summary: 1,2k. steve harrington has always been dustin’s protector, but spending time at the Henderson household introduces him to someone unexpected — you, his older sister.
cw: henderson!reader, shy!reader, fluff, awkwardness, dustin being a cute menace, english is not my first language xx.
currently playing: time after time
You were Dustin’s older sister — someone Steve had never known existed back when his popularity was at its peak. But his life had been turned upside down (no pun intended) in a painfully short amount of time. After… well, everything, he found himself spending far more time with your younger brother and the rest of the party than he ever imagined.
When Steve and Dustin weren’t fighting ungodly monsters, the eldest spent his time offering valuable life advice — most of which revolved around hair tips and girl problems. None of it particularly helpful, but still.
Time spent at the Henderson household had slowly become time spent with you.
You were sweet and relatively shy, but it was impossible to miss how deeply you loved your brother. More times than Steve could count, you’d told him how grateful you were for him — because kids like Dustin didn’t exactly have it easy. Somewhere along the way, Steve found himself developing a quiet crush on you. And maybe it was born from desperation, from a longing for any kind of attention from the opposite gender — but you were… perfect.
Tonight, like so many nights before, Steve found himself standing on your front porch after dropping Dustin off from another long day out. His hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his Levi’s, his gaze soft as it lingered on you. He let out a quiet breath when you thanked him yet again for looking out for your brother.
“You really don’t have to—”
Before Steve’s brain could catch up, you stepped closer and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to his cheek, leaving behind a faint smear of lip gloss. He went completely still, brown eyes widening just slightly as he stood there, stunned.
You were never one to be so bold.
Steve froze.
Like—actually froze.
The kind where his brain blue-screens and all he can register is the warmth lingering on his cheek and the faint scent of your lipgloss. Strawberry. Or cherry. Something sweet. Something you.
You were already pulling back, eyes wide like you couldn’t believe you’d done it either, fingers fisting nervously into the hem of your sweater.
“I—” you started, then stopped. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I—”
“No,” Steve blurted, way too fast. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to breathe. “No, it’s— it’s fine. I mean. Not fine, like— good. It was good. The kiss. On the cheek. Which was— yeah.”
Great. Harrington. Real smooth.
You let out a small, breathy laugh despite yourself, and something in Steve’s chest loosened. God, that laugh. Soft, a little surprised, like you weren’t used to being the one who caused reactions like this.
“I didn’t mean to make it weird,” you said quietly.
“You didn’t,” he said immediately, more serious now. “I promise. You could never make it weird.”
The porch light buzzed softly above you, casting everything in that warm yellow glow. Somewhere inside, Dustin was already yelling for snacks or his campaign notes or something, but for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of you and the space between your bodies—which suddenly felt very, very small.
Steve swallowed. “I just… wasn’t expecting it.”
You nodded, biting your lip. “Yeah. Me neither.”
Silence stretched. Not uncomfortable. Just loaded.
Steve noticed things he maybe shouldn’t have: the way your shoulders relaxed when he didn’t pull away, the way your eyes kept flicking to his mouth and back up again, the way your fingers twisted together like you were holding yourself back.
“You okay?” he asked gently.
You took a breath. “Yeah. I just— I’ve wanted to do that for a while.”
Oh.
That did something to him.
Steve blinked. “You have?”
You nodded, cheeks warming. “You’re really good with Dustin. And… with everyone, actually. You don’t have to be. But you are.”
Steve let out a small huff of a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I mess up. A lot.”
“So do I,” you said. “Doesn’t make it less true.”
God. You were killing him. Soft-spoken but devastating.
Before he could overthink it—before that stupid voice in his head could remind him of Nancy, of heartbreak, of how things tend to go wrong—Steve stepped closer. Slowly. Giving you time to pull away.
You didn’t.
“Can I…?” he asked, gesturing vaguely between the two of you.
You nodded again. “Yeah.”
This time, when he leaned in, it wasn’t rushed. His hand hovered for a second before settling lightly at your waist, like he was afraid he might disappear if he held on too tight. Your fingers curled into the front of his jacket, grounding him completely.
The kiss was gentle. Soft. Careful.
And somehow, it felt like more than any dramatic, movie-worthy kiss ever could.
Steve pulled back first, resting his forehead against yours, eyes closed. “Wow.”
You smiled. “Yeah.”
From inside the house: “HEY! ARE YOU GUYS DONE BEING WEIRD YET?”
Steve groaned, dropping his head back. “I swear to God, Henderson—”
Dustin’s face appeared in the doorway, eyes squinting suspiciously between the two of you. “Wait. Were you kissing?”
“No,” you said too fast.
“Yes,” Steve said at the same time.
Dustin gasped like he’d just witnessed a crime. “OH MY GOD. I KNEW IT. I KNEW YOU LIKED HER.”
“Dustin!” you scolded, mortified.
Steve held up his hands. “Okay, first of all, inside voice. Second of all— yeah. I kinda do.”
Your heart skipped.
Dustin’s expression shifted from shock to something dangerously smug. “Wow. I’m gonna be so annoying about this.”
“You already are,” Steve muttered.
Later—much later—after Dustin had finally gone upstairs and the house had settled into quiet, Steve found himself sitting on the edge of the couch beside you. Knees brushing. A movie playing that neither of you were really watching.
“You don’t have to stay,” you said softly, even though your body leaned just a little closer to his.
“I want to,” he replied just as quietly.
You looked at him then. Really looked at him. Not the babysitter. Not the hero. Just Steve Harrington, sitting awkwardly on your couch, heart worn a little thin but still very much open.
“I don’t really do this,” you admitted. “The… dating part.”
Steve smiled, gentle and understanding. “That’s okay. I don’t really do the winning part.”
You laughed, then rested your head against his shoulder without thinking. He stiffened for half a second before relaxing completely, arm coming around you like it belonged there.
Outside, Hawkins was quiet. No monsters. No sirens. Just a rare, fragile calm.
Steve looked down at you, something warm and hopeful blooming in his chest. Maybe things were still broken. Maybe they always would be.
But right now?
Right now felt like the start of something good.
And Steve Harrington wasn’t about to mess that up.
HAPPENING ALL ALONG MASTERLIST - a steve harrington x fem!oc stranger things rewrite. ゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
⭑.ᐟ authors notes: hi angels, i've decided to post happening all along on here as well along with ao3. they will be still coming out on ao3 and i'll still be announcing when they do, but they will be coming out here too subsequently. probably a couple days after. if you're new here just letting ya'll know this is going to be a long one. very slow burn childhood friends to lovers, best friend!steve and henderson sister!fem oc . episode by episode, but bear with me ya'll because I have a vision. quick little preface, pretend that dustin didn't move to hawkins! in this story he's always lived there and their father moved away after their mom found out he was cheating. open to all criticism and suggestions.
⭑.ᐟ warnings: depictions of violence, major character death, underage sex, ptsd, blood, guns, underage drinking, underage smoking, and all the other canon stranger things things. there will be smut in the future so minors interact with caution.
