Cas

28 | mostly doodles & reblogs | currently really into ST and PHM

[kaspurrcat]

I can finally share my zine piece for the Freaks and Fables zine! Fae princes Steve and Eddie! The zine has finished its print cycle but you can still find the prints here. I drew one of the prints as well but I’ll share that piece tomorrow 🤭

[novacorpsrecruit]

Heavy Lifting

Steddie | Explicit | wc 3,222

Read on Ao3

“You giving up already?" Eddie asked, locking the front door behind him.

Steve ran his hands over his face, groaning again. "I can't find anything heavy enough."

"That's why I don't lift," Eddie said, beelining to the kitchen for a snack. He grabbed a banana off the counter. "Can't find anything heavy enough, so why workout?"

"Whatever," Steve rolled his eyes. He extended his hips to the sky, shoulders planted to the ground as he held a hip bridge. His brain wracked through the items in their home, thinking of something that weights more than a hundred pounds. At least.

Wait.

Steve sat up. He looked at Eddie snacking on his banana. "How much do you weight?"

"Uh — 165, 170," Eddie chewed. "Why?"

Bingo.

"I need you," Steve said.

Eddie coughed, choking on his banana. "What?"

Steve patted his hip. "Sit."

[vv0812]

Do you have anything more on Mutated!Grace?

I'm normal about it I swear™

Let’s see, some other thoughts I had about my precious Mutated!Grace

He is always cold, his skin needs more temperature to get warmer now, but he has refused to change the conditions of his dome, looking at it as his small little piece of earth, and he doesn’t want to lose it.

He knows that by accepting the modifications he is denying himself the opportunity to go back to earth, because how could he go back now looking like this?

He forces himself in relearning how to swim, even when his new eridian characteristics are not made for this. He tells Rocky that it is because he needs exercise, but it is because he wants to prove himself that he can still do the same things he did when he was completely human.

Grace is stronger now, strong enough to carry the pebbles (at least the small ones) around.

I think the extra arm should be extra long and extra strong in comparison with the other arms and even legs. It can be multipurpose, work as an helping extra hand, sometimes it works to prevent Grace from falling to the ground, sometimes it just has its own mind.

The extra arm is always doing something; doing some maths, writing notes, playing with a rubrik cube, carrying a pebble,etc.

Grace had a depressive episode when he realized that he couldn’t wear his shirts and sweaters anymore, he cried for at least two weeks and he didn’t leave the house until Rocky brought him his favorite sweater modified to have an extra sleeve. After that Rocky and Adrian make sure to modify his clothes.

In the bad days he thinks that he was just a coward for accepting the eridian modifications and that he should have faced his own human mortality instead.

He says he had made peace with his mutations, but it isn’t entirely true.

Extra + Simon ( in this one Simon is not mutated, just amputated):

If the eridians ever introduced Simon to the dome, Grace would do what he can to avoid Simon seeing him, even moving to another place (maybe he stays in the hail mary), at least in the start, too scared to face a “real human” and see how they would react to his new appearance.

This leads to a lot of problems, because he only communicates with Simon through audio, making Simon revive a lot of his trauma of the submarine.

Grace then accepts to do video calls, in which he does his best to hide his third arm, but still Simon wants to meet him in person, because of trauma.

When they finally meet in person, it is still a very bad first meeting. Simon thinks that Grace is just an effort of The Eel to make a hallucination that looks human enough, or he just thinks that Grace is an alien that want something from him and that was trying to trick him.

Grace falls into a dark place, feeling like a monster and Rocky spends time with him trying to cheer him up and help him recover, reassuring him that he is still just Grace . Adrian is the one in charge to deal and take care of Simon until they find another time to re-introduce them.

P.S: I’m thinking of doing a fanfiction about this but I have so many ideas that it is hard to pin a single one down.

Part 1

[vv0812]

We all know Mutated!Simon, but I want to introduce the idea of Mutated!Grace.

