#[four puffs of farrah fawcett hairspray*/threads]

[alwaysthesitter]

Mermaid AU starter for @devildungeondm

"Oh come off it, Henderson, you know that the fresh air is so much more enjoyable than being stuck in the palace." Steve had shot at who he considered his best friend, who also just happened to work for him and be the one to keep tabs on him, but Steve hardly cared about that. Dustin had been complaining that he needed to focus more on not being such a 'rebellious little shit' - his words, not Steves - but Steve knew that he was tired of all that palace life. Everything his father wanted for him, to form him into this perfect Prince. No, Steve wanted freedom to be himself.

"Besides, it's just one day at sea. One. It isn't like I'm kidnapping you for a week or anything. I just was tired of having to listen to my dad bitch and moan about how I needed to start taking more responsibility, settling down, all that shit. I'm still young. I should be able to find love when it's ready to find me." He knew, in all actuality, that Dustin agreed with him. He could see it from the way that his eyes glimmered in his own mischief - he just needed to do what King Harrington said in terms of keeping tabs on Prince Steven.

Steve was practically leaning over the railing at this point, allowing the salty air of the open sea to hit all his senses, eyes closed as he took it all in. "None of this changes the fact that a storm is very clearly coming, Steve. We should get home before it hits." Dustin had been eye-ing the weather nervously, the way the dark clouds were rolling over the horizon, competing with the blue of the ocean. Steve, ever ignorant in his bliss, simply shook his head. "It will be fine, man. We'll be home long before it reaches us."

He clapped the other on the back, moving back across the expanse of ship with a confident grin. "We've got time." He reassured, kicking his shoes off, not because he had any intention to hop into the murky fathoms below, but because he wanted to feel less prim and proper, and feel that sense of independence. Rolling his pants up to his knees, he sat down on the edge of boat that opened up to water, crossing arms under his chin and supporting himself as he looked out. "It's like a whole new world out there, Henderson. We don't even know what's down there. Like sure, there's fish. But is that really all?"

[alwaysthesitter]

If Eddie had thought it was hot that the jock in him had come out in his absolute competitive nature and hatred of losing, he was probably going to die at the fact that Steve was using his own strength in that moment. Eddie hadn't thrusted hard enough to choke him again, but just as a precaution, Steve had wrapped his large hands around the other's hips, pushing him down against the bed as if it took a single iota of strength. His own biceps flexed beneath the shirt that he was wearing - Eddie's metal shirt still, which somehow made this even hotter - not even phased at holding the other down.

Steve hadn't expected it to get to this point now, if ever. He didn't think that trying on clothes to show good support at Eddie's concert was going to lead to him on his knees, in nothing but that shirt with a band he knew nothing about, and his boxer briefs. He didn't expect Eddie Munson's dick to be between those slightly pink lips that Steve occassionally glossed - don't tell anyone - or even for Eddie to show any sort of interest. Though Eddie had felt safe, gay was gay, and gay still wasn't accepted in Hawkins. He could have risked everything in that moment.

But fuck, was it worth it.

Hearing the way that Eddie unraveled for him was so worth it. It wasn't like when girls would pitch their voices in a way that Steve sometimes thought was really dramatic porn acting. This was real and carnal, and it helped to push him forward to take as much of the dungeon master into his mouth that he could. He switched so that one hand left Eddie's hips, enough for fingers to wrap around the base of his dick and cover what his mouth just wasn't ready for. He pulled back with hollowed cheeks, tongue lolling out and licking all around the erection, moaning softly as he did so.

alwaysthesitter​:

Keep reading

[alwaysthesitter]

' mistletoe '

Steve had never really been one for holiday traditions, for what he considered the obvious reasons. The last holiday he could remember, genuinely remember, had been when he was ten or eleven years old. Ever since then, holidays typically went one of two ways: he either spent it completely alone, picking up shifts that other people didn't want so that he could occupy his depressed and lonely brain, or he spent it with his parents but in the most horrendous and disingenuine way. He didn't like going out of state to be flashed around like a puppet at some rich person's banquet.

There had been rare exceptions, such as when he was dating Nancy, and the Wheelers had invited him over to their home for the holiday. He often wondered if Karen (not Ted, Ted would never have enough awareness) had noticed the absence of the Harrington parental units, and had invited Steve because she felt sorry for him. Since the break-up, he really hadn't done anything fun and festive, until now. And he had Eddie to thank for that. Or maybe, most importantly, he should be thanking Wayne.

