here’s a little 7x05 post-coffee date missing scene i couldn’t stop thinking about—you can guess which lines were my starting point in the comments! (references to buck’s Tendencies 😏 but nothing more on-screen than smoochin’ and a few handsy what-ifs, for the sweet stuff)
one goodbye kiss, a shy little thing on the corner of his mouth, turns to two, to three, to five, and without really realizing it, buck has tommy pressed against the rear passenger door of the jeep—a far cry from the fumbling trepidation he felt on their failed first date just a few nights ago. this is not the place for this, his burgeoning craving for coarse stubble against his lips and fingertips, and for the hands that dwarf his own (how?) to shed their shyness by the second and grab at his waist. they’re in a very public parking lot, and even though it’s their day off, buck has somewhere he needs to be. he huffs out a laugh and dives back in, obligations be damned, muffling what might be an oh my god from tommy into a soft grunt that he can feel through both of their chests.
“ev—evan,” tommy manages, sliding one of his strong, absolutely giant hands up buck’s back, from his waist to the back of his head, then gently along the line of his jaw. “don’t you—”
“don’t care,” buck retorts, managing to inhale tommy’s neck in through his nose and mouth at the same time. how did he not know, until now? he presses closer, and it takes a second for the high-pitched teakettle noise he’s hearing to register as a sound he’s making. tommy’s hand slides up into his hair, and as far as buck can tell, it feels like he can’t decide if he wants to pull buck back from his neck, or tuck him in closer. it’s—thrilling, witnessing this minute tremor in tommy’s control, because of, of evan.
(he doesn’t know if he wants to get used to that, to how good it sounds for tommy to say his name, or if he never wants to get used to it, so it never stops feeling special when he hears it.)
but, as it turns out, the decision is made for them, by the vibration of buck’s phone in his pocket, and the screeching horror movie sounds of the alarm tone that chim had picked out for this specific purpose. he barely draws back from tommy, staying close as he sticks his hand into the pocket of his jeans to pull out the offending device and silence the reminder alarm.
”shit,” tommy hisses, breathless, and buck has to agree, once reality rushes in: how close he is to tommy, how tommy really has nowhere to go, between buck and the unyielding vehicle behind him; how tommy’s hips hitched and stuttered slightly when the alarm went off; how Buck could put his hand back in his pocket and—
“evan,” tommy groans again as he closes his eyes and leans his head back against the jeep. he sounds exasperated, but judging by the smile dancing at the corners of his mouth, the little twitch of his cupid’s bow, he’s not. “we are not getting arrested for public indecency.”
well. if tommy meant that as a deterrent, it…did not serve its intended purpose. instead, it sends a greedy thrill down buck’s spine. he isn’t quite sure what his face is doing in response, but judging from the light in tommy’s eyes, it’s doing something.
“yeah?” he asks, squaring his shoulders and settling back into his stance a bit. tommy licks his lips and buck feels his entire everything zero in on the detail. “you, uh, you aren’t into that sort of thing?”
tommy gets this dazed, glazed look on his face, a bit like his cells have gone all soft focus as his eyes draw down buck’s body and back up to his mouth. he swallows, hard. “probably not on the second date,” he rasps.
“oh, well then, is that what this is?” buck counters, draping his arms over tommy’s shoulders and around the back of his neck. “a second date?” he can feel the familiar creep of his cockiest smile in his cheeks and lips, and watches tommy smile back, almost like a reflex.
he likes that, he realizes, and realizes too that’s not the first time he’s thought that. it’s one of the first things buck noticed about him—how tommy smiles not just with his mouth (but very well with his mouth), but with his eyes, the storm of his eyes lightening playfully, and the skin around them crinkling into happy little pleats. down into his shoulders, relaxing them, and even into his hands, with a carefree fidget.
those hands that are now resting at the sides of buck’s waist, a thumb creeping absentmindedly to seek out the edge of buck’s ribcage through his shirt.
he wants far more than this parking lot can give them. from the way tommy’s other hand is flexing gently at the waistband of buck’s jeans, he thinks they might be in agreement.
tommy searches buck’s face for a moment, eyes flitting across, and from chin to brow. “it’s whatever you want it to b—”
both of them startle as tommy is interrupted by loud honking, far too close to be coincidental, and then, of course, a few short whoops of a police siren.
“aren’t you supposed to be picking your parents up at the airport?” athena calls from about seven feet away, through the open window of her cruiser. “not making out with—oh hey, tommy!”
buck is frozen in place, but he can feel tommy shift nervously as he gives a goofy little wave. “hi, mrs. bob—i mean, hello, mrs. nash. sergeant. sergeant grant. nash. sergeant gr—”
“stop,” she waves with good-natured impatience. “just call me athena.”
tommy nods. buck can’t help but be amused, and even a bit, well, turned on by this new fumbling side of tommy he hasn’t seen yet. tommy clears his throat. buck is jealous of his tonsils.
“yes, ma’am,” tommy finally says, a bit of pink growing across his cheekbones.
“this one’s trouble,” athena says, looking over her glasses pointedly at buck.
tommy’s hand spasms on the side of buck’s waist. “i’m—i think i might know what you mean,” he stammers, just as buck protests half-heartedly.
athena stares at the two of them for a few more seconds before nodding decisively. “you two be good, now,” she says seriously, before she smirks. “don’t do anything bobby and i wouldn’t do!”