An idea I had was that after the eridians learned that human life expectancy is very short in compare to theirs and that their favorite human would be dead even before he would be old enough to be consider an adult by eridians measures, they start doing research (leaded by Adrian of course) about how to expand his life, finding that merging eridian DNA with Grace's is their best bet.

After Rocky really really begged and bring up how Grace's students would react badly to lose their teacher at such a young age, Grace accepts to be mutated and ends having some eridian characteristics:

He would age slower. He may not live as long as a eridian, but he at least triples the average human life expectancy.

He would have a third arm (I personally think it should come out of his low back, but it is open to interpretation.)

His skin would become more resistant, not as strong as a eridian' caparace, but stronger than any human skin.

He would still be able to see with his eyes, but he would also be able to use echolocation (that could be very useful, but it can also be very overwhelming).

He would speak eridian, been able to reproduce the same notes, hums and vibrations that an eridian does, but he sounds way off, not been able to intone correctly and in some points sounding eldritchish (for both humans and eridians).

He would be able to eat some of the eridian food (my poor guy deserves more options than himself for lunch.)

He still breaths oxygen and ammonia is still deadly to him, but thanks to his skin he can resist its exposure longer.

He still sleeps like a human, but he looks a little bit more dead when he does.

Rocky makes sure to teach him everything he can so Grace doesn't feel awkward with his new abilities, and assures him that he would always be the same leaky human for him and Adrian.

Extra + Simon:

I think that if Simon was introduced to Mutated!Grace it would make more sense for him to assume that he is dead and that Grace is an angel, because he would look and sound more like a biblical angel.

Grace (Who has one arm more, and had not need to speak english in several years since he was able to speak eridian): HeLLoo, BuuDdy. i'Mm GrACe, NicE tO meeT yOu!

Simon (Who has somehow survive his canonic event, one arm less and as disoriented as a newborn deer) : I'm...dead?

Part 2

[vv0812]

I know we have already created a lot of versions of Simon's mutations, but I, personally, never see anyone go more in deep with the whole "telephaty" and "communicating through minds" that had. I think it would be interesting if Simon could also communicate this way it could be use in multiple ways really:

The language barrier that Simon and Grace may present? Gone, because Simon can just talk to him through his mind.

Arriving to Erid before Grace and Rocky and meeting Adrian? He could speak to them because we know that the eridians have mind, meaning that the communication through telepathy should work too.

Simon been new in the ship and not understanding what Rocky says (remember that in the book Grace learns it and Rocky doesn't have a translator all the time)? Same as the previous, he could just connect his mind to Rocky's.

Maybe to spice up drama Simon doesn't use his real voice until he feel safe, using only the telepathy and mind bond until one day he actually speaks and Grace and Rocky celebrate.

It could be even funny, if Grace is trying to not weird out Simon with what he thinks is a one side attraction, and Simon just been able to read all their thoughts, and slowly falling in love with this silly teacher.

[vv0812]

I need more flirty Simon and Grace, I love awkward men meeting more awkward men, but the idea of Simon and Grace flirting as much as they can to each other, to then think is all in their mind is too good to let it pass.

Some examples could be:

Simon making subtles comments and trying to use his deep voice now and then.

Grace using bad pick lines that can pass as jokes.

Simon, who is not ignorant of his physic, doing exercise and flexes all the time with the excuse of wanting to be healthy.

Grace trying to look good while doing experiments every time that Simon pass by.

They both unapologetically flirting just to think that the other one is not catching the clues they throw to them.

They been good at flirting but bad at realizing that someone is flirting with them.

Rocky and Adrian are there, Rocky finds it insuffurable, Adrian giggles each time.

[morganbritton132]

Steve's baseball team decide that they want to play a prank on their coach.

They get shirts screen-printed with Steve's face on it and something silly he always says, and then they all wear them to practice. They time how long it takes Steve to notice (nine minutes and only because the team had a bad case of giggles).

It's a funny prank.