He had been helping to decorate the trailer, feeling much more at home here than he ever did in that over-sized mansion that was abandoned more often than not. He had been sorting through a box of decorations he had brought over from his place, thinking it could help make things more fun, smirking a bit as he pulled out the tacky plastic plant with the small berries. He held it over Eddie's head, shaking it a bit teasingly, smile plastered on his face.

"Oh nooooo. The worst thing ever. This artificial plant laced with stupid holiday traditions is saying that you have to kiss me."

@devildungeondm

[alwaysthesitter]

@banishedandkassified continued from here.

"I have no idea what you just called me, but I'm hoping it isn't supposed to be an insult." Knowing Eddie, it could really go either way. Sometimes the other seemed to be absolutely genuine, while sometimes it just seemed like he was doing whatever it took to get on Steve's nerves. "I guess I can say that you're a pretty great role model to the kids, too. I guess." He wasn't too fond of giving up that role, yet alone sharing it. "...and I guess I can agree that we both have shitty dads, you aren't wrong there buddy."

[alwaysthesitter]

@puppetoffthehook continued from here.

Steve typically tried his best to hold his composure, to make sure that the individuals that he slept with knew that it wasn't remotely about himself. He was absolutely a pleasure top, and he wanted it to be about making the other person feel good, whether he was able to cum himself or not. But damn, was Billy making that difficult, especially with the way he was talking and praising him. Praise, no shocker here, was Steve's biggest kink.

He wanted to be able to talk about this, what this meant, but maybe that would come after. Only maybe. Steve was terrified to talk about feelings since Nancy had thrown them in his face, and he hated to admit that he had more or less gone back to his King Steve ways of falling into bed after bed. This was different, though. He wouldn't just agree to sleep with a guy, throw away his absolute 'straightness', if there weren't feelings there. That made this complicated.

But for now, he was plowing into Billy just like the younger had asked, his balls slapping against the other's curvature of his ass with how hard he was thrusting. Arms went around Billy's waist, pulling the Californian even closer, holding him secure while Steve pistoned into him, panting against his neck. "Fuck, dude, keep saying that and I'll cum too quickly..." He growled out, his own cock throbbing inside the other's walls as the other clenched around him. Complimented him. Made him feel absolutely great about himself.

[alwaysthesitter]

"Eh, messy and complicated pasts?" He wasn't going to lie to Joyce. He had always wished his own mother would be more like her, and he knew that she was someone that he could be honest with. "You're right, I'm sure they won't mind." Steve had, after all, helped to save Will from the Upside Down. He had even gone to the hospital with them, but had left upon seeing the brothers' relationship and recognizing how lonely it had all made him feel. Maybe he was over-thinking the matter, and it was definitely behind them.

"Great. I'm glad you won't turn it down. I can't imagine having to raise two kids on my own." He didn't want to bring up any sore spots, but Steve wanted to show compassion and understanding. "I personally want to be a stay-at-home dad, so I guess it's just a bit of practice." Though that 'parenting' included Jonathan, who was just slightly younger than him, so maybe not the best practice but - "I can cook a mean Italian dish."

alwaysthesitter​:

“Are you….sure about that, Mrs. Byers?” For one, he didn’t want to intrude; that was the last thing he ever wanted. He worked so hard not to feel like a burden, since he already felt that way with his own folks. He kept his own issues held tightly under wraps, not wanting anyone to ever worry about him when they all had so much to worry about. But, there was also the issue that he didn’t know how Jonathan would react to having Steve Harrington over for dinner. The two had gotten along much better since having to fight monsters, but their past was still rocky.

“I mean, if you don’t think Will and Jonathan would mind….” He trailed off, biting into his lower lip. He knew he needed to stop holding a grudge against Jonathan. Jonathan probably didn’t know the full extent, had no idea that Nancy and Steve had never officially broken up when they had - he shook his head, he didn’t want to think about that. “I’m actually a pretty decent cook. I can help, however you need me to. It’s really the least I can do.”

“Steve I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t serious.”  She said.  She had no idea what had happened between Steve and Jonathan, but she wanted to look out for Steve.  She vaguely knew Steve’s parents and didn’t know how they could just leave him for as long as they did.  “So yes you can come over.”

“Everyone else is always over.  Why would they mind?”  She asked.  The slightest frown on her features.  There was something more going on there though.  “I wouldn’t turn down any help.”  She said.  “So if you’re coming over then you can help me.”