“ok, thank you, sergeant,” tommy says, clearly confused. athena points at him. “athena,” he corrects, while buck tries not to choke on air, because, against his will, he remembers some of the things she and bobby get up to, and it’s—oh god, did he just come out to athena? by accident? but he has a plan—
athena waves out the window as the tires of the cruiser begin to crunch forward against the loose globs of rock and pitch scattered around the paved lot. “go to the airport, buck,” she says with one last wave. “good to see you, tommy.”
as athena drives away, tommy pulls buck gently so his back is resting against tommy’s front, then wraps his arms around buck’s waist. “you ok?” he murmurs against the side of buck’s neck, which quite effectively distracts buck from the spiral developing in his thoughts.
“yeah,” buck sighs as he leans back a bit and holds tommy’s arms with his own. he thinks for a moment, feeling the steadiness of tommy’s breathing in the line of his body. athena knows. athena knows, and it’s—it’s fine. it’s good, even. buck realizes that he has more anxiety about picking his parents up at the airport than he does about athena knowing, even if she found out in a way that was not according to plan. “yeah, it’s good. i’m good.”
tommy hums, gentle and amused. “so, no hot chicks this time?”
“ugh,” buck groans, tilting his head back to be better able to stare directly into the sun. “i’m never gonna live that down, am i?”
tommy laughs into buck’s neck, then gently kisses the spot before patting buck’s belly. “‘fraid not.”
“yeah, that figures,” buck grumbles.
“what time do you need to leave for the airport?”
“probably seven minutes ago.”
“evan!”
even exasperated, buck loves hearing how tommy says his name. he turns around to face tommy, even though that means he’ll have to break the hold.
“thank you for—for—” it’s not that he doesn’t know what he’s thanking tommy for; it’s that suddenly he realizes there are many things, and if he stays to list them all, then he’ll really be late. but before he can scramble too much about it, tommy smiles softly, and says, “of course,” in that way of his that buck is realizing is just—how he is.
of course.
buck’s never had such a soft, kind, generous of course before.
“call me?” tommy interrupts buck’s thoughts gently, smiling almost…hopefully, if buck had to put a name to it.
“yeah?” he can’t quite believe his luck.
“yeah,” tommy nods. “if you want.”
it probably doesn’t make much sense, how buck breathes “please” in response, but it earns him one last gently-seeking kiss before tommy pulls away, nudging buck’s hip gently.
“go get those parents,” he says, stepping back, cramming his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
buck gulps nervously, and nods. he fishes the jeep’s keys out of his pocket. “they’ve got a wedding to run,” he agrees.
a smile twitches at the corner of tommy’s mouth. buck hasn’t told him much yet, about his parents, about anything, but he knows the nervousness and residual everything probably comes through anyway, even in a few short sentences about picking them up at the airport.
buck knows he needs to get a move on. he’s just not sure how to leave. or if he even wants to.
“i’ll—i’ll see you at the bachelor party?”
buck’s phone shrieks again, the second backup alarm he had set making itself known. he fumbles with the phone, just managing to turn off the alarm, when he feels tommy press a soft kiss to his cheek.
“of course,” tommy says again, and—what are the chances buck could get him to say that for the rest of their lives?
“good, that’s—that’s good,” buck replies around the grin he can’t hold back. it’s probably too much. it’s definitely too much. but it’s so good.
three and a half more goodbye kisses later, buck is about to turn the jeep out of the parking lot when he loses the battle with his willpower and glances up to the rearview mirror.
and it’s as if tommy, who’s standing next to his own truck in the lot, knows buck has chosen that moment to look back. he gives a little wave, and smiles a little bigger, and buck has to squeeze his eyes closed and take a deep breath for a moment to compose himself before he merges into traffic, so he’s not carried away by butterflies.
just—wow.
he was right, earlier, so right, when he told tommy he wasn’t sure what he was ready for, but he was ready for something, and he thought that something could be with tommy.
he—he wants it to be with tommy.
he hopes it’s with tommy.
even if that something is being late to pick his parents up at LAX.
aware of his bisexuality steve (steddie, buckingham)
“Is that a hickey?” Comes out of Steve’s mouth without permission. But there it is, bright purple and red against the slope of her neck. She’s been walking kind of funny this morning, too. He’d assumed her period came early, but… “Rob, did you—“
Eddie fumbles the coffee mug he was pulling down. Chrissy freezes, face turning white with fear. Robin whips around, face bright red, and slaps a hand over her neck.
“Bathroom!” She yelps. “Bathroom now!”
“Wait,” Eddie says, setting the mug down with trembling hands. “It was me. Sorry, man.”
Steve stares at him, unimpressed. Why the fuck would he lie about—
He looks at Chrissy again, who takes a nervous step back, and it clicks.
“Right,” he says, nodding quickly. “You. You gave Robin a hickey. Had totally awesome sex that she didn’t even tell me about.” He directs that last bit at Robin pointedly. He told her almost immediately when he lost his guy-ginity. Traitor. “Yep. Sure. Got it.”
Eddie blinks, confused. Robin buries her face in her hands.
