#for steve

[sodapop-babydoll]

"I love her and that's the beginning and the end of everything..."

♡ Steve x Y/N Curtis thoughts ♡

♡ It's always been you. Always. Even when he was too young to have a word for these feelings. Even when he did have a word for it but didn't dare speak such a thing out loud.even when he dated other girls and you dated other guys, it was always you who ruled Steve Randle's heart.

He loved you from the moment Soda brought him home and introduced him to his kid sister, pretty and playing with your doll as he stood there, scrapped knees and a crooked smile.

"I'm Steve."

"I'm Y/N."

♡ You're the only one allowed to call him "Stevie" ever. EVER. He'd punch another fella for saying it and glare at a gal too. It doesn't sound right coming out of anyone's lips but yours and, while he never admits that, he makes it clear enough bu only allowing you to say it.

♡ Steve dates other girls in an effort to ignore his feelings for you...but that changes soon enough. Things didn't really change until you started dating, a little late to the game but, well, you're pretty and sweet and your big brother Darry couldn't scare off every boy that came around. And suddenly Steve realizes that if he doesn't make a move, someone else will and you'll be their girl and the thought alone is nearly enough to kill him.

Still, he doesn't make a move yet.

Steve is too scared that your brothers (especially Soda) won't approve and of being rejected, still frozen in place.

♡ But what really forces him to make a move is when you leave for a little bit. You go off for a few weeks to visit a friend/family member and he misses you so bad it hurts. Like, laying awake in bed in near tears while thinking of you levels of hurt.

♡ he misses when you'd visit him and Soda at work and tease them, sipping on a soda while watching him work on cars. He misses coming into the Curtis house in the evening and seeing you working on homework at the kitchen table, the way you'd smile up at him when he walked through the door. Steve especially misses waking up early on the nights he slept over at your place and talking with you quietly as you made breakfast together, the way you fixed his coffee just right (and he doesn't really like coffee either, he only ever drinks it when you make it for him).

♡ It almost kills him. But it's what he needs to realize that he cannot imagine a life without you by his side and, more then that, he needs to tell you how he feels. So when it's finally time for you to come home and your brothers are working, Steve offers to pick you up from the bus station right away, almost shouting it comes out of his mouth with such force.

Which is fine. He's driven you around before, even picks you up from school some days (he loves those days. Taking the long way home, listening to music and laughing together). Darry's cool with it, so the others are cool with it too.

♡ No one else notices the look Soda gives him and Steve pretends not to notice it either.

♡ He showers, wears his best shirt and clean jeans, puts on cologne and spends forever on those complicated swirls he loves so much. Steve wants to look good for you. And he's waiting for you at the train station, nervous as hell before you throw your arms around him...and he holds you longer then he should. Tighter then he should. But you're not letting go, smiling up at him with those pretty, pretty eyes.

"I missed you."

"Missed you too, Y/N."

Steve takes you to his car and opens the door for you (he always opens doors for you, his mother told him that was something a gentleman ought to do and he held onto that thought), the feeling of your touch lingering as he gets into the car.

"You mind taking the scenic route?"

♡ There's music playing on the radio. His hands are shaking. The windows down and the wind is sweet, just driving and trying to work up the nerve to say something, anything. Steve finally pulls away somewhere quiet to tell you something.

"Tell me what, Stevie?"

"Something I should have said a long time ago."

♡ And he knows what he WANTED to say, Steve had it all planned out in his head, even practiced it in the shower a few times too, but, oh, if it isn't hard to say out loud. He's tripping over himself and shaking even more...at least he is until you take his hand and kiss him, silencing him with a kiss.

And he knows the answer.

He loves you and you love him too and it's the best damn feeling in the whole world.

♡ kissing you is way better than saying whatever he wanted to say, so he keeps doing that instead. You'll end up coming home with flushed cheeks and swollen lips, the both of you smiling, hearts beating wildly. But no one seems to notice it (besides Sodapop, he notices and quickly puts two and two together), keeping everything to yourselves.

