#Chrissy and Eddie are best friends

[alwaysurvalentine]

the love bug - st ficlet

Based on a prompt from my @steddiebingo 12 Days of Christmas card: 'blind date'

wc: 854 | cw: none | more info: modern au, pre-relationship, Steve is a teacher (I'm thinking middle school) and Eddie works at a music store

enjoy! 💛

~

Eddie knows he could’ve saved himself from the chill seeping into his bones by getting dropped off right in front of the restaurant. However, getting dropped off a block away meant he could scope out this mysterious stranger Chrissy’s set him up with. The place they’re meeting has a line of windows that face the street that he’s hoping to use to his advantage. He doesn’t even really know what the guy looks like, but Chrissy said that he’d be there and that he’d have a red rose on the table. Easy to spot. 

To say Eddie’s wary is an understatement. He’s really only doing this to get Chrissy off of his back. Ever since she’s been bitten by the love bug she’s made it a personal goal to help all of her friends find love. Now, did her meddling help their friends Nancy and Barb finally get together? Maybe, but that’s besides the point. Both of them having been dancing around each other for as long as Eddie can remember, not so stolen glances sent to each other every time the group got together. 

Love and Eddie just don’t mix, and he’s accepted that. A series of terrible exes will do that to you. But Eddie’s okay with being alone, it’s not like he’s ever wanting for company, but asking a hookup for something more than physical is just asking to be ghosted. So it’s just fine with him to keep on working at the Music Warehouse and meeting up with his friends for dinner instead of worrying about who is going to help him raise his rats. 

The windows cast a warm light onto the street, ice glittering, and Eddie sees it – a bright red rose sitting next to the prettiest man he’s ever seen. How was he supposed to know that a man named Steve was going to be a modern day Adonis? This is something that Chrissy should’ve warned him about! Now he’s second guessing his maroon button down and black jeans. He would’ve at least done some eyeliner if he’d known, and if things don’t go well he’s going to be talking to Chrissy about what needs to be shared if he goes out with someone. One of those letting him know if he’ll be sitting across from a literal model or just some friend of a friend that works in corporate.

When he steps in, a blast of warm air hits him and he shudders. His cheeks have to be pink from the cold, fingers tingling as he walks over to the table. Steve hasn’t noticed him yet, eyes tracing over the menu instead, and his wire frame glasses just about take Eddie out.

“Uh, Steve?” 

At his words, Steve looks up, eyebrow raised in question only for a moment before a soft smile settles on his face.

“You must be Eddie?”

~

Dinner ends too soon. Eddie could sit here and talk with Steve all night, but the pointed looks from the staff are enough to have him grabbing his jacket.

“Looks like we need to scoot out of here. I think they’re about to close.”

By the sheepish look on Steve’s face he hadn’t noticed the stares. He rushes to grab his own jacket, sliding it on even as he starts towards the door. They don’t even make it to the door before their dishes are cleared from the table. Eddie flashes a quick smile and shrugs when he makes eye contact with their waitress, following Steve out quickly.

“I didn’t realize how late it was getting. Sorry about that.” A light blush covers Steve’s cheeks, eyes turned to the sidewalk. 

“I didn’t mind. Guess it is kinda late though, and you’ve got all those papers to grade tomorrow. Wouldn’t want Mr. Harringtonslacking on the job.”

“Oh hush.” Steve gently shoves at Eddie’s shoulder, a cloud escaping his mouth when he laughs. It might only be their first meeting, but Eddie’s already imagining how nice Steve would look in the summer, moles popping out against tan skin. “I really do need to head out. Dinner was nice.” Steve hesitates for a moment, looking like he’s about to step away before reaching into his back pocket. “I’d like to do it again, think you can just add your number here?” 

When Eddie looks at the screen it’s to an empty contact, cursor blinking away. The phone buzzes and he gets a glimpse of a text from ‘Birdie’ saying ok Steven I’m so glad you’re having fun but… so he rushes to put in his name and number. 

Eddie gets an eyebrow raise from Steve when he passes the phone back, “Oh, ‘Mr. Right’ huh? Very presumptuous of you.”, but the grin on Steve’s face lets Eddie know the risk was worth it. Faintly he hears the phone buzz again and when Steve glances down his eyebrows furrow.

“Oh! I really do need to go, I’m sorry. Have a good night, Eddie!” 

And quick as a flash, Steve steps forward and presses a quick kiss to Eddie’s cheek. 

Looks like he’s been bitten by the love bug too. 

[sabbathbloodysabbeth]

Bark At The Moon

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | you are here | coming soon

Tw; brief mentions of blood but nothing in detail (also contains Billy, but he is a asshole in this but only plays a minor role, I just really really wanted Steve to put him in his place)

Words of this part: 10k

Words total with fic: 40k

Tags; #wolf! Steve Harrington #EddieMunson has a great relationship with his uncle #MonsterAu #Steve goes disappearing like Will does in season one but instead he turns into a wolf

Part: 4/9 (5 and 6 will be up soon)

Summary; Hawkins, Indiana is thrown into a panic when High-school prince, Steve Harrington goes missing. With no trace of what happened to him and no hope that he'll ever be found, he suddenly reappears naked in a snow bank. One Eddie Munson may or may not be curious as to what happened all while trying to figure out what is wrong with the white female wolf near his trailer, who by the way saved his life. Now Eddie wasn't much for gossip, nor was he a fan of trains. What he was very into though was conspiracies. Was JFK really assassinated? Or was the CIA trying to cover up their asses for the Bay of Pigs situation? Questions like those intrigued him in ways that thousand-piece puzzles didn't. As conspiracies could be interpreted in any way you wanted them to, unlike puzzles that were made to create only one understanding and one understanding only. The process of getting to the finished product always the same for each puzzle. Which is how he found himself infatuated with the disappearance of one senior high king, who now would be a super senior high king. Forced to repeat the year that he had missed, along with Eddie who had been there the entire year but just flunked all of his classes.

Note; Hey, so with everything happening with ao3 I decided to make sure that my fic would be easier to read on here instead of being lost in all of my posts. So if you are looking for a steddie fanfic in these dire times I have part 1-3 linked to this post. This part is part 4 which I never posted because I didn’t think of doing it. I was also planning on doing a surprise double update with 5 and 6 but as ao3 is down I’m going to finish them and post them on here as well. Most likely before ao3. The parts are not short, 10k words each. They were made for Ao3 specifically but with the circumstances I didn’t think anyone would really mind. As a writer I’m currently very anxious about receiving the small list of comments that were left on this fic over on Ao3 so as a writer to a reader (you don’t have to for me) go and leave long ass comments on everything a author gives you. It would mean the world to them.

Also the other parts are not organized in the same set up as this one. So you will probably have to come back to this one to get to the other parts. Sorry.

Plant your feet; November 2022

Steve's feet slip from underneath him, the loud squeak of the rubber part of his shoe sliding on the gym floor catching everyone's attention. His footing is lost as his right foot slips further ahead than the other causing him to lose balance. He proceeds to then fall on his ass, he's not embarrassed. It happens. Not like there weren't accidents in basketball. Quite the opposite really. The number of times a kid took a basketball to the face was far more than what Steve could count on one hand.

What was embarrassing was the fact that he fell because of a new kid. Hawkins Highs star athlete fell on his ass over a new kid, who could barely dribble the ball between two hands. The same guy whose greasy curls fell past his shoulders and stuck to his forehead as he held the most obnoxious grin known to man. Licking his lips in a way that was way too much, and maybe a tad suggestive. Steve's heart was racing, anxiety going through him. His representation would be absolutely fucked if he let Billy Hargrove one-up him in basketball as well. Already beating his record at the keg during a party the other night. That he didn't care about, he wasn't getting a scholarship for being able to drink so much beer in one sitting.

He's still frozen to the ground, sweat pooling through his shirt as his breathing stays heavy. He was a bit lightheaded, but he assumes that was from dehydration. Sometimes he couldn't keep up with the amount of water his body needed. Though he isn't completely sure he could rack up all of his symptoms under being dehydrated. It was that time of year again which meant he was going to be coming down with something any day now. Normally the flu hit him a couple of days after Thanksgiving, but this year it didn't seem to be all that forgiving.

There was a dull sore ache in his body, a slight pinch of pain whenever he tried moving his joints. That was probably one of the reasons why he didn't plant his feet well enough when Hargrove came out of nowhere jabbing his ribcage with a dirty hook from his elbow, nearly knocking the wind out of Steve and causing him to lose balance. Making the dirty play more obvious as Billy nearly fell on top of him in the process.

Steve moves sitting up a little with a wince, fighting back the urge to stand back up and start swinging at the culprit who did this. The small ache that had been dull, was now blooming into something far worst. The reason behind the permanent scowl aimed towards Billy, who was currently taking it upon himself to bend down to take his hand and pull him to his feet. "Think you need to learn how to plant your feet, King Steve." He hisses in the most obnoxious tone ever. God, Steve really should have started to swing right then and there. It would bite him in the ass later but at least he would feel better knowing he wiped that cocky smirk off his face.