⭑.ᐟ summary: Andi Henderson and Steve Harrington had been inseparable since they were six. Even when Steve turned into the school’s golden boy, he never quite stopped looking for Andi in a crowded room. But somewhere between the late-night drives and shared jokes, Andi started seeing Steve differently. Not the one everyone worshiped, but the boy who only ever let his guard down around her. And then he fell for Nancy Wheeler. Or at least, he thought he did. Andi tried to smile through it, tried to pretend her heart didn’t crack every time he looked at Nancy the way she wished he’d look at her. One night, at a party Steve threw while his parents were gone, she drank too much trying to forget. Laughter blurred into silence, and a scream tore through the night. Andi ran outside nothing. Just cold air and the echo of something wrong. The next morning Barbara Holland was missing and Andi couldn't shake the guilt or the way Steve eyes seemed to linger on her when she wasn't looking.
HAPPENING ALL ALONG - a steve harrington x fem!oc stranger things rewrite.
very slow burn childhood friends to lovers, best friend!steve and henderson!fem oc.
PART 1:
Chapter One: The Vanishing of Barbara Holland
Chapter Two: Echoes from the Backyard
Chapter Three: Shadows in the Woods
Chapter Four: Small Victories
Chapter Five: Hope, Even Here
Chapter Six: First Light
Chapter Seven: Breaking Point
➢ a/n: i haven't written in a v long time so pls be nice <3 this takes place before the finale episode, a mini rewrite of the second half of 5x7.
➢ summary: with the world on the brink & the upside down waiting, steve harrington stands shoulder to shoulder with someone he’s cared for quietly for years – his best friend’s sister.
➢ warnings: none!
➢ word count: 2.4k
Hawkins is quiet in the way that only happens when something terrible is waiting. Which, as of late, is all the time.
Everyone is gathered at the Squawk, preparing to head back to the Upside Down. Operation Beanstalk is about to be set in motion.
Emotions are running high. You, along with everyone else, are ready for it to be over, but not ready, nor excited, to head back through the glowing red gate.
Making your way down the steps to the basement of the Squawk, you move past Mike and Robin as they argue over which record to play while the upside down is being blown to smithereens.
“… one simple rule, pick a good record-”
“this is a GREAT record!”
You make your way past the table in the center full of weapons, moving towards your brother.
He tenses slightly as you reach over and pull up the shaggy cape he has draped over his shoulders.
“I was looking for ya Dustybun,”
He softens once he hears your voice.
“Will you ever stop calling me that?”
You shrug. Once Suzie-Poo said it over the walkie and you overheard, it was game over. He’s been Dustybun ever since.
Truthfully, you were worried about him. With everything going on, it was your attempt to bring back a little bit of normalcy.
Dustin’s been off since Eddie’s passing, whilst he and Steve have been on the outs. Even though he would never say it out loud, it has been extremely hard for him, and truthfully, difficult for you.
Dustin is so on edge… and Steve is coming around less.
You’ve grown to have a soft spot for Steve Harrington. He’s a different guy than he was in high school. Not as big of an asshole, that is.
At first, you thought it was just a little strange the way he attached himself to the kids, but over the course of the years, you’ve come to find it endearing. He’s been great with them, especially Dustin. While the two of you were close, there are some things someone might not want to tell their sister. Some things are better suited for a brother.
Your stomach feels fuzzy as you recall his snowball dance a few years back. Dustin sat on the couch across from you in your living room, his head leaning against the back of the couch. Then he leaned forward, then back again, foot up, foot down. He was jittery, to say the least. This was his way of working up the courage to ask you to take him to the store so he could get the Farah Fawcett spray.
After pressing him for an explanation, you got no answers. Yet, you took him anyway. About an hour before the dance, you heard a knock on your front door. It was none other than Steve Harrington. You remember how your heart jumped into your throat, because why is Steve Harrington on my doorstep?
You exchanged very few words, if any, before Dustin ripped around the corner, grabbed Steve by the arm, and dragged him down the hall. At that point, you connected the dots. Steve “the hair” Harrington gave up his secret to help your brother.
“How’s your um…” your mouth moves into a straight line as you get a look at Dustin’s face from a different angle, your hand moves to touch his face, then quickly retreats.
“Your face,” you continue.
Dustin has recently… biked into a pole. That’s what he tells everyone else, anyway. You, however, are very much aware of the critical details Dustin left out of that story. It makes your blood boil.
“It’s okay, looks worse than it feels right now.”
You sigh and gently wrap your arm around him. He’s just about the same height as you now, yet he leans into you, pulling you into a hug.
“Are you scared?” He asks you, chin on your shoulder.
You hesitate for a moment.
“No.”
You say it with finality. If you say it enough, maybe you’ll start to believe it.
You overhear Nancy around the corner, her concerned tone bouncing off the walls of the dimly lit basement you’ve been spending too much of your time in.
“Have you ever used one of these before?”
Your attention turns toward the direction of her voice, and you and Dustin release each other.
“Hey,” he turns to look at you. “We’ll get through this,” he continues.
How he became the one comforting you, you have no idea. That was your job.
You hear Steve’s voice, catching the end of his and Nancy’s interaction.
“BB guns… air rifles…” he clears his throat, “duck hunt.”
But Dustin isn’t finished, his mouth upturning into a smirk “…then maybe you can figure that out,”
He looks at you through his eyelashes, moving away from you and joining in with Steve and Nancy.
Your eyes widen, but you follow him. This isn’t the first time he’s teased you about a boy, but this is the first time in a long time.
The first time he’s ever referred to Steve.
You’ve never outwardly told Dustin about these complicated feelings you’ve been having. You have no idea how he would react, especially now when things have been so… tense. But Dustin has always been the observant type. He pays attention.
Besides, you’re not even sure yourself what these feelings even mean.
There’s a beat of silence.
“Duck hunt,” Nancy says, in a matter-of-fact, yet teasing manner.
At that moment, Steve notices you and Dustin are standing behind Nancy. It happens fast. A wave of emotion runs over his face as his cheeks turn a light shade of pink. You notice his weight shift ever so slightly, and he averts his eyes over to Dustin.
“And he’s remarkably good at it,” he states, as if trying to save face.
“But I have a better idea,” Dustin starts walking towards Steve, yet he doesn't stop, continuing in that direction. Steve is still looking at you.
Nancy tilts her head to the left.
Noticing the movement out of the corner of his eye, Steve follows suit.
______
“Duck hunt,” Steve huffs, running his hands through his hair, once he turns the corner.
“Stupid,” he says under his breath, putting his cap back on.
Dustin responds as he reaches towards a large pointed stick on the wall, “s’okay, she has a soft spot for stupid.”
Steve furrows his eyebrows, “What?” He chuckles, “Who?”
He knows exactly who Dustin is talking about.
Dustin completely ignores Steve’s response, handing him one of the large weapons.
