warnings: angst in some places, mention of broken bones, drugs and blood
word count: 1.3k
description: you're fiercely independent and steve wishes you would let him help you. careful what you wish for i guess
people in hawkins liked to talk about steve's 'fall from grace'. and when they did you we're often brought up in conversation immediately after.
you'd first started dating in the spring of 85'. in the early stages of your relationship, when you were still getting to know each other you wouldn't let steve do anything for you. you insisted on splitting dates 50/50 and driving yourself there. you wouldn't even let him do your laces when they came undone. you needed to feel like you were still an independent person.
on a random saturday you woke up from a nap with steve's arm heavy on your waist. you gently pry yourself free from his hold leaving his sleeping form alone on the bed. you throw on one of his shirts and your panties before you step out of the room. your bare feet pad against the cold floor of the harringtons' house. you've only met steve's parents once during their only visit home in the past 6 months. at this point the house was more yours than it was theirs. you've woken up craving waffles, but the waffle maker sits on the top shelf of the cabinet tormenting you. you do what you've always done: climb on the counter.
"angel, what the hell are you doing?" the sudden noise echoing through the otherwise quiet kitchen startles you and you almost loose your footing.
"jesus! m'getting the waffle maker"
"i'll get it for you, just get down please"
"no i can do it"
steve's response is so predictable you mouth it along with him rolling your eyes
"i know you can but let me do it for you"
you jump down, waffle maker in hands
"told you i could do it"
he grabs the waffle maker from you, setting it down on the counter and pulling you into his arms.
"you are so stubborn"
"im not useless y'know i can-" he cuts you off with a little peck. you seem deeply irritated by the rude interruption
"what do you think im just some-" he presses another deeper kiss to your lips that has you forgetting what you were trying to say
"i love you my pretty little independent girl"
spring turned to summer and steve started working at starcourt. on a friday, the first of july you were running some errands at the mall so you stopped by scoops ahoy to see steve. three days and one trip in a russian elevator later you were starting to wish you'd stayed at home.
the fear coursing through you had you forgetting all about your need to be independent. you're holding his hand so tightly your nails are leaving marks in his skin.
"s-steve is that?" you stare at the freshly opened gate, its just how steve had described it
before he can answer the alarm blares and you all rush to avoid being caught.
dustin and erica have found a vent to escape through
"you're gonna go with the kids, okay, and robin and i are gonna hold this door"
you shake your head frantically tears spilling over.
"im not going without you, i need you"
"its okay, listen to me baby, i need you safe. okay?"
"if you're gonna go it has to be now, we can't keep this door closed any longer" robin says, as gently as she can manage given the circumstances.
steve wishes he had more time to comfort you. he knows you're aching to tell him that you need him so much more than you let one. you think he doesn't know it. but he does.
the next time you see steve his pretty face is bruised and bloody. he lays in your lap, high out of his mind as the elevator goes up.
"hey, why are you crying?" he slurs
"hmm?" you wipe your tears quickly
"is it because of a boy?" you chuckle at his delirious state "you should leave him, you're too pretty to cry"
"no can do. i'm afraid im completely in love with him"
the ambulance drops the both of you off at steve's house. when he helps you down with both hands on your waist theres no hesitance from you, you dont put up a fight. the contrast is stark. you let him carry you into the house as he mumbles "that's it, i got you". at some point during all the chaos you'd been knocked down the stairs by that thing...the mind flayer or whatever you hadnt even noticed the pain in your leg til the adrenaline wore off. doctors say its broken.
steve undresses you, helps you into the shower, washes your hair. he wipes away your stray tears every now and then giving you a forehead kiss paired with a 'shh i know im here'. for next few weeks he's waiting on your hand and foot. he even spoon feeds you for the first few days. he knows it's overkill but he just feels so guilty and he's so happy that you're actually letting him help for once. he was worried you'd hate every second of the next two months. but you seem to be coping okay.
you start to get used it. start letting steve in, in a way you never did before. and now 6 months later you are spoiled rotten.
"hello family video, steve speaking how can i help?"
"hi stevie" he can hear cars driving by and the wind blowing through the phone speaker
"hi baby, whats up? where are you?"
"oh im at a payphone, listen could you do me a favour maybe?"
"what is it?" its like the 7th favour this week and its wednesday.
"can you come pick me up? im at that park with the view"
"you don't have your car?"
"nope i felt like taking a nice autumn walk"
"and you dont feel like walking anymore?"
"nuh uh" "...my leg hurts" you add after a moment. you're leg is technically fine but you can tell its gonna take embellishing the story a little to get steve to close the video store 20 minutes before he's meant to.
"okay baby, ill be there soon okay, find a bench and go sit down for me, yeah?"
steve sees you jump up from your spot on the sidewalk when you spot his beamer. no limp or display of pain. interesting.
"how's that leg?"
reminded of your previous lie you wince, acting in pain
"your greed sickens me"
"steve...steve...steve are you sleeping"
"yes"
you smile kissing his nose
"hi"
"mmm what do you want?"
"how do you know i want something?"
"because you're a monster. a greedy monster"
"thats not nice"
he finally wedges an eye open to see you pouting. he sighs pressing a kiss to your forehead
"go on what is it?"
"im thirsty" you're already handing him your cup
he closes his eyes again and sighs like he's summoning the strength to deal with you at 1:30 am
"please...im scared to go down alone"
"yeah i know i've got it"
you're pretending to be asleep when he comes back
"you're kidding me?"
unwilling to have trekked downstairs for nothing he walks to your side of the bed. the smile you're barely containing gives you away.
"you're ridiculous" you open your eyes giving him that smile he loves.
"here's your water your highness"
you're both settled down again, with you tucked into his chest.
"steve"
he groans "again? i just got into bed"
"no no its not a favour. i just-...am i too annoying?"
his poor tired heart aches at your shy tone
"no sweetheart. i like doing things for you. and you do things for me too hm? you always leave me cute little notes, you make sure there's a pot of coffee on for me every morning, you help me out with dustin and his friends"
"yeah? you don't think i'm too much?"
"no i dont. now please go to sleep"
"steve"
"yes my love"
"goodnight, i love you"
"i love you more, angel"
gossip spreads like wildfire through small towns. half of hawkins thinks he's pathetic. tommy h says he needs to grow some balls. the other half (the half that wishes steve were their boyfriend) thinks you're manipulative and controlling. but he's exactly where he's always wanted to be.
about: will doesnât want to be a man like lonnie, steve shows him an alternative (indirectly)
c.w. none really, mentions of lonnie being a pos but nothing graphic or explicit, you get drunk and steve takes care of you, fem!reader who wears makeup and dresses and heels, nauseating fluff as is my usual
a/n: publishing this right after making a vent post about how writing has been frustrating recently but i cannot explain enough that i was physically possessed by the spirit of will byers and wrote nearly 2k words in one hour, do not bring ship wars into the notes or you will not see god's kingdom, divider from @/cursed-carmine
Men are cruel. Will doesnât want to be a man.
They shout when theyâre angry and take out their frustrations on the people around them. The people they claim to love. They show this love in strange and hurtful ways.
Will once confided in his mom about this fear. Itâs a secret he keeps tucked close to his chest and looped in between the individual bones of his ribs. He was drowsy and half-awake from a restless night of her huddling with her boys when Lonnie slammed the door and left the house.
âWell baby, itâs a good thing youâre still a boy,â she whispered, brushing hair out of his face and kissing his forehead.
âI donât wanna stop being a boy,â is what he would have replied, but he was too tired to move his lips. âI donât wanna be a man, I donât want to hurt you.â
His motherâs words never eased that fear, it just kept growing. Mr. Clarke taught them that when a cell undergoes uncontrollable division, when it keeps multiplying, thatâs called cancer.
Thatâs what his fear is. A cancer that poisons his mind and his friendships as he watches his close friends grow up, choosing to rebel against the piece of childhood that still lives in them.
He doesnât want to admit it to himself. Itâs a disgusting and shameful thought, but he doesnât want to be a manâ or even a boy for other reasons sometimes.
His fear was only mildly quelled when his friends agreed to play DnD again after the events of Starcourt Mall. Heâs not stupid he knows it is partly an attempt to placate him and also to make life feel normal again.
Only partly though, so heâll take it.
So he finds himself sitting on Steve Harringtonâs living room floor, a familiar scene oddly enough. Heâs been spending a lot of time here with his friends recently, itâs a good place to meet up together without questions.
Indiana summer is hot and unforgiving. Even though the sun went down hours ago the air is still far too sticky and warm to justify opening a window. Instead they have the AC blasting, Steve complains about the electricity bill but never enough for them to know heâs being serious.
Thereâs music blasting from a walkman in the corner. A mixtape they had made with a combination of everyoneâs favorite songs. Thereâs a little whiplash when the song switches from The Clash to Madonna (put on there at Elâs insistence) but Will doesnât hate the feeling.
While they may be sitting in his living room Steve is noticeably absent. Nancy called half an hour ago from the dive bar downtown. Sheâd ventured there earlier that night with you and Robin in tow for drinks with some fake IDs youâd bought off this guy named Eddie.
Apparently the IDs worked because you were far, far too drunk. Will had heard Nancy say in a muffled voice your last three vodka sodas were water and you hadnât noticed in the slightest. After giving strict instructions to not burn down the house Steve tossed on his jacket and headed out to collect you.
Will likes you a lot. You were always nice to him when he was a little kid and bought him paints for Christmas every year. Youâre kind and have a radiant glow around you that he assumes most guys find attractive. Dustin says Steve is below your level and he thinks thatâs a little mean.
Even so, heâs not thrilled with the idea of youâ or anyone for that matter being intoxicated in his vicinity. Heâs also not thrilled with the idea of Steve picking you up from a bar. Donât girls usually get hit on at bars? Shit what if Steve walks in on someone buying you a drink (thatâs how men flirt with women at bars right?) and gets the wrong idea?
His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Steveâs BMW pulling into the driveway. He hears the sound of you laughing loudly, which is a good sign, and then the key turning into the doorway.
You stumble in the foyer of the Harrington house with all the grace of a newborn deer. Laughing and giggling like a maniac while Steve attempts to keep you upright and lock the door at the same time.
Your face has a glow to it and your eyes are hazy like youâve forgotten how to force the muscles to focus. Youâd left the house in a black dress, now youâve returned with Steveâs jacket carefully placed on your shoulders and zipped up just enough to give you room to breathe comfortably.
Thereâs no way youâre dexterous enough to have zipped up the jacket yourself. Will gnaws on his bottom lip as he tries to conjure the image of Steve forcing you to stand still long enough for him to zip it up for you. Maybe you were already sitting in his car? Did he buckle your seatbelt for you too?
âOh you guys are here!â you smile, all gleeful at the sight of the kids. You stumble into the living room and giggle more, ruffling Maxâs hair and kissing Elâs forehead.
âWe were here when you left,â Mike rolls his eyes, pushing the DnD papers to a safer place, lest you walk all over them in your heels.
âYouâre getting so tall,â you complain, speech a little slurred and kiss Mikeâs cheek. âIf you grow taller than me Iâm gonna have a fit.â
Your lipstick stains Mikeâs cheek but it hardly matters as he goes beet red. You press another kiss to Elâs forehead who does not mind the two lipstick stains in the slightest.
âYou look pretty,â she tells you, smiling so hard her cheeks might hurt.
âPretty drunk,â Max chimes in, but she doesnât bat your hand when you ruffle her hair again. âYou smell it too.â
âAw I love my girls,â you coo and kiss Maxâs forehead. She goes just as red as Mike but doesnât lift her hand to wipe away the lipstick.
âWhat about the rest of us?â Dustin complains loudly and Steve kicks him.
âI love my boys too!â you insist and immediately give him a kiss on the cheek. Then you give Will and Lucas a kiss each which makes heat crawl up Willâs chest and to the tips of his ears.
