Written for @corrodedcoffinfest’s Media Mayhem event | Prompt: ‘Have A Drink On Me' | Rating: M | Word count: 1000 | Pairing: Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington; Steddie | CW: alcohol consumption, intoxication, flirting | Tags: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, The Hideout, Jeff, Gareth, Doug, wingman!Jeff, Eddie is an incorrigible flirt, future AU, everyone's over 21
Pt2: The Office | Pt 3: Closing Time
Steve left Family Video after Robin moved for college, and if he remembers his earplugs and takes regular breaks, he can manage his shifts at The Hideout without risking a migraine. It's far more exciting than the video store, and Jimmy doesn't have a problem with Steve taking a minute now and then, given that Steve’s good looks and personable demeanour have brought in an entirely new clientele.
Corroded Coffin aren't complaining either. The larger crowds are obviously welcome, and their frontman is performing even better now that his secret crush is always watching. Jeff suspects the feeling’s mutual, and decides to test the theory on Eddie’s birthday.
Jimmy’s given them the Friday slot in honour of the special day, and before they go on Steve heads backstage with shots. The boys take theirs gratefully, but, Eddie being Eddie, he holds Steve’s gaze as he downs his, then lasciviously licks his long tongue into the glass, garnering every drop. Eddie may not be brave enough to act on his crush, but he's no stranger to gratuitous flirting. Steve’s cheeks flush pink as Gareth queries,
“What's this in aid of, Stevie-boy?”
“Mostly Ed’s birthday, but also you guys make this place fun to work at, so these are on me.”
Jeff doesn't miss the nickname or Steve's change in colour, and spies an opportunity to set Eddie up like never before.
“On you, huh? Whaddaya say, Steve-o? Body shots later?”
Gareth and Doug clap whilst it's Eddie's turn to redden, Steve chuckling nervously.
After the gig the drinks flow, bought by friends, patrons and even Jimmy - he hasn't seen a Friday like this in years.
Once most of the crowd’s cleared out, only stragglers and staff left, Jeff yells,
“Get your ass over here, Harrington! Shirt off, we're doing shots!”
He clears their table and motions for Steve to get topless, labouring the point that it's Eddie's birthday and they deserve a special night. Steve, both apprehensive and intrigued, eventually complies.
Lying on the sticky surface, legs dangling, he sees it really is just the guys. He relaxes as much as he can, given the years-long crush he's had on one of those guys, it having arisen in high school when he was forced to watch that goddamn chain swinging around an especially delectable ass.
Jeff appoints himself Distributor of the Shots. He places Gareth's glass on Steve's abs, and it teeters as Steve flinches, new to this. Gareth bends but with all the movement almost fumbles it, catching it between his fingers at the last moment and downing it. The guys cheer anyway, and Steve claps, relieved.
Jeff balances his own shot at Steve's solar plexus, and after a deliberately dramatic wait, Steve barely breathing, he lifts it with his teeth and tips it back with a flourish, generating a louder yell from the group.
Jeff places Doug’s on Steve's sternum, clocking Eddie's poorly concealed, envious scowl as he gets close to Steve's pecs. Doug deploys Jeff’s technique and successfully downs his drink too, though with slightly less aplomb. Nevertheless the boys holler their approval.
Next up, the birthday boy. Now, Jeff’s not known as a devious guy, but these two have been dancing around each other for so long he fears he's gonna be a granddaddy before they do anything about it. So sue him if he wants to… move things along. He grabs Eddie’s shot and holds it above Steve’s chest, signalling for Eddie to be ready, adding,
“You might wanna lean in a little closer there, Eds.”
Eddie regards him curiously, but before he can ask why Jeff tips the glass, pouring Eddie’s shot onto Steve. Steve gasps as Eddie, partly instinctively (he's not one to waste alcohol) and partly from sheer horniness (he'll not forgo this fantastic opportunity either) leans over and, starting at the bottom of the trail of booze that's trickling down beneath Steve’s ribs, licks and sucks his way up Steve's hairy chest, consuming booze and salt and sweat with equal fervour until all the liquor is gone. He doesn't even realise he's closed his eyes and is groaning like an animal with his lips still lightly caressing Steve’s skin until Jeff gently touches his shoulder, snapping him back to reality. He stands, swaying slightly, unsure whether it's from the shot or the realisation that he's just licked Steve's hairy tits. He focuses in time to see the rosy hue gracing Steve's face and torso, his amber-flecked eyes fixated on the ceiling.
Taking this as their cue, Jeff hustles his drunken bandmates to leave. Doug agrees, waving at Eddie over his shoulder with a slurred,
“Great party, man.”
Gareth initially protests, proclaiming he too wants to lick shots off the hot bartender. But after Jeff gives him a pointed look he complies, blowing a raspberry as Jeff manhandles him out the door.
