#Eddie's not someone to complain- he loves his job after all- but with every job comes Those Days | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

maithefluffychicken · 1 year ago

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Hazelnuts and blackberries, chocolate and lavender

Part 1 / Part 2

Omegaverse Steddie fanfiction, alpha Eddie Munson, omega Steve Harrington, strangers to friends to lovers, alpha beta omega dynamics.

Starcourt.

Small business owners complain about that hellish building that's going murder Hawkins' commercial economy. Or whatever.

Surely, it was going to murder Eddie's sanity, that's a fact. Since the mall opened its doors, the poor alpha’s life hasn’t been the same.

First, that awful morning when Eddie skipped his math class to buy a tape. Not just any tape but the ‘Marching Out’ by Yngwie Fucking Malmsteem, a tape that just released and it was already considered a worthwhile listen album. Eddie was ecstatic, a spring in his step, thinking about listening to his new tape for hours on end, just to find out that the little, cluttered tapes and vinyl store he loved - and where he used to spend a big part of his money - was closed.

Closed!

Eddie glared, gaping like a fish, at the closed door and blinded windows and the big cardboard placard with the word ‘closed’ in big, red letters. By its side, a note that said that the customers could still find whatever music they were looking for in the bigger and better record store at Starcourt Mall.

Since there were no other stupid stores to buy the tape - gas stations never had the new things - Eddie had to go to Starcourt.

Second, the stupid music store with a stupid cool name - Divinyl Madness Records - needed a stupid someone to hire as clerk.

Eddie was that stupid someone, it seemed. The owner of the store was nice, an older and intimidating alpha that sported a trimmed beard and a mane longer than Eddie’s; he saw the boy’s looks and his always present battle denim vest and, with a wolfish grin, as if he had found an equal, asked him a few things while Eddie was trying to buy the fucking tape! What kind of music he listened to (metal, mostly), if he played some instrument (guitar, d-uh!), if he minded talking with people (people usually minded to talk with him if he were being honest), and if he was interested to become part of Divinyl Records, as a clerk.

Eddie could save some money, help at home, and hopefully, Chief Hopper wouldn’t be such a present figure in his life if he worked there. That would be nice. He could always keep his other job - selling a few joints from time to time - but maybe he could start a new life. One that could let him out of here.

That day, Eddie came home with ‘Marching Out’ blasting from his van’s windows down and a new job.

Ok, all in all that had been a nice day after all. Sure, Eddie would miss the old store and his chaotic shelves and disarrayed style, and the owner's long stares at him, the beta glaring at Eddie for taking too much time deciding what to buy while waiting for new album releases. But at home that night, when he told his uncle Wayne about his new job, the man rewarded him with a proud glint in his eye and a pat on his shoulder, reassuring him that he didn't need to worry about their economics, that Eddie better save his money for his future, and made him promise to not go around skipping his classes again.

Third, and worse thing about Starcourt and working there, though, was Steve the King of the Jerks Harrington.

And if his persona wasn't bad enough, the real nightmare was the tight, small ridiculous sailor uniform he had to wear because the fallen ruler of Hawkin’s High worked in the silly ice cream parlor called Scoops Ahoy!

Divinyl Madness was situated right in front from Scoops Ahoy, Eddie had a perfect view of the former king's highlighted blonde mane ruined by the silly hat, his toned arms flexing every time he scooped ice cream. That alone could drive any alpha insane.

But his shorts. Oh boy.

The blue fabric clinged to his round ass perfectly, and left muscular, slightly hairy thighs on sight. And those long white socks that covered his calves.

Eddie maybe hated the guy, but fuck, he was hot. Really hot. Stupidly hot, ridiculously even, always has been, and the alpha hated the way his eyes lingered on the jock whenever he was nearby.

Eddie knew, because he had heard it at high school, that one of the reasons for Harrington's disgrace was the fact that he presented late and as omega. Captain of the swimming team, basketball star, and a bully jock turned into nothing just because of his secondary gender. Eddie couldn’t easily forgive the way Steve Harrington treated his people, the nerds, the outcasts and the misfits, but he never understood that hate towards male omegas or female alphas, as if they were less than nothing. Stupid old-fashioned social conventions.

Anyway. The real and only reason Eddie hated to work at the record store is that Steve Harrington was always there, too, in that small outfit, being hot.

Hot enough to distract Eddie from time to time, who started to stare at him when he wasn't busy and no clients were at the store.

Hot enough to start invading Eddie's dreams at night, and fuck it all, even his fantasies when he was wide awake at night and restless because Steve was a wet dream made flesh and bone and Eddie was just a guy. Just give him a rest. What if he had to knot his own fist, what else could he do about it?

Eddie was just a guy who ate a lot of ice cream that summer.

“Ahoy Ladies! Would you like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I’ll be your captain, I’m Steve Harrington,” Steve’s cheerful and flirty greeting to every cute girl while he winked and used his sultriest voice was fucking unnerving to Eddie. Maybe an old habit from when he was expecting to present as an alpha.

Maybe Steve preferred other omegas, just because they were girls? Eddie frowns upon this and he feels suddenly sick. Every fucking time he comes for a stupid ice cream during his break the same thing, the same stupid line falling from these pink, flush lips and Eddie feels…

He fucking wants to growl and snarl at these other poor omegas girls that are unaware of his inner turmoil. He’s going insane, and he has been working at Divinyl Record for only three weeks.

The girls have their ice creams, ignoring the omega in his slutty sailor disguise but they all scrunch their noses when walking past Eddie, glaring at him and flushing themselves together, the way the omegas do to protect themselves against an alpha. Eddie, even enraptured by Steve, notices it and looks at them in confusion, until- fuck. His scent. Sour with jealousy and spicier with his own arousal, it’s a very distinctive and very alpha smell, no doubt the poor girls had felt the need to close their pack to protect themselves, leaving the establishment in a rush.

Fucking great, as if Eddie hadn’t enough in his plate already, now he smells like a predator. And it’s not like he can turn and say ‘hey babes, don’t you fret, you surely are all lovely and very enticing omegas, but I’m afraid my mind is set in this pretty sailor over here, I won’t represent any danger to any of you, and now I bid you farewell.’ Ha!

“Ahoy Lad-, oh Eddie, hi!” Steve greets him, a wide smile in those pink lips and Eddie can’t help but to think, it’s not fair. Why the fuck does Steve to smile at him like that, as if he’s happy to see him today, as if he’s happy to have Eddie coming for an ice cream every day since Eddie started working in the mall, right in front of Scoops Ahoy.

“What, no offer for me to sail this ocean of flavor, hm?” Eddie teases, he can’t help himself. “ You don’t want to be my captain, Harrington?”

Steve’s cheeks turn red and that’s such a good look on him. Eddie’s hindbrain yells mine and he has to shake his head, reminding himself he hates this guy and always will. People don’t change, Steve Harrington doesn't change, he’s still the same jerk, even if his scent is sweeter now and his hair is a bit longer, with blonde highlights…

“Pft, captain? Not even Private First Class, our dear Steve,” a chirpy voice says from the backstore, the blonde girl who works with Steve appearing and resting her arm on Steve’s shoulder, grinning wide while Steve frowns at her. “But he’s working hard. How are you, Eddie?”

“Hey, Robin,” Eddie smiles tensely at her, he doesn’t enjoy the way she treats the omega. From the record store, though, Eddie has seen that it’s just how their friendship is. He knows, he knows they’re friends, and Eddie is no one for them, for Steve. “Slow day at the store, I’m here for my daily dose of sugar.”

They’re not friends, Eddie has to remind himself, when Steve offers him a blinding smile, droopy eyes locking with his own when he asks if he wants a sample of their new flavor.

Fuck.

The thing is, and this is when Eddie realizes for real that he’s completely fucked - about this whole affair who involves Steve Harrington and his inner, loud alpha- the thing is, that Steve’s scent smells like hazelnuts and lavender. And since Eddie started working at the store and spending his money on ice cream, he has been asking for flavors that remind him of Steve’s scent. Almond and maple syrup, chocolate and peanuts - his favorite, since Eddie’s own scent is dark chocolate and blackberries, and -

He hasn’t noticed until now, until this exact moment when he shrugs and Steve offers him a disposable spoon with the new ice cream flavor: caramel and hazelnuts.

Eddie opens his mouth, inhaling the cold scent of the sample when Steve raises his hand, offering the spoon to him; the omega chuckles but shoves the spoon in Eddie’s mouth carefully. The omega’s own scent, warmer and even sweeter, the hint of lavender fills Eddie’s nostrils and makes his mouth water.

Fuck.

“It's good, right?” Steve asks him, eyes wide. Maybe ice cream is the ex-jock whole life, now. “Do you like it?”

Eddie nods, awestruck, forgetting where he is, wrapping his fingers around Steve’s wrist, gently. Steve flares his nostrils, inhaling deep too, and blushing right in front of Eddie’s eyes, who feels his blood boiling in his veins. The omega holds his gaze, his almond eyes bright and wide open, lips parted to taste whatever he’s smelling-

Robin clears her voice, “Steve, I think Eddie wants his ice cream so he can go back to work, and we have more clients waiting.”

The alpha almost snaps at her, turning his head to snarl, but her soft eyes and knowing smile are enough to keep his mouth closed. What the fuck is happening to him today?

“Yes, yeah, sure. What flavor do you want today, Eddie?”

Eddie comes back to the record store with two scoops in his cone, his usual chocolate and peanuts - the closest to hazelnuts until now - and… well, hazelnuts and caramel.

“Hey, pup, what’s wrong with you?” Joe, the alpha who owns the store looks at him and wrinkles his nose. “You smell like you fell into a chocolate fountain, like burnt sugar, you feeling ok, Munson?"

"I… I'm fine," Eddie lies, and the hours don't run fast enough.

When he reaches home, his uncle Wayne winces.

"Uf, son, your rut is early," he says, greeting him.

"Hng," Eddie agrees, flopping onto the couch, face first.

"Something triggered it?" His uncle asks, not unkindly, shuffling in their small kitchenette.

"What do you mean, Wayne?" He bristles, almost snarls, but his uncle simply laughs and puts a glass of water on the table for him.

"Do ya really want to go through the bees and the birds talk again, son?" Wayne asks, teases him, and Eddie grunts, hides his face against the plush, worn cushions that smell like him and his uncle. Their little pack. "Ya know what I mean, some pretty omega caught yer eyes?"

"Uncle Wayne," Eddie groans. Then, the younger alpha thinks about droopy, hazel eyes, about pink lips stretched in an open smile, and the smell of sweet hazelnuts. "Maybe."

His rut lasts three whole days, he spends them in his room, thrashing and growling and having half a mind to not destroy everything he has, his guitars, his amps, his books.

On the fourth day and feeling like shit, Eddie comes back to high school, to his band practice, and to Divinyl Records. At least his brain is not full of cotton anymore, even if his hindbrain is still louder in his mind.

Eddie apologizes to Joe for calling in sick for three whole days.

"It's ok, pup," the alpha pats his shoulder with such force that makes Eddie stumble. "It gets easier when you're older."

"Really?"

"Nah, not really," Joe laughs, putting a box full of records on Eddie's trembling arms and he picks another box, and points Eddie with his chin to follow him. "Just an omega, a good mate, it's the only thing that will make your ruts less miserable, pup. Find someone who sees that you’re so much more than a knothead and never let go."

Eddie snorts at these words, but during his shift, he can’t stop thinking about it. Fuck, he knows he’s far too young to think about finding a mate, and yet, something weird tugs at his gut when he glances sideways and sees Steve across the corridor, in his blue uniform and smiling to a kid. There’s this pup again, his curls under a cap, Eddie has seen him with Steve other times, they greet each other with a silly handshake that makes Eddie smile despite his best effort to keep his frown.

His hindbrain whines and Eddie reminds it, sulking, that they’re not friends, they’re no less than hereditary enemies. There’s no place in Steve’s life for someone like Eddie.

Eddie is focusing, organizing and reshelving some tapes behind the counter when a soft cough calls his attention and makes him turn around.

“Good ev- Harrington?”

Steve is in front of him, holding two cones in front of him, his blond hair is falling over his eyes but there’s no little white hat, and he’s smiling. Wide and beautiful. At Eddie.

“Hi, Eddie,” Steve greets him, his smile shy and tentative.

“What can I do for you, Captain Harrington?” Eddie teases, his eyes jumping from the ice creams to Steve’s eyes.

“You didn’t come for your ice cream today nor the last days, and I thought…” Steve blushes, his eyes leave Eddie’s. “I thought I could bring it to you, maybe we can have our breaks together?”

Eddie gapes like a fish, opening his mouth with nothing to say, and then closing it again. He manages to mumble something about letting his boss know and Steve’s smile widens.

Lavender and hazelnuts fill his nostrils suddenly when Steve’s scent peaks with joy, and Eddie feels far too weak after his rut, his mind wheeling before the alpha can look for his boss at the backstore.

When the older alpha appears, trailing behind Eddie, he looks at Steve and then at his employee, arching a brow. He doesn’t say a thing, but Eddie feels like Joe knows exactly who was the one triggering the rut that forced Eddie to miss three days of work.

Eddie clears his throat and takes the cone Steve is offering, leading him out the store to find some place where they can sit and eat their ice cream.

“It’s the hazelnut and caramel from last time,” Steve informs him, blushing. But if you'd rather have some other flavor…”

“Nope!” Eddie interrupts him, blushing fiercely but unable to stop his mouth. “I loved this one, honestly, my favorite one so far. Thank you.”

Too much information, too much honesty, but Steve gives him that sweet, flustered smile, and it’s worth it. Eddie stares at Steve licking his own scoop, the one Eddie used to order, chocolate and peanuts.