âAlright thatâs enough love,â Steve says, gently grabbing your arm to help you upstairs. When he walks by, Will can see some lipstick stains on his neck and his face feels even hotter.
Steve guides you upstairs while Mike and Max give Dustin shit for complaining about being neglected. Will mumble something about getting you water and steps into the kitchen. He does fill a glass to take upstairs for you but itâs actually quite selfish.
He knows Steve is a good guy, heâs proven that over and over again during the last two years. Still youâre drunk and donât know left from rightâ or vodka sodas from waterâ and that doesnât sit well with him.
He walks upstairs and pauses near the doorway at the scene. Youâre sitting on the edge of Steveâs bed as he kneels in front of you. Youâve got one heel on the ground and heâs working on the other. His fingers gently undoing the straps you spent a good five minutes putting on due to how complicated they are.
âYou can just pull those off,â you tell him pouting, though Will isnât quite sure the reason.
âBaby Iâm not trying to ruin your stuff,â Steve huffs a smile. âYou like these heels, remember?â
âNot as much as I like you.â
âYou being cute?â
âYeah, is it working?â
âUnfortunately,â Steve kisses your knee as he finally slides the heel off. That makes you giggle more.
âNow are you gonna kiss me?â you perk up like youâre readying yourself.
âNo Iâm gonna change you and put you to bed,â Steve laughs, squeezing your hand. âCause you are very drunk.â
âIâm not drunk!â you insist, pout returning full force. âI can walk in a straight line and say the alphabet backwards!â
âBaby you canât even spell your own name right now.â
âI can spell your name!â
âUh huh, how does it go?â
âS! Uh⊠uhh.. E?â
Steve laughs in your face and stands up to press a smattering of kisses to your forehead. You huff and wrap your arms around him.
âYouâre the cutest thing Iâve ever seen,â he tells you and leans down to plant one more kiss on your forehead.
âI missed you all night,â you practically whine. âNow you wonât even kiss me.â
âAll night?â Steve repeats, brushing your hair back. âYou went out with Robin and Nance for girls night, you remember that part, right?â
âOf course I do,â you hiccup. âBut I missed you, some guy wanted to buy us shots but I said no because I have a boyfriend.â
âBaby youâre ridiculous,â Steve laughs. âWhyâd you turn down free stuff?â
âCause I have a boyfriend!â you frown, like youâre worried heâs forgotten that heâs dating you.
âThatâs the whole point of girls night,â he admonishes you gently, and kisses your forehead again. âGuys wonât buy you drinks if Iâm around.â
âI donât want them to buy me drinks,â you mumble nuzzling your face into his chest.
âYouâre too cute, this isnât good for my heart,â Steve sighs and rubs your back.
The moment stills into something comfortable. The two of you holding each other, Steve rubbing your back and you pressing into him like youâd merge bodies if you could.
âYou falling asleep?â Steve murmurs, pushing you away from him and brushing more hair out of your face.
âNoâŠâ you mumble like a liar.
âAlright lazy girl,â Steve says and presses one last kiss to your head before laying you down. âIâm gonna get you some water then help you get ready for bed.â
You mumble something incoherent but Steve takes it for disagreement.
âYouâre gonna be upset tomorrow if you donât take off your makeup.â
You make another noise.
âYouâre the laziest girl ever, Iâll help you with your makeup but you gotta brush your own teeth.â
Will snaps out of his daze when Steve heads for the door. He clears his throat and pretends he just got there instead of having stood like the door watching the last five minutes unfold.
Steve blinks in surprise upon seeing Will, and he canât exactly blame him. âOh hey, is everything okay downstairs?â
âYeah yeah everythingâs fine,â Will fumbles awkwardly. âI just uhâ I figured she probably needs some water.â
âThanks man,â Steve takes the glass from him and reaches out to ruffle Willâs hair. âLemme know if you guys wanna order a pizza or something. I can always run and grab ice cream too once Iâm finished up here.â
Will mumbles something in acknowledgment and Steve turns around, placing the glass on the nightstand as he rummages through the drawer for some clothes for you.
He takes one last look at you before heading downstairs. All content to be lying on Steveâs bed, watching him with lazy half awake eyes.
The tension in his shoulders dissipates, youâll be just fine.
heyy i have a request if u are up to it: could u do something about steve harrington and female reader who had a toxic boyfriend (like really toxic) and she is afraid of men or something, please. Anyway is up to u, thanksss
AN: i had a lot of fun writing this, thank you!
wordcount: 2k
warnings: mentions of toxic relationships - please protect yourself
steve wants you to be his girlfriend. and he's not shy about it. he's made it abundantly clear since he'd met you at robin's birthday party. the evidence is in the way he calls you honey more than your own name. the way he kicks dustin out insisting that you should sit in his passenger seat. the way his eyes look for you at parties and group gatherings, visibly softening when he sees you're okay. and when mike (the little shit that he is) calls him out in front of everyone saying "do you need me to rewind the movie steve, you seem a little preoccupied staring at your girlfriend" steve doesn't get mad or embarrassed. there's no "dude she's not my girlfriend" like you're expecting. he simply says "i'll look wherever i wanna look wheeler" then offers you a little smile.
so its safe to say you're aware of steve's crush on you. and you're terrified of it. it's not that you don't like him in fact its quite the opposite. honestly who could blame you? he's undeniably attractive, he's gentle and he listens, really listens. his eyebrows pinch together in concentration, his head nods so slightly you think it might be subconscious and he asks questions. and all the while his eyes remain on yours, they don't linger on your lips or your chest. in fact if it weren't for the way he occasionally uses 'pretty' as a replacement for 'honey' you'd think he wasn't attracted to you. so yeah steve harrington is perfect apparently. your body screams it at you whenever he's around. it begs you to get closer to him, to talk to him. unfortunately, your brain is not on board.
it hasn't forgotten your ex. and how could it when you're riddled with scars. thankfully not the physical kind, you'd broken it off before it could get to that. but the mental scars and the indents he'd left in the walls of your apartment are constant reminders of how naĂŻve you were, how poor your judgement was. how poor your judgment still is? you feel like steve is different but you'd said that about your ex at the beginning too. you don't trust yourself to make good decisions. so to summarise your current predicament, you cant like steve but you absolutely do.
the constant conflict has dialled your anxiety up to 100. you're not yourself, you're not sleeping well, you're not eating enough and robin's starting to catch on.
when the group's gathered together for game night she drags steve away from the harringtons' basement to talk to him. 10 minutes later, oblivious to whats going on, you come up the stairs to grab yourself a glass of water. they dont hear you approach.
"steve i know that you're a good guy and that you really like her but this is complicated. okay?"
you freeze
"daniel was...she was like barely a human when she was with him. he drained all the life out of her and she's worked so hard to be where she is now..." the rest of her words fade into the background. you're mortified. are you really so broken that your best friend has to go around warning guys that you're fragile?
steve runs his fingers through his hair. robin's words are making him feel restless so he stands up to pace, turning away from robin and towards you.
shit.
"honey. what are you doing here?"
robin's neck snaps in your direction. you zone back in suddenly feeling the warmth of the tears running down your face.
"oh fuck are you okay?" robin's on her feet in an instant coming over to you
"y-yeah"
"do you wanna go home? i'll come with y-"
"actually i wanna talk to steve. alone"
"o-oh okay yeah sure. ill be in the basement if you need me" she gives steve a warning look before she leaves thats more pleading than it is angry.
"hi."
"hi."
you're both sitting on the couch now, knees ever so slightly touching.
"so...you know about daniel"
"yeah"
the silence is painfully awkward. steve doesn't know what he can say without overstepping and making you uncomfortable.
"i...i can't be in a relationship. its-...i'm not ready. i know you like me and you're great, really but i can't offer you anything right now. so you should probably move on"
"its okay, honey. im not going anywhere" he softly holds your hand.
you blink. so much for letting him down easy and being done with it.
"did you not hear what i said?"
"i heard. theres no rush. i'll take it at your pace. even if your pace is 0mph"
"steve i don't think you're understanding what im saying. this isn't gonna happen"
"i dont think you're understanding me. theres no other woman for me, honey so if you change that pretty mind i'll still be here. i promise"
yeah right you think.
but three months later he's still everywhere. he brings you a new set of flowers everytime the previous set is on its last legs. when you ask him how he knows he tells you he keeps one so he knows when they die. he's always picking you up and dropping you off places without you asking. and when he finds out you walked somewhere he's all "i thought we agreed you'd call me if you ever needed a ride". at first you'd worried he was getting his hopes up, that he thought you were just playing hard to get. but when you sat him down to talk about it he'd said "i know you might not believe this but i dont do things for you with the intention of receiving something in exchange. i just like doing it." he hasn't been on a single date for three months. robin told you he's turning down girls who flirt with him. you've started to believe him because try as you might you can't find a reason not to. you've started to expect new flowers, started to reach for the phone when you need a ride.
Its a friday night. you can hear his heartbeat under your ear, can smell his cologne, can feel his arm on your back and round your waist. he thinks you've fallen asleep. in all honesty you'd been pretending to be asleep so he'd turn off the god awful movie he'd put on. but behind your closed eyes your mind is oh so active.
you're thinking about how steve harrington had charmed his way over every boundary you'd set. well except for one. there is one line of defence left but you're strongly consider removing it all together. he's basically your boyfriend already right? so what's the harm in making it official.
you open your eyes, before you can change your mind you say "steve?"
"oh hey honey, thought you were asleep"
"steve?"
"yeah im listening"
"i think im ready"
"ready for what?" god hes making this so hard for you. but he's not faking his cluelessness. you can tell.
"to be your girlfriend idiot"
he's silent for almost a minute
"i want you to know"
"huh?"
"you said you think you're ready. i want you to know you're ready"
"its just a figure of speech. im ready"
"i can wait, baby. you dont need to push yourself"
"im sure steve"
he doesn't say anything
you kiss him. he makes a surprised noise against your lips before giving in. he kisses differently to anyone you've ever been with. its delicate and gentle but just as passionate. when you feel him smile, you smile too until the kiss is all teeth and you pull back laughing.
"believe me now?"
"okay" you steal a quick kiss "but we're taking it slow, yeah?" you nod but you're moving closer to kiss him better. when you end up on his lap it takes his brain a few seconds to wake up before he moves you back to your original position on his bed. "i said slow, baby" frankly you're a little surprised. men always say shit like 'lets take it slow' but when push comes to shove they never mean it. apparently steve does. he kisses your forehead tucking you into his arms "can i tell people you're my girlfriend? are you comfortable with that?" "yeah"
"can we make a deal?"
"what kind of deal?"
"i want you to tell me when you're worrying about something so we can talk about it and i can try and fix it for you. if you can do that for me i promise i'll never react badly. i wont be mad no matter what this pretty little head tells you. i just wanna make this work. deal?"
"deal?"
steve's watching you from the register as you sit on a beanbag in family video. you've been twiddling your thumbs nervously for an hour now. steve knows you're overthinking but he's trying to wait for you to bring it up yourself so as to encourage your communication skills.
"steve?"
he walking over to you
"tell me, pretty"
"you're not gonna be mad?" you fish for reassurance
he pushes a strand of hair back and kisses your forehead "no chance"
"mkay...i dont really like the way those girls spoke to you, the ones that came in earlier. it made me feel well...jealous. and i know that's not fair to you because you were just doing your job but you said to communicate and i can't help that it make me sad" you'd been looking down at your lap as you spoke but when you finish your eyes flick up to his seeking approval. a silent 'did i do it right?'. its adorable and it makes him smile fondly
"thank you for sharing how you feel, honey. im really proud of you" you look at him like a deer in headlights. he laughs affectionately
"how would you have liked me to respond?"
oh. you weren't expecting follow up questions. truth is you dont know what you were expecting this is all so new. the healthiness.
