Steve X Reader X Garrett - [Best of Both Worlds]
SFW, GN!Reader, canon-faithful writing and fun times all around
Steve hasn’t had much action in his life, relationship wise. Always alienated in school, maybe had a few flings in adulthood, but people always sought him out for a good time rather than a real commitment… But then there was you.
Something about you, when you stumbled into the Overworld alongside your other roundling friends… You stood out, not in the way that Henry did but… Something else.
Dawn and Natalie were indifferent, Garrett was more than infuriating, but you were a surprising addition to the crew in the fact that you took a shine to him and his architecture almost instantly.
When he spoke you listened, even seemed impressed with his talent. No one else seemed to care about the time and effort that went into this world, most of it being done by his hand. It was nice to feel appreciated, to feel seen.
As a modern gamer yourself you took to the mechanics of the world almost instantly, Steve was almost flustered albeit impressed. He'd be in the middle of explaining something as simple as a crafting table with his usual gusto, and then boom! You'd just make one yourself. Tools? Easy. Armor? Easier! And mining... Hoo boy, he had to keep you from strip mining through an entire mountain, despite how much he'd love to join.
"You found iron already?! It took me forever to get out of the stone age!"
Since you weren't such a try-hard like Gar-Gar he was happy to nurture you and Henry's creative impulses, though the Garbage Man himself was rather jealous of how quickly you got a handle on things (and especially how you got ahold of Steve's attention. He couldn't tell who he was more jealous of, truthfully).
During a late night campfire session you even had it in you to ask about his life before the Overworld.
“What was your life like before the Overworld..? I know you said it was boring and all, but what made you choose to stay here for so long?”
If you didn’t know any better you’d think he was running from something.
He drew a deep breath in as he laid next to you under the stars, pursing his lips together. Despite being such a silly guy, you could tell there was a lot more going on underneath his braggadocios exterior.
“In my world… Well, our world, I was very lonely. I knew no one would miss me, so I stayed here where I found purpose. There was nothing I couldn’t do, nothing I couldn’t build… The sky's the limit. You know how expensive it is to build a house in the real world, kid?”
His tone was joking but he wasn’t necessarily wrong, it was a cruel world outside of the cubes.
“Yeah, I know… Sucks not having more people like you around though. The real world sure could use a Steve or two.”
He chuckled, hands clasped over his tummy, but his laughter was short lived when he heard a fake gag coming from the tent you originally shared with Garrett.
“Ugh, are you two sapheads gonna be up all night? Tryin’ to get some beauty sleep in here!”
Garrett had not been a fan of how close you and Steve had become over the course of this adventure. At all.
Leading up to the discovery of the portal, Garrett had been scheming of ways to ask you out without making it seem too obvious.
Your job had you fly out to Chuglass for a higher position in the company, but once you got there you found out the position they offered had already been taken somehow. This was after you’d already spent your savings moving and flying of course, so you were actively trying to save up so that you could get back home soon.
You swung by his store pretty often to sell some of your old junk, you knew he was lowballing you so you’d either have to heckle or concede to seeing one of your previously precious relics up on the shelf for double the price you sold it a week later.
Even so, this had become somewhat of a ritual for the two of you. As more of your boxes made the trip across the country you’d visit again, the cycle would continue. Although he was a stingy ass, there was an odd charm to him that you couldn’t quite place. Something that drew you back to the store far more than the prices.
As you leafed through some of the used CDs he kept replaying scenarios in his head, trying to figure out how he’d go about asking you on a date.
“Hey person who I argue with and resell shit from constantly, wanna go on a date? Not like you have many other guys to select from since most everyone else around here is a middle aged loon!”
“No, no, that’s terrible…” He murmured right as you had pulled out a CD you were interested in.
You shot him a glare in response, presuming he was judging your music taste.
“No, not you,” He waved his hand dismissively, shaking his head. Before the two of you could get into it, Hank walked in and the whole cube thing happened. There went his one and only shot of asking you out prior to this fiasco, and he blew it just like he does everything else.
It's not as though it got particularly better in the Overworld either, left and right he kept making a fool of himself.
While you excelled at crafting, mining, and combat, he was bumbling around like an oaf trying to talk to sheep and wielding buckchuckets. He'd never been more embarrassed, and exceedingly unwilling to admit it at that.
He wagered that he must look like a real dumbass in your eyes. A real Boo Boo the Fool. That may have been true to some degree, but unbeknownst to him it only endeared him to you more.
The lengths he'd go just to one-up you and Steve were comical, it was kind of cute seeing him act so cocky and then pout right after when it went awry.
You wanted to console him deep down, but you knew that would just make him feel justified in his petty antics so you refrained, wrestling back a bemused smile all the while.