Steve gets a kick out of it.

Unbeknownst to Steve or the team, the guy who made their shirts is an old friend of Eddie 'left Hawkins and got famous' Munson.

It was a known secret in Hellfire that Eddie was crushing bad on King Steve so he sent Eddie one of the shirts.

Imagine Steve confusion when he flips the tv over to MTV and sees his old classmate being interviewed...wearing a shirt with his face on it.

[morganbritton132]

There's a number at the bottom of the screen that you can call to ask Eddie a question.

Steve calls.

Before the interviewer can finish saying, "We have someone on the line from your homet-"

"Why are you wearing a shirt with my face on it?" Steve asks. "And would it kill you to answer the phone when Dustin calls you? Or call him back? The kid misses you."

Now half of America thinks Eddie is a deadbeat father.

[inflomora-art]

Knight!Eddie for @novacorpsrecruit 🖤

[spiinka]

Fixing s4 ending 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[habken]

rocky + grace

[bluemuffin-draws]

Ambush hunters

Part 3 of the comic

||Part 2 ||

[morganbritton132]

You have to have a job to make money. You have to have money to go to Europe. You have to have a job to make money. You have to -

Robin keeps telling herself this.

She repeats it when she's cold. She repeats it when her feet hurt. She repeats it when the nautical music playing over the speaker starts permeating her dreams. She repeats it incredibly hard when she goes into the back of Scoops Ahoy for her lunch break and five minutes into it -

"I need you to cover."

Her food isn't even finished heating up in the microwave, "I’m on br-"

"I need you to cover," Steve says, not even stopping in his stride across the room and out the back into the hallway.

"Un-fucking-believable."

She almost doesn't. She almost sits her ass down and eats her lunch but, "You need to have a job to make money. You need money to go to Europe."

She abandons her lunch and walks to the front. Her frown twists in disgust, "What can I get you?"

"Not gonna take me for a sail on an ocean of flavor, sweetheart?"

Robin raises an unimpressed eyebrow and states, "You're smudging the glass, Hargrove. What do you want?"

"Where'd Harrington scurry off to?"

"I recommend USS Butterscotch," She states. "It's a big hit with Neanderthals."

"Harrington is-"

"We don't allow loitering," She talks over him. "If you're not ordering than you need to leave before I have to call mall security. You don't want that because Greg - the mall security officer - he hates being called because the, you know. Lack of air conditioning. Puts him in a bad mood and-

"Okay," Billy says, already annoyed by her yapping. She keeps talking until, "Okay! I’m leaving. Tell Harrington that I'll see him around."

Robin watches him go.

She frowns.

Her eyes dart around the mostly-empty shop and then she pushes off the counter. She goes into the back, past her lunch cooling in the microwave, through the door.

She doesn't have to go far to find Steve.

He's sitting on the ground with his elbows rested on his knees. His hands in his hair. He's breathing in a familiar way, measured and intentional.

Robin slides down the wall beside him.

She stares ahead.

She chews on her bottom lip and thinks to say something but - they're not really friends. They're barely coworkers. They started two weeks ago so...

"He tried to kill me."

"What?"

"Hargrove," Steve clarifies to the wall in front of them. "Last year with, you know. The fight. He was. Yeah, he probably would've killed me if - and."

He tugs on his hair, takes a deep breath, "He's such a dick. I hate dealing with him."

Robin watches Steve stand up. She watches him brush off his clothes and say like nothing bad has ever happened, "Thanks for covering. I owe you one, Buckley."

[paverics]

“my father is a boy and my mother is a girl so i’m mixed” is the funniest possible response to someone asking your gender and it came from 6’5 Viking footballer and notable weird little guy Erling Haaland on a Snapchat

[paverics]

comedians can only dream of writing something this funny

[lydjah]

handprints

for @corrodedcoffinfest

Prompt Day 16: Hypercolor | Word Count: 996 | Rating: T | CW: None | POV: Eddie | Pairing(s): Steddie | Tags: secret relationship, bi4bi steddie (not important to the plot but important to ME hehe), eddie's ill-defined general insecurities, inconvenient handprints (or are they??)

✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼

“Where are you supposed to be right now?”

Eddie gasps the question out between hot, wet kisses. For a long moment dominated by a heady press of lips, he gets no answer, so he lifts his hands and buries them in thick, gorgeous hair, using his leverage to separate them a scant inch. 

“Grocery shopping,” Steve breathes, heavy-lidded, his pupils blown and fuck, he’s so gorgeous. Eddie has long resigned himself to never getting over that fact, and actually, he loves the little thrill of lust-longing-love he feels whenever he catches sight of Steve’s face. Eddie could – has – written song after song about how beautiful Steve is, how fun and smart and badass he is, how easy it is to love him and so on and on. The rest of Corroded Coffin give him so much shit for it – how many metal bands have albums worth of love songs banked? they always tease – but Eddie’s songwriting process very much consists of dumping out what’s going on in his head in metre and verse. So it’s not his fault, really, because his head is full of Steve, like, 90% of the time on any given day. 

But the thing is, no one knows the songs are all about Steve. 

Which is fine, really, it is. They’d gotten close after Hell Break ‘86, squirrelled away together at Casa Harrington to keep Eddie safe from the righteous mob, and then the town had gone into military quarantine anyway. Eddie was fully recovered by then, but the arrangement was working for them, so they’d just continued on, until it was a random Thursday night and Eddie was laughing at one of Steve’s stupid dad jokes while he picked a record from Steve’s collection to play while they made dinner together, like they did every night, and being struck by the realisation that Steve Harrington was his best friend. 

There was always something underneath it though, a little zing of delicious tension. Maybe they’d have danced around it forever, if not for the pesky Upside Down problem, if not for the tower, if not for Steve nearly falling off the tower. If not for nearly flinging himself off it too, to catch Steve’s arm. If not for the oh realisation in that moment. 

They’d kept it secret because it was new and precious and fragile. Neither of them had ever felt that way about another boy before, and they didn’t need any external pressure on them while they figured it out, together. And now, suddenly, it’s like they’ve blinked and it’s 1990, a whole new decade, and they’ve been in a secret relationship for two years. It’s fine. Eddie doesn’t ever wake in cold sweat, unable to shake the notion that he’s not good enough for Steve, that he’s something bad and embarrassing, to be hidden away forever. Never. 

He doesn’t even want to tell that many people. Just Robin – maybe it’ll stop her unbelievable knack for calling them the literal moment Steve’s getting a welcome hand down Eddie’s jeans. And Jeff, who keeps looking at Eddie like he lost some brain cells in addition to his left nipple in the bat attack, whenever Eddie brushes off the attention of girls at their shows. Jeff’s asked a few times, all sly and teasing, when Eddie is going to introduce his secret girlfriend to the band.  

“Where are you?” Steve asks, the you wavering on the moan that punches out when Eddie slides a thigh between his legs. 

It’s summer, which means everyone is back in Hawkins, and subsequently have completely invaded Casa Harrington-Munson, abusing pool privileges and their pantry. It’s also meant almost zero alone time, for like three weeks now, and they’re both getting a little desperate and risky. They’re so used to it usually being just the two of them in the house. 

“Packing instruments,” Eddie murmurs, kissing along Steve’s jaw. “Have I told you I hate these shorts?” 

They’re all the rage, Eddie knows because Steve told him so, some bullshit gimmick where the fabric changes colour between hot and cold. Hypercolor, Steve called them. Whatever they are, Eddie’s eyeballs are offended by the violet, violent blue. 

“So many times,” Steve says, with a little chuckle. He makes a little noise of delight when Eddie’s hands drop to his asscheeks and stay there, holding firm handfuls. “I think they’re funky.” 