“These babies are deadlier than they look.”
“Yeah?” Steve says, his voice low.
His mind is still on Dustin’s comment, but he’s unsure if he should press on it. Dustin has been a ticking time bomb. Clip the wrong wire, boom.
“Yeah,” Dustin releases his grip on the stick.
“I know…y’know,” he continues on, seeing the pleading look in Steve’s eye.
Steve’s eyelids narrow, and he takes a glance behind him before returning his attention to Dustin.
The silence grows a little uncomfortable while Dustin waits for Steve to muster up a response.
“My sister,” Dustin cuts through the silence.
“Yeah, what about her?” He tries to mask the interest in his voice - and fails.
“I know, Steve. You’re not exactly subtle.”
“Pfft I - I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
Steve brushes it off, like he always does. He’s used to pretending he hasn’t imagined kissing you more times than he can count. Steve’s always held the idea in his head that you were absolutely off limits. It didn’t matter anyway; you didn’t see him the same way. He was almost certain. Until now.
____________
Everybody is preparing to load the back of Murray’s trailer.
You’re kneeling down, re-lacing up your boots. Normally, your hands tremble. But not today.
Steve has been hovering closer than normal. You can feel the heat of his stare, only from a few feet away.
It’s like you might disappear if he walks too far.
He’s been like this before, protective and careful. Especially before previous crawls, but not this intense. He seems wound up tighter than normal. You tell yourself it must be the nerves, with everything coming so close to an end.
Every time Steve looks away, his chest tightens with the irrational fear that something will go wrong in the seconds he’s not paying attention. That you’ll disappear into smoke and static and blood, like too many other things in Hawkins already have.
So he keeps his eyes on you.
Once your laces are tied, you look back in his direction, catching his gaze immediately. You make it to your feet, and he looks off in another direction, about to make himself look busy.
“Hey Harrington,” you state, causing him to look in your direction.
“If you keep staring at me like that, people will start to think I’m about to grow a second head,” you joke.
He blinks hard, furrowing his eyebrows. “I wasn’t staring -”
“Steve.”
Anyone would have been able to notice his looming eyes over you if they weren’t so preoccupied.
There’s a pause. The kind that stretches but doesn’t strain. You glance up at him, and Steve feels the familiar, unwelcome ache in his chest.
“You okay?” you ask, this time with concern.
He nods, even though the truth is more complicated.
“Yeah,” he says. “Just making sure everyone’s accounted for.”
Especially you, he thinks. He wouldn't dare say it out loud.
Your mouth curves into a small smile. He’s always been somewhat of a guardian, especially for the kids. It’s just Steve being Steve.
You just look at him, something warm and unreadable in your eyes.
“I can take care of myself,” you say, softly.
“I know,” Steve replies, and he means it. “I just… like knowing where you are.”
You nod slowly, as if it doesn’t twist something tight and hopeful in your chest. He’s always the one standing back and counting heads. This is no different.
Despite this, your stomach tightens. You take a step forward, close enough that Steve can feel the heat of you.
“I’m right here.”
His breath stutters, barely noticeable.
“Good… good,” he murmurs, nodding his head.
The two of you stand there, the silence not uncomfortable, but full.
The silence is broken after you notice Dustin come up behind Steve. He clears his throat pointedly.
At the sound, Steve steps back an inch.
“Sorry, am I interrupting something?” Dustin says innocently, though his expression says otherwise, his eyes lingering in the newfound distance between the two of you.
“No,” Steve responds, too quickly.
“Right,” Dustin hums, rocking back on his heels.
“Well, we’re um… leaving,” he finishes, walking towards the doors.
You and Steve share one last look at each other, then move towards the door.
_____
The whole vehicle shudders as it makes it through the gate into the Upside Down, tossing everyone off balance. You grip a bar overhead, turning your knuckles white as it vibrates under your fingers.
Next to you, Steve shifts slightly to steady himself. Your shoulder brushes his, for just a second. Your chest jumps at the contact.
You tried to focus on the floor, on the feeling of the bar, on anything besides the steady warmth of him so close, or the soft tilt of his head toward yours.
“Seriously,” you murmured, “how are you even standing upright?”
Steve’s jaw tightened, but he managed a smirk. “Years of dodging monsters. Also, strong legs.”
She snorted. “Strong enough to save the world, huh?”
The semi jolts forward again as Murray drives over a bump. Due to the nerves and the heat radiating off of everyone, your hands were a little damp.
You lose your grip on the bar, but you didn’t fall far before you felt a hand on your back, keeping you upright.
“Strong enough to keep you from face-planting,” he replied, voice low.
Your chest flutters at the touch, and this sudden quiet confidence coming from Steve.
The two of you linger for a moment before you reach for the bar and pull yourself up. Steve’s hand leaves the small of your back.
After you’re standing upright, you adjust your hands on the bar. You lean slightly against him for balance, close enough that you could feel the faint warmth from his arm.
Eventually, the vehicle comes to a stop. The air between you was taut, charged, and unspoken.
“I thought that was the easy part,” Robin states as everyone regains their balance in the back of the semi.
At the sound of her voice, both you and Steve let go of the bar and step away from each other. You can’t help but notice the small crease between his eyebrows and how familiar it feels.
“It was,” Lucas breathes out.
Hop walks to the back of the trailer, about to open the door.
You look over at Dustin, his gaze is fixed on Steve, standing right beside you.
Steve looks back at Dustin, eyes darting towards you for a split second, then back at Dustin.
Steve takes a deep breath. He would never admit to anyone how much he admired Dustin. His ability to be himself without caring what other people think. His ability to go after what he wants. Steve is stuck on how he’s always cared what people think, regardless of how badly he didn’t want to; however, he used to be the guy who would go after what he wanted.
The trailer starts to empty, as everyone slowly starts to move past the two of you. Hopper stands at the bottom, watching closely as everyone unloads.
“Y’know…” he starts, getting your attention.
You turn your head to face him. He pauses.
Steve leans into you slightly and swallows hard, his adams apple bobs. His voice gets quieter, but he continues before he can talk himself out of it - half joke, half prayer.
“In movies, this is often where people do the whole… one kiss before we die thing.”
You feel your heart nearly stop as your stomach does a somersault. You feel your face and ears start to get warm, despite the cold and damp draft coming in through the crack of the door.
It’s awkward. Earnest. Steve at his most exposed.
Steve’s eyes dart to the left, then back at you, anticipating your response. He leans back slightly, his arm reaching for his neck as he gives it a scratch. He opens up his mouth, prepared to backpedal.
“You can get this kiss when we survive, Harrington.” You cut him off, before he can say another word. Where this confidence from you came from, you had no idea.
You hold his gaze for a beat, then walk towards the exit to the trailer, grabbing Hopper’s hand as he helps you step down onto the ground.
Steve just stands there in the trailer for a second too long, lips parted, heart in his throat, brain completely short-circuiting.
