written as part of @st-loveconfessions february kindness event for today: write a fic based on art! the moment I saw this absolutely stunning art by @stervrucht, I knew I had to get some words out. @runninriot also wrote something inspired by this art and it's just as stunning as the art itself, you can find that here!
rated m | 1031 words | cw: blood and injury | tags: eddie munson lives, steve rescues eddie, eddie has a crush on steve, pre-relationship, open ending but assume they're getting together
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The tears drip. The rain hits the roof. The sweat builds along his hairline.
Eddie’s alone. He’s scared. He’s sick of feeling pain everywhere.
“Eddie?”
The voice is back. He should be happy. Hearing Steve’s voice is a relief compared to what he’s been feeling for so long. He’s not even sure how long he’s been stuck here. Hours, days, weeks?
Years?
“Eddie.”
The voice is clear, but it’s always clear. Sometimes it’s far, sometimes it’s close. It sounds worried, but talking back to it doesn’t help.
He’s sure of only one thing: Steve Harrington’s voice is a balm on his nerves and patience alike. If he can’t have the real Steve saving him, he’s glad he at least has his voice in his ears.
Cool hands are covering his naked chest. It feels so nice, like an ice pack on an injury.
He supposes he does have an injury. Probably a lot if the shooting pains across his side and legs are anything to go off of.
“Eddie, hey.”
Eddie blinks. His vision focuses.
“There you go. Keep your eyes open. I’m getting you out of here.”
“Steve?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Sorry we kept you waiting so long.”
Eddie’s got tunnel vision, which is weird for a hallucination. Or maybe it’s not. He’s only done shrooms once and he barely even hallucinated before he passed out.
Eddie reaches one hand up to try to feel if Steve is real. He touches bare skin and he laughs.
“‘S fake.”
Steve’s got a lot of hair on his chest, he remembers from when he jumped into the lake. He remembers thinking how nice it must be to fall asleep on his chest, run his fingers through the soft hair there.
“What’s fake?” Steve asks.
An interactive hallucination is very strange, but it’s a nice distraction from the pain. It fades in and out like the intro and outro to songs. He’s gotta figure out how to put this into music.
“You,” he answers. There’s still no other voices and there’s no way Steve would rescue him alone. No one would let him come down here alone. “Me.”
“We’re not fake, Eddie. I knew we should’ve come back sooner. You’re fuckin’ delirious,” Steve sounds panicked now, and Eddie doesn’t want that. Hallucination Steve should be relaxed.
“Calm. Hurts, but calm.”
He’s being lifted up slowly and he’s sitting for the first time since the bats started trying to eat him. Feels a little weird, something internally screams, and then he realizes he’s actually screaming externally.
Steve’s trying to keep him calm and quiet, shushing him as he pulls him to his shoulder, hand tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck. It’s nice, smelling something that’s not the stench of the Upside Down or his own blood. Feeling something human where all he’s known is dirt and ash.
“It’s gonna hurt for a few minutes, but it’ll be worth it,” Steve’s saying in his ear.
Eddie raises an arm. It hurts. It’s not as bad as when he sat up, but it’s more pain than he should be feeling.
He must make a noise because Steve’s burying his nose into Eddie’s hair and it feels intimate in a way that doesn’t belong here. This place is broken, Eddie is broken, and Steve is stable.
“I’m gonna lift you up. Is anything broken?” Steve whispers against the side of his head.
Eddie hopes he remembers all of this. He hopes when he wakes up— if he wakes up— the first thought he has is about Steve touching him like this, making him feel alive and precious, worthy.
He must’ve answered Steve because he feels the ground fall out from under him and then searing pain in his side. Steve’s carrying him and he’s going to black out from the pain.
“Just a few minutes. Just hang on a few minutes. For me, Eddie,.”
Eddie can do anything in his dreams, so he hangs on for a while and then everything goes dark.
++++
“Eddie.”
The voice again.
It’s not clear this time, but he knows it’s Steve.
“Eddie, wake up.”