♡ For a long time after, your relationship remains a secret. It's a little exciting, sneaking around with you and stealing kisses and secret looks. You're worried your brothers would be unhappy, they don't like you to date, and Steve's worried about Darry using his head as a bowling ball. But eventually, they do find out.

♡ Soda finds out first. But of course, he's known that you and Steve were in love for years. It wasn't a question of "if" it was a question of "when" and he's just happy that it finally happened. He catches you kissing behind the DX one day and just laughs, telling you both that he already knew and it's fine by him.

"My best friend is the only man I'd trust with my baby sister...besides, it's not me that you need to worry about. It's Darry."

♡ Ponyboy finds out second. And he's so annoyed, like...Steve? Steve Randle??? You're so pretty and smart and wonderful and you could have any guy you want, hell, even Soc's have eyes on you and that's saying something! But you choose Steve??? Whatever. He won't tell Darry (but you should). And when he realizes how much Steve loves you and how well he treats you, Ponyboy's a little bit happier about it.

"I though you hated Steve."

"I don't hate him, not really. I think we're just too different, I guess, and don't understand each other. We don't dig anything except for you."

♡ Darry finds out last. You and Steve take your brother's advice and tell him before he finds out some other way. So he comes home one night and you're making dinner, dressed up real nice, Darry smiling at you when he comes in.

"What are you up to?"

"I just thought we could have dinner. Ponyboy's out with Johnny and Two-bit. Soda's working late. But Steve's coming over."

And he's looking at you carefully, the same careful look he gives Steve when he comes through the door. He looks nice, all cleaned up, and the way Steve smiles at you...Darry sees it for the first time and he knows. He just knows. Your dad used to smile at your mom like that. He's...fine with it. Fine. Darry doesn't like the idea of you dating at all but, hell, it's gonna happened whether he likes it or not and at least it's someone he trusts. But he does make one thing clear:

"You treat her with respect. You love her the way she deserves. Because if you hurt her, if you make her cry, if you do anything to cause her pain, they won't find your body. Get it?"

"Got it."

"Good."

♡ After that, the rest of the gang finds out because, well, what's the point of keeping it a secret now?

♡ Will somebody answer the phone because Two-bit fucking called it! The second he saw the way Steve looked at your first little boyfriend (jaw clenched, fists tight, eyes blazing as he looked at the poor kid), Two-bit knew that he was in love with you.

♡ Dally suspected but didn't really care. But he's just happy it ain't a Soc because, Pony's right, you're so pretty that even those rich bastards wanted you and it would have killed Dally if one of them had gotten a greaser girl. You and Steve are good together, though, even he sees that.

♡ Johnny knew but only because Pony told him about it the SECOND the found out. He's happy because, well, he knows that Steve has a rough time. His mom walked when he was a kid, his old man's got a temper, it hurts him. But you make him real happy and Johnny likes seeing his friends happy together.

♡ Steve mostly takes you on a long drive as a date. He likes his car, he likes his girl, best of both worlds! He likes driving around with you, talking and laughing. Parking somewhere quiet and starry, just to kiss you in private.

Sometimes he thinks about the day that he drives away with you and keeps driving.

Somewhere new. Somewhere better.

♡ But when you go "out" out, it's either a movie or dancing. Sometimes to the bowling alley so he can show off for you as well, when he's in a more playful mood.

♡ He lives you a heart necklace with his initials on it once you're official.

♡ Steve isn't just having fun with you. He's serious about the relationship, something that he makes clear as soon as you kissed him that day in the car.

♡ A happily ever after: you and him move. Still in Tulsa but in a little bit of a better place. Steve's been working so hard and saving for so long and works enough to eventually buy either a gas station, a mechanic shop, or a scrapyard. He's proud of himself for making something of his life, the way his dad always said that he couldn't.

Maybe it's not much.

Maybe he has to work hard to make it though.

But he has you though it and that makes all the hardships a whole lot sweeter.