[alwaysthesitter]

Random starter for @defectivexfragmented

Steve had had enough of it. He was typically never the one to end a relationship, especially seemingly out of nowhere, because he had been there himself when Nancy Wheeler had caught him off guard and denounced that their love was bullshit. Though honestly, he still didn't quite know what Matt and him fully were, and if this was a relationship or not. It had started as a working relationship between himself and the lawyer, and turned into something intimate. They had never labeled it, and though Steve was quite the slut himself, once he was focused on someone, he wasn't stepping out.

Maybe that was his fault for making assumptions, or extending his own expectations to someone else without communicating. Matt could possibly have had other partners, and Steve hadn't expressed that he was wanting a sense of exclusivity. He had more than enough situations in his past that were strictly for sexual relations; girls that had wanted to be with him to get in his pants, and the sex was great, but it never really expanded beyond that. He wanted something meaningful. And maybe he should have expressed that, before this involvement with the lawyer.

Too little, too late though, and Steve recognized that even if he hadn't set his foot down back then, it didn't mean he couldn't set it down now. There had been too many nights that he had stayed the night with Matt, only for the other to be gone in the morning. And while logic told him that the Catholic probably needed to get up and get ready for work, that avoided the fact that Steve was an insomniac ever since the trauma. That there had been too many nights that Matt had snuck off in the middle of the night, not coming back into the wee hours of the morning, if he came back at all. Cheating? Steve didn't know if he could call it that since again - no label. But that didn't mean he had to put up with it.

This was how he had found his way to Matt's place, knocking with absolute frustration, especially as no one seemed to answer. The other had shared his key with him, and Steve used it to enter the place, even though he liked to give Matt Murdock his space and his living place. He had been about to leave after a lap around the place and realizing the older wasn't there, until he had heard a crash. Steve jumped, wishing he had his bat, or anything that could protect him in that moment other than his fists. He did manage to grab a knife from the kitchen, a just in case precaution as he made his way towards the sound. "Matt....?"

He stepped into the next room, the shards of glass reflecting on the floor, until hazel eyes noticed the form of a body in front of him. Steve froze, pausing for a moment of hesitation, before starting to climb over the shattered shards and towards the frame of man. Definitely a man, based on his broad shoulders and overall muscle lines. A man that appeared to be knocked unconsience, which really meant that he wasn't the one that was a threat, but Steve couldn't logically think of that right now due to the body in front of him wearing.....well, what the fuck was he wearing? An odd helmet, that looked somewhat demonic. What appeared to be a suit made of some sort of leather.

Steve crouched down beside the man, knife in one hand, his other hesitantly reaching out. He didn't know much about pulses, but Robin had talked to him about checking to see if people were alive or dead. Steve was struggling to remember where to find a pulse point, finally giving up and shakily reaching for mask instead. He tugged it off not too gently, eyes widening when - "What. the. fuck."

[alwaysthesitter]

Surprise starter for @puppetoffthehook "A radioac-what now?" Steve had stared Nancy square in the face, as she looked incredibly annoyed to have to be explaining this for what was surely the fourth or fifth time. Steve just couldn't wrap his head around it, but then again, that made sense in terms of everything that the Upside Down had to throw at them. It made sense because nothing made sense, and because that ridiculous and horrible place seemed to be full of surprises.

Surprises, apparently, including that the fact that he was bit had led to him getting some sort of super powers. "No no, that doesn't make sense. Normally if someone gets bit by a bat, they're going to turn into a vampire. I might not know horror movies that well, but I know that much. How would the fact that those things attacked me give me something good?" It made no sense. The Demobats were part of Vecna's army, and providing any of the party an advantage with powers seemed idiotic. But then, he figured, the bats probably didn't expect any of their victims to survive.

Now what he was supposed to do with all of this information, that was the key. It was going to take him time to figure out what all he could do at this point, though so far he learned that he could climb walls and that was pretty fucking cool. He was just trying to get through his normal life otherwise, heading to the pool with the rest of the party to enjoy the Summer day. He had learned to get somewhat of a grip on his newfound powers, and thought it would be a fairly decent day, until -

His hazel eyes widened, looking down at his arm. Every dark hair seemed to be sticking up, a chill going down the back of his neck. Everything seemed to be normal. Nothing creepy lurking in the pool. No glowing gates to another universe. Just the regular pool attendees, and the lifeguards doing their job in watching to make sure nothing happened. He shook it off, figuring it was nothing, even though his head was throbbing and telling him something didn't belong here.