“Dork. Can’t believe how much I love you,” Eddie sighs, kissing Steve senseless instead of waiting for his undoubtedly bitchy retort. “We should stop,” he says, though it’s the last thing he wants. Unfortunately, common sense has to prevail when they’ve got a houseful of their nearest and dearest, all the screaming and laughing and splashing muffled only by the walls between them. He squeezes Steve’s cheeks again, kneading, revelling in his beloved’s laughter. “Okay, now we stop.” 

They tumble out of their hiding closet after a quick check that the coast is clear. When they reach the kitchen, Eddie only has half a second to process the sight before him – Jeff and Robin conspiratorially eating slices of the birthday cake Steve made for Lucas that has not yet been presented to the birthday boy – prior to the screech of “What the hell, Buckley?” that Steve lets out. 

“What the hell me?” Robin demands right back, around a mouthful of cake. “What the hell you, Steven!” 

“You wanna tell me why you’re ruining Sinclair’s cake?” Steve says, that flush Eddie so adores climbing his neck. He tries not to stare too long. 

Jeff leans into Robin’s ear, whispering. She narrows her eyes at Steve, gaze pointedly dropping to his shorts. Her tone is triumphant – clearly she thinks she’s playing her trump card as she says, “You wanna tell me why you’re here, not grocery shopping as previously alleged, coming down the hallway like you’ve been up to no good, with Eddie’s handprints on the asscheeks of your colour changing shorts?!”

[dreamsteddie]

Steve and Eddie, after two years of living together, finaly decide to take the leap and practice co-parenting.

A cat.

As much as they love each other, they have very different ways of living and the adjustment period was...trying. When they finally reach an equilibrium, they decide that they take a note from Robin and Vicky and get a cat. Steve still wants those little nuggets, and since Eddie had bargained down to four, they need some experience sharing responsibility for a living being.

Picking a cat is a whole separate ordeal. Eddie wanted every cat with a missing eye, a lost limb, or any other special need. Steve was more practical, trying to point out to Eddie that with both their meager salaries, they wouldn't be able to care for a special needs cat, bribing him with the right to pick any two cats he wanted when they were 40.

In the end, they bring home Puddles, a runt of a black tuxedo boy with a nick in his ear. He hides for the first week, cowering under the bed so long that they worry ever adjust.

Eventually, he ventures out to accept treats, and it doesn't take long for him to become attached to both of them. His favorite places are Eddie's shoulder and Steve's lap.

[lydjah]

leave it at the beep

for @corrodedcoffinfest

Prompt Day 17: Answering Machine | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: G | CW: None | POV: omniscent | Pairing(s): implied steddie | Tags: told entirely through answering machine messages, corroded coffin love to gossip, steve and eddie meet at the fateful halloween party au

November 1st, 1984 – 09:48 

“Um. Shit. Wasn’t expecting the machine. Hey Harrington. It’s Ed–Munson. Um. Hopefully your parents don’t listen to this, but I think you said they were away right? Um, anyway, I just wanted to, I dunno, make sure you’re okay? Break-ups suck. If you ever need someone to hang out with again–nevermind, of course you don’t need any loser friends. Anyway, yeah, hope you’re okay, don’t, uh, don’t feel like you have to call me back or anything. See ya.” 

November 1st, 1984 – 17:09

“Eddieeeeee, it’s Jeff, pick up dude. Pick up. Pick up–okay fine. Where’d you disappear to last night? We still on for band practice tomorrow night? Call me back.” 

November 6th, 1984 – 21:21

“Hey Eddie. It’s, uh, Steve. Harrington. Sorry it’s taken me so long to return your call, I’ve… I’ve had a few things going on. Thanks though, thanks for hanging out with me on Halloween and, like, taking care of me or whatever. I just… thanks again man. See you at school.” 