[mugloversonly]

Staying in the past Moving Forward

So, I read this by @steddiecameraroll and disappeared into the void and woke up with this fully completed... I'm tagging @steddieangstyaugust but I'm not 100% sure it counts. If it does though, it fits well into today's prompt:

Prompt: Future | rating: T |

Summary: A look into the next year and a half for the boys (after refers to the breakup)

STEVE Morning after:

"Go to hell." That was the last thing Eddie said to Steve before he went with Robin to Indy the next morning as planned and told her what happened on the way.

She was pissed at him. She originally thought that Steve asked Eddie to come and he said no, which would have sucked, but she figured they could make long distance work. Steve was her best friend, but he fucked up and broke two hearts that didn't need breaking. When they got to their shared apartment, Robin called Eddie.

"Hey, it's Robin." She said once he answered. "I just called to say that Steve is an idiot. You were the best thing to happen to him and he threw it away carelessly." Eddie sniffled.

"I'm not going to take him back Rob." He said strongly. And he meant it. He knew one day he could forgive Steve, but his trust in the man would be forever damaged.

"I know. I'm not asking you to, just thought you should know that I'm not going to choose sides between you two. You're both my friends and he did you wrong." She promised to call him weekly and agreed that he wasn't going to call her as long as she lived with Steve. She could respect that.

Steve on the other hand, was angry. Not at Eddie or Robin, although a little at Robin. He was angry with himself. He assumed Eddie thought it was a fling. He knew they were planning on leaving but he figured it wouldn't be that big a deal. He was wrong.

"Did you know I was in love with you?" The words rang in Steve's ears. He didn't know but if he had, he's not sure what he would have done. He made Eddie think he was unimportant as if it wasn't breaking Steve's heart to leave him behind. He fucked everything up and a few minutes later he found out he could have had everything. God he's an idiot.

A week after:

"Robin I need to talk to him. Please." Steve begged. Robin took the phone into her room so she could talk to Eddie privately.

"He doesn't want to talk to you, dingus. I'm not going to let your fuck up, ruin my friendship." She shut the door in his face. That last part hit him hard. She was right of course. If she broke Eddie's trust by letting Steve talk to him it would ruin them too. He didn't want to do that.

A month after:

Steve tried to call the trailer a few times a week, but he never got an answer. He left voicemail after voicemail until he called and instead of ringing he heard, "The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service."

"What the hell?" He whispered. "Hey Robin?" He shouted to his roommate. At her affirmative noise he asked, "why is Eddie's phone disconnected?" He heard her stand and make her way to the kitchen. She took the phone from him and hung it up.

"You kept calling even after he asked you to stop. He called me at work today to give me his new number." She admitted. She was doing her best to help Steve get through the break up, but Eddie was her friend too and she felt partially responsible for what happened since she's the one who got into college. Steve sighed. He did this to himself. Tears welled up and began to fall. He'd cried every day for the past month but he didn't feel like he deserved to feel sad. He was the reason he felt this way, him alone. Eddie did nothing wrong, he was perfect. It's why Steve dragged it out so long. He made a mistake, if he could just talk to him and apologize, he knew this would all work out. It had to work out.

A year after:

"Go to Hell." The last words Eddie ever said to Steve. But not the last time he heard Eddie's voice.

Steve was at a bar. He was trying to find someone to hook up with, man, woman, it didn't matter. He was too thin, drinking too much, not doing well. He was staring at the bottom of a bottle nursing his still broken heart, when he heard it. Over the bar's radio a new single by a local Indiana group, Corroded Coffin: Death to the King. Eddie's voice poured through the speakers, shattering Steve's heart with each word.

The King rules with an iron fist Doesn't know what love is Uses his subjects like pawns in his game leaves them broken and in pain Death to the King who killed me first Death to the King it's what he deserves I saw us grow old through a crystal ball I saw the happy ending our kids growing tall The king saw nothing, nothing at all He took my heart When he left his throne Buried it in the forest And left me alone Death to the King who killed me first Death to the King it's what he deserves

Steve couldn't hear this anymore. He stumbled out of the bar and practically ran to his apartment. He no longer shared with Robin since she moved in with her girlfriend. Steve was happy for her, at least one of them should get love, and she deserved it for putting up with his shit.

