#I know eddie is gonna get rescued but man.

[klausinamarink]

One Kid Gone, Another Up and Vanished (part 5)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 next: Part 6

a bit of a weirdly chill chapter this time. might take a break after this part but my brain is always on you know like a liar creative mode so who the hell knows xD

“Have you seen my nephew?”

“Has my nephew stopped by here recently?”

“Did he mention anything worrying?”

“If you see him, call me by this number, would ya?”

Wayne’s never been much of a theatre boy unlike Eddie, but he supposes he knows how the extra actors feel when they have to repeat their few lines over and over for their plays.

Eddie’s not anywhere in town. Nobody has seen him last night or this morning. Some of the people he’s asked look at him strangely and say why should he even be worried.

A part of Wayne wants to grab them by the collar and shake them and furiously spit on their faces while he cries out, “Shouldn’t you be worried if your own child disappears and might be hurt!”

He doesn’t do that.

He keeps his head down as he says his lines and leaves.

He checks at Hawkins General Hospital, something he’s been putting off since he drove off and left the police chief at the dirt. He reckons that if Eddie’s hurt, he could’ve at least have the sense to run in here.

But the nurse at the front desk shakes her head with a frown and says nobody with Eddie’s description came in.

He says his lines and leaves.

He starts checking the spots Jeff had listed for him.

The first is some old picnic table close behind the high school. When Wayne gets there, there’s a few students loitering. They see him and quickly scramble off. He calls out for them but they don’t look back. He eyes at the table, absent of any sign of Eddie, and leaves.

He goes to the rest on the list.

Some spot in the forest called Skull Rock. The abandoned Creel house. A gas station out of town.

Eddie’s not at either of them.

The Hideout is the last one he visits.

Wayne prays to heaven above this is where his boy’s at. But he doesn’t see him. The bartenders only confirm that while Eddie has make visits before (“not a bad band, by the way. Vocals need a little work though.”), he’d only came for an hour on Halloween night last week.

He gives the bartenders his lines and leaves.

At this point, Wayne’s considering looking far out of town. Bloomington’s close.

But it’s already nearing four in the afternoon, his gas needs a refill, and he feels so tired. It is God’s miracle that his body hasn’t collapsed yet, even in the drive back to Hawkins. He feels a bit grateful that today is his day off, but he has to call the plant later for a few more days off.

The sun starts to set as Wayne pulls over to the house. His mind is starting to get fuzzy from exhaustion and hunger so he walks inside automatically.

He even hollers out, “I’m home!” A vain attempt to hear Eddie’s response.

Only silence greets him.

Wayne sighs, worrying a thumb over his front temple as he readies the pullout couch. Then he stops himself. Looks down the hall to where Eddie’s bedroom door remains close.

He walks down and carefully opens the door. When he peeks through, he sees the hundreds of memories of catching Eddie doing whatever boys like to do on their own: Eddie writing in his notebook, Eddie playing the guitars, Eddie reading a stolen dirty magazine, Eddie dancing to that loud headthrashing music, Eddie staring up at the ceiling depressed, Eddie smoking, Eddie crying from a bad day.

This time Eddie’s not here.

Wayne shuffles to the bed - mindful of the messy clothes thrown about, Eddie we talked about this - and gently lays himself on top of the unkept blankets. His feet barely hang over the edge as he stretches. There’s a faint smell of sweet cigarette smoke as he breathes in.

When Wayne finally falls asleep, the memories surround him comfortably and he feels the phantom weight of Eddie hugging him tightly.

He prays that his nephew will still be hugging him, living and breathing and safe.

—

As they walk to Mirkwood, Eddie thinks it’s safe to say he and Will are little more prepared.

They’ve stopped at one of the houses on the way to stock on bottled water (thankfully drinkable, man they were parched) and weapons. Well, their ‘weapons’ were really just some knives. But Will had skillfully crafted a couple into spears by tying the handles with twine on the ends of broomsticks.

At least Eddie could sweep the demogorgon off its feet should it come back.

(Will groans first at the joke before laughing. Then he laughs even louder when Eddie cries in mock betrayal over the loss of his jester skills.)

He also snags a backpack from some guy’s bedroom so Will won’t break his back carrying the cans. They’d both nearly gagged when some rotten-smelling goop and wrinkled algebra textbooks were shaken out.

Will also brings up a couple startling facts about this hellish environment.

“I think the vines are a hive mind.”

Eddie had nearly dropped the water he’s holding to clean his cut. It’s not bleeding badly anymore, but he doesn’t want it get infected. “I’m sorry, what?”

“A hive mind. Like the vines are alive and they’re some messengers to the monster.” Will waves his hands around a bit as he speaks, though he keeps lowering them to his lap. “Remember when the demogorgon was outside your place and it only came in right after you stepped on a vine? It’s probably how it knows where we are.”

Eddie slowly moves his feet away from one particular thick vine. He breathes out a whoosh. “No stepping on vines. Easy enough.”

“I think these are spores too.”

“What?”

Will blows away a few speckles of ash from his face. “I thought this was snow, but… I’m more convinced it’s spores.” He stops to cough and fuck, that throws Eddie’s anxiety up into goddamn Mars because none of this was even fucking ash.

There’s no kind of gear around in this house or the one next door to keep them from inhaling more of this stuff. So Eddie grabs the cleanest shirts he could find, rips them into bandana-style masks, and fits them over his and Will’s face.

Eddie hopes to god that they don’t already have lung cancer and can at least live for another few decades.

It’s also on the way to Mirkwood that they really get to know each other.

Eddie learns that Will loves his mother and older brother from the moon to back. That he’s been drawing since he was practically born and wants to be an artist. That he has a secret hideout called Castle Byers. That he has a trio of best friends that he bikes to school and play DnD with and who are definitely also looking for him.

Eddie doesn’t give his whole life story (like he really wants to trauma dump on the kid, no thank you), but he does share a few things about himself. Will’s eyes are bright when he talks about playing guitar and a new hobby of sewing band patches on his denim jacket. He also speaks fondly of Uncle Wayne. (“I wish I had a cool uncle with Garfield mugs.” Will says with a wistful sigh) Though the ache in his ribs nearly shutter his voice away when he recalls the truck engine driving away.

“Ya know that if you ever go missing, I’ll search even the lands of Hell for you.”

He said that yesterday, didn’t he? Then why hasn’t Eddie heard from him? Why isn’t Wayne been trying like Will’s mother apparently been doing?

He stamps down the nasty feelings down he hasn’t felt since he was eleven and instead talks about summer visits to his extended family in Alabama.

“Wait, so you’re from the countryside? Like a farm boy and stuff?” Will asks with a tilt of his head.

Eddie cackles and ruffles Will’s hair. “A farm boy? Well, maybe for the help, but it’s a job I will never do even when I’m retired. Haystacks and cow smell are too much for me.” He points a mock accusing finger at Will. “Also wipe out any classist stereotypes from your precious brain. I don’t want to hear any questions about lack of running water or food or schools because we do have them. That’s right-wing businessmen propaganda for ya.”

Will nods seriously. Though he keeps whispering “Alabama” under his breath like it’s a magic word. Eddie lets that one slide. Alabama is a nice name to say a lot.

They finally reach to what Eddie assumes is the Byers residence. It looks worn down with the darkness and vines. He grabs the handle of Will’s backpack to keep him from running into sudden doom.

“Environment check, Little Byers.” Eddie says in his DM voice.

Will huffs but he stops moving and glances around. After a moment, he announces, “No demogorgon in sight!” Then quietly, “So far.”

Eddie lets go of him and moves in front, broomstick spear brandished. He walks carefully over the vines, not willing to make the same mistake in his house.

Oddly, the front door to the Byers’ is already open. It makes Eddie’s guts turn with unease. He slowly steps inside, nearly dying of a heart attack when he hears something from the kitchen. Then relaxes when he realizes that it’s actually some normal people chattering.

“Mike’s been taking this hard. I know it’s ridiculous to say that, Joyce, but he really cares about his friends. And Will going missing is making him act out a bit. But he’s been looking too.”

“Oh, that’s.. uh, sweet of him..”

Will brushes past Eddie as he goes inside. The kid stands in the living room, staring at the kitchen where the voices are coming from. Then he runs down the hall, looks up, and starts jumping up with a hand outstretched.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Eddie calls out. His eyes automatically lower to the ground where Will’s jumping on. The floor is surprisingly spacious from vines, but he doesn’t want any risks or a heart attack.

“Trying.” Will pants out with every jump. “To get. Lights.”

Eddie looks around, both inside and outside before carefully walking over to Will. He watches for a minute, glancing dubiously at the very dead lightbulb in the ceiling. Then he scoops up Will in his arms. Damn, twelve year olds are heavy.

“Okay, that’s enough hopping, Little Byers.” He’s about to move away - to where in the house he doesn’t really know - when a small orange flash makes him pause. It’s a literal ‘blink and you miss it’ but he swears he sees it.

He looks at Will, who’s staring intently at the ceiling light. His fingers brush against it. Then it happens again. The orange glow, this time blinking long enough to be noticed.

A small gasp falls out of Eddie’s lips. Will excitedly taps at his shoulder and points to a door at the end of the hall. He obliges.

It’s a bedroom, clearly for Will’s mom. Eddie’s not sure what to look for, but Will points again. This time, at a spot at the foot of the bed. “Right there. See?”

Eddie doesn’t see but slowly makes his way anyway.

Will scrambles out of his arms and holds out his hands, eyes furrowed in concentration. Then, faintly like a spell, small dots of glowing orange appear. One by one like a fairy doing tiptoes.

Eddie’s certain that his jaw falls to the floor. He’s so entranced that he doesn’t even startle when the voices suddenly move behind him.

“Holly! I’m sorry, she always wanders off-”

“No, no, it’s okay. But.. did she- did you see something?”

The glowing disappears. One is still present, beaming from Will as he smiles under his mask, “Told you the lights work.”

It doesn’t take too long for Eddie to find his voice again, “Ho-ly. Fuck.”

— —

Taglist: @unclewaynemunson @steves-strapcollection @hellion-child @sidekick-hero @mmmmwaffles94 @demolitionjetstar @hbyrde36 @princessstevemunson @sirsnacksalot @tartarusknight @lyriclight @kodaik97 @plsdontdrinkmylavalamp @wuttttttttttt @bookbinderbitch @gutterflower77 @tentativeghost @soaringornithopter @angeldreamsoffanfic @panicatthediaz @renaissan-vvitch @manda-panda-monium

[makorragal-312]

If Brad's gonna be here for another episode, then he better do something completely reckless and batshit stupid that causes either Buck or Eddie to have an NDE because if that isn't the case, then WHY THE FUCK IS HE STILL HERE??!!

[cjlouwho]

prompt: the rest of the 118 see tommy and buck be affectionate together for the first time. not just the aftermath, like with the wedding kiss, but they actually witness it. cuteness overload!

It took a few weeks for everything to calm down enough for everyone to get together.

The 118 was adjusting to working under Captain Gerrard.

Bobby and Athena were adjusting to moving into an apartment half the size of their house.

Hen and Karen were adjusting to visits with Mara every chance they could get.

Chimney and Maddie were adjusting to having two young girls running around the house.

