The idea that Eddie is stronger than he looks is fun.
There's nothing else to it.
He doesn't have the stereotypical "jock muscles" that he teases Steve about and very much resembles a gangly, floppy-muppet creature (especially in the midst of his cafeteria speeches and other such performances). But he's not weak!
And everyone gets their own taste of what that means.
Exhibit A: The Party
Eddie will absolutely haul the children around with the same ease he hauls his laundry bag around (he is SLIGHTLY more careful with the children because they bruise easier than his laundry bag). If they're being particularly unruly, they're going over the shoulder to get the potato sack treatment.
Whenever they need to set up a space for D&D from scratch, Eddie's the one doing most of the heavy lifting. He brings the most stuff (from gear for the actual game to the snacks) and deals with the tables and chairs.
He is the only one allowed to move his throne. He's the only one who knows exactly where it goes for the best effect.
Exhibit B: Corroded Coffin
Similarly, there's a lot of heavy lifting. Eddie and Grant (the unnamed freak in CC) are the only ones who can lift their band's amps on their own. Gareth and Jeff need to work together, or have help from Eddie and Grant.
He has carried each of them at least once after rescuing them from bullies or for the heck of it (this mostly applies to Gareth since he's still short enough that his feet dangle when Eddie lifts him up).
No one talks about it out loud, but they know Eddie's had to defend his "territory" in the woods on more than one occasion. Being a known dealer in Hawkins has never been as easy as he makes it look.
Exhibit C: Jocks
Eddie's not an inherently violent person, necessarily, but he will and has absolutely thrown down to defend his sheepies. And unlike Steve's track record with human opponents, he's won enough fights to make even jocks like Jason Carver nervous.
He's not afraid to get loud, he's not afraid to bear his teeth, he's not afraid to get in people's faces. No punches actually need to be thrown for jocks to get the idea.
His metal rings have left their marks on certain offenders. The smart ones have healed, but those stupid enough to keep going? Well, at least they'll always have a fun conversation starter when they meet new people.
Steve's not the only one who's been thrown against a wall. He's just one of the few who Eddie willingly let go before the fight was finished. He's also the only one who's walked away relatively unscathed.
Exhibit D: Steve
Eddie refuses to let Steve carry the grocery bags. Even if they're preparing a party that involves all of their friends and their families, and end up buying a quarter of the store to accommodate everyone, Eddie will fight Steve when it's time to get the groceries back to the car. He insists that they maintain the foundation of equal trade--Eddie handles the bags, Steve handles the food later on.
He despises Steve's morning runs, and makes sure Steve knows it. He will cling to Steve the night before and refuse to let up, even when still under the enchantment of sleep. It's only when Steve uses all his might to try and escape that Eddie finally wakes up--no alarm clock needed anymore. Whether Steve proceeds with his run or not depends heavily on his skills of persuasion that day. He's found that bribery usually works best.
Eddie will regularly trap Steve in blanket burritos when he feels like Steve is running himself ragged or notices that he's especially stressed. He's the only one who can get Steve in the blanket and the only one who knows how to secure it so that Steve can't get out on his own.
Steve might be The Party's resilient knight, but he's Eddie's fair maiden. And Eddie treats him accordingly. He loves scooping Steve into his arms with loud declarations of adoration, spinning him around, and then settling him on his lap. Bonus points if Steve ends up falling asleep--it warms Eddie's heart that Steve trusts him enough to NAP in his presence when he's usually too worried about everything to randomly fall asleep.
He will carry Steve to bed if they stay up late watching a movie, or Steve needs some time to come down from a nightmare. That includes braving the stairs with so much care that Steve doesn't realize he's been moved until the next morning.
(If he and Steve had been together during the latter's encounter with Billy Hargrove, or even just friends, Eddie would have left Billy with a permanent limp for laying his hands on Steve and Lucas.)
Some NSFW prompts
Eddie likes pinning Steve against the wall when they make out. He likes it even more when Steve lets Eddie hold him completely--jumps up and wraps his legs around his waist and everything. It feeds his ego to know that he's the first of Steve's partners who can pick him up and hold him where he wants.
When given permission to manhandle Steve around during sex, he doesn't hesitate. He TAKES it. He loves the way Steve moans and whines and tries to grind back into him at Eddie's show of strength. Just as much as he loves watching Steve's blush extend past his face and travel down his body.
He likes holding onto Steve hard enough that his fingerprints leave bruises. His fingerprints on Steve's ass have been a favorite between the two. Hawkins isn't a safe place to be out, but Steve likes physical reminders that he's with Eddie to substitute not being able to freely take him out on dates or commit to his usual grander romantic gestures, and Eddie will leave his mark any way he can.