Eddie doesn’t want to hope.

Things change after that evening.

They start looking for each other to share their break time together. Sometimes, if Scoops Ahoy is empty, Robin lets Eddie spend his break with them, perched at the table in their backstore, the three of them eating ice cream. Eddie can’t help but to laugh at the weird friendship antics the young beta and Steve have developed.

Robin used to hate Steve Harrington The King, she confesses to Eddie one lazy evening, the summer is coming to an end and Scoops Ahoy has lesser clients, now. Steve is dealing with a pup that sounds terrifying, no doubt she’ll present as an alpha someday, and she’s demanding free samples for her and her pack of friends.

“And now you’re friends,” Eddie says.

“And now we’re best friends, Eddie,” she corrects. “He’s not like he used to be, I wonder if he ever was like that or if he was, you know, pretending, for survival.”

Robin looks at Eddie, expectant, as if she’s waiting for Eddie to understand some hidden meaning in her words.

“I don’t hate Steve,” Eddie feels the urge to say, and it feels weird to admit it out loud.

“I know,” Robin smirks, making Eddie frown at her. “You reek of sweet blackberries all the time when you’re here, Eddie, I know you don’t hate him.”

“I-... Well, we agree then, we don’t hate Steve Harrington anymore, isn’t that a sign for the Apocalypse that’s to come upon us?” Eddie decides to joke about it, not wanting to acknowledge his burning cheeks or how his belly churns at the mention of his scent when he’s around Steve. And definitely he doesn’t want to listen to his hindbrain and its constant longing for the omega.

“For the Apocalypse, then,” Robin raises her cone - strawberry - and Eddie does the same with his own, chocolate and peanuts and hazelnuts with caramel.

“For the Apocalypse.”

“Scoops Ahoy is going to close its doors, at least until next summer,” Steve informs Eddie.

“What?” Eddie asks, fear rising inside him.

Scoops Ahoy is what had transformed their relationship, from hate to an irresponsible crush (at least for the alpha) to a friendship that leaves Eddie breathless, filling him with longing and a burning desire inside and stupid thoughts about a kind of life Eddie had never wanted to think about before. But Steve is his friend now, Steve wants to spend time with him, even outside their working hours, just like they're doing now.

It’s Sunday and they’re both over the roof of Eddie’s van, watching the sun set, parked on the quarry. It’s quiet and still warm, even if they both have their hoodies ready, it’ll be cold at night.

“And what are you and Robin going to do, now?” Eddie asks. He doesn’t want to lose any of them, now that he thinks about it. Eddie realizes he doesn’t want to lose everything he has found this summer.

Steve and Robin, and the whole strange pack that comes with them. Dustin, the curly hair pup that is a total nerd and Eddie has met and discussed DnD with him and his friends. Lucas, Will and that stubborn pup called Mike. Max and El, the young teens like peas in a pod. And Erica, the strong pup that is Lucas’ little sister and the most terrifying person Eddie has ever met, always surrounded by her own group of friends, always leading them.

Eddie feels strangely overprotective towards them all, even if he met them just recently. It’s all because of Steve, he knows and he can’t stop it now. He wants to protect everything that makes Steve happy, even his underpaid job.

“Oh, don’t worry, Scoops Ahoy closes but Spoons Ahoy opens instead!” Steve half laughs, maybe because he’s witnessing Eddie spiraling on his behalf, because Eddie is looking at him with wide, panicked eyes. Steve’s hand rests on Eddie’s face, soothing him immediately, letting Eddie nuzzle his palm and inhaling deeply from Steve’s wrist glands.

“What the fuck is Spoons Ahoy,” Eddie mumbles, losing himself in Steve’s touch and scent.

“A coffee shop, Eds, they’re keeping our jobs, just as baristas now.”

“Hm, ok,” Eddie mumbles, feeling like he’s laying in a field of lavender and eating sweet, roasted hazelnuts, his body going pliant and weightless when Steve pulls him to rest his head on him, over the omega’s clothed chest.

Eddie inhales deeply, ignoring the last rays of sun to better nuzzle the omega’s preppy white and red polo, his arms wrapping around the omega’s thin waist. It’s good, so good, to just stay like this, knowing his omega is safe with him…

“Don’t wanna lose you,” Eddie whispers, not knowing he’s saying it out loud. His hindbrain swimming in a lavender field.

“You won’t, Eds, I promise,” Steve whispers back, his fingers playing with Eddie’s hair and lulling him to sleep.

It’s middle September when Spoons Ahoy opens its doors, Robin and Steve wearing matching sailor uniforms again, but long sleeves ones now. Eddie misses being able to see Steve’s pale skin covered in moles, even if the new, sinfully tight white slacks stretch deliciously against the omega’s round ass. The first time Eddie sees Steve’s uniform - at Steve’s house, because they’re friends who hang out almost daily, now -, the alpha wants to bite these clothes off until Steve is bare and underneath him, and Eddie has to force himself to laugh at the ridiculousness of the new uniform when Steve looks at him, expecting an answer to a question Eddie can only imagine by context.

He knows Steve can tell what is he thinking, the omega’s nostrils flaring everytime his scent peaks spicier and sweeter. Ripped blackberry and dark chocolate, as his own boss, Robin and his uncle Wayne had informed him, several times now. Even Gareth has told him about it, in a very Gareth way - that was basically shouting at him in the middle of a band rehearsal - to be an alpha and to start courting Steve already because, in Gareth words: ‘he’s sighing too much and it’s annoying’.

Everyone knows how he feels about Steve Harrington, former king of Hawkins’ High School and actual princess of Eddie’s heart.

Steve is just too kind to ignore it in favor of their friendship.

Anyway, Spoons Ahoy it’s a blast and during the first days Eddie can’t share his break with Steve. He waits in line until he can reach the counter and it’s Robin who’s free for him to take his order; Eddie loves the funny beta girl, but he wanted to see Steve. His deception must be obvious.

“Hey, Steve, this one is yours, actually,” she grins and winks at Eddie before he can even say his hellos. Instead, he mouths her a silent thank you that makes Robin shake her head, smiling softly at him.

“Eds!” Steve greets him with his sweetest smile, his scent peaking sweeter, and it’s like summer again and lavender fields. “I’m sorry, I can’t take my break now…”

“Don’t worry, big boy, just wanted to, you know, say hello,” Eddie mumbles, and knows that Steve is looking at his smitten expression, he can’t even disguise it nowadays, he can’t pull a straight face in front of Steve, not for dear life.

Steve chuckles, making Eddie’s chest puff, his hindbrain whispering the sweetest things in his mind. Perfect omega, so sweet and caring, so beautiful, so strong, perfect mate for me, laughing at my words, wanting me back.

But a beautiful dream, though, to have Steve loving him back.

Wait, what?

“I’ve been trying something new. Want to forgo your usual coffee and take a risk, Munson?” Steve asks him, his cheeks deliciously blushed. He seems shy, hopeful even, as if Eddie had told him no at anything during the last months.

“Aye aye, Captain,” Eddie smirks, making Steve snort at his antics. Fuck.

Eddie can’t stay once Steve hands him two steamy disposable cups, one for Eddie and the other for Joe. He rushes to leave the counter, wishing Steve a nice shift and hoping they could spend more time together. When Eddie retreats to the backstore after offering his boss the second coffee, he takes time to admire Steve’s handwriting in his cup. There’s a little heart instead of a dot over the i on his name.

The alpha smiles at it. Holding the cup with both hands, he inhales the warm aroma, expecting… not knowing what, exactly, but he’s rewarded with strong cocoa and roasted hazelnuts. Their scents mixed sweetly in this cup. It’s like holding scorching hot hope in his hands.

Eddie whines, rushing to give it a sip, burning his tongue in the process but ignoring it because Steve had given him hope and a silly, little heart in his name.

It’s Halloween.

Steve says his parents aren’t at home, and invites Eddie, Robin and the pups for a movie night. All the pups have been discussing what movie they should watch first, it’s all sci-fi and horror and Eddie sees an amused Steve, hands on hips and wearing a worn, well loved yellow sweater, playing mom with the pups.

It’s a sight that makes Eddie’s hindbrain go feral, providing him images he doesn’t even want to think right now because, well, he’s surrounded by pups and there’s no doubt they all would know exactly what Eddie is thinking about the omega.

“We can start with Jaws and Alien next and… Wait, who brought The Exorcist? You’re all too young for this movie.”

“Come on Steve, we’re not pups anymore!”

“You won’t be able to sleep later!”

“We’ll nest with you and Eddie, we’ll be fine!”

Steve looks at Eddie at this, blushing fiercely, and Eddie just shrugs. Yes, I want to nest with you and protect these pups that you love as if they were yours and maybe someday we’ll have our own pups in our own nest and… Yeah, yes, Eddie has been thinking about this, sue him - again.

The pups are all tucked on an improvised bed in front of the couch, where Eddie and Steve are sitting together. Robin has claimed the reclining chair for herself, a thick blanket covering from chin to toe, and smiling smugly when she reclines it and gets comfortable.

The movie starts and Eddie startles when Steve gets closer to him, a plush, giant blanket in hands, and smiles at him coyly, a silent question in his shy eyes.

Eddie smiles at him, heart hammering wildly in his chest, laying sideways on the couch and opening his arms for Steve to make himself a place between them.

“I don’t really enjoy horror movies,” Steve confesses in a whisper, covering their bodies with the blanket. “I mean, I’m ok with Jaws, I love Steven Spielberg’s movies, but, Alien?”

Steve wiggles and gets comfortable, taking Eddie’s arms to wrap himself with them, and the alpha has to suppress a purr, but oh, he flushes their bodies together without thinking. Hazelnuts and lavender surround Eddie and it’s summer again.

“Technically, Alien is sci-fi, sweetheart,” Eddie nuzzles Steve’s soft hair. “But I’m here and I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

Steve lets out a happy chirp and one of their pups - because now they all are their pups - shush at them.

“Would you scent me if I’m scared?” Steve turns his head to whisper at Eddie, their lips brushing slightly. Eddie wants to growl and claim those lips.

“Always,” Eddie whispers back, no, promises him so earnestly it hurts him physically.

Steve pecks him on the tip of his nose and turns his head to watch the movie, seemingly unaffected by Eddie’s inner turmoil, and daring to intertwine their fingers togethers.

Eddie feels like he’s floating, his purr starts in his chest and it’s low enough that the pups wouldn’t hear it, but Steve can feel the rumble of it, pressed as they are back to chest.

A moment after, Steve’s purr starts too, lulling Eddie to a sated, safe state where even his hindbrain gets quiet. It’s the best Halloween of Eddie’s life..

It’s a rare occasion, Eddie and Wayne have the day off and they decide to drive to the city, see what’s new.

They take a look at the thrift shop, where Eddie spots a brand new denim jacket, in great conditions and so cheap, perfect for a new battle vest. He also finds a couple of t-shirts and brings them all to the counter where Wayne is waiting for him, his own bounty in his hands.

Eddie drops the clothes on the counter and it's when he sees it. Behind the glass, resting over blue velvet, there's a silver chain attached to a silver blackberry.

“It’s beautiful, right?” The girl at the other side of the counter says.

“It’s perfect for a courting gift,” his uncle Wayne agrees, nudging him with his elbow.

Eddie blushes, but he keeps his mouth closed. For now.

“You don’t strike me as the romantic type, Wayne,” Eddie teases, biting a chip dipped in ketchup.

“What’s yer real question, pup, spit it,” Wayne snorts, devouring his burger. “It’s about that Harrington boy?”

Eddie grunts, hides his face and makes some more grumbling noises his uncle takes as an affirmation.

“H-how do I court an omega?” Eddie asks with a trembling voice, muffled by his hands.

Eddie has a plan.

It’s a good plan, it’s a fucking perfect plan and he’s sure that Steve is going to say yes, he’s.. ok, he’s 90% sure that Steve is going to accept his courting gift. They’ve been getting closer and closer, Eddie has been dying to ask, but between their jobs and classes…

It’s an old as fuck tradition, the courting ritual, and nobody does that anymore, but Eddie is an idiot and a romantic and Steve Harrington deserves to be wooed, to be courted. Eddie just hopes Steve says yes. That this is not some kind of joke.

Eddie has the silver blackberry pendant, the one from the thrift store, in a neat, blue velvet box.

He just needs to wait two days. Two days and he’ll give Steve his courting gift on Christmas’ Eve day, during lunch, and he’s going to ask him if he accepts his courting.

No misunderstandings, not hey, I saw this and thought of you, or look! Early Christmas present! No.

A real proposition.

They’re working double shifts because of the holidays, and they have one whole hour for lunch. Eddie runs towards Spoons Ahoy, planning to ask Steve to spend their hour together - as they do now - and finds Steve holding to the counter for dear life, cheeks red and covered in fresh sweat. Thankfully, there are no clients at this hour.

“Stevie!” Eddie shouts and rushes behind the counter, Robin appearing at his screaming.

“Eddie? What… Steve?”

“Steve, sweetheart, are you ok?”

“It’s… too hot,” Steve sighs, tugging at the collar of his sailor uniform.

“Eddie?” Robin asks, scared and scrunching her nose covered in freckles. “Is he… Is he in heat?”

“Y-yeah, yes, smells like it,” Eddie says. Steve’s scent is sweeter than ever, dry lavender under august’s sun and roasted hazelnuts filling and dizzying Eddie’s mind, his own body reacting to his omega’s needs. “He can’t work like this.”

“Go with him, I’ll inform Joe, too.”

“Robin, I can’t… We’re not… He never…” Eddie doesn’t know how to say that he can’t go and betray Steve’s trust. Eddie can’t trust himself, not when Steve is so vulnerable. But Robin basically shoves them towards the exit, ignoring Eddie’s weak protests.

