Pixar Cars AU with Steddie x Reader
Hear me out-! HEAR ME OUT I PROMISE I HAVE A REASON-
But okay, Steve Harrington leaving Hawkins after graduation (im thinking post season 3) to become a race car driver. After all, he is good at it and frankly after that experience with Toddfather, he might as well.
He makes it, Big Time. Becomes the darling of Hawkins again, and that old King Steve personality starts creeping back in. Still, he plays the ‘Small town boy from humble beginnings’ part pretty well, so no one catches him on his bullshit too often. He’s just too good a talking his way out of things.
Until the big race, the biggest one of his career. Just like in the movie, his car trailer breaks down and he’s left right back where he started at the cusp of Hawkins, Indiana. He gets towed, this time by Eddie Munson who’s become the local mechanic. Him and Steve throw barbs at each other, with Eddie seeing right through his ‘humble’ act the second he gets there. Still, Steve likes it. He likes being checked again, and frankly Eddie looked really good in mechanic overalls.
With his team having to circle back to get him, Steve is stuck in Indiana for a while. Its also during this time that he meets you. The waiter/waitress at the local diner. Unlike Eddie, you’re a little sweeter to him. You moved to Hawkins after Steve left, so you only heard stories about the big time race car driver. It helps that you’re a bit of a racing fan, like to a nerdy level so Steve enjoys talking to you. He dials the charm way up, and the genuine way you react to it leaves him feeling such a warmth inside.
It doesn’t surprise him in the least when he finds out you and Eddie are dating. A mechanic and a race car fan? It made sense, even if it bruised his ego. Lucky for him though, you and Eddie are both charmed by the race car driver, even if Eddie can be a little sarcastic with him.
The story will follow Steve remembering where he came from, and the whole reason why he put the ‘King Steve’ title to bed in the first place. From reconnecting with Robin and the gang again, to working through this new discovery about his sexuality, to dealing with the aging backdrop of Hawkins that leaves so many of its people feeling hopeless and lost to time. (Side note, this last bit is inspired by a video called Monstrous Existence. Seriously you need to watch it. Its about Night In The Woods with a Cars preamble, and oh my god, I cried at the end. Im literally not kidding, I cried. Its such a good video and seriously makes me wanna frame Hawkins in a semi similar way to the way she talks about Cars, but also about Mae’s town.)
He gets racing tips from Wayne, cuz I can see that being a fun link between him and Eddie. Then between driving montages, he has ‘hang outs’ with Eddie and his partner which slowly start to feel more like dates. He even lets them drive in his race car, and gets this ego boost from the way they get so excited over it. I definitely think at some point they spend the night together, finally admitting their feelings and even promising to come on the road with him. Steve also promises to promote Hawkins more, which will boost the town again and create more jobs/tourist opportunities.
I’d love for the Upside Down to be a part of this somehow, but I’m not entirely sure how. Overall, this is my offer of Race-Car Driver!Steve Harrington. I hope this pleases you-