Written for the @steddiemicrofic April prompt ‘Score’. WC target: 351 | Rating: T | POV: Eddie Munson | Tags: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Gareth Emerson, Jeff, Grant (unnamed freak), Pre-S4 | CW: mentions of food and eating, light swearing | A/N: This is the companion piece to Keeping Score (Steve’s version)
“… so I shove past the cheerleaders - there’s no way I wanna be stuck behind them - and then it… happened.”
“You mean, Steve Harrington just asked? For your number?”
“Is that really so hard to believe, Gare, that someone hot asked for it? Don't answer that… Anyfuckingway, one minute I was innocently ordering something sweet, and the next he’s got my number tucked away in that stupid little uniform of his!”
“Innocent. Is that what you call making him climb for those fancy crackers so you can ogle his ass from behind?”
“Shut up, Jeff. Anyway, it works, doesn’t it?”
Gareth continues interrogating.
“So tell me again exactly what happened.”
“Well, there’s this scoreboard, right? That they think nobody can see but we all totally can. And he was obviously angling for some big sale or something because he was all ‘ahoy sailor’ and being super-flirty and shit.”
Grant encourages, hopefully,
“And you flirted back. Right?”
“I— I, uhh…”
Gareth takes no prisoners.
“You flubbed. You so flubbed!”
“What? No!”
“You did! I bet you never said two words to the guy the whole time.”
“Well, maybe words didn’t need to be said, Mr Emerson. You ever heard of non-verbal communication?”
“So, you froze. Ha, you froze - like the ice cream!”
“Shut up, Grant. Don’t tell me you’re taking their side, damn. So, I make him wait as I sexily take a bite of my dessert—”
“No way, man, you totally panicked! Nothing stops you from talking. Wait, you didn’t get brain freeze, did you?”
“Shut UP, Jeff! No way, I was smooth as fucking silk! So anyway, I make him wait, and then I write my number on this napkin, and he grabs it and shoves it down his goddamn shirt. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to be that napkin right now….”
Gareth and Jeff simultaneously sigh obnoxiously, feigning looking wistful and proud. Gareth clutches Jeff’s arm dramatically as he lifts his voice and warbles,
“It’s finally happened.”
Eddie frowns.
“What has?”
Jeff laughs, raising his hand towards Eddie, inviting a high five,
"I'm sorry, you're what," Gareth asks, stunned by what Eddie just said.
"I'm dating Steve." Eddie braces for the inevitable impact that is about to happen.
"Steve Harrington."
Jeff clears his throat. "Like, King Steve?"
"The Hair Harrington," Grant adds on.
"Are you out of your mind?"
Eddie sighs and lets his head fall into his hands. "See, this is why I didn't want to tell you guys. I knew you would get stuck in who he was and not who he is now and start questioning things and trying to get me to break it off."
"Well, no, let's slow down," Jeff intervenes, holding his hand out to tell Gareth to shut up. "How long have you been dating?"
Eddie tilts his head to the side. "Officially, a month."
"A month," Gareth exclaims.
"Unofficially, four months."
"FOUR MONTHS." Gareth gets up from where he was sitting and does a lap around the garage.
"That's a long time to be unofficial," Grant adds, Jeff nodding along.
Gareth gets in Eddie's face. "How could you be seeing Steve Harrington for four months and not tell us."
"Because I knew you would act just like this!"
Jeff pulls Grant back by his vest and pushes him back into the chair. "How were you guys together for three months before you made it official."
"Probably because Steve was still sleeping around," Gareth mutters.
"Oh shut it, Gareth," Grant snaps.
"He wanted it to be official pretty much the moment it started, I was just too scared to do it."
Jeff walks over and places a hand on Eddie's shoulder. "But now you're not as scared right. Now it's good between you two."
Eddie can't help the smile that forms on his face. "Yeah, it is."
"But why him?" Gareth asks, clearly upset by this information. "You saw who he was in high school man. Friends with the people who made fun of us for fun. Total player. Cared more about his looks and reputation than anything else."
"Oh like you don't do the same thing," Grant ruffles Gareth's hard.
"Seriously, why him?"
"Cause for the first time when I ran away, he came looking for me."
Gareth gives him a blank stare. "What."
Eddie stands up, shaking his head. "You know me, can't have anything good. The moment people start to care about me, especially romantically, I run away. Can't handle it. Took Wayne long enough to get me in, but that's different. You guys kept coming back, but that was different too. No one who ever wanted me like that gave enough of a shit about me to come find me after I ran away. He did."
"Ed-"
"The first big fight we had, I thought it was over. He wanted something more and I was so sure I wasn't enough for him. That he was just going to realize down the road that I was nothing. So I started a fight, picked a nerve I knew would hit just right so that it would end right then and there. And I knew he would fight back, and he did. So I ran away, thinking that it was over. The next morning he came back and apologized, like he had anything to apologize for. He came after me. And kept doing it. He knew that I didn't mean it, that this was just a defense. For the first time, no one let me run away."