Everyone else has gone too, and now it's just Steve and Eddie. Steve's swallowing dryly, unable to either sit up or look at Eddie.
Spying an unused shot glass and the mostly-finished bottle, and bolstered by booze and adrenaline, Eddie asks,
“You gonna join me, big boy?”
His confidence soars when Steve shivers, covering it with a nod.
Eddie’s about to tip the shot into his mouth when Steve frowns, finally finding his voice,
“I-isn't that supposed to be mine?”
Eddie leans over, positioning his mouth directly above Steve's. His eyes sparkle and his lips twitch as he replies,
“Oh yeah, this one's definitely for you. Open up for me, sweetheart…”
Steve’s lips part as Eddie takes the shot but doesn't swallow, parting his own and allowing the aromatic liquid to drizzle out of his mouth and into Steve's. It’s the hottest thing Steve's ever done with clothes on, and he moans as he swallows.
He stays there as Eddie refills the glass, but this time, when Eddie holds the shot in his mouth, he gets closer, their lips brushing.
And this time, once Steve's swallowed, he doesn't pull away…
Pt 2: The Office | Pt 3: Closing Time
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoy the other parts to this 😉
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take as needed |bouncer!eddie munson x bartender!reader|
prompt: a hectic week at the hideout has you burnt out, fed up, and on the path of destruction. eddie is in your path, and tries to course correct.
contains: minors dni. smut. dom!eddie x sub!reader tones this time. soft!dom!eddie. emotional release spanking. masturbation male. angst, fighting, they're kinda mean to each other but ends in fluff. based off this blurb from a while ago.
"Behind you." Veronica held the beers over you, shimmying through the crowded back area towards her customers at the end of the bar.
It was way too busy for The Hideout- for Hawkins. College was out for the summertime, all the college kids that fled as fast as they could after graduation were dragged back for the summer. Most of them would rather be at some stuffy bar that with their families, and you couldn't blame them, so they found there way here. On a Friday night, slammed and the karaoke machine in full effect from nine til midnight. Thankfully, you got off at ten, only an hour of enduring the screeching off note wails of the drunken patrons.
"Great song choice, man. Super metal." You looked up to see Eddie, all black even in the summer heat, sliding behind the bar, fist bumping the drunk kid who'd belted Welcome to the Jungle complete with the filthy moans into the mic. It had made everyone laugh, hoot and yell out encouragements at him. Everyone but you, it just irritated you.
"Hey there, pretty girl." Eddie muttered, grabbing your waist while he slid past you. "When you get a chance, can you make me a drink, please?"
"I'm super busy right now, Ed." You huffed, fishing a pen out of your back pocket, setting it on the bar for the drunk sorority girl to sign.
"I know, baby," Eddie cooed, ringed hands rubbing down you arms gently. You knew the act was to soothe you, calm you down, but it did nothing to relax you, only pissing you off further. "Whenever you get a chance. 'm on my break. You need any help? Wha'dya need me to do? How can I help?"
"No." You grit, shoving the ice scoop into the clumped, melting ice with a rather hard shove. "Can you just get out from behind here? It's crowded enough, Ed. 'M boiling and you're in my way."
"Easy, ease up." Eddie frowned at you. "Just trying to see if you need any help."
"I'm fine." You slammed the glass down on the counter, Veronica's eyes cutting over towards you carefully. You'd been on edge all night, frustrated and annoyed from the moment you walked in, such a contrast to your usual very sweet and bubbly demeanor. The customers seemed to notice too, seeing as your tips were practically cut in half, even on a busy night.
You tilted the bottle up, not even bother to properly measure the amount of vodka you were dousing into the drink. Veronica raised her brows at Eddie, shaking her head gently. You pressed the lemonade tap before turning to him. "I'll make your drink if I have time."
"I got it." Veronica offered, pulling two glasses out. "What do you want, Ed-"
"-I can make it, Veronica." You sneered, jamming a straw in the drink and adding it to the tab. "Just gimme a goddam second."
"Hey," Eddie's eyes narrowed at you. "What's gotten into you? Take a fucking chill pill and relax."
"I am relaxed." You sneered, slamming the drink on the counter in front of the wide eyed girl. "You are pissing me off."
"Hey, the both of you," Ellen huffed from her place behind you. "Why don't you both go on your fifteen." She suggested. "Cool off, alright?"
Eddie didn't give you a chance to protest, wrapping his arm around your bicep lightly, dragging you back towards the kitchen. You grumbled the whole way, whining about your tips, scuffing your feet along the sticky tile, until Eddie pushed the back door open.
"...and fucking Veronica has been taking all the regulars tonight, and I get all these young fucks who don't tip. Fucking bitch, like, she knows that's not fair-"
"-What is your problem tonight?" Eddie frowned.
You blinked, a scoff leaving your lips. "Me? What's my problem? Are you- are you fucking serious?"