Dustin walks up behind Steve, clapping his shoulder.
“You okay, big guy?”
Steve looks down at Dustin. He raises his eyebrows.
When we survive? Not if.
The realization hits him like a punch to the chest: you’re not dismissing him.
You’re promising him something.
Steve Harrington, already doomed, is suddenly fighting the Upside Down with one thought on repeat: he is absolutely not dying before he earns that kiss.
pls populate my ask box w comments or requests if u have, would <3 the inspo ᵕ̈
n’ lmk if u wanna see a p2 of this i mayyy have it in me
status: ongoing series; a stranger things rewrite
summary: on november 6th, 1983, will byers went missing on the bike ride home. in the days following, the henderson siblings find themselves mixed into a mess greater than any campaign they could ever imagine.
volume I follows the events of stranger things season 1. designated chapters are listed under each part. all characters and events are fictitious, and copyright belongs to netflix and the duffer brothers.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✮ guide ✮⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
→ part one : message in a bottle
↳ episodes: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three
→ part two : only the good die young
↳ episodes: chapter four, chapter five, chapter six
→ part three : i'm still standing (coming soon)
↳ episdoes: chapter seven, chapter eight
read on a03
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✮ warnings ✮⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
volume I is pg 13 - canon violence and gore - swearing - allusions to trauma and depression - allusions to alcohol/ alcoholism - allusions to nsfw topics - henderson!oc
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✮ playlist ✮⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ → Message in a Bottle - The Police
→ Smalltown - John Mellencamp
→ American Teenager - Ethel Cain
→ Heroes - David Bowie
→ Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel
→ You’re So Vain - Carly Simon
→ Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
→ Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
→ True Colors - Cyndi Lauper
→ Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
→ I’m Still Standing - Elton John
→ Some Protector - ROLE MODEL
→ Free Fallin’ - Tom Petty
pairings: toni henderson/ dustin henderson (siblings); steve harrington x nancy wheeler; toni henderson/ jonathan byers (platonic friends); nancy wheeler x jonathan byers; toni henderson/ nancy wheeler (platonic friends); toni henderson/ robin buckley (platonic friends); steve harrington x toni henderson (eventually)
Nothing is more insufferable than entering the dustin tag only to find posts about anybody BUT him, like his name is just there for attraction. This is NOT tiktok, people. It's full of byler, steddie, lumax and Steve x henderson!oc 💀
If yall will not talk about him and HIS ships/duos, then don't use this fucking tag at all.
"I should probably go back home, why does that feel difficult?" - Gracie Abrams
Series: the secret of us masterlist
Steve Harrington x Henderson! Original Female Character (Maia Henderson)
Summary: Three years after helping save the world from an inter-dimensional monster, Maia Henderson returns to Hawkins for Jonathan's and Nancy's wedding. She's forced to confront her own past, and specifically, Steve Harrington. The boy who irrevocably stole then promptly shattered her heart all those years ago. She's definitely not ready to face everything him again, but unfortunately, she was going to do it anyways. Would it be so bad to say she'd rather be fighting demogorgans than speak to him ever again?
Warnings: None really, just a really slow burn for those who like to torture themselves.
Word Count: 3.9k
-------
Maia peeked her head out of the car window as she drove past the bright green sign that used to be covered fully in red graffiti.
Welcome To Hawkins.
It was as if the sign was staring back at her. No, taunting her. As if daring her to come back to the place that reeked of childhood memories, a burnt mall, demogorgans, and a hundred little cul de sacs that housed a hundred huge nuclear families. Maia had once envisioned a life just like that. She imagined a cul de sac and an R.V with one person in particular. Now, she couldn't quite believe she was willingly back in Hawkins, Indiana.
When she had gotten the call about a month ago from Jonathan who broke the news of his engagement to Nancy and to ask her to be his "best woman", Maia was unsure if she should laugh or cry.
Laugh because she had endured all that heartbreak just for these two to still end up marrying each other. Or cry, for the exact same reason. But instead of either of those reactions, Maia chose to genuinely smile because she was truly happy for her oldest friend.
Jonathan and Maia had met in Ms. Kitty's first grade class and the rest was history. They hung out so much, Dustin became friends with Will, Mike, and Lucas and that was history as well.
And even though she was unsure if she wanted to return to Hawkins, Maia knew there was no way she was going to miss her best friend's wedding. Jonathan threatened her too that if she didn’t come, he would fly up to New York and drag her there himself. On top of that, she also received a call from her brother who immediately jumped at the opportunity to beg Maia to not only stay for the wedding in May, but also for the rest of the summer. And although she was slightly resistant at first, Dustin had looped in the rest of the party and Robin to also call Maia to stay for a classic Hawkins summer. Maia knew she had no choice but to hop on a plane and face everyone again. Even if it meant seeing him.
Steve Harrington.
The boy who absolutely destroyed her when they broke up. Technically, Maia had broken up with him, but not before exalting every other option possible, including setting her pride and dignity aside for an obscene amount of time as she watched her boyfriend pine over his first love. The cherry on top was that she was also in the midst of a ploy to save the world from an alternate dimension monster. So all in all, her last year in Hawkins was an absolute shit fest.
The breakup was... ugly to say the least and absolutely gut wrenching and more if Maia was being completely honest. It had completely broken her to be so deeply in love with Steve and watch him rediscover his love for Nancy Wheeler. Maia had known going into the relationship that Steve was still recovering from his breakup, but she was so blinded by her own emotions to realize he never really got over her until it was far too late.
Just thinking about it made Maia's insides turn. And as she drove past Hawkins High, the movie theater, and the part of the forest where just a small hike lead to Skull Rock, her stomach twisted even more at the memories re-flooding her brain.
Sucking in a deep breath, Maia tried to regulate her breathing, but her heart pounded even harder instead. Maia was sure that if she was pulled over right now, an officer would fine her for not being of sound mind to drive.
The fact was that there were a multitude of reasons why Maia had chosen to leave Hawkins. One, was that next to that R.V and cul de sac, her second dream was to live in the big apple a bit before settling down. Two, after everything that went down from Demogorgans to Vecna, Maia was indeed traumatized enough to restart a life away from all the pain and loss she'd endured. But if she was being completely honest with herself, Steve Harrington had been the deciding factor that made Maia pack her bags and leave her strangely beloved little hometown.
Somehow, she pulled into her childhood driveway without crashing. Placing the car in park, Maia took a second to herself, staring at the house she had spent almost two decades in. It felt surreal to her how nothing about it had changed. She could almost picture her 10 year old self playing with Mews in the front yard. But now, she was 22, and Mews... well, she was dead thanks to her brother and his former nougat-obsessed demodog pet.
Speaking of Dustin, Maia's silence was destroyed by the slamming of the front door and a loud screech of her name. Maia didn't even have to look to know who’s voice that was. Smiling widely, she quickly got out of her car and practically flew backwards at the impact of her brother, who squeezed his sister as if he was trying to strangle her.