"Shit," Gareth exhales. "That's pretty great."
Jeff claps Eddie on the back. "Really great.
"Can we meet him, officially," Grant asks.
"Yeah sure, he's been asking about you guys. Wants to come to a show sometimes."
"I can't believe Steve Harrington is going to be one of our regulars."
Grant gasps. "Our first groupie."
"Oh my god, yes."
"Guys stop it, it's not that serious."
"Sounds pretty serious to me," Gareth gets up again and walks over to Eddie. "I'm sorry for judging him. If," he looks up and takes a deep breath. "If he makes you happy, then I guess he's ok. But I want to meet him and scare the shit out of him."
Tags: Getting together, WWII AU, Easy Company Lieutenants Steve and Eddie
Pairings: Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson
Rating: M
Summary: A close call with death prompts a life-changing move.
Series: @corrodedcoffinfest 2nd Annual CCF: Media Mania
Steve’s lips are cold.
Soft, yes. Just as Eddie knew they would be. But still so cold.
And that’s not what he should be thinking about. No. Fuck that – no. He should be reveling in this moment, in the culmination, the fucking climax of over a year’s worth of hoping and pining and hoping some more. Of talking himself out and through and in between a thousand different conversations. Of stroking his dick with a quick fist and a bitten bottom lip, fast and dirty in the shower house or under the thin, wool blanket in the barracks.
Or rather, Eddie should be thinking about the danger that ignites the frigid December sky in blinding, crackling blooms of white and yellow.
Of the pine trees that become secondary shrapnel, pillars of the Bois Jaques forest reduced to projectiles as they’re hit again and again with enemy fire.
Of the shouts of his company, barking orders and desperate cries marry in the cacophony of chaos until they’re no more than white noise.
Of the symphony of screams for Doc Owens, and how E Company’s beloved medic screams right back for spare morphine to placate the dead and the dying.
Of Sergeants Emerson and Goodman in the next foxhole over, cussing a rabid blue streak for more ammo that they all know they don’t have.
Of the replacements the company was handed yesterday, Privates Henderson and Sinclair, that he hasn’t even bothered to learn their first names yet, because fuck this place and fuck the fact that they probably won’t live to see tomorrow.
No.
All he can think about is how in one second, a Kraut mortar plummeted from the sky and landed six inches from Eddie’s foot. How in a millisecond, he had his life flash before his eyes, and in that tiny fragment of time, he regretted it all. Every last moment not spent with First Lieutenant Steve Harringotn. All of the pining and longing and stolen glances that Eddie would swear up and down were returned until he talked himself out of it; t’s all not fucking worth it because he never had the chance to tell Steve how he feels.
Until the mortar didn’t detonate.
Until it just sat there, smoking, wheezing out a dying breath while Eddie and Steve held theirs.
Until Eddie’s trembling fingers fumbled for the button on the breast pocket of his jacket, fishing for a smoke he never got to light, because Steve fucking Harrington grabbed him by the nape of his neck and kissed him.
Shit.
Maybe he is dead. Maybe he’s halfway to heaven already and God is giving him one last hurrah, as a way of saying Thank you for your service, soldier! or some shit before he’s catapulted straight to hell.
Because it can’t be real. Steve’s lips are cold, mashing all that plushness hard against his mouth in a way that makes his teeth bear the brunt of the kiss. It’s brutal. It’s rough. Literally rough; Steve’s untrimmed stubble scratches against Eddie’s dry skin, chafed raw from lack of care and the bitter cold.
It’s too callous and unfeeling –
OhJesusFuck.
It was too callous and unfeeling, until the tip of Steve’s tongue prodded at the seam of Eddie’s lips, begging him for entrance and wouldn’t you know it?
Warmth.
Blissful, sultry, sinful warmth roars like fire through Eddie’s veins, groaning as he welcomes Steve with a tilt of his head and a fistful of fatigues. Eddie wrenches Steve closer, tasting and licking every last inch of Steve, painfully aware of their vulnerability in their poor excuse for a foxhole, but too lost in Steve’s flavor to care.
A blast, far too close to where they recline entangled in the frozen dirt, rips Eddie from the embrace of Steve’s lips. Shock and fear and lust paint Eddie’s normally pallid cheeks pink, further deepening when Steve puffs out a husky laugh.
“Been wanting to do that since Currahee.”
The laugh that bubbles forth sounds hysterical. And maybe it is, given Eddie’s current surroundings. “Basic training?” he blurts, eyes flaring wide when Steve nods. “When Lt. Creel had us eat all that spaghetti and then run –”
Steve’s hazel eyes are dancing with mirth. “Three miles up, three miles back. Yeah.”