Steve rolls his eyes in response. Gaining balance as he hears the school bell ringing. His eyes never move away from the other guy as he taunts him, afraid that if he even flickered his eyes from the other, he would only shove him back down on the ground. This is why he stays frozen in his spot watching the other take a step back, still looking Steve up and down like he was the unpredictable one in this situation. The guy was confusing the hell out of Steve. He's never dealt with a guy who's acted like Billy Hargrove. Who constantly held a condescending tone, a flirtatious look, and judging eyes all at once. It was a very confusing combo, normally Steve could read people but that was not the case here.

Steve runs a hand through his hair, feeling his shoulders more tense than normal. He was probably going to have to spend longer in the shower in hopes of the hot water to loosen up some of the knots that stuck themselves to his muscles. Similar to Billy, who has decided to stick himself on Steve's ass like a leech for everything. He wonders if the stress that he has been feeling so much more lately was causing him to feel like shit. With schoolwork, his job, and the anxiety about what Billy Hargrove was going to do he just couldn't catch a break.

Billy was everywhere he went, not giving him a moment's peace. Not even in the showers, where Steve finds himself now. Feeling as if a daze washed itself over him in the gym turning his brain into autopilot and walking him into the locker room and all the way into the next room. Where only a select few were allowed in. He really should be on high alert instead he is naked, sweaty, and focused on not passing out.

The wave of dizziness came out of nowhere. Which was odd. Steve has randomly come down with many things, but not once has he ever felt like this. His stomach was acting like a Ferris wheel, constantly going around and around on repeat. He even drank almost an entire bottle of water before stepping into the shower room, he doesn't understand why he's feeling this way. This was not dehydration.

He has a slight sway to his walk, moving his way to the back of the room to the furthest shower that was hidden mostly. Doing this as he knew the other guys would avoid him, not wanting to piss off their captain. Sighing, he lets his body relax a bit as he realizes that he is finally alone for the first time that day. Rubbing his face, trying to wipe the stress away as he moves forward turning the nozzle on cold, unsure if more heat would help the light headiness.

He doesn't even realize how warm his skin was until he compares it to the cold water, one hand on his shoulder as he tilts his head back in relief. His skin was scolding hot, he wonders if he was running a fever. He would have to check and see when he went home. Not wanting to stay any longer than he had to in this stupid school.

His breathing picks up again, moving his hands onto the wall in front of him to get a better balance. Little stalls next to him on both sides, only covering the bottom half of his body. Shaking his head, a little, and wiping his face he hears footsteps coming in his direction. Then the shower to his right turned on. Glancing over annoyed Steve isn't shocked that Billy Hargrove is staring right back at him with a taunting smirk. "What? Can a guy not shower Harrington?" He tries to sound sarcastic but only comes off as mildly amused. He really doesn't understand what the other was trying to get at, or even what his goal was.

Steve shakes his head with a grumble, "Whatever man." He huffs not wanting to start a fight that he was unable to win. Moving his hands up he begins to play with his hair a bit. Rubbing against the back of his neck as he focuses on cooling down and gaining some control over his body temperature. Proceeding to then reach over to where he had sat his soap. Grabbing his bottle of shampoo and pouring it into his hair. Beginning to scratch at his scalp, determined in getting the sweat out of his hair along with getting the hell out of there as fast as possible.

He was going to take his time in the shower, but his plans had obviously fallen short with the presence of another boy. Who was constantly making some form of noise, whistling a tune loudly, making some form of a comment here and there, and even at some point the guy decides to be an ass a reach over when Steve had soap in his hair unable to see, and shuts his shower off.

Steve's normally a levelheaded person. He really is. But this was pissing him off. He doesn't mean to let it show, but he was starting to feel off, and caring about how he was coming off was his last concern. His hand fly's out and he's turning the nozzle back on, nearly snapping the handle off in the process with brute strength he didn't even know he had.

He could feel how looser it was now, as his agitation starts to Rince from his body, teeth unclenching as he quickly rinses soap from his eyes so he could inspect the damage. He opens his eyes quickly only to close them again when he sees that his vision was spinning causing him to press his palm against the shower wall. His ears were starting to ring a bit, breathing picking up as he focuses on not falling. His heart was racing as he was overwhelmed with nausea.

"Knew you had it in you Harrington. Seems like the king isn't as perfect as he seems." Steve doesn't look over at him. Afraid that if he turned his head he was going to throw up. It was only his luck to get sick on Thanksgiving break. The shower next to him stops, and he can hear Hargrove moving around. Grabbing a towel, and laughing a little as he does. Before he's walking out of the area. Most likely with no towel wrapped around his waist, only in his hair. The guy seemed like one of those guys who wants everyone in the locker room to know he has a big dick.

Steve's heart is racing, and he can feel his hands starting to shake as he finally feels how cold the water really was. Must have been some weird heat flash. He turns his own shower head off, moving and drying off as he moves off to one of the benches. Where he set his bag of clothes. Most of the guys did this, but others also left their stuff in the locker room. Not trusting the other teammates not to steal their clothes. But everyone knew better than to steal Steve's clothes. Only one who didn't have just walked out of the room, and thankfully didn't decide to be a huger dick and steal his clothes.

Twenty minutes later as Steve's parked outside of his big house. It was ugly as fuck, but he had no say. Even though he lived in it more than his parents, who decided how the house was to look. He's a bit light-headed and has to take a moment in his seat to catch his breath. Even though all he did was drive, which possibly might have been a mistake with the way his vision kept blurring randomly, head pounding as he could feel sweat forming above his brow. He was overheated, must be another hot flash. He's never had many of them, except that one time he had food poisoning. Which was why he was confused as to why he was getting them now. This didn't feel like food poisoning. It was worst.

He glances out of his side window, catching sight of his neighbor who was currently watering plants. It felt like something from a movie. But then again no one around this neighborhood was original when it came to being nosey. Grunting, he feels that wave of agitation goes through him again. Like earlier. He grips his steering wheel, for a second wishing that he didn't have eyes on him constantly. His body relaxes after a second, his hands loosen around the wheel. He puts his best smile on and lifts his left hand up and awkwardly waves at Debra. (Of course, it's a fucking Debra, like their decorating skills no one in this neighborhood had original names)

He moves stepping out of the car, legs feeling shaky as he turns shutting his door and locking it behind him. Glancing at the driver's wheel for a second and mumbling a few curse words under his breath when he notices he clawed up the fabric cover. That was definitely going to be a problem for another day as he starts walking up the pathway, to his door. Debra, of course, decides she wants to get his attention when he's one step in the house and one step out. He felt like shit and just wanted to go in and curl up in a ball in his bed.

"Hey Steve, everything okay?" Her tone is sweet, but her voice is way too high as if she was talking to a five-year-old. It felt patronizing and if Steve didn't know he would get his ass chewed out he would snap at her. Tell her to shove the tiny shovel in her hand up her ass. No one was gardening in November, she had only decided to gather up that ruse after Steve had spent longer than five minutes in his car. Which wasn't normal for him in the slightest. Steve tenses up a bit, putting on his best fake smile. Flashing his teeth, knowing that normally did the trick. It was the same trick he learned from his Dad growing up.

"Yeah, just not feeling well." He yells back. The amount of energy it took just to do that nearly knocked him over. Causing him to lean against the doorframe as he could feel his heart beginning to race more in his chest. Vision tunneling a little, going black around the edges. He felt as if the blood was draining from his face, when in reality there was not one cold part of his body. The heat was leaving him in waves, and he was going to have to pull out his AC just for tonight. Something he had put in the box and carried into the basement just at the end of last month.

"Oh? Do you need anything dear? Me and the girls can bring some soup over? It's that time of year again." She smiles tightly. Though Steve was seeing through her. She would set the dish of soup on his porch, ring the doorbell and spring back to the safety of her yard. Not wanting to catch anything with it being so close to Thanksgiving. Which was only a few days away now.

Sure he didn't blame her, but her condescending smile was what really pissed him off. He shakes his head no, hiding his irritation the best he can as he puts the same smile on. Copying the expression of the other on purpose. Watching the same flicker of irritation flash through her eyes. "No, I'm fine. I can make myself something to eat, thank you." Steve says a little too tightly. Quickly walking in the rest of the way before she could keep him any longer, he's confident that if he had stood on that doorstep any longer he genuinely would have passed out. He nearly falls on his face, stumbling forward as he drops his keys in the small bowl on an equally small desk. Leaning his weight against the wall as he quickly starts to pull his shirt up and above his head. Along with sliding his pants off, groaning as  a cold draft hits his skin.

It doesn't last for long, as he quickly bends over and grabs the small pile of clothes off the floor and moves them to toss them down in the basement, where the washer and dryer were. He normally wasn't that lazy, but due to the circumstances, he was unsure whether or not he physically could walk down those stairs without falling down them and breaking his neck. That would be all he needed for his sports career. Then again he would most likely wouldn't be alive to enjoy much of a career.

He closes the door with a click, pausing in his steps as he tries to figure out his next plan of action. Either climb in the freezer, curl up, and hope for the best. Or go upstairs, not push his body any more than what it could take, and sleep it off with a fan blowing on him. This was just a heat flash. That's all it was. Moving and walking up the steps, he gives up on using the railing and pretty much crawls up the stairs. Regaining some balance at the top and walking to his room. Face flipping down on his bed, not even bothering with the fans. All energy was wiped out of him, along with any ounce of motivation he had to keep himself cool.