Hugging him back with the same intensity, Maia, let out a breathless laugh. "I missed you too."
"You're never leaving again." Dustin stated matter of factly, practically speaking into her shoulder, "Ever."
The sincerity of his voice, made Maia feel slightly guilty. Yes, Dustin had gone to visit her every spring break, and occasionally long weekends, but seeing each other 3 or 4 times a year was a far cry from the 18 years the Henderson siblings spent glued to each other's hip. And when the whole upside down saga occurred, it only pushed the two closer to each other.
Maia always knew she missed Dustin insanely, but as they hugged, she realized just how numb she had come to it over the past few years. Maia promised to never let that happen again.
As the two brought her bags back into the house, they immediately began catching up. "So how's everyone?" Maia asked, also feeling slightly guilty she hadn't kept up with everyone other than Jonathan and Dustin. Sure, everyone called here and there, but it wasn't the same as seeing them everyday like she used to.
"They're good." Dustin replied. "Everyone's really excited to see you. We all missed you, especially the party. They all wanted to come but I told them I got priority since I'm your actual brother."
Maia smiled widely at the mention of the rest of the party. Since the beginning, she had always been the favorite older sibling who drove them to the arcade and played DnD campaigns with them. And after Will went missing, she officially took on the role as babysitter, from helping to hide Eleven in Mikes basement, to hiding Eddie in the lake house almost two years later, and everything in between. Steve Harrington eventually joining her was simply an unexpected plus and was also the main reason why they had gotten so close. It hurt to think about that now though.
"I'm excited to see everyone too." Maia said, "What time is the rehearsal dinner again?"
"Seven." Dustin quickly replied, "Its at Hopper and Joyce's new house."
"Ah, I see Hopper finally gave up his pride and cashed in the government check." Maia laughed, shaking her head at the thought of the stubborn former chief. After everything that happened, the government gave each of "Hawkin's Heroes" a check that practically read thank you for saving the world but shut the fuck up and move on with your lives. Maia wasn't a big fan of the so called "hush money", but without it, she wouldn't have been able to back her bags and rent out a nice comfy studio in New York. And if anything, a check was the least they deserved after everything they went through.
The two talked endlessly, from Dustin's senior year to Maia's new job at a large marketing firm. Time flew by, and before either of them knew it, the clock struck 6:50.
Looking at his watch, Dustin widened his eyes. "Shit! We're gonna late!"
Peering down at her own watch, Maia quickly sat up from the couch, gasping at the time. "Fuck, it's already been an hour?" Turning to Dustin, Maia became all too aware that she looked like shit after a long drive from the airport and that Dustin was no where near ready for a wedding rehearsal dinner either.
"Five minutes to get ready!" Maia ordered, "Then we got to get our asses moving and out of this house!"
----------
Thankfully, neither of them took too long to change clothes. Maia plucked out one of the only two dresses she had brought with her, before brushing out her hair. It was rush times like these Maia was glad she chopped off her long signature hair for a sleek shoulder length bob. Maia barely had time for blush and mascara before rushing out to the car, where Dustin was already waiting in the passenger seat.
Pulling out of her driveway, Maia relaxed a bit. The good thing about Hawkins was that everything was less than a ten minute drive, and there was barely any traffic. Very much different from the jay walking and packed streets of New York.
As she took a left off of her street solely based off muscle memory, Maia cringed in embarrassment. "Wait, shit I'm heading to Joyce's old house. What street do they live on now?"
At this, Dustin paused, as if there was something to hide. Maia noticed, but before she could question it, Dustin quickly recovered. Clearing his throat, he nodded, "Um... yeah, just take a left after you reach the high school."
At his vague directions, Maia quickly made a U-Turn. "Dude, just tell me the street name. I'm rusty, not amnesic." Especially after the endless crawls they went on in search of Vecna in the Upside Down, Maia had the entire Hawkins grid forever memorized.
Clearing his throat again, Dustin scratched the back of his neck. "They uh, live on... Cherry Creek."
At the name of the street, Maia's grip tightened on the steering wheel. She hated how the name of street brought the taste of acid and bad memories to her mouth.
Quiet for a minute, Maia made a lame joke. "I guess Hop used up his entire government check." It was no secret that Cherry Creek was one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Hawkins. And despite the street's pristine lawns and well maintained appearance, Maia's issue with Cherry Creek was that it was where Steve Harrington had lived.
Maia had many memories of Cherry Creek. Many sleepovers and days lounging by Steve's pool. But the memories of fights and Maia eventually storming out of the front door for the last time overruled any other memory.
As if Dustin could read his sister's mind, he gently asked, "You good?"
Quickly glancing at Dustin who stared at his sister with pity and concern, Maia realized she must have been lost in her thoughts for a while. She untensed, sending him an apologetic smile, "Sorry, just kinda blanked out for a second."
Unsure if he should, Dustin nervously added, "You know that he's uh, going to be there right?"
Sucking in a deep breath, Maia nodded her head. "Yeah, yeah. I-I figured he would." Maia knew it had been stupid to ignore the inevitable, but there was nothing she could have done about it anyways. There was no shot she was going to miss her best friend's wedding because she was scared to see an ex, horrified to see him even. So, instead of torturing herself by thinking of what might happen when she peered into those familiar brown eyes again, Maia decided to push any thought of it aside instead. This option, however, now seemed to be biting her in the ass as she realized she was woefully unprepared to see Steve again for the first time in three years.
"Um, how... how is he?" Maia asked, unable to shake the wobbliness in her tone.
Silent for a moment, Dustin considered how he should proceed with his answer. Absolute honesty, or with sprinkles of white lies. Should he mention that Steve still constantly asks about Maia? Or that he’s been a hot mess all week leading up to Maia’s return, and arguably ever since Dustin confirmed a month ago that she would be coming back at all? Instead, he settled for the latter. "He's doing... pretty good." Dustin finally responded, "He's taking some community college classes, learning to become a teacher."
At this, Maia had a physical reaction, the car jolting slightly. When Maia first moved to New York, she made it very clear to Jonathan and Dustin that she didn't want to hear about Steve, and so their calls consisted of everything but him. And so hearing that he was learning to become a teacher, the profession that Maia had suggested to him all those years ago, that tugged on her heart in a way that dragged it down to the pit of her stomach.
Sucking in a deep breath, Maia nodded her head, trying to keep her composure. "That's good for him. Really."
Thankfully, before Dustin could respond, Maia pulled up to their destination, which was easily decipherable due to the surplus of white balloons and flowers that adorned the house in preparation for the wedding.
Staring at the two story cul de sac, Maia realized the time had finally come to face the music. Everything she had been running from was in the house. He was in the house.
"You ready?" Dustin asked, turning to his sister from the passenger seat.
Sheepishly, Maia shook her head. "Nope. But I'm gonna do it anyways."