Eddie was adjusting to being alone.

And Buck was less adjusting and more enjoying his new romance with Tommy.

He didn't mention Tommy much at work. He got sick of Gerrard's one-off comments pretty quickly. Usually, he would have been egging him on every chance he got, but it turns out he was more protective of Tommy than he originally realized, and anytime his name came out of Gerrard's mouth it made him want to punch the man.

It was easier to not bring him up.

When Bobby and Athena had finally settled into their new place, which very conveniently had a grilling and picnic area on the roof, they invited everyone over.

Bobby made sure to include Tommy in his invitation. His and Buck's relationship may have been new, but he was an old friend to the majority of the 118, and a new friend to those he hadn't known all that long.

He did not include the fact that Athena was insistent on seeing their dynamic because, “One of them is gonna give the other a run for their money and I can't figure out which one's which yet.”

In fact, the majority of the group was interested in seeing Tommy and Buck together. Everyone except Eddie, who accidentally witnessed far too much of their dynamic a couple weeks ago when he decided to head into Buck's place without knocking first.

It would be the last time he ever made that mistake.

The others couldn't help their curiosity. It was the first time Buck had ever seemed so settled in a relationship. The first time he wasn't asking for near-constant advice. The first time he wasn't endlessly concerned he was doing something wrong or about to screw things up.

Something was different. Something had shifted. They wanted to know what it was.

And while Hen and Chimney had known Tommy for a long time, they hadn't exactly stayed in touch after he left. Up until the cruise rescue, Hen hadn't really spoken to him at all, and Chimney would send him a text or two each year just to ask how he was keeping up. The Tommy they knew was closeted, scared, defensive under Gerrard's leadership, cocky, and seemingly always searching for something... more.

“I'm kinda bummed,” Buck said as they headed up to the roof.

“What?” Tommy glanced at him curiously. “Why?”

“Because everyone already knows you,” he explained. “I can't introduce you as my boyfriend.”

Tommy smiled, eyes crinkling up in the cute way Buck loved. He switched the wine bottle he was holding to his other hand took Buck's hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “You can still do that, if you want. I mean, they might look at you funny, but who cares, right?”

Buck squeezed his hand back. After a moment, he gasped, eyes widening as he did a little jump. “I can introduce you to all the kids!” he exclaimed.

Tommy couldn't help but laugh at Buck's excitement. “That sounds perfect, Evan.”

*****

Bobby wasn't sure how they'd gotten to this point only five minutes into Buck arriving, but here they were. Before Tommy had even handed off the wine, Buck was going into a story on Gerrard mentioning the 1933 Griffith Park Fire, but he had been wrong about some information.

“And I was trying to tell him how twenty-nine people died, not twenty-seven, but he was insistent that I was wrong. I knew I wasn't. I had just spent a couple hours the other night reading over articles about it. When was it, Tommy?” he asked, turning to his boyfriend, “Two nights ago?”

“Uh, three. Three nights ago.”

“Right, three nights ago. See, two people died later at the hospital, so they weren't included in the initial death toll. So, obviously, I had to get online and show him...”

As Buck continued, Bobby nodded along, trying to take in at least some of what he was saying. Sometimes, when Buck got on tangents like these, it was hard to keep up.

As the discussion got more heated, Bobby noticed Tommy's hand drifted to Buck's back, resting at the base. Buck continued without missing a beat, but his voice calmed and his posture relaxed.

“Did he ever admit defeat?” Tommy asked. To Bobby's surprise, Tommy had kept his eyes on Buck the entire time. He seemed genuinely interested in every word that was coming out of Buck's mouth.

Buck shook his head. “No, he'd never do that. But he was quiet for the rest of the day, so I took it as a win.”

“Oh, that's definitely a win,” Tommy agreed.

Not that he ever doubted, but it was then that Bobby knew his initial analysis was correct. Tommy was good people, and he was good for Buck.

*****

Hen's eyes drifted over the rooftop, settling between Tommy and Buck. She had noticed earlier how they always seemed to gravitate toward each other. Now was no different. Even though they were on opposite sides of the roof, Buck talking to Maddie, and Tommy having a very expressive conversation with Jee, they would steal glances at each other. A smile here, a wink there. Buck even gave Tommy a little wave, like they hadn't been sitting side by side only five minutes ago.

“I don't think it's just the honeymoon phase for those two,” Athena said, scooting a chair closer to Hen before sitting down.

Hen rolled her eyes affectionately at yet another tiny wave from Buck before turning to Athena. “I think I agree. I've never seen Buck so smitten before, and I don't use that word often.”

“Mhm,” Athena hummed with a nod. “Tommy seems just as smitten as Buck. I don't ever remember him looking so peaceful before. I haven't worked with him much since he transferred to Harbor, but I remember what he was like before.”

Hen huffed out a laugh. “Arrogant?”

“And stiff.”

“Yeah. He changed a lot, especially after Gerrard left, but this is different.”

They kept watching as Jee got distracted by Mara and they ran off to play. Tommy walked over to Buck, who held out his hand for Tommy to take before Tommy was even close.

As soon as he could, Tommy took his hand and sat down beside him on the little couch. Buck leaned in close, whispering something in his ear, then they laughed deep and loud.

“If I watch anymore of this I'm gonna throw up,” Hen said, standing up. “I'm gonna go rescue Karen from whatever game Denny is showing her on his phone.”

Athena laughed, squeezed Hen's hand as she went by, but kept her attention on the boys.

She couldn't seem to look away.

*****

Maddie tapped Chimney's thigh, nodding toward where Buck and Tommy were standing in a corner of the rooftop, watching the sunset. They had their arms wrapped around one another, occasionally stealing a chaste kiss. “They look so happy,” she said, a warm smile on her face.

“Yeah, they do,” Chimney agreed. “I'm happy for both of them. They're good together.”

“Yeah, they are. Did you know Buck hasn't even been to his loft in a week? When he's not working he's at Tommy's place.”

“And they're not sick of each other yet?” Chimney laughed. “Oh, they're in deep.”

Before Maddie could respond, Eddie was coming up to them, kneeling down beside Chimney. “We gotta hide the clipboards.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm serious, man, we're gonna be in deep trouble if we don't.”

Maddie leaned forward. “Why do you need to hide the clipboards, Eddie?”

Eddie motioned to Buck and Tommy. Tommy had an arm around Buck's shoulder now, both of Buck's still wrapped around Tommy's waist. He had his head resting against Tommy's shoulder, and Tommy pressed a kissed to the top of his head. “Have you seen the two of them? I'm not even gonna go into what I witnessed a couple weeks ago-”

“Thank God.”

“-but they've got it bad for each other. I give it six months before they're engaged. You know what happens after that?”

Chimney thought for a second, sucking in a breath when the realization hit him. “Wedding planning.”

“Wedding planning,” Eddie repeated.

Maddie shook her head. “You guys are crazy.”

“What? You don't think they'll be ready to walk down the aisle in six months time?” Chimney asked.

“Oh, no, they definitely will. You're just crazy if you think not being able to find a clipboard will stop him. I don't know if you guys know this, but Notes app Buck is far worse than clipboard Buck.”

[gas-station-trackphone]

ftm trans Eddie Munson gets turned into a chew toy for hell bats and rescued in the 11th hour by his friends who don't know he's trans, who have to run some triage first aid and can hardly make sense of the blood and gore that used to be his body as they cut off his shirt and pants to get access to the worst of the wounds, who definitely aren't in their right minds well enough anyway to think of anything other than stopping the bleeding and getting him to a hospital, which they do, and miraculously Eddie finds himself blinking awake in a bright, fluorescent room feeling exactly like he imagines a chew toy for hell bats would feel in the aftermath which is to say: like shit. Even more miraculously, he finds hometown hero Steve Harrington posted up at his bedside with greasy hair (!!! Eddie never thought he'd see the day) and bags under his eyes.

The overwhelming relief on Steve's face when he sees Eddie is awake is touching, the misty eyes and cracking voice when he says god, i thought you were toast, man are downright flattering and, let's face it, giving Eddie all the wrong ideas that he figures he has an I-almost-died pass for at the moment so he rocks with it, let's himself indulge in the fantasy for a moment. Then, gradually, Steve's relief becomes more and more obviously some brand of deeply felt pity (or sympathy, but Eddie's never been good at distinguishing the two), which bursts his bubble enough to call him out.

"I know I look like what comes out the business end of a meat grinder, but I swear I'm good, dude. They definitely have me on the good shit, I hardly feel it. I'll be good as new in no time." Big fat fucking lie, by the way, but he'll say whatever if it gets that wounded puppy look out of Harrington's eyes.

"I...yeah, Eddie, I'm glad." And whatever it is he doesn't want to say, whatever is putting that you poor motherfucker look on his face, he's absolutely the opposite of subtle about it.

Eddie can hear the manifestation of his panic on the heart monitor.

"What? What is it? Is everyone- is Dustin-?" He can't say it, can't even think it, would rather be slowly torn to shreds all over again than know he failed at his one fucking task to keep the kid safe.

"No! I mean, yes, he's fine, they're all fine. Henderson's got a broken ankle and both of Max's arms are broken but the docs say they'll be fine in a few months with physical therapy."

The release of tension in Eddie's body hurts almost as much as the relief soothes him. "Okay then, what the fuck are you not telling me? It's fine, I'm a big boy, Harrington, I can take it."

He sighs, looking sick with it. "Eds...I don't know how to tell you this."

Oh god, what the fuck. Eddie's right back to freaking out because Steve looks inexplicably guilty, pained in the face like he's about to deliver the worst news he could imagine but if everyone's fine then-

"It's your dick, man. It's- it's gone. The bats-"

And Eddie laughs so hard he tears about a dozen stitches, immediately stops laughing, and throws up over the side of the bed and thankfully not all over his freshly reopened wounds as Steve shouts for help.

Eventually, when he's all stitched up again and barely hanging on to his hard earned lesson to not literally bust his gut laughing about the look on Steve's face (he has to force himself not to tell Wayne the specifics of how he ended up back in the OR, because he's absolutely gonna crack up and Eddie will definitely be unable to help himself from laughing with him), he realizes he's going to come out to all his friends in the very near future because holy shit, he has to tell everyone about Steve's utterly devastated expression at the news of Eddie's Ken doll-ification by way of demobat.

[peppermintquartz]

"Tommy?"

"Yes?"

"Did you ever want to date Eddie?"

A little confused by the question, Tommy looks over his shoulder at Evan who's still kneading away the knots in Tommy's back. From his angle, Tommy can't really see Evan's expression.

With a sigh, Tommy flops back onto his forearms. "Why are you asking?"

"Answer me first."

"Never crossed my mind," says Tommy.

Evan's strong fingers dig into a particularly stubborn knot in Tommy's lower back and the latter groans in appreciation. "You flew him to Vegas to watch a fight."

"I flew you to the Grand Canyon to watch a sunrise," Tommy counters. It was to celebrate their three months together and the view had been breathtaking. They had to fly back by mid-morning - they both had work the next day - but it's clear that Tommy has a romantic soul and he's relishing in the free rein to unleash the full force of that romantic soul on his Evan.