Ok, new plan. Eddie is good at improvising and he’s a firm believer that adaptability it’s a great skill. He has a new plan now.

The new plan is to leave Steve at his house, safe and sound, and then provide for whatever Steve could need.

“Eddie…,” the omega whispers, arching his back in the passenger seat of Eddie’s van. “Eddie, it’s too hot.”

“I know, baby, I know,” Eddie tries to soothe him. “It’s your heat, it’s starting now. I’m going to leave you at home, ok?” Eddie caresses the omega’s face, he’s burning as if in fever.

“Would you spend it with me?” Steve asks, whines hopefully and in pain. Fuck.

“I can’t, baby,” Eddie answers, swallowing around the lump in his throat and driving as carefully as he can while his hindbrain is howling. Steve is whimpering, so close to him, scenting his van. “I want to, you know… Fuck, Stevie, you know that I want to, but I can’t do this to you, not like this.”

“Like this?” Steve asks, frowning even if he keeps whimpering softly.

“You know…” Eddie makes a vague gesture with his hand. “Like this.” He repeats. “In heat, you’re like, hindbrain is in control and all that, right?”

Steve barks an angry, incredulous laugh at Eddie.

“Is that how a rut feels for you?” Steve asks.

The alpha looks at Steve sideways, blushing and feeling like the idiot he is. Nods sharply. All alphas are knotheads, after all, aren’t they?

“Eds… I’m in heat, not drugged,” Steve sighs, clearly annoyed and smelling Eddie’s scent, lips parted and nostrils flaring. “I know what I’m doing, and I’m asking you to spend my heat with me, if you want me.”

If you want me. If you want me.

Eddie growls at that, his hindbrain howling. He reaches to hold Steve’s hand, squeezes hard, the omega feels clammy and scorching hot because of the heat.

“I’ve wanted you for a long time, Stevie, baby.”

Eddie doesn’t remember how they made it to Steve’s house, only that he’s grateful that the Harringtons are always out of Hawkins, because Eddie can’t stop kissing Steve while the omega leads them to his room.

Steve breaks their kiss, their first kiss - not like Eddie had planned but he’s not complaining - and starts rummaging through his room, grabbing blankets and sheets and rearranging his bed. No, his nest.

“Fuck, fuck, I can’t get it right,” the omega sobs after a while, fighting against a pillow.

This is more what Eddie expected, if he’s honest. When the hindbrain takes control, logic goes away and instinct takes everything. Steve is now succumbing to it, groaning and snapping, and Eddie falls in love with him even more.

“Hey, hey, baby,” Eddie gets closer, calmly and with his hands raised up. “May I help you?”

Steve’s face is red, fat tears running down his cheeks. Eddie’s heart breaks a bit at the sight, the urge to fight against whatever it is that is making Steve unhappy too strong, his hindbrain too loud to ignore.

“I have nothing that smells like you,” Steve sobs again, wiping his tears with the sleeve of his uniform.

“We can take care of that, hm?” Eddie reassures and Steve looks at him. “I just, I need to… Can I get closer?”

Eddie’s body is reacting to Steve’s scent, to his heat, and when Steve flares his nostrils, lips parted to chase Eddie’s own scent, he knows the omega is tasting his own arousal. Eddie is already getting hard in his jeans, urgency tugging at him in a new, desperate way. There’s this sudden urge to close all the doors and windows, to make sure his omega is safe here. To make sure they have plenty of food and water and whatever Steve could need.

Steve’s heat is triggering the alpha’s deepest instincts, his own rut. Faster now that he’s with an omega in heat, more desperate if that’s possible, quicker the way his body reacts and his hindbrain shuts down his rational mind. If someone tried to enter the house now, Eddie knows he would fight them with teeth and nails.

The omega nods at him, offers Eddie his hand and the alpha rushes to take it in his, kneels in front of Steve and kisses his hand, nuzzles his warm, soft palm, noses Steve’s wrist glands. It’s so different from every other time, so intimate.

“Stevie, sweetheart, I want to give you whatever you could want,” Eddie whispers against the omega’s wrist, who gasps and thrashes, still fully clothed. His rut is overwhelming him and he needs to do something before he loses it completely. “I just want to know that this… that this is what you really want?”

Eddie’s speech is slurred, he can feel it, like he’s drunk but still thinking properly. Still in charge of himself but not for long, and hopes Steve is still in charge of himself, too.

No, of course they’re not drugged, as Steve said, and maybe it’s different for the omega. But Eddie? He knows he’s losing his mind, he needs to be sure. He needs to claim, the only way he can, now.

“Eddie, I told you, I know what I… oh.”

The alpha, who has been carrying the blue velvet box with him for weeks now, too anxious to leave it at home and yet patting it on his pocket every five minutes, is now holding it in front of Steve.

“Eds? Is this…?”

“Open it, please,” Eddie begs, his hips bucking, armpits stinging, his rut coming to him in waves of painful need. “You don’t have to say yes but fuck, I… I hope you say yes, Stevie, I just… I want to ask you… I’ve been wanting for a long time, actually, never sure if you… if you ever…”

He’s rambling, his hindbrain snarling inside him. If Steve rejects him, and still wants Eddie to stay, Eddie doesn’t know if he’ll survive that. If Steve wants him to leave, Eddie would leave the country, leave it for good and never look back.

Steve opens the box and his eyes widen, the light brown swallowed by the black of his pupils, his delicate fingertip caressing the simple pendant.

“A blackberry,” he whispers. “Eddie, is a silver blackberry.”

Steve is smiling when he looks at Eddie.

“It’s… a courting gift, Stevie,” Eddie reassures, his intentions clear, or so he hopes.

“You always smell like ripe blackberries and chocolate when we’re together,” Steve smiles, his eyes bright.

“Yeah,” Eddie agrees, breathless. “Do you accept it?”

Eddie finds himself with a lapful of happy, chirping omega who is peppering kisses all over his face. They fall to the ground, Steve stradling him, and Eddie hugging Steve back, laughing, feeling weightless and yet like he’s a supernova.

“I thought… Eddie, what took you this long?” Steve pouts before grinning again. “Of course I accept it, silly alpha, help me?”

They stand clumsily, clawing at the last moments of rational thinking to enjoy this moment. Eddie closes the chain around Steve’s neck, takes his chance to kiss at the moles right there in his jaw, the omega shivering under his touch.

After that, it’s all a blur. Steve undresses himself hastily, tossing the uniform somewhere, leaving only the new silver blackberry, and urges Eddie to do the same. The omega steals Eddie’s handkerchief and puts it on his nest, next goes Eddie’s t-shirt, faded and soft and comfortable, and the alpha knows Steve is going to keep his favorite t-shirt when he nuzzles it, pressing it against his face and inhaling deeply. He feels a deep rush of pride, smiling wolfishly, thinking: mine.

“Better?” Eddie manages to ask when Steve deems the nest good enough.

“No,” Steve answers, takes his hands and pulls at him until Eddie is on the nest, laughing, laying barenaked for Steve to touch and scent and enjoy. “Ok, now, perfect.”

They can’t keep talking after that, their needs far too urgent to deny them now that they’re together. Eddie is not a virgin, but he has never shared a nest with an omega in heat, nor has he spent his rut with someone, and it’s so intense, so overwhelming.

It’s so good. So fucking amazing, he’s not ready for something like this, and yet, he can’t believe he’s been living without this.

Steve’s skin is burning and dripping wet when Eddie gets his mouth on him, his little cocklet throbbing in his tongue under the alpha’s ministrations while his own cock is aching, leaking precum all over the nest.

“Alpha, alpha, I need you,” are the last coherent words Steve pronounces that night. Eddie has half a mind to grab one of the condoms Steve tossed into the nest.

Eddie kisses him while he breaches him, his cunt so wet and ready for him, swallowing him to the hilt, until he’s buried deep in the omega.

“Omega,” Eddie worships him, and knows he’ll always worship Steve.

The omega thrashes and bites him in his shoulders and arms, leaving the marks he can while avoiding his mating gland. Eddie hopes they can claim each other in the future.

They wail and whine, their moans and breath mingling, Eddie rolling his hips chasing Steve’s pleasure again and again, the feeling of his walls clenching around him making him believe in a higher power.

“Alpha, alpha, alpha,” Steve chants, and tugs at Eddie’s dark curls, making the alpha growl, his hips stuttering, the knot at his base swelling and catching at Steve’s entrance.

A powerful, earth-shattering orgasm hits Eddie and leaves him breathless, knotting them together. The alpha howls at the sensation, Steve all around him even if he’s still underneath the alpha. The omega is milking him, riding his own pleasure, and Eddie loses himself in their mixed scents and the overwhelming truth that is to admit at last that he actually is in love with Steve Harrington.

Eddie awakes to the sound of a rumbling, loud purr. His muscles are sore and he’s thirsty and hungry as never before, but he’s also sated and happy, his own purr starting happily when he remembers the night before.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” Eddie whispers, kissing Steve’s rumbling chest, nuzzling him and feeling absurdly proud of their mingled scents, plus the mess of sweat and slick and overall smell of sex.

“Hngmng,” Steve mumbles, his fingers tangled in Eddie’s fingers and playing idly.

Eddie props over his elbows to look at the magnificent sight that is Steve Harrington, completely naked in the morning light, in the mess of a nest they made together last night. The alpha smiles, completely smitten.

“Is it still too hot, baby?” Eddie asks, and kisses Steve’s lips, softly.

“Hm, not now, but… soon,” Steve answers, biting his lower lip, his soft gaze locked in Eddie’s eyes. He touches his own chest, finds the silver blackberry, and a shiver runs down his spine, Eddie feels like shivering, too. “You meant it?”

“The courting gift? Of course, sweetheart.”

Steve nods, biting his lower lip. Eddie has the need to kiss him again.

“And that you want to give me everything I want? Would you scent me when I’m scared? All that, you meant it?”

“Yeah, omega, I meant it, I mean it… Do you still accept my courtship?” Eddie needs to know, needs to be sure. He’ll probably need to hear it often, still feeling like a dream.

“Yes, Eds,” Steve’s laugh sounds like a chirp, far too adorable. “Do you realize that I’ve been flirting with you since you started working at Divinyl Records, right?”

Eddie blinks once, twice. Wants to say that, yes, that he knew all this time, but the truth is that he’s still wondering if all this is really happening.

“I- Sure.”

Steve chuckles, wraps his legs around the alpha’s waist and pulls at him until they’re kissing again, the urgency rising slowly, letting them enjoy their kiss.

During their lunch on Christmas’ Eve day, Starcourt bursting with people doing last time shopping, Eddie and Steve sit closer than usual. The omega is almost sitting in Eddie’s lap, and the alpha can’t stop nuzzling at his boyfriend’s hair and neck. He feels invincible.

Steve shoves a black velvet box towards Eddie, and kisses him right in his scent gland under his ear, making the alpha growl in pleasure.

“What’s this?” Eddie asks, lips curling in a smile.

“Just open it, Eds,” Steve smiles.

Eddie obliges and opens the box to reveal a silver hazelnut.

“Yes, Eddie Munson,” Steve whispers in his ear. “I accept your courting.”

#steddie fanfiction #steddie #alpha eddie munson #omega steve harrington #alpha beta omega dynamics #fluffy chicken writes #Hazelnuts serires

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sleepysuburb · 4 months ago

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chinnery, pauline, bernice and mrs levinson 😩

these feel TARGETED

under the cut because i have a lot of hcs and they might get long

chinnery

he'd love a pet of his own more than anything, but can't have one for obvious reasons. instead he has a bunch of those little animatronic toy animals with touch sensors, so he can pet them to decompress after work.

once he starts drinking he finds it extremely difficult to stop. more than once he's gone for a half pint to take the edge off and wound up blackout drunk and sobbing. at this point barbara's fairly used to him being in floods of tears in the back of her cab.

he smells like disinfectant, silage and wet wool. it's not unpleasant, just musty and weird.

he's hopeless with dating. yes, he's tried it - but as soon as someone finds out he's THAT vet, they make an excuse to leave and never talk to him again. even attachments wouldn't help him and to this day he's devastated they put 'not at all kind to animals' on his profile without even asking him.

pauline

he can't sleep without his nature soundscape cassette. either it's birdsong and rainfall, or a sleepless night.

bernice

she's an astrology freak and treats herself to a trash mag every few days, mostly so she can check her horoscope.

she's rarely sick, so when she is she makes it a whole event. constant complaining, duvet on the couch, game shows, cartoons and bargain hunt on the TV all day... whoever's there looking after her has to make her chicken noodle soup - and feed it to her - and keep her topped up with lucozade, otherwise they're "ruining it".

tells people she drinks black coffee, but she actually loads it up with mental amounts of cream, sugar and syrup.

she has hoarding tendencies. it's a constant battle to keep her space clean and tidy, because she has a habit of trawling charity shops and grabbing any bric-a-brac, clothes, books or soft toys she takes a liking to. no, she's not getting rid of her garfield plush collection, she's imprinted on them all and it would be like chucking out family.

her eyesight is horrible and she's blind as a bat without her glasses. one time in prison she got into a fight and broke them, and requested to be sent to solitary until they were fixed so she wouldn't have to worry about fumbling her way around.

her favourite pen is the one mickey gave her at the end of his restart course. that's what she'll say if you ask her in front of him, but her actual favourite pen is a metallic pink gel pen she never uses to keep it in pristine condition.

under her clothes she's absolutely covered with tattoos, all blue linework and traditional designs (mermaids, anchors, stars, angels and devils...)

mrs levinson

she has a massive unlicensed weapon collection, but being the vicar, everyone turns a blind eye.

she hates christmas, but her favourite holiday is halloween; she likes drenching herself in fake blood and revving a real chainsaw at trick or treaters to scare them away, and then steals the sweets they end up dropping.

the communion wine hasn't been wine for ages, but somehow nobody's noticed she swapped it for vodka with red dye in it yet.

despite everything she loves her job because she enjoys hearing everyone's business. it gives her a huge amount of power to know the intimate details of everyone's life, who's shagging who, who's got crippling depression, who's stealing from work... she could ruin everyone's lives in an instant, but she likes to bide her time until someone really pisses her off.

she's a bottle blonde. for years she had mousy brown hair and hated it, thinking it made her look plain and dull. pretty soon after she bleached it, iris bleached hers too in competition, so now it's a constant battle to see who can maintain it the best.

she's cycled through lots of self-employed jobs to try and find purpose after eddie's death - counselling, making her own jewellery, countless pyramid schemes, the massage parlour. none have worked out.

she does some "romance" (read: dirty) writing in her free time under a pen name, and it gives her a real ego boost to go out in royston vasey and hear people discussing her books without knowing she's sitting right there.

any 'designer' clothing or bags she bought after eddie's death are likely cheap fakes. nobody except her would ever know, but she does sometimes get paranoid that someone's going to see the wonky coach logo on her handbag and call her out for it.

she has hookups occasionally, with both men and women, if the loneliness gets too much for her. her sexuality is complicated and she doesn't want to label herself, but as time goes on she's finding herself favouring women more and more.