"Yeah. You're being mean tonight. What's going on?" Eddie's jaw clenched, teeth grinding together.
"Oh, fuck you, Eddie. I am not being fucking mean, you're such a-"
"Hey," His ringed hand caught your jaw easily, light but firm. "Enough of whatever you're pissed about, alright? You gotta get yourself together. You're being mean to everyone. Not a good look. Killing the vibe, babe."
Your lips pursed, shoving him off of you. "You're a fucking piece of shit, you know that?" You sneered, reaching for the handle of the door. "I'm killing the vibe- fuck you! I'll kill the vibe if I want to."
Eddie's hand smacked onto the door, shutting it before you opened it completely. "What has got you acting like this?" Eddie demanded. You shoved him again, reaching for the handle. "Hey, stop it. I'm being serious, alright? Did someone mess with you? You're supposed to tell me or Ellen. I'll take care of them you know I will. Won't let them mess with you. Just- Can you tell me what's going on with you. Why are you being so mean tonight?"
"You're so fucking annoying." You huffed. "Nothing it wrong with me. You're just pissing me off."
"Yeah? Well, you're pissin' me off, too." Eddie snapped. You faltered at his biting tone. "Pissing me off, and everybody else off with your horrible little attitude."
"I don't have an attitude." You mumbled.
Eddie scoffed. "Yeah fucking right. You've been awful all night, and honestly, I'm sick of it. So is everyone else, so you better stop it now. Alright?"
It was your turn to scoff, a heavy eye roll accompanied. "Yeah? Or what? Huh? What the fuck are you or anyone else gonna do huh? Send me home? Cut me? Please, be my fucking guest."
Eddie moved, pinning you to the door, hands on yours, closing around them firmly. "If you don't quit acting so bitchy and mean, then I'm gonna treat you mean. Give you a taste of your own medicine." Eddie growled, eyes pointed in a fiery glare that had your knees buckling.
"You got me? Keep this shitty little attitude up, and I'm gonna drag you to the back and give you an attitude adjustment. That what you want?"
Your heart jumped at the threat, tummy flipping and pooling with warmth. "Y-You're not going to-" Your voice shook, Eddie's challenging look cutting you off further.
"No? You sure? You really think I won't? Keep it up." Eddie snarled, letting your hands go. "I'm sure everyone would love to see you get put in your place after how awful you've been tonight."
You let out a shuddering breath, watching him reach for his reds, sifting through the pack, curls falling in front of his face. Eddie turned to you, cigarette around his lips. "What?" He asked, flicking the lighter. "You want one?"
Your nose scrunched, grabbing the door handle and yanking it open furiously. Eddie rolled his neck, inhaling deeply. It was going to be a long night.
Though your attitude subdued through most of the night, enough that at least you weren't so hateful outwardly, not slinging mean comments. Instead, you took to glaring, shooting daggers at Eddie. Thankfully, the bar died down enough for the two of you to go home in time, Ellen giving Eddie a wary look over your head while you wrote your time.
"Fuckin' asshole." You sneered, sifting through the wadded bills, flicking the cash into the drawer.
"What's wrong?" Ellen asked, passing the check to the group of girls across the bar.
"That jackass only tipped a dollar." You grit, tucking the singular bill into your bra. "Six beers and four shots, and he tips a dollar? What a piece of shit."
Ellen's lips pursed. "Well, maybe if you were nicer-"
"-I was nice." You snapped defensively.
Eddie's shoulders tensed at your tone, even from his place by the door he could hear it, much clearer now that the place had started to clear out.
Ellen's brow raised, looking at you then to Eddie. He could feel his face flush, mortified at your attitude. "You know what? It's died down, and you..." Ellen shook her head. "Veronica and I can close up tonight. You can go home early."
You scoffed, dumping the glasses into the tray. "I don't have a ride. I came with Eddie. It's fine, I'll start the-"
"-No, Ed!" Ellen waved him over. "You two go home early, alright? Last calls in an hour, it's dying down. We got it."
Eddie wanted to die, melt into the floor. He felt like he was in grade school again, getting in trouble because someone was talking to him, grouped in with the trouble when he was innocent.
You didn't argue, huffing when you split the tips in the jar, stomping away towards the back. "Ellen, hey, I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with her tonight. I think she's just in a bad mood-"
"-That's an understatement, Munson." Ellen grumbled, eyes rolling. "Did you two fight or something on the way here?"
"No, we didn't-"
"-Because I'm glad you two are together. I think you're real cute, but if it's going to effect your work like this. I'll have to stop scheduling you two together." Ellen gave him a pointed look. "And that's really gonna be a pain in my ass."
Eddie swallowed, hands buzzing, twisting his rings nervously. "No, I get that. It won't- You don't need to do that. I'll get it under control. This was just a one time thing. She's just having a bad day."
