Yeah Steve is my favorite. Itās because Iām a basic bitch. Liam 22 he/him pronouns captainliam3 is my main and Iām towardthesun on ao3 Also I give blanket permission for pod fics, fanart, generally anything anyone wants to make for my writing! Just give me appropriate credit and tag me so I can see :D
Hi there! Iām Liam your resident starter of ideas who sometimes finishes them haha. I take prompts, I write, I cry over fictional characters. Iām down for anyone to use my stuff as long as you donāt copy it directly word for word and say its your own, just give me credit!Ā
LINK TO Latest CYOA poll: SCREAM OR GIVE UP
Most Recent Stranger Things fic (I have so many that I just decided to put the most recent one at the top now): Daisies
Summary:
He hacked out a few more harsh sounding noises, before he spat into his open palm, taking a relieved breath as whatever was lodged in his throat came out. Eddie wouldāve been relieved too, confused, but okay now that Steve was safe.
This weekās writer spotlight feature is: @hbyrde36! @hbyrde36/hbyrde has 54 fics posted to AO3 in the Stranger Things fandom and 53 of them are in the Steddie tag.
@eternal-sunflowers (tumblr) recommends the following works by hbyrde:
Not (A) Cinderella (Story)
Ye Olde Meet-Cute
Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy
Your Dasher Is Nearby
Fuggi Regal Fantasima
Holly is an absolutely amazing author. I adore all of her writing so much! She really captures the essence of steddie so so well. Her writing varies, too, across genres, which I absolutely love. Seriously, I'm in awe of her ability to create these beautiful worlds that are so distinct. She's uplifting to other writers and she's incredibly kind. She's actually one of the writers who inspired me to start writing and sharing more of my own work :) so, I'm personally grateful for her beautiful, warm soul.
-- eternal-sunflowers (tumblr)
Below the cut, @hbyrde36 answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!
Why do you write Steddie?
Thereās just something about these two idiots that really draws you in, yāknow? But, in all seriousness, Steddie was my late in life introduction to fanfiction. After watching season 4 and becoming obsessed with Eddieāas one doesāI started seeing very intriguing Steddie edits all over Tiktok, including fic recs, which introduced me to a magical place called AO3. It didnāt take long for me to move from reading to writing.
Whatās your favorite trope to READ?
Oh boy, thatās a tough one. Friends to lovers, Strangers to lovers, ENEMIES to loversāitās all so delicious. And who doesnāt love a good bit of hurt/comfort?
Whatās your favorite trope to WRITE?
I didnāt mean for it to happen but I think movie crossover/AUs have sort of become my thing. I really enjoy the whole process of adapting the boys and company to other existing and beloved IPs, and the challenge of preserving not only the essence of their characters but also keeping the heart of the AU alive is SO much fun. I think I have a bit of a knack for it.
Whatās your favorite Steddie fic?
Now thatās just cruel, how could I choose just one?? Honestly, so many come to mind, I could go on for hours. We are ridiculously blessed in this fandom with an overwhelming amount of talented authors. The first few I can think of are: āYes, Chefā by Sadstateofaffairs, āDeal with the Devilā by VTHX, and ācarve your name into my chestā by hexiewrites
Is there a trope youāre excited to explore in a future work but havenāt yet?
I haven't really done a soulmates fic yet (though I did get introduced to the Soulmate goose of enforcement when it was requested by my winter exchange giftee, which was a blast to play with). Iād like to do a good long soulmates fic some day, just waiting to come up with a fun unique twist on it!
Are there any memorable Steddie collaborations (art, writing, podfic, etc.) you've done or would like to do?
Just recently my one-shot āWho Even Goes on Blind Dates Anymore?ā was made into a podfic by @ beingmissbatty and it was so amazing to be able to listen to my own story like that! They did a truly wonderful job with it, and I hope they do many more podfics in the future.
What is your writing process like?
99% of the time I write a rough but complete outline at the beginning. I like to know the big beats of where I'm going from the start, especially if Iām going to post before the whole fic is completed. Then chapter by chapter I'll usually write the dialog first and work out from there. With some fics I listen to music to get in the mood, with others I'll find ambient videos on youtube to play in the background.
What writing tools do you use, if any? For example, do you participate in community writing events like sprints or prompts, or have a favorite writing program aid like Scrivener?
Yes, I sprint on discord A LOT. Iām a mod for the @ strangerthingswritersguild and we do mod-run scheduled community writes every weekend, so I can always count on at least a little group writing time each sat/sun. I also lead a WIP Weekend group in the STWG along with @ pearynice, aimed at supporting and motivating each other and itās been such a wonderful experience. As far as programs, I used google docs for a long time, but I switched to Ellipsus some months ago and I absolutely love it.
Do you have any writing quirks?
Oh my god, SO many iām sure. I know I have a lot of crutch words that I overuse, and thatās been something I'm working on. I also have the unusual habit of creating banners and graphics for fics before I've even started writing them. I also REALLY like to have a title in mind before writing too.
Do you prefer posting when youāve finished writing or on a schedule?
I like to post as I go, kudos and comments are a really great motivator for multichapter fics! Though, lately Iāve been trying to wait until I have at least a few chapters banked before posting.
Which fic are you most proud of?
Another hard choice but I think iād have to say my Labyrinth AU āItās Only Foreverā
What's a funny or interesting or completely wild research topic you've dug into as a result of writing Steddie?
My google search history has to be a very strange place to visit. Lots of āhow long can a person be upside down before theyād fall unconsciousā, double checking what material butt plugs were commonly made from at different periods in history, or researching the spiritualism movement for a one off line.
How did you get the idea for Fuggi Regal Fantasima?
Like a lot of my fic ideas, it started with hearing a few lines of dialog in my head while daydreaming. I imagined Eddie sitting on the counter in Steveās kitchen, annoyed and a little sad because no one would pay attention to him, and could hear Steveās equally annoyed and slightly sad voice as he finally gave in and acknowledged Eddie with a quiet āThey canāt see you.ā
When writing Your Dasher Is Nearby, what was something you didnāt expect?
