em⋆˚꩜｡⋆

byler enthusiast ۶ৎ she/her, reqs open

[velvetciders]

ytmh, iws djo kiss me and you’ll find out livies piano

the cure reading will byers in every universe, it’s you

i didn’t say it; you didn’t have too infp aquarius

۶ৎ my goodreads

➛⋆˚࿔ masterlist! reqs open <3

currently writing for steve harrington and gator tillman. previously worked on mike wheeler :)

[velvetciders]

em’s masterlist 𖦹

steve harrington

the girl in yellow

nightmares

he couldn’t reach you

bye bye baby (diner worker)

halloween w/ steve

gator tillman

thunderstorms

first kiss fwb

he asks you to stay

you work at the station w/ gator

mike wheeler

your nervous during a crawl

mike is your secret valentine pt 2.

[velvetciders]

HOLD ME BACK

[velvetciders]

i love love love your new gator fic !!!!! im soo scared of thunder so it was just perfect for mee :(( also gator calling you bunny oh my god hold me back please... i love your writing so much this fic was sooo cute ilyily

stop ilysm :) i am totally in love with soft gator so i feel like bunny is such a cute name but thank you so much! you're so sweet glad u loved it <3

[velvetciders]

i’ll be here

𖦹 gator was turning into everything his father told him not to be. soft. but he couldn’t help it when thunderstorms rolled in and you were afraid.

warnings: mention of physical abuse (not from gator). established relationship

wc: 2.7k

۶ৎ wanted to write this cus i miss gator ugh THANK YOU SO MUCH for 500 followers! love you guys <3 reqs open!

you think rainy days in stark county were your favorite. it was always cold, comforting, and it steered your mind off from work when you cozy in your own shared area- smiling at the thought of staying home with gator when it got cloudy.

it was the quiet that made your heart settle. at home with him, it was always there but not, regardless if it rained. he loved you so hardly that even quietness reminded you of how much you meant to him.

soft kisses when you passed him in the house. arms wrapped around you for even a second. your eyes meeting his across the room. his light kiss to your forehead when you stir awake.

it was all there and it quickly reminded you that life was something to look forward too. your life was rocky, and so was his. but it all came together into this one beautiful piece and resulted in the two of you. together. there.

to be fair, gator couldn’t get enough of you. you were a woman that loved him for him, no bullshit, no strings. you knew he liked being chosen, and that’s what your heart knew it wanted. he always wanted you there, to hear your voice that broke his walls down and allowed him to not look around for danger.

nights like these only made him love you closer.

heavy raindrops pattered against the window of your home. the home you worked with gator to earn, a safe space just for you two and no one else- it always smelled like a mix of his wood cologne and your vanilla candles.

it was his and yours. thats what it would always be.

your back was firmly pressed against his chest, the two of you laying on the couch with the tv quietly on, your mind relaxed. his fingertips were just under the waistband of your shorts, his warmth tingling your skin.

it was a lazy afternoon. you made dinner, his favorite, and the two of you went to cuddle on the couch right after. with kisses in between, always, because gator thought that it was priority.

you could feel his breath softly against the side of your face when you settled closer. your legs were tangled with his and in this moment, it felt like something meant to be.

like every moment in your life earned up to this.

with your so very devoted boyfriend who held you tighter everytime you readjusted. and he touched you like you were a ghost, like you could vanish any second- because he wouldn’t know how to navigate through life without you.

his eyes trained to the tv.

“this show is stupid.” he mumbles with his eyes squinting at the love show.

“it’s romantic.” you giggle.

“eh.” he says. “people watch this crap?”

his thumb started to trail just above your underwear. he always did that, like habit, to prove himself you were there. it never meant anything further than that- just to stabilize him and ground his heart.

“you can’t be saying that when you take pictures of us kissing.” you say. “that’s like what their doing.”

he huffs but you could hear his smile, “that’s just for us though. gotta capture my sweet girl.”

you smile and look back at the screen.

“it’s nice to see strangers fall in love.”

“you watch the weirdest shit, i swear baby. why see all that when you got this right here?” he gently squeezes your cheek.

you curl yourself more inward into him, a pink hue seeping onto your cheeks, eyes gleaming. he saw your ears turn pink and he chuckled, placing a soft kiss to them.

“…i love you so much.” he whispers against your ear, sweet and honest, “drives me damn crazy.”

you turned slightly and gazed at him.

“i love you too gate.”

he smiled at that. it affected him the same way, no matter how many times you said it, because it was proof to him that you were honest.

your fingers lightly trail over his arms, over the very moles that you woke up to seeing every morning. the ones that made your heart flip.

gator was affectionate openly. he liked that the town, the officers, saw how serious he was about his girl. it was almost in a possessive way- with his hands tight around you and his eyes sharp, but you never pretended that you didn’t enjoy it.

you were gators. and life was working out.

but open moments like this, the vulnerable and quiet ones, was when he truly showed himself. he didn’t put on a show for anyone and his guard wasn’t up all the time. his shoulders stopped tensing. he was the one with tired eyes and soft words, his hands clingy onto you because touch just wasn’t something he was used to. he made you feel loved. and you did the same.

he pressed a soft kiss to the back of your head before slowly getting up.

“ice cream.” he hums before padding to the kitchen, revealing his toned back and his boxers.

you watch him for a moment, his side profile portrayed with content, before looking back at the screen.

it was calm for a moment, the sound of the tv making your eyelids feel heavy and your body sink into the spot where gator was. suddenly a light white flash struck throughout the whole house from the windows and it made your heart jump.

“oh shit!” you hear gator chuckle from the kitchen but it didn’t compute to you.

because immediately after, a loud boom and rumble blasted from outside. it was striking and it happened so quick. the way it sounded, like a snap, so unexpected and helpless- it made you jump on instinct.

before you could take a deep breath, another one struck. and then another, like a wave that wouldn’t let you go.

you pulled the blanket over your lap and curled into a ball- fingers and head starting to shake everytime it turned loud.

your eyes were on the ground and in between your legs, trying to muffle the noise- when you heard gators quick footsteps over to you.

“bunny.” he says quietly and sits next to you. he didn’t even have the ice cream and that’s when you knew he realized what truly happened.

“hey, cmon. lemme see your face.” he says in such a soothing whisper that it deepened the tears swelling in your eyes. “it’s okay, just me.”

you turn your head, cheek smushed to your knee, eyes meeting his.

his shoulders immediately dropped in sadness, a frown lingering on his face when he saw your red eyes.

“oh bun.” he sighs, pushes your hair away and tugs you into his arms.

“your okay, it’s okay.” he whispers. “cmere.”

and with the soft kiss to your forehead, you broke down. his lips stayed there, continued light pecks, as your body shook into his. tears stained into his skin and he didn’t bother. he never did.

his hand splayed right under your shirt, above your breast, and gently squeezed. “baby, breathe.. you can do it. your heart is goin’ too fast.”

he was so very patient. it almost made you guilty.

because as much as he experienced similar abuse from a father, he was tough and was in the process of looking past it. it was still hard for you, and it took you a while to open up to him and feel vulnerable. staying strong for him was always hard.

“g-gator.” your voice cracks.

“i know. nothin’s gonna happen to you, promise.”

moments like these, when the memories flooded back, is when you truly saw the side of gator that belonged only in the house. he truly was a man without any judgement, especially for you, and you knew it. you could break down, be yourself, act stupid- and he’d still look up at you like you were life’s purpose. it only made you cry even more.

because his gentle touch, his soft words, was so unlikely in your life. it was always loud, hard physical contact, hands hidden behind your back but shaking.

now that you’ve been with gator for almost a year, he knew how to act in these moments.

he learned what comforted you, what made you feel a little lighter, and what not to do if you were close to snapping. he never ever considered it a chore, or a burden, but you apologized everytime.

“i’m.. god. i-im sorry.” you hiccup, head slowly leaning back to nudge your nose to his chin.

he shakes his head.

“don’t do that.” he whispers. “no sorry’s, okay? i’ve told you this before, nothin’ to be sorry bout.”

he consoled but it was never laced with frustration. conveniently, the thunder stopped and he looked around the house, his grip never faltering.

“see? it’s gone, baby. just the rain- you like the rain.”

you could tell he was trying to encourage you and it shattered your heart.

he leans down and kisses the bridge of your nose. but your frown was still there, tears still trailing down. his eyebrows furrowed in sadness once again, and it was almost like he knew what you were thinking.

“please don’t be sorry, bunny. it’s totally okay for ya to react like that. hell, that happens to me too.” he says.

“over stupid thunder?” you sniff.

he shakes his head.

“it’s not stupid.. it’s loud, and scary, and totally surprising.” his fingers trail in your hair, “it’s so unfair you get reminded of that.”

“i’m so tired of thinking about it.” you whisper. “about him.”

“i know baby.” his hand trails over your arm, tugging you closer. “but you’re not alone, kay? you’re not.”

“and it doesn’t define you, not one bit. ya got so much ahead of you, bunny, and i wanna be there every second. m’ so proud of you- my strong girl.”

he whispers that in between soft kisses to your ear and you felt a lump in your throat. he seemed to take away the clouded thoughts in your mind so quickly, and you were fathomed by how quick he did it.

your finger brushed over his knuckles and he let you, kissing the side of your head that went back to bury itself in between your knees again.

“hey.” he whispers. “i wanna see you.”

it was patient but you knew he wasn’t gonna let down, your stomach feeling empty with guilt. you look at him again. and you saw the frown that was still there. so you curled yourself into his body again, nestling closer until his back rested against the couch and held you as you curled into a ball on his lap.

“you’re the strongest girl i know.” he starts to whisper, “every day i wake up and i can’t even wrap my head ‘round how i gotcha. and m’ so fuckin lucky for you, bunny.”

you blink and you didn’t even know what to say, even if he’s said things like this in the past. your forehead brushes his chin and you decide to stay there. safe and guarded in his arms.

“gator?”

“hm?”

“thank you.” you say so quietly it almost got stuck in your throat. you felt like crying all over again.

his cheeks lightened and he titled his head down to meet yours, meeting his lips to yours in response. it was slow, and his lips felt so cushioned against you, so stable that it seemed impossible to move away.

the way he was with you would send the town straight into their graves. the gator who’s heart was cold ever since he was a child, the boy who you “watched out for”, was now kissing you deeper into the couch with a feather light touch on your cheek, smiling so softly against you.

and you loved every second of if.

because in the end, gator loved being needed. he loved seeing you melt into his arms every day after work, mumbling how much you missed him. that feeling settled and stayed deep in his heart, and it portrayed in moments like these.

you slowly pull away with your nose nudged to his.

“i don’t know what i’d do without you.” you whisper with a small frown, “you’ve helped me so much, gator. through everything.”

“…m’ just there for you.”

“it’s more than that.”

he takes a deep breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“it’s easy cus i love ya.” he hums, “you know m’ not normal for this.”

“well, you’re doing perfect.”

you smile and so does he.

he smiled because he knew this is what he was meant for his whole life, and it’s been hidden away. loving someone and being loved, being his true self around you. you could just see it in the way he looked at you. you leaned down and kissed him, he kissed you, and it repeated all over again.

like routine, like home.

the noise of rain eventually settled quietly on the window and so did the lingering tears on your cheeks.

you curled back into his arms, your hands sliding up his warm chest- fingers grazing the hair splayed onto it. you smiled and stared, leaning to kiss his collarbone. his arm scooped you higher up from your butt and you straddled him, forehead pressed to his.

“how ya feeling?” he whispers, fluttering his eyelashes up at you.

“better.” you hum, hugging around his neck, the tv still faintly playing.

he slowly pulled his head back and rests it against the couch, getting a full view of you on his lap. it always had your cheeks pink when you saw his pupils dialated, and his lips slightly parted with a small smile forming.

“i know i’ve said it but i can’t believe your mine.” he says.

your stomach flutters.

“…course i’d be yours.” you respond, “you know me better than anyone.”

he nods and his fingers lightly trace over your thighs and under your shorts, getting his hand firm and warm on your skin.

“i just.. i really love you, bun.” he says quieter this time, scared. “don’t wanna lose ya.”

you frown and lean closer to him, connecting your lips to his in a silent promise. he immediately melted and you could feel his body untense, his creased eyebrows now resting with peacefulness.

“you’re never losing me.” you whisper, “what you did just a few minutes ago? i could’ve never done that on my own, cus i’m still scared. and i know i wanna stay. with you, in our home.”

he blinks at that and nods, his lips a fine line as he processes that this was so very real. that he had a women right in his lap whose heart was so big for him, who needed his love after everyone else didn’t want it.

he cups the back of your head and brings you to his lips.

“my sweet girl.” he whispers against you, his tone laced with admiration for who you were today, even after everything.

the tv continued to play episode after episode, but you two didn’t bother giving it any attention. his back layed on the couch and you were sprawled above him, his hands gently resting under your shorts and over your butt.

the rain picked back up again like it always did, and it immediately made your eyes feel heavy. you felt his rough fingers trail on your scalp, gently scratching it and tracing it. the gesture put you to sleep, your lips parting over his chest and his pressing to your forehead.

because no matter what happened in his life, it would always lead back to this.

he wasted so much of his life denying that love was something rare, and it only came out for the good people. he felt nothing like good.

but he realized that all this waiting and ignoring resulted in where he was right now, in his own home with his own girl- fufilling the promises of the world that he never thought would come.

he watched you for a few moments as you fell asleep, touching the cold goosebumps that trailed along your back, seeing the way your cheeks still stayed pink.

gator quickly drifted off right after you, his arms tight around your body and his guard completely down, like how it was supposed to be.

this was your life now. and it was his. with constant support and a type of softness that felt special between you two. right in this moment of the comfort of your own house, falling asleep to the sound of rain and the tv.

this is where he wanted to stay.

[velvetciders]

the girl in yellow

𖦹 when steve is on the search with dustin chasing a ‘suspicious looking russian’, he catches sight of you. the girl in the workout class.

word count: 4k ۶ৎ

“Henderson. Henderson!” A snap and a yell rings throughout Scoops Ahoy, and Steve’s panick levels are high.

A few minutes before this, Dustin was replaying the Russian code over and over again- the sound drowning out of Steve’s ear and into the other. It was like that all day, with Robin even helping out, making it even more of a big deal. It seemed important, sure, but he couldn’t wrap his head around the whole Russian thing.

He was rustling out the booth, one that Dustin was already pacing out of and towards the other shops in the mall. Towards the nearest potted plant on the second floor, he followed Dustin into a crouch that made him feel ridiculous, especially in his uniform.

“That guy.” Dustin states with his head poking out, pointing his finger, one that Steve smacks away.

Regardless, Steve still followed his eyesight. There was the man holding a bag. Wearing all black with long blonde hair, making him stand out from the colorful crowd that bloomed in Hawkins. Steve scoffed.

“Okay, yeah- he’s douchy looking. We’re supposed to be working on the code?”

“…Be serious. We have to rule out anything suspicious.”

And then suddenly Dustin pulls out a pair of binoculars from god knows where that were too big to even comprehend. This whole situation for Steve was already mind boggling as it- Russians, codes, and now chasing after a guy in the middle of the mall? Scooping ice cream was better than this.

“I am serious! I’m just.. confused.”

Dustin shot him a look, one that Steve returned back to him.

“That guy,” he points against and Steve doesn’t even bother to shove it away again. “He has a dangerous looking duffle bag, a weird face, just a weird everything.”

Steve blinks and his eyebrows furrow, “We’re just following a guy with a… duffel bag?”

“A Russian duffle bag!” Dustin huffs loudly.

“Jesus man!” Steve yanked the binoculars away from him to get him to shut up and reattempted to look in the area Dustin was.

The higher tone that escaped him earned some heads to turn from the mall, alert but quickly turned away. He huffed and grabbed the binoculars back from Steve, slowly getting up to hide in another spot.

“Hey hey hey, I’m not- we’re not actually following this guy are we?” Steve felt surprised how easily he was following Dustin around, with his whole life. He told himself there was no point in even asking.

It was a ten minute chase throughout the whole mall, desperately trying to catch up to the man, Steve’s cheeks bright pink. If any girl who he used to go to school with saw him, he thinks he’d pass out and never return back. He thought he grew out of that phase of impression, but he was Steve after all. After countless times of reaching for Dustin in an attempt to stop him front running, he stopped.

His chest collided to Dustin’s back before they both quickly hid behind a vending machine. Dustin slowly turned his head up to look at Steve, eyes squinting with a smile lingering.

“You're out of breath.”

“…Shut up.” He flicks Dustin’s hair to look ahead to not lose sight. Turns out he was invested in this after all.