“I’m pretty sure I puked my guts out in front of you.”
“Yet somehow, I still fell.”
There’s so much more to be said. So much that Eddie wants to lay at Steve’s feet, to meet him halfway after devastating him with the world’s most monumental kiss, but he won’t.
Not right now, not when there’s an ominous lull in the action, where Officer Hopper and Newby’s bellows of Incoming! fade as lonely echoes.
Steve’s still got his hand cinched tight around the back of Eddie’s neck. “We should –”
Eddie draws him closer, memorizing each freckle that dusts over his nose, every mole that somehow makes him all that more beautiful. “Pick up right where we left off.” He forces down a swallow. “Once this is over.”
Tender fingers sweep over the baby hairs at the brim of his helmet. “You want that?”
Eddie could kiss him again. Slow and sweet this time, pretend the world doesn’t exist outside of this 3x4 crater in the ground. Show this man that he’s walked through fire and ice with just how much he wants.
A swell of voices rips Eddie from his reverie, and a sinking feeling weighs in his bones. This night’s not over, not by a long shot.
“I want a lot of things, Steve,” puffy plumes of heated breath swirl in the minute space between them, and Eddie squeezes his hold on Steve’s jacket before releasing him and snatching his M1 off the ground. “And I want them with you.”
no romantic pairings; Eddie Munson, Gareth Emerson, Jeff, & Grant (freak)
word count: 1k
summary: Corroded Coffin Fest Day 1: Band of Brothers | Corroded Coffin needs a new frontman— and who else but their biggest fan fits the bill?
warnings: some swearing, nothing else that i can think of
notes: Submission for @corrodedcoffinfest! Thanks to @punkrockmlchael for this idea! And the biggest thanks to @peachyproserpina for editing this baby too!
The venue smelled of beer and sweat, and somewhere under all of that, Corroded Coffin was falling apart. Backstage, the air was thick and silent. Gareth stood dead center in the green room, staring down at the piece of paper in his hands like it wasn’t the key to their demise. It was already crumpled, damp from his grip, and torn at the corner from how quickly he’d yanked it off the fax machine half an hour ago.
Their frontman was gone. There was no fight. Just a typed message with no signature or flair.
This isn’t working anymore. I’m out. Best of luck.
Gareth read it again even though by now he could’ve recited it in his sleep. It didn’t make more sense the fifth time. Jeff sat on a busted foldout chair, Grant was hunched over with his head in his hands.
“Alright,” Jeff finally mutters. “So that’s it. That’s the end. Guess we start selling washed-up Coffin tees on Sunset for gas money.”
Gareth doesn’t look at him. “We are not ending the band because some asshole got cold feet.”
Jeff raises an eyebrow. “The asshole who sings every damn song?”
Gareth finally looks up. “The asshole was replaceable. We’ve been carrying him for fucking two tours.”
Grant looks over. “And what, you think we’re just gonna stumble into some perfect replacement?”
“No,” Gareth sighs, standing up and brushing past him toward the doorway. “But we will find someone. One-night auditions. Quiet. No flyers, no open calls. We do this our way.”
Jeff laughs under his breath. “We’re looking for a unicorn.”
“No,” Gareth muttered. “We’re looking for someone crazy enough to want this.”
Word travels fast.
Corroded Coffin had lost their lead singer.
And in the crowd at a cramped show in Fort Wayne, standing in a sea of black denim and sweat and smoke, Eddie Munson felt like a fucking lightning rod. He’d read the rumors in a crumpled up magazine someone had left on the counter of a record shop in South Bend. He’d snatched it as soon as he saw it. And when the band played that night— a stripped-down set with Gareth taking the mic for one song after another— Eddie knew. He didn’t scream when they played, he didn’t throw elbows in the pit, or bang his head until his spine ached like he usually would. He just watched. Burned the setlist into his brain. Drank every second of the performance like it was water in a desert. When the crowd started to spill out, sweaty and high off the noise, Eddie stayed. Slipped past a distracted security guard and waited near the back exit, hands in his pockets, his boot tapping lightly on the concrete.
When Gareth finally steps out— there’s a cigarette already between his lips, hoodie over his hair, blue eyes darker than the alley— Eddie didn’t hesitate.
“You looking for a new frontman?” he grins.
Gareth stops walking. He glances over, sizing Eddie up in about three seconds— black jeans, a beat-up Dio tee, ripped denim vest over leather. His hair was a mess, his knuckles a bit scabbed, confidence like he had nothing left to lose. “And who the hell are you?”
“Eddie Munson,” he grins. “Used to front in a band called Chainsaw Mercy. We broke up after the drummer puked on stage and then tried to blame it on ‘spiritual interference.’”
