#Nancy thinks they're sweet

[jaybren]

Fic Recommendations Needed

Okay, all this fantastic fan art with Eddie in Steve's clothes -- I need a fic. I need to read a fic where Eddie was carried out bride over the threshold style by Steve and is staying in Steve's house. He's sad about his trailer, sad about his stuff, but at least his guitar is okay.

But that means he is sharing Steve's clothes. At first, he starts with the stuff Steve uses the least (darker colors and old worn clothes that Steve was on the verge of chucking), but then he finds the mustard sweater or something and wears it with his hair up as he's trying to 'feel useful' by doing something super domestic. Maybe metal music blaring as he vacuums or something small like that.

Steve comes back, sees it, and the King of Domestic Kink's brain goes *new world order accepted, Eddie is spouse* -- with suave Steve kicking in with flirting and Mr. Invade Your Personal Space suddenly has Steve invading his.

[rangurs]

lucas deserved more interactions with the older group...

[solarmorrigan]

So "Uptown Girl" released in 1983, and I feel like Steve would have sung it to Nancy sometimes, and she would humor him, because it was sweet, and he actually sounded pretty good when he wasn't doing it just to be goofy

Fast forward a few years, Eddie and Steve are dating, and they're sitting on the couch at Eddie's place one evening, comfortably high, Eddie noodling around on his acoustic and Steve just kinda vibing. And Eddie knows Steve likes Billy Joel, so he starts up with the tune of the first one he can think of: "Uptown Girl." And suddenly Steve's mouth is dropping open like he's just had some great realization

Eddie: What is it?

Steve, in a hushed voice: I'm the uptown girl

Eddie laughs so hard he falls off the couch

[hairmetal666]

Steve has done interviews before. Like, a lot of interviews. YouTube, podcasts, print, TV stuff. Not as a brag, or anything, just. He's been an influencer for a long time, for better or worse, and it's part of the deal.

Usually, he's comfortable in front of the camera. Usually, he's poised and well-spoken. But today, this time, sweat pools under his arms and beads along his hairline, the lights beating down on him in a harsh glare.

"Steve Harrington," Murray Bauman crosses his legs, smiles big for the cameras. "It's been a while."

He smiles too, tries to seem like he's not about to have a panic attack. "I've been a little busy."

Murray laughs and it's then that Steve understands how screwed he really is. Murray's show, it's all glitz and glamour on the surface; mixed drinks and hijinks until the celebrity guests lose their inhibitions, admitting things they probably wanted to keep secret.

It's just that, before, Steve didn't have any salacious rumors to worry about, and now--

"You've had a rough year, Steve, yeah?"

"Not my best, for sure." He leans back, tries to seem calm, unbothered.

"I was sorry to hear about your divorce. I think that announcement really took a lot of people by surprise."

His hands clench, but he manages not to shift or bounce his leg. "Thanks for, uh. Yeah. We were also sorry it didn't work out."

Murray nods, face full of sympathy. "You and Nancy, you'd been together since high school? That's almost--what? 15 years?"

"It's--" he clears his throat. "About that long." Steve takes a sip of the drink next to him, an apple martini that's both too sweet and too strong.

"Am I right to assume that you didn't see it coming?"

And isn't that a question? Sure, now in hindsight, he can see the fractures that lead to the end, but six months ago did he--it's all so--what if all along--

"All marriages have rough patches," is what he says. "We just couldn't come out of ours as a couple."

"Do you know what I've found really remarkable about this phase of your life? The content and tone of your videos in the midst of the maelstrom of rumors and gossip didn't change at all. 'Your kids' as you call them, are still as bright and vibrant as ever. You're laughing, dancing, cooking, having a great time."

"I needed that--that normalcy you know? And the kids, they're such an important part of my life, having them around helped."

"Including Nancy's brother, Mike?"

Steve laughs and it's not fake. "Totally including Mike. My relationship with Nancy has nothing to do with my relationship with him."

"He's kind of an antagonist--would you say?--in your videos, though."

"We have conflict sometimes, but it's never serious. We know how to play it up for laughs."

"So, nothing's changed between you?"

"Not at all."

"The cheating rumors." Murray's smile is soft, but all the air still leaves the room.

"What about them?" It's more combative than he means, but--

"Did Nancy cheat on you with Jonathan Byers?"

He swallows and it hurts. She did cheat, is the thing. It's not public information, still only speculation, but--

"You can't believe everything you read, Murray."

"So, she didn't cheat?" There's a glow to Murray's eyes that tells Steve he already knows the answer.

"Like, I said before, marriages are hard. We spent a lot of time apart because of our jobs. It took a toll."

"And she was traveling with Jonathan, yes? He's been her photographer for the past decade, from what I understand."

"They were co-workers, but we're all close. And those rumors didn't help our relationship, for sure. It's--not easy to hear that a bunch of people think your wife and close friend may be having an affair, that people 'ship' them. Even when it's not true, it creates--"

"Tension? Distrust?"

"Both, probably." He takes another drink as he nods. "After a while you do start to wonder if there's truth to it, and you're too ignorant or too--too trusting to see it."

"And it eroded the relationship."

"It certainly didn't help." He takes another drink.

"And how about your relationship with Jonathan's brother, Will. Has that been impacted?"

"Of course not. Never. Whatever happens between Nancy, Jonathan, and I, it has nothing to do with the kids. They know that.

"You talked about it."

"Yes. Extensively."

"I know there's often speculation on the relationship you have with them; if you're really close or it's all for the cameras."

"Murray." He leans forward. "We've talked about this before. I met Dustin through Mike, and the whole group followed. I've known them all since they were 8 years old. They're--I mean, not to be cliche, but they're my family." He sips the last bit of martini.

"And where does Eddie Munson fit into that family?"

The question shouldn't be a surprise, but he almost does a spit take, has to fight to keep it together.

"Eddie?"

"Yes." Murray's smile is chilling. "Your close friend Eddie Munson. Musician. Plays Dungeons and Dragons on YouTube. You made out with him in a music video. Ringing any bells?"

"I'm familiar with Eddie," his grin is rigid. "I don't know what that has to do with my marriage ending."

"Well, the rumors weren't all about Nancy, were they?"

"Eddie and I have--we became mutuals online years and years ago. I used one of his songs in a video and the kids are obsessed with his dnd stuff, so. We've become close."

"Friends?"

"Isn't that implied?"

"After that music video, I don't think so."

Steve rolls his eyes, lets the irritation show for the first time. "He asked me to be in his video. There's nothing scandalous about it."

"What's your relationship with Eddie right now?"

"Like I said, friends."

"Do you want it to be more than that?"

"Eddie's really important to me."

"Is that all?"

"Not really sure what you want me to say here, Murray."

"You were married to a woman for years, but now there are questions about your sexuality."

He grits his teeth. "My sexuality isn't anyone's business aside my own. People can say shit on Twitter all they want, that doesn't mean they know me. But--the end of my marriage--it definitely gave me the space for self-discovery, I guess? In a way I hadn't had before."

"And is Eddie a part of that self-discovery?"

"Yeah, as one of my closest friends, he is."

"Do you have feelings for him?"

"That's--that's not--I'm going through a divorce. My focus isn't on starting another relationship right now."

"You, famously, tattooed your initials on the inside of his thigh during an Instagram live. That's pretty intimate."

"We were just having a little fun."

"Huh. That seems like more than 'a little fun' to me. So, how's Eddie doing with the increased attention?"

It takes Steve a second to track the change of subject, mind still stuck on the tattoo, on how the ink had looked on Eddie's pale skin.

"It's hard." Steve eventually answers. "Of course he enjoys bringing his music and dnd to a wider audience, but the focus on his personal life is--it's a lot."