"uhm...maybe you could maybe bring me up in conversation to them maybe" he doesn't want you to think he's not taking this seriously but he cant help but laugh at your abuse of the word 'maybe'. "i can do that"
suddenly he's looking at you more intensely than he ever has. you're about to ask him if he's feeling okay.
"baby can you look in my eyes please."
"oookay?"
"and hold my hands"
you do
"im gonna say something and you might freak out because it might be a little scary. but its just me okay. just steve" panic builds in you. this is it. this is the moment when reality catches up with you and it turns out the anxious thoughts were right all along. you brace yourself.
"i love you"
"oh!" you let out a sigh of relief. "are you kidding?! that's not scary at all i thought you were gonna break up with me or something"
"you're not scared?"
"no idiot. i love you too. god you can be so dramatic. don't ever do that to me again please"
"you love me?"
"you didn't know?"
"i mean no. not for sure"
"maybe you're the one who needs reassurance and not the other way round"
he smiles "i can get on board with that"
"okay okay, check me out..." you mimic the affirmations he gives you at least three times a week "steven harrington. you are so beautiful. i think my life started the day i met you. you are not a burden. i would do anything to make you feel safe. you are truly cared for" you drop the teasing voice looking at him seriously "you are loved."
he smirks "i know"
"you know?!" you swat his chest playfully "what was all that for then?"
he shrugs "doesnt hurt to hear it every now and then"
you pretend like you want to get away from him, trying to push past him. he grabs you and lifts you, holding you up by your thighs. you press your foreheads together and your noses brush against each other.
"you feel better yeah? no more fidgeting in the corner?"
description: reader and steve's story continues and robin suffers from heartache
word count: 1.2k
AN: its giving meredith, christina and derek towards the end (grey's anatomy)
part 1
you and steve are approaching 5 months of dating. the awkward giddiness has given way to a more stable and comfortable love.
love.
you're still getting used to weight of the word on your tongue.
steve was gonna say it first. really he was. but every time he opened his mouth to do it all he could see was senior year steve in tina's bathroom watching nancy rub punch of her shirt and profess her lack of love for him. one time he'd actually plucked up the courage to say "i have to tell you something" but it had all come crumbling down seconds later, his mouth moving before he could stop it "uh you have an eyelash right here"
you'd found out, through robin, how steve and nancy had ended right before he asked you out. robin warned "he's fragile y'know under all the...hair. just like be gentle with his feelings, please". quickly you realised she cares for him more than she lets on.
there we three separate occasions where you'd felt the urge to say it. once when you clocked out at melvald's after a particularly bad day you'd rambled on the phone to him about. you braced yourself to walk home in the rain only to see his car parked right in front of the store.
"stevie what are you doing here?" you get into the passenger seat.
"picking up the prettiest girl in hawkins. although i can't take you home. i've got..." he look down at his watch "ten minutes to be back at scoops before robin kills me. s'that okay? do you mind hanging around till my shift's done? ill give you free ice cream."
"yeah. yeah of course that's okay"
i love you.
the second time is more of a casual freudian slip you only just catch. you're about to head home after sleeping over at his. he walks you to the door.
"do i have everything? i feel like im forgetting something?"
"who cares, leave it here. gives you an excuse to come back"
"i dont need an excuse steve, we're dating"
"i love the sound of that"
you lean in for a kiss
"okay bye i-"
i love you
"i'll see you tomorrow"
you walk out the door without looking back lest he see your wide-eyed expression.
the third time is with robin. she's complaining (as always) to you about how late he is on saturday mornings. you tune in mid-ramble.
"...and well you know steve he's an incompetent loser especially on a saturday."
"hey dont be mean to steve. i lo-"
i love him
you clear your throat hoping to god she didnt hear
"what was that?"
"i...i lo...i long!...to be as caring as he is?"
you groan, face in your hands at the shit-eating grin on her face
after an immense amount of bullying teasing from robin, her tone turns serious as she assures you he feels the same and that you should take the first step. after that you decide that the next time it organically comes out, you'll let it.
so on a picnic date by the lake at sunset, when he brushes a crumb off your face you say it
"i love you" you watch every movement he makes waiting for the explosion after the bomb you just dropped. you'd told yourself you'd wait patiently for his response and not interrupt his processing. but past you did not anticipate how nerve-wracking this would be. screw her. "is that kinda scary?"
"no...no its not. well i mean yeah a little that's why i havent said it till now but its not a bad scary. do you know what i mean?"
"yeah i do"
"good...you're so pretty"
"steve"
"yes"
"say it back"
"oh! right uh- fuck... i love you. i really love you"
"you had to add the 'really' in there just to one-up me, didnt you?"
now you're laid on his chest in comfortable silence. until he breaks it unceremoniously.
"honey, do you think the sailors uniform looks stupid on me? cos rob-"
"shut up"
"what?"
"im trying to sync our heartbeats and i can't concentrate if you're talking"
his judgement of your frankly ridiculous statement is interrupted by your bedroom door being yanked open by an exasperated robin who looks so unhappy to see steve.
"wh- how did you get in here?"
"she's my best friend she has the keys to my apartment. duh"
"am i interrupting?" she's blinking faster than usual which you know means she's fighting tears.
steve who's too busy looking at you to notice her heartbreakingly sad expression replies "yes"
"he means no. budge up steve"
"wh- are you kidding?" he sputters as robin sinks onto the bed next to you
you give steve a mix between a glare and a pleading look.
you all lay there in your bed thats too small for three people. steve cuddles you and you cuddle robin. he give your hand gentle squeezes and presses silent kisses into your hair trying to give you the strength you need to comfort robin. because yes his world truly does revolve around you.
she sniffles quietly for a while until the dam breaks and she tells you whats wrong. though she directs her gaze at the ceiling the whole time. she tells you about the girl that works at the record store who you and steve had adamantly assured was gay. "well it looks like you were wrong. she has a boyfriend."
"oh robs, we're so sorry"
"actually we might still be right" steve should've left the comforting to you
"really, steve? you have to be a sore loser even now, unbelievable"
"no i mean. maybe she does swing that way you know. maybe the boyfriend's like a cover up"
"he's right robs. plus all you saw was them talking they might not even be dating."
she shrugs. clearly she's in the moping stage not the rational solution stage.
"steve can you get us some ice cream please?"
"yeah, yeah of course" he hovers by the door. he feels bad for his previous reaction, for not having noticed the sadness in robin's voice when she'd showed up "i can leave if you want. y'know girls night and all that"
you turn to robin offering a small squeeze that says 'up to you'
"no. you should stay...but go get the ice cream"
"right, coming right up"
after a minute you join steve in the kitchen.
"hey"
"hey beautiful" he's scooping ice cream into three bowls as you snake your arms around his torso from behind.
"im sorry date night's over"
"that's okay"
"sure?"
"yeah...yeah. plus its kinda like practice. y'know, for when our kids go through their first heartbreak"
"oh we're having kids now, are we?"
"well i was talking about dustin and his friends...but if you must know we're having six kids. three boys, three girls"
"steven harrington, you expect me to birth six children?"
"we'll talk about it later"
"yes please talk about it later" robin whose eyes are starting to swell, is standing at the end of the corridor bundled in the blankets that were on your bed. "and hurry up with the ice cream"
description: poor robin is tired of having to be around your blossoming relationship.
word count: 1.2k
AN: i miss scoops ahoy đą
warnings: mentions of lingerie
there's a shrill ring of a bell that prompts the sliding windows to the backroom of scoops ahoy to open and steve rests his arm against the counter
"is she here?"
"no dingus. now can you get out here, help me scoop some ice cream and, y'know, actually do your job for once?"
"okay okay just give me a minute" he's been fixing his hair for 45 minutes in the reflection of the refrigerator mumbling "stupid fucking hat" under his breath.
he had miraculously scored a date with you through robin after winning a bet against her. and then another and another and now a month later you're his girlfriend.
last night as you held the phone to your ear, your free hand twirling the chord between your fingers. you'd made a passing comment about 'swinging by tomorrow to get some ice cream'. hence steve's complete lack of concentration.
it's all so new and intense and he feels giddy thinking about you. god he hasn't felt giddy since... scratch that he hasn't felt giddy ever. you both are well and truly in the honeymoon phase, something he's never experienced, at least not with this intensity. robin says it's because its his first relationship since his 'personality transplant'.
he doesn't notice you until the 6 foot guy ordering in front of you walks away from the counter to reveal your slightly nervous smile.
you watch his entire face change, eyes softening and lips parting slightly. the giggle you let out has his lips tugging up into a smile. your heart does the funny skip its been doing ever since you'd found out steve harrington has a crush on you. steve. harrington.
while the two of you remain in your bubble free from the laws of time and space, robin becomes increasingly unimpressed. "i think this is the part where one of you greets the other." her tone drips with sarcasm. she gets that you're both totally obsessed with each other. actually she gets it too well given that she starts her day with an update from steve and ends her day with an update from you. so she's not ecstatic about having to help you relearn the basics of human communication at 10am when steve's supposed to be helping her scoop ice cream. at least you're past the phase where both of you would call her to ask what to say next. it was like flirting with herself. never again.
embarrassed by robin's remark you look down to hide the blush spreading on your cheeks and tuck hair behind your ear.
"i was just getting to that" steve sasses back at her
"really? because you've been staring at each other for like 15 minutes"
he ignores her turning his attention back on you. "hi beautiful"
"hi steve"
when robin looks up from the register you two are staring. again. rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time, she kicks steve's shin. he sputters "w- uh...i can...can i get you some ice cream?"
"mhm. what are my options?"
he reads you the whole menu explaining every item like he's letting you in on some secret of the trade despite the descriptions being literally printed on the menu. you listen intently regardless.
"mmm i'll have whichever you think is best"
"yeah? you trust my humble opinion?"
"mhm, i trust you" you've been slowly edging your hand closer to his and your pinky finally touches his. the second you make contact your eyes dart to his. suddenly his face is a lot closer than before. he breathes out a laugh, you do too.
"steve. get her the ice cream. c'mon we have customers" robins frustrated voice cuts through your moment.
"yes i know we have customers i'm currently serving one" he turns back to you "a very beautiful one"
"steve you have 5 seconds to move your ass"
"okay okay geez" he makes a face at you behind her back just to see you hide your laughter behind your palm.
"here you go, pretty. U.S.S Butterscotch. best of the best."
"thanks stevie" you reach into your purse.
"woah hey what are you doing?"
"im pay-"
"what did we say about paying?"
"but this isn't-"
"ah ah ah what did we say about paying?"
"that you pay"
"exactly. s'on the house, baby"
"thats coming out of your wages not mine, harrington"
you bite the inside of your cheek, brows furrrowing at robin's attitude.
"what's wrong, sweetheart?"
you learn forward on your tiptoes to reach over the counter and whisper to him. "i think she's actually upset. i feel really bad"
"mm it must be annoying how insanely obsessed i am with you" you try to ignore his flirting but you're not a saint and the way he's looking down at your lips is debilitating.
"steve" you push a hand against his chest blushing all the while. "m'serious"
"me too" his smirk falters when he sees you look at him unimpressed. "okay fine, sorry"
"i got an idea. keep her distracted and i'll go get her a present or something."
"okay baby" he's walking round the counter to hand you his wallet. his head dips down closer to your ear "maybe you can stop by that lingerie place opposite the pizza shop. get yourself a little something for being so sweet, mm?"
robin calls him again and with a little kiss to your forehead and a "duty calls" he leaves you standing there wide eyed and blushing with his wallet in your hand.
when you return a couple hours later they're both in the backroom now that the clientele has died down. there's a timid knock and they know its you. you push the door open.
"hi."
"great. the couple is reunited" robin rolls her eyes.
you opt for the seat closest to robin and though he understands why steve cant help but want you by his side.