Ellen held his gaze, a stern glare that had Eddie's heart picking up, cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I hope so. I'm choosing to believe you because I agree, that," Ellen waved towards the back where you were no doubt sulking. "Is out of character."
Eddie nodded, muttering a sigh filled apology. Ellen waved him off. "Hey just make sure you two are good on Tuesday, alright? We'll start fresh. Have a good weekend."
"You too. And you, Veronica, thank you." Eddie waved, pushing the swinging doors towards the back.
He found you next to the lockers, arms crossed and leaning against the wall, foot tapping in annoyance. "What took you so long?" You snapped.
Eddie flinched, blinking back at you in disbelief. "What?"
"I've been waiting. It took you forever." You huffed. "You usually run out of here and tonight, when I'm already in a bad mood, you take forever? Are you just trying to piss me off?"
"Are you?" Eddie snapped. Your eyes widened, face falling at his tone, furious, annoyed.
"What?" You swallowed.
Eddie shook his head at you, grabbing the lock on his locker, spinning the combination. "You're..." Eddie scoffed lightly.
"What? I'm what?" You clicked your tongue in annoyance.
"You're being a real asshole tonight." Eddie looked over his shoulder at you. "Embarrassing, acting like this. Getting sent home early? How are you not embarrassed?"
Heat filled your chest, heavy and suffocating, different that the bubbling rage from before. "I thought you'd be ready to crawl in a hole after Ellen sent you home." Eddie flung the metal door open, letting it hit the others with a loud clank! that had you flinching.
"Then you get me sent home too, and you've got the fucking audacity to be mean? To talk to me like that?" Eddie glared at you over his shoulder. Your frame shrunk, heart pounding in your ears. It was the most subdued you'd been all night.
"I-I didn't get you sent home-"
"-The fuck you didn't." Eddie scoffed, grabbing his keys, his wallet out of the locker, smacking it shut. "You wanna know what was taking to long? I was talking to Ellen. She was telling me if we can't keep our personal life out of work, we can't work together. I was trying to tell her that we didn't get into a fight, and she didn't believe me."
Eddie took a step towards you, time card in hand. "She couldn't believe you were just mean like that unprovoked." Eddie shoved the card in the clock. "So what? You mad at me? Is that what's going on?"
"No." You muttered, looking down at your beat up sneakers, covered with sticky stains from the night.
"So what then? Care to tell me what's wrong? I mean, shit, we're getting sent home now. Feel like you should let me in on what's goin' on." Eddie threw his hands up, keys rattling between his fingers.
"Nothing's wrong-" You sneered, barely registering the ringed hand that caught your chin. Fingers squeezing your cheek in a firm grasp, pulling your gaze to Eddie's.
His eyes lidded, nostrils flaring down at you. "You better watch it." Eddie gritted. "Keep this shit up, and I'll lock that door and fix that attitude in here."
Your tummy flipped, swallowing thickly around the lump in your throat. Agitation fizzled into arousal at the threat. You cursed yourself for feeling that way.
Eddie's eyes squinted, head tipping towards yours slightly. "That what you want?" He huffed, hand still firm on your cheeks. "You acted like this because you wanted me to be mean to you-"
"-No." You sneered, wiggling in his grasp, scared he could feel your cheeks burning with embarrassment. "That's not why."
"So tell me why." Eddie's hand loosened, eyes still pinning you with his gaze. "Tell me what's goin' on."
Your chest sunk with a heavy guilt. Burnt out from tireless hours of work, cranky from lack of sleep, annoyed that Ellen let Pat off for the week when the place had never been busier. All of it eating away at you throughout the week until you finally snapped.
"I just wanna go home." Your tone was softer than before, still teetering on huffy. "I don't want to be in this place for another second. I'm so sick of being here."
Eddie nodded, tongue sliding over his teeth. Keys clenched in his hand, he stayed silent. The car ride uncomfortable silent, neither of you speaking first, the hum of the radio the only refuge.
"You gonna tell me what's going on?" Eddie broke the silence after nearly an hour. The two of you had gotten back to his trailer, going your separate ways to cool down. He finished a cigarette on the steps, let you do whatever you needed to inside.
He found you by the sink, scrubbing your makeup off. Mascara and eyeliner smeared down your lids, normally, he'd laugh. Squeeze your sides and tell you how metal you looked, silly and playful until you were giggling with him.
Not tonight.
A part of you wished he would have. It would have made you feel better.
That gnawing feeling of uncomfortableness was eating you alive from the inside out. Had your chest feeling tight, skin crawling with irritation. It had only grown worse, now that you were left to reflect on the night- on how you acted.
Eddie moved into the mirror behind you, pulling his shirt off, tossing it in the hamper. You brought the wash cloth back to your face, cleaning the smeared makeup from under your eyes.
Eddie's shoulders slumped. "C'mon." He sighed, softer this time. "What's wrong, baby?" His hands slid over your arms, pressing a small kiss to your shoulder. "Tell me what's goin' on. I know something's wrong."