Steve’s lips were parted and his whole figure was tense as he followed where the blonde man was going. Inching towards a door and opening it, his eyes followed to the sign. It was a workout class, a really trendy spot in Starcourt. One where only the women went, mostly middle age, which stood out for why that man was there.

“What the hell?” Dustin’s voice cracked. He cleared his throat in embarrassment.

Steve didn’t say anything as he watched the man zip open his bag. He pulled out a huge boombox and muffled a yell that had all the women squealing and smiling. It was truly an unusual sight.

“This is bullshit!” Dustin exclaims. Throwing a fit, he slightly kicked the vending machine and went onto his routinly rants.

Normally Steve would listen, maybe agree, but he felt like his heart dropped right then and there. In a good way, he didn’t know, but it was an unfamiliar feeling. But his whole neck and face creeped up in red- his body feeling hot.

You.

In an attempt to keep his eyes on the man and whatever he was doing, it just naturally strained to you. The girl with the beautiful hair, perfectly done, with your bright yellow workout clothes that reminded him of the sun by how pretty you looked in it.

The girl in the back of the class who was rolling out a mat. You stood out from all the women. You were young, they weren’t.

And your smile. God, your smile. Steve thinks he’s never seen anything like it, the way it reached your eyes and the way it looked so real. He thought it was brighter than his own future.

How come he’s never seen you before? In this small town, with only one big place to hang out? You looked his age, definitely, so has he seen you at school before? He felt stupid for not noticing such a beautiful girl sooner.

He didn’t even know the Russian. Well, not anymore, he was normal. But the way you seemed so excited for him to show up just had him so curious. He just wanted to see you closer. Face to face, hear your voice that must’ve been sweeter than your smile.

He didn’t even know you. He felt like the earth put him there by fate.

“Hellooooo??” Dustin snaps him out of it when he felt a small nudge. “Earth to Steve.”

With a scoff of annoyance that wasn’t directed at Steve, he continues, “He’s not one of them. I mean- how? This is so stupid, how are we ever going to figure this shit out?”

Steve blinks again and nods, forgetting why they were behind a vending machine in the first place. “Right, yeah. Shit that.. that sucks.”

Dustin squints his eyes once more and starts to walk back towards Scoops Ahoy, continuing his rambling plan B on what they needed to do to uncover the code. Steve quickly looked back one last time, being dragged by Dustin, just to see sight of your smile again.

But your back was now turned to the instructor, your arms held up high as you stretched. His heart skipped a beat again and was quickly shut down when he was on his way back to his dreaded job.

He would ask Robin if she knew you. She probably wouldn’t, maybe no one did. For now, you were just the girl in yellow with the pretty smile. The girl he wanted.

——

From then on, Dustin didn’t even bother bugging Steve for assistance on the code. His mind was completely somewhere else, a mix of his job and the lingering memories he had of you, which were limited

Nights passed where he looked through the yearbook of Hawkins High. Nothing. He flipped through every single one around 20 times and he still couldn’t find that same face.

He thought back to that day.

Maybe if he waited a little while, he could’ve caught up to you after the class, could’ve gotten your number.

He was wearing that stupid uniform, unfortunately. And with you looking like the prettiest girl he’s ever laid eyes on, maybe he didn’t have a chance. He couldn't believe how easily his heart got pulled to you, just by a simple glance from a window.

He was frustrated with a mix of curiosity, which was deadly for him. Work was not enjoyable anymore- mainly because Robin drained out his hearing as she bossed him to serve customers while she decoded with Dustin

His breaks only lasted around 15 minutes. And he spent his glory time walking back to the workout class.

It was the same middle-aged women, but no you. No yellow or bright outfit that caught his eye. He scoffed every single time and walked back to work, forgetting his break.

It was a Saturday and Steve really wasn’t in the mood to go to work. His hair wasn’t cooperating right, his uniform felt uncomfortable, and he knew the mall would be packed. Especially with Dustin and Robins bickering as he tried to work.

Customers came and went and he smiled every time. Tired, but he still did. He wish he could just go home.

When the counter was clear, he turned curiously just to observe the progress that Dustin and Robin were making- not that much. He leaned foward to say something but a familiar ding! was heard from the counter.

“Welcome to Scoops A-”

He felt his heart drop. He was sure it did.

There you were. In your same yellow outfit that he remembered, talking with a girl as you scanned the flavors with such awe. Your face was a bit flushed and your hair was frizzy. You must’ve just finished your class.

And there he was. With his cheeks completely feeling hot and embarrassed, and his pupils completely dialated by how pretty you were up close. He cleared his throat and immediately snatched the hat off his head, his hair poofing up.

“Hey, ladies. Welcome.” He says with a soft but enthusiastic tone and a smile but it only made him sound stupid.

Somehow you caught onto it and you shot him a sympathetic look, but there wasn’t anything rude behind it. It was a look that girls gave him when they thought he was cute. It was sweeter than that, though, not anything flirtatious. But you smiled anyway, and that’s all that mattered. It was a quieter one, a smile that he didn’t see in the workout class.

“Can I try a sample?” You ask, batting your eyelashes at him.

God, you truly looked like an angel. You were glowing and it made him rethink every decision of his life.

It completely caught him off guard and his heart stuttered for the 20th time.

“Yeah yeah, ‘course.” He grabs a little spoon, trying to ignore how his fingers were slightly shaking.

“What flavor were you thinking?”

“Ummm…”

Your eyes scan over all the flavors. It was the cutest thing he’s seen. The way your eyes were wide and sweet, so soft in a way that made him just want to kiss you.

“Could I try the banana one?”

“That’s my favorite one.”

It wasn’t. But the sparkle in your eye was worth a little white lie.

Your finger brushed against his when you handed it to him and he almost passed out. His eyes stayed glued to you the whole time, your reaction, not even looking at your friend who was scanning around.

You stuck with the banana and got it. Your friend got something too and she went to sit at the booth while you payed.

“I get why it’s your favorite.” You say with a kind tone, flipping through your money. His eyes lingered on you.

“The banana?”

“Mhm.”

His lips parted and for once in his life, he didn’t know what to say. He just didn’t want to be perceived as an idiot- but he was glad you were too focused on the money to see his bright red face.

“Well I uh, I like this one better.” He taps to the butterscotch flavor, “it’s pretty good.”

“Oh!” You peek over to see the tub with your eyebrows furrowed. “That looks tasty.”

The innocence in your voice was almost deadly to Steve.

You slide the money to him, maybe a little more than what it cost as a tip, and grabbed your ice cream cup again. You gave him a shy but genuine smile, shrugging lightly.

“I’ll have to come by again to try it.” You suddenly spill out before turning around and quickly skidding away.

He blinked. And saw the way you sat at the booth with your back faced to him, your ears red. Giggles were heard, a mix of yours and your friends, and he tried not to let it boost his ego. It didn’t really.

He didn’t know your name, barely talked to you, has only seen you up close once. But he’s never felt lighter.

Over the next days that Steve was working, he noticed a pattern. Which was you showing up more after your workout classes, always around 2. Sometimes with a friend, sometimes by yourself. He preferred just you.

It was hard to talk to you since it was only at the counter, but he tried his best whenever it was those days where you sat at a booth.

Robin teased him for acting so weird. Dustin got annoyed bit by bit as Steve slowly stopped involving himself with the code.

You always got the same flavor. Banana.

And he was pretty sure your excuse of wanting to try the butterscotch was wrong, because his heart just had this feeling. The way you lingered a little to long at the register, with a look of longing in your eye that wanted more. Or how you asked him questions. Tilted your head with genuine curiosity as you talked to him.

He’s never seen you before because you had just moved in that summer. Still living with your parents, still struggling. Just like he was. It was something to relate over, although the topic of parents was quickly lost whenever some flirting was lingering in the air.

“Why do you take off your hat?” You giggle, leaning over the counter when no customers were there.

“It’s so dumb.” He shakes his head, “you know, I had a five year old laugh at it.”

“No.” You laugh.

“Yes! And mind you, he was laughing at me, not with me. Which I wasn’t.”

You grab the hat that was next to him and go on your tip toes, placing the floppy hat on his hair. It was a little tilted, but he kept it like that.

“Don’t let some lameo kid ruin the coolness of a sailor hat.”

Your face was only close to his for a second before the moment was lost.

He smiled, a real one, for the first time. His shoulders visibly tensed and he felt like he was on top of the world. He didn’t feel so guarded anymore, so stressed, so bummed. And it was really over simple words.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He chuckles, “but don’t even get me started on the uniform.”

“It’s cute! Adds character.”

His head jumped, “…Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He chuckled again but it slowly grew quiet when he saw how you looked at him. You were watching him, laughing, eyes crinkled out of pure happiness. And you seemed happy too, with your cheeks blatantly pink.

He watched you a lot also. Robin called him weird again. He still did. On the quiet days at the mall, on the loud ones that were packed with a thousand kids. His attention always landed back on you, because after all, he wanted to have something more with you.

You stayed, sometimes a little longer that normal, just to say bye when you didn’t really want to leave. It made his day everytime.

——

It’s been a month already, and the July heat in Hawkins was starting to kick. Which meant more customers, more shifts, and less time with you.

Your classes continued and Scoops Ahoy was officially your spot to go once it was done. Sometimes you wouldn’t even order ice cream, you would talk to Steve. Or Robin, who you’ve become friends with.

He wanted you to talk to him, though. There was that lingering feeling deep in his heart that wanted you so badly. And not just in Scoops Ahoy. Out in Hawkins, for him to adore in front of everyone or in the quiet moments.

It was a random night when his heart finally had enough.

He was going to ask you out, plain and simple, in his stupid uniform. His mind just flashed to you, you, you- to the smile, eyes, and voice.

He knew what he wanted. He knew you could fill the lonliness in his heart.

——

Your class was brutal. You got a new instructor who was far less generous than the last, and he didn’t have sympathy when the women around you struggled.

Your steps slumped into Scoops Ahoy with your Walkman dangling from your neck. You were wearing your yellow outfit today, which was your favorite.

And maybe you wore it for Steve. That was still processing to you- the fact that his smile had you completely gone and the fact you may have had a crush on him.

You must’ve had a big frown on your face. You could tell by how Steve looked at you.

His eyebrows were in a sad bunch, his head tilting in a patient way as he went up to your booth.

“You okay?” He asks in such a delicate voice that it made you want to just breakdown.

“Bad class.” You mumble.

He just looked at you because he knew you wanted to say more. You sighed that was unusual for you.

“We got some shitty new instructor and he was just- he was so rude. And it was really hard, the workout. It felt so… pointless.”

“But you like going there, right? That’s not pointless.”

Your eyes meet his and you realize that he’s been looking at you this whole time, with his eyes sad and his pupils dialated. He cheeks were pink. They always were.

“I do.” You mumble. “M’ just.. frustrated. It’s fine.”

Your voice didn’t sound fine. It sounded moody and angry, and you felt a little embarrassed that you let it slip so easily in front of Steve. He noticed it again, like always, with no shame behind it.

“…Banana split today? We got that whipped cream you like.” He says softly.

You look at him again like he heard your mind. Because Steve Harrington always knew what you wanted, how you wanted to be talked too, just by your face. He always made your day have a little more purpose, since at home, it was the complete opposite of that. And he was so very patient. It made you felt like you belonged.

It made your cheeks flush like his.

“Yeah.” You say quietly with a small smile that was trying to be hopeful again.

He looked at you again and nodded, returning it back with more of a softness to it. Some days were more energetic between you two, with laughs with made your stomach hurt. Some days were like this, where the two of you understood that gentleness was needed.

You fidgeted with your rings the whole time, looking down at your hands as you try to distract yourself. You tried to calm yourself, and not explode over something so frustrating.

It was hard to be a person who got anxious and upset easily. Usually it happened when your parents weren’t there, leaving you alone, seeking a warmth you’ve never had but always needed. So when there was that day you heard Steve felt the same, you didn’t feel so out of place anymore.

You felt someone lingering over the table and you looked up, Steve. Looking down at the plate with his eyes barely blinking and his eyebrows stressed, his body rigid.

Then his eyes locked with yours and he took a deep breath.

“Added a little something.” He says quietly before placing it down.

You blinked at what it was. Your banana split was there, looking perfect from Steve’s work, always just for you. But in front of it, you could see sticky and brown syrup on the plate.

‘Do you want to go out?’

You couldn’t even believe it. Steve Harrington, whose eyes always gleamed around you, who took everything you said with the utmost attention, was asking you out.

Through chocolate syrup.

A smile was already creeping on your face and on the process of hurting. You looked up at him and almost melted at his face. So nervous, so patient.

Just there. Like how he was when he talked to you for the first time.

In a shy tone and with your eyes slightly watering, you said, “Steve…”

“Yeah?” He croaked out.

You jumped out the booth and hugged him. You heard his breath hitch and felt his eyelashes flutter against your neck, his breath shaking against your skin. It was the best feeling ever. He was so warm and his body enveloped into yours like it was the easiest thing he’s ever done.

“Yes.” You giggle while pulling away.

And that’s the closest you’ve been to him. You wanted to stay like that, until it your feet were planted on the ground. You don’t think you’ve ever seen his eyes look at the way he was now. Awe.

“Yes?” He breaths out in relief.

You nod multiple times and you couldn’t stop letting out small giggles.

“You asked me through chocolate syrup.”

“You like chocolate syrup.”

The funny thing was is that his arms never let you go. They grew even tighter around you, and your arms slid around his neck, there and stable. His hand was rubbing the lower part of your back like he’s done it 100 times, and your head was tilting closer to his like clockwork. Screw work policy.

“I do.” You hum with a shy smile.

“So yes? Officially?”

You roll your eyes and nod, feeling something like never before. Just hopefullness over this new relationship that was slowly seeping into your life, one that was so new to you.

You stay quiet for a while. “That... made my day, Steve. Really.” You say. “Thank you.”

That’s when his thumb brushed over your cheek and you knew you wanted to be touched like that for the rest of your life. Only by Steve, by his soft skin and his soft gaze.

“No need to thank me.” He says. “Been wanting to do that for a long time, believe me.”

“And you did it in the best way possible.”

“Only the best for you.” It was so cheesy but it had you melting anyway.

He watched how you smiled, how you giggled- and he took note that he craved to make you react like that all the time. He didn’t fully have you yet, but it was a step. And he wasn’t going to let go.

“Come by tomorrow after your class and you can hang around till my shifts over.” Steve says with a shy smile that reflected yours. “Then I’ll take us somewhere nice.”

“Where?”

“…Not telling.”

You laugh. “Your evil.”

He would respond, he would lean closer and say something back, but the loud dinging of the bell was being heard. It was a huge family with multiple kids and they shot a glance at him, glaring at the sight of the two of you.

You cupped his cheek in return, rubbing your thumb against the little mole on his cheek. Cute.

“Don’t forget about tomorrow.” He says with a small but noticeable pout, since he didn’t want to go.

“I won’t.” You say quietly.

“Okay.” He nods, his frown fleeting.

You nudge him softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sailor.”

He winces in embarrassment. “Please don’t let that stick.”

“Too late.”

He gives you one more final look, one that was so admirable of you, his arms slowly slithering away but tight, before going back behind the counter.

You bit the inside of your cheek as you sat back down at the booth, eating the banana split that he made for you. You didn’t even bother messing up the syrup because it made your heart feel tingly.

For now, you sat there. With your eyes glued to Steve, your heart still racing. You caught him glancing at you every single time, even when the customers were talking.

You two smiled when your eyes met his, your gaze straining away when you got too shy. He still looked anyway, regardless if you weren’t, he always lingered just to make his heart skip a beat.

You think that going to Scoops Ahoy after your class was the best decision you’ve ever made.

[velvetciders]

i absolutely loveeed your most recent story "right here" and would love to see more stories about that universe, their story is sooo cute

would love to see more about reader herself dealing with her trauma and how Steve helps her

thanksss 🤍

𖦹 nightmares happened often. everytime, steve was there.

word count: 2.4k+

warnings: mild graphic nightmare, many many kisses <3

۶ৎ thank you so much for the request anon! appreciate you:) my requests are open for you guys!

Your feet moved forward and back. But you couldn’t move- couldn’t see the end of the chase.

Your heart was hammering louder than your screams. Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve. His image slipped through your mind as you ran towards a black escape, suffocating and suffocating the more you blinked. Something felt like it was choking on you, like mold seeping into your skin.

You cried in desperation when the ground of the Upside Down turned mushier, signaling to you that this was it. The evil got to you and now it was slowly consuming you.

Your heart ached at how cold it was. You sunk to your knees.

Around you were endless dark trees wrapped around in vine, whispering for you to give up and forget the feeling of hope. There, when you looked up, something slithering around your pale ankle and taking grasp of you.