"That's different," Evan argues without any heat. "We'd been dating three months by that time. You flew him to Vegas after two weeks of knowing him."

Sighing, Tommy pats Evan's knee, a signal for him to stop and get off Tommy's butt where he's perched. As he rolls over to look at his boyfriend, he wonders what is actually bothering Evan. The most logical thing to do is to ask him, so he does.

Evan scrunches his nose at the query. He's so adorable that Tommy wants to drag him down and kiss him silly, but this seems to be a matter that needs some consideration so Tommy waits.

"I guess... Well, Eddie's good-looking," says Evan, his pretty eyes downcast. "And he has more hobbies that you two share. And you have shared experience in the army. I guess I just... I don't know. Maybe I'm still a little jealous that you spent those first two weeks with him when Eddie and I got to know you at the same time."

"Hmm." Now Tommy has to pull Evan down to kiss him, because he's being silly. "Baby, I flew him to Vegas because that was how I was planning to go to Vegas that night anyway. I had a shift the next day and hell was I gonna drive all the way there and back just for one night." He kisses his boyfriend. "I was happy to invite Eddie along, but if he hadn't accepted the ticket I'd have flown solo anyway."

Evan exhales with a huff. "Okay. Fine."

"As to why I spent time with him first," Tommy continues, grinning widely as he turns Evan by the chin to face him, "he asked if we could hang out. You know, the way someone who isn't flustered by a crush might do?"

"I wasn't flustered!"

"Sure you weren't? Because I seem to remember things quite differently-"

Evan shuts up Tommy's tease and subsequent bark of laughter with a kiss. Tommy smiles into it and wraps his limbs around Evan, trapping the younger man in place.

When they part for breath, Tommy murmurs, "I have never once thought about dating Eddie. He is attractive, yes, but he's not the one I couldn't stop thinking about after the night of the rescue. His smile wasn't the smile I wanted to see up close. And he certainly isn't the one I want to hold like this and kiss, like this," Tommy demonstrates, "for the rest of my life."

Something in Evan's gaze relaxes, grows warm. "For the rest of your life?"

"Yeah. A little early to ask properly, perhaps, but yes. The rest of my life."

Evan takes a deep breath and burrows close. "Okay."

"That's it? Okay?"

"You want more, you gotta wait until you ask properly. But it's... I'm good with it." Evan pecks a light kiss to Tommy's lips. "The rest of our lives."

[paperbackribs]

tags: steddie, pre-canon, season S2-ish, tommy hagan will always have a crush on Steve Harrington

🩵💥🩵

“Someday, you're gonna get bitch-slapped, and I'm not gonna do a thing to stop it,” Steve hears the echo of his words in the Hawkins High boys’ bathroom. Spinning off the tiles, pinging against its corners and stabbing at Tommy who stands gasping at his best friend.

But Steve doesn’t care. This has been a long time coming.

Tommy is a prick and Steve thought there wasn’t anything wrong with going with the flow, ignoring the snide comments, looking away from the rumours that Carol would spread, as long as his friends remained by his side.

But Billy Hargrove had infected Hawkins High. Steve stopped swallowing the cool aid. And Tommy is fuming; red in the face and ready to take it out on any unfortunate soul that crosses his path.

Enter Steve.

Or, really, enter Eddie Munson.

Steve wasn’t sure if Tommy followed Eddie into the empty toilets or coincidentally came across him or whatever could be going on in the mixed up mind of his former best friend. But watching Tommy square off his stocky, muscular body against the other boy, boxed into the corner and wide, brown eyes only visible over Tommy’s shoulder, Steve swears that he’ll no longer look away from Tommy’s indiscretions.

So, he says it again, nodding to the leather clad boy in the corner, “Eddie’s going to take a swing at you and not only will I not defend you, I might even fucking taking a swing too.”

Tommy gapes, “What the fuck, Steve? I know we’ve been having troubles, but you’d take the freak’s side over mine?”

Eddie’s face twists in the background. Steve can see the anger warping his eyes and he doesn’t blame him, almost wishes that Eddie would take a swing and then Steve could just stand back and let it happen.

He sighs: he’s allowed a lot of things to just happen so far and it’s not to his credit.

Weirdly, Steve's resigned gaze meets Eddie’s incredulous look and, just for a moment, Steve feels like he’s met someone who gets it. Someone who sees the ridiculous, short-sighted nature of the petty bullying in the hallways of their high school and knows how stupid and utterly pathetic it is.

Steve swears that the corner of Eddie’s lips kick up at the irony of their shared understanding but is distracted as Tommy strides forward, knocking against his shoulder hard enough to send Steve spinning against the wood of a stall. He steadies himself as Tommy slams the bathroom door shut behind him with a clamorous bang and shakes his head: how could he have had such loyalty for a guy who won’t even stop to talk out their stupid shit together?

Steve thought he’d at least earned Tommy’s patience, a moment of Tommy’s time so they could talk this out and find a way forward again. He stares after his former friend, a hollow, gaping hole in his stomach as he grieves the friendship he thought they’d shared.

Eddie approaches with a gentle hand, laying it on Steve’s shoulder, “Are you all right, man?”

Steve swallows around the thickness in his chest and belatedly realises that his cheeks are wet. He clears his throat and, through a tight smile, says, “Yeah, don’t worry about it. Are you okay?”

The deep richness of those brown eyes regard him for a long moment and Steve feels stripped bare. He thought he was the guy rescuing Eddie, but he suddenly feels like the one vulnerable and exposed to the other boy.

Eddie smiles softly, “Yeah, got saved, right? How could I be anything but peachy keen?”

Steve snorts despite himself, amused by Eddie’s tongue-in-cheek tone, “Like a summertime in Georgia.” He can’t help but flash to Tommy’s retreating back and hates that his tone is already bitter, “Except I’m the stupid fucking tree alone in the grove.”

His head twitching slightly to the side, as if he were weighing Steve’s words, Eddie lightly responds, “Well, maybe it’s time to try another field. Wanna hang out sometime?”

Steve blinks, bewildered at the offer. The suggestion given so freely and without conditions seems anathema to his experience of friendship, and especially friendship in the complex halls of high school. He eyes the other boy suspiciously, but Eddie’s eyes remain clear, his body loose and almost curled towards Steve as if he were the north to his compass.

What could it hurt? Steve thinks.

Looking at what he can only describe as kindness in Eddie’s eyes, Steve thinks that a lot of things could hurt. Could burn or scald or stab, but the sweet, clear acceptance in Eddie Munson’s eyes has him thinking of a world where Steve can offer his loyalty and receive it in kind. A place where he can be good and feel like he’s doing good and perhaps a lovely brown-eyed boy would wait and tell him he’d done the right thing.

Eddie sticks out his hand in a gesture of friendship that only bolsters the words he’d already extended to Steve. And nothing moves in the cold room of Hawkins boys’ bathroom, no wind or breeze, but as Steve reaches out to clasp Eddie Munson’s outstretched hand, he feels a seismic shift that he can’t explain.

Steve’s fingers fold around the warmth of Eddie’s palm and Eddie’s full lips stretch into a smile, welcoming and true. A gesture that Steve can’t be sure of, can’t let himself fully trust; yet, nonetheless, Steve finds himself hopelessly following after Eddie’s extension of friendship.

And it'll eventually allow Steve to follow him to the confusing halls of the Hellfire Club.

To the strangely welcome space of Eddie's uncle’s trailer.

And Steve follows.

Because he is helpless but to follow this wide, brown-eyed boy who smirks at him with a knowing smile.

[steveseddie]

love is stored in a can of hairspray

rating: t | cw: none apply | word count: 3,189

tags: eddie munson has a crush on steve harrington, eddie munson is a sweetheart, steve has a bad hair week and eddie comes to the rescue, fluff, soft boys, first kiss, getting together

for the @steddielovemonth prompt “love is going out of your way to do something you know will make them happy” by @forgottenkanji

a/n: i'm a day late for this one but in my defense i had a wedding yesterday and it was a crazy day! enjoy!

click here to read on ao3

***

There’s a reason why Steve Harrington was dubbed “The Hair” of Hawkins.

In all the years Eddie has known Steve or known of Steve, he’s never seen him have a bad hair day.

It doesn’t matter if it’s rainy or sunny, if he’s wearing a Scoops Ahoy sailor hat or if he’s walking down the halls of Hawkins High or if he’s fighting Demobats in the Upside Down after taking a dive in Lover’s Lake, Steve Harrington’s hair always looked great. Eddie doesn’t know how he does it. Well. He kinda does ‘cause Henderson is a blabbermouth who let Steve’s secret about the Farrah Fawcett hairspray slip one time, but Eddie still doesn’t understand how Steve always makes his hair look like that. He thinks there’s got to be magic involved, a deal with the devil so that Steve’s hair never looks bad.

That is until today.

Eddie arrives at the Wheeler residence and announces himself by ringing the bell three times just to be annoying. He waits for someone to come open the door for him, and in the meantime, crouches down to tie his Converse. The door opens while Eddie is still on the floor and the first thing he sees is a pristine pair of white Nikes that he could recognize anywhere.

“Well, well, well,” he says, tightening the laces and springing to his feet. “If it isn’t my favorite guy in all of Hawkins, I didn’t know you’d be- Jesus H. Christ, dude! What happened to your hair?” He blurts out the last part when his eyes land on Steve’s head. Or the thick untidy mass where his perfect hair should be, with strands matted on his forehead above his furrowed brow.

“Fuck you, man,” Steve grumbles and crosses his arms over his chest.

Eddie feels a little bad, but his mouth-to-brain already leaves so much to be desired around Steve on a good day-

Not that Steve looks bad. Eddie is convinced that he couldn’t look bad if he tried, but right now he certainly doesn’t look like The Hair of Hawkins.

“Sorry, it’s just-” He waves vaguely at Steve’s head. “What’s up with that?”

Steve groans loudly. “A bunch of my products are sold out at every fucking store in Hawkins,” he explains for what seems to be not for the first time today. “Been meaning to drive to the next town over to get them, but I’ve been picking up so many extra shifts at Family Video that I haven’t had the time.”

Eddie nods. Steve told him he was trying to save up money to move out of his parents’ house, but it was slow going, so he started working more shifts recently to speed up the process. He’s been seeing less of Steve because of that, which Eddie hates, but he understands the urge to get out of that house.

“That sucks, man.”

Steve pouts, pink bottom lip jutting out. “Tell me about it, I look-” he gestures at his head and trails off with a huff.

“It’s not that bad,” Eddie says, but Steve raises an eyebrow at him.

“Wheeler asked if a hamster died on my head,” he deadpans.

Fucking Wheeler. He’s gonna make him regret it during tonight’s campaign.

“Please, those kids wouldn’t know a good haircut if it bit them in the ass,” Eddie says, and Steve smiles a little. “Sure, it’s- different. Not what we’re all used to, but you still look-” Handsome, hot, beautiful. “You still look good, Harrington.”

Steve’s cheeks pink up slightly. “Thanks, Munson, but I don’t feel good, I don’t know. It’s just hair and it’s stupid, but I feel off.” He groans in frustration. “Whatever, I’ll just have to wait two weeks and then-”

“Two weeks?”