“Oh my god, calm down,” she groans. “That’s not going to work. Steve’s cool.”
“Cool?” Chrissy asks, still looking ready to bolt.
“Super cool,” he assures her. “The coolest. So incredibly cool, even if my best friend didn’t even tell me when she lost her virginity.”
“Steve!”
“Sorry, sorry,” he says. “But I am going to need details, Buckley. We can go over what worked, and what needs more oomph.”
“Oh my god, can we talk about this anywhere else,” Robin groans, at the same time Eddie asks, “What, so you can get off on it later?”
“What,” Steve says.
“You think two girls are hot, is that it?” He’s got a sneer on his face now, but Steve’s more observant than Dustin gives him credit for. Even if he wasn’t, it’d be hard to miss how hard his hands are shaking, the nervous tilt to his mouth.
“Ew.” Steve’s face screws up. “Dude, no. It’s Robin.”
“Hey, fuck you,” Robin breaks in, from where she’s started comforting Chrissy. “You thought I was hot for at least a summer.”
His mouth drops open in betrayal. “We agreed to never talk about that again!”
“Can’t help being sexy,” she coons. Chrissy giggles wetly. “You wanna get married, Harrington? Have my babies? Stay home and raise six little nuggets while I bring home the bread?”
“I hate you,” he informs her. “Hate you so much. We’ll have a nice, heterosexual wedding and share a sad, heterosexual kiss, and you’ll carry me over the threshold of our nice, heterosexual house, and we’ll have boring, heterosexual sex that gives us nice, heterosexual babies, because we are so heterosexual and happy in our suburburban house in our nice little heterosexual town.”
He’s honestly kind of proud of himself for saying heterosexual so many times. Usually he fumbles words with that many syllables, especially after that many times in a row.
Chrissy is outright laughing, now, endearing little snorts making their way between giggles. Eddie is looking between them like they’re a puzzle he can’t piece together. Robin grins.
“I’ll cuck you with the secretary.”
“Not if I cuck you first. You’ll be away all day in that office of yours, and I need someone big and strong to carry all the new furniture I ordered.”
“I knew it! I knew Timmy wasn’t mine!”
“Oh, but I couldn’t help myself,” he swoons. “Mark was just so sweet, with his bulging biceps and hand flexes, all hot and sweaty from helping poor little me while you were away! You know I’m weak to curly hair and brown eyes, Rob, how’s a man supposed to resist?”
“Fag,” she says, not without affection.
“Dyke,” he shoots back.
“Cocksucker.”
“Carpet—“
“Okay,” Eddie breaks in, clapping his hands. He and Robin both startle, and so does Chrissy from where she’s been watching them like a particularly interesting tennis match. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Robin lost her virginity and didn’t even tell me,” Steve says immediately, like he’s tattling to the principal.
“Steve doesn’t seem to understand the concept of waiting,” Robin retorts.
“I told you when I had gay sex,” he whines, and Eddie chokes. “I hate you. See if I ever give you tips again.”
“Oh, is that what you meant?” Chrissy asks. “Please don’t stop. They were good tips.”
Robin flushes all the way down to her toes.
“You like boys?” Eddie wheezes.
“Oh,” Steve blinks. “Yeah? I thought you knew.”
“You thought I—how would I know?”
The fuck is that supposed to mean? Steve’s been flirting with him for months!
“Robin always says we can sense each other! You sensed her.”
“You told him?” Eddie’s mouth drops open, and Robin looks sheepish.
“She didn’t have to,” Steve snarks. “You’re flagging in Hawkins, man. Was I supposed to miss it?”
“You know what flagging is?”
“Again, in case you missed it, I fuck men.”
“Fuck,” Eddie mutters. “Fuck! Christ, I can’t believe this. You’re, like, the epitome of heterosexual. I spent half of high school having to hear about how much pussy you were getting. Why are you not straight?”
“Wow, Eddie,” he deadpans. “Are you saying just because I like men and woman, I’m not queer enough? That’s kind of homophobic of you, man.”
“Yeah, Eddie, wow,” Robin says. “I thought you were better than this.”
“Fuck off,” Eddie says. “I feel like I need to lie down. My entire worldview just shattered.”
“I have a couch?” Chrissy offers shyly. “Or a bedroom, if you need a minute away.” Fuck, Steve kind of adores her. Especially since she’s apparently vicious n bed, if the five other hickies he counts just from Robin bending down a little to whisper in her ear are any indication. Good for her.
“Don’t worry, Eddie,” Robin says, with a glint in her eye that means he’s either going to love or hate what comes next. “If it helps, Steve’s never fucked a man in his life.”
Eddie’s brow furrows, looking between the two of them. “So…you’re just making fun of me?”
He looks a little angry now, and Steve can’t make heads or tails of this conversation because, “What the hell, Rob, yes I have—“
“Oh, so suddenly you’re the one doing the fucking?”
“Stop making fun of me for taking it!”
Eddie lets out an honest to god moan that he immediately slaps his hand over his mouth to cover up. “Right,” he says fervently. “Okay. I need to lie down, like, for real.”
They watch him stride down the hall, so fast he’s almost running, and slam the door closed behind him.