The ending! Spoilers ahead, but when I started writing it the end looked a bit different and I had no plans for Eddie and Chrissy to know each other, or for Eddie to be a guy sheād been trying to set Steve up with all along. When the idea came it wound up being such a fun payoff.
What inspired Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy?
I wish I could say but I honestly donāt remember how it all started! It was one of three fics I wrote for smutty September last year. I just knew Steve was the type of guy who would think āoh that looks easy, thatās a surefire way to turn Eddie on and maybe end this little game once and for all!!ā
What was your favorite part to write from Ye Olde Meet-Cute?
THE STOCKS. Iām still not over it to be honest.
How do/did you feel writing Fuggi Regal Fantasima?
Ugh, I love it so much but that one made me SO sad sometimes. Even though I knew there would be a happy ending eventually, getting in to either of their heads was almost always mildly painful lol
What was the most difficult part of writing Not (A) Cinderella (Story)?
I decided early on to stick with Steveās POV alone for this fic which made it a little more challenging to have Eddieās actions make sense and not be seen as too ridiculous or frustrating when the reader didnāt have any much insight into his motivations (yet). Iām actually in the middle of writing the final chapter of this one now and I already miss this version of Steddie. Theyāre so innocent and adorable!
Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?
Thereās so many that I still think about all the time. Hereās the first few that come to mind. The ball/dance scene in āItās Only Foreverā, the ghostly smut scene in āFuggi Regal Fantasimaā, the moment when Steve puts on the ruby slippers in āI donāt think weāre in Hawkins anymore, big boy.ā That last one is also one of my favorite lines.
Do you have any upcoming projects or fics youād like to share/promote?
Iām pretty excited about this yearās Steddie big bang. So, naturally I canāt say much about it yet, but the idea is one I've been sitting on for a VERY long time and I really canāt wait to get into it. Iām also still plugging away at my summer camp au āMidsummer Nightsā and I'm hoping to finally finish it this year.
Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?
Just a heartfelt thanks to you, the lovely folks behind the steddieunderdogfics page for all your hard work putting this stuff together. The spotlight, the fic recs, the theme weekends, itās all so great!
Why do you write Steddie?
Thereās just something about these two idiots that really draws you in, yāknow? But, in all seriousness, Steddie was my late in life introduction to fanfiction. After watching season 4 and becoming obsessed with Eddieāas one doesāI started seeing very intriguing Steddie edits all over Tiktok, including fic recs, which introduced me to a magical place called AO3. It didnāt take long for me to move from reading to writing.
Whatās your favorite trope to READ?
Oh boy, thatās a tough one. Friends to lovers, Strangers to lovers, ENEMIES to loversāitās all so delicious. And who doesnāt love a good bit of hurt/comfort?
Whatās your favorite trope to WRITE?
I didnāt mean for it to happen but I think movie crossover/AUs have sort of become my thing. I really enjoy the whole process of adapting the boys and company to other existing and beloved IPs, and the challenge of preserving not only the essence of their characters but also keeping the heart of the AU alive is SO much fun. I think I have a bit of a knack for it.
Whatās your favorite Steddie fic?
Now thatās just cruel, how could I choose just one?? Honestly, so many come to mind, I could go on for hours. We are ridiculously blessed in this fandom with an overwhelming amount of talented authors. The first few I can think of are: āYes, Chefā by Sadstateofaffairs, āDeal with the Devilā by VTHX, and ācarve your name into my chestā by hexiewrites
Is there a trope youāre excited to explore in a future work but havenāt yet?
I haven't really done a soulmates fic yet (though I did get introduced to the Soulmate goose of enforcement when it was requested by my winter exchange giftee, which was a blast to play with). Iād like to do a good long soulmates fic some day, just waiting to come up with a fun unique twist on it!
Are there any memorable Steddie collaborations (art, writing, podfic, etc.) you've done or would like to do?
Just recently my one-shot āWho Even Goes on Blind Dates Anymore?ā was made into a podfic by @ beingmissbatty and it was so amazing to be able to listen to my own story like that! They did a truly wonderful job with it, and I hope they do many more podfics in the future.
What is your writing process like?
99% of the time I write a rough but complete outline at the beginning. I like to know the big beats of where I'm going from the start, especially if Iām going to post before the whole fic is completed. Then chapter by chapter I'll usually write the dialog first and work out from there. With some fics I listen to music to get in the mood, with others I'll find ambient videos on youtube to play in the background.
What writing tools do you use, if any? For example, do you participate in community writing events like sprints or prompts, or have a favorite writing program aid like Scrivener?
Yes, I sprint on discord A LOT. Iām a mod for the @ strangerthingswritersguild and we do mod-run scheduled community writes every weekend, so I can always count on at least a little group writing time each sat/sun. I also lead a WIP Weekend group in the STWG along with @ pearynice, aimed at supporting and motivating each other and itās been such a wonderful experience. As far as programs, I used google docs for a long time, but I switched to Ellipsus some months ago and I absolutely love it.
Do you have any writing quirks?
Oh my god, SO many iām sure. I know I have a lot of crutch words that I overuse, and thatās been something I'm working on. I also have the unusual habit of creating banners and graphics for fics before I've even started writing them. I also REALLY like to have a title in mind before writing too.
Do you prefer posting when youāve finished writing or on a schedule?
I like to post as I go, kudos and comments are a really great motivator for multichapter fics! Though, lately Iāve been trying to wait until I have at least a few chapters banked before posting.
Which fic are you most proud of?
Another hard choice but I think iād have to say my Labyrinth AU āItās Only Foreverā
What's a funny or interesting or completely wild research topic you've dug into as a result of writing Steddie?
My google search history has to be a very strange place to visit. Lots of āhow long can a person be upside down before theyād fall unconsciousā, double checking what material butt plugs were commonly made from at different periods in history, or researching the spiritualism movement for a one off line.