Your nose burned, pressing the warm washcloth to it. "I don't know." You muttered, opening the mirror, plucking the faded lilac case from the shelf.
"I just... I don't know." Your eyes rounded, locking with Eddie's through the mirror. "I just- I don't know how to describe it. I just feel off?"
Eddie nodded slowly, hands resting on your back gently. "Off, how?" Eddie hummed, arms wrapping around your body, pulling you into him. You didn't fight him, melting into his embrace instead. "Tell me what's wrong, honey. I just want you to feel better."
Your head tilted back to his chest, his arms heavy over your frame. "Just off." You muttered. "I feel like I need to just get everything out. Hit the reset button because I'm just so- so, bleh."
Eddie's lips curled gently, swaying you lightly in his arms. "I just am, like, unsettled. I'm so tired from work, but then I get home and I can't sleep, and then people are so fuckin' rude-"
"-Who's rude to you?" Eddie pressed, frowning behind you.
"Just the kids." You roll your eyes, shoulders tensing. "Snotty college kids. They think they're better than you or something."
"So come get me when they do that." Eddie's chin hooked over your shoulder lightly. "I'll take care of them. Kick 'em out."
"Then we'd have nobody." You shook your head lightly. "It's just- I don't know. I just feel really off." You paused, craning your neck to look at Eddie. "I feel like I need to get it all out."
Eddie stilled. "You-You want me to help you with that?" He knew what you were asking. "You want me to... To spank you?" It wasn't the first time you'd done this, still his cheeks burned at the word.
Your sex life was far from vanilla, teetering on outright debaucherous at times. He was no stranger to being mean to you in the bedroom, just like you weren't to him. Still, when you'd asked him the first time, to give you emotional release in this way, it felt a little odd to him at times. To bring pain to you, even if you asked, when all he wanted to do was smother you with affection.
Still, he'd do anything for you. You knew that, he did too.
It was why he swayed so easily. Your eyes rounding, lashes batting so sweetly up at him. "It really would help me feel better." His heart skipped, a sweet tone he'd been longing for all night. "I really think it would help."
Eddie nodded, hands sliding down your arms again, squeezing your elbows gently. You picked the hairbrush off the counter, handing it to him, taking his free hand and guiding him to the bedroom.
He let you settle over his lap, wiggling until you felt comfortable, a pillow under your face. Eddie twirled the hair brush in his hand, fidgeting while you settled. It was still new. How hard did he hit in this scenario? Did he soothe you? Scold you? Say anything at all? When you were playing, it was easier. In a headspace that came naturally with the moment.
"Ok," You hummed, turning to look at him, cheek pressed to the pillow. "'m ready."
Eddie hesitated. "You- And you're gonna tell me, right? When you want me to stop?"
"Yes." You nodded gently. "Just don't stop until I'm crying."
Eddie's cock throbbed, a roller coaster like drop in his stomach at your words. "Baby, I'm serious-"
"-I am too." You frowned. "Eddie, I promise I will tell you if it's too much, but... just please? Until I'm crying then you can stop."
"O-Ok," Eddie's breath stuttered, hand smoothing over your pantie clad ass, cheeky cotton panties that had his brain trailing off. "I'm gonna, I'm starting."
You settled back into the pillow, Eddie's hand rubbing down your back soothingly. Your free hand snaked up, folding over the middle of your back, fingers wiggling at Eddie's. A sweet gesture that made his heart swell, interlocking his fingers with yours, pinning your hand gently to your back.
The hair brush's smooth wood pressed to your ass, tapping in a warning that had your hips clenching lightly. Eddie hesitated, bringing the hairbrush up, then lower, readjusting his aim, before letting it fall. A soft clap met with a tiny grunt from you.
"You can do harder than that, Ed." You muttered.
"Harder? Are you sure?" Eddie hoped you couldn't feel his heart beating. "I don't wanna hurt you when you're not feeling good, baby."
"You're not hurting me. You're helping me. I swear." You said softly, squeezing his hand gently, reassuringly. "You can do harder than that. I'll let you know if it's too much."
Eddie brought the hairbrush higher, sending it soaring down with a firm smack that had your breath hitching. He waited, your hips squirming in his lap.
"That was good. Just like that, Ed." You whispered, taking a deep breath in through the burn in your nose.
Two identical hits fell to each of your cheeks, a tiny squeak of a cry coming from you. Your grip tightening against his hand with every fall of the hairbrush. Eddie was more confident, fell into a rhythm that felt more comfortable.
Hips wiggling, tiny whimpers and cries coming from you, rotating from cheek to cheek, lower then higher. Eddie brought the hairbrush down, a flick in his wrist that was sharper, stinging against your skin.
