#I believe in the American dream: STEVE

[lexirosewrites]

Steddie as rival lawyers who have very different careers.

Steve became a prosecuting attorney after graduating from a top school at his parents’ insistence. It pays well and makes them happy, even if it’s joyless for him to fight for things he doesn’t believe in.

Prosecuting innocent people and fighting for the sake of money without morals.

On the other end of the spectrum is free-spirited Eddie Munson. He’s a defense attorney who shows up in ill-fitting suits that show off his many neck and hand tattoos. Piercings in his ears and hair that’s not tidy or tamed in any way.

He’s a rebel who barely graduated from some lower tier law school with no prestige whatsoever.

Steve naturally assumed their first trial would be a breeze.

But somehow— sheer dumb luck, bad jury selection, or just stupid fate— Eddie wins. And he keeps winning.

Over and over for months.

Steve’s long uninterrupted winning streak becomes a losing one. If Eddie’s in the courtroom too, Steve knows he’s already lost his case.

It’s humbling.

Actually, it’s frankly embarrassing to lose to someone who’s so unprofessional and doesn’t take the law seriously like Steve.

Eddie is respectful of course, but he doesn’t use lawyer-speak unless he’s referencing a precedent of a law. Other than that, he’s overly casual and friendly. Everyone’s favorite lawyer.

He doesn’t lack passion though. No, the guy all but hops up on tables to make speeches about freedom or the American dream during every trial. Utterly ridiculous.

It works though. The juries fall for his bullshit about being down to earth and his clients walk free because of it.

Steve can’t stand it. He can’t stand Eddie and his mockery of his career.

This ultimately culminates in a confrontation in the parking lot one night after a particularly tense trial conclusion.

Once again, Eddie’s guy walked free and Steve knows he’s gonna hear about it from his boss (who also happens to be his dad).

So he might snap a bit when Eddie comes out whistling and looking happier than anything.

“Hey, jackass!”

Eddie looks around like Steve might be referring to some other jackass, despite the otherwise empty parking lot.

He points to himself in question and Steve rolls his eyes in answer.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Eddie finally greets him with a smirk. “Chinese takeout for tonight sound good?”

Steve’s stomach growls at the mere suggestion.

He’d accidentally skipped lunch earlier so he could make changes to his closing argument. Fat load of good that did him.

“Yeah, sure, whatever. You’re not off the hook that easily though. What the hell was that brutal cross examination on my witness, you dickhead?”

Eddie smiles extra sweetly and presses a quick but affectionate kiss to Steve’s forehead first.

“All’s fair in love, war, and court, baby. You can whine about it later when we’re home if you really want to. I happen to know some very nice pillows that would love to muffle your pretty little moans.”

Asshole.

He blushes, glancing around to make sure they’re still alone before he pulls Eddie into an embrace.

They’ve barely spent any time together this week because of the tense trial and he really missed his boyfriend (not to be mistaken for the jackass who argues with him daily in the courtroom).

As much as they can separate their personal and work lives, it’s hard to not be on the same side of things.

“What if I want you to hear me moan, Eddie? I think it’s only fair since you seem to get everyone else off and I’m the one always suffering for it,” he mumbles snarkily into Eddie’s shirt.

Eddie laughs at the pun. He knew that he would.

“Is that why you’re sulking, babylove? You want me to get you off too?” He nods with a pathetic whine. Not getting to cum for a few days can do that to a person. “I think that can be arranged. You’ve been such a good boy for me lately. You’ve earned a treat.”

Steve melts into his boyfriend’s arms, feeling loved.

“I missed you.”

Another kiss to the forehead, but this time Eddie’s lips linger there as he speaks.

“Missed you too, sweetheart. Not sorry for winning, but I am sorry that you lost.”

Steve knew the defendant was innocent. There wasn’t much of a case to be made anyway. It still stings though.

“Yeah... I’ve been thinking about that and it might be time to quit my dad’s firm. I’d much rather be on the same side as you,” Steve confesses.

Eddie pauses.

“Does that mean…”

Steve looks up smiling and confirms, “Yes. I’ll accept the job offer if it’s still on the table.”

The rival lawyer had offered him a job months ago, before they even got together.

By accepting the position, it means they’d finally be allowed to be a couple publicly and they’d be sitting on the same side of the court for once.

It would also free Steve from his dad’s control and disappointment.

“Stevie, I’d love nothing more than to have you as my partner. In both the court and life. I love you, sweetheart.”

He can’t resist.

“I love you too… jackass.”

Eddie makes good on his promise to get Steve off that night. He even brings out the handcuffs for accuracy sake.

[deliciousangelfestival]

The Imperfect Couple - 6

Character: politician!Bucky x ex-wife!reader

Summary: A separated couple must pretend to be happily married while the husband runs for Vice President, dealing with old issues and political pressures during his election campaign.

Warning: The couple's arguments could be triggering.

Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 , Chapter 8 , Chapter 9 , Chapter 10 , -

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Leave a comment and Reblog, please. I'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️

“How long have you known him?” Bucky’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp, watching every reaction.

“Five years,” you answered, keeping your tone steady. You didn’t want him to pick up on any hint of tension.

Bucky frowned, a strange sense of familiarity tugging at him. Ian seemed like a typical journalist, but something else about him gnawed at Bucky's instincts.

He rarely interacted with foreign reporters, so why did Ian’s presence feel… off? He was sure he'd figure out why this feeling wouldn't leave him.

Before either of you could say more, Greg appeared, clipboard in hand, and gave you both a pointed look. “Alright, you two, time to get ready. The event’s about to start. Let’s make sure everything runs smoothly.”

You nodded, feeling the butterflies in your stomach begin to stir. You’d been on stages before, but not like this. Not with Bucky, not under the gaze of an entire country.

Bucky noticed your hesitation and moved closer, placing a firm hand on your lower back. “It’s going to be fine,” he whispered, his voice low and reassuring. “I’ve got you.”

You looked up at him, trying to read his eyes. Was he just saying that for the cameras? Or was there something deeper there? It was getting harder to tell. You nodded anyway, more for yourself than for him, and straightened up. You had to play your part, just as you always did.

At the Convention

The large venue buzzed with excitement, lights shining down on the stage like spotlights in an arena. When Steve Rogers walked up to the podium, the room went silent, all eyes on him. He was the golden candidate—charismatic, confident, the embodiment of what the people wanted.

The room buzzed with anticipation as Steve Rogers approached the podium, every eye in the venue locked onto him. He stood tall, his presence commanding, radiating the quiet strength he was known for. After a brief moment, he began speaking, his voice steady but filled with passion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Americans," Steve’s voice echoed with gravitas, "Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era. We face challenges that require not just strong leadership, but leadership rooted in integrity, honor, and the unyielding belief in the power of the people."

The crowd quieted further, hanging on his every word.

"For too long, we’ve watched division grow. But I believe in the strength of unity, the strength of standing together—one nation, bound by a shared responsibility to protect our freedom, our families, and our future. And I pledge to lead with the same unwavering commitment that I’ve given to this country my entire life."

He took a brief pause, allowing his words to sink in, then continued, his tone growing more impassioned.

"I am not just here as a candidate, but as a father, a husband, and a son," he said, gesturing toward his wife, Peggy, and their children standing nearby, his parents behind them. "I want a better world for my family—just as I want a better world for yours. A world where opportunity isn’t reserved for the few but shared by the many. A world where every child grows up in safety, with access to education, health, and the opportunity to pursue their dreams."

The applause began to rise, but Steve held his hand up gently, signaling for quiet once more.

"This is not just my campaign. This is our campaign. Together, we will fight for a future that respects the dignity of every individual. We will build an America where justice is not selective but a right for all. Where leadership is about service—not power."

His voice crescendoed, igniting the room.

"Because I believe in us. I believe in the promise of America, and I believe in the strength of the American people. Together, we will rise to meet the challenges of today, and together, we will create a brighter, fairer, and stronger tomorrow."

The room erupted into thunderous applause as Steve’s words settled over the crowd. He stepped back, waving, as Peggy and their children joined him at the front of the stage, a living testament to the family values he championed.

With that, Steve Rogers sealed the moment—an electrifying speech that echoed far beyond the walls of the convention hall.

The crowd erupted into applause as Steve stepped aside, making way for Bucky.

Now it was his turn.

You watched as Bucky walked to the podium with the practiced ease of a man who was born for this. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, the overhead lights catching the sharp angles of his face. As soon as he began speaking, the room hushed again.

“I want to thank everyone for being here today,” Bucky started, his voice strong, yet warm. “Serving alongside Steve has been the honor of my life, and I am proud to stand here as the candidate for Vice President. My family—my parents Julius and Caroline, my siblings Shawn and Hazel, my nephew Nate, and my brother-in-law Tim—are with me today.” He motioned to the side, where they all stood. Caroline’s expression was as rigid as ever, while Julius offered a rare smile.

Then Bucky’s eyes found you.

“And of course, my wife. She’s been my rock. She’s stood by me through the hardest times, and I can’t imagine being here without her.” His voice softened, but the sincerity in his words cut through the noise in your head.

You smiled on cue, the kind of smile you’d perfected over years of practice. But inside, everything felt muddled. Bucky spoke as though you were his whole world, but you knew the truth. This was a performance. A calculated move to protect his image.

The applause was thunderous, but it sounded far away as you fought the emotions swirling inside you. Bucky looked the part—strong, dependable, built for this kind of role. He was doing everything right.

But you? You were pretending. The smile you wore for the cameras wasn’t for him; it was for the part of you that wanted to see Caroline suffer, to see her envy every look Bucky gave you on that stage. But underneath the spite, you felt something deeper, something far more complicated.

'Can I really keep doing this?' The question lodged itself in your mind as the applause rang out again.

You watched Bucky continue his speech, looking every bit the man of the moment. He thrived in this atmosphere, while you felt like you were drowning in a sea of lies. Every glance from the audience, every flash from the cameras, reminded you that none of this was real.

When he finished, the room erupted in applause again. Bucky turned to you, offering his hand. The warmth of his palm against yours was meant to be reassuring, but it only deepened your confusion.

As you both exited the stage, his grip tightened slightly, just enough for you to notice. He leaned down, voice low in your ear. “You did great,” he whispered. His words were laced with a strange tenderness that made your stomach flip.

You nodded, but deep down, the weight of this act was crushing you.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

As the convention wrapped up and the crowd began to disperse, you and Bucky maneuvered Tim’s wheelchair carefully. The excitement of the day was still buzzing in the air, but you could sense the underlying tension between Bucky and Ian as Ian approached you and Tim.

Ian greeted you with a friendly smile. “Hey, I’m working on a piece about the election from the perspective of the candidates’ families. What’s it like for you and your family during all this?”

Bucky, standing beside you, made a subtle move to place himself between you and Ian, a protective gesture that didn't go unnoticed. “I’m not sure if that’s appropriate,” Bucky began, but Tim cut him off.

“Of course! I’ve never been interviewed before. It’ll be good to share my side,” Tim said eagerly, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.

Bucky looked at Tim, then at you, his frustration evident in the tightness of his jaw. He sighed and stepped aside, unable to argue with Tim’s excitement or your reluctance to refuse a friend’s request.

Ian turned to you, his expression curious. “You never mentioned your brother before. It’s clear you two have a strong bond.”

“She’s a private person,” Tim interjected with a hint of pride.

Ian raised an eyebrow, glancing back at you. “You really seem to know her well.”

“We may not always show it, but we’re very close. She’s been like a second mother to me, especially after I lost my leg,” Tim said, his voice carrying an unusual warmth.

You felt a blush rise to your cheeks at the unexpected praise from your brother. It was rare to hear him speak so openly about his feelings.

Ian smiled as he jotted down notes. “This story is going to resonate with a lot of people.”

After a while, Tim excused himself, leaving you and Ian alone. Ian’s demeanor shifted subtly, becoming more serious.