"Well, he should have thought about before letting you tattoo him for your 850,000 followers. Does he want a relationship with you?"

His throat is dry, burning, he wishes he had more martini. He wishes he'd never taken a sip. "You'd have to ask him. I'm just taking it day by day, you know? That's what I need right now."

"We're getting to the end of our time, but you know I have to ask. Your best friend, Robin Buckley, she very famously unfollowed both Nancy and Jonathan on all social media when news broke about your divorce. Can you tell us why she unfollowed them?"

"I have no control over Robin's accounts. I didn't even know she followed Jonathan ever, and she and Nancy have a relationship outside of me, you know? I can't say what happened between them."

"She's been in your videos with Eddie. She like him?"

"Very much. It's kind of annoying actually. They keep ganging up on me."

"Much to everyone's delight, I'm sure. So, what can we expect from the newly single Steve Harrington?"

"There are a couple things in the works, but only time will tell."

---

He walks through his front door an hour later, and Eddie's sitting on the couch, playing a soft melody on an acoustic guitar. He stops when he sees Steve, setting the guitar aside, and standing.

"How'd it go, baby?" He asks. His soft smile is so beautiful, Steve gets a lump in his throat.

"As expected." He crosses the space between them, lets Eddie pull him close.

"He ask about us?" Eddie's breath tickles his ear.

"Of course."

"And you--"

"I want--it should be just for us. We should be able to announce when we're ready. Not when Murray-fucking-Bauman asks."

Eddie kisses him, then, sweet and slow, making him lose his breath.

"Whenever you're ready, I'll be right by your side."

"You sure? All my mess--"

"Is mine too. Afraid you're stuck with me for the long haul, Steve Harrington."

[starryeyedjanai]

bad boys do it better

rated: teen | @steddieholidaydrabbles prompt: modern au tags: dating apps, innuendo, bad flirting read on ao3

✿

Eddie finally opens Tinder after downloading it in a fit of desperation.

He's tried everything but these stupid apps—bars and clubs and pottery classes and rock climbing—trying to find someone he can connect with.

But he's mostly found guys that string him along with whispered sweet nothings and half-promises they don't intend to follow through on.

So he makes his profile and then promptly fumbles and drops his phone because— no fucking way.

There's no way this is real life.

There's no fucking way the first guy to pop up is Steve fucking Harrington, his unfortunate and longest lasting crush in high school.

He picks up his phone and sees Steve's face staring back at him, unassuming, a bright, cheery smile on his face.

Steve, 28 2 miles away "Hope you like bad boys because I have it on dvd and vhs" Interests: baseball, basketball, live music, movies

He taps to get to the next photo and lets out a shaky breath—the shorts of what can only be his Halloween costume are so short, exposing hairy thighs that Eddie wants to sink his teeth into.

The next photo is a snapchat picture of him grinning wide, cradling what might be the world's ugliest dog, the text across the screen reading my nephew is so handsome 🤩🤩🤩.

The last is an obligatory shirtless mirror pic, not showing off washboard abs, but the soft, toned skin of his stomach.

He closes the app, sets his phone down, and breathes through his nose.

This can't be real, right? In what world would Steve be the first person in a sea of profiles in San Francisco of all places?

Eddie expected him to chase after Nancy Wheeler when she went to Boston, but he didn't stick around long enough in Hawkins to find out if they ever rekindled their will-they-won't-they relationship.

Maybe he's just visiting. Maybe he found his match and just forgot to delete Tinder. Because there's just no way Eddie has this kind of luck.

He opens up Instagram and searches for Steve and finds him right away because they're probably still Facebook friends.

He scrolls through his profile and deflates a little, because all of the pictures on Tinder are from his Instagram. Which means it's probably much more likely that someone is catfishing using Steve's pictures.

Because the Steve from high school wasn't into men. And he's hot enough for someone to use his pictures to scam people or whatever.

He opens up Tinder again and his thumb is swiping right before he thinks about what he's doing.

It's a match!

Okay, now he knows it's a catfish. Or maybe it's a bot.

There's no world in which Steve Harrington would swipe right on him in the twenty minutes it's been since he created his account.

He types a message to "Steve" saying so are you a bot or just a catfish?

He doesn't get a response right away, so he clicks out of the messages, looking at profiles of what are hopefully actual people he can connect with.

His phone buzzes when the message from Steve comes in.

Hi3 Eddiems, cl!ck th3 linkin my proffile to . achat I am waitin9

He rolls his eyes and goes back to perusing profiles. It's not like he thought it was really Ste-

His phone pings with another message and he clicks back into the chat immediately.

That was a joke. There's not even a link in my profile

Eddie's heart beats a little faster, his fingers typing out a response.

So a catfish then?

Why do you think I'm a catfish?????

Because I know the guy in those pictures and there's no way hes into men. That guy was a jock extraordinaire in high school and very straight

You're awfully judgey for someone who was so anti-conformity in high school. Whos to say I haven't changed?

Or like, learned new things about myself?

Eddie's breath stutters in his throat.

Also you didn't really know me since we never talked.

Okay, I mean. It's pretty easy to guess that I was counterculture in high school by looking at me. So I'm still on the fence about the catfish thing

How about we meet up then? So you can see me in all my nearing-30 glory

And watch bad boys on dvd and vhs with you?

Dude, I am not inviting you to my house on the first date

That's a third date kind of thing

Oh yeah? Is it a back-to-back feature? We start with the vhs then move to dvd?

He can't believe he's entertaining this. A catfish wouldn't offer to meet up unless they thought Eddie wouldn't call their bluff. He kind of wants to see where this is going.

No see, we start with the dvd playing in the living room and then when we inevitably start being bad boys🥵 in the middle of the movie, we can pick it back up on vhs in my room later

To be clear, we stop the movie, right? I'm not sure bad boys has a soundtrack meant for the kind of activities we'd be doing

Oh for sure. I'd even put on my "let's get it on" playlist. As a treat.

Eddie can't help but grin. Even if this guy is a catfish, this is maybe the most fun he's had talking to someone in a long time.

Are you serious about meeting up?

Uh yeah, I can't have you thinking I'm a catfish forever

What's your favorite brewery?

Cellarmaker

Wanna do tomorrow afternoon at like 2 when it's not busy?

That sounds perfect

He isn't sure if it's really Steve or if he's going to be met with someone else or stood up, but at least he'll get to drown his sorrows if it doesn't work out.

Well—he's unsure until he gets the 'stharrington started following you' notification on Instagram a few minutes later.

He screams into his pillow so loud his neighbor thumps on the wall.

[love-byers]

the first time i saw this, when i was NOT a byler shipper, i thought el was running TO mike. i thought we were getting a sweet moment where el runs to mike and he puts an arm around her or hugs her.

then i realized she was running away from him. 

and i was like, why?? they're supposed to be the couple why does she not want his comfort??

and even after will calls her out on doing mike wrong by lying to him, even after she sees that mike is attempting to talk to her and comfort her, that he's not angry at her, she still tells angela to lie to mike. more lies. that's how much she cares about keeping up the persona. had angela lied to mike, el would've continued lying to him the entire week. something she knows in her heart is wrong and not fair to mike.

this is a theme in s4. putting who you want to be seen as before being honest with your bf/gf. going above and beyond to preserve your lie, to be seen as who you want to be.

chrissy does that with jason. who she portrays herself as is completely different than who she really is and what she's really going through. jason has absolutely no idea chrissy is struggling and refused to believe chrissy would buy drugs, because chrissy didn't want to tell him. who knows how jason would've reacted if chrissy was honest, we don't know because chrissy didn't trust him enough to tell him. that's not love at all, that's sad.

this is a point in s2 as well. murray calls nancy out for being afraid to be her true self, and she stays with steve because she doesn't have to be her true self around him. she is her true self when she's with jonathan, and that's why they worked together. that's love.