The forest of Hawkins started to scream at you. Your name, repeated over and over again. The louder it got, the stronger it sounded like Steve, the closer it felt like to home. You continued to get dragged and knocked into the ground- the vine taking you to the unknown.

You blinked once. Twice. The second time appeared Steve, tied highly up to a tree and grasping for an escape- begging and sobbing out for your name as the vines pierced through him. You gagged as you cried for him, slowly being dragged farther away from him.

You yelled his name. He yelled yours. And it felt like your soul was being ripped right in front of you. Helpless and cold.

The view of him grew distant as the vine got higher and higher up to your body, claiming spot over the very mouth that was only touched by Steve. You couldn't process you got stripped away from him. You shut your eyes helplessly, hopelessly, that the vine would finally let you go.

The creature dragged you relentlessly through the trees. Then, quickly, it curved a certain way. Before you could put your arms up, your front body smacked harshly against the slimy bark of a tree.

You sat up and clutched your shirt.

A gasp escaped your lips, one that seeked air and something else entirely. A soul, a way of living again. Your chest heaved and your other hand gripped for the thin sheets on your lap.

You covered your mouth to muffle the cries, feeling that your cheeks were already wet and hot- unfamiliar to the cold you just felt.

Before you could even look around in the darkness of the room you were in, not even a second later, you felt arms around you. They were strong, steady, and so warm you cried even more.

You felt your back press against a firm body- the recollection of where you were finally flooding back. Steve, his arms, his room, his bed.

And now his kisses that were fanning over the back of your neck. Whispering you gentle affirmations that made your bottom lip quiver.

“Shhh baby, it’s okay.” He would say. He didn’t even have to ask what happened, didn’t have to second guess.

Like always, he knew you. More than your own heart.

“M’ here.. hey- hey. I’m right here.” His hand nudged your arm when he saw how the hyperventilating was seeping through.

Your crying couldn’t stop, it wouldn’t- it just flooded out of your eyes and into his fingers that he used to wipe away. Your body ached deeply and you felt like throwing up, the nauseous feeling flooding through you already. Like it always did.

You normally never talked about your dreams. After many times when he tried to comfort you that it was a safe place for you to do so, you still refused. He never pressured.

“Baby, hey- cmon.. it’s okay.” His voice hitched to something softer. Worried. With his eyes furrowed in sadness.

His warm and slow hand slid under your shirt- intentionally pressing. How did he manage to stay so calm when he saw you like this? So raw and dramatic over a silly dream? Heat flooded all over your cheekbones, all out of embarrassment.

He didn’t seem to notice with how dark it was, but he could feel it all over your face when he touched it.

He knew the vulnerability laced behind your past, but he tried to not let it weaken you- as much as it mutually pained him to see you like this.

“You got it, m’ not leaving. Breathe slow, okay? In and out.”

He whispered. You listened. His hand slid just over your breast and he could feel the beat moving faster than light.

But your hand clutched to his skin, to the feeling of his own heart. You couldn’t help but try to follow it back- thinking of how much of an anchor he was for you. Your eyes squeezed shut. You didn’t know what you’d do without him.

He gave you a small smile. Concerned, but proud.

“There we go, your doing so good.” His lips pressed to your forehead. “Keep breathing just like that, okay? You’re doing perfect baby, I promise.”

Your sobs started to slow but it still lingered, your throat and gasps coming out in small hiccups. Your body still shook every time.

His hand slid to cup your cheek and he kisses the salty substance away.

“It’s okay, baby. The nightmares gone, yeah? I’m right here.”

He pressed your hand firmly.

“S-Steve..” After so much struggle, the words came out strained.

“…I know I know.” He whispers, scooping you up from your butt and curling you into his lap, hands sliding under your shirt and rubbing the slowest circles on your skin.

Then he started to cradle you, so very subtly- because you were starting to grow more tired by how you were moving. You didn’t know how you needed that until now- your fingers wrapped around his bicep.

He smiled and leaned foward. Lips to your nose, forehead, your eyelids.

His eyes never left your face even if you weren’t looking at him- your gaze somewhere else. It was still so dark, only the moonlight shining through his curtains. But he still saw you.

You finally looked up.

“Kiss?” You whisper when some calmness settled.

He smiled with his eyes.

“How’d you know I was thinking that? Silly girl.” He murmurs and leans in.

God. You loved him so much. You felt like crying all over again at how gentle it felt when your lips touched his. It was so very intentional and heaven-sent. It always was so Steve, no matter if the kisses were slow or fast.

But this was the perfect amount- his lips pressed just right against yours as his tongue trailed over your bottom lip. His lips caught onto your top lip and you smiled against it, finally focusing on how his kisses easily healed you.

He inhaled and moved you closer onto his lap, his hand still cradling the curve of your butt. The pressure was languid, slow, warm.

Your chest pressed to his. Heart to heart. Lips to lips with your hand buried in his hair.

Eventually, you tried to pull away but he only frowned.

“M’ not done.” His lips smushed to yours again, still slow and patient.

It was shorter than the last when it was him turn for some air- his lips feeling tingly from now passionately he kissed you.

You exhaled out a small smile, still tired and a bit frazzled. His thumb traced over your chin and he titled it up to kiss your nose.

He looked down at you and thought. Despite everything, you were still a girl with an unimaginable past. And he was a boy, devastated for the girl he’s loved since his life started.

“I’m sorry.” You whisper.

He frowned, and with his comforting voice, he said, “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

You give him a knowing look like the answer was obvious. You shrug into his arms, feeling ashamed to say the guilt.

You felt so much of it that it crawled under your skin every night. Every morning when you saw the dark bags under his eyes, his body weary and easily worn down, his voice quiet. Because of you. The nightmares.

“I have… them every night, Steve.”

“Yeah? That’s okay, baby.”

“No it’s not.” You frown, “I mean, I’m so sick of them. You must be too and- and I see it.”

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes again and you took a big breath to pry them away. You felt your fingers shake.

“You’re always so tired. From me and from the nightmares, and I’m so sorry.”

The frown on his face made your heart stutter. It wasn’t upset, frustrated or annoyed. It was patient and sad for you- considering the fact that you blamed everything on yourself.

“Baby, no no.” He mumbles and kisses your forehead. “Don’t ever think that, okay?”

His hand continued its motion of stroking your hair. “I don’t care if I barely get sleep over some nightmare like that.”

“What you went through.. it was a lot, yeah? And I want to take care of you. I want to be there when you wake up- never ever alone.”

He continues to kiss all over your face, and you couldn’t help but let your tears fall. He caught them everytime.

“Do you know how much I love you?” He whispers. You smile. “I can’t even- no words can express it. Moon and back, maybe. But probably more.”

A sniffly laugh escapes you and he smiles like the laugh shot right into his heart. He kisses your nose again.

“I love you so much. And your so safe with me baby, I promise.”

“I know.”

He smiles, but a sad expression still lingered.

“Don’t ever feel guilty for having nightmares. Your my girl, yeah? What you feel and experience is valid and it’s scary, but I want to be there for you. Now and for the rest of our lives.”

You sniff and you’ve never felt more like yourself. In his arms with his lips pressed so delicately to your skin.

“Okay.” You respond.

“Okay?”

You nod and smile, earning another kiss to your lips. He peppers them over and over again- your cheeks warming up despite the coldness of his room.

“…They’re such assholes.”

“Who’s they?”

“Your nightmares. Total assholes.”

You couldn’t help but giggle. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

He smiled warmly like it did. Like comforting you was the easiest thing, because it was. It seemed like the whole world made sense for him just from looking into your eyes. Small and scared, but so trusting.

Steve hums with a pout on his face, tucking your hair behind your ear. “Does to me. Especially when they make my baby sad.”

“You’re a weirdo.”

“But you love me.” He pokes your side.

“Hmmm maybe. Your starting to convince me.”

He chuckles, a laugh that reaches his eyes- something very rare. His hand trails under your shirt and explores your back with his thumb.

“Wow okay. Guess no more kisses when you ask for them.” He frowns.

Instantly, your heart felt like it belonged again. Right with him.

You roll your eyes with a small smile, one that always stayed. Even if you could still feel your tears on your hands- it didn’t feel so numb anymore.

Without saying anything more, your hand slides behind his neck and you pull his head down for a kiss. It was short but gentle. A kiss that made your lips ache.

He blinks. “You didn’t ask.”

The giggle that escaped you was natural and instant, your cheeks spreading with a pink hue. One that was real. You poke him in return before hugging him tighter.

“You would die within the hour if we didn’t kiss.” You tease.

“…That’s untrue.”

“Mhm.”

“It is! I mean I love you, obviously, and your kisses are fucking ama-” Your lips smush to his again just to prove his point.

“You’re so unfair.” He murmurs before continuing.

You smiled against the kiss when you felt his body finally melt again- grip behind your back lifting you closer to him. Arms flexed around you, his hands squeezing your hips to steady you.

“I love y-“ You start to say against his lips but he kisses you again and again.

When he finally lets you continue your awaited words, you laugh. “I love you.” His eyes instantly sparked and the sight was beautiful. Your beautiful boy with his soft words that were already making your eyelids feel heavy.

Playfulness aside, he noticed the weariness started to kick in after your terror. He pecked your lips once more.

“Sleep.” He whispers with his smile slowly fading, but it was there. He slowly slides your body so he layed next to you- his arm slithering around you and dragging you closer.

“Thank you.” You said. Steve already knew what it was for.

He stays silent for a while, his eyes darting back and forth to your face that was illuminated by the outside light. His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and something else. Devotion.

“…I would do anything for you baby, I mean it.” He says quietly. “I love you so fucking much it hurts sometimes. Can’t live without you.”

Your stomach ached again at how his words made you want to cry and never stop. But Steve made you feel strong. So very strong. Even when the world felt like it was over- he still lingered in your heart every single time.

“I love you too Steve.” You whisper. “Thank you for saving me.”

You’ve had words exchanged like this with him often. You tended to get emotional at any given moment, and gratitution for Steve always flushed through you. His mind flashed to the night where he found you. But he knew you meant it in every other situation, something as small like tonight.

He leans in and kisses you one last final time. Your face nuzzles into his neck, curling up against him.

He sighs out of relief. You do the same.

And then he whispers your name repeatedly like it was a prayer, like it was a way to stable yourself that you were there. Right where you belonged- in the very arms that were a constant in your life.

Your body, your soul, your face. Everywhere.

You press your lips to the bottom of his ear and you hear him hum, feeling his lashes against your cheek. His eyes close and his arms tighten around you.

Because you may have been gone from his life all those years ago. But he now knew.

A little nightmare wasn’t gonna let you, his life, get away from Steve ever again.

——

thank you for all the love from my previous fic! :)

[mikewheelerisaqueerler]

if will and mike ever went to war these are the photos they would keep in the breast pocket of their uniforms btw

[velvetciders]

https://www.tumblr.com/velvetciders/816165279420809216/right-here?source=share

this was the cutest thing ever oh my goddd :(((( they are SO cute !!!!!! i think ive reread this like 3 times already im in love w it <33

STOP this means so much thank you!! :)) so glad you love it

[velvetciders]

right here

۶ৎ back when you were little, you went missing in the upside down. now that you two are older, he panics whenever you don’t answer.

𖦹 childhoodbestfriends then dating

lowk a little sad but it gets happier :( mentions of death

words: 1.3k+

Steve could feel the dirt between his fingers.

It always lingered, always dusted, always reminded him of how it was like. How it was like to hold your lifeless body in a different world unknown to him. He still wakes up in the middle of the night, feeling the pressure of your small body in his arms- unable to do anything about it.

The way he found you when he went down there. Wrapped, tangled, and lifeless amongst vines that made him want to throw up. Seeing the face of the girl he loved so dearly, pale with the warmth taken away.

He remembers everything, sometimes he wishes he didn't. But thinking about it only made him realize just how grateful he was that you were back. It consumed him daily and every time he saw you- and he felt sad for you whenever you said it was all in the past.

Being dead for 3 minutes wasn't "just the past". Being his best friend and then suddenly gone wasn't something to never think about.

You two met in first grade, and from then on, Steve was convinced that that is when life truly started to shine for him.

He remembered the feeling of always wanted to talk to you, but he was to shy to do it.

Seeing you in the fields of the playground, picking at the tiny flowers while the others played. The way your hair blew in the breeze like water- fanning over your small face.

It was until you two were assigned a poster project together- where it required tons of colorful markers and tons of opportunities for him to become friends with you. He still remembers the night you were at his house, in his living room, with marker smudges all over the two of you from playing.

From then on, you two were a pair. Unspoken words that automatically made you two mesh into one. Like the stars and sun.

He was so in awe of you- so in love with this little girl before he even knew what love felt like.

But it felt like everything.

----

Steve remembers how cold it was that morning when he woke up. 5th grade happened in a blink of an eye- but you were there. Always, every morning in the classroom with the warmest smile on your face, running to hug him.

He went downstairs to the smell of nothing. Not like bacon or coffee, not like home.

He peered his head, his mother whispering to his father. Her eyes were red and glossy eyed all around, her breath slightly wobbly as she talked. He blinked and walked into the kitchen, not wanting to get into his head that something terrible happened.

It did.

Last night as you biked home from his house, an "accident" happened- the only trace of you left being your precious pink bike. You must've fallen and went into the woods, lost, trying to find home.

And you haven't been found since, not since 9am that morning.

He felt that feeling then, a sense of not wanting to live on this Earth anymore- a feeling no young boy should ever experience.

His girl. He knew you weren't his, but it was clear you were- judging by the look on his parents when they told him. They knew just how much you were his, and he was yours. His sun, his life and back, his promise, his glow. Best friend.

Those later nights went terribly slow. Slow in a way that it felt like he was crying in his bed for a restless amount of hours.

He was.

Every morning, evening, and night- he went to your house. He sometimes slept over in the coldness of your bed, falling asleep to the sobs of your parents who tried to stay strong in front of him.

But he knew he was experiencing something similar to them. A loss of someone they loved. And oh, did he love you.

When the cries died down- he would lay in your bed, gently tracing your walls and posters with his fingertip. Whispering your name, prayers, confessions, a picture of a future he wanted with you.

There was no life without you, and he felt that absence so deeply and painfully in his soul- like you were some part of him. Such a young age must have seemed silly to others, but for you- he was tied.

He felt sick at the reminder that the tie was cut. Gone. Forever. You.

It was until one night, he was sitting at your desk and quietly playing with the toys you had- his mind somewhere else.

He hadn't been home in over 3 days or gone to school in over a week.

He couldn’t step into the classroom and not see the way your eyes sparkled when you said hello to him. At school, all he stared at was you. He had nothing to look at now.

But his parents understood, shockingly so.

He sighed and rested his head against his palm, eyes fluttering to look outside the window. A soft red glow peered just outside your windows where it faced some of the many trees in Hawkins.

On the ground, opening and opening and waiting to be discovered.

He discovered.

Four times. He’s on his fifth call and the phone keeps ringing with no reply.

It was already too rainy and too cloudy for him, especially when the days inched to the date when you were taken. It made him feel sick all over again- the risk could be higher, or worse. He could lose you again.

That's why he was already grabbing his keys and heading to his car- trying not to think of any possible scenarios.

Yeah, that night happened years ago. When you were quietly his, in the small moments when you two were kids. But now you truly were Steve’s, his girlfriend, his future.

He couldn’t lose the only future that made sense.

He didn’t even have to use his brain when driving to your house, like his car could drive on its own from routine. The rain pattered louder onto his windshield, the water dripping down like blood.

He felt like his stomach was flipped, hit, and sucked out of him. He couldn’t help it.

But he was already exhaling at the sight of your perfectly intact car sitting in the driveway. Your moms car was gone- telling him it was just you.

You were home. You were okay. Still his.

His fingers fumbled with the key to your house as he pulled it from his jacket- not even bothering to cover his hair up from the rain. He looked up to the window of your room.

Curtains open, a warm yellow glow peering inside. He sighed again and stepped towards the front door.

——

Once he was inside, he melted at the tidiness and calmness of your home. It was still the same kitchen, living room, another place where he could be himself.

It was so very quiet, the kitchen smelling like pumpkins. He heard the soft music coming from upstairs and he smiled to himself as he recognized some of the songs. A cassette he spent two hours making for you.

He quietly headed upstairs and knocked on your door with a pattern. 2 1 1.

The music got turned down and that was his signal that you knew he was there.

He called your name in a shaky voice as he peered inside He didn’t know why he was nervous or scared. His true soul would finally rest if yours was too.

“Steve?” You ask so gently that he wanted to cry.

You opened the door fully with a small smile, your eyes lit with innocence. Despite everything, it was still you.