"awh c'mon don't frown at me" you try to butter up your best friend but her arms remain crossed, face scrunched into a grumpy frown.
"i got you a present" she lights up like a dog who's heard the word 'walk'.
"really?!" she clears her throat schooling her expression "i mean- really?"
you pull out a vinyl. blondie's latest album.
"shut up. no way"
"yes way"
her arms are around you in an instant. "listen we're really sorry for being so annoying"
"i dont care"
"wh- what?"
"you can be as annoying as you want if it gets me blondie"
the bell rings and robin leaves to attend a customer.
when you'd arrived steve had been observing the bags you were carrying or rather the bags you weren't carrying. now he pulls you down into his lap, kissing your cheek. "so you didn't find any sets you liked?"
"huh?" you look down at the bags on the table in front of you. "oh- uh." you pull the lingerie bag out of a Claire's bag "i figured it wouldn't help our case with robin so i hid it"
he grins "that's my girl"
you match his grin albeit a little more shyly "your girl huh?"
"oh yeah. you havent heard? you're steve harrington's trophy wife now"
his nose brushes against yours and you laugh against his lips.
description: reader loves her existential questions and steve does his best to answer
warnings: none
wordcount: 1k
"stevie?" you're not looking at him but rather at the ceiling. but you know he's listening, he always does. unless he's asleep. but you know how he breathes when he's asleep and this is not it.
"yes baby" you smile, vindicated. he strokes your hair down, gently moving it out of your face. your face is barely illuminated by the red light of the alarm clock that currently reads 01:28.
"do you think animals ever talk about humans behind our backs?"
"uhhh. i dont know that's a good question." this has become his routine, doing his best to answer ridiculous questions at ungodly hours, ever since you crawled into his heart and made a home there.
you turn over so you're resting your chin on his chest as you look up at him. when you're greeted by the sight of him already looking down at you, you can't help but let a small smile escape despite your attempt at a curious expression.
"do you think they secretly study us too? y'know like zoology but humanology...or something?"
he can't imagine that they do but judging by the little sparkle in your eyes he thinks the idea brings you joy so he doesn't dare crush your dreams.
"yeah maybe"
its a summer day the type where the heat drives you half mad. steve's taken you to get ice cream and have a picnic by the lake.
"stevie" he knows whats coming. you've been silent for two whole minutes and you've been tilting your head to the side every now and then as if having a silent debate with yourself and he knows you're about to fill him in.
"you got a question for me, bub?"
"yeah! how'd you know?"
"i got my ways. can you do me a favour though?"
"mmm"
"ask me after you've finished your ice cream. i get the feeling its gonna be a real thinker and i dont wanna see you upset when that ice cream melts into your lap"
you smile ear to ear "you're so smart stevie!"
he shakes his head in disbelief like he can't believe you. he worries from time to time that you might expect better responses from him. after all he rarely has any proper answers to your outlandish questions. but apparently you are more than satisfied with his wisdom.
"now can i ask?" theres ice cream all over your face and he can tell you're fighting off a severe brain freeze.
"come here, honey" he wipes off the ice cream mustache you've given yourself as you launch into your question
"if you had to guess, how many people do you think have sat in this very spot we're sitting in?"
he entertains your curiosity as always, forever wondering how the hell you come up with these.
"wow, i dont know, probably a lot"
"s' pretty fascinating, huh?"
"y'know what i do know? none of them were as in love as we are"
"steeeve" you roll over onto him where he lays on the picnic mat. "that was corny"
"mm but it made you smile"
after a beat of silence you inevitably ask another question.
"stevie?" in the 18 months since you started dating steve you've been waiting for the time he replies with a groan, a 'what now?' or even a 'will you just be quiet?'.
he kisses your forehead "how can i help you, sweetheart?" he doesn't know exactly what he's done right but he can tell by the fondness in your eyes that the words he's just said mean a lot to you.
suddenly you can't actually remember the silly existential question you were about to ask. something about what he'd do if you were a worm. but its not important anymore, you have a better question.
"do you think you'll still answer my questions like this when we're 97?"
"oh honey im gonna be answering your questions till we're 150"
"okay."
"okay."
he blinks and before he knows it he's making time in his day for another set of questions from three-year-old dove harrington. she's a carbon copy of him with her brown hair and soft eyes. but her little blooming personality is all you as is becoming incredibly apparent.
"why?"
"uhm because you need oxygen in your body to make energy"
"but why?"
"so you can run around and torment mommy and daddy"
"why?"
he snorts "i don't know baby girl you're gonna have to tell me that"
this whole fiasco had started when she'd attempted to stuff crayons up her nose. he gently explained that she can't block her airways. to which, as i'm sure you've guessed, she replied "why, daddy?"
"okay pumpkin that's enough questions time to get ready for daycare" you call out from upstairs.
she toddles up the stairs, steve following behind her.
once she's been safely delivered to the upstairs bathroom where you're putting on the last of your makeup steve kisses you both goodbye and leaves to work.
"can i give you two braids today, is that okay?" you thank your lucky stars that her terrible twos phase is finally over and the tantrums are few and far between but you're not about to risk it by giving her a hairstyle she doesn't want.
she nods with so much poise and determination you wonder how her little body can contain it.
"coming right up"
you're midway through fixing her parting when she asks her first question.
"mommy?"
"yes dovie"
"s'it true that you used to ask daddy questions like me?"
"did he tell you that"
she nods
"what else did he say?"
"he says i ask questions because im cu-ree-us"
"curious?"
"mhm. he says its because im mommy's daughter and that means i have a big beautiful brain because mommy has a big beautiful brain"
oh steve harrington. using his offspring to spread his charm even further. you grin so hard your eyes scrunch together and you almost mess up her braid.
"well sweetheart daddy's right you do have a big beautiful brain. and its good that you ask questions. so you can make it even bigger and more beautiful. mkay?"
"okay!"
that night you know exactly what your question of the day will be "steve did you tell our daughter i have a big beautiful brain?
description: reader looks at him and realises she can touch him whenever she wants because he's hers.
warnings: none
wordcount: 750
AN: please let me know if you like it! and send requests pretty please with a cherry on top!
your head rests against the soft couch, feet in your boyfriend's lap. try as you might you can't focus on the book you're reading. it's something stupid and boring about how one of the elements was discovered. not your usual pick but apparently the harringtons aren't very interesting people and this was the best you could find in their library.
steve however is completely focused. he's studying recordings of his previous basketball games attentively making notes for next thursday's practice.
he's so funny when he's paying attention. his tongue sticks out the corner of his mouth ever so slightly and eyebrows furrow together so tightly. he looks ridiculous. but god he's so pretty. his soft brown eyes are all serious and engaged. a lock of hair falls in front of his eyes and he brushes it back. you watch it unfold grinning like an idiot all the while.
sometimes you struggle to believe he's real. you stare at him like he's some kind of exhibit in a museum. but luckily for you he's not, there's no 'do not touch' signs around and you don't have to wait your turn respectfully because steve harrington happens to be completely yours. you smile at the thought. suddenly it feels criminal that you haven't been abusing this power.
you sit up and shuffle closer to him, book long forgotten somewhere on the floor. you start small with a little boop to his nose. the corners of his lips twitch up in an acknowledging smile but otherwise he stays focused on the task at hand, much to your dismay.
you press at the wrinkles on his forehead trying to soothe them out but you're pulling his eyebrows up in the process and your arms are in the way of the screen. ever the gentleman, steve doesn't complain. instead he gently pulls your hands off his face pressing a gentle kiss to each wrist and places them back in your lap.
of course this just motivates you further and you start to press at each one of his freckles and moles counting under your breath. that's when you start the break his focus.
"baby?" he sighs
"hmm"
"what's wrong? are you bored?"
"mmhmm"
"okay come here"
he tucks you under his arm pressing you into his side. he starts to explain the game to you hoping that by including you he'll be able to finish his task and keep you satisfied. two birds one stone. but you're not interested in making it easy for him.
he kisses the crown of your head facing you slightly "s'that make sense?"
"uh huh" you bring your hands up to his cheeks innocently enough that he keeps talking.
"weâre trying to spread the floor so he can drive in, but watch the defense switch⊠see? that forces a bad shot. If we score here, itâs a tchoo poindurâ somewhere in the middle of his explanation you decided it was a good time to squish his cheeks together. you giggle at the way his words come out all funny.
"shweetie wha you-" he moves your hands away. "what are you doing?"
you shrug hiking one leg over and settling in his lap "wanna play with your face"
"my face?"
"mhm its so pretty" you can tell by the red creeping up his cheeks that you've almost got him.
"im kinda busy right now, sweet girl"
you pout "too busy for me?"
he hesitates, sighing. got him. "fine okay ill turn it off. you got all my attention now, happy?"
"actually i think im gonna head home now" you tease
"i hate you" he playfully pretends to shove you off his lap
"im kidding!!" you say through giggles
a comfortable silence takes over as the giggles die out.
"y'know i got a big fat crush on you, harrington?"
he chuckles "yeah a little birdie told me" then he brushes his lips against your forehead. you press your face into his chest humming contentedly
"what's got you feeling all clingy?" he smooths your hair down gently "nothing's wrong?"
"nope" you thread your fingers around his "just making the most of the steve harrington experience"
you feel his laugh vibrate against his chest. "what's that mean?"
"means i know how lucky i am to be your girl."
you smile against his chest feeling his heart rate pick up. he spots your mischievous expression.
dad!steve harrington when his daughter has a boy over for the first time.
AN: inspired by hopper's reaction to mileven in season 3.
AN: please please please send requests in, i very much need the inspiration very appreciated thank youuu
warnings: none?
wordcount: â500
you dip your finger into your tub of moisturiser, applying it to your face.
"why? why is this happening to me?"
"steve nothing is happening to you"
you look at him in the reflection of the vanity mirror. he's pacing back and forth across the length of your master bedroom as you peacefully get ready for bed. or at least you're attempting to be peaceful despite the stress he's plaguing the room with.
his precious baby girl, dove elle harrington, had a boy over today. you understand steve of course, it had been a little jarring for you too. but alas your daughter is 16 now, it was bound to happen at some point and lets face it the man is being overdramatic.
"are you kidding?! he's corrupting her. she broke my rules, she closed the door when i explicitly told her it stays open. my dovie wouldn't do that. its this...this...boy" the disgust in his tone is comical.
you snort
"can you take me seriously? please?" he sasses
"baby come here" you pull him down so he's kneeling beside your spot at the vanity. he looks pitiful its adorable and ridiculous.
"i know this is a big deal to you" you stroke his face, knowing your husband well enough to know this whole show he's put on is ultimately for your attention. "but she's not a kid anymore plus you were a teenage boy once upon a time, hm?"
"no. not like this one, i was respectful"
"respectful? you call sneaking in through window to make out respectful?"
"shut up"
"you remember how annoying my dad was? would never let us be?"
"yeah"
you just raise your eyebrows letting your expression make your point for you. you watch as the irony dawns on him
"okay" he relents
"okay?" you say hopefully
"no not okay. i mean i was a bit of a smart ass sure but i was a good guy and i always treated you right"
you hum in agreement
"what if this nate guy is like horrible to her? what if he breaks my baby's heart?"
"steve give her some credit. dove's not stupid. we raised her to know her worth, now we have to trust her judgment"
"y'know i just hate you"
"hate me?! what did i do?"
"you could at least freak out with me every now and then but no you always have to have all the answers and be right all the time its obnoxious." he leans forward resting his forehead against yours
"mm you're welcome"
he kisses you softly and you can feel him smile. when he breaks the kiss he's standing up.
"where you going?"
he picks up his phone "to apologise to your father for all the suffering i put him through"
you roll your eyes hearing steve talking to your dad about his 'newfound sense of understanding'.
you hear his voice again "what if i just kill him?"