the exact same thing happens with chrissy. the first time we see her genuinely smile is when she's with eddie. she's sweet and charismatic, and had she lived she totally would've gone to eddie's show, something you never would've expected from her, something her boyfriend, the person she pretends to love, would NEVER do.

robin and steve reinforce this too

you fall in love with the person who makes you feel accepted, the person who makes you feel like you can be who you are. the person you trust with your true self.

mike and el don't trust each other enough, they don't understand each other well enough.

they would have to change their behavior towards each other by leaps and bounds, and we're already at the last season. there is no time for that. stranger things isn't a multi season show about the complexity of romantic relationships and the healthy way to resolve problems. there is no time for that in just about any movie or show, especially a sci-fi show. you know what's way easier and way more likable? pairing your character with someone they naturally click with, who bring out the best in each other and for some reason can't help but be their authentic selves when they're with each other.

did it with jancy, like i said earlier

did it with lumax. when lucas and max talked on the bus max found herself spewing about things she'd never even said out loud before, and she had to stop herself. something about lucas just made her feel comfortable, like she could be herself and tell the truth. she trusted him.

"You're nothing like your brother, okay? You're cool and different, you're super smart, and you're like, totally tubular."

jopper too! joyce constantly had to hide things from bob, she was insecure about their family not being normal.

"This is not a normal family."

"It could be."

though bob had good intentions, the message of the show is not trying to be normal when you aren't. whatever it is about you that makes you weird or different, whatever you've been through that changed you, stay true to it. dont bottle it up and try to be someone else. all of vecnas victims in s4 were doing this, and it didn't end well for them.

they even did it with dustin and suzie. dustin constantly tries to impress max with his teeth, then in season 3 he says suzie thinks kissing is better without teeth. he doesn't have to be insecure about that or try to impress her. she likes him for him.

mike isn't comfortable being his true self around el either. he's insecure about his interests, he feels like he has to act older and cooler to impress her.

you shouldn't be with the person you feel you have to impress. you should be with the person who relieves that pressure, who makes you feel like being the authentic you is enough.

jonathan and nancy, lucas and max, joyce and hopper, dustin and suzie,

cough WILL AND MIKE cough...

[french-goodbye]

please never fall in love again

pairing: steve harrington x reader

summary: dating steve harrington is hard, especially when girls keep hitting on him.

notes: i wrote this a while ago but eventually forgot about it in the midst of all my wips lol. title from the song please never fall in love again by ollie mn.

you stare at the back of your boyfriend's head with narrowed eyes and your chin resting on your hands, an anger you know you shouldn't be feeling boiling beneath the surface of your skin. he, of course is none the wiser, as he is to most things, just chatting with eddie completely carefree by the bar.

you love steve harrigton, you really do. you think you fell in love with him on your first date and never really fell out of it. you've already planned your whole life with him, from getting married and having kids to growing old with him and sitting side by side on a wrap around porch. he's sweet, kind, he's great with kids and it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes and great in bed.

his biggest flaw, however, is not exactly his fault. the worst thing about dating steve harrigton is the amount of women who hit on him on a daily basis. whether it's old ladies at the grocery store telling him he looks like their dead husbands or bored soccer moms looking for a little thrill or, the worst of all, the girls your age who slip him their phone number in old receipts over the counter at family video. these women are always there, like blood sniffing sharks, somehow finding a way to make a suggestive comment or a flirty joke.

most of the time, it doesn't really bother you even when it does happen in front of you. steve's the kind of guy who'd never cheat on you, simply because of who he is and how obsessed with you he is. sometimes, however, they can get a little too close and personal and you can't help but wish steve was a little less attractive. just a little.

and it's not that you don't trust him either, he's always quick and firm to shut them down when it happens. it's that they're the ones you don't trust, the girls with big permed blonde hair and fake tans and bright pink lipstick who look at you disdainfully when they realize you're together because they can barely take their eyes off of him for long enough to notice you're standing right next to him.

you're out at a bar celebrating jonathan's birthday when it happens this time, steve and eddie having offered to get everyone another round, the two of them leaning against the bar talking while they wait when a girl from the booth in the corner approaches them. she's clearly a little bit more than tipsy and obviously focused on steve as she talks to them, avidly taking him in and resting her hand on his forearm. he doesn't even blink, just smoothly leans away from her and tells her something that makes her leave as fast as she arrived.

you can barely hear nancy as she complains about her male coworkers on her summer job, as you heatedly stare at his stupidly nice hair and broad shoulders as your boyfriend laughs at something eddie said, hand scratching his neck. you're still watching him with scrunched eyebrows and a sour expression when you feel robin poking your cheek, making you look at her and gently slap her hand away.

"why are you poking me?"

"why are you staring at steve like he kicked your puppy?" she asks, frowning, looking back and forth between the two of you like a tennis match.

"i'm not" she gives you a flat look with raised brows. "fine," you huff. "why do women always hit on him? we can't take him anywhere"

"no idea, you tell me"

"urgh" you groan, throwing your arms around her and resting your head on her shoulder. "god, i hate men"

"amen sister" you hang onto her for a second as she takes a noisy sip of her empty drink through her straw and taps your back sympathetically a few times before gently pushing you away as steve and eddie walk back to your table, drinks in hands and still chatting distractedly.

she softly claps her hands, enthusiastically and telling you a quiet "yay" as she turns back to nancy and jonathan, as the two argue wether or not their coworkers are sexist (they totally are).

you're still laughing at robin's drunken antics when steve comes to your side again and sets your new drink on the table in front of you, resting his hand on your lower back. you let him but when he leans over you to press a kiss to your hair, you promptly dodge away from him and out of his reach. from the corner of your eye, you can see how he frowns at that and silently watches you for a second as you pretend to listen to what nancy says.

his hand on your lower back climbs all the way up to the back of your neck so he turn your head his away, forcing you to look at his big brown eyes staring at you like you just kicked his puppy and you almost feel guilty. almost.

"what's wrong?" he asks.

you shrug, "nothing's wrong."

"are you mad at me or something?"

"no" you slowly shake your head in negative, shrugging.

"gimme a kiss then" he rests one of his hands on your face tilting your head his way while the other on your neck guides your face to his. you lean in and press a quick kiss to his cheek and look away, accidentally making eye contact with the girl who just hit on him. she's watching the two of you, quickly looking away when she notices she was caught staring.

"you saw that, huh" he tells you, hands settling on your waist instead so he can look at you.

"hard not to" you huff, picking invisible lint from your pants.

"then you know nothing happened"

"of course i know that, i trust you" you complain as you roll your eyes and gesticulate to show your frustration "but i-it just makes so insanely angry when they touch you like that, like they have any right to-" you stop your ranting mid sentence when you realize the look on his face. "what? why are you looking at me like that?"

"nothing" he clears his throat and looks down to uselessly smooth non existing wrinkles on your top. you watch him though narrowed eyes and gasp when it hits you, making him look at you again. "what?"

"you like it when i'm jealous" you accuse, lightly poking his chest.

"no, i don't"

"yes, you do. i can't believe i never noticed it before" you huff an incredulous laugh, remembering all the times girls hit on him in front of you and he said nothing but affirmations of how much he's in love with you and how he could never want somebody else, acting more attentive and affectionate than usual later, pressing you against his body and kissing kissing kissing you until he was the only thing on your mind.

"okay, it's not what you're thinking" he replies running a hand through his hair nervously.

"what am i thinking, harrington?" you ask, lifting one eyebrow as a smirk makes it's way to your lips.