“Oh, thank god.” He exhales, melting to hug you. He was soaking wet, cold, the water dripping down onto your carpet. Your feet lifted off the ground.

You let out a breathless laugh since his arms were so tight around your waist- only wearing his shirt and tiny shorts.

“Thank god? For what?” You say lightly.

He exhales- the air from your room slowly starting to dry him off. His face buries into your neck.

“For being… okay. You weren’t answering the phone and it actually scared the crap out of me.” He pulls away to cup your face.

Warm, firm, there.

“Oh shit.” You giggle, and it seemed like you were to obvious to see the real worry in his eyes.

“M’ sorry, I totally didn’t hear.” You kiss him as an apology, your lips pressed firmly to his.

Hands slide beneath your hair as he inhales through his nose, smelling your perfume and just you alone. Usually you always felt a small smile against your lips, one that always stayed there no matter how many times you’ve kissed.

You slowly pulled away with a sad smile, your thumb sweeping across the mole just under his lip.

“Hey.” You whisper with realization, “did I actually scare you?”

He was so exhausted from the fear of losing you again that he simply nodded. Your eyes flicked back and forth- his hazel eyes now so worn out. You could understand his side, so clearly and vividly. If he went missing like you did- you’d go just as crazy as he did.

“Steve.”

“It just-“ he takes a shaky breath, “it still messes with my head. That fear of not being able to say bye.”

You felt like your whole world collapsed at those short words. You couldn’t bear all that he went through, no matter how terrible your experience was.

It hurt how you knew the importance you layed in his life. Like he knew you better than yourself. You think he did.

“Oh baby.” You shake your head and sit down of the edge of your bed with him, the rain outside growing louder and your blankets turning wet.

“…I’m so sorry I didn’t hear the phone, I swear I would’ve picked up at the first ring.” Your fingers slowly trailed along the curves of his hair, something you were only allowed to do.

“I know.” He says weakly.

Your touch effected him like how it was for any man who had his hair touched. Completely worn down. His eyes crinkled close to hide the gloss behind it, soft sobs escaping and imprinting onto your shirt as he curled against you.

“I s-still remember it so well.” His voice cracked against you and you shattered.

You always tried to retract that night whenever it was mentioned. Steve knew it as well- but sometimes he was so desperate for reassurance that he simply had too.

“I try so hard to forget.” You whisper. “But I’m here, yeah?”

Never leaving.

You manage to dig your fingers gently under his face, cupping it and tilting it up to look at you. His breath hitched when your lips pressed against his nose, his top lip, and then his bottom.

“M’ right here.” Your hand rests over his.

A second later, his fingers trail under your shirt and directly over your breast. But it wasn’t like that. His hand dusted over the warmth of your skin, over the feeling of your heart peacefully beating.

“Here.” He whispers like a little boy. He felt like that now- like he’d lost you all over again.

It stayed like that for a long time. The only noises being the steady sound of your heart against his ear, and the soft music being played in your room. You kept your cheek squished to the top of his head, your hand sliding up and down his tense back.

Your head looks out past your lace curtains and at the dark sky- filled with so many reminders of the past. Your parents were gone of a business trip, and so were his. Being alone with Steve always calmed you down, even on the bad days. Even as children, in the crowd at the playground, it was always him.

“Stay tonight.” You hum, kissing his forehead in another form of reassurance.

He stayed quiet as a yes, his arms tight around you.

“I have cookies in the oven?” You smiled.

“…They smelled really good when I got here.”

“I know they’re your favorite.” Kissed his nose, “and after being the best boyfriend in the whole whole world, you definitely deserve them.”

“That’s a stretch.”

There was always a part of Steve that felt like he did too much. That his worried state was overwhelming for you, that he only was a reminder of the past.

“Definitely not.”

“Yeah?”

You nod, gaze so very gentle.

His lingering frown slowly made its way up and you rubbed your thumb over it. That’s when he finally allowed himself to lift up and kiss you deeply. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration to stable you. He savored the feeling of your lips moving against his, the noise clicking. You were here. Lips to his, body to body.

“Is that a yes to staying over?” You mumble against his lips.

You could see the dried tears danced all around his cheeks, kissing the last of them away that stayed on the corners of his eyes.

“You got me at the cookies.”

“So your only in it for the cookies? Your not worried about me anymore?”

He rolled his eyes with his fingers sliding into your hair, bringing your head down so he could kiss it. So naturally, so right. Alive. He kissed your forehead all the way down to your chin, feeling the warmth from your skin.

It wasn’t cold like how he remembered it from so long ago. It was there. You were there. In your bed with his shirt, smelling like vanilla, kissing him like the world had no end.

His hands looped with yours as you two stood up, kissing behind your neck as he walked behind you.

“‘Course I’m still worried.” He hums. “But your here.”

He repeats the very words you said out loud, and then over and over again in his head. Because even with what happened, you were right. There was no chance in the whole universe that he would ever let you go again.

He spins you around, kisses you tenderly, and strokes your cheek.

“I love you.” He whispers like he’s always done with you in moments like these.

“I love you too Steve.”

You two smile.

“Always.”

He realizes that just because what happened to you was in the past, didn’t mean it was going to happen again. He had you in his arms, physically and mentally- grasping onto another piece of his life that had always lingered.

You became a simple friend during childhood, his crush, his girl. Souls were intertwined and now he knew that you were okay- and you were his.

[velvetciders]

now and forever

۶ৎ you met with gator thinking it was a usual hookup, not expecting a crave you two shared.

friends w/ benefits x gator

𖦹 warnings: soft fluff, 18+ oral (m receive), protected p in v, first kiss, confessions

The calls usually happened late at night when Gator was off and work. You never truly knew if he would call or not- he was always different based on his mood. But it was often.

His voice always sounded the same. Tired, quiet, a vulnerable need to it that was silently begging for your presence. And your feelings toward Gator made it easier to see him almost every night for sex. It was around 8pm when your phone started to ring, his name on your phone making your heart jump.

His voice sounded shaky as he asked if he could come over to your apartment. Whenever he wanted to go to your place, it was always because of not wanting to be with his dad at home. But your heart warmed at the fact that he went to you first.

And you let him stay. You always did.

You sighed and tidied up your place, wondering why it made such a big difference. You felt like Gator always got straight to the point- wanting to feel your skin with his as soon as possible.

You knew he loved his rough skin against your soft body. Maybe that’s why he always came back.

You went to your low lit room and searched for a matching pair of underwear. Baby blue, his favorite. On you, he specified- because apparently he hasn’t slept with anyone else after having sex with you for the first time.

——

“Fuck.” He pressed hot mouthed kisses on the ridge of your neck.

You two layed in your crumpled bed with only a small lamp as your light. You barely got a chance to see his face, which you knew he was doing it on purpose.

“Missed you-,” he licked a stripe over the middle of your neck “so fucking much bunny.”

Your legs slithered around his waist as he settled himself between them, the position feeling familiar and comfortable. His hips rutted against the thin material of your panties- earning a muffled groan from him as he sucked the curve of your breast. You could feel his hot and hard length rubbing against the damp spot on you, and your face flushed red.

That’s when he lifted his head up to look at you, seeing the sigh of your red and plump lips that matched his. A soft pink color appeared on the tip of his ears.

“You’re so beautiful.” He whispers with his eyes attached to your lips.

You didn’t have time to respond before he dived back down. You let out a breathless whimper as he licked over the lacy material of your bra, your fingers digging in his gelled hair.

“Gator, p-please..” You sheepishly whined.

His eyes fluttered up at you through his lashes as he licked the cup of your boob.

“What baby?”

The name made you whimper and your thighs clench.

“Tell me what you want. You want me to fuck you?” He smiled against your skin, knowing his affect.

You nodded to quickly to comprehend that he was started to lift himself up to tug his boxers off. His familiar cock sprung up and slapped against his stomach, so pink and flushed. You looked at it and then his smirk.

“Lookin at it like it’s yours, ain’t you baby?” He chuckles.

He saw your shy expression at his words, and he slapped himself against his stomach- watching as you stared at it.

“Don’t worry- this cock is aaaallll yours.” He slowly guided it to your spit covered lips.

You quickly enveloped your puffy mouth to his leaking tip and you felt his hips twitch- causing his length to wetly slide into your hot throat.

“Oh my g-god, shit that’s wet.” His eyes squeeze shut and his jaw goes slack.

Your nails dug into his pink thighs as you worked your throat down and down onto his cock. It was so full and it caused your mouth to expand more than ever before, tears brimming at the corners of your eyes. The room started to be filled with the sounds of his whimpers and the wet noises of your tongue licking under his cock as you sucked.

“Damn look at ya.” His face was flushed.

“Taking my cock so f-fucking deep in your pretty throat. You like that huh? Taking what’s yours?”

You nodded frantically at his filthy words. Your eyes fluttered up to see what you were doing to him. He truly was beautiful. His hands were holding the back of his head as his hips slowly thrusted into your mouth.

You moaned against him and you’ve never heard him whimper louder than now- your lips wide and parted around his rigid length.

“Holy s-shit.. fuck fuck stop.” He grabs the base of it to pull away, his cock releasing your mouth with a soft ‘pop’.

His breath was heavy and so was yours, along with your throat starting to ache a little bit. Looking at him and his pink lips twisted your heart.

You wanted to ask him so badly. He let you suck him off all the time, but you two didn’t kiss? It seemed unfair and almost like a let down that it was never something more. You loved the deal you had with Gator, the privilege to be so intimate with him.

But you never realized until now how much you craved that deeper connection - one that could easily grow through just a kiss.

“What’s wrong?” He pants with a small frown, his smug smirk gone.

You shake your head with a smile and lay down fully on the bed. “Nothin. Sorry just- my throat.”

He scoots closer to you and cups your cheek, and your heart stutters. It looks like he’s gonna kiss you. But his lips lean down to your neck, placing a soft kiss on your mole.

Regardless, it was a sweet gesture. One that earned a giggle from you at how it tickled. You felt him smile against your skin.

“You wanna keep goin?” He whispers as he trailes kisses along your jaw.

“Does it look like I wanna?”

Your hand gently grabs his and you guide it down to your panties. You felt his thumb rub itself along the wetness of it. He chuckled and looked up.

“So that’s a yes.” He smirks out of pride, “lemme just get the condom.”

Moments like these during your nights with Gator was your favorite. It wasn’t always rounds back and forth. There were quiet moments with soft laughs and teasing, and it helped you two wind down.

Gator valued having sex with you, he always did. But he valued seeing you other than that- and he saw you as a woman who was equally lonely like he was, because you were. But somehow sex ended up at the end of this instead of true feelings. Or so he tried to deny.

As he carefully slid the condom onto him, his eyes landed on the sight of you, laying back with your eyes glued to his actions. A look of so many unspoken words, love, and closeness.

He wanted to kiss you.

He blinked at the thought and lowered his body, hoping it would vanish away. It only got worse when his nose brushed against yours- and he could feel your breath mingling with his.

“Ready?” He whispers with a shaky voice.

Your bottom lip caught between your teeth while nodding- a blush creeping onto your cheekbones. You eyes fluttered shut when you felt him slowly enter you.

He let out a groan, his jaw slack as he looked down to see himself enter you.

“Shit look at that.. fuckin’ made for me.” He grunts when he fully slides all the way into your clenching core.

You were already breathless and he hasn’t even moved, earning a chuckle from him.

“Poor baby,” he kisses your cheek. “My cock too deep for you?”

“Uh huh.” You embarrassingly whimper out.

“You can take it, fuck- your tight.”

His hips slowly start to glide in and out of you, stopping at the flush of his tip before grinding himself back. It earned a wet squelch each time and it made your legs shake at the sound.

“Oh my god, Gator.” Your head lulls back and forth on the pillow.

“I know baby, I know.” He coos, his hand gripping your chin to keep your face steady.

His thrusts were relentless and nonstop- his breath faltering whenever your pussy clenched around his cock that was punching moans out of you. Marks started to trace along his back as you held his shoulders for support, his cock sending sparks through you.

“Fuck fuck fuck Gator!” You stopped holding it in, your back arching off the bed.

“Holy shit baby- your so… fuck, so fucking hot.” His big hands got a grip of your hips.

“Crap, she’s squeezing my cock so fucking good.” He chuckles. “Ya that desperate for me bunny? For my dick to fucking claim what’s mine?”

Words were now gone from your brain and from your mouth- your moans getting the message across. Your jaw was slack, your eyes rolled back, and your face flushed as his cock slid inside and out.

His hands tightened more on your hips- your lower body now lifting off the bed. He pounded into you easier, letting his hands support your entire body as you layed limp for him to thrust your body to his. His grunts intensified and his eyes never left the sight of where your body collided with his.

Your gaze could’ve been anywhere, to where your core met his, but you couldn’t look away from him. His strand of hair that was bouncing in front of his face. His lips parted. His cheeks flushed from the contact.

As he fucked you in and out, his body slowly started to lower- his chest pressing to yours.

Your hot breath automatically mingled with his again, the sound of each others moans more closer and intimate. His eyes flickered to yours and you did the same.

“You feel s-so good Gator.” You whisper so quietly.

You could’ve been loud, could have moaned it, or could have not said anything. You didn’t know why the praise had to be heard as something special. You saw his eye twitch at that, his cheeks even more pink because of your sweet words. He lowered and lowered and lowered, too close than before.

The tip of his nose nudged yours- a little unbalanced and quick due to his thrusts. You heard his murmur something but the noises of your skin colliding with his was louder.

Your eyes widened as you let out a soft whimper when you realized what he was trying to do. His lips ghosted yours and your nails dug into his back.

He couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. All he let out was soft grunts from you tightening around him.

“G-Gator?” You whisper. He was never like this, his eyes were never glued for so long on your lips.

“I-,” he stuttered, his thrusts faltering.

“Fuck.” His breath was shaky like he was about to cry.

“Gator.” You touch his face for him to snap back to reality. Your legs slowly unwrapped from his waist as you felt him stop. He was breathing too hard, looking somewhere on the bed in silence. Maybe embarrassment.

“What happened? What’s- do you wanna stop?” You whisper with a small frown, your legs slightly shaking from the absence of him inside you.

He shakes his head quickly with sweat trickling over his forehead. “…Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” You say.

His eyebrows were furrowed in confusion mixed with sadness. You didn't know why it concerned you so much, didn't know why you weren't upset that he stopped. But it melted your heart and caused you to let him lean closer. His eyes darted back and forth to yours, and finally to your lips. That’s when you saw it in his eyes- a look that was rare.

A pure, genuine, and life longing desire for something. And you had a suspicion of what he wanted, because you wanted that too. So you simply nodded in reassurance as your hand slowly slid behind his neck.

“…It’s not gonna mess this up?” He whispers.

You shake your head again. “Not if we make it. I don’t want it too.”

“Me neither.”

“Are you sure?”

His eyes finally look back to yours. “I want you. To… kiss you.”

The last part was almost shy like it was a sin. Maybe it was or it felt like it- kissing a boy you rarely knew outside of sex. But it seemed like the only thing you wanted.

“You can.” You whisper. “I won’t stop you. I want it too.”

“Yeah?”

You nod.

That’s all he needed to see to close that small gap between you. His lips latched to the upper of your mouth, your naked body meshing close to his as his lips did the same. It was slow, unsure, and completely the opposite of how he fucked you. He was patient- his lips molding with yours like it was the last thing he’d ever do.

His lips were oh so soft. It made your heart stutter and your eyebrows furrow in confusion- wondering why you hadn’t done this sooner. But he really did know how to kiss a girl.

His body slowly slid off of you, and now he layed next to your body- lips never disconnecting. That’s when you felt it.

He smiled against your lips, and you couldn't help but smiled back- more than you have ever in a while. That’s when he pulled away to make sure that you still wanted this.

Your nose nudged his again and you giggled at how right it felt. You didn’t know how much you needed this until it happened, until this very moment when he looked at you like he made the best decision of his life.

“Shit.” He said but his smile lingered.

“Yeah.” You try not to show your eagerness for more.

Suddenly, Gator took the words right out of you. “I’ve been wantin to do that for.. a while. Maybe since we’ve started this.”

His gently hands were now tracing your cheek with a slight shake- like you were delicate after the kiss. You and Gator read each others minds when you two met halfway for another.

“I’ve been wanting this too.” You whisper against them.

He smiled. “Shoulda told me bunny.”

“But we made it a rule to not. So I told myself no.”

“Fuck the rules.” He mumbles in concentration as he connected his lips to yours.

You giggle and slightly pull away. His eyes were now shining, so full of purpose and actual happiness. You felt like the only girl in the world with how he never looked away from you.

“Rules are stupid.” You smile.