How did you get the idea for Fuggi Regal Fantasima?
Like a lot of my fic ideas, it started with hearing a few lines of dialog in my head while daydreaming. I imagined Eddie sitting on the counter in Steveās kitchen, annoyed and a little sad because no one would pay attention to him, and could hear Steveās equally annoyed and slightly sad voice as he finally gave in and acknowledged Eddie with a quiet āThey canāt see you.ā
When writing Your Dasher Is Nearby, what was something you didnāt expect?
The ending! Spoilers ahead, but when I started writing it the end looked a bit different and I had no plans for Eddie and Chrissy to know each other, or for Eddie to be a guy sheād been trying to set Steve up with all along. When the idea came it wound up being such a fun payoff.
What inspired Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy?
I wish I could say but I honestly donāt remember how it all started! It was one of three fics I wrote for smutty September last year. I just knew Steve was the type of guy who would think āoh that looks easy, thatās a surefire way to turn Eddie on and maybe end this little game once and for all!!ā
What was your favorite part to write from Ye Olde Meet-Cute?
THE STOCKS. Iām still not over it to be honest.
How do/did you feel writing Fuggi Regal Fantasima?
Ugh, I love it so much but that one made me SO sad sometimes. Even though I knew there would be a happy ending eventually, getting in to either of their heads was almost always mildly painful lol
What was the most difficult part of writing Not (A) Cinderella (Story)?
I decided early on to stick with Steveās POV alone for this fic which made it a little more challenging to have Eddieās actions make sense and not be seen as too ridiculous or frustrating when the reader didnāt have any much insight into his motivations (yet). Iām actually in the middle of writing the final chapter of this one now and I already miss this version of Steddie. Theyāre so innocent and adorable!
Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?
Thereās so many that I still think about all the time. Hereās the first few that come to mind. The ball/dance scene in āItās Only Foreverā, the ghostly smut scene in āFuggi Regal Fantasimaā, the moment when Steve puts on the ruby slippers in āI donāt think weāre in Hawkins anymore, big boy.ā That last one is also one of my favorite lines.
Do you have any upcoming projects or fics youād like to share/promote?
Iām pretty excited about this yearās Steddie big bang. So, naturally I canāt say much about it yet, but the idea is one I've been sitting on for a VERY long time and I really canāt wait to get into it. Iām also still plugging away at my summer camp au āMidsummer Nightsā and I'm hoping to finally finish it this year.
Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?
Just a heartfelt thanks to you, the lovely folks behind the steddieunderdogfics page for all your hard work putting this stuff together. The spotlight, the fic recs, the theme weekends, itās all so great!
Why do you write Steddie? Thereās just something about these two idiots that really draws you in, yāknow? But, in all seriousness, Steddie was my late in life introduction to fanfiction. After watching season 4 and becoming obsessed with Eddieāas one doesāI started seeing very intriguing Steddie edits all over Tiktok, including fic recs, which introduced me to a magical place called AO3. It didnāt take long for me to move from reading to writing.
Whatās your favorite trope to READ?
Oh boy, thatās a tough one. Friends to lovers, Strangers to lovers, ENEMIES to loversāitās all so delicious. And who doesnāt love a good bit of hurt/comfort?
Whatās your favorite trope to WRITE?
I didnāt mean for it to happen but I think movie crossover/AUs have sort of become my thing. I really enjoy the whole process of adapting the boys and company to other existing and beloved IPs, and the challenge of preserving not only the essence of their characters but also keeping the heart of the AU alive is SO much fun. I think I have a bit of a knack for it.
Whatās your favorite Steddie fic?
Now thatās just cruel, how could I choose just one?? Honestly, so many come to mind, I could go on for hours. We are ridiculously blessed in this fandom with an overwhelming amount of talented authors. The first few I can think of are: āYes, Chefā by Sadstateofaffairs, āDeal with the Devilā by VTHX, and ācarve your name into my chestā by hexiewrites
Is there a trope youāre excited to explore in a future work but havenāt yet?
I haven't really done a soulmates fic yet (though I did get introduced to the Soulmate goose of enforcement when it was requested by my winter exchange giftee, which was a blast to play with). Iād like to do a good long soulmates fic some day, just waiting to come up with a fun unique twist on it!
Are there any memorable Steddie collaborations (art, writing, podfic, etc.) you've done or would like to do?
Just recently my one-shot āWho Even Goes on Blind Dates Anymore?ā was made into a podfic by @ beingmissbatty and it was so amazing to be able to listen to my own story like that! They did a truly wonderful job with it, and I hope they do many more podfics in the future.
What is your writing process like?
99% of the time I write a rough but complete outline at the beginning. I like to know the big beats of where I'm going from the start, especially if Iām going to post before the whole fic is completed. Then chapter by chapter I'll usually write the dialog first and work out from there. With some fics I listen to music to get in the mood, with others I'll find ambient videos on youtube to play in the background.
What writing tools do you use, if any? For example, do you participate in community writing events like sprints or prompts, or have a favorite writing program aid like Scrivener?
Yes, I sprint on discord A LOT. Iām a mod for the @ strangerthingswritersguild and we do mod-run scheduled community writes every weekend, so I can always count on at least a little group writing time each sat/sun. I also lead a WIP Weekend group in the STWG along with @ pearynice, aimed at supporting and motivating each other and itās been such a wonderful experience. As far as programs, I used google docs for a long time, but I switched to Ellipsus some months ago and I absolutely love it.
Do you have any writing quirks?
Oh my god, SO many iām sure. I know I have a lot of crutch words that I overuse, and thatās been something I'm working on. I also have the unusual habit of creating banners and graphics for fics before I've even started writing them. I also REALLY like to have a title in mind before writing too.
Do you prefer posting when youāve finished writing or on a schedule?
I like to post as I go, kudos and comments are a really great motivator for multichapter fics! Though, lately Iāve been trying to wait until I have at least a few chapters banked before posting.
Which fic are you most proud of?