"it's not an ego thing" you laugh softly at him, letting your fingers run soothingly through the hair at the nape of his neck, finally giving into the temptation to get your hands on him. "it's just- i like knowing how much you want me just for yourself, how much you care about me."

you stare at him for a moment, taking in his sincere brown eyes and his fluffy hair, feeling impossibly endeared by the boy in front of you. he fidgets under your stare, so you smooth your hands down his shoulders, feeling the muscles underneath his shirt.

"well, i do care... a lot" you tell him, pretending to be coy and batting your eyelashes at him. "but it's not like i blame her"

"what?" he looks at you blankly, confused.

"i mean, look at you" you pull him closer and then closer still, still smirking. "those nice brown eyes, the pretty hair, those shoulders... nevermind how much of a charmer you are. damn harrington, no wonder women keep throwing themselves at you."

"babe" he groans embarrassedly, "they're not throwing themselves-" he dramatically drops his forehead on your shoulder making you laugh at his discomfort, letting brown strands of hair slip through your fingers as you comfortingly pet his hair and he squeezes your waist in reprimand.

"it's true!"

he pulls you closer by the grip he has on your waist and burrows his face in the crook of your neck in lieu of an answer. you let him have it even though you would like to see his face and the way his blush is probably spreading from his cheek to his neck and rest your chin into his shoulder as you hug him.

"but one of these days i'll have to step in and defend your honor"

"please don't" he pulls away and cups your neck, thumbs brushing your cheek and staring at you disapprovingly, his eyelashes touching at the corners, the hint of a smile still on his face.

"i don't know, maybe i'll have to challenge them to a duel to the death" you disagree and look at him from under your eyelashes. he gives you an affectionate look that'd make you nauseous were it not directed at you and presses a long lingering kiss to your lips.

"shut up" he whispers against your lips. you gladly do, at least until eddie and robin start throwing balled up paper napkins at your head. it's worth it though.

[thefatedthoughtofyou]

I was thinking about inexperienced Eddie again, and then was thinking about sweet drunk Steve, and then this happened. Enjoy my dears!

~°~

So they're at a party. All the teens at Steve's house probably, it's the biggest house, with the most rooms, enough for everyone to stay over if they drink too much and can't drive home. They all pretty much have their own rooms there now anyway.

But Eddie still isn't used to being in large groups, not when the groups aren't hellfire anyway, so he's kinda quiet, sticks by steve or robin most of the time, or stays in the kitchen, eating all of Steve's food.

But now he's sat on the living room floor, next to steve, legs crossed, red solo cup in hand. There's music playing low, and steve is swaying slightly next to him, his cup his almost empy. His second cup. Or third. Eddie thinks he may have missed him refill it once. Steve's shoulder keeps brushing his and Eddie's hands are starting to sweat, his skin feels hotter and hotter everytime someone speaks.

He doesn't remember who suggested Never Have I Ever but he should have run. He should have made an excuse to leave. Or not made an excuse. He should have just fucking run for the door.

But how the fuck was he supposed to know they were gonna make every question about sex. Well, almost all of them, Nancy had seemingly taken pitty and said one about saving the world so they ALL had to drink.

But other than that, Eddie's cup had been resting on the floor near his feet, his hand resting on top it, fingers splayed, gripping it too tight probably, but he was... very uncomfortable. His fingers drum against the rim to the soft beat of the music, nervous.

He almost takes a drink when Argyle says something about kissing, even lifts his glass, but then he adds something about using your tongue in a way Eddie's never even fucking heard of and Eddie just closes his eyes, takes a deep breathe, and lowers his glass again.

"You're not drinking."

Eddie vaguely hears Steve speak, feels him lean into his shoulder.

"Hmm?" He hums back, his eyes blinking hazily as he drags them from the floor, he lets them settle on Steve's nearly empty cup instead.

"Yer not drinking." He slurs into Eddie's ear, his voice quiet. His breath on Eddie's cheek makes him shiver.

"Nope." Eddie whispers back, shaking his head once.

"Not thristy?" Steve asks, and he sounds, so genuine. Eddie looks at him, leaning to the side a bit so Steve's face isn't so close. Steve blinks at him, his eyelids heavy, he looks, very drunk. But also beautiful. Eddie shrugs, looks away again.

"Just playing the game." He mutters, glances back to Steve and sees him frown. He watches him, his brows furrowed in confusion, his eyes moving a bit, like he's trying to solve a problem in his head. Eddie bites his lip, looks back to the floor.

"You-" Steve starts, stops, his hand moves to Eddie's knee as he moves closer. Eddie's breath catches in his throat, he looks at Steve again, his face so so close.

"You didn't drink. Cuz... no sex?" Steve's brow is furrowed again. Jesus, how fucking much had he had to drink? Eddie had to have missed more than a cup or two. He snorts, can't help it. Steve looks so confused, but like he's trying to be... something.

"Yeah Steve. I no sex." Eddie nods, pats Steve's knee and gently moves Steve's hand back into his own lap.

"Not even kisses?" Steve whispers, and he looks sad now, his lips pouting as he looks at Eddie, his eyes dropping to linger on Eddie's lips for a moment before he blinks and looks back up.

Eddie shakes his head, all the air in his lungs suddenly gone. Steve watches him for a beat longer and then nods, apparently deciding something. Eddie gulps, but Steve just reaches for his cup, picks it up and silently poors half of Eddie's beer into his own.

"Steve, don't. You've had-"

"Is fine." Steve whispers back, shaking his head.

"M' running out anyway." He passes his cup to his other hand and points at himself with a little wave of his hand.

"I do... too much sex. I think." He frowns again, looks around the cirlce, hears whatever it is Jonathan says and snorts, takes another drink and then looks back to Eddie.

"See. Drinking again." Steve says, smiling widely. Eddie frowns, but looks away. His hand clenching on his cup, he almost crushes the plastic before he thinks to let go. He leans to his other side, toward Robin, her cup isn't nearly as empty as anyone else's either.

"Hey Rob's?" Eddie asks, involuntarily flinching at the laughter that rings through the room.

"What's up?" She asks, leaning into him, her eyes bright.

"I think Steve's had... too much? To drink maybe." He says it quietly. Like he's unsure. He doesn't wanna ruin the party, or the game, or the moment, or whatever. But he's... concerned. Robin's brow crinkles and then she leans forward to look past Eddie. Eddie looks too, both of them watching as Steve sways forward, almost falls onto his face and then sways back, laughing to himself.

"Oh. Yeah no. Cut him off. I'll take him to his room. Get him some water." She starts to move, like she's getting up.

"I can get it." Eddie says, his hand on her shoulder. She gives him a look, one of those looks Eddie can never decipher. He knows Robin sees more of him than he's shared with anyone. Except Wayne. But it's never judgemental, and he knows why, but its never expectant either. It's just this look she gives him.

"You sure?" She ask, her hand still on the floor like she's gonna shove herself to her feet.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm not uh... not exactly enjoying this game very much anyway. You stay. I got it." He watches her drop her eyes to Eddie's cup, and he's suddenly sure she'd seen Steve take half of it for him, because she smiles, softly, and nods.

"Okay. Thanks. Don't forget the water. And put a couples aspirin on his nightstand too for the morning. Or he'll-"

"Get a migraine.  On it." Eddie finishes, she smiles again, big this time. He pats her shoulder.

"Have fun." He says, cringing when the room fills with laughter again. He slides his cup to her and then looks back to Steve.

"Hey." He says softly, his hand hovering above Steve's knee, he decides to touch his arm instead, Steve's head sways toward him and he smiles when he sees Eddie looking at him.

"Hey." He breathes back, his breath smelling like beer.

"You wanna come with me big guy? So you can get some rest?" Eddie asks, his fingers curling around Steve's wrist. He sighs, drops his head to Eddie's shoulder.