Gareth gives him half a smirk, tapping the ash off his cigarette before he takes a drag. “Sounds promising.”
Eddie shrugs. “Look, you don’t need another guy with pretty vocals and good hair. You need someone who knows the music. Someone who gets it.”
“You get Corroded Coffin?”
Eddie steps closer, he isn’t backing down. “I saw you play in an Indianapolis parking lot in ’88. I still have the bootleg tape from that show. I’ve played every song you’ve released— B-sides, demos, the live-only shit that never made it to vinyl. I can scream, sing, and shred. I write lyrics. I bleed this stuff.”
Gareth squints at him. “We’re not running open auditions.”
“Then make an exception,” Eddie bites his lip, his voice low. “One night. One song. That’s all I’m asking.”
Gareth stares at him a beat longer, and after one more pull he flicks his cigarette to the ground. “Rehearsal space. Behind Sam’s Vinyl on Sixth. Tomorrow. Midnight. Don’t suck.”
The space was rough— cement floor, no heat, one bulb flickering overhead like it was haunted. The band had hauled in enough gear to make it real, but not enough to feel safe. Eddie showed up right on time, his guitar case in one hand. He didn’t say much when he walked in. Just nodded once, plugged in, and asked what they wanted to hear.
Gareth glances at Jeff, who nods toward the old setlist taped to the wall. “’Witch’s Hunger,’” Jeff says just loud enough for him to hear. “Hardest one. If you can pull that off…”
“I will,” Eddie shrugs, and launches right into it.
He doesn’t need to warm up. He just opened his mouth and let the first guttural note tear out of him. His voice was rough and beautiful, the kind of voice that Corroded Coffin needed.The riffs came as easy to him as breathing. The scream before the second verse shattered the air. And by the time the solo hit, Eddie’s entire body was in motion— his head whipping, boots stomping, this was Eddie’s moment. When the final note hit, he stood there breathing hard, his hair stuck to his face, sweat dripping down the back of his neck.
No one clapped. No one said anything.
But Gareth was grinning.
Jeff let out a low whistle and then a laugh. “Jesus Christ.”
Grant, for the first time in two days, smiles.
Gareth walks over and offers a hand. “You’re in,” he hums. “And if you ever leave us by fax, I’ll find you and break your jaw.”
A/N- i didn’t realize how long it’s been since i’ve posted a fic with all the boys in it!! i really miss getting to write for all of them 🥹
Summary- During a catch up with the boys after summer break, they learn of the unfortunate reason why you broke up with your most recent ex.
Genre- Fluff (?)
Warnings- Bad boyfriends doing bad boyfriend things 🙃
Tag List- @thatsthewaythechrissycrumbles @munsonology
(my tag list is always open, let me know if you’d like to be added 🖤)
Word Count- 2.1k
The first summer after high school always felt like a weird one.
Wether you had college waiting for you at the end of August or a job lined up for some quick work, catching up with the people you knew best was always so refreshing. Especially after not seeing them for nearly two months.
You walked into the bar you’d snuck into for one of their shows so many times before. You were grateful the owner let it slide whenever he caught you sneaking beers, especially when you stayed after to help clean after a set. Your eyes scanned the room, searching around for them and smiling once you saw Jeff waving his hand for you.
The boys were all smiles, and as you quickly made your way to the table they stood up one by one to give you a long awaited and much needed hug.
“Hi!” You exclaimed excitedly, “It feels like it’s been forever.”
“Two months is forever.” Jeff said with a smile as you hugged one another, Grant standing up after him.
“Why’d you leave us here to fend for ourselves?” Grant laughed as his arms went around you.
“It’s not my fault my family decided the reunion was gonna be out of state,” You rolled your eyes, “if it was my decision, we wouldn’t have had a reunion at all.”
“Reunion?” Eddie said as he stood to take Grants place, “So we’re not family anymore?”
“You shush.” You smiled, “My family’s cool with us smelling like weed and watching horror movies in the basement, my EXTENDED family is not.”
“Well it sounds like they don’t know how to have a good time.” Gareth was last up, laughing to himself.
“Clearly!” You agreed, sitting down in the empty chair they had left for you and grabbing the one still-capped bottle of beer. “Enough about me, how was it up here without me? Anything change with you guys?”
Eddie spoke up first after a sip from his bottle,
“I got that job at the body shop a few miles outside the park.” He said with a smile, shrugging it off as if it was no big deal, “Pays been pretty good, and it’s full time too.”
“That’s awesome!” You cheered, “I’m happy for you Eds, i know you’ve been checking that place out for a while.”
“Yeah, it just sucks when it cuts into stuff for the band, y’know?”
“Well yeah, but that’s just how grown up jobs work.” You shrugged, taking a sip from the bottle in your hand.