#thank you ml!#tlog #league of gentlemen #the league of gentlemen #matthew chinnery #pauline campbell jones #bernice woodall #judee levinson

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flowerhead-fh · 1 year ago

Text

Cupid!Steve x Rockstar!Eddie

OHHH BOY- GUYS- I was just watching my favorite series of all time, which I would recommend to every living being, called Brooklyn 99, and I got an idea for a fanfic, which immediately made me think of Steddie, so here I am. Please enjoy this, drabble? ficlet? I dunno, short fic sample

______________________________________________________________

In this world, there are Gods, a lot of them. Under them, you have the demigods. Ever living beings, scattered throughout the earth, to make sure everything is running smoothly (which actually means, they are constantly keeping humans from sending the world to shit)

Steve, is one of said demigods. The demigod of love, cupid himself nonetheless. He does his job, better than most demigods actually. Can even find love for the most unlovable. However he has one weakness, and that's finding love for himself. Yes, yes I know. The irony, but the unfortunate truth is; that Steve Harrington's luck in the romantic department is non-existent.

He had just been complaining about this to Robin during their shared shift at Family Video. "It's ridiculous! I can find true love for everyone but myself?! What kind of power is that?!" He groans in frustration and rests his head on his forearms. "I'm gonna be lonely forever." Robin (the demigod of sand (I told you there were a lot of them)) was meanwhile playing around with the sand in an hourglass.

"Relax, I'm sure you'll find someone eventually! And until then, you've always got me! Besides, would you really want to just zap yourself and a random person, just for the sake of dating someone?" Steve groans again, raising his head up and running a hand down his face. "No, but.... still! I want to- have someone in my life like that." Robin hums sympathetically. "Well, at least you can get laid easy." She says shrugging."

Ahh yes, one of the perks to being Cupid, is that he can control, ignite, and remove lust within anyone he so wishes. "Yeah, but I'm past one-night stands now, Robin! I want someone to love." Steve huffs, as he finishes his sentence.

______________________________________________________________

Just then someone enters the store. The bell rings, and they both spare a glance at the door. The man entering was dressed in mostly black. He had long curly hair, and silver rings adorned each of his fingers. "Robin," Steve whispers to her, as she's still distracted by the hourglass. "12 o'clock." Steve nods subtly in the direction of the man, as Robin looks up at him. She raises her eyebrows. "Oh shit." She mutters.

Steve tried not to ogle him, he really does, but this might be the most interesting man, currently in Hawkins, so that proves difficult. The man, the stranger, is checking out something in the sci-fi section, smiling to himself. His expression then drops a bit, as he pauses and suddenly makes eye contact with Steve. Steve flinches and gives him a small awkward wave.

The guy starts walking over to them, and Steve gently elbows Robin to HELP HIM BECAUSE WORDS HAVE ESCAPED HIM. "Hey, couldn't help but catch you staring. You a fan?" He asked in a polite manner. Steve wrinkles his eyebrows. "No, that's a fan." Steve points to the ceiling fan. The man glances briefly at the ceiling fan, and then back at Steve, laughing.

"I'll admit to staring at you, yes, but I don't think I recognize you sorry." Steve continues after the stranger's laughter has died down. He stares at Steve, mouth slightly agape, in a somewhat mortified expression. "Oh shit." The man runs a hand down his face an embarrased manner. "Ohhhnoooo, I must seem like such a douchebag now."

He looks down and away from Steve. "No, no ,no! It's fine! Erm- Are you like famous or something? What's your name? Maybe I've heard of you somewhere!" Steve says hurredly, trying to salvage the conversation. The stranger chuckles. "Uhum, it's Eddie, Eddie Munson. I started a band called Corroded Coffin. Do you listen to Metal?"

Steve shakes his head awkwardly. "No sorry, but those names do ring a bell... Oh!" Eddie Munson, Corroded Coffin, it's that band Dustin has been raging about, together with the rest of the party. "The kids I babysit won't stop talking about you! You're like their idol. What's a celebrity like you doing in Hawkins then?"

______________________________________________________________

The guy- Eddie, scratches his neck. "Ah, just visiting home. Taking a break, kind of." Eddie leans an elbow on the counter. "What's model like you doing out here?" He asks in a slightly deeper tone. Steve clears his throat, and turns away to attempt to hide his blush. "Ahaha. I live here. Thanks." Eddie hums, and smiles.

He then notices Robin's fidgeting with the hourglass. "Woah! Holy shit!" Eddie straightens up, no longer leaning on the counter, and stares at the hourglass amazed. Robin hums looking up at Eddie. "Oh, we're demigods. I'm the demigod of sand, this is basically I can do." She says is shrugging.

Eddie turns back to Steve with an excited questioning look. "Both of you? What's your thing then, pretty boy?" Eddie leans on the counter again, this time resting his chin on his hand. Steve hums, and ponders on his next actions. On one hand he could just tell Eddie he is Cupid, on the other hand...

Steve hums, and boldly puts finger on Eddie's chest, sliding it down slowly, while igniting an amount lust within him, that's just edging on too much. Then he looks into Eddie's eyes, and says; "This is." Eddie stares at him, with wide eyes, his face burning red, his mouth just slightly open, as if trying to find something to say, and failing.

______________________________________________________________

Steve pulls his hand away, and simulteaneously quells any and all lust he awakened within Eddie. "I'm Cupid, basically. I make people fall in love and shit. I can also do that- what I just did." He smiles a bit. "Sorry, I hope that wasn't too much, or anything?" Steve looks at him apologetically.

Eddie stares at him a bit longer mouth agape, still blushing. Then he clears his throat, and speaks as casually as he can muster. "Yeah, no, it's cool, it's alright. That was cool, that wasss a-okay!" He grins at back at Steve, who doesn't seem to fully believe him. "You sure? I can imagine it was a bit much."

Eddie nods. "Yeah, seriously, it's cool. Just didn't see it coming is all." Eddie seems to be speaking truthfully, so Steve decides to believe him. "Okay, if you say so." Steve nods as well.

Eddie switches topics. "So, are you single?" Steve looks at him surpised, and pauses. "Uhh... Yes, very much so, actually." He admits blushing a bit. Eddie grins. "How come? I'd imagine you could make anyone fall in love with you, and I mean that both literally and figuratively."

Steve chuckles. "Romantic love spells don't work in my regards, I have to find love the normal way." Steve says rolling his eyes. "So I've remained lonely for a while now." Eddie hums. "Well... This might be a bit forward, but I think-" Eddie leans into Steve's space. "That I should maybe fix that." He then shrugs "But you tell me, Cupid. Are we compatible?"

Eddie looks at Steve expectantly, and Steve pauses to think. "... Yeah, I think we are." He says smiling a bit. They're first date happens just a couple days later.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #platonic stobin #steddie fanfic #steddie brainrot #eddie stranger things #steve stranger things #ficlet #steddie fic #steddie ficlet #cupid!steve #rockstar!eddie munson

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medusapelagia · 1 year ago

Text

Harringrove Kinktober Day 30: Dirty talking

Rating: Explicit Relationship: Steve Harrington/Billy Hargrove WT: porn without plot, collaring (maybe), dirty talks, verbal humiliation, vague mention to attempted noncon, homophobic language, mild degradation WC: 1586

Billy sighs and sits on the couch he and Steve have bought from the thrift store. It’s an awful orange but it’s comfy and big enough to be used for an adult to sleep (who is usually Eddie or Billy himself) that's why they bought it in the first place and then put it in the middle of their little living room.

Fuck.

He is still dirty from grease and oil from work and Steve will scold him as soon as he will see him, but he is so fucking tired that he doesn’t give a shit.

It doesn’t matter if he is the more experienced mechanic at work, they always look at him with disdain since Steve brought him lunch at work one day and they kissed, thinking that no one was seeing them.

Billy quickly found out that they weren’t as lonely as he thought and even if no one dared to call him a fairy after he broke Jackson’s nose, everyone started to treat him differently and give him the shittiest job.

Not that Billy could really complain, even if their apartment is small and in the worst neighborhood, they barely made enough to afford it so he can’t put up a fight and risk losing a certain income.

Fuck them.

Fuck them all.

“You ok?”

Billy turns toward Steve, who has entered the living room with two bags full of groceries and Billy hasn’t even noticed.

“Long day.” he tells him, without going into details.

Steve nods and says nothing about the fact that he hasn’t even showered and he is sitting on their couch with his work clothes on.

“You ok?” Billy asks back and Steve nods, while putting away the groceries but doesn’t look at him, so Billy gets up and turns Steve’s face until they are looking at each other in the eyes “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me, pretty boy.” Billy scolds him, moving his thumb against Steve’s lower lip “You know that I don’t like it.”

“I’m fine, I swear.”

Billy gets closer, nuzzling his neck “Where have you been?”

“To the grocery store?”

“Liar. You smell of alcohol and cologne. Where have you been?”

Have you cheated on me? That’s the true question that Billy would like to ask, because deep down he knows that he is not enough for anyone, especially for someone like Steve.

“We went to have a couple of drinks. The guys and I.”

The guys. Steve’s teammate. Billy still can’t believe that Steve turned down a complete scholarship to live with him in their cheap apartment.

“Did you have fun? Did you meet someone?”

“Fuck you. You know I wouldn’t do something like that, do you?” Steve growls.

“Do I know?” Billy asks him with a smirk, grabbing Steve’s hair and making him expose his neck even more.

“Did you cheat on me? That’s what happened? Are you a little slut? Eager to get in everyone's pants?”

“Fuck you.” Steve repeats, his cheeks red with embarrassment and anger.

“Oh I will, but thank you for proposing.” Billy grins, dragging Steve toward the couch with no grace; Steve almost bounces on the couch, such is the force that Billy uses to shove him.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” But Billy is already straddling him, licking his face like a big dog and grinding on him, sending sparkles in their veins when their dicks collide.

“Billy?!” Steve asks, confused and aroused, but Billy doesn’t stop, he keeps licking, kissing, and biting every inch of Steve’s skin, he wants to mark him as his property, no one should ever get closer to him, he wants everyone to knows that Steve is already fully taken, that there is someone that is not scared to leave love bites on his skin.

“Billy…” Steve tries to protest, but his objections are weak and full of moaning.

“I want to mark you up, baby. I want everyone to know that you are mine. That I’m the only one allowed to do this.” with that he lowers himself, opens Steve’s pants, and laps at Steve’s dick teasing him.

“Fuck… Billy…”

Steve is a moaning mess under him by the time Billy finally takes him into the hot velvet of his mouth,

Steve tries to thrust into his mouth, but Billy’s tight grip on his hips makes it difficult so he has to accept that he has no control and all he can do is take what Billy is willing to give him.

Billy feels Steve’s muscles dart under his expert tongue, so he frees his dick with a loud pop, and Steve glares at him offended.

“What? You don’t want me to think that you are an eager slut, do you?”

But Steve at this moment feels exactly like an eager slut.

“Did you lose your words, pretty boy? Too many thoughts in that silly head of yours? Or maybe there is just one thought, uh?”

Steve nods “Come. Let me come. Please.”

Billy smirks “I love it when you beg, baby. Can you beg a little more for me?”

Steve will do whatever Billy asks him to so he starts a litany of prayers that are like music for Billy’s ear.

“So pretty. And you are mine. Tell me that you are my little slut.” he asks Steve, removing his pants and his underwear.

“I’m yours.”

“My what?”

“I… I’m your little slut.”

Billy grins and then puts his own fingers into his mouth, licking them until they are covered in spit, then he starts to circle Steve’s rim.

“Billy…” the boy begs him while Billy bends Steve’s legs toward his chest and Steve quickly grabs them, holding himself spread and open for his boyfriend.

“Billy…”

“My little slut…” he whispers again on his skin, penetrating him with a finger.

Steve jolts at the intrusion, but quickly accepts it and starts to push against Billy’s hand harder and harder.

“Tsk, you really are a slut. Should I leave you some money after I fuck you stupid? That’s what you are looking for?”

Steve shakes his head.

“No, what? Are you not a slut?”

“Only for you."

And damn if it doesn’t get exactly to the center of Billy's cold heart.

“I’m going to fuck you so good, baby.” he whispers on Steve's skin, then he spits on Steve’s hole and his dick before starting to thrust inside him slower but relentlessly until he bottoms out and his balls collide with Steve’s ass.