A tiny hitch, a sniffle that sounded watery had his ears perking. Eddie paused, feeling the hitch in your chest. "Keep going." You gritted, a white knuckled grip around his hand. "Keep going, Ed. Please."
Eddie brought the hair brush down again, twice, sharp flicks that had you crying out- a real cry, broken and breathy. Unsure, Eddie shushed you sweetly, letting the hair brush fall onto your upturned ass again.
"Shh, it's alright. You're doin' good, sweetheart. Let it out." Eddie rasped, cracking the hairbrush down again. "Doin' good for me."
The next fall of the hairbrush had a cry breaking though your throat, tears springing in your waterline, threatening to fall. The bubble in your chest filling fuller and fuller, close to bursting with the building irritation on your ass.
"You're doin' good. I know you've got to be feeling better." Eddie soothed. "You still good? Need me to stop."
"No," You cried, shaking your head. "K-Keep going, Eddie, please, keep going. D-Do it fast. Fast ones."
Eddie let the hair bursh rain down in quick successions, all over your ass, sharp smacks that had you gritting your teeth in irritation, eyes clenching shut until finally, you felt a wave wash over you. Heavy with emotions, it crashed into you, body shaking in sobs.
Face pressed into the pillow, you cried into the soft cotton, rubbing your face against the pillow case to soothe yourself. Eddie slowed, stopping when your hand loosened in his, body slack and shaking with sobs.
Eddie held you, arms tight around you though it felt like it was more for him. Soft coos and whispers, a hand rubbing down your spine. He hoped you couldn't feel his erection pressing into you. He felt torn, arousal he couldn't help but felt wrong when you were crying. Sobs so deep, stuttering in your chest and rocking your frame.
He hadn't realized how exhausted you were, a pang of guilt ringing through his chest when you started to slump in his arms. Usually, he'd get you calmed down, finish off the night between your legs, to make you feel better or maybe him.
Tonight, he let you settling into the mattress, rolling you onto your side, tucking the pillow under your knees, how you always slept. He wasn't sure how it was comfortable, teased you about it the first time he saw it. "It helps with my back, I swear." You had giggled, hiking a leg up over the pillow and settling into the mattress. Eddie didn't care how you slept, honestly, if it meant you'd sleep next to him.
Settling you under the blankets, Eddie carried the hair brush back into the bathroom, setting it back on the vanity's counter. He pulled the Jergens off the shelf, hand wrapping around his length, relieving himself. Tomorrow, he'd take care of you, spend the day in bed with you if you wanted, hopeful but certain that you'd be better in the morning.
summary: Y/N has a rough day at work and is overwhelmed by thoughts about her past, cute Eddie fluff follows
warnings: 18+, (somewhat) dark themes, shitty abusive parents (alluded to, but not directly mentioned), nicknames, reader has a panic attack
a/n: this chapter is a bit slow and short, and not really much of the plot yet. it’s mainly just the reader’s backstory and cute little eddie fluff at the end to get the ball rolling. the next couple chapters will go more into depth about their dynamic and backstory with each other before the plot of season 4 really gets going. i do acknowledge (and will in later chapters as well) characters and some of eddie’s backstory from the flight of icarus book. if you haven’t read it and have any questions about anyone or if you want more context to any of eddie’s background i mention feel free to ask! get ready for a long haul- this series has a lot of parts coming your way!! also one last thing i pinky promise- if anyone wants to be on the taglist for when i post new chapters just comment or message me!
Hawkins Indiana is officially the fucking worst. The weather sucks, the people suck, everything here just sucks. This is especially apparent eleven hours into my twelve hour shift at one of the grimiest dive bars in town. Admittedly, I kind of love the place. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t fucking suck either. The hours are grueling for a place that barely gets any business from people that aren’t the town drunks, and most of my days consist of being the bartender, waitress, and dishwasher- all at the same time. For the most part it’s bearable, but on days like today, when I would much rather be curled up in my bed hiding away from the world specifically this town, it makes me miserable. On days like these I tend to zone out at the bar, make myself look busy, and pray that none other than Eddie Munson comes in for his shift sooner rather than later so I can go hide out back and get a breather. Unfortunately the owner of the bar, Bev, knows me really at this point and typically calls me out as soon as she notices. Today is not any different.
“Harrington! Quit messing around at the bar and get back to work, we actually have more than five customers for once,” Bev snaps at me from across the open room, albeit with concern, throwing a rag over her shoulder. She walks over to the counter and sits down at the bar stool in front of me. “What’s your deal? You seem kinda off your ass.”