“True.” He shrugged, taking another sip before Jeff cut into the conversation.
“Me and Gareth were able to get some classes in at that local community college. They’re supposed to start next Monday.”
“That’s great! Are you just trying to get the gen-ed’s done, or do you think you’ll stick around?” You asked them.
“I’ll definitely be sticking around.” Gareth chuckled, “Mr. Honor Roll over there wants to get the gen-ed’s done so he can get into state.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a community college degree, i just want to make sure that i get the required stuff out of the way IF i go off to state.” Jeff said to Gareth, “And the only reason i said i’d go to state in the first place was because my parents were listening. If the choice was mine i’d stay here.”
“Still, it’s good that you guys were able to get in there. Do you know what you’re majoring in?”
“I’m going undecided for right now,” Jeff said after a sip from his bottle, “but i think Gareth is going for History?”
“Yep, U.S. history.” Gareth nodded with a smile, “I mean i think it’s already pretty interesting, i might as well get a degree in it.”
“Good idea. Good for you guys though, i might see if they have any classes open to get a few more credits while i’m at work. Grant?” You looked over to him across the table, “You said your dad was able to get a good word in for you with his union, did you hear anything back about that?”
“Yeah! I actually started all the training and schooling for it last month,” He said with a smile, “in another two months i’ll be an iron worker.”
“That’s great! I’m so happy for all you guys, it sounds like it’s been pretty eventful without me here.”
“What about you, (y/n)?” Gareth asked, “Anything interesting happen for you?”
“Not really.” You smiled and shrugged, thinking back over the last two months, “Same old, same old. I’m still gonna be working with my mom at the office, it’s been pretty stable thus far and if i make it to a year they make it fairly easy to move up so i’ll probably stick with that for a while. And while i was at the reunion a few people were asking about you guys.”
“Really?” Eddie asked, “Who asked about us?”
“A lot of the younger cousins. They wanted to hear all about my friends and their super cool band. And i showed some pictures to grandparents and aunts and uncles, they said we look like a pretty happy bunch. Oh! And i almost forgot, you guys remember my cousin Carlee and her shithead boyfriend?”
They nodded in unison, remembering how you always told them the stories of her boyfriend being anything but.
Never taking her out on dates, never buying her flowers, and of course who can forget the time he said he didn’t have enough money for their water bill but he absolutely had enough money to buy himself a whole new stereo system for his car.
“He proposed. And she said yes.”
They all groaned,
“Really?! Does this girl have no self respect?” Jeff said before you all tipped back your bottles. After something like that, a drink was definitely needed.
“Guess not.” You laughed, “Oh well, not my circus, not my monkeys.”
You all drank from your bottles, and you were about to mention how at the reunion her boyfriend couldn’t stop eyeballing a few of the other cousins all while Carlee was attached at his hip, but Gareth beat you to it,
“What about that guy you told us about a few months ago?” He asked, quickly jogging your memory to the guy you’d been talking to for only a few weeks at the time, “What’s his name?”
“I think it’s Randy, or Roger, or something?” Eddie asked, “Definitely something with an R.”
“Russel?” You said.
“Yes! How’s he doing?” Eddie asked as they all moved to listen about how you and this new guy were doing, especially when they weren’t around to hear all the juicy relationship details.
You smiled to yourself and stifled back a little laugh,
“Oh, he’s long gone.”
“What?!” Jeff exclaimed, “I thought everything was going good with that guy? I remember we met him one time after a show, he seemed like a nice guy.”
“Yeah, seemed like it to me too.” You said with an eye roll, taking the last swig from your bottle before setting the empty onto the table.
“What happened?” Grant asked.
You sighed and thought back to that final day seeing Russel,
“Well, because he was my boyfriend at the time, my parents said he could come along with us to the reunion. He drove me up there with him and everything seemed normal, we were talking just fine, and then we got to a truck stop close by and i saw a payphone and i remembered i had to call you guys…” You cleared your throat, sitting up as the boys were on the edge of their seats. They may be boys, but no one loves gossip like they do, “And as soon as i told him i wanted to call and check in with you guys he just seemed kind of… off? We got to my aunts house for the reunion and he pulled me off to the side and said he really didn’t like how close i was with you guys.”
“Really?” Eddie questioned.
“I’m not finished.” You smiled, “He said that he knows how guy friends are. That all you guys were hoping for was to see me naked, you didn’t actually care about me, and he would know because he said he’s only been friends with girls to try and hook up with them.”
The collective gasps of the boys only made you giggle more.
“That asshole!” Jeff shook his head.
“He said that if i wanted to keep seeing him then i had to stop being friends with you guys. So i told him he can go fuck himself and have a safe drive home.”
“You made him drive all the way back?!” Gareth laughed.