“So full…” Steve moans.

“Yeah? Is it nice?”

Steve nods, unable to talk and Billy starts to gently move in a rocking motion until Steve starts to beg for more.

“Harder. Harder.” he begs and Billy can’t really deny him anything when he is like that so he gives him what he asked for, latching on his neck like a vampire leaving dark blue hickeys around his neck.

“Mine…” he growls in his ears, before biting it playfully “All mine…” he whispers.

“All yours… your little slut.”

And the admission makes Billy come so hard inside Steve that he almost collapses against the other boy.

“My little slut…” he whispers in awe while he tries to regain his breath.

Steve lowers his legs and hugs him While Billy is still deep inside him holding him tight against his chest and letting the fast rhythm of his heartbeat be a lullaby in Billy’s ear.

“Now would you like to tell me what happened?”

“Why do you smell like alcohol and cologne?”

Steve sighs “I told you. I had a drink with the boys.” but that’s not the entire story, Billy can tell.

“What else?”

“Tommy… he… tried something.”

Fucking Hagan, always snooping around his boy “What kind of something?”

“Nothing you have to worry about. I handled it.”

“Steve. What kind of something?”

“He tried to kiss me, ok? So I poured my whisky on his stupid head and some of the drink spilled on me and I tried to hide the smell with some cologne. Not that it worked in any case.”

“I’ll fucking kill him.”

Steve chuckles “No, baby, you will not try to kill the son of the rector of the institute.”

“He can’t do what the hell he wants to do only because he thinks he is entitled to it!”

“And he will not. I’m not a damsel in distress, did you forget that?”

Billy did not. Steve is strong and fierce but he can’t hide his sorrow at the thought of someone like Tommy Hagan putting his dirty paws on Steve’s beautiful skin.

“You know what? I’ll put a fucking collar on you, with a tag that says owned by Billy Hargrove.”

“Oh, yeah, that will be absolutely a normal thing to wear in class.” Steve chuckles, but Billy is even more determined to mark him as his so he keeps leaving hickeys on Steve’s golden skin and when he finally feels satisfied Steve’s neck has a necklace of hickeys.

“You are a fucking beast.”

“And you are mine. My little slut.” he tells him, finally moving away, but Steve grabs his arm, kissing him deeply and whispering on his skin “Your little slut. Only yours. Forever.”

#hgkinktober2k23 #tumblr prompt #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x steve #harringrove #stranger things fanfic #stranger things #NotSFW #my fanfic #tumblr fic #day 30: Collaring/Dirty talks #medusapelagia

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can-i-get-a-yippee · 7 months ago

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I like to think of Shannon lives AUs bc she deserved better and I think it could’ve had some great storylines that paralleled/contrasted to Athena and Michael’s divorce storyline.

Like, imagine her and Eddie divorcing and her finding a new partner.

Because Shannon and Eddie loved each other but they were both too passionate, too hot tempered, too stubborn—too alike.

They burned bright together, but they also burned hot. It’s not a sustainable relationship, especially when Chris is involved.

So they divorce, and they co-parent, and it’s fine. It’s not ideal, not by a long shot, but it’s fine — good even. Shannon gets an apartment 20 minutes from Eddie, and a temp job at some finance firm downtown. Eddie still has Chris most of the time, but Shannon negotiated him up to her getting Chris while he works shifts and every second weekend of the month with Carla helping fill in some gaps. He doesn’t love being separated from his son, but he would be lying if he said it isn’t nice to do adult activities with Buck and his 118 coworkers on the weekends Shannon has custody. (Though Buck gripes that he misses getting to see Christopher every weekend, and Eddie can’t help but agree) He and Shannon still argue, bicker, about everything from pick-up schedules to parent teacher conferences. After all, being divorced doesn’t fix their communication issues, but Chris seems happy, and they’re leagues better than when they were married.

Until Shannon announces she met someone.

Well, met isn’t the most accurate word because when she tells Eddie on the front steps of his house after her weekend with Chris, she admits they’ve been seeing each other for almost 4 months.

His name is Jack. He’s a salary man— a financial analyst at some firm that Eddie doesn’t care to remember the name of— and Shannon accidentally spilled a cup of coffee on him when she ran into him at the coffee shop beside her office. He was kind and gracious and offered to buy her a new cup, despite it not being his error. She hadn’t wanted it to happen, hadn’t been looking for it, but something between them had just clicked. It’s going on 4 months and she wants to introduce Chris to him soon, but only if Eddie approves.

She and Eddie might be divorced, but she is determined to make this co-parent thing work, and if he says no, she’ll respect his decision and not bring it up again.

And Eddie, he wants to be angry. He can feel the venom boiling in his throat before she even finishes her sentence. She had divorced him. She had said that she wanted to focus on being a mother and not a wife. He wanted to make it work, and she had given up. Now, barely a year later, she’s asking him to introduce their son to her new boyfriend?

It’s an ugly and unfair feeling that he swallows down when he strains out, “Let me think about it.”

And he tries to ignore the hole in his chest when Shannon gives an apology as her goodbye.

He complains the next day to his coworkers with a mixed response. Bobby tries to offer insight based on his relationship with Athena’s kids and Michael, and Hen and Chimney chime in with their own opinions and personal anecdotes. However, it’s when he’s complaining to Buck in the locker room that he feels his stomach twist

“I just didn’t expect her to move on that fast,” Eddie repeats the sentiment that he had been repeating all shift as he slams the locker door. “We’ve barely been divorced for a year, and she’s already wanting to introduce this guy to our kid? Everything online says to wait at least 6 months, but she’s over here doing it at four months. And she wants me to agree to it, says she won’t introduce him if I’m not ready, making me look like the bad guy if I say no.”

He huffs and turns to look at Buck who has been attentively listening from the bench.

“Eddie,” Buck says it slowly. He’s giving Eddie that earnest, doe-eyed look that he gives when he’s about to say something that he knows Eddie doesn’t like. “Not that I don’t agree with you about Chris here because four months does seem a little early, but it doesn’t feel like that’s what you’re mad at her for.”

Eddie turns away then, unwilling to hold Buck’s stare any longer. The truth is stuck in his throat, and Buck has a way of making it spill out of him.

Because the truth is, Buck is right. He’s irritated about how early in the relationship Shannon wants to introduce their kid to this new guy, but he’s angry that she’s making things change, that she’s moving on from them.

Sure, their relationship wasn’t the best. They had been forced to speed their relationship up from its natural progression when Shannon got pregnant. He’s not even sure if they would’ve lasted the year had it not happened, but then it did and then they were married and then there was army and the fighting and the leaving.

But despite everything, they had always been tied to one another.

And now, she was moving on, building a new life, and Eddie was stuck in place, mourning a life that he never had in the first place.

And what if she wants everything to change? What if she wants to get actually serious with this guy? What if she wants to take Chris more than just every second weekend and try to build a family with him without at all the baggage Eddie had brought? What if this other guy comes in marries his (ex)wife and tries to take his kid and shatters the house of cards Eddie had assembled here?

God, his parents already tried to take Chris. If Shannon tries, he’ll —

“Hey, Eddie, you okay, man?” Buck had stood up and moved beside him. He’s look at him with that stupidly earnest and open expression on his face, and his hand stutters at his side, like it wants to reach out and touch him (and a part of Eddie wishes it would). “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just— you know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

Eddie scrubs a hand over his face. “It’s just— Shannon, we’re just getting a handle on the divorce co-parent thing, and we’re getting okay at it, and now she wants to change everything. We’re finally at a semi stable place, and now she wants to throw a wrench in it because of some guy she just met.”

Buck is quiet for a moment before he questions carefully, “Did you …expect that she would never date again?”

“No!” The response comes too quickly, and then he sighs. “Yes… I don’t know. I just thought we were at a good place, and doing this coparenting thing right, and now she wants to add this new guy into the equation. She wants it to change. “

The ‘I don’t want it to change’ goes unspoken.

Because things are going good right now.

Eddie loves his job. He loves his team.

He and Buck spend almost every moment outside of work together, grabbing beers when Chris is away and going to the zoo when he’s not. Dinners at Bobby and Athena’s are common and so are play dates at Hen and Karen’s. Chris loves Denny and Harry, and Eddie loves that he has a support system here.

Chris is the happiest Eddie’s ever seen him. He’s getting good grades and making friends. His teachers gush about how happy he is— telling Eddie about all Chris’ stories about what he does when he visits his mom or the weekend adventures with Buck. He’s thriving for a kid whose parents just got divorced.

And Eddie’s communication is the best it’s ever been with Shannon. When you take the sex and the relationship baggage, they make a good co-parenting team. Not perfect, not by any means, but they both love their son and centering him seems to have made them more agreeable.

If his life could stay like this, he wouldn’t complain. He doesn’t need anything else, anyone else. He’s happy.

And Shannon wants to mess that all up by starting a relationship that she made clear she didn’t want with Eddie.

“Hey, no matter what happens with Shannon, you know you’re the best father Chris could ask for. Shannon dating this new guy, it doesn’t take that away,” Buck says it with a grin and knocks their shoulders together. “And it’s not like you’re alone in this. Everyone here has your back. I’ve got your back.”

And Eddie— Eddie can’t help but grin at that as he knocks his shoulder back against Buck’s. “Does that mean you’re still down for dinner tonight? I told Chris we could order pizza since we’re getting home late.”

“Only if I get to pick the place,” Buck responds easily as he slings his bag over his shoulder. “The last plan you ordered from skimped on the cheese.”

It’s hard not to think, as they walk out chatting about weekend plans and Chris’ science project, that maybe there’s one thing he wouldn’t mind staying the same forever.

#this was supposed to be like 100 words but I got carried away #maybe I’ll write this fic if I ever finish my other fics for other fandoms lmaooo #but I just really would’ve liked to see divorced Shannon and Eddie making it work #with Buck coparenting with Eddie and neither of them realizing it acknowledging it #911 #slight Buddie #everything I write has slight Buddie if it’s 911 related tho lmaooo #Shannon Díaz #Eddie Díaz #evan buck buckley #buckley diaz family #911 abc

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heartharps · 2 years ago

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spicy six ocean’s eleven au

nancy is ocean, obviously. she's the mastermind. we catch up with her as she's being released from prison at the end of a grand theft sentence. she meets a blackjack dealer in a local casino, who insists her name is maya even though nancy calls her robin.

"where is he?" nancy asks, referring to their longtime friend and partner in crime, steve.

robin explains he's in LA, teaching movie stars how to play cards. nancy is surprised they aren't still joined at the hip.

"i got a girl. i got busy. he threw a fit, flew to cali, and now he calls me every day just to tell me which celebrities are assholes."

it takes nancy no time at all to find him running a game in some flashy hollywood club. he isn't even surprised when he walks into the room and nancy is there, easily winning all the nepo babies' pocket change.

nancy and steve head to a bar, someplace quieter, almost empty at that hour. just seeing each other is all the catching up they need to do. they know each other too well. they've been in this business together for years. it's always the same story when they find each other.

“so tell me," he says.

"it's tricky," she answers. "never been done before. lots of planning, and a large crew. the take -"

"what's the target?" steve asks.

"the take is eight figures," nancy promises.

steve knows somethings up. "whats. the. target."

it's a vegas casino. it's crazy, the hardest con they've ever tried—but nancy has a solid plan, and talk about a jackpot.

steve still thinks she's hiding something. he keeps pressing her for the reason why. why so complicated? why this? why now? she plays it off, pacifies him with vague talk of opportunity and honor.

steve is itching for a real job again. and he's followed nancy into worse, hasn't he? and talk about a jackpot!

so they get to work.

they need a crew. they figure it out while robin moves to vegas, claiming her girlfriend loves the heat.

jonathan will handle electronics. argyle is still the best driver around.

"what about munitions?" steve asks. their go-to guy retired after losing a couple fingers.

"we're set," nancy says. "i found someone new."

steve is reluctant, not wanting some trigger-happy hotshot stepping all over their job.

"don't worry. you'll like him."

she hires eddie. (steve does like him, eventually.)

nancy thinks they need one more, so steve goes to indianapolis to pick an up-and-comer recommended to them by an old mentor. (dustin gets linus' intro. he's surprised steve offers him the job so quickly. "claudia has faith in you," steve says. "well, mothers are like that.")

they all convene in vegas. nancy is shocked when robin shows up with a bouncy 5-foot-nothing blonde on her arm, introducing her as chrissy.

nancy pulls robin aside to say what the fuck? you can't bring a plus one to the secret crime meeting!

"we need a grease man," robin says. "chrissy is SUPER flexible!" and she’s maybe a little too excited about it.

nancy rolls her eyes but agrees. they do need a grease man. grease woman? someone tiny to sneak around and hide in tight corners. apparently chrissy had joined a local circus troupe, so she was plenty qualified.

they debrief the job. they're knocking over tommy hagan's casino. none of them have met him before; he's just a wildly successful casino owner.

there is a reason why nancy picked his casino, but she lies and says it was random.

steve figures it out a week later.

dustin's job was to follow hagan and learn his schedule. (the kid didn't like the low-stakes work, but stopped complaining when steve threatened to send him back to indiana.)

dustin reports to steve, walking him through hagan's daily routine. it ends like this: "and then comes the girlfriend."

they both watch as a gorgeous woman with bright red hair struts across the casino floor.

"this is the best part of my day," dustin says, stars in his eyes. "i'm not sure if we can use her yet. i haven't even caught her name."

steve sighs. "barb," he says. "her name is barb."

steve confronts nancy. "tell me this is not about her, or I walk off the job."

"who?" she plays dumb.

"barb! tell me this isn't about screwing the guy who's screwing your wife!"