He blinks his eyes open and immediately closes them again, whining at the obnoxious bright light right in his eyes. If heaven is this bright, he’s not interested.
“Sorry. Let me turn those off.”
Steve’s voice is clearer now, sinking into his brain as the memories start to float back to him. Steve saved him. Steve showed up in the Upside Down shirtless and-
“Where was your shirt?” Eddie asks, voice raspy and trembling. He sounds as weak as he feels.
“My…shirt?” Steve asks.
“Y’were naked,” Eddie continues. “Nipples everywhere.”
Steve lets out a bark of a laugh and Eddie is going to combust. Making Steve laugh might be the best thing he’s ever done in his life…or death, if he’s dead.
“I was using it to stop the blood on your leg,” Steve explains. “It was still bleeding.”
He sounds…haunted.
“Did I die?”
Eddie focuses on Steve, the way he holds himself as if he’s in trouble, the way he won’t look directly at Eddie’s face. He’s guilty, but Eddie can’t imagine why.
“No. I don’t know how, but no.”
“You saved me.”
“I was almost too late.”
Eddie hums in protest. He’s too tired to argue, but he knows he’s right. Steve saved him. It doesn’t matter how long it took, or how many shirts were ruined in the process. He’s alive.
“C’mere,” Eddie whispers.
Steve steps closer. Eddie manages to grip his shirt, not tight, but enough for Steve to look down and then back up, finally settling on his face.
“Y’did good,” Eddie says. He closes his eyes hoping that’ll conserve energy to say what he needs to. “Thank you.”
“Eddie-“
“Sit. Sleep.”
He’s not sure if Steve listens because he’s already drifting back out of consciousness, but he can feel the weight of Steve’s hand in his and he’s pretty sure he’s not gonna let go.
When he wakes up, he still feels Steve’s hand in his.
His eyes flutter open to see Steve asleep in the chair next to his bed.
Get ready to spread some love with our month-long Acts of Kindness challenge in February - with daily ideas on how to bring a little joy to your mutuals, your followers and your favorite fandom creators.
The challenges are focused on spreading positivity with relatively low effort, though you are always welcome to do more if you feel inspired. Challenges do not have to be completed on the same day or even during the month of February. See them as mere inspiration.
More info and tips on how to fill the individual challenges will be shared on the respective days. If you have any questions in advance, feel free to send an ask or DM.
Day 1: Send someone a funny meme or picture
Day 2: Write a ficlet inspired by an artwork
Day 3: Make a mini playlist for a fanfic
Day 4: Reblog a post and scream in the tags
Day 5: Send love to your favorite creators
Day 6: Rec a gen fic
Day 7: A piece of original media you tried bc it was mentioned in a fic
Day 8: A fic you read instead of doing something important
Day 9: Start a reblog chain
Day 10: A quote/scene from a fic you’ll never forget
Day 11: Rec rare pair art/fics
Day: 12 Make a motivational post
Day 13: Comment on a fic that you can’t stop thinking about
Day 14: Make and send a Valentine’s card
Das 15: Rec an “unconventional” form of art
Day 16: Share your favorite comment(s)
Day 17: Your favorite fandom events & challenges
Day 18: DM that one blogger you’ve been too shy to talk to
Day 19: Self-brag day
Day 20: Make art inspired by a fanfic
Day 21: Rec a podfic
Day 22: Make a moodboard for a fanfic
Day 23: Let a creator know you’ve been gushing about them
Day 24: Rec your favorite artists
Day 25: Leave a comment on a WIP encouraging the author
Day 26: Offer advice on something you’re good at
Day 27: Share a fond memory of a fandom interaction
Written for the @steddiemicrofic February prompt rose, and the @st-loveconfessions February Acts of Kindness day 02 challenge write a ficlet inspired by an artwork - I chose this piece by @resande bc it’s fkg stunning || Word count target: 367 || Rating: T || CW: Recollections of angst and allusions to canon-typical violence/gore, hopeful ending || Tags: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, post-S4, S4 fix-it, alternate outcome
Steve remembers.
He remembers it all. Everything about that night they fought demons.