“Absolutely! I’m not going to let some guy tell me who i can and can’t be friends with, and he’s lucky i didn’t put sugar in his gas tank and leave him stranded there.”
Grant laughed, finishing off the last of the beer in his bottle,
“Fuck, well i’m sorry we got in between that.”
“What’s there to apologize for?” You asked, “You guys didn’t do anything wrong. If i date a guy who can’t understand that i’m JUST FRIENDS with all of you, and you’re cool with that, then that’s their problem and not ours. Besides, i’m not going to cut off every guy i know just for some loser.” You giggled with an eye roll.
“I don’t know,” Eddie shrugged, “I just think it’s funny that he said that after we met him. He kept trying to turn the conversation into talking about you? Like he was baiting us into saying something we shouldn’t about you.”
“Did he?” This was news to you, “What did he say? And why did you not tell me?!”
“I remember me and Jeff talking to him and he kept turning and looking at you while you were with Eddie and Grant and he kept trying to get us to look at your ass.” Gareth said with an uncomfortable look on his face.
“And he also kept trying to pry information out of us, and he seemed irritated that we didn’t have anything to tell him.” Jeff said.
“Information like what?” You asked all of them, seeing them exchange glances with one another.
“He asked us if we ever… did anything with you.” Grant said, leaning in and quietly saying the end of his sentence to keep it private from the other patrons in the bar.
“Yeah, he said something really weird to me.” Eddie got the shivers as he remembered the conversation, “He was saying something about you two, definitely not going into detail, but alluding to some mature thing you guys were doing, and he asked if we ever got to experience that side of you instead of this front you put on.”
“Front?” You questioned, getting more and more irritated with your ex the longer this conversation went on, “What did he mean by that?”
“I think he also assumed that since you were friends with us that meant you had… intentions.”
You groaned and leaned back in your chair, not being able to help the laugh that rose up from your lungs,
“What an asshole! And why didn’t you guys tell me?”
“You seemed like you really liked the guy!” Eddie argued.
“We didn’t want to ruin your chances with him,” Jeff said, “You we’re telling us all about how nice he was and when we met him we figured it was just him having word vomit cause he was nervous meeting us.”
You sighed and smiled to yourself, holding your face in your hands.
“Ok, fine, i’ll cut you some slack. But if you guys ever meet anyone i date, or i have the potential to date, and they’re doing weird stuff like that i want you to tell me. Deal?”
“Deal!” They said in unison, the rest of the boys finishing off what was left of the beer in their bottles and placing the empties onto the table.
“Alright, we’ve had our drink,” Eddie stood, stretching his arms over his head, “you guys wanna come back to the trailer and hang? I know Wayne would be happy to see you after so long (y/n).”
“Yeah! It’ll be like old times.” You stood with the boys and smiled, walking out with them as they wandered off to their cars in the lot.
Seeing the boys after so long felt like such a breath of fresh air, and it was nice to know that they always had your best intentions in mind. Even when guys you brought around them were being a little strange.
No matter what, no man could replace those boys’ places in your heart.
kinda a niche au concept but i think a lot of people will get it but also it’s so random lol: corroded coffin friendship / steddie / buckingham / more lol
okay, my dad watches car shows all the time like the car sos shit, and i don’t really like them, but i’ve always enjoyed one: Counting Cars. the main mechanic is like a metalhead and they’re all kinda punky and alternative and just a bunch of metalhead dads pimping out old cars and shit.
henceforth, the au idea: how are you seeing how our beloved eddie might fit into this?
SO say CC got big enough to be known kinda western globally or whatever, maybe bigger idk i don’t care but anyway. maybe they were a one hit wonder in the 80/90’s or whatever.
but they stopped playing because they all kinda wanted to settle down and stop partying and wanted to buy houses and not have to tour all the time or whatever right. say gareth met a girl and got married to her and they had a kid on the way, jeff and grant wanted to settle down and live a cosy steady life together, eddie was just so fucking tired of being front man idol or whatver. and they all just wanted to get back into the mechanic shop - maybe they all apprenticed at thatcher tyers or whatever in hawkins when they were younger.
whatever the reason, they’re ex-famous band who are pretty ficking rich and love working on cars and shit. so they open a shop and start fixing up cars. they get a lot of rapport because of their name; the shops called corroded cars or something similar to the band name. eddie runs the place because it’s mostly his passion and he impulse bought the shop himself whilst drunk one night and then they were all just like okay yeah let’s do this lol.
maybe one night they’re all chilling at gareth’s place for “family” dinner and after dinner they’re just watching telly and a car show comes on and then they get the idea to start a show!!! so they do!!!
eddie’s the main guy, obviously. he’s always been the drama queen confident one so he runs it all, and it’s His shop anyway. eddie is the idiotic, loveable, idiot but he’s also just a cool down to earth alternative guy who headbangs whilst working on engines and REFUSES to cut his hair.