"it's not about that!"

"seriously? im not stupid, nance!"

"...it's not entirely about that." she's honest and somber now, speaking with a dark look in her eyes. "remember when we got into this business? we said we'd play like we had—"

"we had nothing to lose," steve finished.

"well, i lost something. i lost someone."

it hit steve then, hard like a smack in the face. he knew it had been tough for nancy, when barb found out about her career and left her. but he thought it wasn't that bad, that she was getting over it. he never realized how hurt she was.

so now, as nancy said, "that’s why i'm here."

steve knew he had to stand behind her.

#sorry that there's hardly any eddie #he and steve are doing all kinds of shenanigans and falling in love while they prep for the heist :)#should i write more?#stranger things #stranger things fic #spicy six #fruity four #steddie fic #steddie #buckingham #steddie fanfiction #nancy wheeler #steve harrington

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imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl · 2 years ago

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Meant To Be {Part 02 of 02}

Pairing: Eddie Munson X Reader

Chapter word count: 1.9 K

Summary: Eddie has been part of your life for years, and after a bad date, the man himself decides to ask you out.

<- Previous part (01)

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

I've Always Knew

You're breathless when you stumble inside Eddie's trailer. “Did you see his face?” Eddie says, pushing the door close. “The entire school will hear about it on Monday.”

Collapsing on the couch, you wipe a tear off. “Shame on him for trying to advise me on not hanging out with you. He deserved every word.”

“He did, but, damn, I didn't know you had all that bottled up inside you.”

Neither did you, to be honest. But Jason almost ruined your night. After you told him it was a real date, he was moved by jealousy or whatever the hell he feels about you, scolding you as if he had any right to. And you got angry. Angry because you're sick and tired of people meddling with your life, telling you they know what's best for you. As if they knew Eddie and weren't moved only by gossip and lies. You're the only one who gets to see what's inside Eddie... And it's beautiful, precious.

He's one of the best things that happened to you, and you'll do anything you can so he'll always be part of your life.

“Won't they ever stop, Eddie?” You ask, laughter dying down. “It's been four years and they still think you're evil or something.”

Eddie comes to the couch, sitting down next to you. “That's kinda the intention, you know.” He says, gesturing at himself. “I want people to think I'm evil.”

“No, Eddie. I'm for real here.” Sighing, you get up, heading to his room. There, you close the door to change into something to sleep on, and, despite having enough of your clothes here, you take one of his shirts as usual. When you're done, you open the door and he comes inside.

“Why do you even care, (Y/N)? Haven't you learned that from me yet?” When you sit on the bed, Eddie does the same, rather close this time. “I don't give a shit if they think I'm a punk, or if they think my clothes are all old just because I like to rip them a little. I like who I am, you like who I am, and that's enough for me.”

Looking into his eyes, you feel a tightness in your throat. He really cares about you, this man. More than you think you know. Biting on the inside of your cheek, you nod. “And what about me?” You ask in a low voice, moving even closer. “Do you like who I am?” It's an important question, you think, because as he told you many times before, you're very different, to the outside world at least. ...And maybe he'd like someone with a style like his.

But Eddie scoffs, and without saying anything, he grabs your side and pushes you down on the bed, his body hovering over you. “Are you mad? I love who you are. You're my cute little princess. Emphasis on cute.” Then, he pauses, narrowing his eyes. “And on little. And on the princess.”

“Let me up!” You complain, even though you're laughing.

“Nah, don't think so.” And he starts tickling you, bringing out yells and loud laughter, and you try to push him away, but your efforts only serve to have you fighting on the bed, and throwing empty curses at each other.

“EDDIE!” Someone calls, and you both stop, frozen.

“Yes, uncle!”

“Come here. I have to talk to you.”

You and Eddie exchange a glance, frozen for another second before you both get up, and head to the living room. Something might have happened because his uncle is home way too early.

In the living room, his uncle looks up from his place on the couch. He looks at you, then at Eddie, then back at you. “I only meant Eddie.” He says and sighs. “Nevermind, girl. Maybe it'll be important to you as well.” His uncle adds when you turned to leave. He takes a deep breath. “Remember that promotion I was applying for since you were in Middle School? I got it.”

“That's great. I'm happy for you.” You say, smiling.

“Yeah. But that means I'll have to move to Indianapolis. Job's there.” At that, you and Eddie look at each other, and you move closer, taking his hand. “No, don't even go there.” His uncle interrupts. “I'm not telling this because Eddie has to go. He's an adult anyways. Just saying this because I'll leave the trailer for you, Eddie. And send some money every month for you to keep it up until you graduate and find a job... If you graduate this time.”

“He will.” You speak up, squeezing Eddie's hand. “He promised me.”

His uncle nods. “Good, good.” He gets up. “I'll move next month. And well, maybe you could come live here for good, girl, since you kinda already do.” Ignoring your faces, he walks away, going to his room. “Now, I'll sleep soundly with the good news.”

When you hear the door closing, it happens automatically. You turn to each other and start jumping, yelling silently not to be heard. Eddie pulls you into his arms, lifting you in a bear hug.

“You have to come live with me.” He says, putting you down, a bright smile on his face.

You're just about to say yes, of course, when you remember your parents, that might have something to say about it, despite you being legally an adult. “Mmm... Mom might not be happy about it. Dad might call us crazy and say no. They won't like the idea of their daughter moving in with a guy she's not married to even though we're best friends and they're used to us hanging out most of the time.”

Eddie shrugs. “No problem. Marry me then.”

That... Takes you by surprise. Taking a step back, trying to force your body not to become red as a tomato at his words, you chuckle. “Oh no, Munson. You did not just PROPOSE to me while I'm in pajamas. You did not just propose to me without even kissing me before. That's outrageous.”

“Are you crazy? We kissed before, playing spin the bottle.”

“We were the only ones playing Eddie, and you dared me. It doesn't count.” Crossing your arms, you shrug. “I still have the ring you lost on that bet.”

“You never wear it.”

“Cause it's ugly.” You snap.

“Then why do you still have it?”

“Because I won it.”

“What about another bet then, Princess,” Eddie says, lowering his voice. “If you kiss me now, you can have half of my life. But only if you give me half of yours.”

Blushing even more, you feel your stomach tickling like your core is about to melt. Or burst. “S-sounds fair...” You mutter, shrugging a shoulder. “But you're the guy. Grow some balls and kiss me yourself, Munson.”

Eddie laughs, shaking his head slowly before stepping closer, ending the distance between you and him. “As the Lady wishes.”

And just like that, the next thing you know are his lips on yours, a warm kiss in which he loses no time before taking over completely, claiming you, like no one ever did before. You kissed a couple of guys, but the past experiences serve now only to show you you've been kissing the wrong ones. This is right. Eddie is the right one.

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you press your body against his, allowing him to deepen the kiss, and send everyone who speaks shit about you to hell. This is between you and Eddie, always has been.

You've been in love with Eddie for too long, but now you know.

•••

Needless to say, your parents weren't happy with the moving-in with Eddie idea... Nor would they be okay with the idea of your getting married.

So, of course, you took the craziest possible idea.

On your trip to drop Eddie's uncle off in Indianapolis, you signed the papers, bought two cheap rings, and went back to Hawkins with a different surname.

And, needless to say, your parents freaked out. But your grandmother was on your side since she did something very similar so she could be with your grandfather. It runs in the family, she said.

And with no other impediments, you took your stuff and brought them to the trailer. But most of it remained in the car since you and Eddie decided to redecorate and change some things, so it could have both your styles. The first victim was your bedroom. Speaking sense into his head, you made him change the place he kept his guitar. It was now on the wall across the window, where the lighting was much better.

After you finish doing the bed with the new sheets and fixing the many pillows on top of it, you walk out, finding Eddie by his uncle's old bedroom.

“I can see the gears turning.”

“Don't know what to do with it.” He says, a hand rubbing his chin.

Gasping, you step inside, turning until you're looking up at your husband. Damn, it will take a while to get used to it, you think. “Seriously. You don't have anything in mind to do with this place?” You gesture vaguely around.

Eddie's eyes go wide. “Oh! Sorry.” He smiles. “It's good, it will be a good closet. We could even have a space for-”

“Did you have a stroke or something, man?” You burst out, rolling your eyes. “I mean a D&D space. We're not students anymore, you can't keep using the school for the games. But here, it's perfect. A place completely dedicated to it.” Eddie doesn't reply. He just stands there, looking down at you like he's having a mental breakdown. “...Are you alive in there?”

“I was going to say that I love you but honestly, those three words aren't enough to describe it.” Then, he moves fast, picking you up.

“Whoa!” Giggling, you wrap your legs around his waist. “Why that now? Not that I'm complaining.”

“Ever since the first time I saw you, I knew I would love you. And yes, I thought it was a crush, that you'd never want a freak like me but with time, as I got to know you... I fell for you. And every day since you have proven to me that was the right decision.”

You weren't expecting that. Eddie didn't make such a declaration when you were signing the paper to get married, and you weren't expecting that. Eddie's emotions come to the surface at the most unexpected times. “I wish I realized before... That I loved you, Eddie... It would spare me all the time I lost with stupid boys when the only thing I wanted was to spend time with you.”

“It doesn't matter. We matter. Now matters. All that brought us here.” He bounces you up to have a better grip. “AKA the stupid kids who got married.”

That makes you smirk. “Are they still saying you knocked me up?”

“Absolutely.”

Chuckling, you shrug. “Doesn't matter.” You repeat. “We matter.”

“That's right.” And he kisses you, in the middle of that empty bedroom.

Deep inside, there was always something that told you your life would be bounded with Eddie's for a very long time. But only now you understand that a very long time means the rest of your lives. And there's no reason to wait no longer. So to hell with other people's opinions, you're each other's happiness, and so it shall begin, the life you both wanted. In each other's arms.

#eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson x you #eddie munson imagine #imagine eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #strangers things fanfiction #stranger things imagine #imagine stranger things

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schrijverr · 2 years ago

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Package for Mr. Kaspbrak

Follow a package that is bound for Eddie as it goes through the office and thus through the hands of people, who all have their own perspective and opinions about him.

On AO3.