Another hard choice but I think iād have to say my Labyrinth AU āItās Only Foreverā
What's a funny or interesting or completely wild research topic you've dug into as a result of writing Steddie?
My google search history has to be a very strange place to visit. Lots of āhow long can a person be upside down before theyād fall unconsciousā, double checking what material butt plugs were commonly made from at different periods in history, or researching the spiritualism movement for a one off line.
How did you get the idea for Fuggi Regal Fantasima?
Like a lot of my fic ideas, it started with hearing a few lines of dialog in my head while daydreaming. I imagined Eddie sitting on the counter in Steveās kitchen, annoyed and a little sad because no one would pay attention to him, and could hear Steveās equally annoyed and slightly sad voice as he finally gave in and acknowledged Eddie with a quiet āThey canāt see you.ā
When writing Your Dasher Is Nearby, what was something you didnāt expect?
The ending! Spoilers ahead, but when I started writing it the end looked a bit different and I had no plans for Eddie and Chrissy to know each other, or for Eddie to be a guy sheād been trying to set Steve up with all along. When the idea came it wound up being such a fun payoff.
What inspired Save A Mechanical Bull, Blow A Cowboy?
I wish I could say but I honestly donāt remember how it all started! It was one of three fics I wrote for smutty September last year. I just knew Steve was the type of guy who would think āoh that looks easy, thatās a surefire way to turn Eddie on and maybe end this little game once and for all!!ā
What was your favorite part to write from Ye Olde Meet-Cute?
THE STOCKS. Iām still not over it to be honest.
How do/did you feel writing Fuggi Regal Fantasima?
Ugh, I love it so much but that one made me SO sad sometimes. Even though I knew there would be a happy ending eventually, getting in to either of their heads was almost always mildly painful lol
What was the most difficult part of writing Not (A) Cinderella (Story)?
I decided early on to stick with Steveās POV alone for this fic which made it a little more challenging to have Eddieās actions make sense and not be seen as too ridiculous or frustrating when the reader didnāt have any much insight into his motivations (yet). Iām actually in the middle of writing the final chapter of this one now and I already miss this version of Steddie. Theyāre so innocent and adorable!
Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?
Thereās so many that I still think about all the time. Hereās the first few that come to mind. The ball/dance scene in āItās Only Foreverā, the ghostly smut scene in āFuggi Regal Fantasimaā, the moment when Steve puts on the ruby slippers in āI donāt think weāre in Hawkins anymore, big boy.ā That last one is also one of my favorite lines.
Do you have any upcoming projects or fics youād like to share/promote?
Iām pretty excited about this yearās Steddie big bang. So, naturally I canāt say much about it yet, but the idea is one I've been sitting on for a VERY long time and I really canāt wait to get into it. Iām also still plugging away at my summer camp au āMidsummer Nightsā and I'm hoping to finally finish it this year.
Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?
Just a heartfelt thanks to you, the lovely folks behind the steddieunderdogfics page for all your hard work putting this stuff together. The spotlight, the fic recs, the theme weekends, itās all so great!
this is overly specific but I do very much believe that post-s5 max is the type to make jokes about her death/coma situation and that at a certain point lucas has to have a heart-to-heart with her where he's like. hey dude/sweetheart I'm not trying to tell you what to do but that was actually the worst and most traumatic time of my life and every time you joke about your death I remember that time where you were Actually Dead In My Arms And Then Unresponsive For Over A Year so could you maybe. cool it a little with that when you're around me please. and max is like š³
The man stops in front of Steve, his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as he looks Steve up and down. Steve continues to chew his gum, giving the man a bored look before blowing a bubble and letting it pop.
āUm, Iām Eddie,ā Eddie, apparently, places a hand on his own chest like thatās explanation enough. āEddie Munson?āĀ
āHi, Eddie,ā Steve swaps the gum from one side of his mouth to the other. āBadge for security clearance, please.āĀ
āI donāt have a badge, dude,ā Eddie chuckles awkwardly. āBadges are for assistants and technicians. Iām a performer. If I do have a badge, itās likely in the green room. I'll tell you what, let me through and Iāll gladly hunt it down for you.ā
Steve stops Eddie from moving forward by placing two finger tips on his sternum, gently pushing him back. He blows another bubble, holding back a grin as he watches Eddieās eye twitch like he canāt believe Steveās audacity.
āNo badge for security clearance, no entrance to the venue,ā Steve explains flatly as he drops his hand away. āSorry dude, themās the breaks.ā
āBut Iām a prefor-āĀ
āEven "performers" need badges to gain access backstage,ā Steve uses his fingers to make air quotes before crossing his arms back over his chest. āPlease make your way down to the front entrance and take it up with the head office if you want.ā
Eddie stands there, stunned before laughing with disbelief.
āBut IāmĀ Eddie,ā Eddie throws his hands up. āThis is ridiculous, Iām headlining this fucking show!āĀ Ā
āAnd Iām Steve,ā Steve tilts his head to the side, widening his eyes and talking slowly like heās speaking to someone particularly stupid. āSteve with security. Which means if you donāt have a badge for security clearance, I canāt let you in. Simple math, Eddie.ā
āItās obvious you donāt know this, and thatās fine, but Iām kind of a big deal around here,ā Eddie squints at Steve, his smile sarcastic. āLike I said, Iām headlining this show and I really need to get back there so I can get ready for the performance tonight. Surely youāve heard of the headliner for the show youāre working on since you take your job so seriously.ā
āOf course,ā Steve says, his face indifferent. āHis name is Kas. He plays with Corroded Coffin, who are all already backstage. I swiped their badges earlier. Nice guys.āĀ
āIĀ knowĀ theyāre nice guys, theyāreĀ myĀ band, and thatāsĀ myĀ stage name,ā Eddie grits out. āWhich I would love to prove to you but you have to let me back there in order toĀ doĀ that.ā
Steve doesnāt respond, continuing to chew his gum while Eddie scrubs at his face out of frustration.