“I could totally top,” he mutters to Robin as something that sounds vaguely like muffled screaming echoes down the hall. “I top girls all the time. It’s not my fault prostates are a gift from God.”
“Uh, you top because all the girls you fuck are from small town Indiana. If one of them brought out the strap you’d drop to your knees so fast—“
“That’s—I like topping!”
“Your favorite position is cowgirl. Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”
“I will show Chrissy your baby pictures,” he hisses. Robin makes a face at him. Chrissy nods excitedly from where she’s still tucked under Robin’s arm.
“Oh what’s that?” Robin practically shouts. “You like being pressed against walls and ravished? You want someone to tie you up and have their filthy way with you? Is that what you said, Steve?”
Another noise from the bedroom. He narrows his eyes at her. “What are you doing?”
“Helping,” she says sweetly. “You’re both hopeless.”
“I told you he’s shy!”
“Eddie?” Chrissy asks. “Shy?”
“Yeah, okay, I was confused too, but I figured it was the romance! He told me he hasn’t actually been in a relationship before, I assumed he was nervous to take that step.”
“Yeah, but dingus,” Robin says sweetly. “You’re missing a puzzle piece here. He thought you were straight. He thought he was flirting with his straight best friend he didn’t have a chance in hell with, and then he finds out that said best friend likes taking it up the ass and men with brown eyes.”
“Oh,” Steve says, realization dawning. “Oh, fuck. What if he doesn’t like me like that?”
Robin smacks the back of his head. “Why are you stupid?”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Chrissy says. “Like, really don’t have to worry about that.”
“I’m not coming over tonight,” Robin says. “I’m gonna stay with Chrissy again. Er…if that’s okay?”
“That sounds amazing.” Chrissy beams, and Robin turns red again.
“Yeah, I’m going to stay with Chrissy again tonight. You are going to invite Eddie to stay the night when he gets done with his little crisis, and then we’re getting lunch at the diner tomorrow and you can tell me about it before our shift.”
“Right,” Steve says. “Right, I can do this. I’ve invited guys over before, how hard can it be? It’s just Eddie. But that was hotel rooms, not my house and my bedroom with my shitty wallpaper. And it’s Eddie. Fuck, what if I’m shit at it? Robin, what if I’m actually bad at sex and everyone who’s ever said I was good was lying because they didn’t want to hurt my feelings? Oh my god, I’m totally bad at sex.”
“Woah, dingus, slow down. I think we took the mind meld too far, you’re turning into me.”
“If it helps, I don’t think you’re bad at sex,” Chrissy says. Steve and Robin look at her, and she flushes. “Because of the tips! Not because—I’ve never slept with you, but some of my friends did, and I got three orgasms out of last night, so…”
“Oh thank God,” he breathes. “I was worried for a minute.” Then he raises an eyebrow at Robin, and holds out his hand for a high five. She slaps it, begrudgingly proud of herself, and then takes the hand to pull him into a headlock that’s honestly more of a hug than anything.
“You’re fine,” she whispers in his ear. “You’re great at sex, as you keep telling me. What’s more, you’re funny, charming, handsome, brave, caring—“
“Aww, Robin, are you getting sappy on me?”
“Plus Eddie literally moaned in front of you when he found out you bottomed. I really don’t think there’s a way to fuck that up.”
Steve grins. “He did do that. I’m going to make so much fun of him later.”
“So,” Eddie says with a smirk, “men with brown eyes?”
“Hey man, don’t look at me. Blame Jonathan.”
Now Eddie looks stunned, mouth dropping open. “Byers?” He says, sounding betrayed. “You have a crush on Byers of all people?”
Steve feels offended on Jonathan’s behalf. “What’s that supposed to mean? Jonathan’s a good guy!”
“I guess.”
“What do you mean you guess? He’s sweet, passionate, good with kids, nice eyes. Can pack a punch. I mean, what’s not to like?”
“Uh, didn’t he steal your girlfriend?”
He waves that off. “That was, like, years ago, man. We’re cool now.”
“Right, okay,” Eddie mutters. “Well have fun with Byers, I guess.”
It clicks. “Oh,” he says. “Oooh. You’re jealous.”
Eddie splutters. “Jealous? I’m not—I don’t—you’re jealous!”
“Oh, am I?”
“Yes,” Eddie says resolutely, not looking at him.
“Right,” Steve agrees. “Well, if I am jealous, maybe I should know that I got over Jonathan years ago, and have since moved on to brighter, hopefully more attainable pastures than my ex’s ex.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“A different man with brown eyes?” He suggests. “Who is also good with kids, and passionate, and…” he trails off, suddenly realizing all those times Robin made fun of him might not be based on nothing. “Oh my god, I have a type. Shit, I have to tell Robin she was right.”
“I figured that was a common occurrence.”
“Shut up. Where was I going with this? I had a point.”
“You were telling me how awesome I am?”
“Oh, suddenly it’s you we’re talking about?”
“I mean,” suddenly Eddie looks shy, and Steve can’t help but think even with the change in context he might have been right when he told Robin Eddie was nervous about being in a real, romantic relationship, “isn’t it?”
He feels himself smile, slow and wide and probably more revealing than he means it to be. “Yeah,” he says, in a tone he knows Robin would call soppy, “it is.”