“That’s when I finally get a day off.”

Eddie blows out a puff of air. “Jesus, Steve.”

“Apartments aren’t cheap, man,” Steve says with a shrug. “But I think Keith might make me manager by the end of the month. That would bump up my pay a bit, I just have to, you know, show him I can do it.”

“You got this, Stevie,” Eddie says, patting Steve’s cheek. “No one rewinds and restocks like you do.”

Steve rolls his eyes, but his lips twitch up into a smile.

“If you two are done, we have a campaign to start!” Dustin says, appearing behind Steve and giving them both an exasperated look.

They exchange one themselves at Dustin’s tone, which they agree that he still needs to get in check.

“Yeah, yeah, we’re coming,” Steve says and Eddie tries not to jump in excitement when he realizes Steve is staying instead of just dropping off the kiddos. He’s been hanging around more and more during Hellfire meetings recently, even if he still doesn’t want to play. Eddie can’t complain about the last part, he likes just having him there.

He steps inside and Steve closes the door.

Dustin stares at Steve’s head.

“Quit staring, Henderson!” Steve protests and Dustin holds his hands up in defense.

“Sorry, sorry, it’s just bad, dude.”

These fucking kids.

Eddie whacks Dustin upside the head. “Just for that, I’m making you roll with disadvantage for every attack you make tonight .”

Dustin’s eyes bulge out. “What! That’s not fair!” He protests loudly as they walk towards the basement.

Eddie suspects that Steve doesn’t know necessarily what that means, but he still gives him a grateful smile.

***

Eddie stares at the bag of hair products in his passenger seat.

He’s always been a whatever shampoo Wayne picks up from the store kind of guy, he’s never really spent money on hair products. Until now. And they’re not even for him.

He just spent a stupid amount of money on them, mostly because, even if he remembers how some of the bottles and hairspray cans Steve uses look like from using his bathroom when he stays over, he wasn’t sure which are the ones that Steve needs. So he bought a bunch of them.

In that moment, he wasn’t thinking about the money or how it might look to Steve that he knew what hair products he uses or that he drove to another town to get them. He was only thinking about Steve’s defeated look every time someone stared at his hair or commented on it, how he self-consciously tried to fix it at work every time a customer came in, how when they hung out at his house he would hide his hair under the hood of a sweater.

But now, parked in front of Steve’s house an hour before their movie night, Eddie does think about what he did- and he seriously considers leaving the bag on Steve’s doorstep and fleeing. It’s too much. It’s too ‘I have a big crush on you and I want you to be happy so bad that I drove to another town and raided the Hair and Beauty section at a store just so you can stop walking around looking like a kicked puppy’.

But at the same time, he did this so he could see Steve smile and it would be a shame to miss it. He just hopes that Steve is too distracted by having his beloved hair products that he won’t think too hard about what Eddie did, or what it might mean.

With a short prayer to whoever’s listening so that Steve doesn’t figure out his crush today and rejects him, Eddie grabs the bag and walks up the driveway.

He knocks on the door before he can talk himself out of it, and bounces from foot to foot while he waits, hiding the bag behind him.

Steve opens the door and when he sees Eddie his eyebrows shoot up in his face, disappearing behind the few hairs that hang over his forehead. Over the last week, Steve experimented with other products, and while he managed to make his hair look a little less like something died up there, it’s still not the same. “Eddie?”

“Hey, Stevie.”

He checks his watch. “You’re early. Actually no, you’re always late so being on time is early for you, you’re like, really fucking early.”

Eddie snorts. “First of all, I’m never late, I arrive precisely when I have to.” Steve rolls his eyes. “But today I’m really fucking early, as you so eloquently put it, because I had to do some shopping first and then I drove straight here. In fact, I come bearing gifts,” he says, hands shaking a little with anticipation.

Steve eyes him curiously. “For the kids?”

“For you, my King,” Eddie says, finally allowing Steve to see the bag and presenting it to him in the most dramatic way. Hinging at the waist, holding the bag over his head, the works.

“Eddie, what are you- wait, is that- oh.” Steve goes silent when realization hits and Eddie starts spiraling. He tries to make light of it. “I humbly present to you the magic potions for your characteristic luscious hair, your Majesty.”

But when he glances up at Steve through his lashes, he looks like he’s close to crying. For a moment, he worries that he fucked up- bought all the wrong hairsprays and shampoos and now Steve is mad at him-

But then Steve is grabbing Eddie’s shoulders and yanking him up for a hug where the bag ends up squished between them.

“Christ, Eddie, thank you,” he says against his shoulder, and Eddie feels a sense of accomplishment wash over him, as well as butterflies flying in his stomach from Steve holding him like this.

One of Eddie’s arms wraps around Steve’s waist. “I don’t know if I got all the right ones ‘cause I have shit memory, but I recognized some of the bottles from your bathroom and the lady at the store helped me find your famous Farrah Fawcett spray-”

He trails off when Steve squeezes him tighter. “I can’t believe you’d do this,” he murmurs, almost to himself, but Eddie hears it anyway.

“I had some shopping to do,” Eddie says casually, but it’s like Steve is squeezing the words out of him with his arms because he keeps talking. “And you’ve been walking around with your head low and those sad puppy eyes all week, and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Steve pulls back and Eddie braces himself for Steve calling him out for overstepping or something, but instead he looks shyly at Eddie.

“I know it’s stupid like, it’s just hair and it shouldn’t matter that much, but it’s just- it’s important to me. I might not like “the Hair” thing but I am like, proud of my hair and this week I just haven’t felt like myself and people keep making comments and-” He shakes his head, a few rebellious strands falling on his forehead. “Anyway just, this means a lot, Eds, thank you.”

“Of course, Steve,” Eddie says with a smile. They stare at each other for a little too long, and Eddie starts fidgeting. “Now aren’t you happy that I got here so early? Gives you just enough time to get through your hair routine before everyone else gets here.”

Steve chuckles. “You don’t mind waiting while I fix this?” He gestures at his head, and Eddie shakes his.

“I can entertain myself just fine,” Eddie says, stepping inside when Steve sweeps his arm over the entrance.

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

Eddie grins. “Yeah, go doll up for me, sweetheart,” he teases and hears the way Steve’s breath catches, his eyes widening slightly and his cheeks tinting pink.

Then Steve moves in and places a quick kiss on Eddie’s cheek. “Thanks again, Eds,” he says and then he’s running upstairs.

Eddie stands there for at least ten minutes, red in the face, before he can make himself move.

***

Steve still hasn’t come downstairs by the time the doorbell rings so Eddie answers it.

Dustin is at the head of the arriving party and he raises an eyebrow at him when he sees him. “You’re on time,” he says, perplexed.

“And you’re a butthead,” Eddie replies and the other kids snigger behind Dustin. “Are you gonna come in or what?”

With an eye roll that is pure Steve, Dustin walks in followed by Wheeler, Sinclair and Max, and finally Robin and Nancy, who drove them all there.

Buckley narrows his eyes at him as she walks in. “Why are you on time?” She asks. “Unless you got here early so you and Steve could hang out alooone?” The way she says “alone” makes Eddie flush, which doesn’t help deny what she’s implying, even if it isn’t true.

Luckily, at that moment, Steve comes down the stairs and everyone’s attention turns to him.

“Dude, you got rid of the dead hamster finally!” Mike says and Max flicks him in the ear. Eddie smirks, that’s why she’s his favorite.

“He’s back!” Dustin cheers as soon as Steve’s hair is visible. Eddie smiles at the familiar look, but mostly at the way Steve smiles and holds himself, the slouch and the sad puppy eyes gone.

“There’s my handsome best friend,” Robin hoots and Nancy puts her thumb and index finger in her mouth and lets out an impressive whistle.

“Okay, okay,” Steve says, waving off their compliments and reactions as he reaches the ground floor. “Yes, the hair is back, we can move on now. There are movies to watch.”

He starts to usher them in the direction of the living room to get their movie night started now that they’re all here.

“Dude, I thought it would be two weeks before you could buy your hair things,” Lucas says, looking at Steve over his shoulder.

Steve freezes, his eyes darting to Eddie before he just shrugs at Sinclair, who probably doesn’t care that much about it because he just accepts that as a reasonable answer and follows the others to the couch.

The same can’t be said about Buckley.

“How did you get your hair products, Steve? ‘Cause I know you didn’t have them yesterday and you were working all day today.”

Their eyes meet again and Eddie gives a small shrug. They both know Buckley won’t drop it until she knows the truth.

“Eddie got them for me,” Steve says, mouth curling up in a smile that he directs at Eddie.

Buckley’s head snaps in his direction too, but she’s smirking, her eyes sparkling. “Oh did he?”

“Uh, yeah, I did.”

“You drove to another town, spent time and money on gas, and then spent more money just to get Steve his hair products?”

“Yup,” he says, popping the ‘p’, trying to be casual, but he can feel the heat on his cheeks.

“How generous of you,” she says but it sounds a lot like, ‘I see you and your big gay crush on my best friend’.

Eddie’s eyes dart to Steve. With their platonic bond it sometimes feels like they can read each other’s minds and Eddie wonders if Steve can see what she sees. He flushes brighter at the thought.

“Come on, Nance, let’s get started with the popcorn,” she says, hooking her arm with Nancy’s and dragging her away, leaving Steve and Eddie alone in the hallway.

“I’m sorry about her,” Steve says with a light chuckle. “And listen I can pay you- for the gas and for the products.”

Eddie shakes his head. “You don’t have to, I told you, they’re gifts.”

Steve ducks his head shyly and a strand of hair falls on his forehead with the movement. On impulse, Eddie reaches out to tuck it back into place. There, now Steve’s hair is perfectly styled again. He smiles. “Besides, it was worth it.”

“Oh.” Steve licks his lips a little nervously and Eddie can’t help but track the movement with his eyes. “You- you must really like my hair,” he whispers, eyes wide and expectant.

Eddie considers taking the out, making some joke about having always admired “the Hair” or something like that, but he finds that he doesn’t want to. Not with Steve looking at him like he would like hearing the truth.

So, Eddie takes a deep breath and hopes that he’s reading this right.

“I do, I really like it, but it’s not just that. You could walk around with a hamster on your head or get a buzz cut like El, and I’d still like it. I just. I like you.”

A slow grin appears on Steve’s face. “You really think I would look good with a buzz cut?”

A nervous laugh tumbles over Eddie’s lips. “Out of everything I said that’s what you-”

Steve shakes his head, cupping Eddie’s jaw with one hand and effectively shutting him up. “No, I- I like you too, Eddie.”

He sighs in relief. “Oh, thank God.”

And then, he grabs a handful of Steve’s shirt and pulls him towards him, crashing their lips together.

The moment they touch, Eddie lets out a low whine before he remembers that the kiddos are in the next room and Buckley and Wheeler could walk out of the kitchen any minute. So he tries to keep it down as he licks into Steve’s mouth, even if Steve kissing back just as passionately should be enough to drag more noises out of him.

It’s not until Eddie’s hands start moving from his shoulder to his neck on the way to his hair that Steve stops him, his fingers grabbing a hold of Eddie’s wrist and pulling away just enough to speak against Eddie’s lips.