āUnder different circumstances, this little bitchy indifference act would really work on me but as it stands I actually need to get back stage so I can do my fucking job.ā
āNo badge, no-ā
āYeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, thank you so much,ā Eddie interrupts him, waving him off. āYouāre an immovable pillar of securital integrity, your parents must be very proud.ā
Steve feels expression tighten slightly, not dignifying Eddie with a response as Eddie continues glares up at him.Ā
āWho even added you onto the security team? I donāt remember seeing you before tonight,ā Eddie squints at Steve suspiciously. āSee, I take pride in knowing everyone on my team. Itās a courtesy thing.āĀ
āDustin Henderson added me tonight because someone called out sick and I owed him a favor,ā Steve explains boredly, privately mourning the loss of flavor in his gum. Heād have to grab a new stick as soon as he got rid of this persistent weirdo. āHeās the head technician and an old friend of mine. Since itās your team and you know everyone, why donāt you just give them a call and have someone grab your badge for you?ā
āThat-ā Eddie responds hotly, pointing a finger in Steveās face before hesitating as soon as heās taken in what Steveās said. ā-is a great idea, actually. Why the fuck didnāt I think of that?ā
Steve quirks an eyebrow, continuing to chew his hardened, dull gum as he watches Eddie fish around in his pockets for his phone.Ā
Eddie pats his front pockets and then the back ones, grumbling to himself as his eyebrows furrow. His expression turns frantic as he slaps his palms over the decorated vest heās wearing. He checks the inner pockets of the vest before dropping his hands back down to his pants pockets again.
Steve swallows his gum and shifts his weight from one hip to the other, his eyebrow raising even higher as Eddie continues feeling around for a phone thatās clearly not there.
ā...Okay, so the thing is, I might have left my phone on-ā
āLook, man,ā Steve interrupts with a tired huff. āItās clear that you really want to get back there so this band must mean a lot to you, which I can appreciate. But this is not the way to go about this. The Corroded Coffin guys seem like good dudes, Iām sure theyāll make an appearance at the stage door tonight after the show if you wanted to get some merch signed. But my friends are working on this show and Iām not going to let some random guy back there and potentially put people I care about in danger, okay?ā
Eddieās face falls from angry to sheepishly and guilty.
āOkay,ā Eddie says with a tone of defeat. āOkay, that's fair. I have to hand it to you, youāre really good at your job, Steve. Normally, I would appreciate and commend you for but right now itās kind of fucking up my whole evening.ā
āSorry,ā Steve says with a small shrug. āDustin would never let me hear the end of it if I messed this up for him. This job means the world to him.ā
āYeah, heās pretty good at it too. Donāt tell him I said that though, heāll turn into such a smug little bastard,ā Eddie says with a forlorn sigh before his eyes widen with realization. āWait! Dustin! You said heās your friend, right?ā
āRight,ā Steve raises an eyebrow.
āWhich means you have his phone number, right?āĀ
āRight,ā Steve says again, his expression turning guarded. āIt would be weird if I didnāt. Itās not like pen pals are super in these days.ā
Eddie lets out a cackle of success, leaning into Steveās space with a wide grin.
āLet me borrow your phone. Iāll call him andĀ proveĀ Iām not some freak groupie,ā Eddieās eyes sparkle with glee and mischief.Ā āThen would you let me backstage, Mister Doorkeep?ā
āNo,ā Steve moves subtly back, his face heating up at Eddieās close proximity. āBecause you still wonāt have a badge I can scan. Maybe I would if Dustin came down here and confirmed it but-ā
āThatās fine, whatever works,ā Eddie interrupts, holding his open hand out in front of him expectantly. āYour mobile device, if you would be so kind?ā
Steve stares down at Eddieās open palm, glancing back up at him with a doubtful grimace.Ā
āCome on, big boy. I wonāt run off with it, I promise,ā Eddie tilts his head to the side with a teasing grin. āBesides, even if I did you could probably catch me in, like, two seconds. Your thighs areĀ insane, by the way. Do you run track in your spare time?ā
āNo, I coach a swim team for middle schoolers,ā Steve says with an embarrassed frown. āAll the flirting in the world isnāt going to save you if you actually run off with my phone, though. I will tackle you to the ground the second I think youāre going to run for it, Iām not kidding.ā
āPromise, promises,ā Eddie waggles his eyebrows as he watches Steve fetch his phone from his back pocket. āThanks, Doll. Youāre a life saver.āĀ
Steve grumbles under his breath as he watches Eddie type in a number, taking the free moment to fetch his pack of gum out of his pocket. Heās unwrapping a new piece out of its foil when Eddie glances back over at him.
āEw, dude, did you swallow your gum?ā Eddie asks, his nose scrunched up in distaste as the phone rings. āThatās gross.ā
āWell, Iām not going to spit it on the ground,ā Steve shoots him a look back, stuffing the new stick in his mouth. āThatāsĀ gross. Iām not some kind of animal.āĀ
āThat gum is going to be in your stomach until you die, you know that right?ā Eddie says with a haughty little shimmy of his shoulders. āThe coroner will have to pump it out of you someday.ā
āWhat? No way, thatās totally a myth-ā
āDustin!ā Eddie cheerfully interrupts Steve as someone picks up. āHey buddy, can you do me a favor? Tall, broad, and handsome here wonāt let me through the stage door without a badge. Will you come grab me?ā
Steve watches as Eddie listens to whoever's on the other line.Ā
āI told him that and he politely told me to fuck off,ā Eddie glances over at Steve with a grin. āHe said he values the safety of his friends or something ridiculous like that. Yeah, heās a real peach. How long do you think itāll be before youāre down here? I gotta make it to sound-ā
Eddieās interrupted by the door being yanked open behind Steve.
ā-check.ā Eddie finishes with a grin, hanging up the phone.
Dustin wheezes breathlessly behind Steve, leaning on the door frame with both arms.
āHoly shit, dude, did you run all the way down here from the sound booth?ā Eddie hands his phone back to Steve who moves to the side so they can both stare at Dustin as he tries to catch his breath.