i think jeff would be the head painter, graphic artist,. i feel such an arty vibe from him ya know? i think that would be his area of expertise. the audience would love his general calm vibe but also adore how easily he puts everyone in their place in a second and is so secretly sassy.
i think argyle would be the airbrush guy and also works in paint / design. he’s Definitely not always high and is just funny like that… definitely. his niche opinions and random curiosities keep the audience captivated.
gareth would be the detailer i think. he’s got a sort of perfectionist vibe and he’d always have a go when eddie brings in a car or a bike he’s just been fixing the motor of or whatever and there’s grease stains all over the doors and shit. the audience would love their banter.
grant would be the bike shop manager, he’s got a strong interest in motorbikes and that’s his area of expertise. he’ll spend hours perfecting one part of the body of a bike and eddie adores his dedication every fuckinf time.
jonothan would be the tech guy. he finds ways to update old cars to help them run smoothly whilst feeling authentic in the drive. some of the tech he pulls out is next level and everyone in the shop will spend an entire episode gushing about this one feature in a car he added that makes it feel like a spy car or something.
Nancy!! she’d be the behind the scenes manager. eddie hired her about one month into the buisiness when he realised none of the CC guys could / or wanted to do the books and shit. she’s smart as hell and a total hard ass when it comes to their aloof attitude and carelessness, but she’s also good fun and a total girlboss. eddie relies on her to keep the shop afloat, he’d be lost without her. she’s a fan favorite because she’s the only one who can attempt to put eddie in his place and acctually succeed. anyone goes and tells eddie he needs to think about the budget before he goes spending, he won’t even listen, she gives him one look and tells him no and suddenly he’s sheepish and nodding and walking away like a child who was told they can’t have a cookie. she’s in charge of all the books / finance / accounts / all that stuff!
(also, people are having a hard time figuring out if she’s dating john or argyle, or weather those guys are dating eachotjer, or if they’re all dating, or if None of them are dating)
Chrissy!! she’s adorable. a total fan favorite. she’s their receptionist and is currently taking an engineering course part time in college, finally taking the initiative to do something She actually wants to do. her sweet demeanour pulls customers and watchers in, and her determined attitude is what makes them stay. she’s like pure sugar, but so insanely smart. sometimes she’ll come and watch everyone as they work and if it’s not busy they’ll teach her different things and let her try. everyone loves the episodes where chrissy gets to try and fix things or paint things or learn things!
ROBIN!!! my girl! ugh! she’s TOTALLY an iconic mean lesbian okay. she’s always got banter with the guys, and she’s so cool calm and clllected, insulting them all the time. the girls in the audience go crazy when she’s onscreen in just a wife beater tank and got them gay girl muscles out! she works close with eddie on motors and shit but she’s also the project scout. she looks for new things for them to try and brings these ideas / cars / bikes / whatever else over to eddie to get out into the show! but the audience loves her even more when they see her totally awkward dorky side come out the first episode where chrissy comes over and watches robin work. they’ve never seen robin drop a spanner so much! chrissy is the only one who can fluster robin like that. the audience is rooting for their romance.
and the steddie! so robins totally uber rich best friend likes collecting old cars. and she’s been trying to get him on the show for a while because he has Such cool cars but he’s never needed fixing or pimping. until he goes and buys another one and it just won’t run and it’s all beaten down but he just HAD to buy it because it was his dream car as a little kid or something. so he comes on the show with his car and - well, the main reason he’s been avoiding it because he actually used to crush on lead guitarist and vocalist eddie munson back in the 90’s - eddie obviously being the face of the show greets him with nancy and robin and they talk about his car and eddie gets Flustered!
robin has a totally hot best friend whos So ficking queer And knows heaps about cars and is standing so close, shoulders touching with eddie as he shows pictures of his collection on his phone and eddie pretends he’s looking at the cars and not steve’s ring adorned hands.
steve is also highly protective of his cars and so he hangs around whilst they work on his ride. he and robin are so chatty and bitchy together and the audience love it. and eddie can’t stop Staring!!
by episode three of steve being featured in it people are posting shit trying to notify steve and robin that eddie is so gay for steve!
and then steve’s car is done and done and then he leaves the show. and then a couple of episodes later robin approaches eddie and whispers - but the cameras are right there - to eddie asking if he has been perving on her best friend and it’s So funny to everyone cause eddie’s kinda terrified and she’s threading to burry him alive if he hurts her steve and- eddie goes red when he realises that robin just confirmed he had a chance with steve.
anyway. suddenly steve has Many more appearances on the show :)
and obviously robin and chrissy get together!!’
and no one ever finds out about the love triangle between nancy jon and argyle (they’re all polly)