“Thanks for giving him the chance to speak,” you said with a slight edge. “You know, it feels like you just handed him a chance to embarrass me.”

Ian chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. “Isn’t that what siblings do? Cherish these moments of difference before it’s too late.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean,-?”

Before you could ask, Ian pulled you aside, his face set with determination. “I heard there’s a divorce in your marriage.”

You stiffened, your eyes widening in surprise. “How did you find out?”

Ian’s smirk was almost smug. “Don’t underestimate my skills. You vanished, then reappeared, acting like everything’s perfect. I pieced it together from the campaign.”

He leaned closer, his frustration evident. “Not once did you mention him. And now, suddenly, you’re playing the loving wife. It’s irritating.”

You crossed your arms, feeling a wave of anger and discomfort. “Are you planning to use this information?”

Ian’s expression softened, though his eyes were intense. “I don’t know yet. But a few people already know.”

You flinched at his words, a shiver running down your spine.

Ian’s voice dropped to a reassuring whisper. “Don’t worry. They’ve only heard rumors. No one has solid evidence. I could protect you. Because you deserve someone better.”

You gulped, unable to speak. Ian’s concern seemed genuine, but you couldn’t shake off the pain from your marriage with Bucky. Your emotions were still tangled, and you didn’t want to get involved with Ian’s feelings, especially now.

You glanced up and saw Bucky watching you from across the room. His eyes were locked on you, his gaze sharp and intense. It felt like he was assessing every movement, every word. The tension in his stare made your heart race, and you could almost feel his frustration and jealousy from afar.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

As the car sped through the night, the backseat felt increasingly cramped, the air thick with unspoken tension. You stared out the window, trying to avoid Bucky’s piercing gaze. The city lights flickered past, a blur of neon and shadows, as you stewed over the conversation with Ian and the unresolved questions it left.

Bucky's silence was more oppressive than any words. His jaw was set tight, and the muscles in his neck were rigid. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold, laced with an edge of command. “Don’t meet Ian anymore.”

You continued to look out the window, your reflection a ghostly image against the darkened glass. “He knew about the divorce,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

Bucky’s breath hitched, his grip on the seat tightening. He was silent for a moment, the weight of your revelation settling in. Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. “Well, that means I’m on the right track. Every politician has skeletons in their closet.”

You turned your head sharply to face him, eyes narrowing. “You’re not afraid if the rumor leaks out?”

Bucky’s gaze remained steady, but his jaw tightened slightly. “I’m not gonna lie, I am afraid. But I’m more worried about how it’ll affect you.” He paused “But look at the bright side. It narrows down the list of people who knew about our marriage.”

You turned to him, eyes narrowing in frustration. “You’re playing with fire, Bucky.”

He leaned closer, the space between you shrinking rapidly. His expression softened into a smirk, but his eyes held a dangerous glint. “I’ll win this for you. I still remember that moment when you wished me to win, just to spite my mother. I need that brave Y/N.”

You could feel the heat from his body, his breath mingling with yours as he drew nearer. The car’s dim lighting accentuated the intensity in his eyes, a smoldering gaze that made your pulse quicken. “Don’t make this about me,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

Bucky’s smirk deepened, and he moved even closer, his face inches from yours. “But babe, this is all for you,” he murmured, his voice a low, seductive growl.

His proximity was overwhelming, and you could feel the heat radiating from his body. You swallowed hard, the line between anger and something else entirely blurring as his lips almost brushed against yours.

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, you were caught between the anger at his manipulation and the undeniable pull of the unresolved feelings you still harbored for him. The confined space of the car seemed to shrink around you, the air charged with a mix of frustration and unspoken desire.

Bucky’s gaze locked onto yours, his smirk fading into an expression of intense focus. His hand reached out, fingertips grazing your cheek in a feather-light touch that made your skin tingle. “I need you to trust me,” he said softly, his voice carrying an almost desperate edge.

You hated him for the pain he’d caused, but his touch betrayed your emotions, making it hard to stay firm. And he knew it. You wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.only the charged, almost unbearable closeness between you.

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[supercap2319]

It's my birthday. So I wanted to ask for one of those NSFW imagines that you do...

Steve Rogers surprising y/n on his birthday (the newest member of the team) by letting him eat his cake (his ass).

Y/N's birthday wish had come true about six weeks before his actual birthday was due. It was like something out of a movie where the main character lands their dream job, or in Y/N's case, his dream team.

Ever since the Avengers first appeared together to save the world, Y/N wanted to be a part of the team. He studied hard in school, played sports, and even the occasional computer classes, but what got him the job was the powers he developed. The power to control the very weather all at his fingertips. Nick Fury was impressed, and after a trial run, Y/N was officially the newest member of the Avengers.

Everyone was welcoming. Sure, Tony liked to pick on Y/N because he was the rookie of the team, Steve, aka Captain America, always had his back. Y/N couldn't help but fall for the Captain. He was so nice and kind. He showed Y/N the ropes on missions, and he never lost his patience with Y/N. Even when the situation called for it.

Y/N and Steve were an inseparable team after the first few weeks. Steve would teach Y/N everything he knew from battle techniques to planning and strategizing. In return, Y/N had shown Steve how to work a phone and the internet. What memes were and social media. That's probably how Steve found out it was Y/N's birthday.

The young Avenger didn't want to make a spectacle of his birthday, so he didn't bother telling anyone about it. Y/N figured he could spend a quiet Friday night alone with some Netflix. He was wrong.

Y/N enters his room to find Steve waiting for him on his bed with a small smirk on his face. He wore a blue bathroom and fuzzy red slippers. This was so different from the "old man clothes" as Tony liked to call them that Steve usually wore. His blue eyes were shining with a hidden mischief. "Hey, Y/N."

"Hey, Cap. What's up? How did you get into my room?"

"J.A.R.V.I.S. let me in. Hope that's fine with you?"

"Of course. Did you need something?" Y/N asked, eyebrows raised at Steve's attire.

Steve stood up and walked towards him. Y/N frowns and gulps as Steve gets closer until he can see the flecks of black in baby blue eyes. His lips are pink and plump. So full and shining with some sort of coat. Probably, lip bomb. "It occurred to me that today was your birthday today, and you didn't tell anyone. Why?" Steve looks at Y/N.

Y/N blushed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I didn't want to make a big deal about it."

"You should. We're a team now. We celebrate everyone's birthday together. But we can tell the others tomorrow. For now, I have a cake for you." Steve smiled, but he was also blushing very hard, which made him look even more adorable and innocent than he usually did.

"You baked me a cake? You didn't have to do that."

"It's a different kind of cake. And I need you to frost it for me. I can't reach back there."

Before Y/N could ask what that meant, Steve dropped his robe and revealed he was wearing a patriotic thong. Captain America turned around, and the floss of the fabric was so tight around Steve bare ass crack and made his white boy cheeks even bigger than they were and believe Y/N, he's seen Steve in his suit. He knew those glutes would be big.

"Steve, what are you doing?" Y/N blushed, but he couldn’t deny he's actually fantasized Steve doing this just for him. Showing him America's ass.

"I told you. I want you to frost my cake with your tongue. Maybe you'll give me your frosting?" Steve pulled the thong to the side of his cheeks and exposed his pinkish hole. It winked at him. "Please, Y/N?"

Y/N looks shocked. Was Steve really giving him his ass for his birthday? He must be dreaming, right? He pinched himself. He wasn't. This was real, and so was Steve. Steve wanted it. The pinnacle of American dreams was right in front of him, shaking his tight ass.

The young Avenger walked towards Steve and bent him forward against the bed as Y/N spread those golden boy ass cheeks and began to lick Captain America's ass like a dying man.

[14carrotghoul]

and you can tell everybody (unplugged)

Hi friends! Do not proceed if you don't want spoilers for my fic, and you can tell everybody! Album notes and extras are below the cut :)

ACD's early career is releasing covers and original songs with June on YouTube and later TikTok. Career takes off his first year of university and the rest of the band joins, agreeing to play for a few years to see what happens.

[unnamed] (2020) [very little info on this besides being very pointedly Mexican-American, but the genre is rock influenced by Mexican music, like Cafe Tacvba? Molotov? but more modern]

tex mex - Lyrical inspiration: "Somos Mas Americanos" by Los Tigres Del Norte

decisions (November 2023) [highly influenced by Omar Apollo, I promise the other albums are very different! I'm shoving him down your throats here and I know it lol]

1 new message - mellow r&b. Have suspected something is wrong, ignored it, and now the impact is hitting full force. Wrongly interpreted as Alex leaving a voicemail for an ex but it is a song written for his past self about missing his ADHD and bisexuality. Sound: "3AM" by Haim

reckless abandon - daddy issues song cowritten with Liam. Bilingual. Sound & lyrically: "Voice Inside My Head" by The Chicks

am I? - 'You raised me to disappoint you bc I could never live up to your expectations'/'It took me too long to find myself bc I've been trying to be who you imagined'. Sound: "Go Away" by Omar Apollo

new year new me - fuck expectations, I'm going to do what I want Sound: "Invincible" by Omar Apollo

very bad things - upbeat hookup song. breaking all his own rules and it feels good. "Mercury" by Steve Lacy

split household - child of divorce anthem. Sound: "Kamikaze" by Omar Apollo

seria una mentira - don't make me choose a side. I love you both and it tears me apart. Pointedly about parents. Sound: "Two of Us" by Omar Apollo

too much - Cumbia version of "Too Much" by Carly Rae Jepsen

never enough - never enough to convince people to stay. Sound: "Pram" by Omar Apollo. Also feel this song's outro is very fitting for this!

a light left on - Platonic June appreciation song about how safe Alex has always felt with her. Sound & lyrically: "Caminar Bonito" by Natalia Lafourcade

Good - First time he is told and BELIEVES he is good. "While U Can" by Omar Apollo

yrs - Dramatic love song. First time Alex uses rain motif. Sound: "Petrified" by Omar Apollo

seria una mentira pt. 2 - it would be a lie to choose something simple over choosing you. Sound: "Two of Us" by Omar Apollo but slowed down and more hopeful

spine/die climbing - vulnerable pillow talk. Sound: "Plane Trees" by Omar Apollo, Mustafa

miel - sacrilege bj song. Catches on with queer Latine audience and is memed similarly to Call me by your name by Lil Nas X. Grows the band's audience. Sound: "Te Mata" by Kali Uchis.

on purpose - I choose to be all the things that I am and am not picking a side. End album on a positive note. Sound:"Done With You" by Omar Apollo

vows (June 2024) [very American sound, dreamier, more optimistic]

no booty calls - voicemail w instrumental. Sound: "All Around Me Now" by Perfume Genius

apricot tarts - honeymoon period of a new relationship. Sound: "Someone to Spend Time With" by Los Retros

in dreams - extended version of Henry's in dreams email set to music. In this universe, they met and kissed on New Years at Pez's party and still did long distance and exchanged emails :) Sound: "In A River (Acoustic)" by Rostam

supersonic - secret, fun ode to karaoke night and letting loose on a night out. Sound: "Runaways" by The Killers

tapestry - thank god I'm bi anthem. Sound: "The Steps" by Haim

lipstick on her neck - sung by June. Essentially the lyrics of lipstick lover by janelle monae but in "ALLIIGATOR TEARS" by Beyonce Americana style.

then have me - tender I'm putting it all out there, all you have to do is take it. Sound: "Solar Pilgrim" by Twain

pride (and prejudice) - purposefully anthemic chorus. about being proud despite prejudice in a red state. Sound: "Delta Dawn" by Tanya Tucker

he is my choice - eloping in the rain. comedic/romantic song about how everything went wrong at a wedding. Sound: "Howling at Nothing" by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

roasting Alex - jam session - the band lovingly roasts Alex. Sound: "Ballad of Hank Williams" by Hank Williams Jr., Don Helms

Not Just Friends - Liam to Spencer. Song about how they're frequently mistaken for just best friends and how happy it makes him to correct that they're more than that. Song chosen so piano and drums play the beats together. Sound: "A Little Honey" by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

Be Cool - Spencer to Liam. Quirky/self-deprecating song about his butterflies about being with someone he's in awe of. Sound: "Heart's Content" by Brandi Carlile

a romantic - June to Nora. Confirms that Nora is aromantic to public. June saying she would never need more from Nora bc she gets to wake up next to her best friend every day. Sound: "Tu" by maye.

bluebonnet - This place (Texas) was never a home to me until you showed me how it was a part of you and now I see you everywhere. Sound & lyrically: "I Think of You" by Rodriguez.

red-blooded (August 2029)

cover: Navy suit w white shirt and American Flag pin on lapel, cropped so only torso is showing

Americana sound again - about 50/50 rock and Americana. Features from Dolly Parton, Orville Peck, and Brandon Flowers

blue blood (August 2029)

cover: red British army dress, cropped so only torso is showing

British glam rock sounds. Features from Elton John, Brian May, and samples David Bowie.

co-written with Henry

-

AND as for where they go from the end of the fic:

Alex becomes a civil rights lawyer in Austin.