November 7th, 1984 – 15:55

“Harrington, holy shit dude, I really hope I’m not getting your machine because you’ve collapsed in a heap at home with, like, your brain melting out your ears or something? You looked like shit at school today, and I mean that with, like, concern, not as an insult. Um. Yeah. Just–if you need any, like, pain relief or something, I’ve got you covered, just say the word. It’s, uh, Eddie–Munson, Eddie Munson. Okay. Bye.” 

November 7th, 1984 – 15:57

“Hey dude, it’s Gareth, why is your line still engaged? I’ve tried you like three times. Did you see Harrington’s face today? Holyyyyyy sheeeeet, he looked like he’s been through a meat grinder. Call me back.” 

November 7th, 1984 – 15:59

“Edward. Yo. It’s Freak. You see the Kings’ shiner today? Heard it was Billy Hargrove. Bro is an animal.” 

November 7th, 1984 – 16:15

“Hey, it’s Jeff. You picking me up at six? I got you Red Vines.” 

November 8th, 1984 – 11:36

“Hi Eddie, it’s Steve. I’m hoping getting your machine means you’re back at school. You shouldn’t miss any more class. But, uh, thanks for driving me home. I’m going to take tomorrow off too. Let me know when you’re free so I can buy you a six-pack as a thanks.” 

June 17th, 1985 – 19:43

“Edward, it’s Freak. I’ve got two words for you; Scoops Ahoy.” 

June 18th, 1985 – 10:06

“Hey, it’s Jeff. I was at Starcourt today getting a lamp and checking out the yoga chicks, as one does – did you know Steve Harrington is working at Scoops Ahoy? Oh Eddie boy, oh how the mighty have fallen. Hey, weren’t you two kinda hanging out there for a bit last year?” 

June 22nd, 1985 – 18:53

“Eddieeee, where are you man? It’s Gareth, I’ve got the best news! I’ve got us a gig at The Hideout! It’s for July 3rd. The manager I spoke to says if it goes well it could turn into a regular spot. We need to strategise – call me back!” 

June 30th, 1985 – 20:14

“Hey Eddie, it’s Steve. I checked my roster at work, and I can definitely make it to your first show! Gonna try and convince Buckley to come, because she’s cool and nerdy like you guys, and you’re all cool with each other, so cred points for me with your friends. Should I bring anything? Should I wear a Corroded Coffin shirt? I will, you know, zero shame. Call me when you get home, I wanna hear how rehearsal went.” 

July 2nd, 1985 – 17:03

“Yooooo, Edward. It’s Freak. I got that amp from my cousin, it’s much better than that one with the dodgy cable. Swing by after dinner and we can load it in the van? Buzz me back when you get this.” 

July 2nd, 1985 – 22:53

“Hey Steve-o, it’s Eddie. I thought you’d be home by now, but I’m guessing you have been overrun by the army of evil children demanding the SS Butterscotch. It is, after all, an ocean of flavour. Anyway, we’re going on at nine tomorrow night. I’m… I’m really glad you’re coming. I’ll tell you a secret, Stevie, just between you, me, and your answering machine. I’m nervous. Promise you’ll tell me your grandma rocks harder than me or something to keep my head on straight, yeah? I hope work wasn’t too shitty, see you tomorrow night.” 

July 3rd, 1985 – 23:27

“Hey Stevie, it’s Eddie. I didn’t see you at the show tonight, and the crowd was like twenty drunks, so I reckon I would have spotted you. You okay? Call me.” 

July 4th, 1985 – 13:04

“Howdy Ed, it’s Jeff. I heard from Gareth – The Hideout manager liked our set! He’s open to giving us a regular spot. How good, yeah?! Also, we’re having a barbecue later – mom said to come over, and bring Wayne. Okay, bye.” 

July 4th, 1985 – 21:18

“Hey Steve. Is everything okay? Call me back.” 

July 5th, 1985 – 22:20 

“Steve-o, you’re starting to worry me. Is this the shit you ‘can’t talk about’? Call me back, please.”