The panting of his breath never silences down as he quickly drifts to sleep only to sit up with a loud cry a few hours later as his body starts to burn from the inside out. Similar to that of growing pains in a sense. His breathing is still heavy as he turns his head to the left, seeing the moon staring back at him. He rubs his face as he feels tears forming in his eyes. The worst form of pain blossoming and spreading through his veins. Causing him to lurch forward again with a soft sob. Rolling off the bed, slamming into the floor. Trying to grip onto anything as something inside of him takes over.

His limbs are moving without his say so, he felt like he was having a out of body experience as he crawls to his door. Groaning gently, before fighting to stand up. Moving back to the staircase that he had walked up just a few hours prior. Tripping over his feet and landing on his ass halfway down, gritting his teeth even in more pain. His body seemed to be on autopilot, however, it was controlling itself and didn't seem to understand the concept of walking on two feet that well.

Steve blinks as he felt so lightheaded, feeling a little better when the faint light of the night sky dims on his skin. It satisfies whatever itch he's had, as he stumbles dumbly to his back door that leads to the pool. Which has a pool cover over it, to leave it protected from the season that was slowly coming closer and closer. That and the leaves, that were slowly starting to die in piles surrounding the pool.

His hands shakily move on the plastic of the door, opening it with a soft creak, before pulling it shut behind him with a clicking noise. He blinks, eyes adjusting to how dark his surroundings were. Breathing heavily still as his muscles relax, feeling the cold night air hitting him. He tilts his head up, still on autopilot, looking up at the stars with glazed-over eyes. Standing just a few inches away from his house, glancing over at his neighbors instead quickly catching onto the fact that there were no lights on. He doesn't even know what time it was. He moves to check his watch when he feels something snap. Which was strange, and he barely even moved from his spot. His mouth opens up, trying to yell out for help as he falls to his knees.

No sound comes out, as he lands on the palms of his hands. His back burned as he whimpers, the only sound his throat was physically capable of handling. His heart is racing as he feels his jaw locking into place as if something was keeping him silent. The pain is so excruciating that he doesn't notice anything else that happens with his body until a sense of relief hits him. He's exhausted as he comes to. Still feeling off as he pushes himself off the ground. A blissful feeling hits him and once again he's no longer in control.

There was no way to explain what he was feeling. All he knew what that he wasn't alone, and instead of being afraid a calm wave hits him stronger than before. What shocks him more was the fact that he was more excited about not being alone, not afraid that he had little to no control over his body anymore. The only description that could be used for what he was feeling was dissociative. He felt disconnected from himself but knew he was there all the same. He's sure there were better descriptions but for now, he watches through the eyes of the being that he was tagging along with.

Turning his head to the right slightly, he catches his reflection. Wanting to gasp when he sees the most beautiful wolf in front of him. White fur, brown eyes, and a small frame. The creature walks forward, looking at itself curiously. Moved a little too close to the glass and bumped its snout against the glass, causing a soft sneeze-like sound to come out of it. Eyes never break from the glass. It takes longer than it probably should have to realize that the wolf was Steve. And Steve was the Wolf. When the discovery finally dawns on him, he feels more like himself than he's ever been. It was all a strange and crazy feeling, and if the creature would allow him to panic about being a wolf, he would be doing so at that very moment.

Instead, he turns, facing the woods. Silently trying to chant no over and over again at whoever or whatever and fully reign over his body. That same being not listening as they start to run, sprinting into the woods. The wind hits their fur as they race into the woods, the freedom of it all hitting Steve as he relaxes once more. Quickly giving in, he moves into the woods with such happiness he never wants it to end. His emotions were all over the place but that was as expected.

The woods were gorgeous at night Steve quickly discovers. He should come out more when he - if  he shifts back to being human. He's never felt like he's given up so much control before in his life and it was addicting, very addicting. He lets whatever that's controlling him keep on doing whatever they wanted, they both seemed more content that way. Even if that choice lands him sniffing in the garbage next to a beat-up trailer. It was disgusting, but he wasn't going to tell his wolf no (who was currently wagging her tail like crazy). He thankfully could drift off and zone out as she digs her snout into the numerous bags searching for something.

A door slams open, and both Steve and the wolf jump frightened. Steve knows he would have still been there, frozen in his place if he currently held the reigns to his body. But thankfully the animals' first instinct was to run, paws kicking up dirt as she does. Entering the safety of the woods within a few seconds. Proceeding to lurk in the shadows, curious as to what scared them Hearing a soft, "Damn Raccoons." Grumbled in their general direction soon after. It was only one of the trailer park residents. (Not shocking, considering the fact that they were indeed in a trailer park at the moment.) 

They move to the outskirts of the trees, not wanting to be too far in the opening. Hoping that whoever came out to yell at them would go back inside. They were hungry and Steve's pretty sure that there was a half-eaten pizza in one of those trash cans. He doesn't know how he can smell it from all the way over here, but he wasn't going to let it go to waste. Not with his stomach growling the way it was.

They wait for a bit; Steve is unsure how long he can't really tell the time right now. Mentally cursing when he realizes that he had been wearing his favorite watch when he shifted? Whatever he did to turn into this thing, he tore his watch apart. A fact that he was very not pleased with.

When the wolf thinks they are in the clear, they start to sniff out for that pizza. Nose stuck to the grass like a hound dog as they move to every trash can that they could find. Taking one sniff and quickly moving on to the next when they didn't smell what they were looking for. Steve inwardly groans when he realizes that the pizza was coming from the trash can that the older man had come out from. Well- who he assumed was older. But this fact doesn't stop the wolf from getting back into the can. Hopping up on its back legs and clumsily flipping the trash can lid up and bend halfway into the can.

Teeth biting into cardboard as they pull the pizza out. Getting into it within seconds and having most of the pizza wolved down in half the time. (Steve snorts a little as the pun was very much intended.) He was still hungry, stomach growling to eat something when they both heard something moving to their right. And yes, Steve knew that Wolves ate animals, but he still wasn't fully prepared for the animal to move with lightning speed to clench its jaws tightly around a raccoon's neck. Stifling its screams before it could alert the neighborhood. The taste of blood filled his mouth.

Distractions, September 2023

Steve knew the risks of coming to the trailer park during this time of day. The residents were starting to grow more protective of their park, afraid that if they let a wolf run around more would soon follow. Their thought process wasn't wrong, if Steve wasn't whatever he was he wouldn't want a random Wolf lurking around his home. Afraid that it would eat a pet or be feral to the point of attacking at random. This was why he had stopped coming around nearly as much as he used to. As much as his Wolf needed to check and see if Eddie was okay.

Today though, he finally gave in. That was a lie, he couldn't gain control nearly as fast as he normally could. It was like he was a new shifter all over again. Unable to control anything he was doing, letting the animal take complete control. Which was very risky as the wolf was intelligent, but not people smart. Steve wasn't sure he could fully explain it.

His normally white paws were a light grey, and dark brown from running around the woods for so long. Moving a bit too close to a trailer on his way to see his boy. No, Eddie was not his boy. That was just his Wolf's thoughts leaking into his. The line between their consciousness always blurring. Even when he was in his human form. The animal was so excited to see the other boy that she doesn't pay nearly enough attention to the other people around her. Accidentally bumping into a can, knocking it over.

It was like the guy was waiting for her to show up. Flinging out of his door, as if the trashcan was some form of trap to let him know when she had gotten there. Rifle in his hand, shooting before he could fully process that what was in front of him was not a raccoon. Steve processes the loud bang first, before the excruciating pain in his side that was beginning to grow damp from blood. Dying his fur red.

The switch from the wolf to him happens fast, his first instinct is to run. Like he had done months before when he first encountered the Munson family. Paws moving his body as fast as he could with his injury, Wolf gets excited in the worst moment when she sees Eddie stumbling from his steps. As if he was coming down to check on her. She can't stay as they sprint right by him, brushing against his leg gently.  More concerned about not hurting him when she was currently in so much pain.

Steve is in full control when they make it a few inches from the tree line. He nearly pisses himself when he hears another gunshot, the loud snap of the bullet hitting the tree bark close to his body. He wants to stay and make sure that Eddie was okay, but he has to worry about himself. Even if that means running through the woods with blood dripping down his fur, anxiety higher than it has ever been. Knowing that the guy had taken the shot even though Eddie had been so close to the firing range. The thought that the other took a bullet for him was nerve-wracking.

He stumbles into his backyard careful to sneak his way to the back door that leads to the pool. No one should see him, but with the blood lost he isn't thinking clearly. Normally he would stay hidden in the trees, find the bag of clothes that he left out there and change quickly before walking out of the woods as if he only went on a short run. Which was not a complete lie, he did technically go running in the woods.

Instead of doing his normal ritual, he pushes himself through the doggy door that he had installed just the other week. Blood smearing over the side of the doggy door, his paws meet the hardwood floor and start to slip as he falls hard onto the side that was injured. A loud cry leaves him as he does. He hopes that none of his neighbors heard him, or else he was going to have a lot of explaining to do. Something he would much rather avoid when he felt so dizzy and like he was going to throw up.

The shift back was far more difficult than what he would have thought it to be. The mental toll of demanding it to happen causes his brain to go fuzzy from exhaustion. The shift isn't as painful as it once was but the changing of fur to skin was extremely excruciating around the area that was skimmed. His joints were snapping into place as his human hand grip to his side, trying to stop the bleeding. Blood was all over the place, the floor, his hands, and somehow smearing more across his naked body. He blinks, still in the slight daze of transitioning like that as he tries to come back down to earth. To force himself up and to help himself before he bled to death.