Eddie chases after Steve’s mouth with another whine.

“Jesus,” Steve gasps. “We probably should- If this week proved anything is that out friends are overly invested in my hair so they’ll notice if you mess it up with your hands.” Eddie makes a disgruntled sound. Steve’s fingers catch one of Eddie’s curls, twirling it around it. “But if you want, after everyone leaves you can stay and I can, you know, pay you back for this.” He gestures at his hair.

Eddie’s brain must be melting out of his ears from kissing Steve because he dumbly says, “I told you that you don’t have to-” before he understands the meaning behind the words when he sees Steve’s smirk. “Oh. Yeah. I can think of a few ways you can do that.”

The way he waggles his eyebrows makes Steve giggle adorably, but before Eddie can kiss him about it, Robin pops her head out of the kitchen, making them jump.

“If you two are done giggling like teenagers, come help with the popcorn before the actual teenagers start a riot.”

“Aye, Captain Buckley,” Eddie says with a two-fingered salute. This time Steve muffles his giggle behind his hand.

With the other, he grabs hold of Eddie’s and starts dragging him to the kitchen. The whole time, Eddie feels like he’s floating.

He’s happy he made the trip, he’s happy he got Steve his hair products, he’s happy his hair are back to normal.

And he’s even more happy that he gets to mess it up later when he kisses Steve again after everyone leaves.

[emphasisonthehomo]

Fic Snippet!

Some Ryan POV of the comedy of errors where he doesn't realize that Tommy's gay. Related to Misperception.

•

“How’d you meet your partner?” Ryan asks politely when he and Tommy are sitting around at Harbor.  

Ryan’s just finished re-making fake flight plans for the umpteenth time under Tommy’s watchful eye, and he’d like to talk about something not work related. Now that they’re on a break of sorts Tommy keeps distractedly smiling at his phone. It’s not difficult to guess why. Apparently their anniversary is coming up and they’ve been planning a big trip.

“We met on a call, actually,” Tommy says, looking a little bashful.

“Ooh, a dramatic rescue?” Ryan knows this probably isn’t what happened, but he’s imagining Tommy carrying a beautiful, faceless woman out of a burning building.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Tommy says with a laugh, as if he’s read Ryan’s mind, “So, actually Ev-"

The alarms go off, and Tommy stops midsentence, shoving his phone into one of the pockets on his flight suit as he stands. Ryan wonders for a second what Tommy’s girlfriend’s name is. Evalyn? Eva? But then he has no time to wonder, because they’re prepping to take off.

•

“The 118 is in the news again,” Sylvia says later on, pointing in the direction of the TV. She sounds simultaneously bored and amused.  

Ryan’s in the middle of watering his flowers in Animal Crossing and he glances up at the TV. The breaking news declares LAFD LEFT STRANDED DUE TO EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION almost gleefully. Sylvia’s statement must have also caught Tommy’s attention, because he wanders closer and squints at the screen. 

“–sources say ladder fully extended during a routine rescue of a cat in a tree–” Tommy says, slowly reading the closed captioning.

Sure enough, at that point the footage swings upwards to show two figures in the basket, the ladder stretched up into a cloudless sky. The camera zooms in shakily, before focusing on a pair of unamused men holding an even more unamused orange cat.

“Oh my god, it’s Eddie and Evan” Tommy starts to laugh, and pulls his phone out and snaps a picture of the TV screen.

“I’m gonna text Lucy and tell her to get her ass over here,” Sylvia says, before turning to Ryan and saying sotto voce, “They both used to work out of that station.”

“I can’t believe it was an actual tree rescue,” Ryan complains, “I never got to rescue any cats from trees.”

All of his pet rescue experiences have been fire related which tends to be… fraught, to say the least. Carrying a terrified and wriggling goldendoodle out of a burning building and almost getting bit for his trouble, for example. The news footage keeps cutting between the scowling firefighters and, thankfully in this case, a very unhappy but very unharmed orange tabby. A cute trio, Ryan will admit. The cat visibly hisses at the white guy holding it. In response the man proceeds to, by all appearances, start lecturing the cat while the other firefighter bursts into laughter.

“It looks like that’s for the best,” Sylvia says, putting her phone down, “When the universe throws you a stereotype, it throws you trouble as well.”

Lucy chooses that moment to arrive and she starts cackling. Tommy’s just standing in front of the TV now, watching as another ladder truck pulls up along side the malfunctioning one. Ryan gets distracted by his video game again. Lucy and Sylvia start talking about their off-shift plans, half paying attention. When Ryan glances up, Tommy’s eyes are still fixed on the screen intently. His arms are crossed. It reminds Ryan of how he looks in the air sometimes. The second ladder basket raises up, and comes to a stop next to the two men. It isn’t until they’ve stepped into it and are slowly lowered back down, that Tommy’s shoulders relax.

“I’m going to give them so much shit for this,” Tommy says, taking his phone back out, and beginning to type away.   

[911lonestar911imagines]

The Creek - Evan 'Buck' Buckley x reader 2/?

Summary: after a nasty storm rolls in, you and Chris decide to try and leave your sightseeing trip, until tragedy strikes, and Buck and Eddie are forced to make a rescue they never anticipated

Warnings: ..none really other than you almost dying 0.0

A/n: this has not been edited or proof-read :) lmk what you think <3 or what you wanna see happen in the next part :)

You and Buck decided to keep things private, just between you two for now, just until you got out of the honeymoon phase of a new relationship. Until then, you found it fun to sneak out, it made you both feel like teenagers again, but at the end of the day, you always met Buck at his apartment, cuddling up with him on the couch for dinner, before finally going to bed.

You and Chris were spending the day together while Eddie and Buck went to work. It was so far a good day, you took Chris to an ice cream stand, before going to a local tourist attraction. You knew Chris always wanted to fly, so you decided to take him up to a skyscraper, letting him view out of the windows to see the city below "Ya know, if you look super close, you could see dad's work" You whispered to him, pointing out the tiny firehouse in the distance, smiling knowing the man you admired so much was out there saving people. As you looked up though you saw something that made you gulp, large storm clouds rolling closer and closer to you, you knew how dangerous being this high in a building could be, and you weren't even on the top floor.

The building swayed with the wind, the metal and steel whining and groaning under the stress, Chris started to stumbled, causing you to reach out to help stabilize him so he didn't lose his balance "Come on, let's get lower before the storm gets worse" You encouraged, nudging Christopher to the elevators, as you both loaded in, and the elevator started its decent, loud crackles emitted from above you, the power and movement cutting out at the same time. Christopher grabbed your arm tightly "Y/n?..What's happening?" He whimpered, you wrapped an arm around him kneeling down "It's okay, bud, I promise, we just have to be brave like dad and Buck" You whispered, trying to shake the feeling something terrible was about to happen.

"118 we have a distress call coming from the skyscraper downtown, floor 53, caller says a window has busted and the level is flooding with rain water, be advised, there is a wind advisory, so winds will be powerful up there" Maddie's voice rang through the walkie's as the team finished up a small brush fire. "Got it, show us responding" Bobby replied, motioning everybody to load up and move out.

You took a deep breath trying to hide your fear as the elevator started to fill with water, you could tell something was wrong with the floor above "Okay, it's okay, we're gonna...uh..get you up on the railig beore the water gets above your chin any higher, okay?" You whimpered nervously, helping Chris onto the hand rail that was slightly above water, watching his feet slip and slide against the metal, you moved to stand in front of him "You're okay, I'm right here, I won't let you fall, Christopher" You promised, your lips turning blue, and the feeling in the toes and fingers slowly vanishing "We should be fine now! I'm s-sure your dad will be here to save us in no time" you tried to hold back your tears, but your body was freezing to the point it was starting to become painful now.

It had been about five minutes before you started ti get another bad feeling, a slight buzzing was erupting in your body, and you couldn't tell why, until the button panel sparked, sending hundreds of volts of electricity through the water, sending you straight into an unconscious state, leaving your body floating gently above the water. "Y/n? Somebody help!" Christopher cried out, trying to shake your body, desperate for you to wake back up.

Hen, Eddie, and Buck rushed the side of the building, realizing they wouldn't be able to open an doors, they'd have to scale the side of the building to get to the flooded floor. As Bobby gave the go-ahead tug on the ropes tied to the roof, the boys and Hen started to climb up, it took them about five minutes before reaching the floor, Eddie and Hen started helping people down, Buck getting the others ready to go down next, as he panted, he stopped for a moment, swearing he heard Christopher's shout. It couldn't be though, he had to of been going crazy "Buck, the front desk worker said there should be two more people up there other than the 12 you counted, Do Not let Eddie find out..But the check-in list says it's a Diaz and l/n" Bobby's voice broke through Buck's speaker "Hey! Hey! There was a little boy up here too! A-and- And a woman! Where are they!?" Buck shouted to the others over the wind, his stomach dropping whenever they pointed to the elevator that was sucking water through the cracks.

Buck raced down the stairs, breaking through the next floor down, grabbing a chair throwing it against the door to make some type of noise "CHRISTOPHER!? Y/N!?" He shouted against the metal door frame, sighing in relief whenever he heard Christopher shout back, his relief short lived as Christopher spoke "Buck! You have to save us! Y/n passed out! and the water keeps shocking me whenever I try and get her!" He screamed in reply "Bobby! I need power cut!" Buck screamed into his walkie talkie, tears welling in his eyes not noticing Bobby rushing in behind with a haligan axe and a fire axe "Let's go!" He shouted, handing Buck an axe.

Chris whimpered hearing Metal whining as it bent before hearing the water rush out and the view of Buck's face greeted him through the now pried open doors "Come on, come on we got you" Buck whispered, He watched as Bobby started CPR on your body "Buck! Chim and I got this! Get him down to the truck!" Bobby shouted, he nodded nervously, grabbing his rope that was left dangling, clipping it back to his harness. "W-What? We can't leave her! We have to stay, Buck!" Chris fought, trying to break Buck's hold as Buck approached the window, ready to repel down back to safety. "Listen to me! Christopher, they have the best people wokring on her, right now, I have to get you to your dad and checked out" Buck argued, holding onto Chris tightly as he slowly lowered the both of them down the side of the building "Buck! You have to save her! She's the closest I'll ever be to having a mom again! I love her!" Christopher begged, tears welling up in his eyes "Me too, Chris, I love her too, so I'll make sure she's okay, but you can't tell anyone." Buck said as they approached the ground, Eddie taking notice to his son being harnessed to Buck, he rushed over "Where's Y/n?" He asked panicked, grabbing Christopher quickly "She's getting CPR, I'm going back up" Buck said sternly.

You didn't really remember anything whenever you woke up, spending two weeks in the hospital before finally being released. You were forced to spend the next three weeks after that being babied and pampered by Buck. You both laid on the couch cuddling as star wars played on the tv, as you slept peacefully on Buck's chest he panicked hearing the front door open, not knowing if he should out you both as together, or sit up risking you falling off the couch. Eddie smirked clearing his throat "Lookie what I found Christopher, looks like Buck's trying to keep y/n from you guys's lunch plans" He teased, Christopher appearing from around the doorway smiling "Evan?.." You asked slowly waking up, your mind still groggy from your nap, taking a few moments to realize Chris and Eddie were standing right in front of you. "Listen, I wasn't the one who put her to sleep, she decided to take a nap" Buck chuckled, taking note of Eddie protective glare watching his hand resting a little too low on your back.

