said quickly, like Steve might change his mind. “I'll pick you up.”

“Okay,” Steve agreed, and hung up before Eddie could get the chance to talk him into anything else.

Gareth was staring at him with wide eyes.

“He's gonna take me on a date,” Steve said. He was still holding the phone, pressing it to his chest like it was something precious.

“You sure that's a good idea?”

“No,” Steve said. He was fairly certain it was, in fact, a terrible idea. But he was going to do it anyway.

[snovolovac]

"Did you - fuck, climb through the - ah - the w-window?"

Steve stops biting his neck and peers up at him through lidded eyes.

"Is that a problem?"

"N-no, no!" Eddie hurries to add. His hands tighten against the pillow Steve pushed them under, crossed at the wrist. "'s just that... I really didn't see this coming, man." he blurts and lays still, feeling his heart furiously pounding for permission to jump into Steve's lap. They've been dancing around each other for a couple of weeks, nothing major yet. A few kisses, a few loose hands here and there. And now, apparently, this.

Steve sighs and pulls back, looking at Eddie where he's got him caged between his arms. Their legs are tangled among the blankets.

"I just... Had a realization. Thought I'd do something about it."

Eddie's eyebrows lift.

"At two in the morning? Look, I'm not complaining, but -"

"Sounds like you are." Steve cuts him off with a bitchy huff. "Look I can go if you don't want this with me."

"I do! Steve, I do, I just..." his mind is blank, the blanket beneath him is suddenly scratchy and the warmth from Steve's body no longer feels inviting. "I think I'm confused and I, I... I need air."

"Huh?"

"Air, Steve, I need to - oh, fuck."

Eddie's body does that sometimes. Forgetd how to process air the right way. His mom used to say his emotions sometimes grew a little too big for his body so they would push out the air to make room for themselves. His dad called him a wuss and a crybaby.

Wayne was the one who taught him how to go on about it. He taught him how to recognise the attack, how to calm himself and work through it until his lungs functioned properly again. He would often be there next to Eddie to help along and when he wasn't he was there in the aftermath with a firm hand on Eddie's shoulder or a mug of cocoa before sleep.

Steve isn't Wayne.

"Get off, please."

Steve's face furrows but he's off Eddie in seconds, hands hovering unsure over Eddie's back where he's shakily flung himself against the still open window where Steve had clambered in and scared the shit out of him when he awoke to an unfamiliar weight pinning his hands.

Minutes pass. Steve sits in awkward silence as Eddie works on his breathing. In. Out. In. Out. In.

"Look I get this kind of thing must work. Um. For the chicks you fuck." Eddie mumbles after a while.

"Jesus." Steve huffs, embarrassed but not interrupting further.

"And I'm sure you thought this'd be hot or whatever. And it would be! To people, but, I um."

"I'm sorry."

Eddie turns to face him. Steve plays nervously with his fingers in his lap and chances a look at Eddie's face.

"I wasn't thinking, really. I had this dream about you and I woke up and I just. I had to come here and I had to feel you so I -"

"You climbed through my window."

"Yeah."

"Christ. That's - hm."

Steve closes his eyes and prepares to be kicked out or cussed out. Or both. Probably both, jesus, what was he thinking?

"That's kind of hot, actually, shit."

Steve's head snapps up, because did he just hear Eddie right?

"It is?"

"Shit. Yeah, I guess it is" Eddie huffs, wiping his hand down his face and pulling his mouth a little open with the movement.

Steve tracks it with his eyes.

"But you got... Um."

"Hyperventilating?"

Steve cringes and nodds in shame. Eddie barks a humorless laugh.

"Yeah, well. I get... that when I'm overwhelmed sometimes. Doesn't really matter if the overwhelm is bad or, um. Or good."

"So, you... Liked? It?"

Eddie laughs for real this time.

"Yeah, Steve, I liked it. I really liked it and I think... I wouldn't be against that happening again. In like, different, um... circumstances. I just got overwhelmed because, well. Honestly, big boy, I did not expect you to clamber into my bed like a hot, scary fantasy from the depth of my mind and waking up to your kinks actually coming true is I guess enough to forget how to breathe in my book." Eddie gets more and more animated with each word and then awkwardly puts his hands down in his lap when he ends his speech.

Steve blinks at him and then shakes himself out his stupor.

"So it's not that I did it, but that you didn't know I was going to do it?"

Eddie reflects on the thought and nods slowly.

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Fuck, okay."

The silence is broken after a few minutes when Steve leans closer to Eddie and whispers his name.

"So now that you... Are aware of my intentions."

Eddie looks at him slowly. Steve's looking at his lips and whispers:

"Can I feel you?"

Eddie feels a tight heat in his gut.

"Yeah. Yeah, Steve, you can."

Steve is on him in a blink of an eye, fast but careful as he lays him down on the bed, covering his body with his own and relaxing all his weight, pinning Eddie gently to the mattress.

Eddie exhales through his teeth.

"Fuuuuck."

Steve's laugh rumbles through his chest and he nods into Eddie's neck.

"I know. Fuck."

Eddie rolls his hips up and Steve groans, burrowing deeper. Their hands fly to twist in each other's hair, clothes, roaming and pressing where they heave together. They fall asleep like that later. Pressed together and just feeling each other's body and energy as they rest.

They'll talk more in the morning after they wake up tangled and hard, after they pant kisses all over themselves and finally close the window Steve left open last night.

[otternil]

Made this half asleep yesterday and am offering it to yall now

[matchingbatbites]

Robin buys a vintage lamp off Marketplace, and the seller, Chrissy, says that she's sending her friend Eddie to deliver it. This instantly makes Robin too nervous to go pick it up herself, so naturally, she sends Steve to collect it.

Steve returns home after two hours looking like a hot mess, hair all fucked up and shirt totally wrinkled. Robin is freaking out, asking what took so long, why hasn't he been answering his phone, and Steve just shrugs and says "Sorry, the guy who dropped off the lamp was hot. We fooled around in the back of his van and we're going out this weekend."

He hands Robin the lamp as she stands there, completely baffled, and says "Could have been you if you and Chrissy weren't scaredy-cats," before heading off to his room.

[sparklezart2000]

The painting never got addressed cause everytime the Duffer brothers asked ChatGPT to write the scene it ended with Will and Mike kissing

[farewell-wanderlust7]

[apurplesloth]

byler will always be endgame to me idc