[alwaysthesitter]

Random starter for @devildungeondm

Get a job, he said. You're not worth anything, he said. You're a disgrace to the Harrington name, he said. All things that Steve had taken to heart from his father's mouth, as well as to his mind - to the point that Steve had taken them quite literally. The job at Family Video had been just fine, and he loved working with his best friend, but this minimum wage bullshit wasn't going to cut it, especially if he wanted to get out from under his father's thumb. He had already been cut off financially, but until he could afford to get his own place, he was going to be living with his parents. Taking care of their home when they were hardly there. He was tired of it.

Maybe it had been a reckless idea - when was any idea of Steve's not? But there were two things in life that Steve was absolutely confident in; his good looks, and his ability to be sexualized. And use both these things to his advantge. So, why would he not use them in an effort to make money? He knew he was damn charming. And he didn't even have to touch anyone, or cross his own boundaries. Being seen as an object of simply sexual desire was exhausting, but also he knew that he could make hundreds a night, and that he could quit as soon as he was able to have enough to find his own place. No harm, no foul.

That was what had landed him in the seedy strip club not too far out of town. Everywhere seemed to have them, especially at a time when sexuality was heightened and indeed encouraged since the free love movement of the hippies.Hawkins had seemed too small and too conservative to truly promote that kind of lifestyle, but a thirty minute drive, tops? And it wasn't like he didn't see people from Hawkins there - while so many of them might scream purity and moral standing, he knew better. That town was as immoral as they came. Fortunately, no one batted an eye that the great Steve Harrington was working there. In fact, most seemed thrilled by it.

He had started his shift, relieved that he had been placed in cages for the night. Though stripping on the mainstage made more money, he had been feeling exhausted, and the cages were easier. Though men and women alike tried to reach through the bars and touch, it was a lot more difficult than if he was out in the open. The metal cage was hanging over the bar, along with two the others ones around the square bar's length, hosting some of his coworkers. Steve was topless as he usually was for shifts, covered in glitter, nothing but a pair of too short and too tight shorts that left nothing to the imagination.

'Cold Hearted' by Paula Abdul blasted on the club's speakers, men and women dancing together in the open area of the room, while others sat or stood around the main strip stages, watching other performers. Hips swivveled and gyrated, Steve moving up and down the bars in his cage, pressing himself against them as he grabbed money that was waved at him, tucking it into his shorts.

[alwaysthesitter]

"Huh? Ah, no, actually, we went to school together." He didn't know how much Wayne knew about Eddie's school life, particularly the bullying, so he wasn't sure if Eddie's uncle would find it incredibly odd that Eddie actually had people at school that apparently were willing to not only go and support his concerts, but also to spend the night and apparently wake up to get breakfast the next morning for him while topless. Right. Totally normal behavior. "Eddie was a year ahead of me. Well. For most of high school anyways."

He didn't judge the fact that Eddie had gotten held back twice. If it hadn't been for Nancy's help with his education, as well as the fact that his parents made good money and most likely bribed the principal, Steve wouldn't have graduated himself. He barely got over a 2.0. "I'm sure you know Dustin, Eddie probably doesn't shut up about him. Well, Dustin introduced the two of us. I mean, I knew Eddie from school but not all that well. Dustin's like a little brother to me, and he wanted to make sure I got to know your nephew."

Steve smiled, folding the omelette like he had learned growing up, making sure it was fully cooked through before putting it on another plate. Something else of note - Steve knew where everything was in that kitchen like it was his own. He had also noted the way Wayne used milk in his coffee, just in case he were to ever make the other coffee again. It would probably leave his mind within the hour, but he tried to remember little things like that. He brought the omelette over to the table, smiling and setting it in front of the older. "I hope you like it. I know it's pretty hard to mess up eggs but I'd like to think I'm a good cook. Been doing it myself since I was twelve."

alwaysthesitter​:

“Alright. But usually have them isn’t the same as what you want in one.” He teased, at least feeling a little more comfortable. Wayne was at least talking to him, unlike his own parents. Eddie had raved about his uncle, so that didn’t surprise him one bit, but it still always caught him off guard to meet an adult that actually cared. Like Joyce and Hopper. “If you insist though, one plain omelette.” He nodded, grabbing more eggs to crack. Steve could make things fancy, growing up in a rich environment, but he wouldn’t push.