------
Maia's heart pounded as she walked up the cobblestone and to the front door. She couldn't quite believe this was actually happening. The moment was three years in the making, but somehow, all Maia wanted to do was turn back around and catch the next flight back to New York.
"I can hear you shaking from here." Dustin teased, making Maia let out a dry laugh.
"Yeah, I'm nervous." She admitted, knowing there was really one reason person that made her so.
"It's gonna be fine." Dustin quickly assured, "And if you're feeling like you're about to go into cardiac arrest or feel the urge to stab him, plan B is to ignore him."
At this, Maia let out a sincere laugh. "Dustin, ignoring him was always my plan A."
With that, the Henderson siblings reached the front door, Dustin promptly ringing the doorbell. "Breathe." Dustin advised, seeing his sister tap her foot nervously.
"I am." Maia quickly shot back. Nonetheless, she took her brother's advice and took a sharp deep breath just as the door swung open to reveal a very, very happy Robin.
"Maia!" The girl practically shrieked, throwing her arms around her long lost friend. Maia and Robin had become particularly close when they were all employees at Scoops Ahoy. Maia had really only gotten the job because she wanted to spend more time with Steve, but she had left it with Robin as one of her closest friends, plus a scar thanks to an interrogation session with a Russian general.
"Robin!" Maia exclaimed quick to hug the girl back, "It's so good to see you again!"
"So what am I chopped liver?" Dustin sarcastically mumbled, only for the two girls to pull away and look at the boy with smirks.
"You aren't the one thats been gone for three years, Dingus." Robin argued.
Before Dustin could argue, Joyce and Hopper were next to appear, Maia practically tripping over herself to hug the woman she's always considered her second mom.
"Oh I've missed you sweetheart." Joyce said as she hugged Maia tightly.
"Me too." Maia replied, remaining in her embrace for a second longer before letting go. Turning to Hopper, Maia smirked, "Hey Jim."
"Henderson." Hopper greeted with fake grievance. In the past, Maia had been known to always get on Hopper's nerves, especially when it came to Crawls. But at the end of the day, Hopper knew that he trusted Maia to take care of the kids and make the right decisions, even if they were a bit crazy at times. "It's good to see you kid." Hopper said with a genuine smile, breaking his act.
"Right back at ya." Maia replied, giving into the side hug from the chief. Maia had to admit, it was nice seeing everyone again. But that was never the problem. Everyone else wasn't why she had left three years ago. If anything, they were the reason why she always found herself wanting to turn back.
As she caught up with Joyce and Hopper, the floor suddenly began began to shake from what felt like a stampede. Snapping her head to the kitchen, the door flew open and the entire party appeared, all yelling Maia's name in excitement.
Maia practically squealed when she saw the kids, meeting them halfway for a group hug. "Holy crap, I've missed you dipshits." Maia admitted. She was met with a string of agreements around her.
As soon as she let go, an onslaught of overlapping comments and greetings immediately began, all of them buzzing to catch up their former babysitter on everything and anything.
Maia couldn't help herself but laugh as she watched the kids talk over each other. Looking at them, Maia supposed "kids" was definitely not the right word to describe the party anymore. They were all seniors in high school, practically adults. But could you blame Maia if all she saw were the same children she played DnD and arcade games with?
Snapping out of her thoughts, Maia realized the kids were still talking over each other to her. "Okay woah, one at a time."
"We thought you were flying in tomorrow!" Lucas exclaimed, making Maia raise her eyebrow at her him.
"What? No, I was always planning on coming for the rehearsal dinner."
"But Dustin said..." Will began, only to trail off as realization hit everyone. The rest of the party turned to glare and gasp at Dustin, who sheepishly smiled at being caught in his lie.
"You liar!" Max accused, pointing her finger at Dustin who only shot his hands in the air.
"Oh you lying piece of shit." Mike cursed, narrowing his eyes at the boy, who, if anything, seemed unapologetic and almost proud of himself.
"Okay in my defense, she's my sister!" Dustin argued but to no avail.
"So what?" Lucas shot back, the rest of the kids chiming in to attack Dustin.
"So what?" Dustin repeated as if it were a stupid question, "So I'm the only one biologically related to her, so I should be the first one to see her! You all would've just hogged her.. so, I took precautions."
This lead to even more outrage, the party beginning to argue on the morals of it all. Mike pointed out how they had all thrown Dustin a welcome back party when he returned from summer camp and it was unbelievable that this was how he repaid them, while Eleven brought up the incontestable point that "friends don't lie."
Amidst all the chaos, Maia didn't even realize a particular figure appear, leaning against the kitchen door frame. Steve looked at Maia and the kids with a fond smile, watching as she laughed at the party's silly arguments.
He missed that laugh.
Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Maia suddenly felt her entire body freeze. It was odd. She didn't even need to look up to know who was staring at her. But her body betrayed her mind and Maia found herself staring into the gaze of Steve Harrington, who immediately froze too from the mere eye contact they made.
It was as if the entire room went silent. Well, it did. The second Maia and Steve made eye contact, the room quickly shut up, staring at the two as if watching a ping pong match played with a grenade instead of a ball.
Maia couldn't help but immediately clock everything that was different about him. For one, his features were sharper, no longer carrying the softness his eighteen year old self once had. He seemed impossibly taller, even though Maia knew it was highly unlikely he grew anymore at the ripe age of twenty three. Perhaps he just stood straighter now, which made sense to Maia. He seemed to carry a confidence and purpose that wasn't there before.
But at the same time, his differences were overpowered by the familiarities that Maia had fallen in love with all those years ago. His stupidly good looking hair remained the same, and Maia could swear she could smell the Farrah Fawcett spray from here. And perhaps most obvious were his eyes. They were still the same hue of brown that Maia had peered into so many times before. They still looked at her the same way they always had, except now with a tinge of sadness and panic that Maia was sure also appeared in her eyes too.
But what finally did it to her was hearing his voice. "Maia." He breathed out, as if her name was a foreign language he had once known how to speak fluently.
It had been three years since she last heard his voice and Maia hated to admit it, but hearing it made her miss it even more. "Steve." Maia said back with the same insurmountable emotion that Steve had said her name with.
If only Maia knew the impact her voice had on Steve. His breath caught in his throat. Hearing the girl speak for the first time in ages made whatever he had practiced a million times this past month fly out the window.
Steve opened his mouth, begging his brain to say anything. But just as he was about to, Jonathan and Nancy came from upstairs, shifting everyone's attention. The couple quickly rushed down the stairs, Jonathan excitedly yelling Maia's name delighted to reunite with his best friend and completely oblivious to the scene beneath him.
Maia immediately took the chance to get out of whatever had just happened, and practically flew into Jonathan's arms hugging him tight. "Holy shit I missed you." Jonathan said, sighing into Maia's arms.
"I've missed you too."
Glancing behind Maia's shoulder, Jonathan saw Steve stare at them and surmised what probably just occurred. "Looks like I came to your rescue."
Scoffing a laugh, Maia couldn't help the smile appearing on her face. "Shut up."