"steven!" you reprimand
your dad's voice comes through the speaker "its tempting i know"
"dad!" you get up snatching the phone off him "okay that's enough advice dad thank you love you bye"
you turn to steve with the same composed authority you use on the kids "stop being ridiculous. bed. now"
how anakin reacts when reader is called up for a mission
anakin had been an angry kid. i mean who wouldn't be after 9 years of slavery, having to leave your mom behind and giving away pretty much your whole freedom to protect others for a living.
master yoda had taken on this issue himself and from the ages of 9 to 15 anakin had a weekly meditation session with the grand master. obi-wan had to hear anakin's endless complaints about how the session were "embarrassing" and "ruining my street cred". but all in all he'd grown out of his anger.
until today.
---------------------â---------------------
he can feel heat burning under his skin, his ears pounding.
"the council wants you to do what?!"
"they th-"
"absolutely not." his tone is final. you sit on the sofa of your apartment and roll your eyes at his continuous interruptions.
the council had called upon you to persuade your ex, an influential political figure, to side with the republic. conveniently anakin was allowed nowhere near this meeting or the mission.
hence the pacing back and forth and the steam coming out of his ears.
"so you wanted me to say no?"
his expression morphs again somehow angrier now than before "you told them you'd do it?"
"well wha-"
"are you crazy? it's not safe it's not even in the ballpark of safe. i mean he's your ex for starters. d'you know like...the majority of femicides are carried out by exes"
you try and fail to stop yourself from correcting this very very angry man in front of you "actually its exes and current partners"
he stares at you eyes wide, incredulous. "excuse me?"
"look ani-"
"its not just you you're putting in danger y'know. did you even think about the baby?"
"ok ouch of course i thought about the-"
"i can't belie-"
"anakin skywalker will you let me finish a goddamn sentence. please"
he shuts up and sits down across from you letting you speak
"i dont think its a good idea of course i dont but what was i supposed to say - sorry master jedi but i cant do that because im carrying the chosen one's child oh and by the way he's my husband"
he sighs, still angry just not at you. he moves to sits beside you and pulls you into his lap.
"sorry"
"me too"
---------------------â---------------------
over the next week anakin tries everything to get the mission cancelled but the council wont let it go. they think you're perfect for the mission.
he locks himself in a training room for the entire duration of the mission. he channels his rage on the training dummies to avoid doing something stupid. god he feels 13 again.
after he's exhausted all his energy he sits on the floor resting his arms on his knees. then he cries. he thinks its the first time he's cried since his mom passed. she'd know what to do. god he misses her.
---------------------â---------------------
the front door slams open and shut. you've spent the 15 minutes you've been home desperately trying to cover the bruises on your arm with makeup. you shove all the products back into the draw, trying to compose yourself.
"hi ani!" you greet cheerfully
he looks you up and down "you're hurt" he says it decisively with no room for question.
"what? no. no i'm not" fucking force abilities.
he's already storming out the bedroom. you follow behind him like a puppy.
"wait ani please. i'm sorry"
"no don't you dare apologise. why the hell are you apologising?"
"because you're mad at me? wait im confused. you dont want me to apologise?"
without a single word of warning he lifts you into his arms and you wrap your legs around his waist on instinct. its a strange, very much unexpected turn of events but a welcome one. he lays you down in bed then kneels beside the bed stroking your baby hairs.
"im really sorry that you got hurt. is there anything i can do to make it better. you can be honest i wont be mad" his words are calm, kind.
"it's just my arm ani, i promise. and the baby's fine i went to two doctors to double check"
"my girl. i dont want you to worry about anything tonight okay." you know that tone. its reserved for epiphanies and big decisions.
after a long stretch of silence "you're leaving the order?"
he chuckles, eyes fond "since when do you have force abilities"
"i dont i just know my husband"
"im never gonna let anyone stop me from protecting you or this little girl" his thumb traces your barely-there bump. "never again, okay sweetheart?"
in the morning you'll tell him how he was put on this galaxy to be a jedi, how people need him to protect them, how important he is for the republic's army. but for now you revel in the fantasy of being a normal husband and wife.
he'd pushed open the front door of your corascunt apartment to find an empty kitchen. he flicks the light on before reaching to grab a cookie you'd left out on the counter.
"baby?" you hear him call out though it's muffled by the cookie he's chewing
"bedroom"
when he reaches the room he stops in his tracks leaning against the doorframe. he watches the sight before him, you tucked under the covers, in your satin button up pyjamas sitting up with your back against the headboard. you have a mug in one hand and a pen in the other as you take part in your favourite activity: journaling.
20 minutes later anakin walks out the en-suite. he's wearing his blue version of your pink pyjama set - though he's ditched to top half of it. (he's way more excited to be matching with you than he let on in the store)
when you hear the door you open your arms inviting him to join you in bed. you're crushed by most of his body weight on you in seconds. he kisses wherever he can just about reach from the awkward position before graciously lifting himself off of you, resting his weight on his forearms instead.
"hey" he gazes down at you
"hi baby. you okay? you're staring a lot. more than usual"
he chuckles "mm. i just really missed you"
"you saw me like 6 hours ago" you say between a laugh
"oh so now i'm not allowed to miss my wife?what's this about?"
"nooo, im just saying, we've gone way longer without each other i thought you'd be like...used to it"
you share a flash of hurt in each other's expressions as your mind drifts to the times he'd spent months away from you.
"it's different." his tone is softer, sadder now. "seeing you in public today and having to pretend, to keep the act up...don't get me wrong leaving you behind is hard but it's...seeing you and pretending i dont love you is worse"
you're desperate to get rid of the sad crease between his eyebrows.
you sit with your back to his chest his body wrapped around yours.
"so how does this journaling stuff work, hm?"
you launch into an explanation of how "journaling works by giving your mind a safe, structured outlet to process thoughts, emotions, and experiences instead of keeping them internal and unexamined."
but he's far more interested in kissing all his favourite freckles on your face
"baby are you even listening?"
"mhmm journaling, thoughts, emotions got it"
you narrow your eyes, still skeptical but then you sigh and continue "so a prompt i used earlier was about the art of saying no. i wrote about times that i'd said yes and it didn't serve me"
you hand him the journal "you try"
after 5 whole minutes of tapping the pen on the page he starts his first sentence. you stroke up and down his arm in silent reassurance.
"this good?" he has two whole sentences to show for himself.
sometimes i get stuck fixing things because i can't bring myself to say no to the librarian at the jedi temple. i should focus on saying no so i can have more free time to kiss my wife.
"ani" you roll your eyes
"am i done now?"
"this could be really good for you baby, try to dig deeper"
so he digs deep. he thinks about his childhood how he never really had the space to create boundaries or exercise his right to say no. he thinks of his mother who had told him to always give help to anyone who needed it. he thinks of you and your fancy self help books you always quote about "protecting your peace" or whatever.
two pages (and a whole lot of huffing and pouting) later he decides there's nothing left to dig
he nudges you, impressed with himself and anticipating the same response from you.
he gets quite the opposite.
you are dead asleep and, to make matters worse, drooling on his arm.
he can't find it in him to be mad. instead he just kisses the crown of your head once then twice and tucks you into bed.
summary: To you, he's always been Stevie. Until one day he's just Steve. He isn't handling the change well.
wc: 2.5 k
warnings: lovesick Steve, reader is overly fond of nicknames, meddling kids, tooth-rotting fluff
a/n: I am absolutely losing my mind over the new season, please feel free to send Steve thoughts/requests my way <3
âHey, Steve?âÂ
The yelling that had filled the entirety of Steveâs living room for the past ten minutes ceased. His heart started beating out of his chest. There was no reason to get all twisted up about it, that is the name his parents gave him. Except, you were so sweet, and everyone had a nickname. Everyone, but especially him. Heâs your Stevie. Well, not strictly yours, as much as heâd like to be.Â
You would drop the othersâ nicknames when you were tired, or when you had a headache after a long day. Dustin was no longer Dusty-Bun, which youâd gleefully stolen from Suzie. The âYâ was dropped from the end of Mike. Steve could count on one hand the number of times heâd heard you call his best friend âRobinâ instead of âRobsâ. But always, without fail, he was âStevieâ.Â
Heâd been Stevie when your respective parents had brought the both of you to the company Christmas party and you were the only two there below the age of 30. Heâd been Stevie when you found him shamefully cleaning up Tommyâs graffiti on the front of the theater, Stevie when you saw him from across the mall, face beaten to a pulp and there was no one else to pick him up. And he was Stevie every single time that he crawled in through your window after a nightmare or when he needed someone to sit with him in the aftermath of another concussion.Â
Max was still sitting on the floor in front of you as you diligently weaved her hair into a braid, eyes looking as far up as they could to catch a glimpse of you. Robin was hanging upside down in her typical arm chair, and the other kids were tangled up in a pile on the rug. But without fail, every eye in the room was boring into you. Steve watched you tie off the braid in an elastic and jump a bit when you looked up, squirming under their scrutiny. You blinked, confused. âWhat?âÂ
Oh God, you didnât even realize. You hate him now and you donât even know it.Â
Robin was the first one to break her trance. âYou called him Steve,â she said, her finger pointing at you accusingly as she sat up straight in the armchair. Steveâs heart, which was already doing double time, picked up the pace. He loved her, but Robin was the last person he wouldâve chosen to try and sort out this mess.Â
Your head tilted to the side of itâs own accord. âThatâs his name?â Max turned towards you, head already in her hand.Â
âRiiight,â Robin said, eyes darting between the two of you. âRight! Okay, yes.â She nodded her head slowly, as if trying to convince herself.Â
Steve could see Maxâs smile threatening to break into a grin, and Dustin looked dangerously close to snarking off. He couldnât let it go on like this, someone was dangerously close to blowing his poorly maintained cover.
Steve snatched the pile of VHS tapes off the coffee table and flipped through them. The Thing, The Exorcist and The Shining? He was never letting Robin escort the kids to Family Video without him again. Last movie night, youâd all watched Nightmare on Elm Street and youâd nightmares for a week. It wasnât that he minded you waking him up, but hearing your voice shake over the phone made his chest tight in a way he would do almost anything to avoid. âExecutive decision, we arenât watching any of these.â He announced, tossing the tapes on top of the tv and kneeling down to dig through the entertainment cabinet.Â
For once, he was thankful for the chorus of groans and teenage whining from the couch. Anything to break the tension. Steve chanced a glance you and was content to find you giggling with Max and El. Crisis somewhat averted. He grabbed Pretty in Pink off the stack of John Hughes tapes heâd stashed in the back of the cabinet and popped it in. If anyone asked, heâd claim they were his moms. Heâd bought them two towns over after you came into Family Video with your heart set on it only to find the shelf empty.Â
He flopped down on the couch beside you in this usual spot, mindful not to sit too close. If you were mad at him, he didnât want to make it worse. You gave him a strange look, but El quickly distracted you by asking to have her hair braided as well. The trailers played softly in the background while the tv casted a cool glow across the room. Steve was thankful you were distracted, because he couldnât stop watching you out of the corner of his eyes.Â
You smiled at the top of Elâs head, unfazed to be missing the beginning of your favorite movie. He wracked his brain, trying to figure out what had caused you to drop his nickname. Heâd been on time picking you up from work, but even when heâs been occasionally late you hadnât minded in the slightest. Youâd seemed fine last night on the phone when youâd called to make sure that heâd gotten home okay. He was in the middle of replaying the short conversation youâd had when he opened the door when your hand found his and your head settled on his shoulder. El had rejoined the pile of teenagers and snacks on the rug and you were right back where you belonged. Â
âYou okay?â He asked quietly, leaning so close his lips almost brushed the top of your head. Your concentration on the tv didnât break as you hummed a âhmm?â back to him. Steve smiled despite himself. âYou okay, honey?âÂ
His heart shuddered when he realized a nickname of his own had slipped out. A quick glance around you confirmed that you were just as focused on Andie making her prom dress as you had been thirty seconds ago. You nodded, adjusting so that you could nuzzle further into his bicep, your grip on his left arm growing tighter. âIâm fine, Steve.â Your voice was muffled, but Steve still felt his stomach drop.