"Rest sounds nice." He hums, nuzzling closer. Eddie laughs, can't help it, he's nervous and drunk Steve is... new. He's never been around drunk Steve before.

"Okay well not here. I'm gonna help you get to your room okay?" Eddie says, pushing up onto his knees so he can help Steve stand. He nods, lets Eddie pull him up and hold him steady.

"Are you leaving brochachos?" Argyle calls from across the circle, the others all groan, sad.

"I have to rest now!" Steve shouts at them, pointing accusingly at them, but he's smiling.

"Aww he's sleepy!" Jonathan calls back, his voice almost as slurred as Steve's, Eddie watches him fall into Argyle's side, giggling.

"Ya know what!?" Steve yells, stops, his face falling as he forgets what he was saying. His eyes find Eddie and he his lips curl a bit, his hands grab Eddie's shoulders, steadying himself.

"M' tired Eddie." He mumbles, frowning again. Eddie nods, his hands moving to hold Steve's arms.

"I know. Let's go bud." And he leads Steve away, both of them waving to the chorus of good byes and goodnights behind them.

~°~

Getting Steve to bed is easier than Eddie guessed it would be, he'd been slumping into Eddie more with each step down the hall. Eddie was pretty sure he was almost alseep on his feet already.

There was one moment of panic, when Steve was changing into his pajamas and the zipper on his jeans got stuck, and he'd grabbed Eddie's hand, guided it to his zipper and requested he fix it. Eddie had nearly yelped and stumbled back, away from Steve. But he was standing with his eyes closed, swaying on the spot, waiting for help so he could sleep. So Eddie had done his best with shaking hands to get the zipper down. Steve had slurred a thank you and shoved his jeans down so fast he almost slammed his head into Eddie's. He had jumped back then, out of Steve's headbutting range.

He'd turned his back while Steve changed and then heard the rustling of sheets and turned to find Steve getting settled beneath his sheets.

"I gotta go get you some water. And some medicine for your head so Robin doesn't kill me. But I'll be back okay?" Eddie tells Steve, he watches Steve snort, his eyelids drooping again.

"Robin." Is all he says after the laugh, and it makes Eddie smile. He jogs back down to the kitchen, grabs a glass of water and some meds, and then heads back up, passing the living room he hears hushed voices, the game apparently over now. He peeks in, sees them all cuddled together sleepily on the floor, Robin is the only one who notices him, she waves with her free hand. Eddie smiles, her other hand is tangled up with Nancy's, and runs back up the stairs.

Steve is still awake, but barely. He's leaning against the head rest, his head tilted back, mouth dropped open, but one eye pops open when hears Eddie's chains jingle back into the room.

"You came back." Steve says with a smile, his hand lifting from his sheets to reach for Eddie. He sits on the edge of the bed and hands Steve the glass of water.

"I want you drink at least half of this before you sleep okay?" Eddie says, trying to use his stern voice, knows it doesn't work. But it doesn't matter. Steve takes the glass and nods with wide eyes before chugging the whole thing. He wipes his mouth with his hand, hiccups as he hands it back to Eddie.

"Thirsty." Is all he says, he's blinking slowly again. Eddie chuckles.

"Okay awesome. Yeah. Good job. I'll refill it." He moves to get up, but Steve grabs his wrist, then slides down, laying his head on his pillows.

"Not right now. Just stay here. Promise?" Steve's eyes are closed, but his grip on Eddie is firm.

"Okay. I promise." Eddie breathes, his heart pounding in his throat. He waits for Steve fall asleep, it doesn't take long. And he goes to refill the glass, comes back and sits on the floor, his back to Steve's bed.

He knows he should lay down, should sleep. Will regret it in the morning. And he's about to, lay down, when Steve speaks behind him.

"No one's really ever even kissed you?" His voice says, and then Eddie feels Steve's fingers brush his hair, genlty. He shakes his head, not sure if Steve can see him in the dark, he clears his throat.

"Uh... not really. I don't think kisses under the jungle gym in 4th grade count in that game." Eddie says, shrugs.

"Hmmm... maybe not." His voice is still heavy, still open. There's a beat. And then.

"Is it cuz you like boys?"

And Eddie's heart stops, his stomach drops, and he feels like he might cry. He doesn't turn around. Doesn't say anything. Doesn't defend himself. And then Steve says.

"Boys are pretty. But it's scary kissing boys. Or.. or wanting to. But I bet it's nice." He sighs, and Eddie thinks he might be alseep again. His hands clawing at his own thighs, fingers digging in as they shake. His breathing is shakey too. He feels like he might shake out of his own skin and just float away.

"I guess it's just... no one's ever wanted me." Eddie whispers into the dark. He sure Steve's won't hear him. Sure he won't remember any of this anyway. And he hadn't been... mean, or... judgmental, just... asking. And honest.

And then Steve is touching him. He moves the hair away from Eddie's neck easily, like he's done it a thousand times, and then Eddie's breath catches again when he feels Steve's lips press to the back of his neck, just once, but it's a firm press, full of intent. And then he's gone. Falling back onto his pillows.

"There. Kissed you." He says, and Eddie can hear him smiling. And then, seconds later, he hears him snoring. Soft little things, peaceful.

The warmth of his skin lingers on Eddie neck. He moves his hand slowly, brushes his fingers over the spot gently, shivering in the dark.

~°~

Eddie leaves before Steve wakes up in the morning. He wants to wait. But he has a half shift at the shop today and he has to shower first. He leaves a note, tells Steve to take the aspirin. And tells him to have a good day.

He draws a little demon smiley face at the bottom. Almost signs it "yours, Eddie." But just writes his name and runs.

Work goes well. He's nearly finshed rebuilding the engine he's been working on for months. He's covered in grease and dirt, but he feels good. Feels usefull. His neck has been tingling all day.

He's just getting out of the shower again when he hears the knock at the door.

"Shit. Gimme a minute!" He calls, patting at himself hurriedly with his towel, he grabs a pair of boxers and sweatpants, yanks them on over his damp legs. Nearly falling as he does, grabs a clean shirt from his laundry basket on the floor and shoves himself into it. His hair is still up in a messy bun but he jogs to the door.

"Coming!" He yanks the door open to find Steve. Standing in the light rain that had apparently started.

"Shit. You're getting wet, come in." Eddie steps back, waves him in.

Steve hovers by the door, he's staring at Eddie, his hands shoved in his pockets, his hair looking more wild than normal. There are dark circles under his eyes. He looks tired, but his eyes are bright. Eddie takes a step back, looks to the floor, feeling nervous under his scrutiny.

"You uh... you okay? You're head feeling alright?" Eddie asks, to cut the silence. Cannot stand the silence.

"Yeah. Heads good. You're hair-" Steve stops talking when Eddie's eyes land on him again. Eddie's hand reaches up, then falls back to his side, his cheeks feeling hot.

"Oh. Yeah. I washed it this morning, before work. Didn't wanna wash it again." He shrugs, huffs a little laugh. Not sure what else to say.

"It looks nice. Like that." Steve says, then clears his throat. And that's when it hits Eddie, the look that Steve has going, he looks nervous.

"Are you okay?" Eddie asks, stopping himself from taking a step forward. Steve's eyes widen in question, and then he's nodding, his teeth digging into his lip briefly.

"Yeah I'm good. I just... I wanted to talk to you." Steve says, sighs loudly.

"About last night." His face scrunches, like he doesn't wanna be saying it. Oh. Of course. Of course that's what it is. Eddie swallows, squares his shoulders, guard up. He nods, waves his hand at Steve.

"Don't worry about it man. You were drunk." He turns, walks into the kitchen, clears his throat, hard, to dislodge the firey lump that's growing there. His hand moves without his permission, fingers touching the back of his neck.