Dustin holds one hand out in front of him in the universal sign of āJust one moment pleaseā as he pulls out an inhaler and squeezes it before breathing in deep.
āJesus, Dustin,ā Steve says, rubbing his back with a concerned frown.Ā
āIāve been looking for you-ā Dustin grits out between wheezes. ā-for anĀ hour.ā
āDonāt look at me like that, no one told me we added security badges.ā Eddie holds up his hands in mock defense.
āYeah, because youādĀ loseĀ it and that would be another issue entirely.ā Dustin glares up at him before snapping his gaze over to Steve. āAnd you!-ā
āOh brother, here we go-ā
ā-What the hell is the matter with you?!ā Dustin throws his hands above his head in disbelief.Ā āHow could you not know what the lead singer of the band youāre working for looks like?āĀ
āWell, itās not like I was shown pictures,ā Steve huffs back, crossing his arms over his chest with a defensive glare. āThey told me no one without a badge can get in so I didnāt let anyone without a badge in. Sorry for doing my job.āĀ
Dustin groans, scrubbing at his face before moving out of the way and jabbing his finger down the hallway.
āYou, get to hair and make up-ā Dustin glares at Eddie before turning to Steve. ā-and you! Weāre having words later, so help me god.ā
Steve rolls his eyes and turns away, mocking Dustin by repeating him under his breath with a high pitched voice. Eddie stares at him with enamored disbelief.
āHas anyone ever told you youāre perfect?ā Eddie leans in close again, his smile growing as Steve looks at him with an annoyed frown. āNow that I can go, I almost want to stay.ā
āLucky me,ā Steve says flatly. āAnd yeah, people call me perfect all the time. Why, did you think you were special for saying so?ā
āSteve!ā Dustin stares at him with a look that could kill. āWhat the hell is wrong with you? Come on, Eddie, ignore him.ā
Eddie bites his lower lip, staring at Steve for a long moment before holding out his palm expectantly in front of him.
ā...What?ā Steve shoots a look down at Eddieās palm. āIām not giving you any gum after you were so rude about it earlier. Go find your own.ā
āI want your phone, Dove,ā Eddie explains with a silky voice. āSo I can put my number in and call you after the show. I wanna tell you things thatāll make you think IāmĀ realĀ special.āĀ
āOh, youāre special, alright,ā Steve scoffs but digs his phone out of his pocket to hand to Eddie anyway. āJust not the kind of special you think.ā
āGod, youāre such a bitch,ā Eddie says with a pleased little laugh as he types in his number. āWhat are your thoughts on marriage? Thereās a chapel down the street.āĀ
āThatās a synagogue,ā Steve rolls his eyes as he takes his phone back. āIām not Jewish. Are you?ā
āNo, but it doesnāt matter,ā Eddie leans in even closer, incredibly pleased to see blush taking over Steveās face. āIād marry you in a gas station parking lot, if youād let me.ā
āPromises, promises,ā Steve says back, a light reminder of their flirting earlier. āDonāt you have a show to get to?āĀ
āWell, you told me I couldnāt get in without a badge,ā Eddie grips the railing behind Steve with both hands, caging him in. āGuess Iām stuck out here with you until that gets rectified, right?āĀ
āMm, I did say that didnāt I?ā Steve looks down at Eddie through his lashes.
āYou sure did,ā Eddie licks his lips and leans in closer. āDustin, will you be a dear and go grab that for me?ā
āWhat? No, itāll take me, like, thirty minutes to find that stupid thing. Iām not running around backstage just so you two can schmooze-ā
āThanks, pal, youāre a real dear,ā Eddie sing songs before reaching out and closing the door in Dustinās face. āNow, what do you think we can get up to in thirty minutes before the little squirt gets back?āĀ
āCertainly not marriage,ā Steve snorts. āThatāll take an hour, at least.āĀ
āHow about I tell you I want to get through that doorĀ realĀ bad-ā Eddie walks his finger tips down Steveās chest, stopping to tap lightly at his belt buckle. ā-and thenĀ showĀ you all the things Iād be willing to do to get through it.ā
Steve cocks his head to the side with a look of indifference but Eddie can see how heavy his breathing has gotten.
āNo badge for security clearance, no entrance to the venue,ā Steve says with a low voice, reaching out to tuck a loose curl behind Eddieās ear.
āI was hoping youād say that,ā Eddie chuckles, his grin widening as the clinking sound of Steveās belt buckle being undone.
rated m | 996 words | cw: implied sexual content | tags: fade to black, strangers to friends to lovers, fast burn, hair washing
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Itās not Wayneās fault. He didnāt know what he was doing. He was just trying to help.
Eddie repeats this all to himself as he pulls into Steve Harringtonās driveway. He canāt believe the situation heās put himself in.
He doesnāt think Steve can actually help, but Jeff insisted that he could and Jeff wouldnāt steer him into disaster on purpose. Steve agreed to keep it quiet, probably more for his own sake than Eddieās, at the expense of some weed for his next party.
Wayne insisted that he would get Angie from the salon to try to fix it, but he knows what Angie charges and he knows Wayne doesnāt have that kind of money. Thatās how he got in this mess in the first place.
Steve opens the door and somehow manages to keep his face neutral as he pulls Eddie inside. He silently leads him upstairs and into his bedroom, then into the connected bathroom because Steve is rich. Or at least upper middle class enough that he doesnāt have to leave his room to take a piss.
Must be nice.
Thereās a chair set up in the middle of the floor with a variety of scary looking bottles and tools on the counter. He recognizes a hair dryer, and a comb, but nothing else. Heās a little worried heās about to end up on the news, and not in the way everyone expects of him.
āSit. I have a lot of work to do.ā
Eddie sits. Heās notĀ scaredĀ of Steve. Steveās probably the only jock who hasnāt taken a chance to punch, hit, or kick him. He doesnāt even really say anything particularly rude or hurtful towards him. Maybe behind his back once Tommy and his gaggle of meatheads have had their fill, but never to his face. But he has a certain tone that makes him obey without question.