Steve didn't realize heâd spent the whole movie worrying over whatever mustâve done to upset you until the credits roll and the kids are gathering up their blankets and pillows from the floor. He started to stand up to chauffeur everyone home, but you werenât following suit. In fact, your lashes were brushing the tops of your cheeks and your breathing was deep and steady. Youâd fallen asleep on him.
Mercifully, Robin was already corralling the kids out of the house, confirming that she would walk them to the Wheelerâs. âTalk to her, Stevie!â She calls from the front door before shutting it behind he. Steve winced, glancing down at you to confirm that you hadnât woken up. If you hadnât been dead to the world on his chest, he wouldâve given her an earful.Â
He felt like he was going to be sick from all the whiplash. You were so unbelievably normal today. You were sweet with the kids, laughing with Robin and unable to last through an entire movie without falling asleep. It all checked out. And still, he was âSteveâ. His head fell back against the sofa, and he fought the urge to groan. Suddenly, he was tired. Surely it wouldn't hurt to rest his eyes for a second.
Steve woke up to the sight of you about to slip out the front door. âWhatâre you doing?â He asked, his voice heavy with sleep.Â
You froze with the door half open, as if heâd caught you with your hand in the cookie jar. Your eyebrows scrunched together and your lips parted in an âoâ. âJust, I didnât realize I fell asleep,â you said, your hand still grasping the handle of the Harringtonâs front door. âFelt wrong to wake you up,â you shrugged.
Steve scrambled over the back of the couch, nearly falling when his foot caught on one of the kidsâ blankets. A strangled cry of âWait!â Came out shakily as he managed to catch himself before falling face first into the carpet.
âOh my god, Steve!â You laughed, doubling over at the waist.Â
Usually, the sound would cause the butterflies in his stomach to kick up. But there it was again. âSteveâ. He gently took your hand off of the door handle, shutting the door behind you. âWeâve gotta talk about this, honey.â His thumb was rubbing soft circles around your knuckles, and when he noticed what he was doing, he couldnât bring himself to stop.Â
You leaned back against the door, ducking down in order to catch his gaze. âIs everything okay?â Steve could feel his cheeks turning pink, and it was suddenly very difficult to meet your eyes.Â
He took a deep breath, and leaned his free hand on the door behind you. âYouâve been calling me Steve all day.âÂ
âOh, that.â Your eyes are wide, and if heâs not mistaken, youâre pouting.Â
Itâs one of the cutest things heâs ever seen and he canât help it, heâs grinning. âYeah, that.â Maybe you donât hate him after all. He squeezed your hand once, and then threaded your fingers together. âYouâre breakinâ my heart here.âÂ
âI just,â you started to explain and then paused, taking a deep breath and gathering your courage. âDidnât wanna embarrass you.âÂ
Steveâs hand slid down the doorway to rest on the side of your neck. âNow whereâd you get a crazy idea like that?â the tip of his nose was nearly brushing against yours. âThought you were mad at me all day, honey.âÂ
You blinked up at him, suddenly feeling woozy. You had always been affectionate with each other, but something about this felt different. âWhen I was visiting you at work the other day?â Steve nodded, doing his best to be patient. âI, wellâŠâ you werenât sure how to get the words out. âI heard the kids laughing at us, and I just. I donât know. I guess I got shy.âÂ
Steve was holding himself back from rolling his eyes. Those little shits managed to get in the way of things even when they werenât in the building. âIâm sure they werenât laughing at you, honey.âÂ
Embarrassed tears begin to well at the corners of your eyes. âIâm pretty sure.â Steveâs hand gently cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear that managed to escape. âThey were giggling, and I thought it was just over a movie or something,â Steve nodded, his hand not leaving your face. âBut then I heard Dusty say âshe doesnât even knowâ and they all took turns saying⊠well. They were all saying âStevieâ in high voices. And I donât even sound like that!â You winced, hearing your voice pitch up at the end.Â
âWhen have you ever cared what the kids think? Hell, when have I ever cared what they think?â He was laughing, but it didnât feel unkind. You could tell he wasnât laughing at you.Â
âAnd you always tell them to shut up if they call you Stevie. I thought maybe you didnât like it anymore.âÂ
You hesitated, the reality of the situation really hitting you for the first time. Steve had you trapped between him and the door, one hand intertwined with yours and the other making lazy strokes across your cheekbone. And he was hurt that youâd stopped using his nickname. One that you have specifically heard him telling the others that they werenât allowed to use. Did he-? No.Â
âI was so worried.â He said, voice barely a whisper.Â
âAbout what?â Your asked gently, matching his volume.Â
âThought Iâd screwed it all up. Your Dusty-Bun is always insisting Iâm going to mess this up. Guess he got in my head.â Steveâs forehead rested against yours, his eyes fluttering shut.Â
Oh. Maybe he did. âMess what up, Stevie?âÂ
His grin was blinding, despite his eyes remaining shut. âSay it again.â You felt like your face was on fire, and your heart was doing summersaults in your chest. A swarm of butterflies was causing a ruckus in your stomach. Your eyes fell shut, and you tried to pull away. Steveâs hand slid from your cheek to find the back of your neck, the his other hand leaving yours so that his thumb could run along the end of your eyebrow. âPlease,â he was practically begging, and not one part of him had managed to feel ashamed of it.Â
Your hands found his forearms, needing something to cling to. âStevie?â You couldnât wrap your head around this. It was like you had all the pieces but they wouldnât fall into place. Your eyes peak open, and the next thing you know, Steve is smoothing out the space between your brows with his thumb.Â
âYou donât know how hard itâs been for me,â his inhale is shaky, and loud to your ears. âTo not do that constantly.â His eyes were soft in a way that you realized had been more and more common lately. âWanna kiss you so bad, honey.â Steve watched as your eyes went wide, but you didn't pull away. Youâre processing, and he has been working on his patience for a good long while now.Â
Moments feel like a lifetime before you nod your head, just once. Up and down and so sure. Steve mirrored you, his nose bumping gently against yours before he was leaning in.Â
You wouldâve expected fireworks, big explosions that made you go weak in the knees. You got something better. Steveâs arms wrapped around your middle, molding you to him, and it felt like coming home. He was gentle at first, giving you a moment to adjust. And then your arms found their way around his neck, your fingers tangling in his hair, and he couldnât help it anymore.Â
You didnât know how long you were backed up against the door, but you were sure you wouldâve happily stayed for a few more hours. And you would have, if it werenât for the banging from the other side of the door. In seconds, Steve had swept you behind him and plucked the bat that sat in the umbrella stand near the door.Â
âSteve, man! I donât care if youâre asleep I left my walkie.âÂ
Steve sighed, his shoulders deflating as he propped the bat up against the wall. âWe donât have to answer it,â he whispered, hands at your waist again.Â
You laughed, forehead resting against his shoulder. âStevie, donât make him suffer.âÂ
Steve grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like âheâs never suffered a day in his lifeâ and before planting a kiss on your temple and throwing the door open. âHenderson, youâre lucky she loves you.âÂ
Dustin rolled his eyes, shouldering past his friend. He had the decency to give you a sheepish look on his way to the living room. âWhereâd you leave it, Dusty-Bun?â You asked, Dustin called something back, but you were distracted by Steve playing with the hem of your sweatshirt.Â
âYou waited months, a couple more minutes wonât kill you, hot-shot.âÂ
Steve groaned, his forehead meeting the space between your neck and your shoulder. âItâs sweet you think itâs only been months.âÂ
when steve harrington first heard of the extremely smart girl dustin and robin thought was next to god, he knew you were special. and he was more than intrigued.
for dustin henderson to say anyone was smart, let alone smarter than him, that is something that must be taken seriously.
steve genuinely thought he was having a stroke when dustin told him about you at family video.
âiâm telling you, steve! sheâs smart, and so pretty itâs unfair sheâs your ageâ dustin says with admiration evident in his tone, fiddling with the star wars tapes he has in his hands for the boyâs movie night. âsheâs been helping us out with all my stupid questionsâ.
âand youâre saying she lives in hawkins, and i haven't seen her?â steve questions, moving around his desk fluidly, rewinding tapes with a frown and putting the correct tapes in the right cases.
dustin nods enthusiastically, âshe can be a little quiet, and then you get to know her and sheâs extremely feisty, itâs hotâ dustin winks exaggeratingly.
steve narrows his eyes at the young boy, âah..donât do thatâ he says with a look of grimace on his face.
âso can i set you up?â dustin says hopefully, steve shakes his head immediately, âdustin, i can get girls on my own, okay?â he says confidently, adjusting his posture to stand up straighter, more confident.Â
dustin laughs, that type of laugh where you feel left out if you don't hear the joke. âwhatâs so funny, henderson?â steve grumbles.
ânothing man, itâs just been a while since iâve seen you land a successful date, unless the ladies are flocking to you in secretâ he says cheekily, âha ha, get outâ steve says simply, sliding the tapes to dustin angrily, ushering him off with a dismissive hand. the tapes left on the counter.
âwhat was that about?â robin smirks, steve groans dramatically, âheâs telling me about this girl he wants me to be withâ
robinâs eyebrows raise, âoh? do i know the unlucky lady?â steve gives her a glare, ây/nâ he canât help but think the name sounds so pretty rolling off his tongue.Â
robinâs eyes widen a little, a pleasant smile on her face, âoh, dingus, sheâs way too good for youâ robin breathes out, a sympathetic pat on her friendâs shoulder.
âwhy do i not know this girl?â he rakes through his memory, the name sounds familiar but he canât place your face. then again, he was a really big dick in high school sometimes.
âwell she really cared about her studies, i know that. she is also so fucking pretty, man, like better than anyone youâre thinking and sheâs super smartâ she grins, âshe didnât really do the social events cause she was focused on the books.â steve nods, trying to place a memory.
and almost like a fucking sitcom, in walks a mysterious girl being dragged through the door with a cheeky dustin henderson.
steve and robin lift their gazes up to the sound of the bell attached to the door, steveâs mouth ran dry. he is fucked.
âdustin, i told you iâm on the way to workâ you call out to the younger boy youâve grown fond of. âcome on, y/n, this wonât take long,â dustin gleams, dragging you further into the family video.
steve can genuinely feel himself freeze, how the fuck had he not seen easily the most beautiful girl in hawkins till now?
âhenderson! youâre backâ robin greets brightly, tapping the top of his hat teasingly, âyeah yeah, do you know, y/n?â dustin looks up at you beside him.
you're looking at the scene in front of you, a cheeky smile on both robin and dustinâs faces, and steve looking a little pale.
you smile at them kindly, âhey guys, how are you?â robin returns your smile âweâre great, right harrington?â she bumps his shoulder, steve snaps back to reality.
âuh, yeah, good thanks, how are you?â he stumbles, you nod smiling sheepishly, god this was awkward.
âso, y/n, what are you doing at the moment?â robin tries to ease the situation, âoh! well iâm currently a medical student so i just do some research assisting in the hospital and help out when they need meâ
you feel so embarrassed for some reason, youâve always had a little thing for steve, heâs gorgeous, you couldnât help it. and you thought when you graduated, it would dissipate but you were so utterly fucked.Â
steve gives you an impressed smile, admiration tickling at his lips as he looked at you. he takes in your appearance, your scrubs making you look like a model in his eyes.
âthatâs really coolâ he feels himself ushering out, he wasn't even aware the words had left his mouth until you looked at him, really looking at him, that gentle pink tinge on both of your cheeks.
âthank youâ you say softly, robin whistles, âgod, y/n, i remember you being really smart but holy shit, dude, youâre a doctorâ she says with genuine interest.
dustin looks at steve with that âi told you soâ look, and he hated when that little fucker was right.