He dialed her number and prayed she'd answer. "Hello?" Came a half asleep voice.

"Robbie?" Steve whispered. She grunted in response. "Eddie's band is on the radio! I just heard them." He said shocked, sure it would surprise her.

"I know." She said calmly.

"Oh, have you heard it already?" Steve asked.

"Yeah. He played me the demo last time I saw him." She said with a yawn. The last time she saw him?

"You visited him?" He asked.

"No, he came to see me." She said as if that didn't destroy Steve. He made the drive to see Robin who was just a few miles away from him. He could have visited. He would have visited if Steve wasn't so stupid.

"Steve? You still there?" She asked.

"I think I ruined my life, Robbie." Steve said.

"I think you did too." That statement hung in the air until Steve went to sleep.

The next day, Steve bought the whole album.

A Year and Six months after:

Steve sat down with Robin and the kids in his apartment. It was a bit strained with them after the break up since everyone thought Steve was in the wrong…not that Steve could blame them, he was the one who told them everything. Eddie had requested that their friends not take sides and Steve had done the same. He hoped this would smooth things over. He agreed to host a get together for everyone to celebrate being Upside Down free. And everyone would be here, even Eddie. Steve needed to stay strong and he would. He hadn't seen him since the night he blew up his life, but if he could explain Eddie was the right person, but the wrong time for Steve. Then everything would be okay. He hasn't gotten over Eddie and he hoped the same was true for Eddie as shitty as that sounded.

The doorbell rang and Dustin jumped up to grab it knowing who it would be. "Henderson!" Eddie's voice boomed through the apartment. The kids got up to greet him and they all came into the living room as a giant group. Robin hugged him next and asked how everything was going and then he turned to finally look at Steve a year and a half after he confessed his love. Steve met his eyes and couldn't stop himself from letting his gaze roam. He looked good. His lanky form had filled out to a more muscular build, he had quite a few more tattoos, and his long curly hair was longer and more well maintained than Steve had ever seen it. He had to say something.

"Hey, Eddie." He waved awkwardly. "You look good." He tried not to hide as everyone's eyes turned to them.

"Thanks, Steve." He replied. "And thanks for hosting." He smiled. It didn't look strained at all…maybe Steve was right and they could fix this.

"No problem. Do you want a beer?" Steve asked.

"No thanks, I don't really drink anymore." Eddie replied. Steve was shocked but he listed his available drinks and Eddie settled on a coke. Steve snagged a beer for himself on the way back. The group seemed to settle and everyone acted like it was perfectly normal for all of them to be together again. And maybe it was for everyone else. After all, the kids had been all spread out for college for months now. Eddie seemed perfectly content to chat with everyone even Hopper and Joyce when they showed up.

Steve was the one with the issue. But he did his best to not show how off he felt and he thought he was successful. He was 4 beers in when he was brave enough to ask Eddie to talk. Shockingly, he agreed and they went out for a smoke. Steve took his pack out and offered one to Eddie who shook his head. "Don't like my brand or something?" He scoffed.

"Actually no. Wayne had a cancer scare a few months back so we both promised to quit." Eddie said quietly. Steve felt like a dick.

"Jesus Eddie. I'm sorry." Eddie dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Eddie asked calmly. Steve meanwhile was freaking out. Here goes nothing.

"I wanted to start by saying I'm sorry for how I ended things back then." Eddie opened his mouth but Steve rushed forward. "Please let me finish." Eddie nodded. "It was a shitty thing to do. I shouldn't have ended things like that or blindsided you with it. I never should have done it in the first place because I've been miserable without you." Eddie went to speak again before shaking his head and gesturing for Steve to continue. "I loved you back then and I didn't think you loved me back. I still love you." This time, Eddie couldn't keep quiet.