Henry's writing career grows but he remains relatively private.

June becomes a music journalist. Eventually ventures into exposes on the industry's shady practices and successfully pivots into investigative journalism

Nora does her own thing.

Liam stays in music industry as a band manager under Zahra's tutelage.

Spencer majored in music production/mixing(?) and gets taken under Pez's wing. Has a smaller solo career and produces for a few indie bands before he settles down and works as a sound mixer in the film industry.

Bea continues to play guitar and flit between collaboration projects.

Zahra is the band's manager and Shaan is Henry's publicist/mentor and they meet while officially strategizing Alex's coming out.

[sotwk]

Happy Birthday to you! Love your campfire party idea! I’d like to request a drabble about Steve Rogers/Captain America.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for the request, @zeldastrife, and for giving me a chance to dream about my favorite superhero of all time! <3 I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you and others will love it just as much. :)

Content/Genre: Marvel; Gen fluffy summer romance

Fireworks

Steve Rogers x Reader

Ever since you were a child, the fireworks show has always been your favorite part of the annual Fourth of July picnic. But now they were merely a convenient cover that allowed you to fixate on the sight you truly wished to openly stare at. 

He must have seen so many firework displays in his long lifetime, and with him being a war veteran (a gross understatement), you wondered if the sound of the roaring, cracking explosions bothered him. But the relaxed expression on his face, tipped toward the brightly, colorfully lit night sky, gave no indication of discomfort. 

Dressed in a plain gray t-shirt, jeans, and a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball cap, Steve passed for a run-of-the-mill all-American, allowing him to spend the entire day mingling with the rest of the townsfolk, quietly charming everyone with his gracious, easy manners, but never drawing prolonged attention to himself.

Who would ever expect Captain America to attend a small town, middle-of-nowhere celebration on such a significant holiday? No one would ever believe it, and none of the folks who had looked the living legend right in the face and spent several minutes chatting him up suspected a thing.

You yourself could still barely believe the entire day, or any of the past few weeks that led up to the present moment, was actually real. Steve Rogers was your date. Your love life catapulted from a woeful, lonely drought to dating literally the most perfect man in the entire nation. To think you had nearly turned him down for fear that this was all an elaborate prank or some cosmic joke. But thank God, truly, for the sudden, miraculous ability to not let your deep-seated anxieties get in the way this one time. 

Steve’s renowned bravery was slowly rubbing off you; you could tell. Every moment you spent in his company, you felt yourself becoming more comfortable and confident in your own skin, as though you were learning to see in yourself what he probably saw in you. Good things that he decided were worth his time and interest. 

That courage began to stir and bubble up inside you while you continued to watch Steve watch the fireworks. You knew he was a staunch gentleman, forever rooted in his old-fashioned ways. Four dates in and he's never done anything more than hold your hand or give you gentle hugs. 

He would not like a girl who’s too forward. The brazen courage smothered down the nagging warnings in your head. Or just give it a try, this braver side of you proposed.

You reached across the small distance between you and slipped your hand over his arm, folded across his chest. His intent blue eyes immediately shifted to you, and the smile he gave made your heart stutter.

Before your courage could get snuffed out, you rose on your toes and swiftly planted a kiss on his clean-shaven cheek.

“Happy Birthday, Steve. I hope you had fun today.”

With the daring deed done, your electrified nerves shorted out, and your gaze fell to the ground, heavy with growing shame. Hopefully the memory of that one kiss would be worth it, if this was to be the end. 

His strong hand closed around yours, squeezing gently, returning your strength to you. That hand then shifted to the small of your back, drawing you against him.

“Today was…” His fingers ghosted across your jawline before resting, lingering underneath your chin. Your own hands came up to his chest, your head was spinning and you so badly needed to steady yourself. Suddenly you noticed his heart was racing, pulsing furiously underneath your palm. 

“...perfect.” His chest heaved as he finally finished his sentence, and for a fleeting, ridiculously giddy moment right before he pressed his warm lips on yours, you realized that Captain America had been rendered nervous and breathless. Just for a moment, but it was all because of you.

This limited edition Marvel fic is a gift written as part of SotWK's Summer Campfire Sleepover 2024. (Requests accepted only on July 11-15, 2024.)

[drunkenskunk]

So, despite knowing that it's probably futile, I called the office of my senator once again, in the vain hope that the staffer I talked to will pass on the message and get her to see reason in regards to KOSA.

Trouble is: how? Catherine Cortez-Masto is a cosponsor of the bill. I couldn't appeal to her sense of morality, as she's a politician; she had her ethics surgically removed before coming into office. I couldn't appeal to the stated goal of the bill, protecting kids, because if she had spoken to a single cybersecurity professional, she would know that the bill is dangerous to kids, adults, and anyone wanting to use the internet. I couldn't appeal to the Constitution, because if she actually gave a shit about the US Constitution or the Bill of Rights, she would already know its a blatant, flagrant violation of both the 1st and 4th amendments, and be trying to kill the bill, not cosponsor it. And I probably couldn't appeal to the fact that the bill was dreamed up by the same republican think-tank that dreamed up Project 2025, the plan to turn what little remains of our democracy into a theocratic dictatorship run by evangelical christians; she probably believes she's wealthy and influential enough that it will insulate her from the worst effects, assuming she isn't already in on it anyway.

It was a puzzler. And then I had an idea. This is what I said:

"Do you know who Steve Sisolak is? You do? Good. Do you want to know why he's the former Nevada state governor, and not the current one? It's because Sisolak was, without exaggeration, the most unpopular politician I've ever come across. No one liked him. Democrats hated him, republicans REALLY hated him, libertarians hated him, and even people like me, who have never felt represented by any of the major political parties in the state but still vote in every single election because we consider it our civic duty as American citizens, didn't like him either. I can't think of a single person who ever had anything positive to say about his tenure as governor, and as a result? The voter base in Nevada was willing to do anything and vote for anyone just to get him out of office.

"I tell you this, because if Senator Cortez-Masto does not change course, and continues to cosponsor and vote yes on the incredibly unpopular, incredibly dangerous, blatantly unconstitutional KOSA bill, then she will make Steve Sisolak's year, as he will no longer be the most reviled politician in the state of Nevada. If she does not reverse course, she will be committing political suicide on a scale hithertofore unknown to science. If she votes yes, then she might as well pull a Mitch McConnell and announce her retirement right now, because any of her political aspirations for the future, at least among the Nevada voter base, will be dead in the water.

"Now, I don't know how many phone calls you've gotten about KOSA. But I suspect it's not as many as you should. Most people in this state don't have time to call their senators. Most people are working two or three jobs to make ends meet with stagnant wages among the rising cost of living and landlords finding any excuse to increase our rent. Hell, I'm calling you on my lunchbreak right now. But despite all that... people here still find time to vote. And if there is one thing I've learned about voters in this state in the 18 years I've been able to? It's that if you piss us off, the people in this state will absolutely vote entirely out of spite, just to burn everything down. KOSA is so incredibly unpopular among the voter base of this state, that when she's next up for reelection? She will find herself out of a job, mark my words.

"Make sure you tell the Senator that, word for word. And if you can't remember, just play her this phone call that I already know is being recorded."

Will this do any good?

I don't know.

Probably not.

But it made me feel a bit better, at least.

[guildofscribes]

I don’t think people get Steve Rogers.

I don’t think they get his responses to what happens in the story told over the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I especially think that they don’t understand loss.

Let’s take a look at a few of the losses Steve suffered in his life, shall we?

1. Never had a father, never had the chance to have a relationship there, lived through the aftermath.

2. Lost his mother to a horrible illness just as he became an adult in an age where the young aged fast and the chronically infirm were castigated for existing.

3. Lost a highly respected friend he’d found in a most unlikely place with Dr. Erskine.

4. Lost his best friend (brother), in a war that claimed so many friends he’d have made in the bonds of battle, in a terrible and traumatizing way.

5. Then (big kick in the head) he lost the whole world he knew, all of the people, places, daily culture, points of reference, and belongings he could claim.

6. A few years later, he looses so many new friends he’d made in the strange time and place he woke up in, and regains (sort of) one very old, very good friend.

7. A few years later, he loses half of his world, and his best friend again.

8. A few years later, he gets a few friends back, only to lose some of them again.

And this is by no means a complete list. These are just main points.

So tell me, please explain to me, just how his actions in light of all these losses can be so easily downgraded?

This is a man who had been emotionally eviscerated, more than once. His story is overwritten by so much loss.

A sensible reaction to that much continual loss would be to withdraw, to protect the self from losing even more.

Imagine losing so dam much, and then being told that you hadn’t lost enough.

So, will you say again that “how dare he leave and go to Peggy” after all of this wounding?

How dare this man attempt to find solace and healing?

How dare this man try to leave this unending war behind?

How dare this man leave all of his friends behind?

How dare he, indeed.

How dare he attempt to control his own pain?

How dare he seek healing in the way that seems best to him?

How dare he try to make that life he dreamed of “after the war”?

Because when you read what many American soldiers wrote in the time they spent fighting, many of them wrote about what they would do when they got home, how all they wanted was to accomplish the goal and go home, how their focus was getting through each day with the brother at their side and get home, how they missed being home in the place they loved with the people they loved, how the point of their existence was to finish the fight and go home.

How dare a man so hurt, so broken, so brave, try to heal himself?

Maybe I don’t agree with every single thing they did with the character throughout his arc, but really?

You wouldn’t believe the numbers of soldiers that go home after exemplary service in times of war who just want to rest. After everything.

How dare he go home?

[florida3exclamationpoints]

Steve's arc in Age of Ultron is so important to him, it's so compelling to watch, it's so well done. I tried to explain it with the main quotes from the movie that bring it out because I'm obsessed.

"I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn." "Yeah, but home is home, right?" Steve just looks away and clenches his jaw in a very Steve way. He doesn't agree with Sam, he doesn't even nod. Brooklyn, the geographical location, is not home. Not in the way Steve needs a home.

"Captain America. Pretending he can live without a war." The end comes back around to this one. It stings because it's true. He knows it. What else does he do? Nothing. He doesn't have a home to go back to, as established very early on.

"The war's over Steve. We can go home. Imagine it." And then everyone in the room disappears. And then he sees himself dance with Peggy. And then he's alone again. That was him imagining it. All he could see was a flash of them dancing, but God he looked happy in that flash. Everyone else was gone, he couldn't imagine anything else, because he doesn't know life without war. He wants to. All he can reach is a second of Peggy. But he doesn't know what it was like for the soldiers in ww2 who went home. The only part he does relate to, actually, is the ptsd. Which he also sees in the dream. He flinches at a camera flash and sees wine on a shirt as blood. What else is there after the war for him? All he ever hoped for was a dance. He never even got that. And that was all he could see.