âiâm not a doctor yetâ you roll your eyes jokingly, feeling a little more comfortable in the situation. âyouâre as good as a doctor to meâ dustin nods, arms crossing over his chest like he was some proud dad.
âso you go to school around here?â steve says, feeling a little braver, you look at him surprised, feeling yourself accidentally forget to answer, dustin giving you a gentle nudge.
âoh, sorry!â you chuckle, the sound music to steveâs ears, âyeah, i go to the college in town and i work at the hospitalâ steve smiles at you, âthatâs really great, y/nâ he says earnestly and it makes your heart swell.
âthank you, seriouslyâ you fiddle with the ends of your scrub top, âso you guys work here together?â you ask, steve and robin both nod at you.
âyes, doctor, we doâ robin says cheekily, you all share a laugh. âthatâs actually really funâ you smile, a real one. dustin and robin look between you and steve, this looks promising.
steve swallows, adamâs apple bobbing in the process.
this is the first time someone from his high school comes into the video store without making him feel embarrassed.
the first person thatâs come in and hasnât made him feel like a complete loser for working at a video store instead of going to college.
âyeah, you should come in more often, y/n, steve is really good with recommendationsâ dustin grins at the older boy, winking at him.
steveâs eyes darken at his words, looking like heâs about to pounce over the table. âfor sureâ you grin at dustin, nudging his side with your arm.
steveâs gaze focuses on you, only you and it's driving you crazy. âoh uh, yeah anytimeâ you feel your breath catching in your throat, you need to do anything to avoid his gaze right now.
you look down at your watch, gasping. âfuck! iâm so sorry, this is so rude of me but i really have to goâ your eyebrows furrow in worry, clutching at your bag. steve looks disappointed.
âno no, go save lives, doctorâ robin salutes you teasingly, âresearch assistant, buckleyâ you sigh, shaking your head with a smile.
âit was so good to see you guys, iâm sure iâll see you guys aroundâ you wave at steve and robin, they both smile at you, âbye, dustyâ you pinch his cheek softly, grinning at him as you move past.
âbyeâ steve calls out, you turn back when you reach the door, âsee youâ you wave again and steveâs hand lifts quickly to return the gesture. you rush out the door, borderline running to work. your cheeks are burning, youâre sure of it. you're so grateful for the cold crisp outside.
âbyeâ robin mocks his voice when she sees you leave, dustin follows suit making kissy faces at him. âi hate both of youâ
â
the minute steve harrington got home from work, he rushed up the steps to his room, reaching under his bed to retrieve his high school memorabilia.
he immediately got his hands on his yearbooks, flipping through the pages quickly until he saw your photo, his inhales sharply, his finger gently tracing over your photo.
âjesus..â he murmurs, you are so fucking beautiful his heart couldnât take it. he curses himself for being so wrapped up in his dickhead ways. his head is full of thoughts by you.
he wishes he knew you sooner.
heâs determined to know you now.
â
itâs been about a week since steve had seen you, and he feels like an idiot for missing you.
he canât admit how much heâs been thinking about you.
your gentle yet intriguing aura.
the way your smile curls on your lips.
the way your eyes crinkled when you laughed.
he was truly fucked and he didnât know what to do.
all of the kids, and the babysitter teens noticed the difference in steve, the way he would daze between conversations, the gentle blush on his cheeks evident when it would be pointed out.
you were just coming off your shift at the hospital, heavy steps following you after a long day. and like clockwork, you ran into dustin henderson.
ây/n, what a small world!â he greets, you grin at him, âsmallest world ever, dustinâ you match his energy, bumping the fist he raised to you with your own.Â
âhey, iâm going to the video store, did you wanna come with me?â dustin proposes, you look at him a little surprised, stuttering with your words, the video easy meant steve. âuh, i donât know, dustinâ you scratch your arm, looking at him with a nervous expression.Â
âcome on, please! itâll be super quick, itâs friday and i wanna watch a movie and donât wanna go in by myself â he pleads, giving you those signature puppy dog eyes that unfortunately, always gets you.
âokay fineâ you huff, walking in step with him. you pull out a little compact mirror from your bag, quickly checking your appearance. dustin gives you a shit eating grin.
âtrust me, you look greatâ you give him a plain faced look, âshut up, henderson, hurry up and walkâ you shove the mirror into your bag, though secretly hoping steve would think the same about your appearance as dustin said.
the jingle of the bell had both steve and robin groaning, friday was always their busiest day, especially at this time. that groan quickly disappeared when they saw who walked through the door.Â
âhey, bitches!â dustin basically yells, you wince at the volume suddenly feeling immensely embarrassed, why on earth were you here?
robin laughs, âhey, bitches!â she copies, making you chuckle lightly, letting dustin drag you by the arm up to the desk.
despite the laughter, robin receives a little slap on the arm from steve, âdonât call her a bitchâ he hissed under his breath. robin gives him the cheekiest smile ever, âhello, henderson and miss doctorâ she waves at you lightly.
you smile warmly, lifting your hand up, âhey robin,â your eyes flicker to steve, âhey, steveâ you let out a slow breath taking in his appearance, how could he make that ugly green vest hot? steve smiles back at you, âhey, y/nâ you smile back at him.
ây/n here wanted a recommendation for a movieâ dustin says to steve, you whip your head to him.
âno, you wanted a movieâ you correct, he shakes his head with a shrug, âi have no idea what youâre talking aboutâ you could kill him.Â
âi can help you out if you want?â steve says softly, softer than he intended. he clears his throat quickly when your eyes meet.
âoh, okayâ you nod, he cocks his head towards the shelf, gesturing for you to come with him, you give dustin a glare when he turns, flipping him off.
of course thatâs when steve turns, seeing you flip off dustin cheekily, steve lets out a boyish laugh, one that you knew was gonna send you into a spiral for the rest of your life.
âheâs such a little shitâ steve shakes his head, looking at you sheepishly. you smile at him, âheâs so annoyingâ you say with affection, following steve through the isles.
âso, anything in particular that youâre looking for?â steve says slowly, voice so smooth you swear you could melt into the carpet of the store.
âum, anything reallyâ you respond, youâre slightly brushing his as he walked next to you. you both look down at each otherâs shoulders at the same time, âsorryâ falling out of both of your lips simultaneously followed by a gentle exchange of laughter.
âi mean, this is always classicâ he says, picking up the breakfast club, you give him a surprised smile. âi didnât expect steve harrington to watch something like thisâ he rolls his eyes with a smile.
âiâm not the same person i was in high school, you know?â you respond quickly, âi knowâ saying it in a way that made his heart flutter.
you were seeing him for who he was now, not solely on his past that he knew you had knowledge on.
âand do you cry at the ending?â you smirk, dustin was right, fuck you were hot when you had that cheeky glint in your eye.
âi meanâ he shrugs, âdo you?â he quips back, you look at him challengingly. âi asked you firstâ he grins, âand iâm asking nowâ he says low, making you shudder, you really hope it wasnât evident.
you let out an uneasy breath and he seems to do the same, âyeah, i doâ you say confidently, âand so do iâ he matches you.
âi think iâll take your suggestion, harringtonâ you're driving him up a wall.
âwell, good, still employee of the monthâ he jokes, âdo you have a little plaque with your face on it?â you giggle, âyes maâam, i doâ he smiles at you from his side.
you let out a laugh, âsorry, thatâs just cuteâ you break out your fit of giggle. he looks like you just told him you stopped all the supernatural shit happening in the town. âitâs okayâ youâd both reached the counter.Â
âsoo, i had an ideaâ dustin said, âoh noâ you gasp, steve laughs, you both look at each other, a sheepish glance.
âshut up, i was thinking you guys should come to mine and watch the movie you picked. all the kids are coming and i thought you guys should come tooâ
robin nods, âweâre inâ, steve gives a look, âhow do you know i donât have plans, henderson?â steve scoffs, you smile at him and look to dustin.
âyeah dusty, iâll comeâ steveâs eyes widen at your words, âokay fine, iâll comeâ he looks at dustin too, dustin gives him the biggest smile youâve ever seen from your time of knowing him.Â
â
you went home to change into more comfortable clothes, driving yourself to the henderson household after. you knock nervously on the door, you can hear the kids yelling, and you can most definitely hear dustin pushing steve to answer the door.Â
âthis is your house, dickheadâ steve says angrily behind the door, you can't help but laugh, steve opens the door and all that anger quickly disappears.
he gives you a private smile, one just for you to see. you smile back at him, âhi, y/nâ dustin says cheerily, âheyâ steve greets after, âhey, guys, long time no seeâ you joke, it had been about an hour since you last saw them.
they both chuckle at your words, steve steps aside to let you in, pushing dustin from blocking your path.Â
âjust letting you know, theyâve started with the sugar, theyâre gonna be bouncing off the wallâ he whispers to you softly, the butterflies swarm your stomach at the tone he uses with you. you sigh loudly.
âof course they didâ looking at steve, heâs already looking at you, heâs completely caught off guard when you glance at him. you both pause in the entry way, breaking eye contact when robin and the rest of the kids greet you.
âhey, guysâ you smile, taking a seat on the couch, next to robin. steve sits on the arm chair next to you, you both smile at each other before robin gets in conversation with you. steveâs eyes flicker to you often, the breakfast club filling up the light hearted atmosphere of the friday night.
you look so beautiful with the glow of the tv on your face, your features softened in the dark room. robin catches steve looking.
âsteve, can we swap seats i canât seeâ she looks at him, you follow her gaze, steve looks confused âyouâre in front of the tvâ she nods, âyeah, i know, dingus, youâre closer to the tv thoughâ she points out like itâs obvious.
steve huffs, standing from his seat, he sits next to you, though still a little far from being at your side.
you smirk at him, âharrington, i donât bite, you know?â you whisper, he glances at you with a smile, shuffling over on the couch until his arm is almost pressed against yours.
âi donât know, you seem like a biterâ he flirts, you choke on a laugh. youâre so fucked.
âw-whateverâ you scoff, pulling your legs up on the couch, bumping his knee in the process. he looks down, breath hitched at the sensation. you let out a hushed apology, he shakes his head immediately assuring it's okay.Â
you feel like youâre breathing loudly, you feel like youâre shaking, your head is completely hazy. steve however is convinced heâs not breathing, he canât tell if heâs dreaming.
youâre sitting so close, your scent is deep in his lungs, every time he adjusts himself, your arms or knees brush against each other and it's driving him crazy.
you both watch the movie intently, and when the ending nears, you and steve both glance at each other knowingly, smiles exchanged knowing it was about to get sad. the kids are complaining about the movie choice, restless.
âshut up weâre finishing itâ steve gives a look to the kids.
you and steve tear up at the ending, you wipe your tears quickly with your hand, steve using the collar of his shirt to wipe at his eyes. you both let out a quiet laugh, a comfortable feeling of intimacy washing over the moment.
he nudges your shoulder with his, urging you to look at him, when your eyes meet, he smiles softly, âyou okay?â heâs so sweet.
you nod, âyou?â he nods quickly, eyes flickering over your face in a way that literally made you flatline.
unknowingly, there was a left over tear on your chin, steveâs curled finger gently brushes the spare tear away before he has time to think about it, the gentle touch on your jaw making you slightly jump.
âsorryâ heâs back to reality, you shake your head, âno no, thatâs okayâ you say quietly, his mouth is slightly agape, snapped out of his trance when dustin breaks the silence in the room.
âwhat a downer, iâm putting aliens onâ the kids agree immediately. you roll your eyes, leaning close to steve to speak quietly.
âthey have no taste,â you tutt, steve laughs, the sound going right to your heart. âagreedâ he smiled, a real smile. a genuine one and to know itâs just for you makes you want to scream.
your moment was quickly interrupted because it was way too good to be true.