Description: During a casual TikTok live, Juju and Rian are just joking around with fans until one completely unplanned moment turns into a full relationship reveal they definitely did NOT mean to go public.
It starts normal.
Way too normal.
Juju is on live first, sitting on her bed with her phone propped up against a pillow, reading comments out loud while half-laughing at them.
Rian is off camera.
Which is already suspicious, because Rian is always somewhere nearby.
“Are you gonna show your room tour?” one comment reads.
Juju snorts.
“No. Y’all are nosy.”
Another comment:
“Where’s Rian?”
Juju doesn’t even hesitate.
“Outside.”
Rian immediately calls from the other room:
“I AM NOT OUTSIDE.”
Juju freezes.
Chat explodes instantly.
Juju slowly turns her head toward the doorway.
“…why are you yelling like that?”
Rian walks into frame casually, like nothing just happened.
“I wasn’t yelling.”
“You literally just exposed yourself.”
Rian shrugs and sits next to her.
“Whatever.”
Juju tries to continue the live like it didn’t happen.
Which is her first mistake.
Because Rian immediately leans her head on Juju’s shoulder.
Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Juju stiffens slightly.
“…don’t do that on live.”
Rian doesn’t move.
“Why?”
“Because people are—”
Juju glances at the comments.
Already chaos.
“OH THEY’RE TOGETHER TOGETHER”
“WAIT WAIT WAIT”
“THAT’S NOT FRIEND BEHAVIOR”
Juju sighs.
“…ignore them.”
Rian hums.
Then wraps her arm loosely around Juju’s waist anyway.
Juju immediately looks at her again.
“Rian.”
“What?”
“You’re making it worse.”
Rian smiles innocently.
“I’m literally just sitting here.”
Juju tries to read comments again.
Fails.
Because one says:
“Do y’all date?”
Juju laughs nervously.
“No.”
Rian says at the exact same time:
“Yes.”
Silence.
Juju turns slowly.
“…what did you just say?”
Rian looks confused for half a second.
Then realizes.
Then freezes.
Chat goes from 10k viewers to 25k in like 2 seconds.
Rian sits up straight.
“I— I didn’t— I thought you—”
Juju just stares at her.
“…you thought I was gonna say yes too?”
Rian covers her face immediately.
“Oh my God.”
Juju starts laughing in disbelief.
“Rian.”
Rian is fully panicking now.
“I didn’t mean— I thought we were— I thought we were OFF LINE ENERGY—”
Juju grabs her wrist gently to stop her spiraling.
“Hey. Hey.”
Rian stops.
Looks at her.
Chat is losing their minds in the background.
Juju looks at her for a second.
Then just sighs.
“…yeah. We do.”
Rian freezes again.
“Wait.”
Juju glances at the phone.
Then back at her.
“…we do date, yes.”
Rian slowly drops her hands from her face.
“You just said that on live.”
Juju shrugs.
“You already did.”
Rian stares at her.
“…we are so cooked.”
Juju laughs.
“Probably.”
Chat is now fully screaming.
“OFFICIAL???”
“OH MY GOD”
“WE WON”
“JUJU JUST HARD LAUNCHED”
Rian hides her face in Juju’s shoulder again.
“Turn it off.”
Juju reaches over and ends the live.
Instant silence.
Just them now.
Rian slowly lifts her head.
“…that was your fault.”
Juju raises an eyebrow.
“My fault?”
“You let me talk.”
Juju laughs softly.
“You let YOU talk.”
Rian groans dramatically and flops back onto the bed.
drugs and other love (3029 words) by goldengalaxies
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
Characters: Montreal Voyageurs | Montreal Metros Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Boston Bears | Boston Raiders Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Cliff Marlow, Hayden Pike, Gilbert Comeau
Series: Part 9 of ways they didn't find out
Summary:
"Whatever. Just don't let yourself get distracted just to get your dick wet, Hollander." Cormeau sneered.
Roz interrupted him. "It has been seven years and it has not distracted us yet. I do not know if you remember this, or maybe your brain is all fucked up from all the hits you take, but me and Hollander are captains and we have both gotten our teams to Cups. So mind your fucking business."
Cliff sucked in a breath.
Surely that wasn't true. It couldn't be true.
7 years.
That would mean it had been going on this entire time. The entire of Roz's career. The entire of Hollander's career.
7 years.
What the fuck.
(flipping my fic love and other drugs on it's head. ilya gets hurt and is high when shane goes to visit)
Summary: Steve figures out he's bisexual and starts using a metaphor to counter people when they call him the straightest.
Author's note: I was in a Christian puppet group as a teen and in one of the sketches I had to practise puppetry to, the tree metaphor was used for a guy who wouldn't go to church if his pew was taken. After reading all the fics where spaghetti is used as a metaphor I thought the tree one fitted here too so I wrote it.
/\/\
It started with Robin, except it really didn't. Steve knew that she would listen, understand and believe him about the thoughts and feelings going through his brain. That was exactly what happened when he shared that he was fairly sure he had a crush on Eddie, that he'd probably had crushes he'd suppressed in the past.
She'd hugged him and asked if he wanted help working through it, or to just ramble about his crush. Between them they started to try and find out if there was a label for being attracted to both men and women. The discovery of bisexuality as a term took a long time to find for the pair of them, but a welcome find.