He remembers the fear; tar-like dread rising in his chest as Eddie ran off to play the hero.
And after, how he’d staggered to Skull Rock, honouring the promise they’d made, a private pact to make it back here. Ignoring the nagging incertitude of whether both of them would.
He remembers the scent of rotting leaves and petrichor mingling with his own: sweat, blood and smoke, and how, gross as it was, it smelled better than where they’d just been. But behind it, a desire for cigarettes, weed and motor-oil that he'd never previously acknowledged, but was now inexplicably craving.
He remembers sitting, cold and alone. The only sounds rustling leaves above and his own ragged breaths. The notion that Eddie wouldn’t return gradually suffusing his mind like the chill that permeated his bones as the sun dipped ever lower.
He recalls twigs snapping, footfalls. The brief moment when he thought he might need his bat, for an animal. Or worse.
Then, just as the golden orb spilled its last over the horizon, illuminated by the diffuse celestial light…
Eddie.
He recalls indescribable relief. Then rising shakily on chilled legs, embracing his friend, holding him close. Feeling the texture of Eddie’s jacket in his fists, the sensation of solid, denim-clad thighs pressing against his own. How warm, how alive Eddie felt as Steve’s fingertips brushed his back as his clothing bunched in his grasp. The unexpected softness of Eddie’s hair, matted blood and entrails notwithstanding.
And how vigorously Eddie had gripped him back.
He remembers the relief suddenly morphing into something larger, stronger, more all-encompassing.
How a different sensation rose in his chest then. Something familiar, yet simultaneously completely uncharted. A fierce heat that started low in his belly, rising up through his torso, enveloping his heart and bursting out of his throat.
Flames he couldn’t contain or suppress, even if his life depended on it. A feeling so strong it subsumed all others. All fear, all doubt, all trepidation.
He remembers tears falling and his voice cracking as he’d sobbed and whispered the only words that entirely pervaded his mind,
“I love you.”
Thanks so much for reading!
PLEASE go and give love to the art by @resande, it’s called ‘Reunion at Skull Rock’ (you can see why I didn’t reveal the title at the start 😉) and I think it’s absolutely tremendous (all of their work is!). AND go send your ST love confessions via the asks at @st-loveconfessions , such a fantastic idea and a wonderful way to spread some love through the fandom ❤️
There’s lots more Steddie and Eddie on my masterlist
For @st-loveconfessions , reccing my favorite artists.
@blasvemous i can't believe they picked my silly circus/freakshow au and made gorgeous art for it and now we're besties, good things like this don't happen to me 💚
@otternil i love the themes in his art, every piece is a hit and it resonates with me. Bear Eddie? Little Vampire AU? Transgenderism and monsters? Yes please
@alicetallula is always there for all the silly events i come up with, always with a fun ship or au or outfit, and they mix so many mediums, where do you find the time, man
@hawkinsleather has unique style, silly and clever ideas, and gives us trans Eddie. With bits out. Delicious. Also, pink
@rambamthxman silly muppet men. What else could you want from life?
@safk-art the demo!Steve design does things to me that I don't want to adress. And I think that's the real power of art
@2jihiir0 idk what to tell you, the dark themes just do it for me. Their art is just hot
@getlost0p the artist that feeds us t4t steddie content and glorifies Stevie's curves at every possibility. Just. Soft and hot.
Day 24: Rec your favorite artists ( @st-loveconfessions )
The ST fandom is blessed with so many amazing and creative artists, and I was so lucky that I got the chance to collaborate with some of them for some events! Some of them even let me write little stories inspired by their amazing art!
I loved so much working with all of them and I want to scream to the world how good they are!
Hey, look I'm using this account lol. I'm chronically inactive on Tumblr and bluesky. Looking to rectify that. And why not rectify it with kindness?
The @st-loveconfessions is doing a kindness week and I felt inspired to do today's challenge. Two fics cross my mind often when I'm bopping along to my playlist on shuffle so I made a mini playlist for each of them. First up, @arimakes fic, fill my lungs with sweetness
Here's a little playlist for wabisabipapi and their hanahaki apocalypse fic. A lot of them are just vibes but I'm gonna write below the reasonings behind my choices as well as the song title and artist.