“And very dumb for keeping us from kissing.” He adds on.

You two were still slightly out of breath, still in the process of realizing what just happened. A rule you two broke mutually- a rule you didn’t know made you crave him even more.

“M’ sorry for not doing that sooner.” He whispers.

You felt his leg drape over yours under the sheets like physical contact is all he needed.

“Don’t be.” You say, “we started this as some.. hookup thing. And yeah we made that weird rule, but I think we were both scared.”

He nods along like every word depended on it. His fingers slid in your hair and he pushed your head into another kiss. It was a little harder this time- but there was a gentleness to it. It was a firm press that silently claimed you as his.

“Still inside ya.” His smirk returns and you roll your eyes.

You looked down and lifted the sheets to see that he indeed still was. “You gonna keep going?” You tease.

His cheeks flushed red all across and he slightly rolls his hips. “You really love taking it.”

You let out a breathless whimper and hold onto his shoulders for support as he slowly moves inside of you. No rush, no mission to finish- just purely feeling each other. And you really did love it.

“I’m serious when I say I’ve wanted to kiss you.” You hoarsely say.

He nods with a quietness to him that meant concentration as he thrusted himself into you. You felt his hips twitch and you pulsed around him- seeing the vein in his neck. You two both finished at the same time, the room filled with soft moans. It felt sticky between skin but you didn’t want to move. It felt like being glued to Gator was the only right thing in life.

He slowly pulled out, flushing at the absence of it.

“Are you okay?” He whispers and you knew it wasn’t all because of your orgasm.

“Yeah.” You say.

His eyes darted back and forth. “…I wanna do this for real.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ya know what I mean, bunny.” He chuckles. “We don’t have to have.. hookups all the time.”

“So you want to end the deal?” Your face squishes to the pillow as you look at him.

“Maybe let’s stop callin it that. We’re way past what it is.”

You smiled at that because you felt the same. The rule became more and more less by night- it just suddenly appeared now.

“Deal.” You say.

“Very funny.” He snorts, his cheeks still pink from the high.

The laugh died quickly and you could practically hear the trees blowing outside. You knew he was waiting for you to say something. Like maybe all this was a silly mistake.

“I want an us.” You say hesitantly.

You heard his breath hitch. “Me too.”

“…How?”

You hated that you had to ask. But you didn’t know how relationships worked. How they started. You always felt stuck in life when it came to something like this, stuck on the feelings that a future wasn’t an option.

He frowned, his thumb skidding across the ridge under your eye. “M’ not really good at this kinda stuff.”

“But we can both try. Together.” He says in a gentle voice. “Maybe a sorta- a date?”

You couldn’t help but smile, nodding.

“Yeah? Okay.” He kisses you quickly.

“Okay.” You whisper against his lips, nose smushed to his. He continued to kiss you for some more- his fingers tangled in your hair.

The night ended with a few more shared kisses, like you two mutually couldn’t get enough at the new sensation. At how it made you feel lighter, happier. He stayed that night, with your head tucked under his chin, with his voice whispering you to sleep. His thumb traced over a love bite he left on your arm- a gentle reminder of something that started as sex, later turned into something relieving.

You fell alseep after a lingering kiss to your forehead, mumbling a good night to him before he closed his eyes as well.

You realize in the past, now, and in the future- your belonging always led to Gators arms, and you’d never let go.

———

hiii guys! procrastinated on this one a bit but i want to start working on steve again!

feel free to send requests about him <3

[velvetciders]

the morning after a long night, gator wants you to stay.

۶ৎ friendsw/benefits! x gator

𖦹 warnings: small mentions of sex

word count: 2.4k+

The warm and spring sun spilled through the ragged curtains of Gators room. It looked different then how it was last night. Somehow, it felt more quiet and exposed now.

Your eyes squinted as you readjusted to the light, your face smushed to a pillow. You turned your head to where Gator lay next to you.

His face was also smushed to the pillow, his previously gelled hair now sticking up in awkward places. The sheets danced just on his waist, revealing his bare back that was adorned by his moles.

His pretty moles, you thought. You didn’t really get to see them last night in the dark.

You let your body relax again as you thought about last night, his soft body touching yours.

The sex, the deal you two had, gave Gator a chance to show you how gentle he really could be. But he didn’t really want you to know that.

Your legs still tingled from how deep inside you he was, from how he knew your body and what you liked from head to toe. He gave you what you wanted in bed, and he was good at doing it. He called you last night, frustrated after a big argument with Roy. When you came over- it was like his walls came down and he was finally able to touch you. He claimed how long it's been, only it was a week since you two had sex. He fucked you slowly and intentionally in his bed, whispering how much he needed you. It made you rethink what you and Gator were.

Your sex life wasn’t that frequent until Gator, until the night you two did it for the first time in the back of his truck. It was after work and you two were both mentally drained from everyone. He wanted to go rough, to let out all his frustration into you. But he couldn’t bring himself to do that. And you noticed it- the way his hand ghosted over your face when you two almost kissed.

Almost. You still haven’t.

It was a rule you two made after making the deal that this was only sex. Sex when either of you were angry- or when you craved something.

You wanted to kiss him so bad in that moment. Kiss his pink lips that were parted and kiss his marks that reminded you of bright stars.

Usually after you went over to his house, you stayed the night- but always left with a small bye in the morning. It was casual at work, the two of you rarely talking in public other than text. But it was something about today that made it so hard to get up and leave the boy that you were so intimate with.

You knew he was lonely. It was plain and simple, how obvious it was when he showed up to work alone- a dread on his face.

You heard his legs quietly shuffle under the sheets, his eyes slowly squinting from the sun that was now waking him up. The corner of your lips lifted and you tried your best not to smile.

Before the situation felt to real, you slowly started to get up- remembering you were in your bra and panties.

You could feel his eyes in the back of your head as you sat on the edge of the messy bed to put on your shirt and shorts. You subtly peeked over your shoulder, eyes meeting his.

He smiled. “Hey.”

You were already getting up and fixing your hair- trying to avoid the flutter in your stomach at the sight of his rare smile.

"Morning."

He stretched his arms over the back of his head, resting it on his palms as he watched you grab your bags. You glanced at him again, and now his bare chest, and then his lips.

"Where ya' goin?" He mumbles.

You furrow your eyebrows like the question was foreign. "What do you mean? I always leave after... yeah."

"You do, yeah but-" He sits up more. "you don't... have too. I never told ya you had to just leave."

You blinked and stared at him, trying to wait and see if he would bail out after the words he just said. He didn't. He stared at you like he was waiting for you to respond next.

It took you a while to speak again, your hands sweaty as it held your bag.

"What are you saying, Gator?" You ask like you were scared of his answer.

"You don't have to leave."

You hated how your bag was already lowering.

"So you want me too… stay?”

He shrugs like he realizes now he’s said too much. He looked at you before looking outside the window.

“It’s too early anyway.” He mumbles.

You couldn’t help but chuckle at his bad excuse.

“Gator.” You say.

“What?”

“Do you want me to stay?” You ask more patiently.

He shrugs again like it was his way of saying yes. “Sure, whatever.”

You couldn’t help but smile at his nonchalant tone. You could tell in the glint of his eyes that he really wanted you to stay, especially when he watched you put your bags down and climb back into bed.

He sunk down again so his back rested and he turned to face you. Your eyes scanned his to see any regret but you couldn’t find it. It was only relief.

“Are you okay?” You whisper with a small frown. You didn’t know why you asked.

The way he was still frowning, even as you were in bed, is what got you.

“Why do ya ask?” He says quietly.

“I’m usually gone by now after nights like yesterday.”

“…I know.”

You now realized how the sun was casting a warm and comforting glow on his face- his hazel eyes glowing. He really was a beautiful boy in the sun, but he was boy who hid in the darkness.

“You have to go to work today?” You try to change the subject.

“Don’t really wanna.” He looks up at the ceiling, “but it’s my duty. For him.”

You frown at how defeated he looked. He didn’t look like that when he saw you last night.

“You can’t let him step all over you.”

“I don’t.” He said sharply.

“I know you don’t.”

“Then why’d ya say that?” He mumbles.

“You pretend like it’s normal.” You whisper as you subconsciously scoot closer to him. “‘S not okay, Gator. You deserve more.”

It was still after that, and you watched his eyes scan the chips of the paint on the ceiling. He sighed and his body moved closer to yours. You could smell his faint cologne.

“Was so upset yesterday.” He says quieter, “fuckin’ everyone at the station is so damn stupid. Bunch of assholes.”

You scan his side profile and you could see the pure tension in his face. Your fingers gently curved over the top of his bicep and squeezed his softly.

“You think about work too much.” You whisper.

He huffs. “That’s all my life is. Work.”

“Doesn’t have to be.”

He turns his head and his now warm eyes met yours. “Ya make it sound easy.”

You gave him a small smile in response, since no words could really make up for a dream that he probably had. Wanting to leave everyone, go off on his own. Your foot nudged his and he nudged it back.

Your leg slowly started to tangle with his- automatically pulling your body flush against his side. Your head rested softly on his chest, and you didn’t know what was happening.

You two have never cuddled or touched this passionately, not even during aftercare. You could feel your hand ghost over his body in hesitance, and his was doing the same.

“You wanted me to stay.” You whisper.

“Don’t make a big deal outta it.”

You let out a breathy laugh and look up at him, your nose nudging to his chin.

“It’s true, though.” Your body was now firmly pressed against his, and you felt yourself relax at how natural it felt to be held by Gator. “And it’s okay.”

He rolls his eyes but with no malice behind it. “This shit town gets too cold in the mornings anyway.”

You felt his warm hand slowly run up and down under your shirt, causing your heart to flutter at how he did it without question.

“Don’t want you freezing your ass off.” He says.

“You love my ass, don’t you?” You giggle.

“Shut up.”

He huffs again and playfully pats your butt as you curl up closer to him. You felt weirdly happy in that moment- simply looking up at Gator with the sweetest eyes and the most relaxed smile. He looked at you and brushed a strand of hair from your face with a ghost of a touch.

“Your weird.” He mumbles, but his attempt at trying not to smile was obvious.

“You practically begged for me to stay.”

“Untrue.”

“Very true.”

He softly nudges you again. You nudge him back with a giggle that was towards how easy he was to get him to smile.

“Don’t forget you were whimpering last night. Whimpering, Gator.” You tease. “That’s also very true.”

“Oh my god.” He groans and looks away from you. “I was not.”

“You wereeeee.” You tilt his chin to look at you and his ears were pink- and he tried to nudge your teasing hold away.

“Who cares anyways?” He mumbles. “…‘S just you.”

Now it was your turn to change your gaze to try and hide your smile. It was hard to ignore the flutter you felt in your chest at how he said it was just you. Because it was just you, and you realized that he acknowledged that. That somehow you were different.

You two layed in each others arms for some time, occasionally tracing each others skin. For something you’ve done for the first time with him, it felt like you two have been doing it for a lifetime.

The sun was now fully risen and you frowned at the sign that the day was now starting. You checked your phone for the time.

“Shit.” You mumble.

“What?”

“I forgot I have a shift at the diner at 10.” You slowly start to pull yourself away.

But it was clear he didn’t want that. He was stronger than you- so his arms immediately fully wrapped all around your waist to tug you back. You sighed at how easy it felt to just melt in his arms.

“Gator, I really gotta go.” You look back at him.

“A few more minutes?” His voice was so completely soft and he didn’t even try to hide it.

You smiled at the sound of it, and it was hard to stay strong instead of staying.

“I can’t.” You say more quieter, “my boss already gives me crap for showin up late.”

“So then quit.”

You laugh and nudge his arm. “Your crazy, no.”

He trailed his fingertips over the curve of your thigh, the touch familiar.

“…Can we see each other tonight? It can be here again.” His tired eyes met yours and you nodded so fast your head almost fell.

“Yeah yeah, ‘course.” You two didn’t have to explain for what reason. “Umm.. around 10?”

He thinks for a moment, looking down at his fingers that were anxiously messing with the warm sheets. He furrows his eyebrows and shakes his head.

“Come at 6.” He says.

Your eyes widened at how early he wanted you there. Like any friends with benefits situation- it was always a late hookup. Suddenly it seemed way more than that. More.

“6?” You repeat.

He finally looked up and he has no sign of hesitation. He nodded.

“Figured we can have dinner or somthin before.” He says quietly. “I know ya work a lot.”

“I do.”

“So come at 6.” He whispers now. “It gets dark anyways when you come over- not safe to drive.”

“Okay deputy.” You smile.

He rolls his eyes and finally lets you slither out of his arms. You didn’t like how cold it was without being held by him. You cleared your throat like it could help wash those thoughts away. You knew you were safe with Gator, in his arms, and in his gaze. Maybe that’s why you started this deal in the first place.

He watched you silently as you put your discarded clothes into your bag. You saw how he looked at you through the reflection of his mirror when you brushed your hair. Admiration. For what, you didn’t know.

You turn back to him when your finally done, offering him a soft smile. You say him slowly get up from the bed.

“So I’ll come by at 6.” You look up at him.

“Mhm.” He hums. “And don’t.. worry about my dad. He’s not gonna be here.”

The tone of his words sounds so guilty, guilt that you had to be cautious of his dad. Gator knew that you were afraid of Roy and what his job is, but he also knew that you could never be afraid of Gator himself. You told him that a while ago during sex.

“Okay.” Your eyes scan his. “But call me if anything happens at work.”

The deal somehow started as simple sex late at night. But now it was calling each other, checking in, making sure he was okay. You never expected it to get to this point but you didn’t hate it.

You looked at your phone again and your shift was getting closer.

“You should go.” His voice sounded rough but quiet. “I’ll see you tonight.”

You nod with a small smile as he walks you out the door. He opened it for you and before you could step out- he pressed a light kiss to the back of your head.

“…Bye.” He mumbled against your hair, and your heart fluttered.

You turned back to him with a surprised smile. He’s never kissed your head or your face before- it was always your body, your thighs, your stomach. Never that close. You wish it was like that though.

He must’ve noticed your surprised expression, and he nudged your shoulder. You saw he was biting back a smile.

“Seriously, go. Your gonna be late.”

You leaned down and kissed his bare shoulder. It oddly smelled like a mix of you and home.

“Bye deputy.” You smile before skipping out to your car with a small run.

By the time you pulled out the driveway, he was already inside with the door closed. You smiled in remembrance that you’d be there in a few hours.

Little did you know, he was on the other side of that door with his back pressed against- smiling harder than he’s had in a while.

[velvetciders]

STOP UR GATOR FIC IM DYING. bunny is SUCH a cute nickname i need him so bad !!! ur writing is soooo good oh my god im gonna go back an read all of ur fics

thank you so much im so glad to hear 🥹🥹

im currently writing some angst with steve so im super excited for that!

[velvetciders]

your gators girlfriend who works at the station as a sketch artist

gator tillman x reader

𖦹 tw: dry humping, 18+, that’s it

quick fic- enjoy! i feel like i should add a masterlist…

The quietness at the station was normal, something you don’t usually point out.

Phones rang from here and there inside offices, sometimes the shout of a person who got arrested. It was hard to work in such a buzzed environment- especially in your little cubicle.

The noise filled your brain, making it hard to process your sketch. You’ve been adjusting and fixing a sketch of a man from a robbery, the face intimidating you alone.

You thought of the victims- a part of the job that you hated. But you also thought about Gator.

Your job was hard, but you only sat in a small area while your boyfriend was out actually performing the actions.

You knew Gator well, how strong he was and how good he was with talking.

But you knew the side that the rest of the station, everyone in the town, didn’t know. His quiet side- where he was able to unwind with his head on your lap, pressing soft kisses to the skin of your stomach.

You couldn’t help that pit in your stomach when he kissed you goodbye at the station in the morning. The thought of him never returning made you want to look away and never face the risk.

The bell of the station rang and you barely looked up. You heard quiet yet presentable footsteps coming towards your direction, and you smiled down at your paper.

You looked up, only to meet Gators eyes.

“Gate.” You say in such a soft tone that it sounded like relief.

“Hi honey.” He couldn’t help but lift you from under your armpits to kiss you, earning a soft giggle from your lips.

“Missed my bunny.” He murmured against your lips as he looked at you with hooded eyes.

“I missed you too.” Your thumb traces his mole. “Any luck?”

His cheek was already rested against your palm as he shook his head. “The guys think he must’ve taken the train and left with all the shit.”

You sigh, looking down at the sketch that now was meant for the trash. You look back at him- and he was still looking at you. It’s been almost a year since he asked you out, yet his gentle eyes still made your cheeks turn pink.

“It looks good.” He refers to the drawing.

“Well now it’s useless.” You mumbled.

He shakes his head, his rough fingers in your hair contrasting to your soft strands.

