summary ☞ Steve’s girlfriend leaves their home for a few hours for a hair appointment, and when she returns she finds her house invaded by the party, trying to fix up a mere chair.
word count ☞ 1.5k
warnings ☞ fluff, set in s5, el lives, background byler, lucas got sass, steve is downbad but we love him, guardians of the galaxy mention, the party is chaotic
mene's notes ☞ previously posted on @/selenewowww. it was my first ever steve fic, be nice! leave a comment and a reblog!
dividers by ☞ @cursed-carmine, @cafekitsune
“I’ll be back in an hour or so, okay love?”
Her words went completely unnoticed by her boyfriend, currently sitting on the carpet trying to fix the broken chair, an opened toolbox beside him and various hand tools she didn't care enough to name scattered around him. He had fallen– hard, she might add– on his ass when he took a seat on it that morning, and he had been trying and successfully failing to repair it since then.
Ironic how he could keep up with a demogorgon and a whole ass disgusting and slimy version of Groot armed with only a nailed bat, but could not fix up a chair for the love of god.
With his head bent down to inspect whatever damage was on the wooden leg, eyebrows furrowed as if he was solving a second degree equation, and his gorgeous hair falling over his focused brown eyes, he looked ridiculous. Ridiculously handsome. And so ridiculously hers.
Nothing was gonna distract him from his mission to restore his damaged ego and the chance to prove his manliness. And so, with a fond look in her eyes she shook her head at the sight of her boyfriend and headed outside, the door clicking softly behind her.
Steve’s complete unawareness of his surroundings wasn't necessarily a negative thing. It allowed her to grab his car keys undisturbed without him looking up not even of an inch. The roar of his dear BMW that she had kindly borrowed without an explicit consent went over his head, like it was just another background noise. But oh well, given how he had been glued to the same spot on the living room’s carpet all morning, by the time she'd come back he'll still be tinkering with screwdrivers and hammers.
As expected, she had been right once again.
When she pulled on the driveway an hour and a half later, she could make out his brown mop of hair peeking from behind the curtains, in the same spot she had left him when she left the house. A sigh escaped her lips, fondly rolling her eyes at her boyfriend’s stubborn antics with a soft chuckle. Same old Steve.
She killed the engine and grabbed her bag, placing it on her thighs. Lowering the sun–blocker with her lipgloss in hand, she quickly touched up her makeup and fluffled her fresh out–of–salon hair. Eyes focused on her reflection in the small mirror in front of her, she rubbed her lipgloss–coated lips together, wrapping up the motion with a smacking sound. And when she was satisfied with her appearance, she flashed a last smile at her reflection and stepped out of the red BMW, walking up to the front door with spring in her step.
She could not wait to see Steve's reaction to her new hairstyle. What would he think? Would he like it? Love it? Would he even notice?
She stepped inside, hanging her coat and leaving her bag at the entrance. “Love? I’ve got a surprise for you!”, she called out with a big smile on her face, reaching for the living room’s door handle.
The sight she was met with when she twisted it and spread the door open left her baffled. Mike and Will were reading out loud instructions on a piece of paper on the couch. Max, Lucas and El were rummaging through the toolbox in search of who–knows–what. Dustin was beside Steve, busy trying to stick back together the chair, while Robin was rambling by the table.
However, everything quieted down when she appeared by the door. All eyes were on her; some confused, some greeting her. While one stare in particular was glued to her form.
Steve. Still sat criss–crossed on the carpet, he was looking up at her with his jaw slack and his big brown eyes widened with just as big hearts inside. His hair was messy, and she immediately knew he had been running his hand through it while huffing with his cute little pout.
Dustin broke him out of his trance, glancing at him with confusion. “Dude, are you okay?”
Steve quickly nodded, throat bobbing while his eyes were still on her. “Yeah, totally fine”, he replied distracted.
“Nah man, we thought she had broken you for a second there”, spoke up Lucas.
“Is it because she cut her hair?”, asked El smiling lightly, innocent as ever.
“As if he'd noticed!”, scoffed from the couch Mike, sitting snugly beside Will, their hands intertwined together.