I hate when she checks in on me. I know she really does mean well, but I honestly don’t have a single clue about what to say when she asks. I can’t exactly look at my boss and tell her that my deal is that I’m fine, but I’m also not, because three years ago I watched my brother’s ex-girlfriend’s best-friend get eaten by a man with no face in my parent’s pool, the same week the little boy I babysat got abducted the night I was supposed to be watching him. The same little boy who was later proven to be dead, and then came back to life. Not to mention the fact that what happened to him destroyed my relationship with his mom, who was arguably the only mother figure I’ve ever had in my life, and my friendship with his older brother Jonathan. On top of everything else, my ex-friend with some benefits Billy and my best-friend Heather were killed in the Starcourt Mall fire, and Billy’s little sister, that I swore to Billy I would protect from his dad if anything happened to him to make him not able to, won’t speak to me anymore or come anywhere near me. Oh- and the fact that my parents fucking despise me. Not to mention the fact that Steve and I don’t speak to eachother anymore. We used to be attached the hip, but ever since what happened to Will, and his relationship with Nancy, he can barely look at me. I still don’t know why, and at this point I don’t think I ever will. Some days I think I’ve finally began to process things and move on. Other days everything feels like a brick, weighing on my chest that’s slowly and most definitely suffocating me. Unfortunately today is the latter, but I can’t exactly explain all that to Bev.
“Bev, I’m fine, honestly.” She just stares at me, unconvinced. I sigh, leaning forward and resting my elbows on the bar in front me, dropping my chin down into my hands. “I promise, I’m just really tired and out of it today. I didn’t sleep well last night.” This isn’t a total lie, more often than not I’m woken up from sleep-screaming after reliving the murder of Barb Holland over and over until I finally wake up. Sometimes I get especially lucky and Will makes an appearance, begging me to tell him why I wasn’t waiting at his house for him to make sure he got home safe. And with how lucky I was last night, I may as well have found fifty four leaf fucking clovers. She just shakes her head, clearly not believing my totally bullshitted answer, and stands up from her stool.
“Look kid, I know I can’t make you talk to me. But if you need help with anything- anything at all- just let me know, and I’ll try to help as best I can.” She hesitated to say her next sentence, which had me wishing for immediate death. If Bev hesitates speaking something she thinks out loud, you know you’re in for a statement that’s going to knock you on your ass. “I know you know that it’s no secret you don’t have the best relationship with your mom and pops. And I know that most of this town puts that blame on you and judges you for it- but I ain’t most of this town. Alright?” Damn. Bev really knows how to read people like a fucking book.
“Thanks Bev, I know.” She shakes her head and goes back to cleaning the table she was at on the other side of the room. That’s my cue to go hide in the kitchen and maybe knock out some dishes. Hopefully, if I stay out of sight, Bev will keep me out of mind for the rest of my shift. Lord help me if Eddie doesn’t get here on time to switch me out for the night shift. It’s a Friday night so I know he’s going to be a little later because of Hellfire, but I really hope he’s going to have mercy on me since I can’t leave until he gets here. Eddie and I have gotten closer in the past year since I started working at the Hideout. He’s worked here as a dishwasher and bartender since his freshman year of high school in exchange for Bev letting his band, Corroded Coffin, play on Tuesday nights. He showed me the ropes, and we’ve been friends ever since. The rest of the band, and honestly Eddie too, were a bit hesitant to get close to me at first because of how popular I was in high school. While Steve gained the title of ‘King Steve,’ I acquired the title of ‘Princess Y/N.’ Thankfully, after spending a couple weeks working at the bar with Eddie, and even more weeks watching them play on Tuesday’s, their hesitation faded and we became a close little group- even consistently hanging out outside of the bar. But no matter how different I’ve clearly become since high school, Eddie keeps my nickname alive by calling me princess anytime he deems appropriate. At first, I knew he was doing it as an insult- because he wasn’t exactly me and my brother’s biggest fan when we were in school- even though he swears up and down he wasn’t, but now I think it’s kind of endearing and miss it when he doesn’t call me that, to be honest. I try not to think about what that means.
Forty-five minutes later, and Eddie is officially an hour late. And I am officially pissed. Hiding in the kitchen doing the dishes proved to be an unsuccessful plan, as almost immediately after I went in there, the group of the most misogynistic drunks in all of Hawkins showed up- outside of their regular times. Typically, they normally only come late at night after I get off- making them any of my other co-workers’ problem. Something about me takes them from resigned assholes to raging douchebags, so much so that all my other coworkers are aware of it without even needing to be told. Therefore, I had spent the past forty-five minutes getting drinks thrown back at me, insults screamed at me for the whole bar to hear, and being sexualized six ways to Sunday. Eddie was going to die when he finally decided to show up. Which just so happened to be when I was officially considering just walking out and leaving Bev to the wolves.
The back door leading into the kitchen slams open as Eddie rushes in, his apron half-hanging off of him from where he clearly just threw it on. He hurriedly tugs his long hair back into a low bun- leaving his bangs falling out in the front of his face. I throw the towel that I was using to wipe the beer I had thrown at me out of my apron and into the sink beside me, cross my arms, and cock my eyebrow at him. I don’t even need to say anything before he realizes he owes me an apology.