He went over to the coffee pot as well, pouring the older a cup before sliding it across the table and over to him. “I figured you might want this, since you work over nights.” Steve smiled, and yeah, maybe he was trying to win Wayne over a little bit. For obvious reasons. Though he didn’t know when Eddie and him would both tell the man about their relationship, he had a feeling it was going to be soon - soon as in today - so he wanted to show off his Harrington boy next door charm.

He took a sip of his own coffee, before moving one omelette - the one he had made for Eddie - onto a plate, starting to prepare Waynes. “Eddie doesn’t even know I’m out of bed yet, actually. I was kind of trying to surprise him. Thankfully he sleeps like the dead.” He mumbled, watching the egg sizzle and fry in the pan, still not fully making eye contact. “His concert last night went really well though. I’m happy to see him succeeding in something he loves so much.”

Wayne caught the cup before it could get too far, lifting the mug to his face and letting himself take a good whiff of it. It smelled nice and strong, not burnt either… His doctor had been telling him to lay off the caffeine before bedtime, but, maybe one cup wouldn’t hurt.

“Appreciated,” He muttered, stretching out an arm to crack open the fridge and grab some milk for his coffee. As soon as he had added a small splash he brought the steaming cup to his lips for a nice long sip that seemed to help ease the weariness from his bones.

“Yeah? Good tuh hear… Kid’s always in a good mood when that happens.” Wayne said, his focus moving back to Steve now he had some coffee in him. With the young man still not having a shirt on it was pretty easy to pick up on his lack of tattoos and slightly muscular build. The sort of thing you saw kids hitting the fields instead of the mosh pits. “…Is that how yew met Ed then? Through one’a his shows?”

[alwaysthesitter]

Club starter for @fragmcntdstars

Steve pushed through the crowd of people, struggling to think about why he was even here. Chicago. It wasn't exactly his scene, at least, not anymore. Back when he had been in high school, he probably would have thrived off this - half naked individuals, beautiful babes (and men, though he wouldn't admit that), enough alcohol to drown an elephant. And drugs. So many drugs. It had been a long time since Steve had tried anything like LSD, but sometimes he missed it. With all the trauma he held onto, he wished he had a better release.

It was why he had driven out here in the first place. It was a few hours out of Hawkins, but he had needed a new environment altogether, and what better place than a big city? He had been to a few cities here and there, considering his parents would often go off to expensive galas and sometimes bring him along like a show off trophy. He'd even been in Chicago before. But coming alone as a man in his early twenties was so much different than a boy who was a pre-teen.

He shoved himself through the throng, making his way to the bar. Though the distraction was good, he was also starting to get a headache, and he wanted to numb it out before it became a full-blown migraine. He waved his hand to get the bartender's attention, shoving himself between some guys at the bartop. "Can I just have a shot of tequila? Make it a double." He pulled out his ID to present to the other, practically sighing in relief once the alcohol was placed before him in the glass shooter.

[alwaysthesitter]

Horror starter for @tczier Inspired by Stephen King's IT (Wow, I'm so original.)

Damn, this town was worse than Hawkins, and that was saying something. At least Hawkins had a mall - keyword, had, since there certainly wasn't much of a mall left after the mindflayer had attacked it. This town appeared to be one giant strip of stores that were all local businesses, a school, a library, a police station, a church, and....truly not much else. He felt bad for whoever had grown up living here, though he knew people felt the same sentiment towards him being born and raised in Hawkins, Indiana. At least Maine was a little more beautiful. A little.

He had made his way to the town house, where he was supposed to be staying for the next few nights. Steve had been called in by some of the government officials, surprisingly enough, to come to Derry, supposeadely because the way he had handled the Demogorgons and the Russians triyng to open and maintain a new gate had been admirable. He figured it was because the Americans were simply glad that the Russians hadn't gotten that sort of fire power thanks to Steve and the Scoop Troop, as well as Hopper's sacrifice, and blah blah. All he knew was that him - and his bat - had been told to come to this place, because weird things were happening here as well.