Still, she couldn't deny the truth of Jonathan's statement. He did indeed save her from having to stare deeper into the eyes of Steve Harrington. And as Maia tried to calm her racing heart that only pounded more at the thought of Steve, Maia dreaded the fact that Jonathan wouldn't always be there to save her from moments like this. That at some point, she was probably going to have to talk to him.
And while she would try her best to delay that moment for as long as possible, she knew one thing for sure.
Pairing: Eddie Munson x Lucy Henderson, Eddie Munson x OC
Prompt: Dry Humping
Warning: Read the prompt, also heavy kissing and implied masturbation
A/N: I've reworked something in the time line and decided that Eddie and Lucy were dating in season 3 and broke up before season 4. This fic also has mention of my sister's OC Stacy. We've been planning a collab with our OCs going through each of the seasons so, keep an eye out for that.
Summary: Lucy and Eddie are trying to go slow. Really, they totally are! It's just...it's easy to get carried away and, for better or for worse, Lucy doesn't have a lock on her door.
Word Count: 2.6K
June, 1985
Lucy’s brain was fuzzy. The closest she’d even felt to this was the one time she had gotten drunk at Tina’s Halloween party last year; right in that blissful hour between tipsy and forcing Stacy to pull over so she could throw up on the sidewalk.
This was considerably better. The odds of being sick were a perfect zero and the warm buzzing sensation wasn’t just in her head, but had made its way down her whole body. She hummed along with it followed by other little unconscious noises she would have been embarrassed by in any other circumstance.
The hand rubbing intoxicating circles into her thigh squeezed just a little harder as lips parted.
“Feeling good pretty girl?”
She answered by pulling Eddie back to his work, kissing him with a hunger she was no longer shy to share.
He laughed into her mouth, kissing her back with the same enthusiasm.
She’d lost track of how long they’d been like this; on her bed and pressed so close the thin barrier of fabric between them was turning into a bad joke.
They had agreed to take things slow. Lucy never had a boyfriend before and Eddie’s last relationship could only qualify as a shit show (his words).
They were just kissing.
Of course, just kissing probably didn’t involve letting Eddie slip his body so comfortably between her legs it felt like he belonged there. Or for his hands to slide further and further up her legs as they both fought between the need to breath and the need to keep their mouths on each other. It was taking a conscious effort on her part to keep her own hands in his hair rather than slipping beneath his shirt.
He must have had the same thought as his touch pulled away from her bare skin to her waist and safely over knitwear. This had the side effect of him shifting upward, his hips rolling right against where she was just starting to ache.
“Shit,” she gasped.
Eddie stopped in an instant, pulling away to look at her face, his eyes wide.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, trying hard to focus on her breathing. If she was humming before, she was throbbing now. Her blood was downright burning and all she could think about was the relief of feeling him hard against her under his jeans.
“Sweetheart?” he prompted, his gaze still touched with worry.
Her mouth was dry. Words fluttered in and out of her brain, but nothing could make it to her tongue.
With an effort, she pushed herself up allowing her lips to reach the underside of his jaw.
A low hum came from the back of his throat.
“Fuck…”
A thrill ran down her spine as her fingers curled around the back of his neck. With more confidence than she ever assumed she had, Lucy purposefully rolled her hips.
She could feel him shutter against her. It was nothing short of exhilarating.
“I’m okay,” she teased. “Are you?”
He didn’t answer. For a moment, all that could be heard was their own hard breathing and racing heart beats.
Slowly he turned his head to meet her eye, a manic grin spreading across his face before he kissed her, hard.
They bounced as they fell back on the mattress, Lucy letting out a squeal of laughter.
Eddie moved quickly. Gripping her thighs tight, he rolled his hips into her in eager, if uneven thrusts.
“Oh God, Eddie!” she moaned, holding him tight to her.
He responded in kind, all but growling into the nape of her neck, sucking and nibbling and any piece of skin he could reach.
“Shit Lucy, you’re my fucking dream girl.”
Somehow that remark was the thing to make her cheeks go even hotter. It was too much and yet not nearly enough. Any idea of slow had long since melted away. Her hands could no longer resist the temptation sliding under his shirt. She needed it off of him. Why the fuck was she still wearing a sweater in May?
“LUCY! I’M BACK! I BROUGHT LEFT OVER CHIPS!”
Lucy froze, his mind shifting into sharp focus as she suddenly became aware of exactly where she was and exactly who had just come in the door.
On instinct she pushed Eddie off of her, her body now buzzing with pure anxiety.
“What the hell?” Eddie asked.
“LUCY!” Dustin called. “WHERE ARE YOU?!”
“I’M IN MY ROOM!” she yelled back. “JUST GIVE ME A SEC!”
She turned back to Eddie as he looked up at her caught between bewilderment and amusement.
“I take it that’s your brother?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Can you get under the bed?”
“What?”
“LUCY!”
“ONE MINUTE!”
She turned back to Eddie, pushing him further to the edge . “He is going to bust in here any second. Please?”
Eddie was just smiling now, clearly trying not to laugh.
“Buttercup, I know you’ve got a thing for monsters under the bed, but this–”
He was cut short, falling hard on his ass and Lucy shoved him the rest of the way.
“Get under the bed!” she hissed.
Much to her relief, he complied, slipping underneath just in time for her door to slide open.
“Don’t you knock?” she snapped.
Dustin raised his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry, I was just wondering if you wanted some chips.”
“I’m fine. Now you can go? And close the door behind you.”
Her brother, as always, didn’t do as she asked; instead, narrowing his eyes suspiciously in her direction.
“What happened to you?”
Lucy felt her cheeks go warm. God she could only imagine what she looked like.
“I was trying on different outfits,” she scrambled, hoping against hope that would account for her mussed up…everything. “Now can you please go? I am entitled to some privacy, you know.”
He, again, didn’t seem to hear her as he walked further into her room.
“Dustin–”
“You didn’t ask me why I was home early.”
Lucy let out a sigh. “Okay,” she relented. “why are you home early?”
“We TPKed,” he said, taking a seat next to her on the bed as he dug into the bag of chips.
She held back a wince as a tug of guilt pulled at her stomach. Dustin had really been looking forward to this game. It was the party’s last D&D session before he left for camp, and the reason she had expected to have the house to herself all night.
“I’m sorry Dusty,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure Mike can manage to think of a work around by the time you get back.”
Dustin shrugged. “I don’t know, the whole game just felt off.”
She nodded in sympathy. “Listen, I already ordered pizza, but there are left overs in the fridge. We can go get the ice cream and we’ll rent a movie tonight. Whatever you want, okay? Last hurrah before you go.”
That seemed to cheer him up, if only a little. “Thanks Lucy.”
He leaned in for a hug which she reciprocated, tucking his head under her chin.
She could make this work. While Dustin got food, Eddie could sneak out the window. He then could turn right around and she could act surprised that he was in the neighborhood. She had been meaning to introduce him to Dustin, officially. This could turn around into a good night.