And if his dick twitches a little in his jeans, thatās between him and the tight Levi knockoffs wrapped tight around his hips and legs.
He starts picking up strands of his hair and sighing, moving around him to take in the disaster on his head. Eddie clears his throat, but before he can say anything, Steve speaks.
āI can fix it, but itās gonna be a while. You got anywhere to be?ā
Eddie laughs nervously. āRather not go in public like this so. All yours for the day.ā
Steve pats his head like heās a dog and Eddieās dick reacts like heās a dog wagging his tail. He swallows and hopes Steve doesnāt suspect anything. His damn hormones are just all over the place and heās nervous and embarrassed andā
āI need to wash it first. Itāll help the curls fall more on their own. You said he did this yesterday?ā Steve drags the chair over to the sink and EddieĀ cannotĀ think about how much strength it takes to pull him across the floor like this.
āYeah. Not even sure he read the instructions.ā
āEven if he did, he didnāt have the right tools. But itās not the first bad perm from attempting one at home. Probably not the last,ā Steve pushes his head back into the sink. Eddieās tired of his dick thinking this is foreplay. āClose your eyes. The chemicals will burn if any gets in them.ā
Despite how straight to the point Steveās words are, his actions are slow and careful. Almost soft. His hands are gentle as he scrubs what Eddie assumes is his shampoo for what Eddie assumes is longer than necessary. It feels so good.
He rinses just as carefully, placing his hand across the top of his forehead to try to prevent anything from getting in Eddieās eyes. Itās the most taken care of Eddieās ever felt in his life, probably.
Steve guides his head up and starts scrubbing his hair with a towel, his stomach and chest rubbing against Eddieās shoulder and arm as he does. Heās sturdy, muscular, but not built like some of the other jocks who spend all their free time in the gym. His muscles are less obvious, and Eddieās dick is getting harder by the minute.
āThat already helped a little,ā Steve explains as he combs through his hair slowly. āIāll use something to strip the rest of the perm chemical out and then wash it again. Then Iāll have to use a leave-in conditioner and let it sit for a while before washing again.ā
āOkay.ā
What else is Eddie supposed to say? Steveās helping him and heās enjoying it. Heās not gonna turn any of that down.
Nearly two hours later, as Steveās blow drying Eddieās hair to make sure heās fixed it, heās pretty sure heās gonna come in his jeans. He needs to get the hell out of here.
Steve doesnāt seem to notice. If he does he hasnāt said anything.
āAll done. You might want to wash and condition your hair again tonight or tomorrow. Itās dry.ā
Eddie nods. He doesnāt even own conditioner, but he canāt tell Steve that.
āYou can have this bottle,ā Steve hands him one of the bottles on the sink. āI got a new one anyway.ā
āOh. Thanks.ā
Eddie stands and takes the bottle from him, hoping that his jeans are arranged in a way that hides how hard he is.
Steve steps closer. Too close. Kissing distance away close.
He smirks. āI can give you a minute to take care of that.ā
He glances down at Eddieās crotch for a second before looking back up.
āOr I could help.ā
Eddie blinks. āWhat?ā
Steve rolls his eyes and grabs the bottle back from him, setting it on the counter before he drops to his knees in front of Eddie.
āChanged my mind on the weed. Let me suck you off instead.ā
āUm. Okay.ā
Eddieās hair is frizzy and will never recover from what that perm did, but he canāt really complain with Steveās mouth around his cock.
Season 5 AU where Eddie lived and he keeps getting paired up with Jonathan for the crawls because everyone thinks they get along.
They don't.
They think the other is mildly annoying in small doses.
Big crawling doses? They're ready to kill each other.
They keep coming to Robin (for a reason she cannot fathom and would like to stop) to bitch about each other. She is just like, "Find some middle ground - where I am not at - and stay there. Jesus."
Eventually they find it.
It's Steve.
Unfortunately, they will come to realize that they have assigned very different meaning to the phrase 'Fuck Steve Harrington.'
And then. Turns out.
They have the same meaning of the phrase 'fuck Steve Harrington' and now they're fighting again.
#Jonathan: Fuck Steve#Eddie: Iām trying#Jonathan *couple months later*: me too#Jonathan broke up with his girlfriend and he's ready to steal someone else's#Eddie is just like: I literally have a knife. back off#while Steve has Wii Music playing in his head and thinking about his next shipment of boppers
Omega Steve who after spending years and years looking for a suitable mate so he can start a family decides that, actually, he doesn't need one to achieve his goal.
At 34, he decides to have a kid by himself with the help of a IVF Clinic.
The whole process is a little overwhelming, Steve has to admit. There are a lot of tests and appointments, the clinic hands Steve a list of possible donors so he can choose the ones he judges could be a good enough sire for his pup.
After a very long and thorough consideration, Steve picks an alpha a couple years younger than him. The file says he's a lawyer, used to be an athlete all through high school and college. No health problems at all and the scent sample the clinic gives Steve is pleasant enough. Not the best Steve's ever smelled, but still nice nonetheless.
The procedure is, well, a procedure. The doctors and nurses are kind and attentive. Everything goes smooth and without any trouble. When the transfer is done and the embryos are safe in Steve's womb, he is soon discharged and Dustin is there in the waiting room to take Steve home and to make sure his best friend is okay.
The kid (who's not a kid anymore, but in Steve's eyes always will be) stays over at Steve's for the night just to be safe, then leaves the next day after a surprisingly teary hug.
"Why are you crying, dipshit? I'm the one who should be getting emotional."
"This thing you're doing is so cool," Dustin sniffs. "You're finally gonna have your pup, man. This is your dream since always."
"If you make me cry, I'm gonna punch you," Steve threatens even though his eyes are already red and stingy.
Two weeks later, Steve goes back to the clinic to confirm his pregnancy, this time by himself, and he can't help but shed a few tears when the test comes back positive.