"We can go home." He hears her voice again when he looks at Clint's house. It's the perfect image of an American family home with a big yard for 2.5 kids to play in. Completely normal. That wide shot of him standing on the porch but he's still wearing his uniform, it shows everything he wants but all that he's left with right now. He looks so out of place with his uniform and shield on. And he turns around and walks away because he can't even stand to look at the house. That's supposed to be him in there. He was supposed to go home.

"Isn't that the why we fight? So that we get to end the fight? So that we get to go home?" That's what really set him off, but the whole conversation really. Tony says "looks like you walked away alright" and Steve looks at him with so much resentment. Like how do I look fine? You think I'm fine? But all he says is "is that a problem?" because he can't talk about it. Especially not to Tony, but not really to anyone. Tony says "I don't trust a guy without a dark side." Steve says "let's just say you haven't seen it yet." He's obviously saying he has one. He's been in a bad place as much as Thor and Nat since the dreams, Tony just chooses to see him as a symbol. But he's not about to explain himself. And he's leaving the door open for the option that he might lose control and everyone might realize how dark his dark side is. It wasn't a promise no one would ever see it. It was just that Tony hadn't seen it yet. Now, as much as I love Tony, he was really ignorant for pulling the so we get to go home? It's not like it's hard to see. Steve gets genuinely mad, rightfully. He hasn't stopped fighting since he started, he's never gotten to go home, he's finding himself almost looking for fights because that's all he knows. But he wants to go home so bad, and it's not even an option. Tony wants to fight about if Ultron could save the world, and that they should take the opportunity so that Clint can go home to Laura, and Tony can go home to Pepper, and Nat and Bruce can work out their stuff, etc etc. And Steve's on the other side of the conversation, not even agreeing with the concept of Ultron in the first place, but he has nothing to fight for. He's not defending his stance so that he can go home, he's doing it because he believes it's right. And what else is he going to do if he's not defending something? When he ripped the log in half, it was a glimpse of his dark side, but only if you know what he's thinking. He's mad, he's lonely, he's grieving. And he takes it out on the log.

"The simple life." "You'll get there one day." "I don't know. Family, stability... the guy who wanted all that went in the ice 75 years ago. I think someone else came out." This is the first time he's admitted that he wanted that. Even in TFA, he showed interest but not that explicitly. Since he's woken up, he's avoided it completely. He didn't even answer Sam when he said "home is home." He's finally acknowledged it and admitted it. But he puts the responsibility on himself. "I think someone else came out." That's not really true. In TFA, he said he'd "settle for just one" girl, then that he was waiting for "the right partner" to dance with, and then he promised to dance with Peggy. While he was actively crashing the plane into the ice, in fact. The guy who wanted family and stability went into the ice, yes, and he made it very clear who he wanted that family and stability with. He didn't exactly come out as a different person. He came out 70 years later, so his chance at family and stability with her was gone. This whole time he's been distraught that he couldn't go home. He wasn't all of a sudden saying I just dont want to. He was saying there was no family and stability left for him to want. It wasn't him that had changed, it was the circumstances, and he was trying to live with that.

"You alright?" "I'm home." Yes he was. But he didn't look very happy about it, did he? He was at the Avengers compound. Tony wasn't staying to train the new guys because he was going home to Pepper. Clint was already home. But Steve was still in the middle of the fight. He's not really pretending he can live without a war when he just knows he can't. Even as he says "I'm home," you hear soldiers marching in the background. It's eerie. He's trying to get by because what else can he do, who is he if he's not Captain America? He hasn't been able to be just Steve in a long time. He's not even trying to find just Steve, he left just Steve in 1945 with Peggy. "Someone else came out" ? Captain America came out.

[super-hero-confessions]

Interesting that the people who hate or criticize Captain America do so because they think he's the classic American white boi like Homelander without realizing he is a more direct and nonsatirical criticism against what makes a Homelander or the Homelander mentality.

Cap's meant to represent what Americans should strive for while harshly critisizing the worst of what America is and has done. True patriotism is recognizing the problems at hand and doing your best to work on and improve them, especially when you have the power to do so. And 616 Cap has. When he's wrong he admits it and tries to do better. Having consideration and compassion for others. This would be why he has lost faith in the flag many times, wore that gaudy awful Nomad suit and literally fights against the U.S. government when he knows what they're doing is wrong.

Also why he has multiple enemies that are actual white supremacists or pro-America propaganda white bois. And why those in universe assuming he is an authoritarian propagandist who works solely for government interests are portrayed as obviously wrong or being proven wrong. Almost all of his enemies are Nazis which is more than can be said about 99.9% of Golden or other Age comics trash.

Being the "1940s white man" and a "disabled Irish kid no one looked twice at" as Steve Rogers who disagrees with everything his time period supports helps drive the point home that it shouldn't matter what you are or where you come from, you should always try to do what's right. Hammered in further by the Cap mantle being taken on by others of different backgrounds and experiences following the same philosophy and trying to spread that same beautiful and essential message.

"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world -- "No, you move.""

"We must all live in the real world… and sometimes that world can be pretty grim. But it is the Dream… the hope… that makes the reality worth living. In the early 1940s, I made a personal pledge to uphold the Dream… And as long as the Dream remains even partially unfulfilled, I cannot abandon it!"

But basically and ironically, who he is and that the Cap mantle's been passed around is ignored. He's hated for all the wrong reasons of what he literally isn't and it makes them massive hypocrites who refuse to see past their own prejudice and bias, just like the racists who 'love' him for the same wrong reasons.

Fascinating and a bit hilarious. But also deeply tragic.

Think it may be time for them follow Cap's example and start learning to do better instead of just being bitter.

Oh, and Cap and Co. would definitely vote for Bernie. He even dated a Bernie!

[findafight]

STOBIN AS DRIFT COMPATIBLE BESTIES FIGHTING KAIJU!!!

OKAY OKAY BUT. post canon au where the Breach opens in the early nineties instead of 2013, and eventually when the Jaeger Program is just in the fledgling stages, right at the start when they figure out the drift and sharing the load, some American government goon looks at another, and they're both thinking the same thing. They know a couple chucklefucks who are scarily in tune with each other that already have monster fighting experience. The problem is of course the chucklefuckery and also they. Hate the government.

But they figure yknow. May as well try to get the actually very good at killing monsters the military can't clowns. They need people willing to go into deathtraps and fight giant monsters, and those two have done that a few times before. They need people that can connect to each other while also fighting without dying, and figure those two are a prime example. So after a lot of government groveling and Robin and Steve slamming the door in multiple suits' faces, they eventually agree to at least...see what it's all about. Because they heard about the attack in San Francisco on K-day, about Manila and Cabo San Lucas and Syndney, and it was all bad, and as much as they dislike and distrust the government and military...they do want to help (and the pay is...good). It was probably only a matter of time before their luck in avoiding monsters ran out anyway. At least this way they had some control of how.

So Steve and Robin are in the Jaeger Academy almost as soon as it opens. It's...an adjustment. They're obviously not the regular type to join, mostly its a bunch of men who were maybe ex military or something, and they stick out. Training is a pain in the ass, they've spent the years between the upside down closing lounging and working and starting to relax, and so there's the expected heckling.

(I want them to meet Newt and Herman so bad like. they'd be around the same age as them (because we are bumping everything in PR canon back for this) and I think the combo punch of Newt and Robin being themselves would be hilarious. They're all kinda outsiders in the macho militarism of the Academy and i think the chaos would just be. unimaginable. )

But anyways. I think during the testing to see drift compatibility, Steve is called up and looks the scientist/military guy (because it's early days there aren't really "instructors" yet) and says "If you even think about putting me in one of those fucking things with anyone other than Robin, you've lost your mind and forgotten we're only here because you asked us to be together." Everyone is like ooooooh but then he squints at them and they shut up like oh damn okay sorry yeah.

And that's the end of that discussion.

There's something about being in the drift with each other that makes all that complaining and speculating and wishing to combine when they were teenagers seem half-assed. It's...not like anything either of them can describe. It feels right, like they were always meant to be that way. If they lived in each other's pockets before the Drift, they're in each other's skin now. Silent communication is expected for long-term drift partners. Residuals of the bond, dream sharing, but Robin and Steve, even among other pilots are exceptional. There's entire discussions happening in brief eye contact. They move in sync outside the Jaeger just as well as if they were still in the Drift. They've only had one RABBIT incident, and they pulled out of it fine. It's...eerie for some people to watch them, even other Pilots. (also the fact they'll casually mention shit like "well at least the air isn't toxic" or "hey. don't call this torture, that's offensive. I've been tortured!" or even "can't believe i survived evil bats for this shit." which is mildly offputting)

They end up on the Pacific northwest and into southern B.C. with a Mach 1 called... something like Midwest Deluge or something idk. They're media darlings the first Kaiju they kill two fifty kilometres off the coast of Washington. Robin is quirky, and Steve has all his midwestern boyish charm, and together they entrance people with the Drift. There's interviews and talkshows and then at some point action figures? (Dustin does not let this go. By this time he's also working in K-sci. [obviously??] but he's still annoying little brother shaped.)

Steve is usually one of the first quoted to describe the Drift, in his first interview having said "When I first met Robin --became friends with her--it felt like we'd known each other our whole lives. Now we have." Robin is also sometimes quoted with "There's probably nowhere I'd rather be, than in Steve's head."

Of course, with them being in the media, being kickass, and also being part of a program that emphasizes compatibility, there's questions on whether or not they're dating. Because while the Drift isn't romantic by nature, my god people would romanticize it. And when two hot people of opposite genders that are not related to each other in any way are piloting the Jaeger, and are just *gestures to all of stobinisms* assumptions abound.

They're in an interview after their third kill when it happens. It's a few years into their tenure as Pilots, maybe '96? (if the Breach opened in '91 and they were recruited in 93?) The host asks "So. romantically. You two have always denied that attraction, but working so close together, literally in each other's heads, isn't there a chance that has blossomed into something else? Something more?"

They roll their eyes. Steve says "there's nothing more than what Robin and I have. Romance isn't more it's just something else."

Robin goes "Plus..." Before Steve looks at her, eyebrows raised. "I think so" she says, obviously to a question Steve asked that only she heard. "What are they going to do? Fire me?" they both laugh.

He shrugs. "if you're sure..."

Robin hums. "Yes, well. I agree with everything Steve said. The Drift isn't romantic, it's connection. It's knowing. All sorts of relationships can be Drift compatible. Steve's and mine is Platonic. Capital P."

"You gonna actually say it anytime soon?"

"Shut up."

"I dunno it seems like you're stalling."

"Christ, Steve. I'm getting to it. Let me tell the world I'm a lesbian without nagging, goddamn." She turns to the interviewer. "anyways yeah I'm a lesbian so it was never going to be romantic between me and Steve. I'm just obsessed with him."

There's a pause, before they lean into each other and giggle. Steve whispers "good job" that's barely picked up by his mic.

They get a stern talking to by their Marshal but Robin was right. They can't get fired for it. They're too good and pilots are too valuable for plain ol' homophobia to get in the way. (It's seen as a cornerstone moment in queer history, a Jaeger Pilot, someone the world can do nothing but respect, came out! casually. with an already supportive loved one sitting beside her, ready to laugh with her.) And while some people act weird or distant about it, most move past it pretty quick, considering the Midwest team is well respected and there's obviously the bigger problem of underwater aliens trying to kill everyone. You either get over it and work with them or you leave or get people killed.

By the time of the events of the movie, they're old-timers. They've upgraded once to a Mach 3 after a brutal fight with a high category than expected made Midwest Deluge inoperable. They're in Hong-Kong because where else would they be? They need to end this. Just like they needed to see the Upside Down to the end. Their whole lives have been dominated by fighting for their lives and to protect their home and the world. One last push. They aren't even forty yet.

and then the breach is closed and the world is saved and they can retire with their massive pensions from being the best monster killers ever <3

[tink27]

My Personal Steddie fic rec list

I read a lot of steddie fics, and thought someone might gain from me taking note of some of my favorite ones. I won't be including the obvious "Keep it Steady, Eddie" and "Are You Flagging" and such, because we have all read those, but any that aren't on the first page of the Steddie tag on AO3, I might put here.