“You know,” she said. “We can get started on this if you leave my room.”
“Okay, what is going on?” Dustin said, pulling away.
“Nothing is going on.”
“Bullshit. You didn’t ask why I was home early. You don’t want extra chips. And, frankly, you smell really weird. Are you hiding something? Is this a Dart thing?”
“No, this is not a Dart thing!”
“Hey, we promised each other no more secrets.”
“I’m not! I just–”
She didn’t get a chance to think of an excuse as Dustin let out a surprised yelp, jumping off the bed.
“What the shit?!”
To Lucy’s horror a hand was sticking out from the bed as Eddie’s head quickly followed.
“She asked you to get out dude,” he said, plainly.
“What–?” Dustin gaped. “You–? Who?”
Eddie gave no explanation, rising to his feet.
Lucy felt her whole body cringe as Dustin’s eyes darted between her and Eddie and back again.
There would be no convincing, side stepping or straight up lying her way out of this. She was only grateful for her self restraint. At least both of them still had their shirts on.
“Ah, Dustin, this is Eddie. You know Eddie, he runs Hellfire,” Lucy said, knowing she was absolutely red in the face. “Eddie, this my brother, Dustin.”
“Nice to meet you man,” Eddie said, “now get out.”
“You–”
He didn’t give Dustin a chance to find his voice, as he grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and guided him out the door.
“Next time, remember to knock, okay?”
Dustin turned, his finger pointed ready to say something just as Eddie slid the door close. He turned to lock it, only to pause, his brow furrowing.
“Why don’t you have a lock on your door?” he asked, turning to her.
Lucy gave a useless shrug. “I haven’t really needed it until now.”
He blinked, the wheels turning behind his eyes before the most shit eating grin spread across his face. “Aww, Buttercup. I’m honored.”
“Shut up,” she mumbled.
“YOU TWO BETTER NOT BE SUCKING TONGUE IN THERE!” Dusting shouted through the door.
“DUSTIN! TWO MINUTES!” she shouted back.
“FINE! TWO MINUTES! BUT I’M TIMING IT! I’M NOT READY TO BE AN UNCLE!”
Lucy let her head fall into her hands, letting out a low groan. This really wasn’t how she was expecting the night to go.
Eddie seemed to understand as she felt the bed sink beside her and a steady hand rest on her knee.
“I think that went well,” he said.
Lucy let out a strangled laugh.
“Is he going to tell anyone?” he asked.
She shook her head, letting her hands run down her face. “No, not if I ask him not to.”
For a moment, neither of them said anything, each caught in their own thoughts.
“Do you still not want people to know then?” Eddie asked, carefully.
Lucy’s head snapped to him, a different kind of anxiety filling her stomach.
He wasn’t looking at her. Everything in his expression conveyed nonchalance, but she could sense the tension everywhere else.
“Eddie, of course I want people to know,” she said, placing her hand over the one still resting on her knee. “But…well we said we’d take it slow and I don’t know, I guess I just like having this without everyone else giving an opinion.”
“You mean Stacy.”
“I was more thinking Nancy, but yeah, Stacy too.”
Nancy hadn’t exactly made a secret of her…disapproval of Stacy’s choice in boyfriend after their falling out. She and Stacy had made up, but Lucy imagined it would have been much harder had Eddie still been in the picture.
There was a chance Nancy would be more receptive to one of her friends dating Eddie Munson now that she was dating Jonathan. At the end of the day though, she didn’t know Eddie. More to the point, Stacy did and she and Eddie’s relationship had been nothing short of a shit show (her words).
Eddie seemed to take all of this into consideration, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I guess that’s fair,” he admitted. “Although, I don’t think we’re that good at slow.”
The heat was back, rising up Lucy’s neck and straight to her cheeks. “Yeah…sorry about that. I, ah, I didn’t really expect…all that to come out.”
“Oh no you don’t. You can’t pull that cute little shy act with me anymore,” Eddie teased, his nose brushing against hers, before kissing her; soft and light.
She hadn’t realized how much she needed that kind of touch. The whiplash of all the emotions she had experienced in the span of five minutes had left her off kilter. Feeling him against her left little room for thought. They could just breathe.
Even as they pulled away, Eddie’s hand remained on her cheek, keeping her close.
“You okay?” he asked, his large dark eyes looking at her in earnest.
She nodded. “Yeah. You?”
“Well, I’m going to have to take care of some things when I get home, but other than that.” He shrugged.
Lucy glanced down, suddenly becoming very aware of the slight stickiness between her legs. She also was trying very hard not to think about the small dark patch right along the zipper of Eddie’s already dark jeans.
She let out a small groan of embarrassment, burying herself in Eddie’s neck.
He took it in stride, laughing as he kissed the side of her head.
“ONE MINUTE!” Dustin called out.
“THEN ONE MINUTE!” Lucy called back.
She turned back to Eddie sheepishly. “Can I call you? I mean, I gotta talk to Dustin and we are probably going to do a movie tonight, but after? I was really counting on spending more time with you.”
He paused. It really was a wonder to her how he could have such large windows to the soul and yet, she still had a hard time knowing exactly what was happening behind them. But, soon he settled on something soft. Taking her hand, he pressed a kiss on top with theatrical reverence.
“Sweetheart, you could call me even if I was on the line with Kirk Hammett.”
She had to smile even as his warmth slipped away. She watched as he made his way to her desk, using the top as a step stool to swing himself back out the window. Her bedroom was on the ground floor, so there wasn’t that far for him to drop. She could just make out the top of his head as he turned to leave.
“Eddie?” she called.
He paused and that was all she needed.
In a moment she was across the room, her knees on top of her desk giving her enough leverage to lean out the window and pull him into one last kiss.
He started as if surprised but quickly leaned into her touch, smiling against her lips.
Lucy couldn’t help herself. As he moved against her mouth, she slipped her tongue into his, deepening the kiss. She could feel the little touch of that spark ignite; the same spark that had gotten them into trouble in the first place.
Eddie hummed, chasing her touch, but she pulled away faster, grinning with satisfaction.
“Just something to hold you over until you get back,” she said.
Eddie blinked, his expression a genuine daze as he stared up at her. “You really are the dream Lucy Henderson.”
There was no other way to put it, she melted. An unconscious giggle escaped her lips as she leaned her chin on her hand. She wouldn’t be surprised if little hearts started popping up around her head. There was no hiding them in her eyes.
“You’ll call later?” he asked.
She nodded, letting out a dizzy, “Hmhmm.”
He smiled, walking backwards up the small incline towards the street.
“I shall count the hours my lady!”
She laughed, waving him off as he finally vanished from view.
“LUCY! I’M COMING IN!”
She let out a long sigh, pulling herself out of the window. First things first, she was going to need a lot of ice cream to get through the rest of the night. Second thing second, she was going to fix that damn lock.