…
The actual start of it all was Dustin. The brat was somehow still convinced that Steve and Eddie didn't get along and needed to spend time around each other to do so.
Steve wasn't against the idea, actually he was going along with almost all of the kids ideas to get them talking and spending time together. He'd agreed to have Hellfire move to his house so Eddie could remain part of it and the rest of them could hang out at the same time even.
“I just don't get why you don't like Eddie.” Dustin began almost as soon as he was in the car for a lift to the arcade this time. “You and Robin have said you're trauma bonded often enough so why isn't that working here.”
Steve rolled his eyes. “I do like Eddie, probably more than you want, and the fact you refuse to see that is getting annoying now.”
“Is it because he's gay? Is that why you don't like him?” Of course Dustin didn't listen to his words, but that wasn't why Steve abruptly pulled over.
After parking he twisted in his seat expression serious, “Did Eddie tell you that and did he give you permission to tell me that?”
“Why would he need to-” It was clear Dustin was floundering with his response.
“Is Eddie meeting you at the arcade?” Steve carried on, leaving explaining for a moment.
Dusting nodded slowly, and Steve turned to start the car again. “You are shutting up now. When we get there, you, Eddie and I are going to find somewhere quiet, or possibly just get straight back in the car and discuss just how badly you talking like that could go.”
For a few moments it looked like Dustin was going to argue but couldn't find the words, then he settled to staring at Steve and then back at him. It would have been a peaceful drive if he wasn't imagining a hundred reactions Eddie could have to being outed by Dustin and hoping he wouldn't be too upset by it.
Eddie was already outside the arcade when Steve got there, waiting with the other kids and clearly looking for them. The grin he had when coming to greet them dropped quickly at Steve's stern expression and Dustin's confused one. “Hey guys, took you a while.”
“Tell the other boys to go start playing. Dustin needs to apologise to you or have it explained to him why he needs to before we're going in.” Steve smiled but it was still tense, and he nodded towards the other kids, one hand going to Dustin's wrist when he tried to head out.
The words got Eddie yelling over his shoulder still trying to figure out what was happening and deciding to climb in the back of the Beamer when he realised how ready Dustin was to run off with his friends away from whatever had happened. “So that sounds ominous. What's up?”
“This shithead is still set that we don't like each other and was rambling trying to figure out why on the drive.” Steve gestured when Dustin remained silent for once.
“And he's gone insane. All I asked was if he doesn't like you because you're gay.” Dustin chose that point to exclaim, getting two frowns directed at him.
Steve nodded though. “That. That is not your place to share with anyone. Eddie has not told me that himself, and given you had no clue why I'd ask if he gave you permission to share it, he hasn't. You Do Not share anyone's sexuality with anybody else, unless they have given explicit permission to. I don't care that I'm safe. I don't care if you think you can tell who's safe and who's trustworthy. You do not share that information for other people.” He lectured, arms crossed to stop from pointing or getting in Dustin's face to emphasis.
“Geez Kid, I told that to Hellfire because Wheeler was being a shithead about some NPC's. For a bunch of little genius's if you're gonna out me for no reason I'll go hang with Jason to see how long I survive.” Eddie groaned. “Everything Steve just said. Don't out me to anyone, don't out anybody to anyone else unless they've told you to.”
“Another secret to keep? Why the fuck does everything need to be a secret?” Dustin tried to argue. “I want to talk with my friends about them sometimes.”
Steve levelled a glare at him. “And that should not include information that could easily get them killed. It's easy to not mention someone's sexuality. We do it every fucking day. You need to apologise for it and never do it again.”
“Sorry, I guess. I just thought it was why you two don't get along cause You suspected and are like the straightest of the straights.” Dustin grumbled, barely even turning to look at Eddie when he wanted to keep arguing the point.
Steve huffed a little but decided against openly saying anything about it. “Definitely not the non-existent reason Eddie and I don't get along. I like Eddie. He's my friend just like you are and deserves a better apology than that.”
“And seeing Mom Steve defensive for me does not qualify as that apology. It's just very flattering and I'm so grateful this was your response to Mr Thoughtless's words.” Eddie grinned, softening Steve's expression with how relaxed he was being over it.
Dustin looked between them, frowning before letting out a heavy sigh. “I'm sorry alright. I didn't realise it was such a big thing to do. I won't do it again.”
Steve looked back at Eddie, waiting until he nodded, accepting the apology with a “Your PC will die if you do it again.”
“Let's go see Max destroy you all at video games then.” he agreed, unsurprised when Dustin was immediately out of the car and racing into the arcade.
“Thanks for doing that, Steve. I really wasn't sure if you'd accept me coming out.” Eddie lingered, speaking quietly so people passing didn't hear.
Steve just shrugged, locking his car and heading into the arcade, “Course man, I'd hate it if that happened to me.”
“Wait what?”
He smirked over his shoulder, glancing over the trees that lined the street. “I've decided to take a few lessons from the trees. I bet that one bends and waves when storms come in.” He stated before disappearing through the doors. It had been one of the things that he and Robin had tried using to describe who he's attracted to and he liked it more than spaghetti. Trees are strong and stood tall, even a toddler could break uncooked spaghetti into pieces.