I hope this silly little playlist does the the fic justice because it truly is wonderful and beautiful.
We'll become silhouettes - postal service
Mainly vibes. A lot of them are just vibes but it reminded me of Eddie's time in his home / bomb shelter and then their shared time there.
Don't panic- Coldplay
This mainly was vibes but the irony of Eddie being afraid of the world they lived in and it being seen as a beautiful world by either of them felt like the back and forth of Steve cracking Eddie's hard exterior. Steve trying to encourage Eddie go out into the world and those who are left are there to lean on one another.
Come into my arms- november ultra
This reminded me Eddie and his mom and all he internalized about her and how he missed her and how they translated to how he inevitably opened up and closed off to Steve
Surface tension- Genevieve Stokes
This felt like Eddie vibes to me. Denying himself what he doesn't think he can have.
Silhouettes- colony house
Again vibes. This felt vibes of the both of them during their time together and the very end.
Tourniquet - Jeremy messersmith
This felt like a Steve to Eddie song. That he would have been there for him no matter what after the time they spent together no matter what the unreliable narrator in Eddie's head told him. No matter what Eddie's fear told him.
Under my bed- provoker
This felt like Eddie's fear in a song. There's a part when all feels lost and Eddie is consumed by his fear which is just a surrender to the fear he already has on the surface all along.
Gilded lily- cults
Another Eddie song around being consumed by the fear of dying and being consumed by unrequited love and all he sacrificed unknowingly because of his fathers choices and then eventually having glimmers of hope that he may be wrong about Steve coming back for him.
Into my arms- nick cave and the bad seeds
Again vibes. I'm sorry. But this felt very much like vibes for the end of the story to me.
Bloom- paper kites
I had to mainly because it's the song the title comes from but also every time I hear this song I think of this fic.
we are truly blessed to have such a beautiful variety of fandom challenges & events to pick and choose from, so i think every single one deserves a shoutout.
but to name a few of my personal favs:
@st-loveconfessions for encouraging everyone to spread kindness and share our love for each other (and for inspiring this post) 💛🤗
@steddielovemonth was the first writing challenge i actively participated in so that one holds a special place in my heart. and with the world gone to shit, what more could we need than a whole month dedicated to love? 💖🩷
@steddiemicrofic is probably the most challenging one for me because 'what do you mean i can only write 347 words??? i'm already at 563 and they haven't even kissed yet!' 😂🧡 it's hard sometimes but SO MUCH FUN!
the @steddiesongfics challenge is one i love so so much because nothing is more inspiring to me than music, so this is the perfect combination 🎵💜
@subeddieweek - i mean... SUB. EDDIE. do i need to say more? 😇🤍
also last year's @steddiesmuttyseptember deserves a special mention because oh boy was that a joy to participate in and to read all the filthysweet treats that came out as a result of this event 🔥❤️
For @st-loveconfessions Acts of Kindness challenge day 3 "make a mini playlist for a fanfic" I figured I would share the playlist I made to listen to while I read Prism by @azrielgreen. (I have not read the most recent chapter yet, I'm waiting to be able to immerse myself completely, so I'm sure there'll be some more songs I want to add after that.) Thanks to Az for creating something that gets me so excited I make a playlist for it!
It's got a lot of songs that apply to either one or the other of the characters (Patrick Wolf and Tori Amos are largely the Steve songs, Nick Cave is Eddie).
Here's a link to the Spotify playlist, and a tracklist for those of you who are stronger than me and can resist the siren song of Spotify for ethical reasons. @whatithacasmean did attempt to help me, and was allowed to add two songs, but then I told her she was going to ruin the vibe with pop music and she gave up on me.
TRACKLIST
Wolf Song - Patrick Wolf
Blood Roses - Tori Amos
Bones - MS MR
Avalanche - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (specifically this version, I will take no arguments about the superiority of other versions)