"Steve," he sighed. His face was unreadable but the beer gave Steve courage.

"You're my right person Eddie. It was the wrong time a year and a half ago, but it's the right time now." He took both of Eddie's hands in his. "Please, give me another chance?" He asked hope bleeding into his voice. Eddie smiled softly but it wasn't a happy smile.

"Steve, I listened to you, so can you promise to listen to me?" He asked keeping their hands together.

"I promise. I'd do anything you asked." Steve vowed. Eddie ducked his head and began.

"First off, thank you for the apology. It was really shitty what you did back then. We had only been dating a few months so I understand you not asking me to come with you, but not telling me at all? That was the worst pain I have ever felt, including the bats." Steve sagged, he hated that he put Eddie through that. "And I forgive you."

"You do?" Steve lit up. Eddie held his palm up to indicate he wasn't done.

"I forgive you, Steve. But this isn't fair. You broke up with me. I can't… I won't trust you with my heart again." He whispered softly but with certainty. "You broke it into smithereens. Crushed it into pieces and then ground it to dust under your shoe as if it was a trinket from the arcade." Steve winced and felt tears begin to stream down his face. "I'm sorry, you're miserable Steve. I really am. I can try to be your friend again. Slowly. If that's something you can be okay with. But I'm not willing to be more than that." He pulled his hands from Steve's. "You were my first love Steve and a part of me will always love you. But I moved on. I'm moving forward. It's time that you did too." With that he turned and went back into the apartment.

Steve's vision blurred but he still looked at Eddie through the window. He didn't look affected at all by Steve's confession and his rejection of it. Was Steve so delusional to think that just because he couldn't let go, that Eddie wouldn't either?

He spent another half hour out there wishing things were different, when Robin came out. "Hey. Did you get closure?" Robin asked. Steve nodded slowly. "And?"

"I didn't want closure." At Robin's questioning noise he admitted, "I wanted a second chance." Robin gasped. "He said no. I don't blame him."

"So, what now?" She asked.

"I move on I guess. He said he'd be willing to try being friends again but made it very clear that's all we'd ever be." Steve hung his head and cried.

Two weeks later Steve saw a headline that stopped his heart: Corroded Coffin's front man engaged to mystery man!

EDDIE morning after:

"Go to Hell" the last thing he said to Steve as he stormed back to his van. He sped back to the trailer, the raw pain tearing him apart piece by piece. Luckily Wayne wasn't working tonight. Eddie needed him. He slid into the driveway and barely remembered to lock the car door behind him before he sprinted into the house. Wayne was sitting in his rocking chair but one look at the state Eddie was in had him jumping to his feet.

"What's wrong, son?" Wayne asked. The tears that were starting to fall became a river down Eddie's face as he told Wayne what happened. Wayne pulled him onto the couch and into his side. He held his boy and rocked him softly as he cried.

"What am I gonna do without him Wayne?" He whispered.

"You want to feel your feelings or want to fix it?" Wayne asked. This was a system they came up with when Eddie was little. Sometimes Eddie just needed to vent without Wayne trying to solve the problem.

"Fix it, Wayne. Please. It hurts so bad." He sobbed. Wayne held him tighter.

"It'll probably hurt for a while." He said sadly. "Here's what we're going to do. You are going to go rest. When you wake up I'll go pick us up some of your favorite foods from the diner while you shower. Then we're gonna comb through the house and get every reminder of that boy out of the house and in the trash where it belongs. We're going to get rid of everything that makes you look behind you. And finally! We are going to get drunk on the good beer and watch one of those horror movies you like so much. How does that sound?" Eddie smiled even through the tears.

"That sounds like a great idea dad."

"Only look forward from now on Ed."

A week after:

"Ed! Phone for you." Wayne called. Eddie wiped his eyes and moved to answer it. He checked the clock and realized exactly who would be calling.

"Hey, Rob." He said. He was happy to hear from the girl, glad that their friendship wasn't destroyed by Steve's actions.