He knows that Billy saw him, and watched the whole situation unfold in front of him. It was only a matter of time before he came over to check on him. Not because he wanted to, but because it was a part of being in a pack. Something that Steve was still trying to wrap his head around. They weren't really a pack, just a duo who so happened to be able to shift into wolves. Steves is the Alpha in a way.

He whines in pain as he sits up, tossing his head back as he fights to breathe like a normal person. His chest heaves out and in as he forces himself to stand. Stumbling and nearly falling on his face. He looks down at the floor, knowing he would have to clean the blood up later. For now, he would have to focus on patching himself up.

Steve proceeds to the kitchen, grabbing his first aid kid off the fridge. Placing himself down in a chair before he starts to improv everything that he was doing. He knew that he would heal a lot faster than most humans did but he needed something to clean it up with so that his side didn't grow infected. Ten minutes later he looks a bit paler but at least his side was cleaned and wrapped up with a medical wrap.

He fights to stand up, his head spinning as he tries to keep his balance. Moving his way to his basket of clothes that sat unfolded in front of the basement door. He had no strength in walking up the steps to his room. His hands were shaking just trying to keep a good grip on his shirt as he pulled it over his head. Fighting to step into his boxer shorts without falling, quickly decided he didn't need pants on.

That thought is quickly thrown out the door when he hears his doorbell continuously going off. As if the person was pressing the button nonstop, which was very much the case. He groans as he waddles his way to the front door, his right hand holding onto his side as he hides behind his door so that whoever it was didn't see that he was only in a shirt and no pants.

His shoulders sag in relief when it was only Dustin. His eyes move out a bit paranoid as he pulls the boy in. Who was rambling out a lot of things that were not yet sticking to Steve's brain? The slight buzz in ears was too loud to really catch what the other was saying. The sudden lightheadedness strikes again as the buzzing turns to ring and he nearly falls face-first into the ground. A soft whimper leaves the back of his throat and he can hear his wolf starting to panic as he nearly loses consciousness. But forces himself to stay awake as he blinks confused as he watches Dustin move closer to him.

Hands gripping onto his shoulders in an attempt to push him back against the wall, to give him more balance. His mouth is still running a mile per minute and Steve wasn't processing anything as his mind and body started to melt from exhaustion. The adrenaline rushes no longer there as if his body knew that he was finally in a safe place.

He slouches a bit forward, nearly tumbling and taking Henderson out with him. He's fighting to take back control over his body again, but this was different compared to sharing with his wolf. This he wasn't sure he could fight dominance over. His body needed rest and he was fighting against what his body wanted. His eyes glossed over as he feels more like shit watching Dustin's eyes widen and look like he was on the verge of tears. Obviously begging for something and close to a panic attack. The kid was barely fourteen and he was having to deal with Steve's bullshit.

Bullshit.

God, only if Nancy was here. She would know what to do.

He's barely conscious when he feels an arm wrapping itself around his waist. His surroundings were nonexistent to him as he starts to mumble random things under his breath as he finally laid carefully on his back. Laying as comfortable as he could on his mother's couch.

"Can't get blood on the couch..." he mumbles starting to drift to sleep, a hand carefully starting to slap the side of his face in an attempt to wake him up more. It wasn't working, but his eyes do open a bit more, focusing a bit more as they land on Billy Hargrove's face. "My moms going to kill me if I get blood on the couch." He groans trying to sit back up and get off the couch. Only to be lightly shoved backward again.

Billy's face pinches up in irritation as he shakes his head no. Steve catches sight of Dustin behind his shoulder faintly freaking out. Cursing as he walks back and forth across the living room, with his hand close to his mouth. Hargrove must have caught onto his distraction, turning his head to look over his shoulder. Obviously snapping at Dustin to knock it off. The boy listens, stops in his tracks but proceeds to sass the other back. None of the words are comprehensible for Steve to understand as he lets his head lull back. Giving into sleeping on the couch, deciding just a few minutes wouldn't hurt.

And that is the last thing he remembers before he is sleeping.

When he comes back to, Dustin is curled up in one of his mother's side chairs with a blanket tightly wrapped around him as he sleeps. Steve can't help but smile a bit at the image before he moves to sit up. Whining a bit as he does. His side still ached but not nearly as badly as earlier. He keeps his noises down the best he can as he sits up, letting his feet touch the carpet. Lifting the arm that wasn't affected by the wound up to sweep his hair out of his face. Not bothering to use any product anymore. Not because he didn't want to but because it bothered his wolf when they shifted.

Standing up, with a slight sway to his feet he works his way to the kitchen. In hopes to get something to eat and drink. His throat was extremely dry, and he really wanted to change that. When he reaches the doorway to the kitchen he freezes. The wrinkles on his forehead pinch together as he looks at the sleeping figure for a moment. Billy Hargrove was not nearly as endearing as Dustin Henderson when he slept. His curls fell over his face growing matted the longer he slept. His face was relaxed, something that was a rare sight, and his mouth was open a bit. In the process of drooling a small puddle onto his table.

Steve creeps forward as silently as possible. Making a face as he touches the other's shoulder lightly, not missing the way the other jolts up in a flinch. Eyes glossed over with sleep slowly growing more alert as time went on. His back and shoulders grew stiff as his body prepares to defend itself from any harm. Steve didn't like Billy Hargrove and thought the guy was a royal douchebag. But he had to admit the other came through for him today and he can't help but feel bad for waking him up. Normally he didn't care, the guy was too much of an asshole to earn his empathy but today was an acceptance. The guy looked like a walking zombie. Obviously not getting enough sleep at home. For what reason, that was unknown.

"I have guest rooms if you want to just stay?" Steve comments. Looking at the other a bit wary. Unsure if his invitation would be considered by the other. "Don't really think it's a good idea that you drive like this, you look like a fucked-up Zombie dude." Steve tries to joke as he moves to his sink. Reaching up to one of the cabinets carefully as he pulls out two glass cups for water.

"No," Billy says a bit short. Standing up as he starts to stretch his back out, little popping noises are heard throughout the kitchen. He then moves to leave the room in an attempt to leave but before he passes a threshold a look flashes over his face. Before it fills with agitation. Steve simply glances at the other, not wanting to be caught staring. Recognizing the way, the other try's to push his body forward to only be forced to a stop.

"Wolf causing problems again?" Steve asks carefully. Not wanting to hit a trip wire or something with the other. The topic of their wolves scarcely coming up together. Seemingly sensitive with the other still. He moves his eyes away from the other quickly when the other turns to look at him, trying to act nonchalant about the whole situation.

He turns the faucet on, filling both glasses up with water before setting one on the sink and turning his body to lean on the counter. His free hand moved and held onto the edge, careful not to strain his side too much. Allowing his eyes to land on Billy after a moment of silence. Watching the other's face contort into frustration before he gives in to his wolf. Walking over, his presence was a bit anxious inducing as Steve never knew what the other was going to do. Billy was his own personal wild card if you will.

Billy gets a little too into his personal space, blue eyes skimming Steve's face for any sign of weakness. This was an intimidation tactic, both Steve and his wolf could recognize that from a mile away. Before whatever the hell happened to him and Billy he would have stepped back, would have let the other think he was In control if that meant there was no conflict. Now, his wolf refused to give in. Some hidden meaning to it. Steve assumes that it would be a bit more harmful to give in now than when they were humans.

He watches in real-time as the other's eyes soften along with his tense shoulders and back. As if he had been testing to see if Steve was strong enough to handle him a few moments ago. Lifting the glass from the counter, his eyes never leave Steve as he takes a slow sip from his water. Before setting the glass back down on the counter with a soft dinking noise. Some weird interaction was happening between the two, which seems to be the first positive one since they were forced to hang around each other by the whole weird wolf thing.

Billy steps back, turning around as he helps himself to the refrigerator not answering Steves's answer. The whole exchange seemed to be the answer. Billy takes out the hamburger Steve and pulled from the freezer from the night before. Enough there to feed the two of them and Dustin.

Shit, Steve was going to have to call Claudia before he was arrested for kidnapping. Better yet, he was going to wake Dustin up and force him to call Claudia to either let her know that he was spending the night or on his way home. Most likely the rather as it was growing closer to eight o'clock and the sun was almost down entirely. Soon to be replaced with the moon.

"What is it and your weird obsession with the freak?" Billy asks. Pulling out a pan, seemingly knowing where everything was in Steve's kitchen. That was a bit concerning, but Steve did give the other permission to come here after a night of shifting. So it was no shock the other would actually follow through.

Steve raises his eyebrow as he moves to go sit down at the table. Felt the already familiar dizziness begin to hit him. "You mean Eddie?" he comments.

"Yeah, Munson," Billy says in a sarcastic tone, refusing to call him by his first name. "Now answer the damn question, your stupid obsession nearly got you killed. " He says annoyed as he forms one patty. Placing it on the pan. Starting to make two more but leaves them separate from the other one. Not bothering to season any of it. Probably did not care to do so.

"Why didn't you walk out the door like you wanted to?" Steve asks with a raised eyebrow. There was a point to be made here, and he wanted to make sure the other caught it. Even if that meant agitating him a bit. Watching the way Billy's jaw clenches a bit from irritation only amuses him a bit as he knew he was right about earlier.