Steve felt the same exact way, even if his macho exterior wouldn't allow such sentiments to bleed through.
I mean, when was the last time he had another man his age around? Even with Garrett's hidden indentions, Steve enjoyed their little banter and pseudo-rivalry. There was no competition really, but it was nice to see him try!
And, while the average observer may think Steve was annoyed or felt disrespected, it was truly the opposite. You may have recognized Steve from a different angle, but Garrett quintessentially met him on his level. Mano y mano, if you will. He saw him as a worthy competitor and acted accordingly, he didn't treat him like some dopey accountant who couldn't do anything for himself, no! He treated him like a man... Steve liked that.
With all of this in mind, it still didn't prevent tensions from rising. You and Garrett got into a spat that night at the campsite, since he conveniently liked to act up when you and Steve were having genuine moments together. The night ended with you switching to Steve's tent, MUCH to Gar-Gar's dismay, and the very next day a brawl broke out at the nearby village that caused you to separate from him, Steve, and Henry.
Dawn and Natalie tried to comfort you as best they could, Nat being pretty oblivious to the obvious romantic tension sizzling like hot lava chicken between you and the other two men on the team.
"I'm just worried about them, we left things off really shitty... Me and Garrett, then you and Henry... It's like we just can't stop fighting..."
"Ugh, that toolbag could start a fight with a baby if he wanted to. He'll get over it, and Henry... I just want him to be safe right now. I think... Well, I hope Steve can do at least that..." She seemed to be lost in thought as she helped you row the boat you crafted while Dawn read the map.
"There's a fork up ahead... We need to take a right..." Dawn murmured as she studied the details of the map, furrowing her brows at the big red section up ahead. Maybe the woodland mansion was past the mushroom forest..? Could be possible...
The ride was quiet for the most part, but while you and the girls were peacefully sailing the boys were fighting for their lives trying to out-fly the piglins. Sadly you had to miss out on Steve and Garrett’s midair kiss, but you never anticipated that you’d only reunite with one of them later in your journey.
Steve laid there motionless on the bed with Dennis curled up at the foot of it, the rise and fall of his chest being the only sign of life. He was healed, peaceful, and he looked so beautiful just lying there beneath the sun and getting some proper rest… His survival brought you peace, but he lack of a certain someone’s presence was still very concerning.
After a while of you sitting at his bedside Dennis got up and began to lick Steve’s beard, the old man slowly stirring and eventually giggling at the ticklish feeling. “Dennis! It’s really you!” He sat up and gave his faithful companion some good scritches, grinning at the pooch. As he turned to you his expression softened, not necessarily in a bad way just… Different.
He looked like he wanted to say something more, but he knew now wasn’t the time… The battle wasn’t over, and he already knew what your first words to him were going to be.
“Gar-Gar, he’s…” He trailed off.
Nat, who was seated next to Henry on his bed, looked over at you with a grave expression.
“I don’t know,” Steve finished softly, casting his brown eyes onto the ground. “He fought bravely, but the piglins had us surrounded. He… Sacrificed himself to save Henry and I. He lived and unalived like the warrior he was.” He nodded solemnly as you covered your mouth, tears welling up in your eyes. “N-No, it can’t be…”
He put a hand on your shoulder tentatively, he half expected you to shrink away but to his surprise you threw yourself onto him, crying into the crook of his neck and holding him tight. He hated to see you this way, but he also felt honored that you’d choose him as a source of comfort. He ran his calloused hands along your back doing his best to console you. He was pretty torn up about it himself, but he didn’t want you to see that side of him yet. Garrett wouldn’t want him crying over it anyway.
Dawn and Natalie did their best to be supportive while you were grieving, hell even Henry was trying to cheer you up. There was nothing they could do though, as the only thing that could sate your sadness was bloodshed and revenge.
You crafted yourself a pair of diamond nunchucks in Garrett’s honor, making it your mission to tear through every piglin in sight. In your rage you’d adopted some of Garrett’s mannerisms and cockiness, even stealing some frags from Natalie as you fought alongside her. It was annoying but you were going through it, and it was too late to argue with too many important things on the line right now.
With the raging emotions at the forefront of your mind, you didn't think to question sending Henry to go get the orb despite being the only child on the team. He was the only one not drowning in pork right now, so you kept up the good fight while he scaled the nether portal by his lonesome. Although it seemed the war had been won, a blast from The Great Hog sent Henry flying. The thought of losing another team member so soon after the other sent a pang of shock through your chest, but that wasn't going to happen... Not on Garrett's watch.
The Garbage Man swooped in valiantly, saddled beneath a Ghast using his arms to steer the beast.