His Majesty's Jester by GreenQueenofClubs The thing was, these popular types, the Royalty of High School Society? They just wanted to be entertained. They wanted something to break through the dull monotony of life at the top of the food chain, and if nothing happened to catch their interest, they made their own fun. Good thing Eddie was unparalleled at keeping little sheeps entertained. This one features Eddie and "King Steve" during the events of season one. Easy to read and so so fun.

wouldn't it be nice (if we could wake up) by kissesforcas Steve finds his pulse. He carries Eddie out of the Upside Down, he keeps his heart beating until they get to the hospital. And then the government intervenes, that shady part of the government? With Sullivan? And he and Eddie wind up locked up, together, in a cell. There's one bed, and glass walls, and it turns out that he and Eddie? Might need each other more than either of them thought they might. This one involves monster!Eddie, and looks at Eddie and Steve being taken by the government after the events of season 4

3. We Should Just Kiss (Like Real People Do) by OonionChiver ‘Please?’

Eddie stops him again, this time by holding his face. Steve feels Eddie’s thumb moving over his cheek, he feels the cool metal of his rings. He feels everything except what he needs.

‘I’ve never loved anything the way I love you, Steve Harrington,’ Eddie says, dark brown eyes moving between Steve’s own. ‘This isn’t the moment, sweetheart.’

It’s not a rejection, but it’s not a kiss. Steve quietly cries, insides cut up on the broken shards of his stupid little heart and Eddie holds him, he holds him all night until they fall asleep together.

OonionChiver is an amazing and unique author and I would highly recommend anything they've written (especially their other fic You're Divine ) but We Should Just Kiss is my personal favorite of theirs. Make sure to read the tags beforehand to make sure you're comfortable with all the themes in this one!

4. L is for linoleum (and nothing else) by localman

“You’re going to fucking hate me.”

“I could never-“

“No- see, see you say that, and you think you believe yourself, and hell I almost believe you too, but I know. I know that if I tell you then you’ll fucking turn tail and run, and tell the whole town about what a fucking freak Eddie Munson is, and you’ll be right.”

If, like me, you love trans head cannons I would strongly recommend this fic. It is wonderful and written by a trans author, so accurate representation is always a plus. (also there is a follow-up fic that features non-binary Steve Harrington called lady stardust and it is amazing also, I would also highly recommend it)

5. Skull Rock Era by chattrekisses

Steve Harrington never planned for Eddie Munson.

Steve was supposed to marry his high school sweetheart, have 2.5 children, and take over the family business. He was supposed to live a blissful life on a nondescript cul-de-sac, complete with a white picket fence and a closet full of tasteful polo shirts. He was supposed to make a graceful transition between being the golden boy and being the American Dream.

Mediocrity was what destiny had designed for Steve. Reality had other plans.

(Or, Steve and Eddie, against all odds, fall in love)

This fic is just classic, one of those ones that you read and have zero complaints about at the end. Its just good.

(Hope at least one person finds a new fic bc of this, feel free to add any favorites you have that you dont think are talked about enough)

[moltengoldveins]

molten i have minimal marvel knowledge (only watched like 10 of the movies) but if you have the patience to explain how you think techno and steve roger's friendship would develop/work, i would LOVE to hear about it

( i would ask more about the DC side but unfortunately i know a grand total of Nothing about dc )

OK SO (sorry I took so long to respond I was moving) LET ME TELL YOU THIS HOT NONSENSE. (Fair warning, this is a VERY long post)

SO. First off, I’m gonna quickly establish the Techno im working with since I think you already know who that is (/lh 😉) and then I’ll Explain Steven Grant Rogers.

So, the Techno im working with is fundamentally a lawful neutral character. He believes in freedom, in the moral obligation of someone who is capable of preventing evil to work to the fullest extent possible to prevent said evil. He believes that tyranny dictatorship is wrong and that there should be as little government as possible, and said government should be as democratic and free as possible. He jokes about anarchy, but his actions don’t quite line up with direct anarchy so I’m pretty sure it’s mostly for the bit, but he’s very anti-establishment. Techno is not, however, necessarily concerned with what is Good, so much as what is True. Violence does not necessarily equal evil, and he doesn’t seem to have much of a category for civilians when it comes to controlling the damage war causes, though he does quite firmly distinguish between “people who are my enemies” and “people who aren’t involved.” He is motivated by Justice, not mercy. This doesn’t mean he isn’t merciful: it means he doesn’t believe that he is obligated to be merciful. It means that any act of his mercy is, according to him, an exception to the rule, a kindness the people around him don’t deserve and should not take advantage of. He is unflinchingly loyal and viciously protective, as well as shockingly paranoid and proactive in preparing for any eventuality. He’s also a traumatized veteran and a victim of long-term institutionalized racism and speciesism on account of the Piglin thing, a fact that actually ISNT a headcanon! That’s not even made up! He CANONICALLY was concerned that people treated him like an animal and a weapon as opposed to a person and reacted to conflict and confrontation with the assumption that human characters were more likely to treat him poorly than nonhuman ones, like Ranboo or Philza. (I’ve got a whole other essay in there I won’t get into) ANYWAY

If that’s Techno, Steve Rogers is what you do if you take the same solid gold core and raise him poor and catholic in New York in the 1930s. Steve is religious, but it’s unclear if he’s practicing. His faith is an important core to his worldview and the choices he makes, but he’s not preachy. He’s lawful good at first, but I think his character pretty quickly looses that fundamental foundation of “I am righteous, because I know what is right, and I am doing it.” after he loses Bucky, his kinda maybe love interestchildhood friend and gets yeeted popcicle-style into the modern day. He’s loyal as a dog, stubborn to a fault, and, like Techno, completely and utterly incapable of allowing injustice or ‘wrongness’ to exist in the same space as himself. Before the serum he threw himself into fights with enough regularity that Bucky apparently would just… walk around Brooklyn in the vague area he knew Rogers should be and check alleyways for either a brawl or an unconscious Steve. He also believes in freedom, and in the moral obligation of someone who is capable of preventing evil to work to the fullest extent possible to prevent said evil. However, Steve is Captain America. He’s not an idiot: he’s portrayed as incredibly progressive for every era he’s in, but he fundamentally believes that the US is a good system, or at least the best system possible. He believes in the ideal of the American dream and said dream’s ability to inspire people to do good, even if he doesn’t believe in the reality of that dream. He’s also blatantly unwilling to take orders and follow commands unless he knows the reasoning behind the decisions and has been fully convinced that his actions won’t be furthering evil without his knowledge, and considering his history with Nazis and with SHEILD (the government agency that founded the avengers) being a front for the same Nazi organization that got him and Bucky killed originally? It’s totally understandable for him to be VERY wary of his superiors. He’s a good leader, but he’s quick to make moral judgements of other people’s characters and will stick to them until he’s been beaten over the head with how wrong he is, which is really just a subset of his “you find what is True and Right and then you stick to it to the end and you Make the rest of the world move instead of you” mentality, which is a very helpful mentality for a paragon hero! …. Until they don’t have all the information, or that stubbornness is used against them, or they meet someone who has a quality they think is repulsive or immortal. 

So all this being said…. Holy crap I wanna put these two in a box and shake them around like a stim toy. 

They’re both paragons, by the firm definition of the word, but in completely different ways. They’re both loyal, vicious, guard-dog coded characters, but Techno chewed through his leash and chose his own path (Philza) centuries ago, while Steve was just beaten and dumped in the river by masters he thought were kind, and is now snapping at any human who resembles them. Steve still wants structure above and around him, he still wants to work For a government, as long as it’s a trustworthy one. He’s just not sure how or where to find one, or if he’ll ever be able to trust one again. Techno is absolutely uninterested in that. They’re feral in different ways, and they’ve got very similar opinions about government except for Steve’s uncertainty as to how far exactly he thinks he should go and when, and Techno’s blatant non-regard for things like collateral damage.

They’re both the strongest non-augmented melee fighters of their respective worlds and they’ve both got a signature weapon that, despite actively being a Weapon, is meant to symbolically represent peace and protection. They both have rebirth imagery and close semi-platonic relationships with right-hand-men who are snipers/long distance fighters. They’ve both got a history with being made to perform, Steve with his propaganda and Techno with either his Chat or, in some headcanons, his time as an Emperor or a gladiator. 

They’ve both got (I’m taking some liberties with like, crossover X-men comics and Steve’s hatred of Nazis here) problems with people treating other people as non-human, but Techno is living it, while Steve is working from a place of privilege.

Techno, on the other hand, would not necessarily have the same experience as Steve when it comes to his early life: Steve is still, fundamentally, a small, disabled, asthmatic kid from Brooklyn, and the disconnect between Him and The Body is at absolute best a struggle he works his way through after the first few Avengers films and at worst something that haunts him for the rest of his life. 

Steve might feel his body is not his own but he has no experience with his MIND not being his own. He’s frighteningly intelligent. Techno is smart, but the Voices are another huge difference between them I think I’d find fascinating to explore. 

Steve is not the brains of the Avengers, but he is the mind. He is their compass, their engine, the one making judgements on and off field for the team, but he’s not alone: in good avengers media (Avengers Assemble) he’s working alongside Tony, and he has the whole team at his back. Techno and Phil are alone. They are entirely self-reliant and have been for aeons. There is absolutely no reason for them to understand or comprehend how the Avengers work as a team without some significant work to bridge that gap. Philza is a whole other can of worms: the hardcore worlds might be a form of long-term enforced or self-isolation, the hardcore life system might be shared by both Phil and Techno or be just Phil, they might assume the team can die more than once and be shocked to learn everyone on earth has only one life, they’re so old they carry scars from things they can’t remember anymore and traumas the Avengers are not equipped to handle. 

Literally everything about this dynamic is fascinating to me. How would Steve and Techno fight together? What parts of their political ideals would clash and why? Would they help own another grow or make one another worse? Are we getting post-Bucky-returns Steve, where the Avengers is splintered and Steve is truly disillusioned? Or will Emduo be present for the events of Winter Solider? If they are, how would they influence those events? Techno would take one look at Steve’s reaction to Hydra and know Exactly how much they needed to be wiped from the face of the planet, but how would that go? Would he bring Steve with him? Would he clean house without Steve even realizing and come back like “.ey yo I polished ur government for u. Hope you like it, it’s freshly de-Hydrad. Also half ur entire chain of command is dead they were evil my bad.” Would Philza have enough influence and wisdom to pull Tony away from the idea of Ultron? How would either of these characters interact with Peter Parker (Tommy but… a spider?) or Nightcrawler (That is an Enderman Hybrid. Why is there a normal enderman hybrid in this universe?) or Venom (ah, you fool. I’ve already got someone living in my brain rent-free, bold of you to assume you will survive this mistake). Literally everything about this is amazing and there are ONLY TWO FICS ON AO3. Infuriating. Literally the worst. 

[roanofarcc]

PROJECT SUNSHINE CHAPTER FORTY FIVE → CHEMISTRY ‘TIL IT BLOWS UP

summary: steve harrington x oc

when another product of Hawkins National Laboratory escaped a long-survived nightmare alongside her sister, she crashed into one unsuspecting teenage boy and dragged him deeper into the dark mysteries that made up their hometown.

word count. 3.7k || masterlist || oc moodboard

warnings: cannon typical violence, child abuse, horror, gore, and depictions of mental illness. parts of this story were written pre-season 4 release. cannon divergence.

a/n: omg we love the 4th of july :) nothing bad ever happens on the 4th :) it’s such a fun day :) everything will surely be fine :)

previous chapter ← → next chapter

Closing up Scoops Ahoy for the night, Steve sighed in frustration. “It just can’t be right,” he said, falling in line with the odd group Dustin had assembled as they walked down the darkened mall toward the employee parking lot. Starcout was eerie after closing, without the bright fluorescent lights and the constant buzz of people coming and going. The only ones left were the unlucky workers who got stuck with the closing shift, Steve and Robin being among them. 