"So it's your wolf?" Billy asks tightly. Being a bit snippy as well but Steve chooses to ignore that. Not wanting to put fuel on the already smokey fire.

"Yeah," Steve answers gently. "Don't really have control over it," He admits. His arms stay crossed over his chest as he talks. Letting the silence fall over the both of them with the accepting of the light sizzling of the meat cooking. Cooking the meat all the way through so that Dustin could eat it, while Billy leaves theirs slightly pink in the middle but cooked enough to pass them as normal.

"I'm going to go wake the kid up," Steve grunts a little as he moves standing up from his chair. Feeling his knees popping a bit. Making a few more questionable noises before walking his way out to the living room.

Obsession; September 2023 (two days after being shot) 

Steve knew that the people knocking on his door had their hearts in the right place, but he was growing annoyed by the number of people randomly dropping by to check that he was okay. Even Chief Hopper had dropped in, admitting that he had received numerous wellness checks from concerned neighbors and or fellow people in town who had noticed he missed a day of school.

Steve had decided that with his wound the way it was that he wasn't going to school. Too afraid that If he did go that he would accidentally pass out or something. Or he would reopen the wound up. Which was already starting to heal faster than Steve thought. He can't even imagine what it would have been If the bullet actually hit him. He would not have been capable enough to pull a bullet out of his body. Nor would he have been able to run through the woods back to safety.

The reality that he could have died had started to set in when the first of many knocks started against his door. Now, over thirty knocks later he was ready to shoot himself if it meant getting these people to leave him alone. Constantly forcing him to get up and off his couch to answer the door, interrupting whatever he was watching so many times that he has been stuck on the same movie for nearly six hours. (The movie was only a two-hour film) Not only was that a problem but he could barely walk outside without feeling someone's eyes on him, or getting called to.

He had only missed one day of school and this was the reaction of the town. It was overbearing and he wished there was something he could do about it but there was nothing. He had finally gotten them mostly off his back and now here they were again, worst than when he had first come back home. Sometimes he wishes that he wasn't found. Then he would still get away with running around the woods as a wolf twenty-four-seven. Now he had responsibilities, like Billy and friends that would miss him too much. He's sure Robin would personally pick up hunting and kill him for trying to leave her behind. God only knows how Dustin would react. (Hint; it would not be good)

So when the next morning finally rolls around he forces himself to get out of bed, to slide on clothes. His side was still not in tip-top shape and his skin was itching to shift but with all of the attention on him the day before he didn't dare risk it. His hair was a mess and he couldn't bring it in himself to really care. The day before had been so miserable and exhausting that he didn't even feel like trying too hard for today. Which meant his grey sweatpants and yellow sweater would have to do.

There had been another reason why he had been so interested in going to school. Eddie Munson was its name. He was so worried about him being injured that his wolf was beginning to stress out with the fact they were unable to just strip naked and shift into the woods and find themselves in the trailer park. Where they would only lurk on the edge of the woods for hours, watching Eddie do whatever mundane task. But Steve quickly learned that there was no mundane task with the Munson boy. Everything was done with such craziness that watching him simply bend over and tie his shoe was hilarious. It was hard to explain and Steve didn't have the energy to do so. He did feel like a stalker, but he didn't have much control over his wolf when it came to this area.

Billy had made it very clear to him that Eddie was fine the night before. Said Munson was a little shaken up but no mark was left on him. Though the guy that pulled the trigger had a broken nose from Wayne Munson who immediately punched him the second Steve was gone. Something that brought a bit more enjoyment to Steves's evening.

Going to school in the condition he was in was probably not a good idea, but staying inside all day answering numerous phone calls and knocking at the door sounded more painful. That and his wolf just needed to have one glimpse at Eddie to feel better, after that if he was still not feeling great then he would leave school early. That was the deal he makes with himself as he gets into his car. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes before turning the key in the ignition.

Looking out of his passenger side window catching sight of his nosey neighbor, once again holding a small shovel. This time though she was actually gardening, even though her eyes were trained on his car. She puts on that cheery smile that Steve hates so much and lifts one of her gloved hands up and waves at him. He's tempted to ignore it, instead, he bitterly raises his own hand and waves gently at her with a tight-lipped smile as he begins to pull out of his driveway.

Turning the radio to the same station that had been set in the tow truck that Eddie had driven him in. He doesn't even know whos playing, but he does know that this was one of those songs that Eddie had on repeat in the privacy of his own room. The familiarity of it eases his wolf to a more relaxed state as he drives, more carefully than he typically would. Parking in his normal spot he unbuckled, grabbed his bag from the back of the vehicle, and tosses it over his shoulder carefully. Ignoring all of the eyes that were still more interested in him than the conversations that they were having or the teacher's words, who most times would get irritated with the lack of attention and assign more homework. All because everyone wanted to look at the boy that was supposed to be dead. (A lot of kids were going to get held back at this rate)

Walking through the halls of the school that he shouldn't even be in right now, he heads toward his locker. Taking a long way round so that he could pass Eddie's locker in hopes of seeing him. His eyes skim the crowds as well, stomach doing flips of excitement whenever he sees a head of curls. Only to be disappointed when it's just some girl. When he gets closer to the other locker, he slows down on purpose. In hopes that the other would just come in out of nowhere. His eyes land on the locker that had stickers all over it, wolf keening in disappointment as he heads to his locker to drop off some books to lighten his load, but to also pick up some of his folders of work.

Ten minutes later and he finds himself doing loops around the area trying to see Eddie. He hopes he isn't being too obvious, but the look he receives from Billy says that he was as he meets the other boy near the doors to figure out a plan with getting Steve the ability to go and shift after school. Which was apparently swapping clothes, both of them deciding to wear a hoodie to cover their faces. It would be a bit risky for Steve to shift so close to school but if he didn't do it then he was definitely going to accidentally shift at home. And with the number of eyes on his house he didn't want to risk somebody getting suspicious of the white "dog" running into the woods and trying to drop in to let Steve know his dog escaped only to find Billy there and Steve nowhere in sight.

"You look like a fucking creep," Billy grumbles under his breath for only him to hear. Steve rolls his eyes as he takes the sweater from the other hand. A black zip-up that was going to be baggy on him but should work. He drops his bag to the ground slipping it into the bag before putting it back on his shoulder with an eye roll. Trying to ignore the other's comments.

"How many times are you going to circle his locker before the first bell rings?" Billy scoffs, arms crossed over his chest. Glaring holes into whoever dared look at them longer than a few moments. The guy was back to being a dick full-time as his eyes kept shifting back from Steve to the other kids.

"I don't know, now will you shut up," Steve growls a bit. Wolf grew agitated with the other. Billy's posture goes rigid as something flashes through his eyes. It wasn't fear but it was something that Steve has never seen the other hold in his expression before. It was a bit unsettling knowing that he got Billy of all people to listen to him.

Both of them snap out of whatever heated moment they have as Steve asks, "Did I just-?" He asks unable to finish his sentence before Billy grumbles and starts to turn around to leave.

"Shut up, your stupid boyfriend is on his way. Was just hopping in his van when I left." Billy snaps. Not bothering to be soft with his words. Agitated with whatever just happened between the two of them. Saying it loud enough in an attempt to embarrass Steve. In response, Steve just rolls his eyes and turns his back on him, and starts to walk forward going over the scene that had just taken place.

Steve was slowly starting to realize that he had a bit more control over the other than when they first met. As if their dynamics suddenly shifted and all because of their wolves. His shoulders relax when the other is finally gone and he turns to do one final lap around the hall. Lost in thought trying to figure out how he was going to control his wolf from just snapping Billy's head off like he has done before. Even though he did kind of deserve it.

They were still coming up with theories as to why they suddenly started to shift into wolves, but even that was hard to pinpoint down let alone why Steve was the "Alpha" of the"pack" when Billy probably fit into that role way better than him. Steve had always been more of a follower throughout high school, with the image saying he was the leader of most of the bullying when in reality that had been Tommy. Who was still pissed at him for dropping him the second he came back home.

His wolf forces him to snap out of his thoughts when they smell the familiar scent of weed and horribly cheap knock-off Axe. His lips pull up in a relieved smile when he finishes his last lap of the hallway. Eyes looking at the frantic figure of the boy, not stopping to check if he was okay. No matter how much he wanted to.

The bell finally rings a few seconds later giving everyone their first warning to head to class. This time instead of taking a turn to the right like he had numerous times before he takes a left heading to his first-period class. Wolf was somewhat pleased and his tense shoulders sagging with relief

After School, September 2023

Steve was really nervous about this plan. If Billy somehow messed this up they were both so screwed. It would only take one person seeing Billy's face to know something was off. It would also take one person to see Steve shifting for everything to go wrong. He would have to do this quickly or else it was all over. Grunting he holds the plastic bag, wearing the hoody Billy gave him. It smelt like cigarettes and booze. Though when he pressed his chin against his chest in an attempt to hide his face better he could smell that familiar Billy scent. That overwhelming scent of old spice makes him want to gag but smell more because he just couldn't stop sniffing at it out of curiosity.