…
It happened again during a Hellfire night a few weeks later and honestly Steve wasn't annoyed by it.
He'd been absently listening to the game, treating it like a story with actors except he could hear the thoughts of the people writing it. At the point they'd reached there had been a discussion going on about how to get information from a guard they'd yet to annoy and Gareth had suggested flirting with him.
“No, man, no. I get that you think you'll be able to get all the information that way but just look at him – he's... Actually Eddie other than in the kingdom's armour what does this guy look like?” Jeff had protested, making a few of them grin at his argument against Gareth's plan being interrupted to ask for description.
Eddie smirked, but sat up to begin narrating, “Currently the guard is watching you huddle away from him in bemusement, an eyebrow arched in curiosity over what you're doing. His hair is carefully styled away from his face with his helmet held under one arm. He's got piercing brown eyes and a clear tan on his face and hands.”
“You're making our strategising take time in the game, dude.” Mike groaned, “No fair.”
“Besides that makes my point. This guard sounds like if Harrington was a guard and couldn't have his fluffy hair. He's not going to go for your flirting Gareth.” Jeff insisted, turning along with most of the table when Steve snickered.
Steve just gestured out the window. “I'm like a tree out there. Pretty bendable if necessary and I choose what's necessary.”
“That makes no sense!” A few of the kids exclaimed but Gareth and Eddie both had considering looks on their faces.
A moment later Gareth's decision was made as he reached out for a die. “I want to flirt with the guard to ask if he knows whether the treasure we want is owned by the kingdom.”
“Roll charisma.” Eddie agreed, over the top of Jeff's repeated protests.
…
The final time Steve confused everyone with his tree metaphor was a film night and he didn't need to say it to be the one confusing them all.
He'd made a comment about Luke's boots and started a conversation or rather a debate among the kids over whether you could assume someone's sexuality based on what they wear. It was quite amusing to see, especially when Eddie decided to try fanning the flames with contradictory comments the kids could have known which were meant and which weren't if they'd only watched his expression. Some he grinned as he said them, others were said through a smirk one twitch away from becoming a grimace but all of them had someone arguing with them.
Nancy was the one to eventually get annoyed with the debate after it was around twenty minutes long. “Come on guys, you're slowly deciding that any guy wearing fancy clothes or who puts time into his looks must be gay and that entirely ignores the evidence that is Steve sitting right there, straighter than anyone.”
Robin, Steve and Eddie all snickered at that, even more so when Dustin piped up, “Can't say that Nancy. He'll compare himself to a tree again and refuse to explain more.”
“Now now, Dusty-bun, tree metaphors can be very enlightening if you only pay attention to how they're described.” Eddie leaned over putting on a voice as if he were disclosing sage advice.
“He just stays the trees are straight too but bendable in the weather. It's nonsense.” Mike protested.
Steve shrugged when Nancy and Jonathan turned to look at him. “So you are bendable? What are you subtly trying to say you are?” Jonathan asked, eyes narrowed as if already anticipating the answer.
“That I'm not as straight as you all keep insisting I am? I'm bisexual, attracted to both, and kind of getting bored of everyone calling me the straightest of the straights.” He explained easily, leaning back between Eddie and Robin on the sofa.
Most of them nodded then, before Dustin exclaimed, “But why trees? Seriously? So many other things could be used for that but you keep going on about trees? Are you a gardener without telling us?”
“One, why would I tell you about gardening if that was my hobby? You only ever want to talk about your game and I've had you try to give me a character type enough time that I don't need new ones considering any hobbies I might not have shared with you? Two, Trees are strong. They're so strong that we make houses, furniture, a whole host of things from them, and while everyone thinks they're completely still they move a heck of a lot, not just with the wind but in growth and with the seasons. Course I want to be a tree, I'm like the strength of the group trying to fight the battles head on so you guys can do something smart to actually defeat the monsters while they're distracted. It fits.” Steve rambled now, enjoying giving in more to the way he found easiest to identify as if uncertain how accepting people would be.
“Plus I really want to climb you like a tree. So it even works there.” Eddie quipped, getting groans from the kids but a curious smile from Steve.
Before Steve could reply Robin's hand was over his mouth. “Thanks for that image, Eddie, how about you put a pin in that to talk about when you and Steve are alone and not in front of the kids or me.”
Eddie grinned then, nodding, “Sounds good to me. When are we sneaking off together, Stevie?”
“We could now.” Steve offered, shifting to stand before Robin pulled him back down.
“After the film is over and we're heading home.” Nancy stated to pouts from both men.
When they disappeared under the guise of getting more snacks and drinks 10 minutes later she just sighed.
Sneak peek of the next chapter of Magic and Bluejays
Harry needed the loo, so he slipped off to use it. He heard Parkinson call to him on the way and called over his shoulder that he only needed a moment. Oddly, there were no urinals, so he ducked into a stall. When he came out, Parkinson was standing by the sinks.
“Er… Hi,” Harry said, thoroughly confused as he went to wash his hands.
“How are you in here?” she asked, looking as confused as he felt.
“Isn’t this the boy’s loo?” Harry said.
“No. Girls dorms on the left, boys on the right,” she said. Olvo came in, looking just as confused as Harry and Parkinson were.