July 6th, 1985 – 23:45

“Harrington. It’s Eddie. I’m pretty sure I’ve filled your answering machine after this message. At this point, I’d really just love word you’re alive, but I can take a hint. I thought you wanted–that you–um. Anyway. See you round.” 

March 25th, 1986 – 16:56

“Um, hi. This is Jeff Best. Steve, if you get this…have you seen Eddie? He always says you guys don’t talk anymore, but I don’t know who else to call. Jason Carver has lost his mind, and–and I’m worried. I– Jesus, I don’t know why I bothered calling you, actually. You didn’t show up for him before, why would you now?”

April 3rd, 1986 – 14:31

“Hi Mr Munson, it’s Steve. Get back here when you get this – he’s awake.” 

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

The science of attraction

Written for week three of the @steddiemicrofic three-year anniversary challenge

Prompt: micro, 555 words

Rated: T

Tags: Pre-Canon; Pre-Steddie; High school; Mild bullying; Steve Harrington is a sweetheart; Eddie Munson does NOT have a crush on Steve Harrington, who said that?!

“Eddie, are you listening?”

Eddie flinches, leaving a pencil smudge on the sketch he was working on. He curses and tries to wipe it away.

“Eddie?”

He looks up.

Mr. Cooper is drumming his fingers against the blackboard. Every head in the lab has swivelled to him. Tommy Hagan whispers something at his girlfriend, who snickers.

“Um… science?” Eddie ventures. Cooper's left eyelid twitches.

“This is the second time you're doing this class, Eddie. At least pretend you're trying. Do you know what fungi and bacteria have in common?”

“No,” Eddie admits, neck burning with heat. “But I could tell you the difference between a teacher and a three-dollar hoo-”

Steve Harrington raises his hand. “Please, sir. May I?”

Hagan - far enough on the edge of his seat to challenge the laws of physics - hits him in the ribs. Harrington ignores him, smiling at Cooper as he turns towards him.

“Fair enough, Steve. At least some of us are applying themselves. What do you think?”

Harrington runs a hand through his stupid, shiny hair and licks his stupid, pretty lips.

“They're both, um… tiny life forms. Micro- … What’s the word? Microorgasms?”

The class roars. Hagan actually does fall off his chair.

“Microorgasms?” he wheezes. Harrington smiles sheepishly. His eyes dart across the room. Eddie ducks his head and starts sharpening his pencil. “Is that what the girls call it? Because if it is, you-”

“Silence,” Cooper yells. “Calm down, everybody, this will be on the test. Now, who can name another example of microorganisms?”

*

“He shouldn’t have done that.”

Eddie groans and slams his locker shut. He packed up extra slowly, giving the rest of the class plenty of time to leave. No such luck, apparently.

At least it’s just Harrington, without his entourage. He’s leaning against the wall on Eddie’s right, foot propped up, bag slung loosely over one shoulder. The epitome of cool and suave. No trace of the humilation that ought to still cling to him like tar.

“Cooper,” Harrington explains, like Eddie asked for it. “I mean, he saw you weren’t paying attention, and he still decided to call you out. He’s an idiot. Don’t feel down about it.”

“I’m not,” Eddie lies. And then, because biting an offered hand is the only way he knows how to react to kindness, “Not like I made an ass of myself in front of everyone.”

Harrington shrugs.

“They’ll have forgotten about it by Monday. And besides, I was sort of thinking on my feet. Needed to find some way of getting them off your back.”

“Yeah, well, I didn't ask you to,” Eddie snaps. The guy has no damn right to be so unbothered. No damn right to have embarrassment just slide off him like water off an oil film. None at all to be this fucking nice about it. “I can take care of myself, no need for you to swoop in like some white knigh- … Hold on a damn second, did you do that on purpose?”

“No idea what you mean,” Harrington says, pushing off the wall. His hand squeezes Eddie's shoulder as he passes. “Anyway, lemme know if you need a study buddy. I feel like we could both brush up on our microorgasms.”

Eddie keeps staring at the empty corridor long after he's gone.

More Microfics