It was like spoiled milk, you would smell it to check if it was bad and nearly throw up in the process. Getting your answer. But still going in for a second sniff just in case you were smelling wrong. It was kind of like that for Steve, who knows that after all of this, he was going to have to scrub the scent off his skin. He honestly didn't mind the smell it was just the thought that he was sharing a smell with Billy Hargrove that made his nose scrunch up in disgust.

He's in the process of walking down the small trail that leads through the woods behind the school, trying to get far enough that no one would be able to find his bag of clothes or see him doing something unnatural that would leave to a witch hunt. Or some poor innocent person being locked up in an asylum. He passes the picnic table, stopping when he catches the familiar scent that he had spent twenty minutes that morning searching for. 

He stops in his tracks, listening for anything that seemed off. Catching some commotion happening to the farthest left hidden in the trees. If his instincts were correct there were at least three people gaining up on Eddie. It concerns him that he could know all of that just from his ears. When it should be physically incapable to hear something that was so far away. Before his brain can think logically about being seen in the woods, breaking his plan of not being caught  

Cramming the plastic bag into a nearby tree he jogs over to the place he knows Eddie is. His wolf was seeing red when he catches sight of Eddie hunched up on the ground holding his stomach with Jason Carver standing over him rambling about something that Steve really didn't give a shit about. He only cared about getting the group of jackasses off the scrunched-up boy. 

His side was burning from the extra strain but he doesn't let that stop him as he runs tackling Jason into the ground before he could get another kick in. Steve wasn't too worried about losing, a monster wolf thing against three human teenagers? The fight was pathetic as he holds back. Letting the two guys pull him from Jason before he is elbowing one in the stomach and tossing the other into a tree with a little too much ease. Regretting his decision on doing that as he moves a hand down to hold onto his side. Wincing a bit, showing a sign of weakness. But the boys were way too slow to even get a hit against him.

 It takes giving Jason a bloody nose and injuring one of the other's wrists for them to back off. Cursing him out calling him a spew of nicknames that didn't bother him that much. Steve would give some sass back but he was too busy catching his breath. Panting like a dog as he feels his skin doing that telltale itch, where he knows he's close to shifting any second. Clenching his jaw as he bends over a bit, curling into himself with a soft pained wheeze. Nearly losing balance as he grows a bit pale again. 

"Shit dude, are you alright?" Eddie's voice rings through his head for a few seconds as he nods his head with a groan. Billy was so going to kill him. The one thing he had to do he failed. How typical of him. He tilts his head to the side to look up at the other a little as he nods his head. Not ready to use any more oxygen than he had to. Wincing a bit when he feels the other hand reaching over to his left shoulder to carefully lead him to sit down against the tree. 

Steve was already making a mental note to allow his wolf to piss on Jason Carver's porch. Something that was very disgusting but so going to be worth it. He's in a bit of a daze, fighting back from shifting. He was there but not fully. His wolf slowly grabbed more control over his body and mind. This whole situation was similar to that of Dustin the other night. He could see Eddie's mouth moving but couldn't hear what he was saying. 

He allows his eyes to skim the other, catching the way he similarly grips his side. He takes back allowing his wolf to piss on porches, he's going to allow her to drag a dead animal on the porch. That would get his point across. His ears are ringing as he blinks, trying to come back to earth when he catches sight of it. Well, he shouldn't say it, but her.

His anxiety raises, not liking how close the wolf was getting to Eddie. Her fur was a dirty blonde almost. It wasn't white but it wasn't a dark brown either. His eyes meet her and there seems to be a bit of familiarity in her eyes as they move from him to Eddie. As if she was there for the same reason as Steve. He scrunched his face up a bit still looking at her and not Eddie, who finally turns around to see what he was looking at. Still looking a bit stressed out about the entire situation that was happening right now. When Eddies back faces him Steve hopes the other wolf could understand him.

"Go, he's okay." he mouths. Watching in real-time as the creature freezes like a deer in headlights in front of Eddie. There must be something about him that got reactions like this from wolves. It wasn't natural. A second later and the wolf is sprinting away disappearing into the woods.

Now that was going to be added to a mental list of things to do. What the hell was going on with Hawkins and why was wolf skin becoming the new fad?

[harrywavycurly]

Summary: You’ve been married to Steve Harrington for over two years and things couldn’t be better, you even someon how managed to convince your childhood bestfriend Eddie Munson and his wife Chrissy to move in next door. You feel like you’re living the dream but slowly you start to notice it’s actually more of a nightmare when Steve begins acting weird, but at least you still have Eddie. But unknown to you Eddie is also beginning to feel like life is too good to be true when his wife starts coming up with excuses to not be home, but at least he has you his bestfriend right next door. This is a series all about how you never really know what’s happening behind closed doors and that love sometimes sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

Type of Story: This is a double feature cheater fic aka Steve and Chrissy both cheat on you and Eddie BUT it has a happy ending.

A/N: I know cheating fics aren’t everyone’s thing and that’s totally fine I understand this can be hard for some people to read so do what’s best for you✨

TW: Cheating, cursing, gaslighting and mentions of divorce

Status: Completed🖤

Tag List: Open

Instagrams: Here

Conversations: Here

Extras: here

*This is a texting series but you’ll find everything in the correct order below*

Part 1: Game Night

Part 2: Gossip

Part 3: Normal

Part 4: Smokes

Part 5: Cuddles

Part 6: Roses

Part 7: Note

Part 8: Exhale

Part 9: Employee of the Month

Part 10: Backyard bonus convo here

Part 11: Relieved bonus convo here

Part 12: Four Days

Part 13: Oil Change

Part 14: Not the First Time bonus convo here

Part 15: Porch

Part 15 part 2: Porch Convo bonus convo here

Part 16: Smooth Sailing bonus convo here convo with Steve and Chrissy here

Part 17: Police Escort

Part 18: Downstairs

Part 19: Open Spaces bonus convo between Eddie and Wayne here

Part 20: Five? bonus convo here

Part 21: Practice Date bonus convo here

Part 22: Sixteen

Part 23: Pizza

Part 24: Reflexes bonus convo here

Part 25: We’re Gonna Be Fine

Part 26: Change

Part 27: Late

Part 28: Trust

Part 29: Traditions

Part 30: Promises

Bonus Content:

That Felt Good

Permission

[strangersteddierthings]

Steve, Gareth and Chrissy are cousins AU (sad edition) [prologue] [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Final Part]

"So," Robin says after they clink their molotov cocktails together, "do we also get to talk about the whole cousin situation now?"

Steve looks across the field, where Eddie and Dustin are defending themselves from invisible enemies. Gareth and Lucas are swinging the finished spears at each other while Erica shakes her head at them, working on a third. It looks like Nancy is showing Max the proper way to hold a shotgun, which isn't nearly as bizarre as it probably should be.

"What's there to talk about?"

"Are you doing okay?" Robin asks.

Steve doesn't mean to making a scoffing noise. It just leaves his body involuntarily. "No. But I'm not the only one not doing okay. Now that we know Vecna doesn't have to do the whole weeklong build up to murder town, that he could get any of us, as any time and he's just being a sadistic bastard-"

"Steve. He'll take the bait. If nothing else, we have to believe that."

Steve looks from Max to Gareth, then back to Robin. "Yeah. Right."

Robin is quiet for a moment, before her eyes flick away and back to him again. "Do you want to talk to Gareth? He was... God, Steve, it was awful, hearing him scream for you. While Vecna was... Anyway, I know you two are like avoiding each other for whatever reason, but I think you can let go of whatever it was."

"I just wanted to keep them safe, Robbie," Steve swallows down the sob that wants to break free. "I never wanted them involved in this. I was so scared that I'd somehow infect them with the Upside Down that I just kept them away and it took Chrissy anyway. It-it-"

"It hasn't taken Gareth, though," Robin says softly, cutting Steve's spiral off. "It hasn't taken him. But he needs you. I think you need him, too. You should talk. Before we drop him at the Creel house. Because."

She doesn't finish, but that's fine. Steve knows what she's saying. They could die today. Any one of them. Chrissy died without Steve making it right. He'd started to work on hanging out with Chrissy again, but it was all surface level. He didn't even apologize. With Gareth he could justify, however shitty that was to do, that he was staying away because Gareth asked him to.

Chrissy hadn't asked for Steve to step out of her life. He'd done that himself in '83.

He can't do right by Chrissy anymore, but he can try with Gareth.

He stands and Robin gives his knee two solid pats before he walks away.

"Dustin, you piss off Steve somehow?" Eddie asks.

Gareth, in the middle of facing off with Lucas, pauses to look around, which gains him a light tap to his side by Lucas' spear. Sure enough, Steve is stalking their direction with a grim determination on his face.

"What, why am I the one getting the blame?" Dustin says, offended.

"It is usually you," Lucas adds, which earns him a squawk of indignation from Dustin, who shoots back, "he could be coming to lecture you for making Erica do all the spear making!"

Steve doesn't approach either boy, though.

"Hey, can we talk?" Steve asks once he comes to a stop in front of him.

"Got some end of the world regrets, Harrington?" Gareth says, trying to keep his voice lighter than he feels. He wants to tease Steve, not bully him.

He must succeed because Steve gives a chuckle and says, "I don't think we have time for all the end of the world regrets, so, uhh, just the one for now."

"We're cool, dude," Gareth says, eyes flicking from Steve to Eddie. The kids know, Gareth told them himself, but Eddie doesn't. "I started it."