When she called a week ago he thought about hanging up but she didn't sound like she was going to yell at him. He was right. It was the same with the kids. When he didn't go to see Steve off, Dustin called him. Eddie expected to be torn into but the boy was calling to see if he was okay.

"Steve told us what happened and I just want to say, that was shitty of him. I don't know if I think he's a good guy anymore." He admitted. Eddie's heart hurt, not just for himself but for Steve and the party.

"Listen, I can't tell you how to feel. But don't pick sides on my account. Robin and I are still friends even though she's rooming with him. Don't let our falling out destroy your friendship. If you decide on your own that's one thing, but don't do it for me." Eddie said. Dustin agreed and passed it on to the rest of the party. As soon as he hung up, the phone rang again and it was Robin. She expressed similar sentiments as Dustin. They agreed to call weekly. Which brought them to now.

"Hey, Eddie. Let me go into my bedroom." She apparently called from the kitchen in case he didn't answer. She began walking and he could hear Steve in the background.

"Let me talk to him, please." He heard Robin tell Steve no and shut her door.

"Sorry about that."

"No problem…thanks for that." He said earnestly.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you more by breaking your trust in other people." She said sternly. The two talked about their week before Robin asked the dreaded question. "How are you doing by the way?"

"I'm alright. I mean…I've been better but I'm not drowning myself in booze." Robin chuckled. "I don't blame you Robin. He made the choices he made, not you." He said again. He said it their first call too but he got the feeling she didn't believe him. Hopefully this time it would stick.

A month after:

"Hey, Eddie. It's Steve. Listen I know you haven't been answering me but I just…I want to talk to you. Apologize properly. I miss you." The machine told him. Eddie rolled his eyes. He asked Robin to tell Steve to stop calling. He didn't get to dump Eddie like a broken toy and then beg to talk to him. That's not fair. It's so selfish. Eddie thought Steve wasn't like that anymore but…he was wrong.

"Hey Wayne?" Eddie said as he stepped out onto the porch. At his grunt of affirmation, Eddie continued. "How much hassle would it be to get a new phone line?" After explaining to Wayne that he asked Steve to quit calling but he wouldn't, he agreed to get another phone line. Thankfully, it wasn't that hard to tell everyone they spoke to about the change. Eddie made sure to call Robin's work number to give her the new one though. He didn't want to risk Steve answering.

Six months after:

The band was actually making waves. They veered from the death metal scene and went into hard rock. It wasn't too much different if Eddie was being honest, but it was getting attention. They were preforming at actual bars and getting a crowd. They had groupies and agents were scouting them.

Eddie had indulged in the casual sex of it all but made sure to stay away from drugs, he knew what that shit could do. On some nights, he wasn't looking for a hook up, just someone to talk to.

It was one such night when Eddie met Zeke.

Zeke was everything Eddie never knew he wanted. Tall with dark hair, dark eyes, and mocha skin. He radiated confidence but he spoke shyly. "You guys are good." He said as he slid into the seat next to Eddie.

"Thanks. We've been playing together a long time." Zeke seemed interested and the two of them chatted. Not once did he think of Steve, a first when it came to chatting up men. So far every man was compared to Steve whether Eddie wanted to or not. But, Zeke was so different and Eddie felt ready to move on. The night ended with Zeke walking Eddie to his car and Eddie brushing a kiss to his cheek with a request to come to the next show.

Zeke kept his promise and showed up again and again. Eventually, he asked Eddie on a date to which he agreed. The only time he thought about Steve that night was when Zeke asked if he'd ever been in love. "Once. It didn't end well." At Zeke's sad and confused eyes, Eddie told him what happened. He couldn't help the way his eyes welled up, but it didn't hurt as much to tell this story. "Just, promise me one thing?" Eddie asked.

"Anything."

"If you decide you don't want to be with me, for whatever reason, don't do it like that." The pain was still in his voice and Zeke looked heartbroken for him.