“No.. it’s yours. Nothing bout’ that is useless.” He kisses the corners of your lips.

Before meeting Gator, you always thought he was sharp toned- his only words coming out as insults.

Before he asked you out (which was in a very nonchalant way), it was always small hi’s at the station- or nothing at all.

His gesture of the flowers surprised you, with Gator eventually admitting that he’s always thought you were beautiful- since your first day at the job.

“So.. managed to get that reservation we wanted for tomorrow. Ya’ still wanna go, right?” His thumbs trace each side of your hips- which he tugged closer.

You nodded as you kissed him again, whispering against his lips. “I got a dress for it so I better hope so.”

He chuckles at that, tilting his head to look at you better.

“That so? Oh honey, I know your gonna be beautiful.” He presses kisses to your neck, in front of the whole station.

“Gator!” You giggle, nudging him slightly. “You haven’t even seen it yet.”

“Hm don’t care.” His voice was muffled against your skin. “My pretty bunny is perfect in everythin.”

You looked at him, your gator, your boyfriend. You remembered it was hard to crack all the things he built up throughout the years, each layer only making you love him even more.

He was stubborn, to say the least. Stubborn in the way that he thought he didn’t deserve kindness, or a simple touch to the cheek. But when you finally kissed him- you felt him give up.

But he gave up in a way that allowed you to see him. You let him kiss you whenever he wanted, because deep down, you knew that if something he’s longed for. And he didn’t even know it.

You let him love you, and he lets you love him. It was such a beautiful and mutual feeling, a string bonded between you two whenever you needed it. You knew he would always be there when you showed up to his door one night, shaking from an argument with your father that left you mentally scared.

That night, he brought you to his room- into his only sense of comfort. Your face was buried in his arms, wearing his warm clothes that he let you borrow. He whispered gentle words into as his hands traced under your shirt.

And the thing was, you let him. You let yourself feel so vulnerable around him, because you knew it gave him a purpose. That night when your eyes were already fluttering shut, a smile still lingering against his chest, he knew he was safe.

“Let’s to go my office, hm?” His arms snake around your waist.

“Baby.” You tilt your head.

“What? Ain’t nobody here.”

“They could show up eventually.” You mumble, but you could already feel the two of you walking towards his office.

“Screw them.” He kisses your temple. “We haven’t been alone in a while.”

As you two became more public in Fargo, whispers around town lingered. The whispers reached your dad- ending with a bad argument about how Gator wasn’t right for you, not one bit.

It was hard to get some alone time with him, his dad disapproved you and your dad disapproved him. So you two resorted to sneaking around town, his car, or the station when everyone went home.

“Cmere bunny.” He pats himself when he sits down on his office chair.

You sit sideways on his lap like you belonged there. You did. You reverently fixed a lose strand of his geled hair- his hazel eyes latched to your lips.

“Your not slick, Gate.” You smile at his gaze.

“I know.”

“Your weird.”

He pecked the corner of your lips in a flash. “I’m the deputy in this shit town, baby- course m’ weird.”

The ‘shit’ town reminded you of those silent and dark nights where you and Gator layed on the bed of his truck- telling hopeful promises for the future. For Gator, he wanted to move into a different town with you, grow success, maybe a family.

You just wanted a future with Gator. Anything of him, his soul.

Before you knew it, he was leaning foward. His kiss latched onto your upper lip, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. His hand cradled the side of your face as his other thumb rubbed your cheek.

Your lips moved like water against his, deep and tender. Suddenly your leg draped over his side- fully straddling him.

Your back arched as he kissed you deeply, hearing his inhale as he never pulls back. You hum and smile into the kiss when you feel his rough and calloused hand slide under your blouse.

“Baby.” Your lips click against his.

“Hm?” His lips fit into a puzzle with yours once again.

It was a beautiful and purposeful kiss, contrasting to the bland setting.

“We can..” Another peck. “Do this later tonight.”

“M’ saving tonight for more hands on.” He smirks with an eyebrow raise.

You giggle and give him a flustered smile. He always managed to make a stupid joke like that- even if you two knew Fargo was a gloom place to be living in. But being together, just the two of you, drowned the dark feeling.

“Or we could, yknow, totally right here. Ain’t a problem with me.” He chuckles.

You roll your eyes. “What’s up with you and second base, weirdo?”

“Look at you, bunny. How can I not?” His thumb was now softly rubbing against the side of your temple.

You roll your eyes again.

“I think doing it at the station is like.. some crazy turn on of yours.”

“Yeah cus’ your workin here.”

You laugh again- the blush never absent on your face.

“My dad’s leaving for some weird trip, a red eye. Sooo.. he’ll be gone by 8.” You remind him.

His eyebrows raise, the shimmer in his eyes finally coming back to life. He hummed- leaning foward and kissing under your ear.

“Well shit then, guess I better spend the night with ya.” He kisses the corners of your lips.

His lips latched to yours again in a more desperate manor, his soft lips devouring yours. Your fingers dug into his already messy hair as his thumbs rubbed your hips, tugging you closer.

You let your lower body do the work as he grinded you against him, earning a muffled whimper from your lips.

He smirked into the kiss as his big hands held onto your hips and did the grinding for you. The quiet room was filled with wet kisses, soft moans, and his quiet praises.

“Fuck,” He bit your lower lip. “Ya like that? Getting off in my office?”

You felt so pathetic, so needy and useless as you let him control your body on top of him. You bit your lip and slightly threw your head back- allowing him access to your sweaty skin.

He sucked onto the middle of your throat, your moans vibrating against his mouth.

“Yes-” You croak out as you feel his bulge against you. “Gator, I can’t-”.

“Shhh, cmon baby- yes you can.” He groans.

“Ya look so fucking good on my lap, bunny. So good.” He mouths hot kisses to your neck.

The room felt hot and suffocating- and it made you want to press even closer to him as possible. You just wanted him, Gator, Gator, Gator. It felt like you couldn’t hear anything else other than his groans and his wet kisses.

“Shit honey, ya wore this thin ass panties? Bet it was on purpose- ain’t it?” He huffs.

You nod quickly as your shaky hand made its way down his chest, reaching his buckle. He let out a shaky breath as you started to subtly palm him.

His hips twitched and he groaned, causing you to bite your bottom lip as your hand moved in concentration. You could feel just how big he was and how his clothed tip was getting damp, and it scared you how eager you were for tonight.

“That good?” You whimper.

“Uh huh- keep.. fuck- keep going baby.”

He sounded so desperate for more and you wanted to give him more, but you hesitated over getting caught.

Just like you predicted, the sound of a key jangled just around the corner.

Your hand smushes to his lips for him to stop, and he mumbles in frustration.

“Baby who ca-” He starts.

“Shh no Gate.” Your breath was still heavy, “I’m not.. no. We can do this tonight at my house.”

He huffs and helps adjust your blouse with a gentle touch. He kisses you more slowly this time, not with any rush.

Your heart flutters and you knew there was no way you could be frustrated by his stubbornness.

“Fine. But m’ seeing you right after I’m done with work.” He whispers against your lips that were now plump.

“Door will be unlocked.” You hum.

He tilts his head and narrows his eyes.

“Bunny no, lock it.” He chuckles, “I’ll knock or call, text- whatever.”

You smile playfully.

“Bossy.”

You giggle as you slowly get off his lap- helping fix his uniform with intention. Your eyes met his and his smirk turned into a genuine smile. He stepped forward and cupped your chin, rubbing his thumb over your bottom lip.

You rest your cheek against him palm, fluttering your eyes to look at him.

“I’ll see you tonight, yeah?” He hums.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” He whispers in a way that he knows your intentions and words are genuine.

“Love you baby.” He presses a lingering kiss to your forehead, your smile never faltering.

“Love you too, Gate.”

You peck his bicep like routine. He smiles as he looks at you up and down when you leave the office.

He sighs into his chair and smiles flusteredly at the meer thought of you. He made a promise to himself that he would always remember how you made him feel.

Alive.

——

first gator fic, i love him 🥹

reqs are open for any more beautiful ideas! ۶ৎ

[velvetciders]

bye bye baby || S.H.

↳ pairing: dinerworker!reader x steve!harrington

↳ summary: your new at Hawkins and got a job at a diner, never predicting that a boy named Steve Harrington would deem a special spot in your heart.

↳ contents: fluffffluff, steve being flirty, weird comment about a short skirt (from a customer)

↳ word count: 4.0k+

It started in the sweet and simple moments. The moments experienced that left you replaying it in your mind over and over again. It was multiple moments in fact, so much that it even called Robin’s attention.

Robin always caught onto it, ages before you could.

The first time was slow. A few elderly people enjoying breakfast by themselves in the comfort of the rain outside in Hawkins. Halloween was approaching- the diner filled with bright orange pumpkins.

Robin messed with the radio on the counter as you poured yourself a cup of cold coffee, still getting used to the new job and your new friend who now fixed the music.

You didn’t expect many customers. So far from your time there- it was mostly the same people and the same families that showed up in the mornings. Working at the diner in Hawkins was almost your escape from all the loudness.

The dainty and rusty bell on the door in the entrance rang, your eyes shooting up. Your head turned to Robin when she yelled a last name you haven’t heard yet. It was already out of your thoughts when you watched her round the corner- hugging him.

He smiled. His smile was pretty.

Maybe he was her boyfriend?

But they high fived after, which was fine- although she never mentioned anyone she came home too. He shook off his umbrella and leaned it against the wall before taking a seat at the bar. He hasn’t looked at you yet, or that’s what you thought.

Robin was already writing down what seemed to be his usual order. Two pancakes with two pieces of bacon (extra syrup and extra crispy). She suddenly left to the kitchen- your face warming up when it was just you and him. You cleared your throat, taking a few steps to the side.

You felt stupid and somehow highlighted by his gaze, your hands washing an already clean mug. 

“What’s your name?” You hear his voice ask. It was so nice in a weird way, like warmth in the cold. 

Your heart was beating too fast, it was hard to hear. Why were you nervous around Robin’s friend, a stranger? 

“What?”

“Your name.” He says, now trying to hold back a smile.

“Oh.” Your face warmed again.

You told him your name as you put the mug down- and he nodded.

“I’m Steve… Robin hasn’t told me about you. And believe me- she tells me a lot.”

“That accurately sounds like her.”

He laughs, his eyes scrunching up. His laugh behind his words filled the quiet atmosphere. You couldn’t tell if it was a pity laugh, or a laugh attempted to get you to stop being so tense.

Your legs were moving on autopilot now, all of a sudden taking a few steps closer to the boy across.

Wow, being a little closer to him felt like seeing someone else. His hair seemed bouncy and so soft- his brown hair displayed in some swoops. Moles painted his face, and you felt weird for wanting to touch them and kiss them. It seemed easy to just lean over the counter and do so.

Snap out of it.

But you couldn’t help it. Steve was pretty and handsome and everything in between, with his pretty pink lips and his pretty smile. Over the past five minutes, all you’ve focused on was his smile.

“Well, I um.. I moved here a month ago but I just started working a few weeks ago.” You say quietly as you fiddled with a napkin.

The quiet diner from a few minutes ago felt different now. It felt like there were possibilities and futures just out the door. Possibilities with Steve.

You could almost see the butterflies flying around and entering your stomach the longer he looked at you with his pretty brown eyes. The color reminded you of syrup almost, ironically so.

“You like Hawkins?” He asks softly as he sipped the coffee Robin set out for him earlier.

You nod- struggling to keep eye contact with him. “It’s.. nice. I like how they have the town look for Halloween.”

He smiled and nodded- taking a quick glance at the decorations of the diner before locking eyes with you. “You picked a good place to work at.”

“Tha-” The interaction was cut off short, Robin coming out the kitchen doors with his late breakfast.

“Here dingus. The kitchen almost burned because of your request for ‘extra crispy bacon’ by the way”. Robin places it in front of him, seeing how he gave her a playful roll of the eyes.

You observed how he poured the extra syrup between the pancakes- pouring the leftover syrup on the bacon. It was sweet in a way, that he almost had a routine with his food.

You remembered that you had a job, and that Steve wasn’t the only customer. You saw a family with their plate cleaned right off so you grabbed the tray to collect them. Steve noticed and spoke before you could leave.

“It was nice meeting you.” He says with his lips glossy from the syrup. God, he was cute.

“You too.” You say softly before walking to the other tables.

He watched how you talked to the customers with a gentleness and a kindness that made him smile. His thoughts were cut short from Robin’s rambling- the thought of you and your pretty smile soon leaving.

It happened again two days after that, yet this time it wasn’t with Steve around. Hawkin’s was windy and chilly that day as you walked in the diner. You signed yourself in at the counter- trying hard to not look around to see if he was around. Your back was turned to Robin, whose arms were crossed with a suspicious smirk.

“Steve was here earlier.” She says simply.

You turn, eyebrows furrowed. You tried to hide the way your ears turned pink at the name of him. Ever since the first interaction with him- it was quite impossible to get him out of your mind.

 “So?” You say with a soft laugh.

“So… he likes you. I’ve known that idiot for years, it was embarrassingly obvious.”

“Robin, just because he showed up to eat at a diner, which is normal, doesn’t mean he likes me.” You say with an amused smile as you pour yourself a coffee. “We talked for 5 seconds the other day, matter of fact.”

“Didn’t seem like it when he asked where you were.” Her smile on her face was big and teasing, her short hair tucked behind her ears.

After two days, did he seriously remember you? You remembered him for obvious reasons- not thinking that you, a stranger, would be in his train of thought.

“Shut up, he didn’t.” You scoff, writing the order of a usual customer- sliding it to the kitchen. “Robin, he said two words to me. Also.. I thought you two were..?”

You two stared at each other as you tried to let her confirm your question, but her mouth was agape with a gasp when she saw your confused look. You laughed- nudging her as she covered her mouth.

“You thought we were-” She squealed, “oh my god! No no no, no way.” Her face was red  as she laughed at your words.

She took a deep breath to calm down, her face still faint with a smile. 

“We’re friends, very good friends since a few years ago. We used to work together at a thousand jobs… it’s nothing like what you think.”

You nod with a red and embarrassed face, and she could tell. She took hold of both your shoulders.

“Hey, this is a good sign! Jealousy sparks romance.” She assures with many nods.

You giggle, scrunching your eyes and shaking your head. “I never said I was jealous. Also how- says who?”

“Science. And my very own precious eyes. And from that, I can assure you that you like Steve Harrington.”

So that was his last name. It felt like a deathly temptation that you could easily go to the phonebook and find his number- but you shook it off. His name suited him, everything suited him. The boy you talked to for 5 seconds was perfect.

It was one cold afternoon with the diner being a little busier than usual. You and Robin hustled back and forth around the tables. A boy around your age sat at the bar, sitting in Steves spot.

Technically it wasn’t Steve’s, but he liked sitting there for unknown reasons. But you couldn’t always help but look at that seat every time you walked in.

The blonde boy, rugged with a leather jacket had a sour look on his face. You remembered you hadn’t given him his food in a while because of how many overwhelming orders were coming through. 

“Instead of going around showing off in your little skirt, you may wanna actually work on getting my food.” He demands when you round the counter.

You let out the quietest gasp at the boys words, not knowing how to react to your first ever angry customer. You glanced for Robin because she was always there, but she was out of sight.

You glanced down to wipe nothing off your skirt, maybe your shame of wanting to leave this moment.

“You better cut her some slack man, if not, the doors right there.”

A familiar voice cut through, your head shooting up.

It was Steve, still a little out of breath from his arrival- almost like defending you was the first priority. Your cheeks turned warm out of admiration. Your knight in shining armor.

You blinked, lips parted.

“And.. you’re in my seat. Thanks.” He nods with a smile and still standing tall when the boy scoffed and nudged past him without paying for his bitter coffee.

He couldn’t have been more attractive at that moment.

Your eyes were still wide and your heart was still thumping. Steve didn’t know what went through him, but the sight of your sweet face now being displayed with a frown stuck a chord through him. You released your firm grip on the counter that you didn’t even know you were holding.

He looked at the menu casually, his eyes drifting to yours. “You okay?”

You nod with your cheeks still pink, causing Steve to smile.

“Yeah.” You gulp, “that was.. wow. Thank you.” 

“That guy was a total douche, wasn’t he?”

You two both laugh, his cheeks now painted with colors as well. You liked how he used some humor to lighten the previous mood- and you liked he gave you a chance to nod and agree with him.

You liked everything about him. You liked Steve Harrington, your knight.

The days after that is when it started off small. Steve found out you worked mornings and evenings Monday through Thursday- coincidentally only being there at those hours. He always sat at the bar, no matter how crammed it was. Over those days, he put it to his best ability to find out more about you.