"Yeah, but I graduated and still pretended you didn't exist. Which isn't what you asked for."

Gareth shrugs, because he doesn't know everything but he knows enough. Learned this isn't anyone else's (besides Eddie and his) first rodeo or whatever. That there have been other times, dating back to the year Will Byers was lost for a week. "Dude. Seriously. We're cool. You've been dealing with... whatever the fuck this is. So, just, like promise to be around more once we all survive this."

Steve looks pained but before he can reply, Eddie cuts in, "I'm sorry. How do you know each other?"

Gareth looks to Steve, who just shrugs as if to say your friend, you responsibility and honestly? Fuck Steve Harrington. Keeps traumatizing secrets and pushes Gareth away and also throws him to the wolves. Except, this is the secret Gareth has been keeping from Eddie. He sighs and turns to Eddie. "Well, uh, Steve's my cousin. We used to be super close before I started high school. Actually, Steve here is the reason I joined Hellfire!"

Eddie seems to go through all 7 stages of grief before settling into a confused. "I'm sorry. Steve talked you into joining Hellfire?"

"That is not what I did!" Steve defends himself.

"God no. He just went into great detail about how loud and obnoxious and attention-grabbing the current president was, as if that would make me want to not meet you for some reason."

"It was a warning!" Steve yelps at the same time Eddie sing-songs, "You think I'm attention-grabbing, Harrington?"

Dustin, Lucas, and Erica are all laughing at Steve has he tries to sputter through what he meant by attention-grabbing ("It's hard to not pay attention when he's shouting from the top of a lunch table!"), and Gareth just watches on, amused.

After they fight an... evil wizard? Vecna or whatever his name is. Once this is over, Gareth is going to sit Steve down and make him tell him everything, but that can wait.

He wants to watch Steve flounder trying to defend himself from the accusations of watching Eddie just a bit too much back in high school.

Later, as they all pack up and load up in the RV, Nancy stops Steve from entering the RV, ushering everyone past until Gareth and Steve are the only ones left outside.

"Are we acknowledging that you're cousins, now?" she asks.

"You knew!?" Steve sounds surprised. Gareth's surprised, too.

Nancy just rolls her eyes. "Steve, I've been to your house." When that just makes Steve look confused, she rolls her eyes and says, "there are family pictures covering almost every inch of your living room."

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Robin pipes in, appearing in the doorway with an angry expression.

"It wasn't really my thing to talk about, was it?"

"Yeah, but did you even check in with Steve? If you knew, and knew what happened to Chrissy- you didn't even ask if he wanted to go to the funeral!"

"Robin!" Steve hisses.

Nancy doesn't look upset by whatever accusation Robin seems to be trying to make. "If Steve wanted to go, he could have said something. We aren't his keepers. But, also," her gaze goes from Robin to Steve, "I didn't want to pry or seem pushy. I figured you'd tell us when you were ready."

Robin frowns but doesn't say anything else, disappearing back into the RV. Gareth gestures for Steve and Nancy to go first, and then he's closing and locking the door behind him before heading to sit by Eddie along the back bench seat. A bunch of shit has been piled there, so Gareth shoves it off the seat and to the floor. The pile of things ends up being a hazard and he almost brains himself while turning to sit down; something under his foot slides and Eddie saves him, yanking him to fall onto Eddie. After some fussing and laughter from those around, Gareth gets seated and looks down to see what almost killed him.

It's a phone book.

Eddie leans in close once they're back on the road to town to whisper, "so, you just let me go on all those rants about King Steve and never once thought to tell me you were related?"

Gareth just gives him his best impression of a King Steve smirk and says, "I would have hate to have deterred you from talking about your favorite school subject."

It's worth seeing the scandalized look on Eddie's face, even as the man socks him in the leg for the comment. "I hate you, man."

Gareth rubs his leg and says, "you don't mean that."

There's a long silence from Eddie after that before he says, "you're right. I don't mean that. And. Uh. In case I don't- in case it goes south down there but ends up fine up here, I just-"

"No," Gareth growls. "Fuck you, Eddie. We're going to be fine. All you gotta do is shred on your guitar and get the hell out. You're going to be fine."

"You didn't see the bats."

"Eddie."

"Fine. It's gonna be fine," Eddie agrees and falls silent.

Gareth frowns at that. Eddie must really be worried, to not argue back like he usually does. Gareth's worried, too, but what can he do?

He thinks about his mom. When did he last tell her he loves her? If they don't succeed tonight, will he get a chance to say it again? Will anyone get a chance to say it again?

Gareth looks down at the phone book at his feet.

"Wait, does anyone have change for a payphone?" Gareth asks from somewhere behind him. Steve turns in his seat to look into the back of the RV.

"Uh, yeah," Robin digs into her pockets, but then narrows her eyes at Gareth and asks, "wait. Who are you calling?"

"I have to let my mom know I'm alive. Just... hear my voice," Gareth says. "She needs to know I'm okay. It's already been too long since last we talked and... after Chrissy she was..."

Robin's face drops into the guiltiest look Steve's ever seen on her face and she produces her wallet, dropping the whole thing into Gareth's open hand. "Yeah, no. Sorry. There's still plenty of time for a phone call before the end of the world. You better return my wallet, Cunningham."

"I'm not going to rob you, Buckley," Gareth says before ducking out the RV with Max, Lucas, and Erica.

Steve tries not to let the guilt well up in him as they drive away. Gareth had wanted to come with Team Kill Vecna but Steve had quickly argued against that. He wasn't going to let Gareth anywhere near the Upside Down.

So it was decided. Max, Lucas, Erica, and Gareth at the Creel house, Dustin and Eddie on distraction, and Nancy, Robin, and Steve were going to face down Vecna.

There was still hours to go before they'd try, with a time set for 9:20ish, since that's the time Vecna's been enacting his curse according to Eddie's broken watch. Plenty of time to fortify Eddie's house in the Upside Down, plus the almost 40 minute walk to the Creel house from Forest Hills.

This was going to work. It had to.

Max and Lucas opt for hiding around the back of the house, waiting for time to pass until it's closer to dark, and Erica said she was going to snoop around the abandoned playground, so Gareth decided to head to the payphone a couple of blocks down the street.

He makes it halfway there before Erica scares the shit out of him by saying, "why do you need a phone book?"

Gareth yelps and spins, stupidly trying to hid the book behind his back even though he knows she already saw it. "I- uh, no. No reason."

Erica eyes him and he's suddenly very aware of whatever Eddie saw in her that night at Hellfire, that let her join the club. She's pretty scary for a middle schooler. "Do I look stupid? Who are you calling." It's not a question. It's a demand.

"I'm going to try and get a hold of Eddie's uncle," Gareth answers, trying to sound like an authority figure. "Tell him he'll find Eddie at his home at eight tonight. I know you all are so used to not telling people but this is- we need a real adult and Wayne's an army vet. He'll know how to help. He'll want to help."

She purses her lips, stays quiet for a moment before she nods. "I'm usually surrounded by stupid people, but you're kind of not one. I've got more change if you need it."

Gareth calls the plant and asks to speak to Wayne Munson. It's a bit of back and forth before the secretary agrees, but only if Wayne agrees to speak to a Gareth Cunningham. The plant must be getting calls from angry locals.

"Are ya really Gareth, or are ya just wantin' ta yell at me for helpin' raise the devil incarnate?" Wayne sounds tired and Gareth feels bad for him.

"Eddie would love for you to call him that to his face when you see him again."

"Thank God, son," Wayne sounds relieved. He must recognize Gareth's voice. "Ya okay? No one's harrassin' ya, are they?"

"No. Listen Wayne, I'm going to say something crazy but please just listen and do your best to be casual. I know where Eddie is. Or, where he will be at eight tonight. He's.... not physically hurt but he's going to need you. He might hate me for telling you this but I had to."

There is a pause where all he hears through the phone is a long inhale followed by a slow exhale. "Mmm hmm. I appreciate yer concern and glad ta hear no one's botherin' ya just for knowin' Eddie."

Gareth is only confused for a moment before he realizes Wayne is trying to make this conversation sound routine from his end. "Just. He's going home. But please don't show up until after eight. If you... if you beat him home he might run. Try to keep you out of this, y'know?" Gareth is just lying now, but he's a teenage boy in a garage band that plays in a dingy bar at the edge of town. That is to say, he knows how to lie off the cuff.

"I read ya loud and clear. I'll let ya know as soon as Eddie's been found safe so ya can quit worryin'. I gotta get back to it, but thanks for reachin' out."

Gareth hangs up and looks to Erica. "Well. Let's hope I haven't ruined everything."

"Let's hope that you know Wayne as well as you think you do."

[jadewritesficshere]

Steddie AU where Eddie gets on a dating app but hides most of his face because of his scars from a car accident.

He matches with "Steve" who is just a simple God among men but God is he awkward. Half the time he doesn't even know what to respond, so he let's Chrissy. Chrissy is spending all her time messaging Steve. Eddie would be jealous but this was supposed to be a simple hookup after all.

The day comes to meet Steve at a bar. Chrissy CANT tell Steve it's her now, begs Eddie to go. Eddie gets her to agree to buy all the fast food for the next month.

Except when Eddie walks up to Steve, Steve acts like he has no clue who he is. Which, rude, Eddie doesn't think the most highly of himself but cmon. Except the girl sitting next to him is flustered and red as a tomato.