"I won't."

Nine months after:

Wayne came out of the doctor's office with tears in his eyes. Eddie expected the worst. He had gone in for a routine checkup last week and they were worried they saw something. "It's okay, boy. It was benign." Wayne reassured as Eddie threw himself into his uncle's arms. "We gotta quit smoking though. It might be too late for me, but you're young." Eddie met his uncle's eyes.

"Whatever you want, dad." He promised. On the way home, they stopped at the drug store to get nicotine patches and gum. The next few weeks were going to suck, but it would be worth it to put Wayne's mind at ease. He silently promised to quit drinking too.

After Steve left, Eddie drank a lot that first month. But now, he wasn't as torn up. He was still hurt, of course he was, but he knew he didn't do anything wrong. It was all Steve and the only thing Eddie could do was forgive him.

Eleven months after:

"Robin, are you going to be in town next week?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah. Why what's up?" Robin situated herself at the dining table. She recently moved into an apartment with her girlfriend. This meant she could talk to Eddie freely. At first she didn't want to leave Steve alone, but he promised he'd be okay, and they hung out nearly every day anyway.

"My band is coming there to record an album. We'll be there for about two weeks." He said as nonchalant as he could. That didn't stop Robin from screaming her excitement and nearly bursting his eardrum. "Jesus woman! With pipes like that you could blow the windows out of Notre Dame."

"Sorry, sorry. That's so exciting!" She congratulated him. He shared the details of when he would be in town and where they were staying.

"I also wanted to show you a demo before we put it on the album. It's a different kind of personal than some of the other things I've written and I want your opinion."

"Sure!"

The next week saw Eddie playing his "heartbreak anthem", as the boys called it, "Death to the King". It was the song they were singing when they were noticed by this label so they wanted to put it out there, Eddie just wanted to make sure it wasn't obvious who it was about by those that didn't know him.

He drove his sword through my heart His court jester lost his spark He wasn't cool, he didn't shine And the king screamed, you're no longer mine I gave him my loyalty I gave him my love I gave him everything wanted nothing in return He took it all from me and left me to burn Death to the King who killed me first Death to the King it's what he deserves

The song played through and Eddie felt raw. "So?" He asked.

"It's about Steve obviously. But you wouldn't be able to tell really if you didn't know the two of you dated. Especially when you consider all the other songs about anti-establishment on the album." Robin was right. it would blend in.

A Year after:

"Death to the King" was playing on radio stations all over the country. It was being requested in call ins and the buzz for the album was booming. It was set to come out that night and the band was celebrating tonight! The band flew into Indy from Chicago so they could all be together with their friends and family. Robin came in with her girlfriend Libby and made the rounds.

"I'm so proud of you Eddie!" She said and hugged him tightly. The kids of the party and other young adults (minus Steve) were all there and it was sweet.

"Thanks, Buck. Oh! This is my boyfriend Zeke." He said introducing them.

"Finally I have a face to the name." She said and shook his hand. She didn't let go and yanked him down to her level. "Listen to me closely. If you hurt him, I will end you. He's been hurt enough by idiot boys, alright?" Zeke nodded and leaned back eyes wide.

"Wayne gave me a shovel talk earlier too. But I don't plan on hurting Eddie and if I ever do, I will find you and let you do what must be done." Zeke promised.

"That's all I ask." She said before she began milling around.

"She's terrifying." He said. Eddie laughed at his boyfriend.

"She is isn't she?"

As the album wrap party wound down, the band all stood at the front of the room to thank everyone for coming.

"There's one more thing though" Gareth said. "Eddie, this album is filled with your pain and heartbreak from a year ago." He was touched by their recognition.

"We hate that you were hurting but we all saw how cathartic this album was for you." Jeff spoke next. He tilted his head in confusion, it seemed like they were leading up to something.

Bear closed out with "and while we don't want you hurting, we hope that this doesn't turn our music into sappy shit." He grabbed Eddie by the shoulders and spun him around to face Zeke who lowered himself to one knee.