âi want watermelonâ robin says, the kids agree, all looking to steve, âwhat?â his eyebrow raised, âgo cut itâ dustin quips.
steve groans, âwhy do i always have to do it?â you laugh, and steve follows the sound, he canât fight the little grin playing at his lips.Â
âbecause you do, goâ robin smiles, steve throws his head back with exaggeration, head falling on the back of the couch leaving you with an extremely close up view of his neck. fuck. you feel hot.
steve gets up like heâs pissed, âwell iâm not doing it alone, youâre my sacrificeâ steve smirks at you, his hand extending to you.
you laugh, âalright, harrington, iâll supervise youâ you shot back with a smug smile, taking his hand gently as he helps you up. you hear some hushed whispers and giggles, you donât miss the way robin winks at you.
he doesnât let your hand drop until you reach the kitchen, you sit at the kitchen island, watching him move around the kitchen.
the domesticity of the situation is something the both of you could get used to.
âthose kids, i swear to godâ he laughs, beginning to slice the watermelon with diligence. you grin, âtheyâre cheekyâ he chuckles, âmore than cheeky, theyâre little shitsâ
you laugh with him, âthey can be like that, huh?â you rest your elbows on the island, your chin resting on your joined hands. he looks up at you, your face making him short circuit. the knife slips and he nicks his finger, gasping slightly. âahâ he hissed, shaking his finger as he drops the knife on the cutting board.
you sit up alert immediately, already moving the distance to stand in front of him, âshit, are you okay?â you ask concerned, grabbing a tea towel on the table and holding it around his bleeding finger, holding it up a little over his heart.
he nods, âiâm okayâ he tries to reassure you, you shake your head, âno, youâre bleedingâ your eyebrows are pinched, youâre basically pressed into him.
you look up at him worried. steveâs eyes meet yours, heâs stopped breathing.
âdustin, bring me your first aid kitâ you yell out, your urgency in your voice made dustin bring it immediately.
âeveryone okay?â dustin breathes, steve nods, you shake your head, pushing steve backwards to sit in the stool you were just on.
âi just have a small cut on my fingerâ steve laughs, you narrow your eyes at him, âheâs bleedingâ grabbing the first aid from dustinâs hand.
dustin leaves the kitchen quietly after knowing steve was okay. oh steve was more than okay.
you gently clean steveâs cut, focused. steveâs focus however was on you, your soft touch, your slightly worried expression.
âheyâ he says gently, you donât look up right away, âheyâ he repeats, even more softer than the first time.
you look up slowly, he smiles when your gaze meets his.
âiâm okayâ you nod.
âi knowâ his smile only grows.
âitâs a tiny cut, sweetheartâ you nod again.
âi knowâ you huff, wrapping a bandaid around the tip of his pointer finger.
âgood as newâ you smile, he returns it, âgood practice for you hm?â he teases.
âoh yeah, best patient iâve hadâ he gasps, hand on his chest, âwhat an honour!â you laugh.
âthanks for putting me back togetherâ you pat his shoulder, âmy pleasureâ you know you were exaggerating, but hey, that was worth it in your opinion.Â
âlet me finish this up,â you wash your hands, moving to cut the watermelon.
âokay but donât cut yourself, iâm not a doctorâ he grins at you, resting his forearms on the island, giving you a clear view of his biceps. you shake your head, âdonât start with me, harringtonâ
â
when you went home that night, you couldnât stop thinking about steve. there was genuinely no other thought in your brain it was worrying.Â
as you lay on your bed, comfy in your pjs, freshly showered, the doorbell rang. you sit up confused, walking down the hallway to open the door, and there stood steve, not even an hour after he saw you.Â
âheyâ he smiles.
âare you stalking me, harrington?â you cross your arms with a surprised smile gracing your lips, he looks down embarrassed before meeting your gaze again.
âi asked dustin where you lived and he gave it up straight away, not very trustworthyâ he utters, you smile shaking your head, typical dustin.
âdo you wanna come in?â you smile, he nods, stepping into your house, looking around with a fond smile.
âyou gonna give me the grand tour?â he smirks, you roll your eyes guiding around the house until you reach your room. he steps in, looking around. he feels at home, it was so you, he was smitten.Â
you watch him from the doorway, âso what are you doing here?â you question, he looks at you, sucking in a breath.
âi donât know, honestlyâ he shrugs, stepping a little closer to you, âi just..wanted to see youâ he says earnestly, you look at him with an unreadable expression.
he moves closer, standing right in front of you. heâs breathing heavily, contemplation evident in his expression.
ây/nâ he says simply, âtell me if iâm reading this wrong, pleaseâ his eyes bore into yours, you shake your head carefully. âno, youâre notâ your breathing picks up.
you both just stand like that for a moment, feeling like it was hours just looking at each other. calculating the next move.
âcan i?â he asks nervously, looking down at your lips, you chuckle, âyeah, steveyâ he almost groans, his hand moving to the back of your head and the other completely wrapped around your waist, pressing himself into your body.Â
the moment his lips touched yours, you were both gone.
it was languid, soft and passionate all at the same time. your hand rests on his arm, the other cupping his jaw, thumb affectionately rubbing back and forth on his stubble. he shudders against your lips, tongue licking into your mouth with purpose and intention.
âyouâre soâ he mumbles into your mouth, kissing you again, you hum against his mouth curiously.
âbeautifulâ kiss, âyouâre so beautifulâ he whispers against your lips.
you inhale sharply, lips still moving against his. you pull away for a second, heâs chasing your lips immediately, a peck pressed on your mouth.
you smile, âyouâre so handsome, stevey honeyâ you whisper, each word hitting his lips, a cool sensation.
he grins so brightly, pulling you back in for another kiss. he walks back clumsily as you push him further into your room, lips never leaving each other.
â
âso how is y/n?â steve asks dustin, the younger boy choosing to pester him at work. you and steve hadnât told anyone that you two were official.
you were both choosing to keep it private as it's new. well..you tried to at least.
dustin smiles, âsheâs good, i keep catching her smiling randomly at nothing though, itâs weirdâ steve smiles immediately, scratching the back of his neck.
âoh really, wonder whyâ he mumbles, dustin gives him a weird look, âyeah..â he goes back to scribbling things he needs for an upcoming campaign.Â
steve looks like an idiot, smiling a little too brightly while rewinding tapes, even though it's something that angers him immensely.
the bell on the door rings, and you walk in with a smile, steve knows its you before you even come closer.
you pause when you see dustin, âoh, dustin, hey!â dustin looks at you confused, âwhat are you doing here?â you shrug.
âwanted a movieâ you smile at steve, heâs looking at you like you personally aligned each constellation with your bare hands.
âoh okayâ he looks at you with intrigue, you clear your throat.
âhey, steve, mind recommending something?â steve nods way too eagerly. robin comes out of the break room, giving you both a look, you were both acting really weird.
steve walks ahead of you, ducking behind an isle. his hands cup your face and he pulls you into a kiss before you can say anything, you smile into it, your arms wrapping around his neck.
âi missed youâ you mumble between kisses, he groans against your mouth, âoh, baby, you have no ideaâ he huffs, quieting your giggles with repeated kisses to your lips.Â
what you didn't know is dustin and robin followed, and screamed when they saw you locking lips behind an isle, looking anything but pg13.
âoh my godâ robin exclaims, dustin is completely shocked. steve pulls away, resting his forehead on your shoulder with a deep sigh leaving his lips.
you look at both of them sheepishly, âhey guys, stevey just helped me pick a movieâ he chuckles into your skin, lips kissing your collarbone, making you ticklish.
âstevey?â dustin marvels, eyes looking like they're gonna pop out of his head, he never thought his plan with robin would work.
steve stands up confidently, âyes, stevey. sheâs my girlfriend and iâm taking her home nowâ he looks at them, dragging you by the hand to his car outside.
âyou owe us an explanation!â robin calls after you two, steve shakes his head, ânopeâ he calls out, opening the door for you.
âbye guysâ you say quickly, being pushed out by steve by your hips.
dustin and robin look at each other in surprise, watching as you two drove off.
"sorry i'm excited" you try to keep from bouncing up and down with excitement as eddie ties your laces then zips up your coat, before taking your gloved hands in his.
your boyfriend, who had hated christmas up until he met you, is taking you to a christmas tree farm.
"do you think i'll be warm enough?" you wonder. then a little pout forms on your lips as he chuckles at you
"what?"
"you look like a snowman"
you're wearing the matching white scarf, gloves and beanie set he got you two weeks ago when you came down with the sniffles.
"a cute snowman?"
"the cutest"
he places a little peck to your lips cupping your face in his hands.
he climbs out of the van to help you down, softly holding your hands the way he always does. with the same softness that had shocked all of his friends when they first saw him with you. eddie munson - rough around the edges, careless, brutish. no one expected that he'd treat his girl with such gentle care. robin said it was like he'd spent his whole life saving his softness for you.
"i've narrowed it down to two options, your call, i can't decide"
becoming increasingly worried by the prospect of his sweet girl getting ill again, eddie chooses without contemplation. "the tall one"
"okay. we'll take the tall one"
he sighs. he knows that tone. "what's wrong with the tall one?"
"well its just, now that i think about it, like really think about it, the short one is more like inviting and y'know i want that for our home"
our home.
he strokes your cheeks "we'll take the short one then"
he rushes to get the tree packed up and paid for before you can change your mind again.
he opens the passenger seat door for you once the tree is safely loaded into the back of the van. then with a soft kiss to your forehead he whispers "dont go anywhere i'll be right back"
you warm up in the heat of his van while you wait
"surprise"
he steps into the drivers seat holding two hot cocoas with whipped cream and marshmallows.
he gladly reaps the rewards of his surprise: your eyes twinkling as you smile at him like you're shocked he would do something so kind. he finds it absurd given he'd do anything for you but he enjoys it all the same.
one of his arms pulls your torso into him the other holding the under side of your thighs as you sit sideways on his lap. you both look at the newly decorated apartment.
"you did a great job, baby"
"i'm not sure, i don't know if it feels homely enough"
"trust me it feels homely"
"you're just saying that"
he speaks slowly but with confidence "no, no im really not. it reminds me of my last christmas with my mom"
you soften and your heart aches to protect the little version of eddie you've only seen in photos.
"you feel like home"
"so do you"
"i have a confession." you hum in acknowledgment
he continues "i think i might love christmas"
you smile wide before giggling
"what's so funny?"
"you're like my grinch. your heart grew two sizes"
"oh baby, my heart grew off the charts when i met you"
you're finally wrapped in his arms. you stare at the little beauty spot on his chest. you think of how it might be your favourite then remember the one on the side of his neck and realise you'll have to start your ranking all over. you shake your head at your rookie mistake. he lifts your chin with his knuckles.
"what's the head shake for? hm? what you thinking 'bout?"
"something important"
you watch him panic quickly regretting your words.
"i was thinking about which of your beauty spots is the prettiest"
"you're ridiculous"
"no m'not. just missed you. thought i might not ever see them again"
"baby the crawls aren't dangerous, all i have to do is drive. plus we've done over thirty and i've never faced any danger" he reiterates
"i know...but i'm allowed to worry about my boyfriend"
"that you are"
"i just..."
"mhm" he encourages with a kiss to your forehead
"i want us to have a future. y'know? like a big fancy wedding and a suburban house with a little front garden and kids. i want forever with you stevie. don't want... can't have you..." you can't finish the sentence so you just nuzzle your face deeper into his side
"im not gonna die, baby"
"if you die i'll kill you"
you laugh despite the pain in your chest and it comes out quiet and lacking its usual warmth. his laugh is much the same.
"just love you, stevie. so like stick around y'know?"
he chuckles again
"i'll stick around, princess"
he strokes your hair back a subtle smile on his face
"y'know something sweetheart?, i love you so much more than yesterday"