"Hello? Helllooooooo." Steve was getting a bit annoyed, patience never his strong suit, as he banged a bit annoyingly on the small silver bell present at the front desk. "Does anyone even work here?" It wasn't like there had been a closed sign, and the door had definitely opened, allowing Steve and his duffel bag to enter the premises. He had stopped his obnoxious attempt at attention as he heard the door creak open, the brunette turning and looking in the direction of the noise. "Oh, hey! Are you staying here? Do you know if anyone works here? Because I'm just trying to check in and get to my room." Steve had asked the only other individual in the place, at least that he had seen.

Pausing, he narrowed his eyes a bit - this guy looked familiar. Taking a step closer, Steve's hazel hues widened, before he grinned. "Oh wait a second, aren't you like....famous or some shit? Stand up comedy, right? My parents used to watch you before bed sometimes. Mom always complained that your jokes were too crass, and my asshole of a dad said that people like you were what is ruining American morale. Guess that's why I kind of always admired you."

[alwaysthesitter]

Horror starter for @daethcrush Inspired by Scream

"Okay, well if the rules say that you have to be a virgin or else you're going to die, I'm definitely fucked. Quite literally and figuratively." Steve snorted, arm thrown over the back of the couch at the party, as Randy went off about the apparent rules of horror movies. Steve didn't watch horror movies, if only specifically because he dealt with enough horror on a daily basis to not want it in his free time and things that were meant to be enjoyed. But apparently this new killer that was set loose was going based off some sort of formula, and Steve wished he had spent more time with movies like Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

He hadn't been surprised that the killer would go after people they felt were morally injust, and even though lately just a decade before there had been an entire free love movement, it was wrong to step out before marriage. And here Steve was, a different girl almost every week on his arms, ever since him and Nancy had broken up. And before that, too. He wasn't nervous though, not really - him and the party had faced way worse than a guy in a mask. With a knife. The killer liked close combat? Well, so did Steve. He was pretty sure his nail bat could do more damage than a knife anyways, at least that was what he told himself.

"This is stupid. I'm going and getting another drink." Leaving the living room of the party to head into the kitchen, which was surprisingly empty for a party. Apparently everyone was enthralled listening to Randy's enthused speech, horror nerd he was, and Steve just rolled his eyes to go grab another red solo up. Grabbing the bottle of Vodka, twisting the cap before he heard the noise behind him. He turned a bit, bottle still in hand, eyebrow raised. "Hello? Who's there?" Most likely one of the party people had also gotten sick of Randy and wanted a drink, but Steve didn't see anyone else in the kitchen space.

[alwaysthesitter]

"That's what I mean, Soph. I don't want you getting hurt either. And if this guy isn't being direct and sincere, I'm afraid that's what's going to happen. I'm afraid you're going to keep putting in effort, and him not tell you exactly what he wants." He didn't want to say that had felt like the case with Nancy, but it certainly had. Steve had put everything on the line for her, and she couldn't even say that she had loved him. The effort hadn't felt mutual in the end, and it made sense with how she had viewed their relationship.

He did roll his eyes at her question, shaking his head as his own brown hues moved back to the road. "Yeah, that's exactly what I'm going to fucking do. No one messes with my little sister." He knew damn well she could defend herself and her honor if it really came down to that, but especially since Steve had basically become the world's best babysitter, he felt incredibly protective over everyone in his life. "I just know how those guys can be. I was one of them, you know." He wasn't proud to admit it, but he wasn't afraid to either.

"I'll trust your judgment. I want to protect you, but I also know you have to figure it out on your own at some point. Even if that means getting hurt in the process." He shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head. "Just don't be stupid. Mom and dad never really gave me the sex talk other than don't knock anyone up before marriage, but I know if something were to happen to you they'd both flip their lids." And honestly probably blame Steve for not being a good enough older brother to keep her out of trouble.

Furrowing her eyebrows as Sophia's eyes stayed strictly trained on the road ahead of her, only Steve could manage to get such a strong surge of emotion out of her. Despite Steve seeing it countless times before, Sophia didn't want to entirely crumble in front of him, at least not over something as stupid as a boy. Sure, Sophia had seen Steve be more heartbroken than he'd like to admit but that was Steve, he'd grown into himself, no longer afraid to admit that he was human and had emotions. Sophia on the other hand, she didn't want the world to know she was more fragile than it seemed, her sense of pride too strong.

"I don't know, I just think it's more than that. More than something casual." Sophia knew deep down she did know, of course, she wanted things to go further. Taking a deep breath as Sophia eyed Steve's face, hoping for some sort of confirmation of her feelings. "It's just hard to tell and I - I don't want to get hurt." Sophia didn't mean to dump this all on Steve, really, but he had the experience of being on both sides, the playboy and the hopeless romantic.