“It’s right,” Robin replied. She had figured out most of the translation on her own, which Steve had to admit was impressive, but it made no sense. 

“Honestly, I think it’s great news!” Dustin chirped, earning himself a look from Steve that he ignored. 

“How is this great news? I mean, so much for being American heroes. It’s total nonsense.” 

Robin shook her head. “It’s not nonsense. It’s too specific. It’s obviously a code.” 

To Steve’s right, Sunshine walked closely beside him, their hands occasionally brushing against each other but neither one moved to put distance between them. Maybe the message made no sense to him because he was impossibly distracted by Sunshine. The conversation he had with Robin and Dustin replayed in his head, and he found himself focusing more on the golden-eyed girl than his quest to become an American hero. 

“A code, you think?” Sunshine asked, curiously. 

“Yeah, like a super-secret spy code,” Dustin replied.

With a roll of his eyes, Steve said, “That’s a total stretch.” He had seen a lot of weird and unexplainable things in his life, but he still had a hard time believing they were in possession of a ‘super-secret’ Russian spy code. Though, maybe Russian spies wouldn’t be as bad as monsters. 

“I don’t know, is it?” Robin seemed to be swept up in the conspiracy that Dustin had dreamed up. “Listen, just for kicks, let's entertain the possibility that it is a secret Russian transmission. What do you think they’re going to say? ‘Fire the warhead at noon.’” Steve supposed not, but that didn’t justify their theory. “My translation is correct. I know that for sure. The silver cat feeds. Why would anyone talk like that unless they’re trying to mask the meaning of their message? And why would anyone mask the meaning of their message unless the message was somehow sensitive?” 

Great, so Robin had the same brain as Dustin; that was just great. 

“So,” Robin continued, looking at Dustin. “I guess that confirms your suspicion.” 

“Evil Russians,” said Dustin, like that was a totally normal conclusion to come to. 

Robin snorted. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing with this strange child, but yeah, evil Russians.” 

A beat of silence passed before Sunshine spoke. “Well, if this message is from, um, evil Russians, how do we figure out what the code means?” 

“I guess we finish translating the rest of the message and hopefully a pattern emerges.” 

Steve was suddenly caught by Robin’s words. He managed to drag his focus away from Sunshine for a moment to replay the message one more time in his mind. He didn’t speak Russian, but they had listened to the tape recording at least a hundred times that afternoon and managed to pick up every little detail the message contained. The one thing that stuck out to him was a little tune in the background of the message. The music was familiar, really familiar. 

As they continued down the abandoned mall hall, Steve lagged behind as they passed a cluster of children’s rides. He hoped that he had a stroke of genius, or else it was going to be awfully embarrassing. Digging around in his uniform pocket, he tried to find spare change, but he came up empty-handed. 

“Steve?” Sunshine called to him, the whole group stopping and peering back at him with curiosity. 

“What’re you doing?” Dustin asked. 

“I need a quarter.” 

Robin chuckled. “Are you sure you’re tall enough for that ride?” she teased, which Steve did not find funny. He was on to something; he hoped so, anyway. 

“Quarter!” he yelled. 

Dustin muttered something under his breath but dug around his backpack anyway until he pulled out a handful of quarters. Steve snatched the change from the kid, slotted it into a mechanical horse, and waited until it started moving back and forth and playing music. 

“Need help getting up, little Stevie?” 

He rolled his eyes but ignored Robin, pressing his finger to his lips to keep everyone quiet so he could better hear the music. He had heard the little tune from the machine at least twenty times a day when a child begged their parents to ride the horse and waste their money. The music was the same as the music in the recording, identical. 

It took Dustin only a couple of moments to catch onto what Steve was hearing. His eyes widened as he dropped his bag and pulled out the tape recorder. “Holy shit!” he whispered. “The music!” Dustin pressed play on the message and confirmed Steve’s suspicions. 

“I don’t understand,” Robin said. 

“It’s the same song,” Dustin explained, practically giddy at the new information. 

“Maybe they have horses like this in Russia.” 

Steve looked at the sign on the base of the horse, tapping it with his finger. “The Indiana Flyer? I don’t think so.” He found himself looking at Sunshine, waiting for some kind response, but her gaze was far away, brows pulled together in concern as she too pieced together what Steve was getting at. “This code didn’t come from Russia,” he said.

Sunshine finished his thought with, “It came from here.” 

Steve cruised down the moonlit roads of Hawkins with the gentle hum of music from one of Sunshine’s favorite tapes playing on the radio. She sat beside him in the front seat, gazing out the window in thought, and Dustin kept poking his head between the two of them from the backseat. 

“I don’t get it,” Sunshine said, breaking the quiet. Her fingers played with the chain around her neck, nervously. “Why would Russians send a message from our mall?” 

“I don’t know, but this whole thing just got a lot more interesting,” Dustin said, his enthusiasm clashing with Sunshine’s worry. Steve found himself somewhere between the two, unsure of exactly what to make of the situation.

“Maybe we should take it to Hopper. This could be serious,” she suggested. 

Dustin instantly protested. “That’s not a good idea yet. We need to wait until we have more evidence. Besides, I don’t want him getting all the credit for our discovery.” 

“But what if it has something to do with…with something that’s already happened here?” she argued. 

That thought hadn’t occurred to Steve. He believed that they all were out of the woods when it came to Hawkins's paranormal activity. “You think the Russians could know about the Upside Down?” He found that likely. Why would they want anything to do with the horrible place riddled with monsters? 

“I doubt it,” said Dustin. “There’s no way they could have figured that out.” 

Out of the corner of his eye, Steve saw Sunshine’s hand fall from toying with her necklace and onto her tattooed wrist. A part of him itched to reach out and take her hand as the awful memories of her fingernails digging into her skin last fall came back to him. He felt a short surge of panic every time she traced her fingers over her wrist. But she simply rubbed her thumb over the tattoo, and Steve refrained. 

“That’s not exactly what I mean. In the Lab, they used kids like El to do what they called spying on people. They’d listen to conversations and relay them. Some of those people they spied on were Russian.” 

Steve’s stomach churned every time she mentioned the Lab. There were a million questions he, and probably everyone else, had, but they all knew better than to ask. The look that crossed Sunshine’s face every time she talked about it was more than enough to kill any question he had before it could leave his mouth. 

“But that place was shut down,” Steve reminded her. 

She glanced at him, concern pinched in her expression, but she said nothing. 

“We won’t know anything until we finish translating the message and crack the code. Once we do that, we’ll know what we’re dealing with. But we need more evidence before we take anything to Hopper. And we’ll only hand it over if we get credit, obviously,” Dustin said, clearly not super worried about what the Russians could be doing in Hawkins.

They said nothing else until they pulled into Dustin’s driveway. The Henderson Household was quiet as usual. The glow of the television set could be seen from the front window, along with the top of Ms. Henderson’s head poking out from behind the couch. 

They all bid each other goodbye with the promise of resuming their investigation tomorrow at the mall. Steve waited until Dustin was inside, ensuring the kid didn’t find any strange creatures in his trashcan before he backed out of the driveway and started the journey toward Sunshine’s house. 

Even though Steve didn’t want to admit it, Dustin had been right about what he said earlier that day. The longer Steve waited to say something to Sunshine, the more of a risk he ran of someone else realizing just how incredible she was. Robin was right as well; all he could do was ask her a simple question and leave the rest for her to decide. The worst she could say is no. In theory, it was easy, so Steve didn’t understand why it was so terrifying. He'd never been so nervous to ask a girl out before. It was different with Sunshine; Steve wanted it to be different than relationships of his past.

His hands felt clammy as pulled onto her street and parked alongside the curb outside her house. She began to gather her things and he knew it was now or never. 

“Hey, Sunshine?” The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself. 

She paused, looking at him and illuminated by the streetlamp that cast a warm glow across her face. “Yeah?”

He cleared his throat and tried to keep the tone of his voice casual, even though his heart felt like it was ready to leap right out of his chest. “I was wondering if you had any plans for the fourth?” The holiday was only a couple of days off, and it felt like the entire town was making a huge deal out of it. 

“No, I don’t think so. Why?” 

He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “Well, you know, they’re putting on fireworks at the mayor’s fair that night. And, um, if you don’t have any plans maybe we could go? Like, just you and me. Together.” He inwardly cringed at himself and how utterly unsmooth his delivery was, but at least he did it.

Sunshine’s eyes widened just slightly and she was silent for a beat, but it was enough to make Steve momentarily wonder if he had royally messed up asking her out. But then the corner of her lips turned upwards. “Yeah! Yes!” She quickly cleared her throat. “I mean, that sounds nice.” 

Steve mirrored her smile as a surge of relief flooded through him. “It’s a date.” 

“It’s a date,” she repeated before stepping out of the car. Before she closed the door she turned around and said, “Good night, Steve.” 

“Good night, Sunshine.” 

She left Steve smiling like an idiot. Millions of stars twinkled across the night sky, and he suddenly felt like everything was beginning to look up for all of them. Even with the air of mystery surrounding the Russian message, Steve couldn’t help but feel like maybe their silver lining after a series of nightmares was upon them. Or maybe he was just blinded with optimism. 

Whatever it was, all that mattered was that Steve had a date and the Fourth of July couldn’t come soon enough. 

…

The following morning, the group of Russian investigators split into two teams. Sunshine partnered with Robin to help finish translating the recording and then work on cracking the code while Steve and Dustin ran around the mall looking for ‘evil’ Russians intermingled among the Hawkins mall goers. 

In the back room of Scoops, the two girls spent their morning finishing the translation before they began bouncing ideas back and forth in hopes of understanding what the message was trying to say. 

“Okay, read the whole thing back to me,” Robin said, sitting on the counter in front of the open window so she could man the front counter as well. Luckily, it was a rather slow day which made it perfect for spycraft.

Sunshine peered at the whiteboard and repeated the code. “The week is long. The silver cat feeds when blue meets yellow in the west. A trip to China sounds nice if you tread lightly.” It read like nonsense, as Steve had said, but if the code came from their mall, they needed to figure out what the meaning of it was so they could pass it off to Hopper and get it taken care of; whatever ‘it’ was. 

“Tread lightly,” Robin repeated, deep in thought. 

“Maybe they mean ‘tread lightly’ as in ‘be careful?” Sunshine suggested. 

Robin hummed. “Yeah, maybe. But be careful of what?”

A knock came from the back room, prompting Robin to hop down from the counter and answer it. A delivery man appeared with a shipment of ice cream that he wheeled in while Robin signed for it. 

Sunshine busied herself with rereading the code again. Her head rested in her palm and her eyes drifted from the whiteboard through the open window that looked out across the food court. She absentmindedly watched the people wandering around until her attention fell on the large clock hung high upon the wall, allowing everyone in the main hub to tell the time. Its blue and yellow hands stood out against the stark white wall, and it was illuminated by the rays of sunlight that poured in through the windows position on the roof. The minute hands ticked, and Sunshine sat up straight in her chair, eyebrows furrowing at the color hands of the clock. “Robin-” She began, but Robin cut her off swiftly and excitedly. 

“Silver cat!” she yelled, running up to Sunshine. “The silver cat!” Before Sunshine could ask what she was about the silver cat, Robin grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her seat and out of the back room. They raced past Steve and Dustin, who had said something to them that she missed. Weaving between the scattered people, Robin took Sunshine a concrete plant holder with a thick ledge that she jumped up on, giving Sunshine no choice but to climb on top of the structure as well. They could see above the heads of people more easily, but Sunshine wasn’t sure why they needed that. 