"Wait what?" Steve's confused voice says, before he follows Eddie into the small kitchen space.

"What?" Eddie echoes.

"I- I didn't come here to apologize for anything." Steve says, bluntly, his hands out of his pockets now, they're worrying over his thighs, smoothing back and forth over his jeans.

"You... didn't?" Eddie's brow furrows, he wraps his arms around his middle, watches Steve gulp as he shakes his head.

"Then why are you here?" Eddie leans against the counter, now as far away from Steve as he can get, but Steve isn't having that, he keeps moving closer, slowly.

"I came to tell you something." Steve says, slowly, his lips pressing together before he licks them.

"Tell me what?" Eddie's voice is small, his breathing is faster than he'd like it to be, heart thundering agaisnt his ribs.

"I do." Is all Steve says. Unhelpful.

"You... do. You do what?" Eddie asks, his voice higher than it should be, Steve is still moving, closer and closer, step by step.

"Last night. You said, no one's ever wanted you." Steve speaks slowly, his eyes glued to Eddie's face.

"Okaaaay..." Eddie so lost, his brain isn't working right, he's missing something, he knows he is. He can feel it, see it in the way Steve is looking at him expectantly.

"Well. You were wrong. Cuz I do. I want you." Steve clarifies, finally, blinking at Eddie as he takes a step, placing him one step away from Eddie.

"You want- no you don't. You were drunk. Very drunk. And you just- you're very clingy when you're drunk. It's not-" Eddie's mouth runs wild, tossing out excuses because this can't be real. Steve can't be saying what he's saying. But Steve is also smiling.

"I was drunk. Yes. But I remember you saying that. I remember how sad you looked during that fucking game. I remember saying some things to you I probably shouldn't have, not without you telling me first. I am sorry about that, actually." He tilts his head forward, Eddie swallows, nods, bites his lip, his throat is burning again.

"But I also remember kissing you. I remember how hot your neck was against my lips. And I remember all the things I've been thinking about you, for months, while completely sober." He smiles, reaches out, his fingers ghosting over Eddie's wrist where its settled against his stomach.

"I've been thinking about kissing you for ages. I just- drunk me has less... self preservation." Steve smiles, it's crooked, like he's tucking his cheek in so he doesn't laugh. Eddie thinks it maybe matches his crooked smile now.

"Drunk you thinks you're a slut." Eddie huffs a laugh, Steve barks one, nods, takes that last step.

"Yeah. I kinda used to be." He shrugs, both hands reaching out to Eddie now, resting on his elbows.

"Well I'm not." Eddie says, a little more harsh than he meant to, but it doesn't deter Steve, just makes him smile again.

"I know. Kissing under a jungle gym definitely doesn't give you slut status." Steve teases. Eddie blushes, looks away, his eyes drop to the floor.

"I don't understand." Eddie sighs, brow furrowed.

"Don't understand what? Why I want you if you've never done anything?" Steve asks, blunt now too. And Eddie kind of loves it, the way he can just say it. Eddie nods.

"Why would you want someone like me? No one else does. And now I've got this. These." He points to the jagged scar on his cheek, motions over the rest of himself, to his other hidden scars. Steve moves then, fast, tugs Eddie's arms away from himself and grabs his hips, presses into Eddie's space.

"It doesn't have anything to do with that. I don't care that you have no experience. That's not... that not why I date people. Besides, it might nice. Ya know, I've never been with a guy before, we could figure it out together." There's a question in Steve's eyes, like he's asking. Eddie bites his lip, tugs it between his teeth and then lets his hands move. Rests them on Steve's shoulders, he nods,

"That could be nice." He echoes. Steve nods, presses a little closer, his thighs bumping Eddie's.

"I think so. And the scars, we kinda match. Like little fucked up puzzle peices." Steve whispers. Eddie laughs then, big, and bright. Steve pulls him closer, wraps his arms around him and hugs him, tucks his face into Eddie's neck. Eddie grabs at his shoulders, holds him tightly, his body shaking at all the contact.

"You're trembling." Steve breathes into his neck. Eddie nods quickly, feeling frantic now. Steve moves to look at him.

"That's only gonna get worse. The more you touch me." Eddie admits, feels his whole body flush, Steve bites his lip, his fingers move over the heat along Eddie's neck as his eyes darken.

"What are you thinking about?" Eddie asks, his hands tugging on Steve's sweater, he knows his hands are sweating, is pretty sure Steve doesn't care.

"I'm thinking..." he trailes off, hooks one finger into the collar of Eddie shirt and tugs it down a bit.

"I wanna see how far this goes." He brushes his thumb over Eddie's neck again, it drags a whimper out his throat, Steve's dark eyes meet his, a smile curls his lips. But it's not a sweet Steve smile, there's a hunger there now that wasn't there before. Eddie gulps.

"I'm in trouble aren't I?" He asks, body shaking as Steve tugs their hips together again, leans closer and closer, his breath ghosting over Eddie's lips as he says,

"Oh you have no idea."

Eddie chuckles, laughs into his first real kiss, before Steve deepens it, genlty, dragging a moan out of him.

Later. When they're tangled together on Eddie's bed, clothes rumpled and shoved at odd angles, Eddie's hair no longer pulled back, Steve holding him close as his breathing finally evens out, Steve tells him it was perfect. The perfect Eddie first kiss.

He tangles his hands in Eddie's hair, pulls him closer, and tells him he can't wait to see what other kinds of kisses Eddie might be hiding. Tells Eddie that any and every kiss he laughs into will be perfect. Because they're his. And now Eddie is too.

[steddiewithachance]

Vampire Pancakes

A response to this writing prompt. Thought it was too cute, had to write it! @dwobbitfromtheshire

🥞🫐

No one really knows what to do with Eddie right now. Everyone is jittery around him, going so far as to hold their breath when he so much as twitches. Even Dustin is squinting at him with calculating eyes; he's analyzing Eddie for threat.

Eddie will continue to courteously ignore the hand that Nancy is keeping stationed on her belt conveniently close to the little pistol everyone knows she's hiding. It doesn't matter that Eddie helped them kill Vecna, or that he saved Baby Byers' life. It doesn't matter when he has sharp teeth, dark eyes, and a thirst for blood. He can't blame 'em for being scared.

Eddie thinks about his dad. Wonders if even Al would see Eddie as a monster now.

Eddie got picked on a lot as a kid and he'd often come home from school tired and weepy. Al would look up from the couch in that black tank top he always wore. He'd set down whatever he was smoking to pat the spot next to him.

"What happened Ed? Was some little shithead mean to ya?"

Eddie would nod and slump into his father's side, eyes burning from the spicy, smokey air. When Eddie pressed his face into his dad's arm, Al would pull back and pat his head with sorrowful eyes. Al didn't really know how to comfort a kid or maybe he thought that being distant was in Eddie's best interest.

"You're too soft, Ed. Ya gotta make those kids think you can pack a punch. Chin up, eyes mean, shoulders back. Make 'em intimidated, make 'em fear ya."

So like any kid who thinks their dad's word is law, Eddie listened, or tried his best at least. But his dad never said that mean eyes, dark clothes, and loud music would get him accused of witchcraft by a bunch'a angry jocks and chased straight into hell.

Now his sheepies -his kiddos- are looking at him like they're scared, like they can't trust him and that is a fucking gut punch. Because pretty early on in his high school career, he decided that his purpose was gonna be standing as a shield for other kids like him. He wanted to be a source of safety and warmth in an otherwise cold and unforgiving storm.

Being feared is lonely and sad, Eddie has discovered, and he worries this is his new permanent reality.

Eddie quietly sits through his friends hammering out the logistics of a nighttime schedule to organize sleeping shifts so someone always has an eye on him. It's sick. Eddie has to excuse himself to cry about it. He has no uncontrollable urges to eat anyone here, Steve does smell appetizing, but he wouldn't jump the guy.