From time to time, you two would sit at the bar for a while and make fun of the blonde boy who commented on your skirt.

One of those times when he saw you were shy about the uniform, Steve quietly admitted that he thought the skirt was cute and that it suited you.

When work was slow, he stayed behind until your shift was over, walking you to your car. He eventually knew your go to breakfast order, your favorite songs, movies, and stories about you before Hawkins. He flirted innocently, you thought, he could’ve just been nice because you were new.

But you couldn’t help but overthink if his flirting was intentional. Sometimes you would catch him staring a little too long while you were talking to other customers. Or sometimes he would be the only one patient with you on busy days. 

Or that one morning when it was calmer than normal.

Soft music played from the radio on the counter Robin had set up. He had a fork in front of his mouth, playfully singing the lyrics to the song while reaching out for you.

 It had the two of you blushing as your fingers slid with his- giggling filling the air as he sang.

You called him silly, but he kept going after seeing how you tried to hold back a smile. 

The way he looked at you was so special and new, but you couldn’t pinpoint how it made you feel. His eyes just softened every time your gaze was on him- the sight of it making your stomach flutter.

You wouldn’t even serve him on some days but he would still give you tips. “For bringing me extra syrup.” Is what his excuse was whenever you protested.

“Oh cmon, did you guys run out?” He whined when you handed him his food.

“I seriously think we’re on a tight budget because of your need for it.” You tease him with a giggle.

He couldn’t hold back his smile. “Yeah but it’s fine cus I’m the best customer.”

“Says who?”

“You, sorta. You don’t charge me for the extra stuff so that automatically makes me a favorite.”

You roll your eyes with the biggest grin ever. “Thanks for reminding me so I stop doing that.”

“Aw cmon.” He laughs. “I come here especially on your shifts just for it.”

“So your a stalker.” You laugh again.

“No.” He chuckles but you saw his pink cheeks, “I’m.. just an acquaintance. Making sure everything’s in order.”

Your name was called from the kitchen, already missing the sound of his voice. You reached over the counter and nudged his shoulder. 

“Stalker.” You mumble, your eyes meeting his. The two of you smiled shyly but it was quickly lost when you got dragged into the kitchen by Robin. When you came out to give food to the tables, you were pretty sure you caught a glimpse of the blush still lingering on his face.

Going to work didn’t feel like such a task, instead you felt giddy about anything involving him. You weren’t ashamed to admit that Steve Harrington, the boy who loved pancakes, deemed a special place in your heart.

It was the week after Halloween. Pumpkins started to shrink and turn brown, the leaves on trees still bright orange. 

You walked to work with the new profound feeling that you’ve experienced over the past few weeks.

You scanned the diner, seeing the usual people. But no Steve. Steve wasn’t sitting at the bar, and he wasn’t already walking up to you to hug you good morning.

You just saw Robin behind the counter making coffee. You cleared your throat, trying to pretend that this wasn’t taking an effect on you.

“Hey Rob.” You say quietly with a small smile.

“Hey.” She nods her head, “Oh also, may not wanna go in the kitchen. It’s sorta flooded.”

Like you were going to anyways. You hated that you became the person that gets in a bad mood after one thing. 

The thing being not seeing him. Or his smile. God his smile, you were convinced it’s taken over your life.

An hour or so past of you cleaning tables and refilling drinks. You read a magazine at the counter next to Robin. She occasionally went on to talk about gossip in the town, or a new rant about the movies she saw.

You loved Robin, of course. But in that moment, you wanted to be near Steve- under his warm gaze. You wanted him to complain about the syrup or the song choice, and you wanted him to get jealous the customers talking to you. 

A pattern occurred in your mind, everything always leading up to him. Steve was who you wanted, in the diner and outside.

Your shift was almost about to end, Robin already gone home. You were wiping the counter with a yawn- hearing the bell ring.

You looked up, seeing Steve walking in with his nose pink from the cold. You melted at the sight, especially when your eyes locked with his. He slid into the bar chair with a smile he was trying to resist. 

You hoped that smile was only for your eyes to see, not for anyone else.

“Hi pretty.” He says quietly, a new something he started to call you after a while ago.

“Hi stalker.” That was also another name, something so unique and for him only- sticking to the nickname after seeing how it made him blush.

You were already writing down his order, sneaking a glance up at him- catching him already looking at your face. Your heart stuttered and you looked down, cheeks warm. He still got you nervous, however you liked the closeness you two developed over the past two weeks.

After putting the order through the window and turning around, he kept looking at you.

“I really don’t get your stalker joke.” He admits with a laugh.

You lean over the counter directly facing him, fiddling with the straw on your morning milkshake.

“It’s not a joke if it’s true.” You smile.

“Tell me one time I’ve ‘stalked’ you.”

You giggle at his teasing. All of a sudden you didn’t feel so nervous, your usual shy demeanor now a little flirty. He was doing it, shouldn’t you?

“Ummm.. probably when you turned all detective to find out my shifts.”

His face turned red and he tilted your head like how you had it. “Oh my god, okay, no. I simply wanted to do that because your always so nice with the syrup and stuff.”

“Oh right, forgot about your precious syrup.” 

You laugh, nudging his chest - a habit that you developed and a habit that he loved.

“I can be a stalker if you want me too.”

“Very charming, Harrington.”

He laughs, eyes scrunching like it always did. He looked really handsome today- his dark green jacket contrasting nicely with his brown eyes and his brown hair. “Oh cmon! I’d do the whole deal- taking pictures of you.. knowing everything about you, drawing you.”

“You can draw?” The bell rang from the kitchen, his giggles still lingering as you went to get the plate.

You came back and watched him do the normal routine with the pancakes.

“No but I’d learn just to draw your very stalkable face.” He says, earning a playful eye roll from you.

“That’s so creepy.”

“Mhm, I can see your smile.”

The conversation lingered over soft teasing and laughs. You two both shared the food- wiping each others faces off from all the syrup consumption, his touch gentle on your face.

He mumbled something incoherent, his thumb brushing against the corner of your lips.

The music from the radio seemed to fade, praying that a customer didn’t walk in and cut the moment short.

Your breath slowed and your pupils grew, and so did his. His lips were slightly parted, so pretty and pink. His eyes went back and forth to yours and you couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

He rubbed it off but his touch lingered.

“Let me take you out.” He whispers without any hesitation, without any regret.

This was not happening. It was a dream - a silly fantasy in your mind that was always never supposed to be real. Your voice cut through your throat, struggling with words.

“What?”

His cheeks turned pink, maybe out of embarrassment or shyness. You didn’t know, and you for sure didn’t know your own feelings in this moment.

“You.. and me. I wanna take you somewhere, somewhere other than here.” His voice seemed quieter now, but it was sort of peaceful. Safe.

You blinked again, realizing that you two only really saw each other at the diner. You’ve wondered from time to time what it would be like with him outside of here, a chance to get to know him deeper. Maybe this was your chance.

His hand was now cupping your cheek and you couldn’t help but rest your cheek against it - feeling a new sort of thrill. You glanced from his eyes to his lips before nodding.

“Yeah?” He whispers. 

“Yeah.” 

He lets out a breathless sigh, his hand still in your pink cheek. “O-okay. Okay, yeah. Um.. I can pick you up from here after your shift tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Was the only word that could escape you. You still thought this was a dream, a prank.

Oh god, if only he knew how much you were already gone for him. You’d never expect yourself to fall for someone this easily but he made it nearly impossible not too. 

If only he felt that way as well, if only the feelings sprung for him the first day you two met.

But by the way Steve looked at you right there, with his warm hand on your cheek like it belonged there, maybe there was hope for you. 

The day felt like a blur. Robin pointed out the wide smile on your face during work- which was rare for you. You caved in and spilled everything about Steve, and she squealed, repeating how she knew he would finally make a move.

The more she talked about his feelings, your blush darkened.

It was finally around dinner time when your shift ended and your heart was really starting to feel heavy.

Steve drove you to your house, patiently waiting outside of his car as you went inside to change out of your uniform. When you came back- you met him outside with a shy smile on his face. He hugged you, kissed your forehead, and claimed you were the prettiest girl in Hawkins.

That night, he took you out to dinner to a place you haven’t visited yet. It was simple with him, so calm- he made you feel like you’ve known him your whole life. He was a gentleman to say the least, but he was so funny and carefree.

His fingers softly intertwined with yours without asking as he showed small spots in town.

The kiss happened in a sweet and simple moment, a moment so similar to the first time you two met. It was on your front porch when the hopeless boy admitted that he only went to eat at the diner for you.

It brought a flutter to your stomach and you smiled, sheepishly admitting that your time so far in Hawkins was better with him. That also earned a blush on his cheeks. It was such a simple and beautiful story- a boy hopelessly in love with the new girl.

As he kissed you like he thought it was the last time, he whispered his gratitude for meeting you in such a manner. Whispers and unheard admissions were shared in between kisses, making the moment extra special.

By the time your heart was spilled out to him against his lips, his face was completely flushed. He hid his expression by resting his forehead against yours.

“You’re still a stalker.” You whisper with your fingers tangled in his soft hair.

He chuckled. “I may be that.” 

“But.. I’d like to be your boyfriend. If you let me.”

You nodded with a giggle, and he quickly let the sound fade as he kissed you again.

Steve was completely gone for you, and he knew it. A girl whom he met only a few weeks ago already changed his whole world- love at first sight being something he never believed in.

But you were there, in his arms with his lips brushing against yours.

And suddenly, the girl who flirted with him across the counter about his syrup was now all his.

The night ended with kisses still lingered, confessions still hanging in the air- waiting to be talked about in the future. He gave you his number, and you teased him about how you’ve been waiting for this since a while.

One last kiss was exchanged, a kiss that made Steve not want to leave. It was like he fell harder for you, and he knew that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Falling in love with a girl working at a diner wasn’t so bad after all.

requests are open!!

[velvetciders]

how to accidentally kiss your coworker

𖦹 in which, you get picked at a halloween party to go into a closet for seven minutes with a boy in a mask

tw: making out, slight cussing, tension i guess??? 𖦹 fem!reader x scoopsahoy!steve fyi the timeline may be a little off because i mention some movies and s5 robin and vickie w/ s3 steve

"wait, who are you again?" you ask with furrowed eyebrows, your hands gripped tight on the steering wheel in front of you. robin sat in the passenger seat, vickies arm slung over both seats as she leans in the middle.

"i'm sam? from sixteen candles?" vickie says with a soft laugh. it still didn't click for you, your mouth opening to talk.

"don't even try vic, her movie taste is insanely terrible." robin intercepts. "like- hugely."

you scoff with a smile behind it. "okay, wow. that is so not true! i like many things."

robin glances at you, raising her eyebrows. she was lydia from beetlejuice- her dress bright and shouting red with detailed lace. you knew your movies, very much so- however not as much as you knew other things. thats the movie with that weird huge snake, right?

"you thought weird science was the funniest movie you've ever seen." this earns vickie a laugh, and you couldn't help but laugh along and shake your head.

"your ferris' girlfriend right? um...sloane!" vickie says smartly which you were glad for, your main issue of the night being that no one would know who you were.

discussions and debates of costumes filled the quiet air of your car as you drove through the streets of hawkins. like a streotypical halloween night, it was cold with whistling wind. it was the type of cold that made you crave warmth from someone in any dire circumstance.

but no. tonight was a time to "live it up", quoted from robin- especially considering it was october 31st. you liked parties, sure, but it became a bore after hours pass. but you couldn't help but want to try something new, maybe get drunk or kiss someone who wears a mask. you only live once, right?

the house was big, big enough to hold an overwhelming amount of people that you most definitely didn't want to see.

"wait- is steve coming tonight?" you say breathlessly in the cold as you closed your car door, his name brought up after vickie was discussing who would be there.

you've known steve harrington, but not long enough like you wished you did. you met him through work at starcourt, and it was a simple relationship at that. you talked to him and saw him at work but nothing else- a small part of you wishing you got to know more about the boy who always wore a handsome smile.

he was sweet to you, in a gentle sort of way that you didn't know where you stood in his life. but you assumed you were just another bystander in his book.

"i wouldn't know. he completely like.. bolted after work today. you didn't notice that?" robin rubs her hands together.

you try to go back and remember a few hours ago, but the memory was faded. probably because you were to focused on how pretty steve looked in his scoops ahoy uniform and his bouncy hair, (but robin didn't need to know).

"i guess." you lie, "who knows? maybe we'll see."

---------------

the music was uncontrollably loud, the walls of the delicate house practically shaking. you squeezed through everyone, your hand holding robins as you three tried to reach a spot to take camp at.

you barely recognized anyone, only a few familiar faces that gave snarky faces when you handed them their milkshake. vickie came back with an ecstatic smile- holding three drinks.

they both eagerly took big sips, and you followed, not wanting to look stupid. your goal of the night was try to be like your costume. sloane was fearless and she took risks, so maybe you should too.

"jesus, i guess pda is a thing again." vickie giggles.

your eyes follow hers, and you felt your heart sink. so many people kissing, whispering and completely in love. that should be you one day, you longed for it. but for now you were a girl in a shitty scoops ahoy costume making ice cream sundaes for a living.

"oh! yknow what i heard?" robin giggles, the alcohol already causing her words to start slurring.

"the guy i guess who hosted this party has a craaaazzzy game of like-" she was a laughing mess, your hand already on her shoulder for extra support. vickie was leaning in to little to much- her face flushed.

"what was i saying?" she tilts her head. your mouth opens again, about to talk- yet it was once again interrupted.

"7 minutes in heaven in the dining room!!" a bunch of girls yell and laugh who were in the same drunken state as the couple next to you.

vickie gasps, hopping up and down and patting your back. "rob!! the game! we gotta go!" she giggles.

robin was already dragging you two to the unknown room, and you shook your head. "are you guys crazy? what if like- you get paired with some guy?"

"aw cmooonn!! regardless, you are doing it. it's good for you!" robin justifies, and you hated how she was right. she always was after all.

you already felt like your heart was beating so fast you couldn't even feel it anymore when you saw all the random people sitting in a circle. some people had masks, some with crazy makeup, and some with just shitty costumes.

you sat across some creep in a micheal myers mask who was just sitting there. you shivered at the sight and nervously looked away. you hated the mask and the movie in general, and you hated the fact that there was a slight chance you could get paired with whoever it was.

the empty bottle with a few droplets inside was spun, landing on an odd pair. you didn't know how the game worked but apparently during the seven minutes, people just talked until the couple was over.

pairs went and left, some returning with messy hair and smudged makeup. thank god you didn't have a costume like that. the bottle quickly spun again in slow motion. it spun and spun and spun until it chose it's next victim. you.

well shit. robin and vickie gasped behind you, but you could barely register it as a boy spun it again to determine your pair.

the cheers and ooo's faded into your brain when the bottle stopped it's motion. you followed the tip of the bottle to who it was, your palms feeling sweaty.

well shit, again. fuck fuck fuck. out of the 30 people there, it landed on him. or whoever it was. micheal myers- the movie killer who had you on the edge of your seat.

you didn't care if the person under the mask was completely harmless, it was the concept of being in a small and dark closet with him.

you couldn't even look at him or your friends, to ashamed of yourself that you were involved in this. you quickly got up with your head down- maybe the quicker you went, the faster it'd be over.

you and the boy were shoved in the closet by some loser, and it was way tighter than you expected. it was hard to breathe for even you, and your eyebrows furrowed.

"i- can you breathe?" you ask in a concerned voice. the boy was tall, his head looking down at you, which made your heart skip a beat.

"if your trying to get me to take the mask off, i'm not." he says in a low and quiet voice, hoping that the scary tone of it was because of the mask.

"i'm just saying." you say with a timid laugh, "it's like really hot in here. plus... the mask is creepy."

"so you want me too." he chuckles.

your face turns warm, cheeks vivid pink that it made you grateful the closet was pitch black. "i didn't say that but be my guest."

your knees brushed against his even while standing, your pinkie almost locking with his. your mind was just on how hot it was, not knowing if it was because of the closet or because of him.

"you're sloane." you hear the low voice say.

"huh?" you look up, your eyes finally meeting his.

well, not technically. the space was dark, but you could tell that you were looking directly into the eyes of the mask- which still gave you an uneasy feeling.

"from the movie. ferris bueller?" his hand brushes against yours. at least he knew who you were, you just wanted to know who he was.

you nod, looking down at your outfit. "oh right, yeah. it's not the best costume- i know."

"no no, it's a good one. is.. someone ferris? like to go with it?" suddenly the boy in front of you wasn't as scary as you thought, his gentle voice throwing you off guard. you couldn't jump to conclusions though.