“Please. He's not called ‘Steve the Hair Harrington’ just because of his chest hair”, said Robin with a teasing smile, leaning on the table.
The comment lit their spirits, and the living room was turned into a chaotic mass of teenagers chatting and arguing over Steve’s chest hair. That definitely left her even more baffled than before.
However Steve didn't seem affected by the discussion going on about him, at all. He put aside the screwdriver, not even caring to put it back inside the toolbox, and got onto his feet. In only two strides, he crossed the living room and stood in front of her, the loveliest smile tugging at his lips.
“Baby”, he whispered over the loud chatter, hands reaching out to cup her face as if she was made of pure gold. “You look… Is it even possible for me to have fallen in love more with you?”, he mumbled with adoration glittering in his big eyes.
His words only made her cheeks and ears get covered by a pink dust of blush. “I love you too, Stevie”, she muttered back, her own grin tugging on her shiny lips.
“You cut your hair, huh? You didn't tell me?”
“It's a surprise, baby. 'Couldn't tell you”, she replied smiling up at him through her fresh bangs, her hands resting comfortably on his shoulders.
“You look gorgeous, baby. Bangs really suit you well”, he muttered under his breath as leaned in for a kiss. His lips softly brushed her, just to feel her close to him, to relish in the feeling of having his girlfriend melted in his arms.
Her grin lit up, brushing her hair behind her shoulders, leaning up to leave another lingering kiss to his soft lips.
“Get a room, dude! Your house's full of 'em!”, suddenly complained Lucas, a devilish smirk on his face as he said so.
Steve begrudgingly broke away from his girlfriend with a groan and turned around, hands flying to rest on his hips by habit to glare at the group of kids– plus Robin, but he guessed he could count her in– wiggling their eyebrows at them.
“Thanks for your helpful insight, Sinclair. Get back to your own girlfriend now, yes?”
Mike snickered from his spot beside Will, and his glare immediately fell upon him, making his smile drop in a matter of seconds. “You shut up, Wheeler”
“What the hell, Harrington?”
“Should I remind you of the time when you were staring at Byers jr like a puppy in love while an alien world was falling on our heads?”
“It's called Abyss, man” corrected Dustin under his breath.
“What are you doing here anyway, guys?”, asked she, coming to stand beside Steve, who immediately melted and pulled her into his side.
“Uh… Back up?”, answered Dustin after a few pregnant seconds.
She burst out chuckling, looking between him and Steve, who looked like he was sweating cold. “... Yeah, back up”, he echoed, chuckling uncertain.
“Back up? To fix a chair?”, she asked again, amusement swirling freely on her glowing face.
“... Yeah?”, he cringed at himself. “I know it sounds stupid, but I swear that goddamn chair is making it difficult on purpose!”, he exclaimed to preserve his ego.
“Yeah, sure it does, Stevie”, she smiled up at him teasingly before crouching down next to the chair missing one leg. She held up the leg and inspected it quietly for a few seconds. Then, she hummed and turned to El with a hand reached out. “Pass me the hammer, please?”
Albeit a tad confused, she did as she was asked and placed the tool in her outstretched manicured hand. She thanked her and picked up a nail, holding it in place against the chair. Done that, she tightened her hold on the hammer and planted the nail like it was nothing.
“Here, all done”, she said with a satisfied sigh, passing the tool back to El with a grateful nod. Everyone was staring at her like she had just grown enormous muscles and superpowers.
“How– What the fuck?”, sputtered out Lucas, the other nodding along.
“You guys didn't try nailing it?”
“We opted to adopt more scientific means, that's all”, said Dustin, trying to save face.
She rolled her eyes fondly and got up, dusting her jeans with a delighted hum. Robin snorted, her arms crossed on her chest, “I might steal your girl, dingus”
could i request more eurymene art in your style? even if it's just a quick doodle i would really appreciate it :) your eurymene art makes me more happy than i can express lol it's so cute
tysm!! i love ur art sm <33 it's amazing!!
I could never say no to such a kind person, thank you, happy you feel that way 🥹
Ctimene your relation to Odysseus and Hermes is showing