For a second you couldn't tell who it was, but upon recognizing that pink tasseled jacket and long flowing hair it dawned on you that your brave knight managed to beat the odds and survive!
After him and Hank's brief reunion and acquisition of the orb. you called for him--nay--screamed for him, shouting his name until he landed nearby.
As the piglins crumbled around you he came running, hugging you first out of everyone else. He swooped you up and swung you around, laughing like a madman.
"I thought I'd never see you again..!" Everyone aside from Steve, who was busy finishing off Malgosha, surrounded you in preparation for the epic group hug that was about to happen. They wanted you two to have your moment first though.
"Y yo tu, which is... Me too, in Spanish," He placed a rough hand on the side of your face, caressing your cheek with his thumb as he gazed down at you lovingly.
"Te amo," You murmured softly.
"Te amo," You reiterated.
He nodded, though still maintained a confused expression.
"That means I love you in Spanish," You raised a brow at him, your wistful smile curling into a frown.
"OHHH right, right... Yeah, love you too babe," He leaned down to give you an amorous kiss, his scruffy beard tickling your face as he held the back of your head firmly.
Henry gagged jokingly, Natalie crossed her arms and shook her head, and Dawn simply smiled and nodded. "Oh, I been knew somethin' was goin' on with those two."
Just when the kiss began to last long enough to get awkward, Steve arrived in what remained of his diamond armor, a solemn look on his face. He cleared his throat when he grew near, prompting you and the Garbage Man to separate. The two of you looked at each other and then at Steve, happy and yet... Almost guilty.
He smiled, it was pained, but a smile nonetheless.
"It's about time, you two... You always bickered like an old married couple," He glanced at the two of you as he knelt down to pet and sing to Dennis, a truly heartfelt farewell ballad. You and Garrett held hands the whole way through, but you knew things didn't have to end this way.
Garrett untangled his fingers from yours to approach Steve, the two of them locking arms like they did when they first met. "I respect your decision to stay, but out there I don't have too many, uh, friends my own age."
Steve shook his head, "Nah, you'll be fine. You have Y/N now," He gestured his head towards you, wearing an expression of defeat. Garrett had beat him in the battle to win your heart, fair and square... That's what he thought at least.
"Go on home Gar-Gar, you two can keep each other warm on winter nights, take Dennis to the beach during the summer, all that fun stuff..."
To your surprise, Garrett held Steve's face just as he had held yours, swiping his thumb in the same way.
"If you say so brochacho, but if you ask me... Every good movie series is a trilogy. Think about that," He released him, gaze lingering on the turquoise bloused male for a little too long before hooking an arm around your shoulder and walking towards the portal with you.
Natalie's parting words and yours from the campsite lingered with him as he watched you and the gang walk away together, the gears slowly beginning to shift in his mind.
"We could use some of that magic in the real world."
"The real world sure could use a Steve or two."
"Every good movie series is a trilogy. Think about that."
He took one last look at the Overworld, something told him this wouldn't be his last time here but for now...
"Ah, screw it. It's about time I craft something in the real word that I can call mine."
He ran after you guys and into the portal, nearly tripping into you and Garrett on his way out.
"Steve!" Everyone shouted in unison, crowding around him and suffocating him in one big hug. While the others pulled away you and Gar-Gar looked at each other knowingly, nodded, and then each planted a big wet kiss on each side of Steve's face--much to his surprise.
His face flushed as brightly as redstone, whipping his head back and forth to look at you both in disbelief. "What the--?! Y-You two... This whole time?!"
"I thought it was kinda obvious, I just didn't say anything," Henry shrugged and walked off ahead of everyone else, having no desire to sit here and watch all three of his mentors kiss at the same time. "I second that," Dawn agreed, staying by his side to make sure he didn't wander off again. "I... Honestly had no idea," Nat sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, lingering briefly before letting you three have some proper alone time in the mines together.
"Wow... For a second there I was scared I lost the two of you as friends, but now," Steve chuckled. "It seems I have both of you in a very different way."
"It was a hard choice for a while," You admitted, rubbing his belly gently through his unisex cyan shirt. "But then I realized I didn't have to choose at all. If you're building a house and can't decide between spruce or birch, just use both."
"Yeah, what they said... I didn't win gamer of the year by only playin' one character on the roster," He gave Steve's stomach a firm pat, grabbing the flesh and giving it a little shake earning a small "oof!" from the older man.
"C'mon you guys, lets go home."
As all of you walked off into the sunset without any real idea of whose house you'd be heading to, the future seemed bright for the three of you. Normally thinking far ahead filled you with a sense of dread, but after surviving the challenges of this life and the perils of another you realize that meeting both of these men at the same time in your life truly is the best of both worlds.