"no, it's uh.. just me." you say quietly. "i didn't even think about that actually. it'd make more sense if someone was ferris, right?"

he shrugs, the material of the navy blue onepiece rubbing against each other. you couldn't quite tell, but you felt his breath and his scent more (to which his scent smelled familiar, but you shook it off)- his body progressively getting closer to yours.

"not really. your character is just as cool." he says quietly. "so you.. don't have a boyfriend?"

you laugh at his tactics, confused on why this boy was playing 20 questions with you. you squinted your eyes and tried to peek under the mask. "who are you?"

"nuh uh." he stops your hand from trying to reach the bottom of the white mask. "do you?"

"have a boyfriend?" you giggle. you didn't know what you were laughing at, maybe because this boy was trying to be playful with you and you liked going along with it. he nods, letting you continue.

"no, i don't- there. can i see now?" you ask with a pleading tone it was almost embarassing.

"why do you wanna know so bad? it's dark in here anyways." he says with a soft chuckle, his hand still gently holding your wrist.

his palm wrapped around you was warm, so warm against your cold skin from the windy air outside. you relaxed your arm and put it to your side, but he didn't let go. his grip almost brought you and him even closer- as if the closet wasn't small enough.

"first, its a creepy mask." you start, earning another laugh from him. "second, it's unfair. you can.. sorta see my face, i should see yours."

"mhm, i do see you. your pretty." he says quietly, and you couldn't believe him and the game he was playing. you scoffed playfully, shaking your head. how many minutes have past? (only 3:32).

"what would you even do if i took it off?"

"i don't know! it'd be better though.. isn't there an objective in this game anyways?"

he stayed quiet, and shit, you went too far. you didn't even know him and you felt so very embarrassed. you wanted to barge out the closet but it was locked- and you were stuck in this tense situation. please don't embarrass me.

"i wasn’t aware of an objective?" he whispers.

you gulped, your face so red you felt steam coming out of your ears. this is really not how you were expecting your night to go, especially not when your nose was brushing against his.

"well, i- isn't it like... a k-kissing game? i don't know." you whisper and tumble over your words. your nerves immediately turned you sober, but in this moment, you wish you were drunk so you could forget this.

"would you want that?" he whispers.

"no! i mean.. it's- we don't have too. it's not required anything." god you wish you could just shut up, but you dug your own hole to deep.

"i'd be fine with it." he whispers, "it'd be an experience, our own thing."

you gulped again, and you wanted to stop holding his hand because your hands were sweaty again. you stayed quiet, the closet space only being filled with your breathing mixed with his.

"you want that though, don't you?" he continues. "that's why you want my mask off. to kiss me."

“i don’t wanna kiss you.”

“oh.. i see. you want me to kiss you.”

“i never said that.”

he chuckled, shaking his head. “ill kiss you all you want. just gotta give me the word.”

his hand creeped behind your neck, bringing you closer. you could hear his breath, and you gulped again.

you nodded.

“yeah?" he affirmed. "you want me to kiss you, baby?” he starts to take off the mask from under.

“mhm.” you mumble, your vision blurry.

“that wasn’t so hard, hm?” his mask was now off- and you didn’t know what to do.

before your thoughts could even form a cloud, you felt a warmth loom over you- and then lips to yours. you froze for a second but immediately gave in, your knees bucking out. he smiled into the kiss, leaning down- his lips so wet and plush.

you felt him breathe in as his lips almost devoured yours, and you... liked it? you liked how hungry he was for you, how he was kissing you like he's been needing this is whole life. it was messy and rushed, your heads tilting left and right to get deeper.

he pushed you against the wood of the closet, allowing his tongue to sneak into your mouth. you let out a soft hum as the kisses continued, your wet tongue meshing with his. the quiet closet was now filled with the clicking of your lips to his and his occasional groans.

“fuck.” he murmurs against your lips as it grew hungrier.

it was so fucking hot, the way his big hand grabbed your ass for leverage, his lips lightly sucking your tongue. your soft lips occasionally sucked his bottom lip, his hand tightening on your ass. your fingers were tangled deep in his hair, the other one slowly inching lower on his body- earning a muffled groan from him.

his grip was so tight yet gentle, his fingertips sliding under your jacket as he pushed your body up- lips smushed to his. his head tilted to the side to kiss you deeper, and that's when it hit you like a light.

the familiar smell. steve harrington's smell.

the smell of oakwood filled your nose, and you pulled away- lips pink. you knew it was steve, he always put an insane amount of cologne on at work that you couldn't even smell the ice cream.

but it was subtle now, more soft.

"steve?" you whisper against his lips. there was a beat, a beat too long.

"yeah?"

you felt yourself slowly pulling away, but his firm grip kept you there.

"i- what.. i'm so confused." your voice was quiet. "your.. it's been you this whole time."

"yeah." his firm hands now turned gentle when he brushed a hair out of your face that was stuck to your sweaty forehead.

you gulped. "but i thought you werent-"

"gonna show up at the party? no well.. i wasn't going too. but robin told me you were coming and i just- i know how parties get."

words couldn't even describe how you felt right now. you felt so hot and overwhelemed under this wave of news.

"we kissed." you stutter out, trying to make him understand what just happened.

"we did, i know. what's wrong with it?"

you shake your head, your body feeling weak. "because we're coworkers? and.. friends?"

"so? yeah, we're those things but it doesn't mean i don't like you."

time was ticking way to slow, especially in this moment. two minutes were left- which was announced by a boy outside the closet. his words repeated in your head again. steve liked you. and you possibly may have liked him too.

he chuckled. "so.. i guess i got really lucky i didn't have to do this closet thing with another girl."

your cheeks tinted pink, and you giggled. "you're insane." you nudge his shoulder, he barely budged.

"you could've told me it was you. i would've... kissed you regardless." you admit.

he laughs, kissing the corner of your lip. "no you wouldn't, cmon."

"i so would've! here-" you giggle, kissing him more softly this time. you tried to pull away, but he chased your lips.

it lingered this time- your lips against his sharing a story of two idiots with crushes. it felt so real with steve, gentle and genuine by the way he kissed you. it quite literally took your breath away.

eventually your breath cut short, so you two pulled away.

"im still confused." you whisper.

"tell me."

"we've been working at scoops ahoy for the whole summer." you say quietly, "you've liked me this whole time?"

it was almost impossibly impossible that you had steve harrington bare his feelings for you. it was so impossible that he just kissed you stupidly, impossible he deemed a place in your heart. apparently you were in his heart too.

"i mean, yeah." he admits in a shy tone, "before you started working there- it was a total bum, other than robin."

"but then you showed up and i realized that it was, like... way better with you around."

you had the biggest smile on your face at his works, your heart not feeling so nervous anymore.

he kissed your forehead so lightly. "and i just connected the dots on what i was feeling. sorta ended up with me realizing i liked you."

"aw steve." you whisper with a smile-frown, and he cupped your cheek. it seemed to good to be true, the boy who had a crush on your miraculously got paired with you for a silly game.

it sent butterflies in your stomach and all around you, the feeling to intense that you just kissed him. it was your silent way of saying you felt the same, and he knew that- he smiled against your lips as another declare.

"i also ended up realizing that we should.. totally ditch our shift on friday and go to enzo's instead." he whispers against your lips, earning a giggle from you.

"enzo's? steve that's like- crazy expensive." you murmur against his pretty pink lips.

"exactly why. we've been living off of ice cream all day- you deserve a good dinner." he kisses you again.

he was kissing you like it was normal and like you two have been doing it for months. you wanted him to do that for the rest of your life. you didn't protest against the dinner anymore, finally allowing yourself to get treated.

"so, us. friday?" you whisper.

"mhm- at 6. and then after the date that you'll love, which you will, we'll go on a thousand more."

you tilt your head with a flustered smile. your sure your face has been red this whole interaction, from the moment you stepped inside the closet.

before you could even respond or have another chance to kiss the boy, the closet door swung wide open- ears now hearing cheers and ooo's. steve squeezed your arm before the two of you stepped out, (also another way of saying steve harrington was now yours and yours only).

[velvetciders]

𖦹 you were nervous during a crawl at the watchtower, so mike offered a dance

warnings: kissing, angst song that plays on radio: a letter to elise by the cure

the crawls that happened every once in a while we're like no other. you were certain in the safety of the plan, of what Hopper had to to. but it still brought you a sick churn in your stomach- a new feeling introduced into your life. you were an overly anxious person and it was hard for you to come forward and express your feelings like how everyone else could.

tonight was like no other. after hearing Robin's long message in the radio this morning at school, you and the rest of the party headed to the squawk. mike stayed behind with you, his hand eventually finding yours once you stopped biting your nails.

"you okay baby?" mike asks in a quiet voice, only for you. his thumb was gently rubbing against your skin- and you only squeezed it tighter.

you and mike have known each other your whole lives, until you two found each other and started to be together. apparently he liked you for as much as you liked him, and it sparked something new between you too. just because the relationship wasn't knew, it didn't mean mike didn't know you like the back of his hand- and he always will.

you look up at him with a uneasy smile. "yeah.. you know how i get before crawls."

you always dismissed your feelings and emotions so easily it was concerning. and mike knew this, and he knew how to cut right through you. that's a reason why you loved him so much, because he knew you so well. but you weren't ready yet to tell him those three words that were always foreign to you.

he squeezed your hand, leaning down and pressing a tender kiss to your cheek.

"it's just another crawl, and it'll go good." he whispers, nudging his shoulder to yours. "everyone knows what their doing."

"plus we'll be on watch duty together." his soft words made you smile, and you kissed the back of his palm as you two entered the double doors of the radio station.

your heart felt anxious and fast as you said hi to everyone in the basement, hating how everyone seemed so "okay" with the fact that anything bad could happen. it made you feel weird and like a burden, that you were being to dramatic about your nerves.

mike must've saw the way you were biting the inside of your cheeks, so he ruffled the top of your hair a bit. you looked up at him, your expression emotionless.

"hey." he says with a soft smile when your eyes met his.

"hi." you quietly say, and he frowns.

"what's got you so worried, baby? we're gonna be at the watchtower." he reassured.

"it's not that mike." you whisper, "i just feel so.. weird about this. how is no one else nervous about the sake of hopper?"

he shakes his head before you could even finish the sentence. "hey hey.. no." he cups your cheek, leaning down to kiss your forehead- which had your eyes flutter.

"i'm nervous too. we all are. but we know hopper is experienced, and he's strong. and you know it too." he says quietly, rubbing his thumb against the ridge of your jaw.

you nod against his hand, going on your tip toes to kiss him gently. his kisses always found a way to get your heart to slow down, your thoughts to fade away into a land that you never wanted to visit. his hand went to the back of your neck, fingers tangled in your soft hair. you couldn't help but smile into the kiss, and he quickly pulled away to see it before it was gone.

"there's my pretty baby." he whispers before kissing you again, and he heard your quiet giggle.

once the plan was layed out by joyce, everyone was dismissed to get ready in the next few minutes. dustin, lucas, and steve were already long gone in the van- considering their part of the job needed to be ahead. you said bye to them earlier before, whispering a good luck to the each other them.

mike was patiently waiting for you outside of the bathroom. being on duty for the watchtower required to be hidden, so you two came up with the plan awhile ago to wear camouflage. it was an innocent thing back then, the two of you saying it made you seem cool. (totally not because mike didn't love seeing you when you wore his camo jacket).

he also had his little radio next to him. you two realized it was boring without any music, so he made mixtapes with songs that reminded him of you two. he made mixtapes that also reminded him of soley you, but you didn't have to do that. so after the first crawl, you two listened to the quiet music as you watched the guards at the mac-z.

he hummed in satisfaction when he saw you come out, his hands sliding around your waist- kissing your neck with a quiet and tender way.

"you look.. fucking amazing." he mumbles against your neck, pulling you by your necklace that he bought a while back.

"baby." you mumble, backing him off with a teasing smile.

he pouted, already leaning foward for more. "whaat? i'm kissing you. you like when i kiss you." he whines

"yeah obviously i do, but not with like... murray here." you giggle.

he rolls his eyes, pressing an innocent kiss to the tip of your nose- nudging his nose to yours after it. "so does this mean we can kiss at the watchtower?" he mumbles.

you roll your eyes back, laughing again. "how far can you go without kissing me?"

he scrunches his nose, looking up and thinking. his eyebrows lift, and he smiles. "not very long, but that'll never happen."

"i'm-" he starts to press light kisses all over your face, your cheeks turning pink as you giggled, "kissing you the rest of my life."

"you wish, wheeler." your lips sneaked onto his into a passionate kiss, and your mind started to fade away again.

------------------------

mike held your hand tight as you two walked up the spiral stairs at the watchtower. you looked up at him with a smile, seeing the same eager boy you've known all these years.

the boy who stole breakfast from home to bring it to you at school, knowing you always got tired. the boy who bought a small camera just to take pictures of you and put them in his room. the boy who only let you play with his toys, and no one else.

but that boy was now mike. your mike. the mike who took you out to a drive in date and kissed you for the first time under the moonlight. and now he was going to be alone with you and with music, just like how it was always meant to be.

he put the radio down and put a mixtape in, sitting criss cross next to you as he looked through the binoculars.

you looked out at the view of hawkins. the shops and homes were dark, the lights off as the town rested to sleep. mike's voice filled the quiet air as he talked to dustin through the walkie talkie- updating on the guards down below.

you rested your head on his shoulder, mike pressing a soft kiss to your head before he continued to talk into the device. your hand fiddled with the sleeve of his jacket until he said "over and out".

your other hand was biting the small skin near your nails, feeling his warm hand take it away from your mouth- earning a huff from you.

"you don't have to be nervous baby. i promise you." he whispers against your scalp. "hopper's already flipped.. so the plan worked."

you nod, staying quiet. he wrapped his arm around you to let you curl up to his side like routine. you two held each other without any words exchanged, letting the lyrics of the song do the talking.

his hand rested gently above the area of your breast, which was probably the worst idea. mainly because his palm felt how fast your heart was beating, like it was about to explode.

but being how he was, he didn't comment on it- the last thing he wanted was for you to be embarrassed.

"dance with me." he whispers, tilting his head and looking down at you.

you look at him, eyes meeting his after the unexpected request. "you know i suck at dancing." you whisper with a sheepish smile.

"so? i suck at it too." he shrugged so casually, "we can learn together.. a learning experience."

you smile at his words, cheeks turning pink just like how his were. you kissed the blush of his cheek- still not getting lured into his question.

"cmonnn baby, please?" he pouts, "plus it's The Cure. you love them."

you hated and loved how much he knew you. hated it because you were pretty sure mike was it for you, and you would never love anyone or anything else just as much as you love him.

"i do love them.." you trail off as he already was standing up, extending his hand. you took it, and he smiled.

your arms slid over his neck, and you looked up at him- eyes so wide and in love. his arms slid around your waist, and his lips met yours in a slow and unhurried kiss.

"plus you're only gonna be dancing with me forever. prom, our wedding, with our kids." he whispers with a smile that was so set.

he was so set on life with you, he always was. you remembered when you two were little, you said that you would marry each other if you didn't find love. it sometimes hurt to think about how you two felt so unloved even as little kids.

but you were here now. in mikes arms, in mikes warmth, and his lips brushing to yours.

"our wedding?" you whisper in a shy tone, his brown eyes warming when he heard you.

"mhm." he mumbles, pressing another tender kiss to your nose. "it can be wherever you want, whenever."

"i was thinking the mountains? on a nice area that overlooks a bunch of trees." he says with a smile that looked playful to you.

"mikey your messing with me." you giggle, rolling your eyes. he laughs at your words and shakes his head.

"i'm not baby- honest to god." he kisses your nose again. "i'm dead serious about you. about us and- yknow.. our future."

'a letter to elise' was still softly playing in the back as he moved you back and forth. you didn't have time to register or respond to his words- he was already spinning you. he watched with admiration as you twirled around. you ended up right in front of him again.

"i want that too." you admit in a whisper.

"a woodsy wedding?" he asks with a teasing smile.

you roll your again, seeking more of his touch as he held you. you let him hold you, and you rested your cheek against his collarbone. his cheek pressed against the top of your head.

"a wedding.. a whole future. like, really mike. i really want that." you whisper.

you felt his heart beating against your body and you noticed how he stayed silent. his warm hand was under your jacket- feeling your very cold skin that was from the fall wind.

"we've been dreaming about it since kids." he says with a breathless laugh.

all you do is nod, staying in silence. because that's all it was with mike. warm and comforting silence- his presence making your life better. you couldn't imagine a life without mike wheeler, and you knew he couldn't imagine it with you.

you two held each other and relished the moment with a song- knowing that's all what really mattered.

ⓒvelvetciders