“Hey Princess, sorry I’m late. I swear I won’t do this again.” He totally will do this again- we both know that’s a lie. “The campaign took way longer than I thought, and Gareth took literally forever to decide what to do at one point, and then Jeff-”
“Eddie, shut up.” The use of his government name shut him up real quick. He wasn’t the only one out of the two of us that frequently uses a nickname to refer to the other. “I have literally been busting my ass for the past forty-five minutes waiting for you to show up. Dealing with the three little fucking piggies out there by myself because you know Bev goes up to the office to work the books at 5:45. And yeah I get that they normally don’t show up at 6pm on a Friday, but just because you didn’t know this shift has fucking sucked for me, doesn’t mean I can’t be mad at you for leaving me to attend to those douchebags every need by myself when you were technically supposed to be here.” Out of the corner of my eye I see the cook at the grill-top on the other end of the kitchen shake his head and turn back around to finish up a burger. Nosy asshole. I sigh, leaning back against the wall. The ache that’s been on the back-burner of my head the last three hours of my shift comes through in full force with the release of a little bit of my frustration. The floodgates open, and the brick that had been weighing down on my chest all day breaks down full force. My chest starts tightening, and my head starts to get heavier. Eddie takes my moment of silence as an invitation to walk up to me and pull me into a hug, resting his chin on top of my head and murmuring his apology. I wasn’t actually that mad at him, and I know he knew that, but I needed to get out of here now, before I thoroughly embarrass myself in front of one of our random coworkers. I mumble as much into Eddie’s chest.
“Eddie… I need some air.” I quickly pull back and start to bolt toward the door. He reaches down and keeps a gentle hold on my right hand.
“Okay, okay. I’ll come with you, just hold on a sec.” Not listening to a single thing he said, as much as I’m trying to, I continue my rushed exit, leading to him stumbling and falling over- dropping my hand- as he tries to get his apron off. The second I get out of the building, tears start to fall, and the shaking starts. I sat down on the ground, leaning up against the back wall of the bar, trying to calm my breathing. Once Eddie regains his balance, he follows me out, and sits next to me against the wall. He wastes no time pulling me back into his arms and beginning to rub my back. As much as Eddie genuinely does help me in moments of panic like this, with everything weighing on me today, it’s only getting worse. Nausea washes over me, and my sobs grow louder. Eddie’s hold never wavered.
This is what Eddie and I do. We comfort each other in moments of panic, whether it’s me upset or Eddie. I’ve never told him exactly what’s caused my issues, and he’s only told me bits and pieces of what causes his- like what happened with his dad in ‘83. Sometimes we talk more in depth about things after, whispering sweet nothings and reassurances to each other, but more often than not we just go curl up in his bed together, until the feelings fade or we have no choice but to get up and go deal with one of our respective obligations. We’ve never talked about what it means, but we both know the bond between us is something we don’t share with anyone else.
After about twenty minutes, my breathing begins to calm, and I feel myself starting to come back into my body- regaining some of my senses. I can feel Eddie’s hold around me, rubbing my back, and placing soft gentle kisses on the top of my head. I let myself relax into his hold for a couple more minutes before I force myself to stand. Eddie immediately follows, but I gently push him back as I step away. He puts his hands in his pockets, shifting back on his feet awkwardly. I decide one more hug won’t hurt and step forward- wrapping my arms around his waist and laying my head on his chest as he wraps his arms around my shoulders. I step back from him for the final time tonight. He reaches a hand up and swipes leftover tears off of my face. I clear my throat.
“Thanks rockstar.” His lips perk up into a soft smirk, and he brushes hair that fell lose out of my ponytail behind my ear.
“Anytime princess.” I clear my throat again and start the short walk towards my car.
“Alright, I’m finally out of here.”
“See you tomorrow?” he asks gently, as he pulls a cigarette out of his pocket and goes to light it in true Eddie fashion.
“Yeah Eds, see you tomorrow,” I respond, just as gently. I get into my car and sit there for a second, just taking deep breaths and watching Eddie finish his cigarette before he goes back into work- and inevitably gets yelled at by Bev for being so late. It’s now that I start to think about what the relationship I have with Eddie means. It’s not defined as anything other than friendship, and honestly, I couldn’t explain it to anyone if they asked, but I genuinely don’t know if that’s all I feel for him at this point. But I can’t let myself feel that way. Everything I care about this town chews up and spits back out at my feet. I can’t let myself get close to him. This shit has to stop, we need to just be friends. Because so help me god if anything happens to that boy, I would never forgive myself.
I saw this on Butcher Billy's Instagram earlier of a card he's designed for the pack of Topps cards that are being released today and let me tell you that I screamed.
It says "Alive at the upside down" 👀👀👀
First we get an episode title and now this....I might be reading too much into it but I swtg Eddie will be back in Season 5 with a vengeance.