Ships: Richie x Eddie

Warnings: everything that is wrong with corporate America

~~~~~~~~~~

A package of files is delivered to the risk analysis company on Flower St LA on a Thursday morning. The delivery boy who brings the package vaguely recognizes the name Edward Kaspbrak, but not in a manner that matters to him.

The man in the mailroom, Chad, whom he hands it to however, does know the name a little better. He often handles packages addressed to him and has heard all the gossip. He used to be a fan of Richie Tozier, before he came out, but he isn’t a fan of the new content.

Chad is a little bit of a bigot and denied ever having liked Richie’s work whenever asked. But he had followed Richie’s coming out, hoping it was all a joke. When it turned out it wasn’t he got annoyed, posted some hate, then went on with his life.

Alas, the universe has a funny way of getting back to him. Because it was after that, that he realizes one of the new names in the company is Richie’s famed boyfriend. Now he’s stuck way further down on the ladder, sorting his mail.

So, he takes the package, scoffs at the name and puts it on the right pile, hoping the intern will come pick it up soon.

Kamaria, the intern, is on her way to the mailroom to make her rounds. She knows that her internship means being the lowest on the ladder, she just hadn’t counted on that meaning that her job is to play delivering service.

It’s practically a crime she doesn’t get paid for this. She already has it bad enough with the micro aggressions she has to deal with on a daily basis. The mailroom itself is a minefield and she hates Chad, who works there.

She had her fingers crossed that he was out sick, however that doesn’t seem to be the case, because she is greeted with: “There you are, finally. God you all are so lazy.”

Now, Kamaria isn’t lazy and she knows that. She also knows that telling Chad that won’t do her any good, so she ignores it. One has to ignore a lot if you want to make it far as a minority in corporate America.

So, she just loads the cart with mail as quickly as she can, before getting out of there. She doesn’t speak a word to Chad, privately hopes he falls down the stairs or something.

She pushes the cart by the offices on the manager floor in the main analysis department, who she interns for. Not that she does much actual analyzing, unless they are too close to the deadline and push their work on her.

The secretary for Mr. Hearding, Karen, always calls her Kim, despite her many corrections and complains that she is late, despite the fact that Kamaria is on time every morning, including this one.

Linda, the secretary for Mr. Sullivan, greets her pleasantly and has to gossip. Linda isn’t so bad, thought a bit too into conspiracies, which connects to her love of gossip. On this morning, she says: “Did you hear about Mr. Kaspbrak?”

While claiming to be above it, Kamaria absolutely isn’t, so she replies: “No, what happened?” with a little bit of guilt. She cuts herself some slack, however. There is hardly any entertainment here and it is not like someone so far above her in the company ecosystem will care about what she, a low intern, has heard or said about him.

“Apparently he used to work in the New York branch,” Linda says, which is something everyone knows, so Kamaria is about to roll her eyes and move on, but then Linda goes on. “He transferred because of a very nasty divorce. He has a restraining order against his wife. My cousin is a hairdresser there, she heard all about it from the ex-wife. He ran away with that comedian after a reunion. Totally out of the blue.”

“Oh really,” Kamaria replies, thinking that talking about her boss’ private life like this went a little too far. So, she hands Linda Mr. Sullivan’s packages and quickly moves on to the last few in the hall, finally landing in front of Mr. Kaspbrak’s secretary, Hannah.

Hannah smiles at Kamaria kindly, making her feel a little guilty for listening to Linda, though she thought she was about to hear so manager break room drama, not the man’s nasty divorce.

“Thank you, Kamaria,” Hannah says, taking the package from her. “Any plans for the weekend? Or still trying to survive until Friday?”

“Trying to survive,” Kamaria smiles, not telling someone with a direct line to her boss that she is going out partying. “You?”

Hannah knows she is not entirely honest, but lets it slides. She remembers what it is like to be young. So, she puts the packages down to sort through later and says: “Me and Jacob are visiting my parents this weekend.”

“Oh, have fun,” Kamaria says, before walking back to her desk with the now empty cart.

Hannah watches her go, before looking through the pile just delivered onto her desk. There isn’t much, however, she sees a thick packet that is probably the files Mr. Kaspbrak, or Edward, as she is allowed to call him, is waiting for.

She takes the pile and walks into Edward’s office holding them. He is working on his computer and looks up when she comes in, smiling when he sees it’s her. Edward isn’t the most sociable person there is, Hannah knows. However, she doesn’t mind much, because he is a good boss.

Unlike some of the horror stories she hears from other secretaries, Edward’s particularities are very mild. He is a bit of a clean freak, but at least he doesn’t grope her or yell at her for things out of her control. On top of that, he gave her free Yom Kippur, giving her a sad smile and telling her he lost an old friend, who was Jewish before moving to the LA branch.

It’s little moments like those, which makes working for Edward bearable. He is mostly known as a strict man throughout the company, but he just likes to get things done on time and have those things done well. He has high expectations of himself and expects the same quality from everyone else.

Hannah has figured out how to meet his standard and now he is nothing but pleasant. She considers herself very lucky.

So, she returns his smile with one of her own and pleasantly says: “A delivery just came in. I think the Lemmin Inc. files are here.”

“Ah, thank you, Hannah,” Edward replies, taking the package from her and opening it. She waits as he studies it, knowing the request that will come. Indeed he asks: “Could you copy these for me, please? I need six for the meeting.”

“Of course,” she answers, taking them and going to the copy machine to do just that.

She had once asked him why he copied these things instead of handing them out digitally. He told her that nothing is as confronting as a physical manifestation of something. Having a task you can’t minimize on a screen, but something that takes up space on your desk, makes that you complete it faster. It was a sensible answer, but the way he said it made her a little uneasy.

Edward has the habit of suddenly getting intense sometime. It is always a little odd when his eyes go all serious and he says something profound or confounding.

Hannah privately thinks it’s because of that accident he was in a few years ago. It’s the reason he now walks with a cane and she does a little more leg work than the average secretary. He divorced his wife afterwards and got together with a famous comedian. Quite a nasty divorce she knows, because she has had to block the ex-wife from calling.

She can imagine how such an accident will make one reevaluate themselves and Edward seems happy, so she can’t imagine it was such a bad change.

The gossip made the rounds when he first started working there, Hannah in the middle of it. They are all curious how Edward is as a boss, if he is anything like the anecdotes Trashmouth Tozier likes to tell on stage.

Hannah doesn’t see much of the argumentative, competitive, concerned, overbearing boyfriend in her boss. However, she knows that everyone has a version of themselves they are at work. Edward is no different. And she sees how he can be whenever Richie calls the office, how much he smiles and rolls his eyes, albeit fondly. It’s sweet.

She gets to the copier and scans the pages to be printed. It’s mindless work, but Hannah doesn’t mind. It is part of her job and she likes it. A quiet moment to herself.

The moment sadly doesn’t stay quiet.

Linda, Mr. Sullivan’s secretary, comes over when she’s busy. Linda is an absolute gossip and believes everything she reads on the internet. Hannah promises herself that if she starts about the ‘secret elite’ running everything again, she is going to snap and walk away.

Instead Linda goes on about another topic of interest to her. Edward Kaspbrak. She doesn’t even say hello, just starts: “I heard Mr. Kaspbrak has a restraining order against his wife. I’d be careful with him, if I were you. Someone willing to go to such extreme’s over something mild is dangerous, I’m telling you.”

In turn Hannah only hums in acknowledgment, not wanting to start a fight this early in the morning over Edward’s divorce of all things. She herself doesn’t think it was anything mild, but that is likely because she had the distinct displeasure of talking to Myra. However, she is not telling Linda that, she can be like a shark.

“I mean, honestly, you never hear a man getting a restraining order against a women,” Linda continues on, despite getting no encouragement to do so. “It feels fishy. He probably made up all sort of horrible things about her to keep the money. He seems the type.”

This is a little far and Hannah doesn’t want Linda spreading such nonsense further, Edward has enough weird rumors going around as it is. So, as politely as she can manage, she says: “I think this is not the sort of topic to speculate on.”

“Alright, alright,” Linda says, holding up her hands as if she is surrendering. Her tone makes it obvious that she thinks Hannah is a stuck up bitch, but Hannah doesn’t care.

“Did you need to use the printer?” she asks, when Linda doesn’t leave.

“Oh no, I just came to check if you needed any help,” Linda tells her. “Mr. Kaspbrak always makes you do the carrying. He’s a man, he should be able to get his own papers, not use you like some sort of servant. Don’t you think.”

“Edward needs a cane to walk, Linda. He is not allowed to do his carrying,” Hannah snaps slightly, needing Linda to stop talking.

Edward has many times apologized for all the work she needs to do for him, but she does not blame him. The company is afraid he’ll sue if something happens to him, so that means Hannah has a few more physical tasks. In her opinion he more than makes up for it by keeping to the schedule by himself. She would rather carry a little more than constantly play nanny like she sees the other secretaries do.

“I think he’s just being dramatic,” Linda informs her conspiratorially.

Right when Hannah is about to smack Linda, the copier beeps that it is done and she gratefully makes her exit with the files she needs. One of these days she is reporting Linda to HR. She would have done so already, if Edward hadn’t requested she not cause a fuss surrounding his disability. He hates the attention and scrutiny.

She shakes off the frown and annoyance Linda has left her with and goes to Edward’s office, leaving the stack on his desk with a smile and without a word, because he is in a call right now. So, he only gives her a smile back, before she retreats.

Eddie flips through the files that were delivered this morning idly. Most of the information in the files are already known to him, but it doesn’t hurt to glance at it again before his presentation on the Lemmin Inc. assessment later.

On the phone he is listening Todd, who is working on the case with him later. If Eddie is honest, he doesn’t like Todd much. He always has something to say or complain about, but never any solutions himself. Plus, he has terrible timing. They have a meeting in an hour, Eddie is sure these questions can wait.

He tells Todd as much and hangs up. He wants to get as much work done as he can in the hour he has. Tonight he and Richie are meeting up with the rest of the Losers. Everyone is flying in to LA for a get together.

They try to get together whenever they can, all of them still a little afraid that they will forget everyone when they don’t see each other for a while.

When the hour is over, he gather the files for the case and gets to the meeting. He likes to make notes on them, before scanning them in and sending them digitally.

He puts the files on the table, so everyone has them and they don’t have any delays when starting up. Eddie is in the middle of setting up his power point when Todd enters. He mentally sighs before putting on a neutral look and greeting Todd.

Todd picks up his packet and flips through it. He scans for a little bit, but doesn’t really read it, Mr. Kaspbrak isn’t his favorite to work with and he’s pretty sure the feeling is mutual. However, he has worked together with the man often enough to know that reading it all is pointless. Mr. Kaspbrak will explain anyway.

“Todd,” Mr. Kaspbrak greets and Todd feels a stab of annoyance go through him. Todd has been with the company since his internship, yet when it came time for what should be his promotion, his spot had been taken by Mr. Kaspbrak. A transfer.

Now Mr. Kaspbrak is above him in the hierarchy, leaving Todd to call him Mr. Kaspbrak while he could call him Todd. It frustrated him to no end. So, he always tries to trip him up, make him look incompetent, so that Todd would get his promotion, but so far no dice.

“Mr. Kaspbrak,” Todd greets back pleasantly, but with an undertone. It’s one of the first skills he learned when he started in the field.

After the greeting Mr. Kaspbrak goes back to setting up, which also irks Todd, who believes he should never be ignored like this. So, he leafs through the files again, then asks: “Has there been proper communication with the client about their needs?”

It is quiet for a second as Mr. Kaspbrak looks up, if Todd had better eyes, he would have seen the murder hiding in them, however, he does not. So, he misses the layer of being utterly done as Mr. Kaspbrak answers: “Yes, there has been.”

“Okay, good, just checking,” Todd says, sitting down.

The others are already dropping in, which is far more interesting than Mr. Kaspbrak. Brady enters and Todd knows he just got a yacht for his birthday, so he abandons any pretense of being interested in favor of asking about it.

They are just getting into the parties Brady plans on throwing when Mr. Kaspbrak makes them stop in favor of his boring meeting.

Todd hates being in meetings like these. His father wanted him to make something of himself and if he didn’t then he might not get his inheritance. So, here he is listening to Mr. Kasprbak babble on about numbers.

He’s obviously gay, Todd thinks to himself, with how proper and uptight he always is. If he has to bet, he’d say Mr. Kaspbrak got that promotion over him as a diversity hire. Every company is doing that nowadays. There’s one black intern too, she’s under Mr. Kaspbrak. Let her, those talentless people should be clumped together away from the hardworking American’s, who actually earned their spot.

After that he scratches his face and thinks of whether he can convince his father to buy him a vacation house in the Caribbean, since he has spend all of his own salary and allowance on a few very nice cars.

Once he has decided he probably could, he raises his hand and asks a probing question. He has to keep Mr. Kaspbrak on his toes. Besides one of these days Mr. Kaspbrak won’t have a good answer, which will show everyone that Todd is a much better candidate for his position.

Unbeknownst to Todd, his question had been answered in the presentation earlier and thus an annoyance to anyone who had been paying attention. Todd just notes that Mr. Kaspbrak looks annoyed when answering, which isn’t very professional.

To distract himself, Todd crumbles the paper in front of him, refraining himself from doodling on the files. They always get the files digitally afterwards anyway.

This continues on for another half an hour before Mr. Kaspbrak finally lets them go. Todd sighs of relief and gets up, talking with Brady as they go to the break room. Actually working is for the interns under them.

In the break room Todd sees the crumpled packet of paper still in his hand that he throws in the trash. As he does so, he gripes: “I can’t believe the old fashion-ness. Paper? I mean, really? You would think he’s sixty not forty.”

The comment gets some laughs. Brady commenting: “Well, that hot secretary heard he had a nasty divorce, probably aged him twenty years.”

Everyone laughs again, before Connor, one of the other lads Todd knows from Harvard, says: “I can see it, but I don’t know if you should trust her. I mean, I’d fuck her, but you gotta be careful who you listen to. Last week she claimed he got that scar on his face because he was attacked by a madman with a knife.”

“You’re kidding,” Todd snorts. “That’s ridiculous. I mean have you seen him? I could pick him up without issue.”

“That’s what I said,” Connor rolls his eyes with a grin.

They continue talking like that for a little while, before going to shoot the shit at their desks, leaving the break room an absolute mess.

Nico sees them leaves and silently seethes a bit at them. He won’t ever say something about it to them, he has transitioned years ago, but jerks like that always seem to be able to pick him out of the crowd, so he is far too attached on the invisibility being a janitor grants him.

So, yeah, he seethes quietly as he watches, having timed his round by when they’ll leave, knowing that his work will otherwise immediately be undone. He also doesn’t like how they use the interns as coffee maids, but at least the interns know how to keep a room tidy.

Still, it is his job, so he sets to work. Emptying the trashcan and picking up everything that hasn’t made it into the trashcan. He doesn’t see the packet of paper that gets buried under used napkins and empty packaging.

Once this break room is clean again, he starts pushing his cart to the elevator. Nico quite likes his job, in all honesty. It’s not that bad. Just the people are.

The elevator dings and he pushes his cart in, the man already there moving to the side to give him space. He thanks him with a smile, getting one in turn from the man, who Nico actually recognizes, because it is Richie Tozier.