“What are we doing, exactly?” 

“I think the code is referencing places inside the mall,” she explained in a rushed breath. “The silver cat is the delivery company. If I’m right, then the other words have to have some connection with shops or something here inside this building.” 

How Robin’s brain worked, Sunshine had no clue. But it made perfect sense. If the message was recorded inside the mall, then the building must’ve played an integral part in whatever they were doing. If they were dealing with Russians in Indiana, they were there for a reason.

“A trip to China sounds nice. A trip to China…Chinese…ah!” Robin gasped and pointed to the Chinese restaurant in the food court. “The Imperial Panda.” 

Sunshine scanned the area, recalling the code. “If you tread lightly…” 

“Shoes!” Robin pointed at the second story of the mall. Kaufman’s shoes. “Holy shit, we’re really doing this! Okay, okay. What else?” 

“When blue meets yellow in the west,” Sunshine said. She grasped Robin’s shoulder and turned her toward the large clock. “The clock hands.” 

“Holy shit!” Robin grabbed Sunshine’s arms as both of them laughed in pure astonishment that they, mostly Robin and her brilliant brain, cracked the Russian code in less than a day. 

“What are you guys doing?” Steve and Dustin had followed them into the mall’s main hub, staring at them like they were crazy. 

A smirk stretched across Robin’s lips as she said, “We cracked it.” 

“Cracked what?” 

Sunshine mirrored Robin’s smirk. “We cracked the code!” 

Rain poured over the town in a fury. It soaked everyone to the bone; not even their raincoats protected the group as they sat on the roof of Starcourt. Droplets fell into Sunshine’s eyes, making it nearly impossible to focus on the loading dock they were supposed to be staking out.

After she and Robin had deciphered the code, their next course of action was to figure out what the Russians were doing with the different shops at the mall. Dustin had concluded that they were probably using the delivery service to smuggle in or out something, which was how all four of them found themselves on the roof in the middle of a thunderstorm. Sunshine silently thanked her mom for forcing her to bring a coat with her, but it didn’t stop the chill from spreading through her body due to the sudden vanishing of the sticky summer heat. 

“Look for the Imperial Panda and Kaufman shoes,” Robin said to Dustin, who was using a pair of binoculars to see what was happening below. Men were unloading something from trucks; they looked different than the normal mall security. The men were tall and broad with large gigs slung over their shoulders. The sight made Sunshine nervous. What in the world could they be doing in Hawkins? 

“They are with that whistling guy at ten o’clock,” said Dustin. 

Sunshine was posited between Steve and Dustin, on high alert for trouble.

“What do you think’s in there?” Steve asked, wiping the running water from his face. 

“Guns, bombs, chemical weapons,” Dustin rattled off. Each suggestion made Sunshine’s skin crawl. “Whatever it is, they’re armed to the teeth.” 

“Great,” Steve muttered.

The guns alone should have caused them to abort their mission, but three of the four of them had faced down scarier sights. Robin, though, seemed rather unphased by the sight too. Sunshine knew the chances of the Russians having any relation to the Lab were slim, but that didn’t mean it was impossible. She had learned never to discount the impossible; lots of things in Hawkins were impossible and they still occurred. 

A truck door was opened with a loud ‘clank’ and Sunshine nudged Dustin’s shoulder. “What’s in there?” 

“Just more boxes.” 

On her opposite side, Steve grew cold and restless. He reached across Sunshine and swatted Dustin’s arm, trying to grab the binoculars. “Let me check it out.” Dustin held on tighter and refused to give them up, irritating Steve more. “Just let me see!” 

Sunshine sighed, “Guys.” But they ignored her and began fighting over the item. “Be care-” She couldn’t even finish her sentence before the binoculars tumbled out of both of their grasps and smacked against the ground with a loud bang, echoing through the air and alerting the men with massive guns below.

They ducked down out of the men’s sights. Sunshine’s heart raced as her hand grabbed Steve’s out of instinct. Her other hand pressed down against Dustin’s head, pushing him closer to the ground. Muffled voices came from below and she knew they had a small window of time before their hiding spot was uncovered. She dipped her head to Dustin’s ear and instructed him to take Robin and run for the stairs while she caused a distraction. He nodded quickly before doing as told. As they raced for the door, Sunshine peaked up from behind the roof’s ledge that hid them and worked fast to ignite light in her palm. She aimed for the wall just above the men’s heads, and with a careful flick of her wrist the light struck and bounced between the wall and the truck, causing confusion between the men. 

Through the buckets of rain, Sunshine scrambled to her feet just as Steve, who hadn’t followed Dustin but rather stayed behind with her, grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the door. They raced down the stairs, sliding on their soaked shoes, and caught back up to Robin and Dustin. 

The four of them hurried down the maze of service halls in their wet raincoats. Luckily they avoided running into any large men with guns. 

A humorous laugh sounded from Robin as she shook her head, flicking water droplets from her hair. “Well, I think we found your Russians,” she said to Dustin before shooting a look over her shoulder at Sunshine and Steve, ready to say something else before she stopped herself and focused on Sunshine. “Hey, you know your nose is bleeding?”

Sunshine ducked her head slightly, knowing that her eyes probably still held their faint glow that came with the use of her abilities. She quickly wiped the blood away with her sleeve and brushed off Robin’s slight concern. “It happens sometimes.” Robin left it at that and continued leading the way back to their home base, Scoops. 

Glancing down, Sunshine realized her hand was still held in Steve’s, and it didn’t seem like either one of them planned on letting go. She just wished that nearly all of the instances in which she and Steve held hands or toed the line between friendship and something else stopped occurring under anything but normal circumstances. She wanted to hold his hand when they weren’t running from something potentially life-threatening, and she wanted to lean in a little closer and see if he’d met her halfway way not when she was spiraling into some kind of identity crisis. It seemed like they were doomed to only have tension-filled handholds and moments when they were amidst absurd situations or trapped in another nightmare.

All she could hope for was the Fourth of July, happening in just two days time. In forty-eight hours, Sunshine hoped to be holding his hand at the county fair while fireworks burst to life over their heads. She could wait until then

Tagged. @sattlersquarry , @leptitlu , @drunkengodsofslaughter

[shipskicksandgiggles]

The Meaning of Home (also on ao3)

Ever since he learned to drive, Steve had loved his BMW. He wouldn’t let anybody else touch his car, much less drive it. 

He kept it spotless. He wouldn’t consider himself a neat freak, but he kept the carpets vacuumed and trash out of the cup holders and off the floor. 

Not to mention he learned how to tune her up all on his own. His dad wasn’t around to help, and even if he was, he certainly wouldn’t be helping his son with dirty, disgusting work like changing the oil or cleaning out the filter. 

That was work for a mechanic. Someone you paid to get black sludge under their fingernails. 

Learning how to do it himself was a process. Without a positive male role model in his life, he resorted to reading books to guide him, starting with the car’s manual. 

Steve wanted his car in the best hands, and he trusted no one more than himself. 

He knew more about the inside of his car than he had any business knowing. Feeling her purr under his hands was the most satisfying part of his day. 

Even when he drove other people’s cars, feeling the thrum of the engine made him feel like he mattered. Like he had control. 

Nancy’s car was his favorite to drive. It was a shitty old station wagon, but he loved it. He was honestly a bit jealous. 

The truth was, he loved his car the most at first. He was able to use it to get around, to pick up girls, to impress his friends. That was when he was a younger man. 

Nowadays, his usual passengers were three kids and Robin, which his BMW was a bit too cramped to accommodate. 

Driving the Wheeler’s station wagon was a breath of fresh air. Sure, there was a suspicious rattle coming from somewhere, but he had all the kids with him, and he didn’t have to worry about them. He was even considering a minivan for his next car, if they survived all this. 

This being another apocalypse. They must be on four now, maybe five if he missed one last time he took a vacation. 

Not that Steve took vacations. He hadn’t left Hawkins for more than a day since he was 16 years old. Something about being anxious that one of the kids would need him, and he wouldn’t be there to help. 

Even the station wagon was too small to fit their whole group now, and not all of them were in Indiana anymore. Steve might have to reconsider his choice of a minivan. A bus might be a better option. 

Or a Winnebago. 

He could hear faint chatter behind him. The air was tense, but they were all trying to pretend like it wasn’t. 

Like they weren’t watching Max, in case she might float away. Like they didn’t check out the windows every few seconds to make sure they weren’t being followed. 

Like Eddie wasn’t on the run. Like Eddie hadn’t hotwired their vehicle. 

Like they weren’t on their way to get weapons to take out an evil, alternate dimension wizard. 

Steve had a headache, and no one had punched him in the face this time. 

His only relief came in the form of being able to count everyone, confirm they were all okay. 

‘Okay’ might be a bit of a stretch. 

Alive was good enough for him, even if they were all scraped, bruised, hungry, and tired. 

He focused on the thrum of the vehicle under his hands, and took a deep breath. 

As if she was reading his thoughts, Nancy plopped into the passenger seat next to him. 

“How’s it handle?”

“Not bad considering it’s a literal house on wheels.”

She huffed out a quiet laugh. None of them really had the energy for lighthearted fun anymore. 

Steve glanced over at her, and remembered back to when they were barely older than most of the kids in the backseat. They’d grown up so much since then. 

He sighed. “I used to imagine driving one of these actually.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you know, like when I was older, with a family, a whole gaggle of kids. I’d just pack everything up and we’d travel across the country every summer. Take a different route every year so we’d eventually hit 49 out of 50 states.”

“That’s quite the dream.”

“Well, when you still believe in the American Dream, a road trip with six kids sounds like a good idea.”

“Six kids? That sounds like a horror show.”

“I realize that now,” he said, gesturing vaguely behind him. Six kids were a nightmare.

“I meant for your future wife, my god. What angel of a woman did you picture in this scenario?”

“Honestly? I have no idea. When we were younger, I think I hoped it would be you, but now?” 

Steve turned in his seat to look at the people behind him. Eddie and Robin were attempting to distract Dustin, Lucas, and Erica while Max watched them with her Walkman secured over her ears. Their party had changed so much over the years, but he loved them nonetheless. 

Just as he was about to turn back, Eddie caught his eye. He smiled and winked before doing something dramatic that made Dustin yell. It was amazing how he fit right in. 

“Eyes on the road,” Nancy reminded. “You’ve changed a lot since we first met.”

“Is that a good thing?” he asked, suddenly shy. 

“Definitely,” she assured him. “I’ll let you drive.” She patted him on the shoulder as she went back to join everyone else.

A couple years back, Steve had kind of dismissed his dream. It was right around the time he woke up concussed in the backseat of his own car with Max driving. Kids were out of the question. 

Then he thought maybe he’d travel the country by himself, pack up just his car and drive until he hit the ocean. 

He didn’t think he could leave Hawkins anymore. Not after all this. 

Steve shook the thought out of his head and focused on driving. One day all of this would be over. 

Moments later, someone else dropped into the passenger seat. Thinking it was Robin, he didn’t say anything, expecting her to speak first. 

“I got Dustin and Lucas to explain Hellfire’s last D&D campaign to Nancy and Robin.” 

Not Robin. Eddie. 

“Oh?”

“Figured it might keep them entertained for a while at least. They’ll probably be quieter too.”

“They’re not that bad. You get used to it.”

Eddie snorted. “You must have a lot of patience, Harrington.”

“I’ve just been babysitting them for a long time.”

He nodded. “Since this all started?”

“Something like that,” Steve agreed. “Once you live through the end of the world with them, all the yelling doesn’t seem like such a big deal.”

“Imagine that. Are you sure you’re The Steve Harrington? Like the prom king, king of the school, lady’s man of Hawkins High?”

“That’s what it says on my driver’s license.”

“It says all that on your driver’s license?”

“My wallet’s in my back pocket if you want to check.”