Lightly laughing at Steve's threat, he might not be able to fight with his fists but swinging a bat did a pretty nice job. "You're going to defend my honor or what?" However, the teasing faded as Sophia met Steve's eyes, full of genuine concern and the look that was usually only reserved for Dustin, maybe Mike. "I know, and I know you want to keep me safe but I just need to figure it out, maybe there's more. I don't know."

[alwaysthesitter]

Random starter for @defectivexfragmented

He was grateful that Matt had stayed a little longer, all things considered. He hadn't wanted the lawyer to leave right away anyways, but now he had even more of a reason. Thankfully, it appeared that Matt had to wrap up the case and report final things, tie up loose ends, all that lawyer mumbo jumbo that Steve would never understand, which gave him a few more days in Hawkins. If Matt had been gone? Steve didn't know where he would have turned.

He should have seen it coming from a mile away, his dad finally losing his shit. His dad had always seemed to have it out for him, from riding his ass for his failing grades, lecturing him about using drugs and partying, never really giving him 'the talk' other than 'don't fuck up and get a girl pregnant.' Steve had always felt like a pawn in his dad's game of chess - an object to be shown around like, 'look, I made this, I'm such a family man.' His dad had never once appeared to be proud of him.

Steve's parents had come home from their bougie vacation, surprisingly enough, after finding out what had gone on in Hawkins. A few months later, sure - apparently a small town in Indiana didn't make big headlines in Europe - but they still had to 'check on their son.' When Richard had found out that Steve had not only given away half their things to those in need in the earthquake emergency shelters, but had also been heavily involved in hiding away 'cult murderer' Eddie Munson? He had lost it. And here Steve had thought there were only two things that would ever cause his dad to hit him - knocking a girl up before marriage, or announcing that he liked boys.

Apparently he was wrong.

Which was what led him here, to Matt's hotel, knuckles rapping at the door. He had a backpack slung lazily over his shoulder, as that was all he could grab as his dad was screaming at him. Lip split and blood down his chin, right eye swollen, he was just glad that Matt wouldn't be able to see him. He was pretty sure he might have a few broken ribs too, and the beating had triggered one of his chronic migraines so much the room was spinning and he had barely made it here.

As soon as the lawyer would open the door, Steve would practically throw himself at the older, burying his face into the other's neck. "Hey, can I....can I stay here tonight?" His voice quiet, sounding rather broken for Steve. "My old man kicked me out, and I don't have anywhere to go."

[alwaysthesitter]

8. Private: rushed and desperate,  messy on the couch because they were too impatient to even make it to the bedroom. (From Jonathan~ )

If anyone had ever told Steve Harrington that he would be in this position with Jonathan Byers, he would have laughed in their face until he couldn't breathe. Him and Jonathan had a past, an incredibly rocky one at that. He had always thought that Jonathan was a bit of a freak, a bit of a queer (the irony in all of this, considering the way Steve was furtive in roaming hands over the younger's body). Then Jon had gone and taken those explicit photos of Nancy, and things had gotten so much worse.

Then he'd stolen his girlfriend - and yes, Steve would feel this way for the rest of his life, considering that him and Nancy had never officially broken up. Jonathan had beaten his face in, to the point he'd almost lost consciousness. Steve had shattered his camera, insulted his family....okay, it was a long list as to why they made for the most unusual couple. But, they had worked past that, and Steve had realized how much he actually admired Jonathan Byers. His courage. His strength. How much of a fighter he absolutely was.

It still shocked him, though, the fact that both him and Jonathan, despite what had once been hate, now fueled that to the complete opposite of the spectrum with their burning passion. As soon as they had gotten into Steve's house, Steve was pinning the other to the door, pressing a bruising kiss to the shorter's lips and rolling his hips against the others. "Want you." He gasped out, eyes already dark with lust, a hand moving to grab the others and tug him, at least to the living room. Upstairs? Too fucking far.

He didn't even pause when it came to shoving the other down onto the couch, kicking off his own shoes before straddling him. Hands roamed under Jon's shirt, gentle circles against the flesh of stomach, as lips now moved to Jonathan's neck, kissing and nipping. "Need you." He practically moaned, hands pulling back and curling around the other's shirt, eyes begging him for consent.

@tsukareta-tamashii