It didn’t take long for you to get ready and leave with Christopher for your lunch plans, leaving Buck and Eddie to sit alone in his living room “Evan.” Eddie said, tone matching one that he would use for Chris whenever he was having an attitude or not listening to his father. “Yes Edmundo?” Buck mocked crossing his arms “you realize, y/n is like a sister or daughter to me, and as someone who cares truly about her, I say Evan Buckley, if she ever comes to my home, crying about something stupid you did, I will find you. Or I’ll let Christopher find you” he threatened, knowing Buck would fight Eddie back, but he wouldn’t dare hurt Christopher. “I understand Eddie, I don’t wanna hurt Y/n anymore than she’s already been hurt..she’s dealt with a lot in her life and I just wanna make the life we have left better for her in any way that I can” Buck said honestly fiddling with his fingers “I trust you. But remember what I said” Eddie warned before resting his hand on Buck’s shoulder “now, how about we go get our own lunch to celebrate your new relationship” he smiled pushing Buck playfully before grabbing his keys “fine, but only because hearing Y/n talk about the food her and Chris are getting made me hungry” Buck agreed smiling standing up making his way to the shoe rack.

[redocity]

Buck teaching his gf how to drive a car since she only has her motorcycle license bur he's scared she's gonna grind the gearbox too hard in his jeep so they borrow Eddie's car?

AUTOMATIC DRIVE — E.BUCKLEY

after half a decade of motorcycle driving, you want to actually learn to drive a car. buck thinks an automatic drive is your best option.

evan buckley x fem!reader | 1.1k | fluff | masterlist.

a/n— the default in the uk is a manual car (they call it a stick shift in the us right?) and let me tell you, i wish i learned in an automatic it would’ve saved me so much grief

It was a warm Saturday afternoon, the kind of day perfect for a drive around the city.

Except for the fact that you were about to learn how to drive a car for the first time.

Sure, you had your motorcycle license and had been riding for years, but cars? Whole different story. And Buck, bless him, was trying his best to be supportive.

"You'll do great," Buck said, offering you a reassuring smile as you both stood next to his beloved Jeep.

You gave him a look, raising an eyebrow. "You sure? You were just muttering about the gearbox under your breath like two minutes ago,"

Buck winced slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, well, my Jeep is… special. It’s been through a lot, you know? The wildfires, rescues, that time it got stuck in the sand dunes—"

"I get it, Buck. Your Jeep’s your baby, I don't want to ruin it," you said, trying to keep from laughing at the anxiety creeping into his voice. “I don’t really need to be able to drive a car anyway—”

“No, no, you wanna learn to drive, you’re gonna learn to drive,” He sighed, looking between you and the Jeep, then pulled out his phone. "How about we call in a favour?"

—

Fifteen minutes later, Eddie rolled up, leaning out of the window of his family SUV with a raised eyebrow. “So, you’re trusting me with this? Or am I trusting you with my car?”

Buck laughed, walking over to greet him. “We’re trusting her with your car. I thought mine would be a little too, uh… temperamental for a first-time driver.”

Eddie glanced at you, a smirk playing at his lips. “Right. And you think my car’s gonna survive?”

You rolled your eyes, but there was a grin tugging at your lips. “I promise not to grind the gears off your car, Eddie. I’ve been riding motorcycles for years—I think I can handle a sedan.”

Eddie chuckled and tossed Buck the keys. “It’s automatic, so there’s no gears to be grinded. Plus, you’d have to try pretty hard to kill the engine on accident.”

Buck let out a visible sigh of relief. “Thanks, man. You’re saving me a lot of stress right now.”

“Yeah, well, you owe me one. If my car comes back with any dents, you’re on babysitting duty for a month,” Eddie called out, as he climbed out of the car. “Also, I’m borrowing your Jeep,”

“Yep— Shoulda seen that coming—”

—

You slid into the driver’s seat of Eddie’s car, feeling a little out of place compared to your usual motorcycle stance. Buck was in the passenger seat, hands already on his knees, clearly trying to keep calm.

"Okay," Buck said, his voice calm but a little tight. "First, adjust your seat and mirrors."

You grinned at him. "I know that much, Buck."

“Right, right. Just… making sure.” He took a deep breath, his hand hovering near the dashboard. “Okay, now foot on the brake and shift into drive. And, uh, easy on the gas, alright? It’s not like your bike.”

“Easy on the gas. Got it.” You followed his instructions, shifting into drive and slowly pressing on the pedal. The car began to roll forward, and you felt a little rush of excitement. “Look, I’m doing it!”

“Yup! Doing great,” Buck said, his voice pitched just a little too high. His hand was now gripping the side of his seat, knuckles white.

You turned the wheel gently to navigate the quiet streets around the neighborhood, keeping your speed at a comfortable pace. Everything was smooth for a few blocks, and Buck’s tension seemed to ease.

“This isn’t so bad,” you said confidently. “It’s actually kind of like riding, just with more—”

Suddenly, a squirrel darted across the road.

“Brake! Brake!” Buck yelled, his arm instinctively shooting out in front of you as if to shield you from some invisible impact and his foot pushed into the floor like he had a phantom brake pedal of his own.

You slammed on the brake, and the car jerked to a hard stop. Both of you lurched forward slightly in your seats, but the squirrel scampered off unharmed.

There was a moment of silence, both of you staring out at the now-empty road. Then, you burst out laughing, the adrenaline turning into a kind of giddy relief.

“Are you okay?” you asked between giggles, glancing over at Buck.

He had his head in his hands, but he was smiling, shaking his head. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just, uh… maybe a little traumatised.”

You grinned. “Come on, I didn’t even hit it! I’m doing great!”

Buck leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath. “Okay, okay. You’re right. Just… maybe next time, we ease into the brake a little slower?”

You nodded, still grinning. “You got it. No more squirrel-slamming.”

—

A little while later, after a few more practice rounds of smooth turns and gentle braking, you pulled the car into Eddie’s drive, parking it with as much precision as you could manage. It wasn’t great.

Buck let out a long sigh of relief as he unbuckled his seatbelt. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

“Yeah, you seemed totally calm,” you teased, nudging him as you stepped out of the car.

Eddie emerged from the house, taking his keys back with a grin. “No dents. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks for letting me borrow it,”

Eddie waved it off, though he shot Buck a knowing look. “No problem. Just remember, Buck, if I ever need backup with Christopher or you’re feeling brave enough to return the favour… you owe me.”

Buck groaned, but he was smiling. “Fine, fine. Babysitting in exchange for not destroying your car. Deal.”

As you walked back toward Buck’s Jeep, you slipped your arm through his. “So, what do you think? Did I pass your driving test?”

Buck grinned, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “With flying colours. I just might need a drink after this to calm my nerves.”

You laughed, squeezing his arm. “Deal! I’ll drive us there.”

Buck froze, eyes wide in mock terror. “Uh, maybe I’ll handle that part…”

[strangersteddierthings]

February 2

rating: T cw: period-typical slurs, mild violence prompt: Love is protection

The punch doesn't land. Michael stands frozen before him, arm raised to swing as they both turn towards the shout on instinct.

Eddie watches in slow motion as Steve Harrington sprints down the alley towards them as if summoned from Eddie's fantasies directly, determination on his face. The world returns to its regular speed as Steve reaches them.

Steve takes hold of Michael's arm at the same time Eddie feels himself stagger back several feet from where the new altercation is happening. It's not a conscious decision to put some space between himself and Michael, he's too busy watching Steve use his momentum to make Michael spin with him, or risk getting his arm broken, to think too much about what his body is doing.

Steve lets go of Michael suddenly, which sends him slamming into the wall of the bar Eddie and he had exited just minutes before.

"Come on!" Steve shouts, suddenly in front of Eddie and grabbing him by the wrist, dragging him down the alley until Eddie gets his feet under him and then they're both running. Steve takes a right, and even though Eddie's van is to the left, he follows. He can come back for the van and might actually prefer to. He doesn't want Michael to see what he drives.

They run a few blocks down before ducking into a different alleyway. It's not necessary, this much distance and the hiding. Michael wouldn't give chase. Eddie knew from experience that they rarely do, the men that don't like hearing no.

"Are you okay?" Steve asks, immediately assessing Eddie for damage. His shoulder kind of smarts from when Michael shoved him against the wall, there's a dull ache from his scalp where his hair had been yanked at, and he thinks if he takes off his jacket there will be a mark on his upper arm where Michael grabbed him when Eddie changed his mind and tried to leave, but physically that's it. Mentally, though?

Mentally, Steve just rescued him from a man that could be his twin, so that's got to be telling. Well, twin is a bit of a stretch. There were no moles dotting Michael like constellations, no signature hair swoop (though hair length was almost a perfect match), and his butt was far too flat but there's no way to deny he was a stand in for who Eddie actually wanted. Michael was even a jock, given what little Eddie and he had spoken about before heading outside to smoke, or so Eddie had thought.

So, all in all, is Eddie okay? No!

"Yeah. Yeah, fine," Eddie says.

"That guy threw you into the wall."

The adrenaline is fading, and shame replaces it. Why is Steve here? How much of what happened did he witness? "And I'm fine. Thanks for the assist, but what are you even doing here?"

Steve frowns at him. "I was- I just, just was checking in on you. You weren't answering the phone and Dustin was-"

"But how are you here!? How long have you been here?" Eddie interrupts, "how did you know where to find me?"

Steve takes a step back, puts a little distance between them. "I just drove around until I saw your van."

Eddie blinks at him. "You drove around Indy, searching for my van. How- what?"

"Yeah! And lucky I did," Steve says, like the idea of searching all of Indianapolis for one van isn't insane. "That guy was gonna kick your ass if I hadn't shown up!"

"He'd of gotten a few good punches in before I got away," Eddie waves off Steve's concern. "Not my first rodeo, Stevie."

"This happens often? Why do you keep coming back!?"

"Why does the faggot keep going to gay bars? Gee, I don't think we'll ever know, Steve," Eddie sneers, defensive for no reason. He hates that he does thing. That he lashes out at people just concerned for his safety. Steve just threw a guy into a wall for daring to try and punch him, why can't he just be grateful?

Steve scowls, "why're you being a dick to me? What the fuck did I do?"

Eddie lets out a sigh, "Nothing you don't usually do."

Steve throws up his hands and marches in a circle, apparently too frustrated for words and Eddie hates how smitten he is. It's adorable. Steve's anger is cute, and that's the problem. That's why he was at that bar, a gay bar, in the first place. To wallow in his unrequited love and maybe get off with a stranger he could pretend was Steve if he squinted and it was dark.

And now the man he is hopelessly in love with has come and saved him, once again; this time from a man who wanted something Eddie wasn't going to give in an alleyway at 3:30 in the afternoon, who didn't take "no" well, and everything had escalated from there.

"What do you want me to say, Steve? Thank you for protecting me? Thank you for always managing to show up exactly when I need you? If so, thank you!"

"Why does it bother you that I care if you're safe or not!"