"Oh, holy shit!" Eddie screamed uneloquently and covered his mouth with his hands. Zeke laughed softly.

"Eddie, when we met you were just starting out. I got to see, not all of it, but a lot of hard work, dedication, and sleepless nights that led you here. I have never been as happy as I am with you. And I know it's a little soon, we've only been together for six months. But I love you Eddie. You're it for me baby. I asked Wayne for his blessing and he gave me this." He pulled out a ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal Eddie's mom's ring. Tears ran down Eddie's face. "I got it resized to fit you, I think. Wayne mentioned it was your mother's and her mother's, you know all the way up the chain. And since you don't have any sisters, we figured it could be yours. So, will you marry me?" Zeke finally asked. Eddie was nearly sobbing now but he was determined to speak. But first…he full body tackled Zeke to the ground.

"Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" His friends cheered and in a heap on the ground his fiance slid his ring onto his finger as their lips met. The flash of a camera reminded him everyone else was in the room. They broke the kiss and he smiled at the group. His eyes caught Robin's and he saw the joy in them for him but also the tinge of sadness she must feel for Steve. He shook his head, he was over Steve and had been for a while, but they were friends once. Maybe they could be again.

A Year and Six months after:

Eddie stood outside Steve's apartment. He was glad Zeke understood when he explained it was a night for the survivors of the "Earthquake" only. He flew in with Eddie and was hanging out at the hotel waiting for him to get back. They were planning on Seeing Wayne tomorrow. He knocked and was relieved that Dustin answered the door. He stepped in and caught up with everyone he'd seen recently before finally turning to see Steve for the first time in a year and a half.

He didn't look good. Bags under his eyes, five o'clock shadow, too skinny, and most telling of all, his hair wasn't done. They went through the awkward stage of catching up with an ex, before Steve asked to speak to him outside. Eddie didn't really have anything to say to him, but closure would be nice.

Except, the more Steve spoke, the less Eddie wanted to be out here. "This isn't fair. You broke up with me." Eddie wanted to tell him he was engaged but now wasn't the time. He wanted Steve to understand that this was how Eddie felt, regardless of another person in his life. He didn't want to get back together with Steve because of Zeke, but because the pain Steve caused him was too great. He would always love Steve, you never forget your first love. But Eddie didn't want to look to the past, only the future. As he left Steve outside, a weight lifted off Eddie's chest. He finally felt free to fly.

The next morning he called his PR team and gave the okay to announce the engagement.

Two weeks later when the article came in, Zeke and Eddie cuddled on the couch and read it together.

"Corroded Coffin's front man Eddie Munson is engaged to accountant Zeke Forester". Eddie had never been happier and was moving forward.

[miidnighters-a]

@berylcluster | closed starter

"You should go sit down. Let me do this." It's not like Morgan cares if the bacon spits at him. May as well let the other relax for now. "You can have dinner duty."

[leporinelou]

i can’t really picture steve’s parents giving a shit about his birthday and i kinda feel like he forgets about it himself or at least tries to

so imagine billy finding out (thank you tommy) when it is, turning up at steve’s house the night before and telling him to get his ass in the car

doesn’t tell him why, just waits for steve to get in because they both know he will

and he drives them to the quarry, pulls out a six pack and a joint and they lie on the hood of the camaro, looking at the stars

as soon as the sun starts to rise, billy pulls out something small, rectangular and wrapped in paper

he shoves it at steve, who looks at him, confused, before unwrapping it, and-

“you uh… you made me a mixtape?”

“told you before, pretty boy, your taste in music is shit”

billy tilts the can he’s holding, enough to knock it against steve’s

“happy birthday, harrington”

[thevulturesquadron]

“Well, can I ask you about today?”

[dumestark]

@courtofmuses​

“I feel like you should be bonding with me because you’re hanging with my dad a lot. So this is your chance to spoil me rotten.”

[dreadlockholiday]

Thinking about tiny blond vampire twink Sebby today.