Turns out, Steve let Robin use his image on a dating app just because she wanted to practice flirting. Robin thought Eddie was a girl because one photo showed some lingerie peeking above the clothes (which Steve seemed very intrigued at).

Apparently their chemistry in the chats was insane. Robin was going to confess but never really found the chance to. Eddie tells Robin he is gay, which she adamantly says she is too.

Chrissy confesses that she was talking to Robin not Eddie. Robin is flustered but giggling, both start flirting and go off on their own. Steve looks Eddie up and down and goes "so...lingerie?" They go home together that night

[hairmetal666]

Chrissy sits at the usual patio table, a sweet tea waiting for him at the seat across from her. On spotting him, her face morphs into an impish grin. “I hear you’re a basketball player, now.”

Eddie sighs hard, slumping back in his chair. “I’ve never been more miserable in my life.”

Chrissy’s laugh is the light tinkling of crystal. “You can tell them no!”

“Seriously, never again,” he chuckles.

“Are you any good?”

“A disaster. If I ever do anything cool, it’s entirely by accident.”

She tries to hide how hard she’s laughing behind her glass, but she’s making little snorts that have her shoulders shaking, and soon Eddie is losing it too. They giggle together until the waitress comes by to take their order. It’s the girl Jason messed around with, and Eddie can’t quite look at her.

Once the waitress leaves, Chrissy fixes him with a level stare that has a swirl of nerves snagging at his gut. “So,” she says.

“So?”

“Steve Harrington.”

“I’m familiar with his work.” The thought of how familiar makes his ears burn.

“Uh huh,” She deadpans.

“Nothing is going on with us.”

“Sure. Cause not even three weeks ago you were very publicly all over each other.”

“It was just flirting.” He’s trying his hardest not to blush horribly, because they did flirt constantly in front of everyone before abruptly stopping.

“It’s not just the flirting, Eddie. You have to know how he looks at you.”

“He looks at me?” He hates that he asks, that his voice goes high.

“You know those crane machines? Where you try to win a toy? He looks at you like you’re the prize.”

Surprise! Chapter 12 of Forever is the Sweetest Con is up now on ao3!

[helpimstuckposting]

hc: Steve always calls Robin ‘Rob’ or ‘Robbie’ or ‘Robs’ so any girlfriends always assume his best friend is a guy and get angry when they realize it’s actually Robin, and Robin always calls Steve ‘Stevie’ so dates always assume Stevie is a girl and get intimidated

[bigdumbbambieyes]

Besties Chrissy and Billy’s typical Saturday include:

• a horror movie (it’s Chrissy’s turn to pick and she chose Texas Chainsaw Massacre); they always plan to be the Final Girl and Killer for Halloween but it changes with each movie they watch and they fight over who gets to be Final Girl constantly

• prank calls to Eddie and Steve; Eddie has clued in weeks ago and goes along with it happily while Steve still can’t decide if it’s Max or Billy doing the prank calls (as Eleven and Max like to also prank him during their sleepovers)

• the usual snacks; veggies and fruit, crackers and cheese, popcorn, beer and wine coolers, an edible from Eddie.

• gossiping about people at school; Billy calls Carol if he can’t remember a story she told him earlier that week and while Chrissy refuses to spread rumours, she still loves hearing the drama of her fellow classmates.

• Billy painting Chrissy’s nails while he vents about his boyfriend; the care that Billy puts into making sure her polish never smudges or touches her cuticles while simultaneously verbally ripping Steve a new one will forever leave her in awe.

• talking about their futures; Billy wants to take Steve to California while Chrissy wants to live with Eddie in Chicago so she can go to school. They haven’t discussed these plans with their boyfriends (yet) but they hope they’ll be all for them.

[lunastar92]

Joseph & Grace

[resident-gay-bitch]

Too Late Masterlist

summary: You’ve always secretly pined over Eddie Munson, your best friend, but when you find out he’s dating Chrissy Cunningham, you reach your breaking point. you seek comfort from Gareth, your second best friend. you figure out he’s got a crush, but you don’t know who, you were determined to figure it out though. but he was determined to keep his feelings for you locked away forever. but plans change, right?

warnings: (18+) alcohol, porn, mentions of masturbation, brief mentions of slut shaming, abusive/manipulative eddie, hospitals, smut.

character description: fem, she/her pronouns, female anatomy, hair at least long enough to sweep back from face.

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

part 5

part 6

part 7

part 8

part 9

part 10

part 11

part 12

part 13

part 14

part 15

part 16 - finale

if you'd like to read any of my other works, you can find them here :)

a spotify playlist i curated specifically for this fic:

[eddiemunslay]

someone PLEASE write ‘bettter than revenge (eddie’s version)’ where chrissy steals eddie from reader PLS I NEED ITTTT

[hellcheerficdatabase]

wish i knew who you were (wish i knew who i was)

Author: @hearjessroarfics

Rating/Warning: Teen and up audience

Chapter Count: 1/1

Description:

Eddie has never felt less stable in his life, the world tilting on its axis as black mascara tear tracks trace down Chrissy Cunningham’s pretty pretty face.

She’s staring down at where he’s got his hand wrapped around her wrist, and christ, he might be an asshole but he certainly isn’t a dick; they both know he doesn’t actually have a grip on her.

“....why?” she asks, and it’s a snot-choked, wrack of a gasp, like it’s been torn out from between her teeth against her will. Eddie’s heart plummets. “Why would you do that?”

Eddie swallows, and lets Chrissy tug herself free, shrinking into the too-big shirt she borrowed from him just for tonight. His jacket sits boxy on her shoulders.

“You weren’t supposed to-” he starts, and hates himself.

“I wasn’t supposed to what?” she asks, swiping uselessly at her face. “Find out?”

-

Eddie loses a bet.

And when Eddie loses that bet, he has to ask out Chrissy Cunningham.

To his eternal surprise, it goes really well-

-until it doesn't.

Tags: Alternate universe- no vecna, miscommunication, mutual crushes, confessions, first dates, getting together, Eddie is an idiot, fluff, awkward flirting, the best kind, friends to lovers, emotional hurt/comfort, Eddie POV, one-shot, status: completed

[harrywavycurly]

Trouble Next Door Part 9: Employee of the Month

Masterlist: Here

TW: Mentions of cheating and cursing

Tag List: @sinczir @rach5ive @bruher @kellyxo1 @tiannamortis @makingmunson94 @angelina16torres-blog @tlclick73 @gretavankleep37 @melaninjhs @amira0303 @robyn-118 @idkjoequinn @jaydaaasworld @squidscottjeans @rockstarmunsons @alanamarie @dandelionnfluff @aol19 @eddiesguitarskills @vampdaisy @br66klynbaby @raven-rust @daisyridleyyyy @i-love-ptv @josephquinnsfreckles @mrsjellymunson @hideoutside

A/N: Don’t kill me for how this ended and also I LOVED hearing y’all’s theories on who you thought it was and don’t worry you’ll get to know exactly what NB stands for…eventually✨

*Eddie needs help and you just need to know if purple is too much*

[urlocalfaerie]

chrissy posts a tiktok like "using my scary dog privilege to take a walk at night" and its just eddie

(little does everyone know,, eddie is a golden retriever at best)

[beenherewaytoolong]

Moshing with Munson

Headcanon that's basically canon anyway:

Eddie is the guy in the middle of the mosh pit protecting the smaller metal fans from getting crushed.

It's his instinct, but it becomes a dedicated Thing he Does when his tiny best friend gets stepped on ONE TIME. Cheer Captain by day, metalhead by night Chrissy Cunningham gets right in the center of the action; she's got steam to blow off and it doesn't matter how much it makes Eddie's blood pressure go through the roof, she dives right in. Eddie is right there to take a couple swings from her, and to give a well-placed shove or two when some dude gets a little too close. And he maybe shoves a little harder if he catches a look he doesn't like.

Maybe Eddie becomes friends with the bouncers, and maybe all he has to do is nod his head in their direction to get someone removed from the pit...and if they get kicked out of the concert all together, well, he can't say he's heartbroken about it.

IVE GOT A SAD CONTINUATION OF THIS THING BUT IT'S ALREADY GONE ON TOO LONG SO BYE FOR NOW.

[hairmetal666]

Eddie doesn’t make any real effort to get ready to meet Chrissy. Throws on jeans, a Metallica hoodie, and black Converse that Edwin Dooly would never wear. It hardly matters now, keeping up the ruse.

The restaurant she picked is a little bistro in a quiet neighborhood just outside of downtown. The small patio is shaded with trees, the warm, wood interior bright and inviting. Chrissy waits for him on a  wrought iron bench by the front door.

She pulls him into a hug as soon as he’s out of the car, and he finds himself clinging to her comfort.

“I’m so glad to see you. I’m so glad you’re okay” she murmurs.

“I’m okay,” he agrees. “It’s okay.”

Her face crumples a little, and he holds her tighter.

“It’s not your fault, you know?” He asks. He presses a kiss to the top of her head.

“I know but it’s—” she shrugs.

He nods. “I know. You aren’t responsible but now you can put all the pieces together, and it’s hard to figure how you didn’t see it before. But Chrissy. You didn’t know. You couldn’t have done anything.”

“How’d you get so wise?” Her smile is small but genuine.

Chapter 20!