"Because it's you!" Eddie screams.

Steve's eyes widen and his lips part in shock, a look that morphs into hurt. "I... see. I- let me walk you back to your van and I'll get outta your hair."

Eddie hates that he's hurt Steve, because he's an asshole that lashes out. He knows that whatever conclusion Steve's come to in his mind is wrong. He knows that Steve is blaming himself, trying to find out where he went wrong but he didn't. Eddie did.

"Not yet. Please. If Michael's still there I don't want him to see what car I get into. Y'know. Just in case." Eddie doesn't say it to get sympathy points, but he watches as Steve softens anyway.

"Yeah. Yeah, of course."

They wait in silence, and Eddie hates how tense it feels. But he made this bed.

-

Continued with tomorrow's prompt.

@steddielovemonth @nburkhardt @i-less-than-three-you @afewproblems @skepsiss

[newobsessionweekly]

Look at the stars

Main masterlist | 9-1-1 masterlist

Evan “Buck” Buckley x firefighter!reader

Fandom: 911

Summary: You get hurt on a call and you boyfriend, Buck, tries to keep you distracted from the pain.

Warnings: mentions of injuries, not proofread work ?

Requested: no

Words: 1k

Gif not mine, credits to the owner!

It was a dark and chilly night, with the wind howling through the air. The 118 Unit was called to rescue a man who had fallen off his boat and was struggling to stay afloat in the ocean. You swiftly readied yourself and approached the restless ocean.

Buck kissed your forehead before getting off the truck. He gently held your hand and caressed it, as your mind flew back to the night before. You and Buck cuddled in his bed, your head resting on his chest as you counted his heart beats while he asked you to move in with him. And after the shift's over, you will.

As you arrived on the scene, you could see the man frantically splashing in the water, his arms flailing as he tried to keep his head above the surface.

“Y/n, Buck, I need you to go out there, grab that man and come back safely!” the fisherman was not that away from the shore, but you can hear the wind intensifying and with every blow, the waves are becoming more ruthless. “Eddie, take the boat and be ready to retrieve the man. Hen, Chim…” Bobby's voice echoed in the distance as you neared the ocean.

Without hesitation, You and Buck grabbed your gear and quickly made your way towards the man. Eddie stopped the boat near the man's and you jumped in without waiting for Buck. You know your boyfriend is right behind you.

The water was cold and rough, and the waves kept crashing against you as you made your way towards the man. His panic hindered your and Buck's approach.

“Sir, I need you to stay still, ok? We'll get you out of here, but you must calm down for me!” you urged. Unfortunately, the man was too scared to listen.

Just as you reached the man, a massive wave crashed over, pushing the man further away and knocking you off course. Submerged in darkness, caught off guard, and unprepared to hold your breath. Your lungs aches as the water made its way through. The wave carried you even further down and as you felt an unbearable pain going through your head, your vision darkened.

Buck quickly swam towards you as blood darkened the water. Eddie rescued the man by jumping into the water, grabbing him, and swimming back to the boat safely.

Buck grabbed you with his shaky hands and made his way to the shore. Your head was bleeding, your eyes shut still and your breathing stopped even before he got the chance to carry you to the surface. Checking your pulse, Buck unzipped his jacket that was holding him back to perform CPR, and pressed his hands rhythmically on your chest.

Your eyes fluttered open, and you winced in pain, clutching at his arm. Buck's heart ached at the sight of your pain, wishing he could take it away. You coughed, the water filling your airways making its way out now.

“B-Buck—“ you tried to speak, you tried to stand and wanted to jump in the water again to save the man, but your boyfriend pushed you back on the sand.

“It's fine, babe! The man is in good hands now. Hen and Chim are taking care of him and they'll come check on you, ok?” Buck kissed your head as your breathing was unsteady. You had a pain in your chest growing with every inhale.

He tried to keep you calm and conscious, talking to you and babbling about the fun you're gonna have once you move in, trying to keep your mind off the pain. But you were still in a lot of pain, and Buck panicked with every moaning of agony.

Buck held you close, feeling your shallow breaths against his chest. He could feel the fear in his heart, the fear of losing you. Once again you counted his alarming heart beat, but it didn't calm you down this time.

That's when you looked up at the clear night sky and noticed the stars shining bright. You forced Buck to lay down with you on the sand.

You turned to him and whispered, "Look at the sky, babe!" He hesitated, then looked up, breathless. The stars were shining bright, a beautiful array of twinkling lights, and Buck couldn't help but admire their beauty.

You smiled at him, relieved to see him relax. "Don't worry about me, Buck," you said, squeezing his hand. "I'll be okay. Just focus on the stars and breathe."

"See that one over there?" he asked, pointing at a bright star. "That's Sirius, the brightest star in the sky."

You gazed up at the star in awe. "Wow, it's beautiful."

"Yeah," Buck said with a soft smile. You lapsed into a comfortable silence, taking in the beauty of the night sky. Hen and Chim were making they way over, when Buck's voiced stopped them. His voice was soft as his hand caressed your hair.

He then pointed to a group of stars forming a distinct pattern. "And that one over there," he pointed to the stars, "is Orion's Belt. The three stars in the middle are the belt, and the two stars on either side are his shoulders and feet."

You looked at the constellation with wonder. "I never knew that. It's amazing how everything up there has a story behind it." your eyes grew heavy, making it difficult for you to keep them open.

Sleep was taking over you, as you turned to Buck and smile as much as you could in that moment, "Thank you for showing me all of this, Buck. It's really special."

“I'll take you on a proper date to see the stars. What do you think?” your heart swelled with love as you nodded your head and smiled back at him. "But you need to stay awake for me, ok?"

“Ok, Y/n. Let's make you better for that date. Don't make the man wait too long for that!” Hen laughed at the two of you as her and Chimney checked your vitals and injuries, preparing to transport you to the hospital.

[blackbat05]

Friday Evenings

Evan Buckley x Reader (Not Gender Specified)

Plot: It’s another Friday evening at the library, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring.

Genre: PG-13

A/N: Kinda like a comfort piece for myself. Also, I need to start writing again so I guess this is the way to go. Enjoy!

“Knock, knock!”

I look up from my laptop to find Evan holding a bag of takeout. “Uh, I know there's strictly no food in the library, but I was hoping you could make an exception.” 

“Well, perks of being the library assistant. Come on over.” I invite him behind the circulation desk and draw the blinders. “Your timing is immaculate, I was just about to finish up the last bit of cataloging.” 

“Cool, no rush.” Evan sets the bag down. “Can I take a look?” Curious Evan, always eager to learn more about everything around him. That was also what made him so attractive. 

“Nah, I’m pretty sure it’ll just bore you.” 

“Hey, how do you know what bores me?” His eyes twinkle and set himself beside me. My fingers quickly fly across the keyboard, entering the right value and category into each empty box. I scan the barcode of each book, registering it into the database before sticking the respective stickers on the book. 

“Finished!” Despite the seemingly small task, it was still a task completed. 

“That was amazing.” 

“Says my boyfriend that fights fires for a living.” I dismiss him casually. 

“Don’t do that.” Evan admonishes. “Did you know that in the past, people had to flip through thousands of cards to find the book that they wanted?” He gives me another fun fact to which I am amazed by once again. “You guys are like the keeper of books. Without you guys, there’s no knowledge and the whole world would burn to the ground.” 

“And that’s why you’re my biggest hype man.” I say, giving him a kiss. “On behalf of all library staff, I would like to thank you for acknowledging our tireless efforts.” Fishing out a box of chow mein, I find my mouth salivating as I dive into the springy noodles. 

Night falls as Evan and I talk about our week. From crazy rescues to patrons of different personalities, there was no dull moment. 

“Lisa was so sweet. I always love to see when a child is so enthusiastic about reading. You hardly ever see that these days.” You gush. 

“Tell me about it. Maddy and Chim are really trying their best to build that habit in Jee.” Evan agrees.

A clacking of shoes could be heard from behind the entrance. A stray strand of noodle hangs limply from Evan’s mouth. My eyes widen at the noise as I put a finger to my lips.

“Shit! I thought Marianne left! She’s gonna kill me if she finds out.” I hissed, eyes darting around wildly for a solution. Evan’s a step ahead of me as he swiftly removes all the damning evidence and packed it into the takeaway bag before ducking down under the circulation desk.

Not a second later, Marianne enters, completely unaware of the chaos that just happened.

“Hey! I left something behind. I need it for tomorrow’s class.” She comes closer and I can feel the sweat trickling down my back. I quickly push my chair to block her way, earning a curious stare from her.

“No worries! I can get it for you. Just stay right there.”

Before she can say anything else, I grab the cursed notebook belonging to Marianne, making back to my seat in top speed.

“Er… thanks!” Marianne slightly cocks her head in confusion. “You sure you okay? You seem a little jumpy.”

“Totally! Just can’t wait to get out of here. It’s a Public Holiday tomorrow after all.” I laughed. Somehow, I knew that Evan groaned from under the table at my poor attempt.

Marianne shrugs, taking her notebook. “Well, don’t stay long!”

She leaves, shutting the door behind her.

"Ouch..." Evan barely manages to get himself back on the chair. He grins at me. "Some dinner that was huh?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to give Marianne an opportunity for me to become office gossip. You know how older ladies are."

"Trust me. Have you seen Eddie's Aunt?"

The two of us burst into laughter, quickly piping down just in case Marianne was still within the vicinity.

"Anything I can help with?" Evan asks as we pack away the containers. "I need to fight the food coma."

"Hm... well I do need to shelve back today's returns." You tell him. "If we split up, it should be done in no time and we're out of here."

"Sounds like a plan."

I grab a trolley for Evan and assign him to a row. The two of us worked seamlessly, the rolling of the wheels on the carpet was the only sound that filled the library.

"Y/N?"

"Hm?"

"I'm happy for you." He says sincerely. It doesn't take me long to piece together what he was referring to.

"You know, it still hurts sometimes." I tell him as I shelve a couple more books before going down the aisle. "But it hurts less."

The memories of not living up to the expectations of those who depended on me float around in my mind. The disappointment on people's faces when I told them I couldn't continue. The anger and self-hatred that I experienced because I essentially threw all that hard work and effort into the drain.

"Don't go there." Evan says sharply. "Don't beat yourself up for things that you couldn't control."

I give a weak smile. Evan had enough confidence for the two of us.

"You did what was the best in that moment. You just didn't know that it wasn't the right thing for you. That's okay. I mean look at me! I was wandering around aimlessly before I found the 118. It seems you may have found your place."

"What if it doesn't work out again?" My inner voice wins the battle to be let out into the open.

"Then you try again." Evan says it, as if it's so simple. "We're not going to put ourselves in a box for the rest of our lives. We got to try new things when we can. And that's exactly what you're doing."

The both of us reach the end of our respective aisles, cart empty. Evan comes close and hugs me. "Maddie says that hugs can really help to improve a person's mood."

Did I save an entire country in my past life for Evan to be by my side?

"You always know the right words to say."

"That's because they're the truth." Evan helps with the paper bags. "Now, as much as I really enjoyed secretly flouting the library rules, we should head for desert." His eyes twinkle. "I'm thinking of that gelato place down the street."