“As inviting as it is to touch your ass, I think I’ll wait until we’re not around the kids. What do you say darling?” Eddie winked. 

Steve felt himself flush. 

Eddie didn’t seem to notice. “But you really have been saving the world this whole time? Kids and all?”

“Kids and all,” Steve confirmed. “It doesn’t get easier by the way, so if you don’t want to stick around for the next apocalypse, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“You stick around,” Eddie pointed out. 

“I’ve got a pretty good reason to.” It was the truth. He loved Hawkins, loved the kids, loved Robin and his shitty job and even his empty house. He couldn’t just leave it all behind. 

Speaking of, he adjusted the mirror so he could see them, and smiled softly at what he saw. Sure enough, Dustin and Lucas were still fully invested in explaining things to Robin and Nancy, who were actually expressing interest. Even Erica seemed to be getting involved, and Max had slipped her headphones off of one ear so she could listen to both her friends and Kate Bush. 

“We’re going to get them out of this,” Eddie said quietly. “Right?”

Steve nodded. 

“They never got to be kids, did they?”

“Not really, no. Ever since Will went missing, they had to grow up too fast.”

“Do you ever wish you could go back and change things, knowing what you know now?”

He studied Eddie carefully. “More than you could possibly understand.”

“So make me understand.”

Eddie looked at him like he held all the secrets to the universe, and Steve took a deep breath, turning his focus back to the road to avoid Eddie’s gaze. 

“Realistically, I know that this was the way things were meant to happen. That I wouldn’t be the man I am today without all this suffering. Still, knowing what I know now, I would go back and be a less shitty person. Because then maybe Barb would still be alive. Maybe Billy would be too. Maybe we could have been friends a long time ago. Instead we’re here, and I know I can’t go back and fix everything, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“Please, I forgave you the first time Henderson said you gave him rides home from Hellfire because his mom couldn’t make it.”

“Really?”

“Well, sort of. I thought he meant a different Steve Harrington until I saw your car pull into the parking lot and not leave until his seat belt was buckled. Then I forgave you.”

Maybe he was finally losing it, but for whatever reason, that was the first time Steve had really laughed for the first time in days. They were in the middle of the end of the world yet again, and he couldn’t stop laughing. 

His outburst seemed to surprise Eddie based on his expression. A grin slowly grew across his face. “Something funny, Stevie?”

“No, no, I’m sorry, I just-” he hiccuped. “I just can’t believe this is happening.”

“Didn’t we just establish you’ve saved the world multiple times?”

“Not that, I can totally believe that, but this. This stupid Winnebago and those kids and this. Sometimes I can’t believe I’m here. If you told Steve Harrington of four years ago that he’d be babysitting a group of kids with his ex-girlfriend, his best friend who he got tortured by Russians with, and the freak of Hawkins High, he’d think you were nuts, and yet.”

“Still think I’m a freak?” Eddie asked nervously. 

“Sure, but who isn’t?”

“Welcome to the party, your Majesty, it was good of you to join us.”

Eddie’s dramatics only caused him to start laughing again. “Sorry I’m late, honey, traffic was hell,” Steve mocked in return.

“Are you having a nervous breakdown? I think you have to tell us if you are.”

For a second, Steve thought he’d overstepped and offended Eddie, but a quick glance reassured him that he was just joking. 

“I think I’ll be okay. How are you though?” 

The past few days had been harder on Eddie than it was on most of them, which frankly he was handling like a champ, but Steve still worried. 

“Well, let’s see. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to go home, and even if I do I’ll probably be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life because the basketball team turned into a murderous gang. Also, I’ll need a list of everyone’s favorite songs because that seems important now which sounds insane, but it’s no less insane than anything else so what the hell, right?”

Steve got it. Not that he’d been accused of murder, but witnessing the upside down version of their town and facing the end of the world did tend to put things in perspective. What about their lives really mattered anyways?

He let Eddie’s words hang in the air for a moment before he figured out what to say. 

“My favorite song is The Winner Takes It All,” Steve said. “For when you start making that list.”

It seemed to take Eddie a moment to process that. “ABBA, Steve? ABBA? Are you kidding me? We cannot be friends, I’m so sorry, your taste in music cannot be that bad.”

His dramatics caused Steve to lose it. “Oh my god, I’m kidding. It’s actually Heroes. You know David Bowie?”

“Do I know David Bowie, he asks. Jesus Christ, Steve, of course I know Bowie. He’s not bad, but still, remind me to play you some better music if we make it out of this alive.” Then he paused. “When we make it out of this alive.”

“You’re already a natural at keeping a positive mindset with the constant threat of the world ending! I’m proud of you, man.”

“Might as well, right?”

“Exactly. And I can’t wait to hear you play. I've heard you’re a part of the best metal band in this part of Indiana.”

“Steve, we’re pretty much the only metal band in this part of Indiana.” 

“Which automatically makes you the best!”

“Fair enough. My favorite song is Rainbow in the Dark by the way. Master of Puppets would probably work too honestly.”

“I’ll make sure we get a tape of both of them, just in case.”

“Thanks.” His response was uncharacteristically soft, but Steve tried not to think too hard about it.  

They drifted back into silence after that. 

“Do you know what you’re going to do after we save the world?” Eddie asked. Sitting quietly for too long set all of them on edge now. 

“Same as always I guess. Might start taking classes at the community college.”

“Yeah? What are you planning on getting your degree in?”

“Something stable. Teaching maybe. If it doesn’t work out, I can always try my hand at being a mechanic.”

“Mechanic? You?”

“Hey, I fix my own car all the time, don’t start. Anyways, people always need mechanics.”

“We’ll always need teachers too, Steve. I can see it now, your classroom full of bright colors and smiling faces.”

“Now you’re just teasing me,” Steve groaned. 

“I’m not! I really think that’s a good path for you. Stability is a good route to go.”

“Would you ever want anything like that?”

“Oh god no. I want to be out on the road! Experiencing real, true freedom,” Eddie said with conviction. 

Steve certainly believed him. The relief was evident on his face, as if that freedom was finally in reach. 

“Really? You don’t even want someone to come home to? Something to look forward to when you’ve been away for a while?”

He could feel Eddie studying him. 

“I guess that doesn’t sound so bad,” Eddie said eventually. 

“Look man, I’m not saying you can’t do whatever you want. If you want to be out on the open road for the rest of your life, that’s what you should do. But I think everyone needs somewhere to call home, and maybe someone who helps make it a home.”

“Yeah?”

“It probably sounds dumb, but-”

“No no no, I think it’s sweet. I just don’t think that’s the kind of future I’m destined to have.”

“Why do you say that?”

Eddie sat back in his seat a bit. “Home for me growing up wasn’t the definition of stability, and I don’t know if I have what it takes to build that foundation with someone. And even that would require someone to want to have that with me in the first place. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that’s not in the cards for me.”

They lapsed into silence as Steve digested that information. Finally, he spoke again. 

“Okay, don’t take this the wrong way, but are you dumb?”

“Thank you for that, Steve.”

“No, listen to me. You’ve already got a halfway decent start on that foundation, I just think you need to take a step back and see that.”

He looked at him doubtfully, but Steve continued. 

“You created a safe space for a whole group of kids that wouldn’t have that if it weren’t for you, and they adore you. It’s that unconditional love and willingness to accept them that’s going to start you in the right direction. That D&D club of yours is a home of its own if you think about it, and you did that all on your own. Imagine what you could build with someone else.”

Eddie took a moment to think. “What if I don’t want kids?”

“That’s fine. Home doesn’t always equal kids. Good luck getting rid of Dustin though.”

“Which will prove to be a challenge I’m sure, that kid sticks like glue.”

“Trust me, I’ll be dealing with it for the rest of my life too, don’t you worry.”

“Maybe we should deal with it together then,” Eddie said nervously. 

Steve heard the hesitation in his voice like he wasn’t sure how he would react. 

He reached out a hand and patted Eddie’s knee. “I think that could be arranged.”

“Stability, huh?” Eddie asked. 

“If you want it.” 

Steve craved stability more than just about anything else in the world. He couldn’t imagine functioning without some surety of knowing how his life was going to play out for at least the next few months. 

He also craved validation and comfort. One might say he craved love.

A love he wasn’t so sure he could have. 

But Eddie glanced back at the kids and smiled softly, almost privately to himself had Steve not been there to see it. 

“Yeah. I could go for a little bit of stability.”

[hbogirls]

Riverdale characters as sex and the city characters?

jughead is carrie, of course. the narrator who's writing the entire show while also living it

veronica is samantha. she knows what she wants and she's not afraid of what people think of her when she goes for it. also bisexual but no one ever says that explicitly lol

archie is charlotte. they represent tradition, the american dream, etc but that keeps getting turned on its head in unique ways. for instance, charlotte gets diarrhea twice and archie turns to vigilante justice.

betty is a miranda because she's very serious and kinda negative and also i do believe betty too would be gay at 55. this one is hard for me because i love betty and miranda annoys me, but the truth is the truth.

cheryl is big. rich, causes problems, hot.

kevin is stanford and fangs is anthony

uncle frank is berger because i hiss and boo when they appear on my screen

ethel is bitsy von muffling. shows up every so often and does some memorable work.

toni is randomly steve i think? very sweet and can't quit a redhead who is occasionally weird to them

tabitha is aleksandr petrovsky. shows up late, makes a big splash, reorients things in a necessary way, leaves early.

alice is the woman whose baby shower leads to the theft of carrie's manolos and then carrie makes her buy her new ones because she judges carrie's lifestyle choices. a woman's right to shoes.

hiram is aidan. frustrating, ultimately not good for our main character(s), but wow you can't help but be won over sometimes.

joaquin is trey, and this actually allows me to continue my archie/charlotte comparision by arbitrarily likening the prison stabbing to post-wedding erectile dysfunction. isn't that fun?

reggie is smith i think. beloved and people love when his shirt is off!

i can't figure out who harry is. maybe clay? a late addition with a lot of good will towards him?

[steddieas-shegoes]

for the headcanon things if youre still doing them

"I said I'd never miss you, but I guess you never know"

or

"You are my favourite 'what if'"

(Sorry, these lyrics just feel steddie coded to me and I am always on my fall out boy bullshit, and I'm not American and its already 4th of July here and the only way I celebrate is listening to American beauty/american psycho on repeat all day)

I live in America and I don’t really celebrate it so I get it 😂 I’m gonna go with the second one because it’s very sappy

Steve wasn’t ever sure of anything, not since Nancy.

He’d been certain she was it for him, and when shit hit the fan, he stopped believing in certainties.

Everything became a ‘what if’?

What if he never found something he was passionate about? What if Robin moved away for college? What if the kids stopped talking to him when they moved away?

But the biggest one of all was Eddie.

Some days his brain wasn’t kind to him: what if Eddie ended up famous and abandoned him like everyone else?

Some days his brain ran with being halfway in love with him: what if Eddie loved him and chose to stay?

But most days his brain was somewhere in the middle: what if Eddie is the person meant for him? What if his dream was to just be with Eddie?

After a year of what if, Steve decided to just go for it.

He kissed him during a movie night, hidden away in his bedroom with an excuse of looking for a change of clothes he could borrow.

It turned into more quickly, turned into everything even quicker.

And now, after five years, they were moving to Boston together to be closer to a lot of the group: Robin, Nancy, Dustin, Mike, and Will all lived within ten miles of each other there.

As they looked around their packed up home, Steve reached out for Eddie’s hand, squeezing it twice the way he did when he was silently saying that he loved him.

“You’re my favorite what if. And I think this adventure might be another one.”

“What if?”

“Yeah. Like what if something doesn’t work out? Or what if something does?”

“And I was one of those for you?”

“The best one actually.”

Eddie pulled Steve against his front, cupping the back of his head and bringing him into a short but sweet kiss.

“Well, let’s go on our next what if, then. Together.”