This is it. This is real. Steve's having a pup and he couldn't be happier.
After the confirmation, the clinic hands him a schedule of tests and appointments, and also explain to him the scenting sessions he should have with the donor he's chosen.
"The scenting helps with your hormonal balance through the pregnancy," Dr. Morgan explains. "It also helps the pup because they can sense their sire through you. You'll get samples of your donor scent once a week, but it's advisable that you come here once a month for a scenting session. These sessions are supervised by our team to ensure your safety, Mr. Harrington, and your pup's. They are very safe and also very quick."
The doctor also guarantees that Steve doesn't have to go on with these sessions; that despite the benefits they would bring, the scent samples were enough to keep Steve's hormones in healthy levels during his pregnancy.
In the end, however, Steve agrees with the sessions because he wants what's best for his pup, so if he needs to spend thirty minutes every month being scented by a stranger to achieve that, then that's exactly what Steve is going to do.
Steve starts to suspect there's something wrong when the clinic gives him the first scent sample and the smell of grass and earth makes him puke his guts put. Steve has a vague memory of it being alright when he smelled it the first time, but now it just smells rotten, like a dead, muddy field instead of the freshly cut grass ans rich earth he remembers.
But maybe it's just the pregnancy, Steve tries to reason. Dr. Morgan said that his sense of smell would get more sensitive, so maybe that's what she was talking about.
He endures it for two weeks, until he just can't anymore. It smells too bad, it smells wrong and his inner omega is extremely distressed every time Steve as much as looks at the scent samples.
After two weeks, Steve goes back to the clinic and explains what's been happening. Judging by the doctor's face, that's not something that should be happening at all.
"We're gonna run some tests to see what could be causing this rejection," she says. "We will find out what is going on, Steve, don't worry."
And find out they do. Four days later, he's back at the clinic and Dr. Morgan is finally able to explain what is happening.
"Your omega is rejecting the scent because the samples don't belong to the sire of your pup."
"What?"
"I am very sorry, Mr. Harrington, but the lab messed up and the sperm used in the fertilization did not belong to the donor you chose. It belongs to another donor, so that's why you're reacting so badly to the scent samples we've been sending you."
Needless to say, Steve freaks the fuck out. His heart is beating so fast the blood his rushing to his ears and he can't even hear what the doctor is saying anymore.
She's probably explaining what happened, how the lab messed up the sperm samples and some other shit. She's probably trying to placate Steve but he doesn't want to know or hear any of it right now. The only thing Steve wants to know is...
"Who is the donor, then?" He asks bluntly, interrupting the doctor's monologue. "Who's the sire of my pup?"
Dr. Morgan doesn't seem surprised by the question. She just hands him a file.
Steve opens it with slightly shaking hands.
'EDWARD WAYNE MUNSON. 35. MUSICIAN.', says the file, followed by the man's health info, physical description and a small plastic bag with a scent sample.
The bag is closed, the black cloth inside looks ordinary, and yet the faint smell of dark chocolate and cinnamon coming out of it is enough to calm down and quiet all the noise in Steve's mind.
It's finally right, his omega rejoyces. They found the sire. They are safe.
they never draw eddie wearing some sports jersey to support steve's favourite sportsball team is the thing. like yeah yes steve wearing eddie's band tees i agree we all agree. we are all in agreement. but why is it never reversed. makes me sad. it should be reversed sometimes at least. give me eddie in a sports sweatshirt and boxers reading casually on the couch and steve coming home and getting hard at the sight
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Eddie collapses back on the check-print pillow, limbs oozing like jelly. His body scorching, red-hot from head to toe. Sweating, heart beating so fast it feels like his entire body is pulsating.
His muscles ache, his hair a matted, tangled mess.
He stares up at the ceiling, his formally starry vision now clearing to a mild blur. His dry, kiss-bitten mouth open as he pants.
Steve cuddles up next to him, sticky with more than just sweat. His chest hair wet against Eddie's side.
He shakes his head, begging his dick to calm down at the renewed contact. At least give him a minute to recover from ā
"Where did you learn... all that?" he squawks into the silence of Steve's bedroom.
A unfazed shrug momentarily jostles them.
"Dunno," Steve replies.
Eddie whines, "But... But ā your hands! F-fingers... And you're so flexible. A-and the stamina! Your..."
His babbling evaporates as thoughts and... sensations tingle away and leave him unable to speak. He screws his eyes shut as delirium takes hold.
Steve wraps his arms around him, pulling himself closer. He presses a kiss to Eddie's shoulder that melts through him like a burn mark.
"So, I take it you had fun?" he asks, grinning against searing hot skin.
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Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Alternate Universe - 1990s, Breaking Up & Making Up, Mutual Pining, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending, Trauma, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Bisexual Eddie Munson, Marijuana, Alcohol, it starts a little angsty but happy endings are always promised in this house, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Blowjobs, Face-Fucking, thigh riding, Teasing, Dirty Talk, these two are the ultimate switch couple and i love them so much, semi-public blowjob at one point but no one is around, tagging 75k is tough so I'll include chapter-specific warnings as needed!, Choking, Steve Harrington Has a Praise Kink, Tattoo Artist Eddie Munson, Paramedic Steve Harrington, Podfic Welcome
Summary:
Eddie laughs from his position between Steveās legs in the large bathtub, holding his glass as he rests his head back against Steveās shoulder. Hot water soaks his muscles, sore everywhere thatād been so full of the man behind him.
He feels Steveās arms wrap around his torso to pull him closer at the same time that warm, burgundy-stained lips brush his temple. Eddieās glass tips just a bit, the unexpected movement sending sips of red wine into the bath water. He thinks for a moment that thereās something poetic about the red wine in the clear water, the way it mirrors the way Steve had helped clean his wounds in the same bathtub just months back.
Unfortunately, poetry only exists in hindsight. The blood wasnāt beautiful until Eddie had Steve to link it to, nor was the wineā it was just red.
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