He knew the right words to say and the way to my stomach? Scratch that, he saved an entire continent with his selfless behavior.

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

Evan smiles widely and gets up from his chair.

“Come on. We’re not going to waste a perfectly good evening.”

Like I said, I didn’t know what I did to deserve Evan Buckley.

[rottenaero]

The shoddy water fountain in the gymnasium stops working mid year, and the principal has found out about Eddie skipping and has assigned him someone to escort him to gym.

He’s has to do some suicides since he’s skipped so much and afterwards he’s exhausted. He needs water.

Except he didn’t bring a water bottle, and none of his friends are with him because this is senior gym. He looking for a stray un-opened water bottle, because Mr. Howard definitely isn’t gonna let his go back to the actual school for a fountain when Steve Harrington approaches him and offers his water bottle.

He eyes it suspiciously, “What’s in there?”

Steve raises a brow, “Water?”

“Could be poison, I’ll take my chances without it.”

“Here, look,” He flicks open the lid and throws his head back, taking a sip. Eddie watches his adams apple bob. Finally, the guy pulls away and wipes at the stray drops on his lips. “See? Not poison.”

He tilts it his way, and he can hear the water sloshing inside, and the clunks of ice against the metal.

Ice cold.

He grabs it, and tentatively takes a sip. It’s somehow the best water he’s ever had. He almost downs the whole thing before he remembers theres still half an hour of gym left.

“Shit, thanks man.”

Steve shrugs, “It’s no problem.”

And then it continues. Everyday without fail, he’d be without a bottle, and the water fountain would still be broken, then Steve would come to his rescue with ice cold h20.

Does this guy ever get sick?

During the last week of school, and his last day of gym, Steve approaches him, backpack still on. “Hey.”

He gives him a half-hearted wave. Steve shifts his weight onto his other foot and tales the bag off his back.

“I’ve uh, got you something.” He unzips the bag, and inside is a metal bottle with packaging still on it, he hand sit to him.

He examines it, and it’s the exact same brand as the other one.

“I don’t know where you’re going, or if you even are, but I thought you could use one to take around.”

“Are you serious?” Steve nods, “Yeah.”

“Thanks,” He tilts the bottle so it’s pointing at the other guy, “But uh, I feel kinda bad, didn’t get you anything.”

“Nah, those five colds I got from you were enough.”

[little-annie]

*Steve had a migraine and Eddie comes lovingly to the rescue*

It's a fucking bad one.

Everything hurts.

Everything makes him hurt.

The sound of the old pipes in the house knocking, the sound of a tree brach creaking, the sound of his own fucking breath. It makes him hurt. It makes the pressure in his head swell with a fury.

The weight of his head on the pillow, the tightness in his jaw, the tension in his brow, the strain in his eyes. The fucking light glowing from his alarm clock or creeping in under his door from the hallway.

Everything's too bright, too loud and everything just makes him feel worse.

Especially that fucking phone that won't quit ringing.

It makes him feel worse from the sound alone, a fog horn blaring down the hall, echoing and bouncing from the walls. It's a vile sound and it only stops for a total of five, maybe ten minutes before it starts again. An incessant RING, RING, RING.

Fucking hell

But what honestly makes him feel even worse is he knows it's probably Dustin or Robin or Eddie or one of the kids. They're probably worried. Christ, the shit they've gone through, after one missed call they probably think he's dead. But it's not like he can bring himself to get out of bed and answer the phone, so he lets it ring and after an hour, it finally, finally, stops.

Along with the slightly more quiet house comes some relief, a lessening of pain and pressure, just enough for Steve to manage sleep.

And a deep sleep at that.

So deep he doesn't hear the knock at the front door, doesn't hear the call of his name from the man he loves, doesn't hear the knock on his bedroom door by ringed fingers. He fails to sense fingers to his neck checking for a pause, the relieved sigh that's let out from the man at his bedside, the slow, careful movements of his lover slipping into bed behind him, wrapping tattooed arms around his waist and pulling him close.

He wakes a few hours later, a snore not so much startling him awake, but gently alerting him to the presence of one Eddie Munson at his back. It's a relief in itself to have Eddie there, the tension in his body seems to lessen from that alone. Not completely of course but some.

The snoring had stopped, the young man behind him alerted of his wakefulness probably by his subtle movements or change in breath.

Soon enough there's a gentle peck to the back of his neck and whispered words of, "How're you feeling Sweetheart?"

God and if Eddie's voice doesn't make him feel better. He doesn't know if it's the headache necessarily that eases up or purely the tension from his frustration, but having Eddie close and having his voice like a low, quiet melody in his ear is calming, relieving.

But all Steve can manage is a quiet, "s' hurts Eds."

Another soft kiss to his chilled, clammy, frankly probably disgusting skin, "I know Baby. When's the last time you took something?"

"6"

"Okay, I'm gonna go get you some water and painkillers. What do you need Stevie, your ice mask, a hot bath?"

"Want a bath and you to read to me."

"Okay Sweetheart," another kiss to the back of his neck, "You sleep and I'll get everything ready."

He drifts back to sleep before he can even process the movement of his mattress or the gentle kiss to his forehead.

While he's out Eddie manages to prepare a hot bath filled with Lavender oil and Epsom salts, taking the time to do dishes and any other of the household chores Steve would worry about on a daily basis. By the time the bath is ready, dishes are done, laundry is done and steam is rolling into Steve's room from his ensuite.

The lights are off in the bathroom aside from a single candle that burns just bright enough for Eddie to make out the world around him. He wakes Steve with a kiss and a hushed, "Stevie, Sweetheart, get up Baby, you need to take something for the pain."

And when Steve can manage to open his eyes, he sees the man he loves holding a glass of water and two small pills. With a little help he sits up, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Eddie's stomach for a moment before he takes the pills and finishes his glass of water.

Wordlessly he stands up, hand clasped in Eddie's as the man leads him to the dimly lit bathroom. It's a routine, unfortunately, this happens enough for Steve to no longer be embarrassed when Eddie undresses him and helps him into the bath. It's a normal thing. The touches that are chaste and gentle and loving, every care in the world as fabric drops to the floor and he sinks into the water.

He sighs with relief, eyes fluttering shut while he listens to Eddie undress, the careful drop of fabric, the hardly audible trickle of metal rings being set on the counter top, then there's a hand on his cheek and lips on his. A soft gentle kiss, then Eddie's moving into the tub to settle behind him. Steve relaxes further, feeling Eddie's body behind his own. Feeling the rise and fall of his lover's chest against his back or the weight of an arm settling around his waist while pale thighs move to settle at his sides. He feels enveloped. Held.

Then there's a kiss on his shoulder and Eddie begins to read. Soft, quiet, low, a whisper in the room, gentle words in the steamy air. Steve slumps further into the bath, eyes closed, head resting against Eddie's shoulder as their fingers intertwined under the water, resting against his stomach.

It's everything and the tension melts away, the pressure in his head fading with each passing second, each passing whispered word.

Cool water, a relaxed mind and an hour later he's drifting to the land of slumber once again. Faintly he hears the fold of paper and the gentle thump of Eddie's book hitting the floor. A hand settles in his hair, gently combing through strands, then a kiss is placed on his temple, soft, gentle and with the whispered words of, " I love you Sweetheart."

[peppermintquartz]

canon divergence if Tommy didn't show at the bachelor party or the hospital in time because the fire was still raging and by the time he could go, it was late and Buck was just about to leave the hospital. Tommy still gets kissed, goes to offer his congratulations, and Buck drives him back to his station to get cleaned up and drives him home after, because Tommy's been fighting a fire for way too long and is barely vertical

So in this scenario only Eddie, Maddie and Chimney know for sure, and Chimney's still recuperating so he's not at the station.

--

"Flowers for a Mr Buckley," the delivery man calls out into the firehouse.

Several people look up. Many look curious. The delivery man waits. After a minute, Buck hurtles down from the kitchen and signs for the bouquet. It's not a ridiculously big bouquet but it's full of oranges and yellows and reds, geraniums and chrysanthemums and roses, even, wrapped in pale pink and snow white paper. There's a card that he sticks into his pocket but there's no hiding the smile on his face. He practically floats upstairs again with the bouquet, no doubt to put it in water.

Ravi nudges Eddie with his elbow. "What's with the flowers?"

Eddie raises his eyebrows. "How would I know? I didn't send him those." But there's a smug look on his face that says that he does know.

"No? But aren't you-" Ravi begins to say, when the alarm goes off, and everyone runs to do what they're supposed to.

By the time they're done extricating a handful of people from two buses that crashed into each other, Ravi forgets all about the bouquet.

-

The next shift has a delivery of chocolate muffins and a dozen donuts, and again it's for Buck. Except this time, instead of glowing happily, Buck rolls his eyes and his cheeks turn pink.

Ravi sidles up to Hen. "Do you know who this is from?"

"No clue." Hen snaps her fingers at Buck, who's engrossed with typing a message on his phone. "Buck, who are these from? They're safe to eat?"

"Yeah, yes they are," says Buck, distracted, as he snags a jelly and walks away.

Ravi isn't above baked deliciousness. The muffins are awesome.

-

Buck shows up for a shift after a 72 with a slight limp. No one says anything about it. Chimney's back and everyone is happy to see him around, and while there are a few gaps in his memory, he's pretty much back to normal.

And Cap gave them news about receiving medals for their daring rescue. Ravi is so proud of them, even though he knows he would never have the guts to do that based on a hunch. Probably not.

Buck winces as he sits like he's pulled a muscle, but he has been limping for most of the day anyway - not that Ravi stares a lot at Buck, they just had several tasks to do together today - and Ravi doesn't like to see his people feeling poorly.

Discreetly, Ravi hands him an ice pack when no one else is looking. "For your aches and pains," Ravi says, a little embarrassed. He's not part of them, he knows. He's gonna find his own people, eventually. But that doesn't mean he can't show care for someone who's one of his mentors.

Buck looks... touched? Shy? He smiles at Ravi and thanks him, then slides the ice pack over the base of his spine.

Ah, that explains a lot. Maybe he slid off some steps and hurt his tail bone.

-

Ravi doesn't expect to meet the Tommy at the firehouse a week before the medal ceremony. He's heard from Buck and Eddie and Chimney and Hen how cool Tommy is, and of course he remembers hearing Tommy fly Eddie out to Vegas to watch a fight.

What he really doesn't expect to see is Buck jogging out of the station, throwing his arms around Tommy, and kissing him. With tongue.

Ravi's eyes grow big and round. He's not the only one staring - Hen and Cap are both gawping. Chimney and Eddie are grinning and elbowing each other.

Captain clears his throat. Buck reluctantly pulls away from Tommy and says, in the dopiest tone Ravi has ever heard from him, "Hey."

"Hey," says Tommy, not letting Buck go. Then he smiles, big and bright, at the rest of the 118. "Hi guys. Mind if I steal him away five minutes before the end of shift?"

That smile, though. Ravi gets it now. Heck, he'd ask Tommy out if he were single.

Captain grins. "Only if you promise to bring him back."

Tommy releases Buck and slaps his ass. "Go get your stuff. If we hustle, we can have a leisurely dinner before karaoke trivia."