He has to admit the first time he ran into Richie he had been kind of star struck. Ever since he came out, he has become a bit of a household name in the queer community. Nico loves his newer work about his life as an older, recently out, gay man and his struggles growing up. Of course, Nice also loves the bits about his husband, but it’s always a bit odd that he cleans the office of the husband of Richie ‘Trashmouth’ Tozier.

However, Nico can see the Eddie Richie talks about in Mr. Kaspbrak, albeit it still confuses him from time to time. Mr. Kaspbrak is always so professional that if Nico didn’t know better he would assume the man lived at the office, or was some sort of pod-person created to work in an office.

But Nico knows better, because he has seen Richie’s bits about Eddie being an argumentative potty mouthed little shit, who can be the worst mother hen, yet still loves Richie very much even if he keeps telling him he loves Eddie’s mom more.

Richie also has bits about the germophobia his boyfriend has, which is where Nico can see Mr. Kaspbrak best.

It can be a serious fear, Nico knows, but Mr. Kaspbrak is one of his favorite workers in the company because of it. To him, Mr. Kaspbrak is always cordial and kind, leaving a big tip each month, because he recognizes the work Nico puts in to keep the office clean and how important that is. Furthermore, his own office is always already very clean, which means Nico doesn’t have much work with cleaning it.

All in all, Nico likes Mr. Kaspbrak.

The elevator dings open and Richie perks up from his phone as they both get out of the elevator. It is a little awkward as they continue to head in the same direction until they reach the toilets where Nico halts as Richie continues on.

As he starts cleaning, he can hear Richie yell in the distance: “Eddie Spaghetti, come eat lunch with me! You’ll suffocate in that tie.”

Mr. Kaspbrak returns in an out of character manner that only happens when Richie is near him, when he’s more Eddie than Mr. Kaspbrak. “It is not even lunch hour yet, dickwad. Not all of us can just leave.”

“Lies and slander,” Richie replies. “Come on, you work hard enough to skip out early. You’re not a coward, are you?”

“This has nothing to do with what you said,” Eddie says and Richie laughs loudly. A little bit later they walk by the toilets Nico is cleaning, on their way to lunch. Eddie gives him a nod when their eyes happen to lock and Nico nods back equally friendly.

Later he walks by Linda’s desk, god does he despise her almost as much as the frat bros a few levels down. She is telling Karen: “I mean, did you see how he was dressed. I bet he and Mr. Kaspbrak are close to going bankrupt.”

Nico thinks of the tip Mr. Kaspbrak always leaves him and the Beverly Marsh jacket Richie was wearing when he came in, so he rolls his eyes as he highly doubts that.

At the end of the day, the files that came in that morning are laying in the big dump next to the office building of the risk analysis company on Flower St LA. The garbage collectors that come to pick it up, have no clue it related to Edward Kaspbrak, unaware he even works in the building and neither a stand up fan.

A/N:

Please note that I have never worked in the corporate world (something I’m grateful for, because I hated most of the character I made up for this lmao) and I don’t plan on it, so enjoy this with a grain of salt

I thought it would be fun to see from the perspective of the files as they’re handed from person to person, you know, but let me know what you think!

#rr writing #tw: corporate america #tw: bigotry #it 2019 #it 2017 #it stephen king #richie tozier #richie x eddie #eddie kaspbrak lives #eddie kaspbrak #reddie #outsiders pov #OCs

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penny00dreadful · 2 years ago

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First Impressions - Chapter 3

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 AO3

All in all, Eddie was in a good place right now.

He hadn’t been forced to interact with Harrington in days.

He was making great tips at work too, a fact he attributed to his new round of ancient band tops that he’d recently slashed through and cut up, removing the ratty hems and collars, turning them into crop tops that left him chilly but he looked damn fine in.

He was still completely devoid of inspiration when it came to Eirwen, but there was a small short story he was working on in the meantime to burn off his writer's block. It had started with the thoughts of red lighting he’d had a couple of weeks ago and the flipped world mirroring this one called the Upside-Down. He’d originally envisioned a completely inverted world like a capsized ship but then started thinking of alternate worlds and planes and maybe an alternate dimension would fit better? So it wouldn’t be literally an upside-down world but more like a mirrored dimension.

It was leaning a bit more sci-fi than he wanted but that’s what was currently leaking out of his brain so he took it and ran with it while he waited for Eirwen to tell him what her next step was.

The bastardising traitorous fluttering in his stomach had eased away to a gentle wave that was almost non existent and Eddie thanked whatever gods were out there that he seemed to finally be getting over it. Whatever it was.

Just a biological reaction probably. That’s all.

He’d considered getting it all out of his system with someone else, hit up a few bars or clubs in the city, see if someone caught his eye and then he could just fuck the stupid biological urges out of himself.

But the idea really didn’t appeal to him anymore. He was tired. Tired of hookups, tired of short and sharp relationships that only lasted a few months until the honeymoon period wore off and they both realised they didn’t even really like each other under all the hormones.

People always assumed Eddie was a quick fuck, no call afterward kinda guy. The hard edges and rough denim and the rings and the chains boxed him in in some aspects. But they kept him safe too. The fuckers of the world who liked to toy around with emotions left him alone because he looked like a tough bastard.

He wasn’t though. Chrissy said he was just a soft pink teddy bear on the inside and yeah, you know what? He really felt that way sometimes. But if his teenage years had taught him anything it was that people love to fuck around and hurt that little thing inside him for their own validation and that was not the most fun thing in the world.

He wanted… He wasn’t sure of exactly what he wanted. Maybe to be comfortable. To have a relationship that felt easy and simple and was so effortless to fall into because they clicked, they had chemistry and shared interests and were so compatible that it barely felt like work. He wanted companionship and love, not just hot bathroom or alleyway sex.

Fuck.

Was this what getting old was like?

At least he had his passion for music back again. He’d been writing songs and the whole band had been more dedicated than every to getting their shit perfect , spending hours losing themselves in it. While he and the boys were just excited to perform for their friends, for the kids, Gareth was acting like his whole life depended on it. He had nearly erupted into flames when he’d heard that a recently single Will would be there to watch and he was almost militaristic with his orders to get their shit together and put on the performance of their life.

When he’d asked for a shift change so he wouldn’t have to go back to work after the gig, Charlie had whined and complained and started to rant at him but he just blinked his big wide eyes at her. He’d learned to weaponise them years ago.

She’d huffed and puffed and lamented that she shouldn’t even be here in her position. She was destined for a big city office job, or a rich husband so she could stay home.

Eddie had asked her once what would she even do sitting around at home all day under the thumb of said rich husband? It resulted in him being on the end of a mind numbing one sided conversation about how she’d keep the house straight or raise the kids and how hard could it be? And if it did get to be too hard, well wasn’t that what nannies and maids were for? She said that was the dream. Eddie thought it sounded like a lobotomy, but he kept that opinion to himself. He needed the shift change after all.

He’d tried to have a good bitch about it with Lionel but Lionel thought it wasn’t so bad. True love always had a way of working out, he said. If two people were happy together then nothing else mattered. Eddie held his tongue on that one as well. He just couldn’t break the poor boy's naive little heart. True love often didn’t survive when one side was incredibly dissatisfied or unequal in the relationship. His parents were an example of that.

Jeff tossed him a soda from across Gareth's garage as they ended practice. “Be advised, Dustin is working on getting Chrissy a date again.”

Eddie let his head drop back with an exasperated groan, shaking his fists. “Christ, what is that kid's problem? I swear to god, he thinks he’s the foremost authority on relationships because he’s been with the same girl since he was, like, five.”

“Thirteen.”

“Same thing.”

“Apparently his whole thing with playing matchmaker isn’t new. He used to do this shit to Harrington all the time.”

Eddie snapped his head back up to look Jeff in the eye.

“King Dick needed relationship help from a teenager? There’s no way that’s true. Harrington was famous for his sluttiness.”

“I don’t think it was that he needed his help, I think Dustin just forced his help on him.”

Eddie scoffed. “Typical. So why’d he stop? Tell him to start again, get back on Harrington’s case and off Chrissy’s.”

“Nah, I’m not getting in the middle of that minefield. Sources say it went badly. And he spent a solid six months trying Robin and Harrington together.”

Eddie rolled his eyes. For a genius that kid could be so damn dense. There was an irritating itch in his brain, in his blood, in his skin. He didn’t want to ask. He didn’t care what kind of history was there. He didn’t. But apparently his mouth was running away with him again. “Did it go badly last time because it was Buckley or was it someone else? What did he do to fuck it up?”

Jeff raised an eyebrow at him and Eddie was forced to crack his soda can and gulp it down to avoid eye contact.

“Awfully presumptuous of you to assume he fucked it up. Some might even say you’re being judgy.”

“I’m not being judgy.”

“Prejudiced.”

Eddie spun back around. “Prejudiced?! Jesus Christ, what is this? A Jane Austin novel?”

“You’re being very dramatic right now.”

“Bite me.”

Dustin was a truly awful matchmaker and Eddie was forced to watch the whole awkward thing unfold from behind the bar.

Chrissy and Mr. Normal-Guy-Whatever-His-Name-Was were in a booth off to the side and he hadn’t stopped talking for the entire forty-five minutes they’d been there. Chrissy looked like she was in between falling asleep and pulling her own teeth out but she’d asked Eddie not to intervene. Yeah he could be a little… protective of her at times but that’s what best friends were for. He was just looking out for her. She was just too damn polite, too sweet to cut shit short. She didn’t want to be rude. Eddie had absolutely no problem being rude if he had to.

But she hadn’t looked in his direction the entire time, almost like she thought if they made eye contact he’d be activated like some kind of sleeper agent to swoop in.

Maybe she wasn’t too far off.

Was he being clingy? Overbearing? Was this red flag behaviour? There’s only so much he could excuse by being trauma bonded from the earthquake. It was how they’d first met, outside of passing each other in the highschool hallways. They’d both lost their homes and had arrived at the shelter at the same time resulting in their cots being situated right next to each other.

Chrissy had smiled at him under the settled dust in her hair and the cut across her eyebrow. She looked like Veronica Sawyer at the end of the movie and Eddie knew he looked more intimidating than he ever had in his life before. He’d been dressed for a show, all leather and tears and chains and mesh and denim. His eyeliner was smudged around his eyes, he had bruises blossoming over his arms and back, he had blood under his nails and in his hair and soaked through his jeans into his lap. None of it was his. None of it was Wayne’s either, thank god.

And she’d still smiled at him in her sweet open way and said “I guess we’re neighbours, huh?” while her mother sent them the stink eye.

They weren’t even that close in the weeks afterward, but she was always civil to him and his uncle, no matter what her mother whispered to her. Until one afternoon when he’d found her forcefully emptying her guts out in a secluded corner behind the building where he’d usually go to smoke.

She looked terrified, guilty and in pain and it just about broke his heart.

He sat with her after meal times then, to give the food time to digest and whisked her away from the soul sucking presence of her mother whenever he could.

In the intervening years between then and now they’d been through more than their fair share of shit and stuck by each other's side for all of it and he’d be damned if he stopped looking out for her now.

If only she’d look out for herself. He knew why she’d said yes to this doomed date. She was trying to cover up, to mask, to run. There was something there about her feelings for Robin and she couldn’t or wouldn’t acknowledge them.

Eddie knew the dance well.

She was trying to convince herself she was as straight as could be, trying to hide from the really scary self realisation that maybe she wasn’t straight.

Or that could be Eddie projecting.

He had plenty of denial in his own past and usually he hated to put a label on someone without their say so, but he knew Chrissy too well.

He was snapped from his inner thoughts as they both stood and began to make their way towards him. Chrissy looked withered and the guy looked earnest but intense, like he was trying to investigate a puzzle.

Eddie busied himself behind the bar, trying not to make it obvious that he’d been watching them like a hawk.

“Hi. How’s it going, you two?” He asked, as casual as possible which apparently wasn’t that casual if the strained smile Chrissy was giving him was anything to go by.

“It was a fun time, but we think we’re better off as friends.” Her expression to him was nothing short of ‘thank god’. Eddie couldn’t help the corner of his mouth lifting slightly but his expression dropped when he glanced back and saw the guy giving him a quick once over.

Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no please. Not a boring, normie guy I can’t even remember the name of. Please no.

The guy turned his watery blue eyes back to Eddie’s, his gaze unsettlingly intense but it seemed like he didn’t even realise he was giving off that kind of vibe.

“Well, I must not overstay my welcome. Bad etiquette, you know.”

Oh jesus.

His accent was overly posh, English and snooty as all hell. He inclined his head in Chrissy’s direction before offering her his hand. When she took it, he raised it to his lips and placed a stilted but innocent kiss on her knuckles before loosening his grip, not letting his hand linger too long. “‘Till we meet again, madam.”

“Uh…” Chrissy looked like she’d been thrown into the deep end of a cold pool. “Sure. Bye.”

With that, the man sent a curt nod in Eddie’s direction again, with another wandering eye, a gentler nod towards Chrissy and swept himself out the front door.

As soon as he was out of sight, she slumped forwards over the bar. “Eds, honey. I need a Cosmo date, now. Like right now.”

“Why don’t you just open your mouth and I’ll put a funnel down your throat?”

“Please.”

Eddie looked around the bar. There was barely anyone in, Jeff was recovering from the dentist so there was no lunch break gig tonight and Lionel looked like he was falling asleep from boredom at the opposite end of the bar.

“Okay, go back to your booth. I'll bring them down in a minute.”

He tried to saunter down the bar as nonchalantly as possible, plastering on his best winning smile.

“Lionheart, darling.” The kid was startled a little at the sound. Maybe he really had been drifting off. “You know you’re my favourite little baby gay?”

Lionel’s gaze grew scrutinising as he took in the cocktail glasses Eddie was pulling down from the rack. The Hideout didn’t do cocktails. They were strictly a cheap beer and whiskey kind of place. But Eddie did cocktails for the people he liked and he was damn good at them.

Lionel rolled his eyes but the sting was taken out of it by the sweet smile he always seemed to have on his face.

“Thirty minutes?”

Eddie placed the back of his hand over his forehead and swooned. “You’re my hero.”

Chrissy practically snatched the drinks from the tray when he brought them over, taking a large gulp before starting.

Apparently the guy had loved to talk about himself, his job, his hobbies, all with an uppity accent that had started to grate about fifteen minutes in.

“Why didn’t you just stop him then? Cut the date short?”

“Because Edward , that would have been rude.”

“Not really, Christine . Rude would have been just getting up and walking out.”

“I still don’t understand how you can do that.”

“I don’t waste my time with people I don’t want to waste my time with.”

“Mm-hmm.” Chrissy hummed through another mouthful.

“Where did Dustin even find that guy? Did he just pick him up off the side of the road?”

“I dunno, apparently he knew someone who knew someone at work or something. Honestly,” Chrissy hesitated, hiding her blush behind her drink. “I kind of zoned out.”

They talked for a little longer, it was always so easy to talk to Chrissy. More than once they’d been kicked out of a diner or cafe because they’d lost track of time and had been hogging a table for hours. He wasn’t sure just how long they sat there before there was a sharp knock at the bar behind them. Looking around he saw Lionel nodding his head towards the back office and gesturing him over.

“Shit.” He nearly tripped over himself in his haste to run back with a happy tipsy buzz in his gums. He barely had a second to lean casually against the bar before Charlie stuck her head out.

“Anyone fighting?”

“No.”

“Anything broken?”

“No.”

“Good.” She was gone again the next second. Chrissy joined him at the bar a few seconds later, their conversation never letting up, not even once he finished his shift and they’d walked home.

Chapter continues on AO3

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

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