He can still eat human food apprently, it barely does anything for him, but it's something. Eddie thinks it's enough to quell any feral urges he may or may not get. He thinks the party is being unreasonable about their safety precautions, but really, he'd probably do the same if there was a monster in the same house as him.

🥞🫐

It's a long night, he can't fall asleep but he'll pretend to so that everyone can relax a little. The changing of the guard chafes at him and makes his lip quiver. He bites his lip to prevent a wounded sound from slipping out when Robin nudges Steve awake and says it's "his turn on hell shift". Eddie jolts because he remembers he has real sharp teeth now, and biting his lip does, in fact, hurt like a bitch.

"You're not asleep, huh?" He hears whispered into the air of the big living room after Robin has settled back into sleep. It's Steve's sweet and melodic voice.

"I'm trying." He responds, brokenly.

"Wanna get some fresh air with me for a minute? I need'a smoke." Steve is already shrugging the sheets off of him and carefully stepping over his sleeping friends towards the back door. Eddie doesn't think he has a choice, but to follow. Stepping out of this stuffy room does sound like a relief though.

Eddie makes the same journey through the sea of teenagers sprawled across Steve's floor and out the sliding glass door. When he steps onto the patio, all of the crickets stop chirping around him. The night goes silent. What the fuck? Is that because of him? He loves the sound of crickets, though.

He walks over and curls up in one of the Harringtons' fancy-loungy-pool-chairs. Steve stays standing, leaning artfully against the side of his house next to the glass. He flicks open his lighter and the small flame illuminates his square jawline with a warm glow. He's so achingly handsome. He's like a movie star, or a model.

"You okay?" Steve asks conversationally.

"Not even a little."

Steve sighs and pushes off the wall to walk towards Eddie's chair. He sits at the foot of it and swivels so he's looking at Eddie.

"I'm really sorry Eddie. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling. I won't pretend to." Steve sets a hand on Eddie's ankle and Eddie could cry from the small gesture of comfort that he's practically writhing for. "I feel like what happened to you is all my fault. I know that 'sorry' wont cut it, but for the record, I am. Completely and utterly sorry." That's a silly thing to think.

"It's not your fault, are you kidding? How do you reckon it's your fault?"

"Sending you with Dustin? Alone? Putting all that responsibility on you?" Steve looks down at his cigarette with disgust. He twists it into the cold concrete next to his socked foot and looks back at Eddie. There's no fear in his expression, and for once Eddie is grateful for his reckless bravery.

"It was the best plan and we all agreed to it. Don't sweat it, Harrington." Eddie feels like he's not all there. Feels like maybe if he was more composed he could comfort Steve better, but he's hungry and dazed, sad and tired. Steve nods solemnly, and clears this throat.

"And about everyone being kind of on edge... It'll pass. I think they're all thinking about when Billy Hargrove got possessed by the mind flayer and went homicidal on us. He tried to kill all the kids."

Eddie desperately wants to hear all the other Upside down stories one day. He keeps trying to stitch together all these scraps of lore that keep getting dropped on him. He has no right to ask about something so traumatic, so he'll just be patient and wait for more lore to drop.

"Everyone's just being cautious. Vecna's dead though, so I'm not really sure who they think would possess you." Steve finishes and squeezes Eddie's lower calf where his hand rests.

"I get it. Kinda hurts my feelings, but I get it." Eddie mumbles and feels his eyes getting heavy. He wonders if he could fall asleep out here. Maybe if the crickets were still chirping and it wasn't so goddamn quiet.

"I'm sorry, Eddie." It's fine, this might not even be the worst thing that's ever happened to him.

🥞🫐

In the morning Eddie curls himself into Steve's little kitchen nook. Eddie kind of loves the window seat, it's something his mom would have wanted, Eddie theorizes. She was always looking out windows, probably daydreaming about escaping. Eddie does it too.

The kids seem warmer this morning. There's no more hushed whispers or pointed looks. They're talking and moving around the house less cautiously. Hopefully, the stiffest interactions and the worst of their distrust is behind them. Nancy's still watching him like a hawk though.

Steve shuffles into view, his socks are bunched up around his ankles. It's cute.

He holds out a plate for Eddie with a dumb smile on his face. When Eddie reaches for it, he sees a stack of pancakes and the top pancake has a little face made out of blueberries and two whipped cream fangs. It's a vampire pancake. Steve made Eddie a sweet little vampire pancake.

"Oh my god, you're so adorable." Eddie squeaks and makes a grabby hand for the fork Steve's holding. Steve blushes and hands over the fork.

"Do you like it?" Steve asks coyly. The pancakes feel like a hug, they feel like an apology that Steve doesn't even owe.

"I love it, chef." Eddie pokes at the pancake-vampire's cheek. "I don't know if I can eat him. He's too cute." Eddie giggles. Steve looks up at him with bright sparkly eyes. God he's perfect. Eddie's hungry for him in five different ways.

Robin and Dustin come up beside Steve to look down at the plate.

"I want one!" Dustin announces loudly. Steve turns around and heads back to the stove, he looks so proud of himself.

"You can have normal pancakes. Those are special for Eddie." Steve says with a wink. Dustin looks down at Eddie and pouts at him as if Eddie has any say in who gets what kind of pancake.

"Dustin had to watch it all happen, he should get one too." Eddie tells Steve earnestly while Steve is pouring more batter into the pan.

Dustin gloats and yells "Exactly! Thank you, Eddie."

And it feels like things are gonna be okay.

[blushweddinggowns]

It was kinda like an open secret, the fact that they were together. And if Steve was being honest with himself, even that was a stretch.

And it was one hundred percent their fault. Well...mostly it was Eddie's fault. The second they were with whoever he deemed "safe" Eddie would be all over him. Whether it was pet names, casually wrapping an arm around his waist, dragging him to sit on his lap, a kiss to his forehead, Eddie was far from shy when it came to handing out affection.

And if Steve did absolutely nothing to stop him when it happened well...that was Eddie's fault too. What else was Steve supposed to do when the man he loved was so openly sweet and affectionate? Say no? Put a stop to the behavior that made him feel like he was the most important person in Eddie's world? Give up the chaste hugs and kisses that made him feel like he was walking on air?

Yeah, no. It wasn't Steve's fault that Eddie made him feel so good, so the blame could stay laid at his feet.

Yep, totally Eddie's fault, Steve had nothing to do with it.

But there were only so many times you could call your new "best friend" baby before people started asking questions. Robin knew, Wayne knew, Nancy knew, and Steve was pretty sure all of Eddie’s age-appropriate friends were well aware.

And the kids would figure it out when they figured it out. It's not that they didn't trust them to accept their relationship, it was more that they would be too accepting. And way too involved. And Steve wanted to bask in the honeymoon period before all of his little shits started giving unprompted advice on his love life, and Eddie felt the same way.

So they lied, but only a little. Or more that Steve lied. Whenever it was a Steve and Eddie date night exclusive and the kids were vying for attention or rides, he'd tell them was hanging out with Robin or working late. But Eddie would just smile and shake his head to any asks, always with a painfully sincere, "Can't tonight, I got a date with my sweetheart."

His sweetheart who, none of the kids could meet until, in his words, he officially locked it down, the silly little speech never failing in making Steve blush and smile like an idiot. It was always enough to make the kids back off, and for the moment, their little plan seemed to be working.

But Steve wasn't sure how long it would stay that way, not when Eddie was very suddenly elected as the go-to for advice on the kids' love lives.

Which ow. Steve had experience with relationships, maybe not good experiences until very recently, but he had them! But the kids bypassed him every time in favor of the "one" adult in their lives who actually was seeing someone. And Steve didn't have the heart to break it to them that he was the only one their new love genius had ever been with.