“Gryffindor is the other way ‘round, with the girls on the right and boys on the left,” Harry said slowly. Then, with feeling, “Fuck.”
“You’re a girl?” Olvo asked.
“No, just, maybe,” Harry sputtered, holding his hands out to the side as if reaching around would help him get a grip on his mental state. “This is not. I haven’t. I don’t even know! How does the castle know when I don’t know?”
“I don’t think many people noticed,” Olvo said.
“If one did the whole castle will know by noon.” Harry groaned, tipping his head back and holding in a scream. “Well, can’t hide in here. Might as well just come out!” The last two words had a bit of a hysterical edge to them. When he came back into the common room, Snape was there and Stems was handing out the timetables. Malfoy was nearby, looking at Harry in wide-eyed shock.
“Dare I ask?” Snape said.
“You didn’t tell me the boys dorms aren’t on the left down here,” Harry said.
“I assumed the portcullis would shut in your face, as usual.” At least the man’s stoic face had no hint of amusement at Harry’s slip-up.
“Hilarious. I’m going to try and pretend that didn’t happen and hide in my textbooks.”
“Best of luck with that,” Parkinson said from behind him.
“I’m taking that as sincere, and no take-backs,” Harry grumbled, digging in his bag to avoid looking anyone in the face as he rushed off to breakfast.
Buck is accidentally outed on the call by someone he knew from the past (it’s not an ex tho, not even someone he was interested in)
When Buck woke up today, he never would have thought that he’ll end up being outed by the stupid prick he knew from college days. He thinks Buck is out and it’s ok to say that (for whatever stupid reason) and it’s no big deal. Buck stills for a moment, because what the fuck? Who even does that?
When the Prick noticed how angry some of the team are (meaning Eddie and Hen), the dumbass tries to save a face and plays it out like he and Buck are friends, which they totally aren’t and Buck shuts it down pretty fast.
Then suddenly Hen goes off on this person, because how could he do something so horrible? It’s a private thing and you have to be an ignorant asshole if you think it’s fine to expose someone’s sexuality without their consent.
Eddie is seething with anger and itches to have some words with the jerk in private (you know, the fight club style), but the need to make sure that Buck is alright is stronger. Besides, Hen seems to have it under control, good.
Buck is touched by Hen’s fierce protection of him and is really grateful. Hen doesn’t seem surprised that he’s bi. She probably suspected it. Yeah, with the way he makes heart eyes at Eddie 24/7, how could she not? Eddie already knew about Buck’s bisexuality, because ✨best friends privileges✨ so he wasn’t startled by the revelation, unlike Bobby and Chim.
Bobby collected himself quickly and had to step up before Hen punched the jerk. No matter how strongly he agrees with her, he is a Captain. Hen gets reluctantly reprimanded for yelling at the civilian while in uniform. She’s not regretting it though and would do it again if necessary.
They get back to the station and things seem to calm down, when Chimney cracks a stupid joke about Buck 1.0. Then suddenly he faceplants into his stinky uniform, which lies beside the truck.
This time Eddie gets reprimanded, you know, for tripping the fellow firefighter on purpose. Not that he regrets it either.
Buck tries to hide his smile but to no avail. Good job, Diaz, mission accomplished 😏
Bonus:
The jerk comes to the station to talk with Buck in private, but Evan is having none of it. Like, get the fuck out, what are you even doing here?
Eddie is not leaving Buck’s side (like always ❤️) and stands there looking like an MMA champion (good ol’ fight club days, well, not good, but you get the meaning). He is absolutely not trying to intimidate this guy, ahaha, no, where did you get that idea?
Bobby’s voice somewhere from above:
I see you, Eddie 👀 You’re on thin ice.
Hen, like the avenging angel that she is, is preparing to bitch slap this Blast-from-the-past dude, all the way from the couch.
Bobby is conveniently makes himself scarce to the kitchen to maintain plausible deniability in case you-know-who gets punched.
Chimney comes up with the plunger (because he’s still in a doghouse and someone needs to clean toilets) to find out what the commotion is.
So, turned out the dude is closeted gay and likes Buck, and when he met him on the call, he thought it was some kind of sign from the Universe and it would be a good idea to try to flirt with Buck. Granted, his idea of flirting is to out someone and make stupid jokes like they are old friends. Dude has no brain cells whatsoever.
Buck: Yeah, congratulations on figuring yourself out. How is that any of my business? What the fuck do you want?
Then dude asks if Buck likes him, you know, like a total moron that he is. He wonders if Evan wants to go out for drinks.
Buck: No, I think I’ll pass. I barely know you, and the times that we talked, which I can count on one hand, you were obnoxious and insensitive, not to mention kind of homophobic. So no, you don’t have a chance. I already met the love of my love, he’s standing right beside me, if you haven’t noticed.
And Eddie is floored and absolutely smitten with one Evan Buckley. He puffs his chest with pride and looks like he wants to ravish Buck. Evan is blushing and gets all adorable. Both of them completely forgot about the audience. The dude gets offended, but scared of Eddie, if he’s being honest.
Meanwhile Chimney gets redemption by chasing out the guy from the firehouse. With plunger.
If someone's interested in writing this, please tag me when you're done.