Lucas had started it, faux casual at a Hellfire meetup, with Steve lazily reading magazines in the corner while he waited for his nerd boyfriend to be done so their night could actually begin.

"Hey Eddie, you've been seeing your girlfriend for a while right?"

Eddie nodded, "We're closing in at six months, why?"

Lucas rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, embarrassed, "Well...what would you do if say, you know they love you, and you love them, but they never let you help them with anything? Like...they always act like they're a burden when they're really just the best?"

Steve perked up at the question. silently watching as Eddie considered it.

He nodded along, thoughtful, “I was with someone like that once, always thinking about everyone else but never themselves. I guess you kinda just have to love it out of them y'know? Like give them the space they ask for sure, but let them know that you're always there for them. Not because you have to but because you want to.” 

Eddie took a chance and glanced at Steve while he spoke, giving him the quickest wink known to mankind. Steve hid behind his magazine, ears red with a stupid, lovestruck smile as Lucas thanked him.

Then it was Dustin. He sprung it on them while Steve was driving him over to the Wheeler's place, Eddie flipping through radio stations while Dustin was prattling to them in the backseat, "So I was trying to explain it to her, and she totally flipped out and hung up! She said that I think I'm smarter than her, which is totally untrue! Suzie is the smartest person I know!"

Steve snorted, "I told you you could be condescending-"

Dustin glared at him, waving him away, "I'm asking Eddie thank you very much! "I just thought she knew that I know she's smarter than me. So what should I do?"

Eddie shrugged, "I was with someone like that once, super, super smart but they could never acknowledge it in the way I thought they should. For them though, it was because people always talked down to them and never made the effort to see how they were smart. There are a lot of different kinds of intelligence out there right? So just let her know that there are some things you're better at but you know that for most things she's the gold star child."

Eddie glanced back at Dustin, rolling his eyes when he realized the kid was actually taking notes, but it gave him a chance to stealthily grab Steve's hand and squeeze it with a wide grin, "It isn't fair, but rarely does the smartest person in a room, know that it's them."

And if Steve couldn't help but kiss the daylights out of him while they were still in the Wheeler's driveway after that little speech, he stood that it was still Eddie's fault for being so sweet.

The kids kept coming to Eddie for advice, mostly because it usually worked. Some of it Steve was there for and some of it he wasn't, but it never stopped embarrassing the living hell out of him to hear himself be talked about so positively and sweetly, especially if it came out of the mouths of one of the kid's, unknowingly repeating stories and advice centered around Steve.

It was Will who finally cracked it, because who else? They were all at the Harrington place, taking full advantage of the absentee parents and pool during a hot summer day. Wil found the two of them in the kitchen, in the middle of a stupid debate over the best action movie of the year, sharing a popsicle back and forth while they play-fought.

He looked nervous as he walked up to them, looking anywhere but at their faces, "Hey Eddie, do you mind if I ask you something?"

Eddie nodded, snatching the last of the popsicle from Steve's hand, ignoring his whining, "Sure dude, what's up?"

"Have you ever, um, liked someone who you thought didn't like you back? But then they started...acting different?"

Eddie cocked his head at him, "Elaborate."

"Like...just treating you differently. More touchy-feely and attentive maybe? Do you think...that means anything? Has that ever happened to you?"

Steve glanced out the kitchen window, eyes on Mike as he sat at the edge of the pool, legs dangling over the side while his head was on a swivel, no doubt looking for Will.

It didn't take a genius to guess who he was talking about.

Eddie shrugged, "Not exactly? But I have gone after someone majorly out of my league before. And that worked out. I'd say just be straight forward and confident. Ask if they're interested, or if you can't do that ask them how'd they feel if you got with someone else. That can sometimes get the ball rolling if they're being too tight-lipped about their feelings."

Will nodded along, "So is that how you got Steve?"

Steve froze while Eddie laughed, not even catching on to the slip, "I got Steve by crying to his loose-lipped best friend about how in love with him I was. Not the best example."

And of course, that was the moment Dustin decided to walk in the room.

Steve brought a hand to his mouth, laughing behind it as Dustin froze, staring wide-eyed at Eddie, "You're with Steve?!"

Eddie whipped around to face him, but Dustin was already staring at Steve, "So the someone like that, has been you this whole time?!"

Steve was still laughing behind his hand as Dustin skittered out, no doubt to announce to the whole backyard just where their great love advice had been coming from.

Will followed him, winking at them over his shoulder as he went. Eddie was still standing there, confused on how one of the munchkins just bamboozled him into telling the longest kept secret he ever had.

Steve clapped a hand on his shoulder, just as voices started to raise from the background, coupled with a few yells around someone owing Will money, "Guess the secret's out huh?"

Eddie turned to face him with a sigh, smacking a kiss to his forehead, "You realize this means you're going to have to help with the love advice now right?"

Steve groaned, "I thought my existence was the help."

"Nope, it's your turn to give the love advice about me from now on."

Steve laughed, leaning in to kiss him chastely on the mouth. They grinned at each other, enjoying their last moments of peace before the whole gaggle of kids made they're way into the room, armed with questions and accusations galore.

But that was okay, Steve was more than ready for it to be his turn.

[undreaming-fanfiction]

There's a wonderful discussion in our Moots Discord between @henderdads and @legitcookie and it got me thinking.

I love all of the posts and fics where Eddie has a silver tongue and showers Steve with compliments and pet names, but I firmly believe Eddie's brain packs a suitcase and leaves for a cruise whenever Steve calls him "darling", "love" or anything affectionate. And his vocabulary gets limited to things he sees.

He tries to hide that because it's, frankly, pathetic.

Sometimes it works out. When Steve kisses him in the kitchen and says "good morning, love", Eddie freezes, searches the counter and responds, "morning...muffin." Weird, but adorable.

But then they're on a walk together in the woods and Steve asks "are you tired, darling?" and there isn't anything cute around them and Eddie's brain capacity disappears. He needs to respond. He needs to show Steve he loves him too.

"Oh, it's...it's fine, uh..."

He needs to add something.

There's a rock. Nope, too weird.

Tree? Why would Steve be a tree?

Leaf. Leaf is the best so far.

"All good...my...pinecone?" he says slowly and Steve loses it.

They have an honest talk afterwards. Eddie apologizes and Steve, through fits of laughter, reassures him that he loved being called a pinecone. And they decide to start a new tradition together, "find the best pet name". More precisely, find the best pet name in anything that happens to be around.

"My darling passive-aggressive church sign."

"My beloved shedding squirrel."

"My sweet discounted pineapple."

"My unforgetable half-eaten donut carelessly tossed into the closest bush."

Robin finds it hilarious. Nancy discreetly snickers into her hand. Jonathan and Argyle think it's so cool and start doing the same thing.

And the kids? The kids start a petition to bring back the "love" and "darling" they used to despise oh so much.

[ladykailitha]

Just having more thinkee thoughts about casually bisexual Steve and Eddie who doesn't have a filter on his mouth, ever. Mature 18+

So they're out at a bar and it's been awhile for Steve and he is just out for a one-night stand. He would like more, sure but tonight is about getting his dick wet.

Robin has already hit the dance floor with their friends, Nancy having managed to drag Jonathan with her.

Steve knocks on the table. "All right, time to find a pussy to put my dick in," he mutters to himself more than Eddie's who's the only one left at their table.

And without thinking Eddie blurts out, "Well if you ever wanted an ass to fuck, give me a call, sweetheart."

And Steve suddenly at Eddie's side faster than he can blink and slots himself between his spread legs.

"That a serious offer, Munson or are you fucking with me?"

Eddie half shrugs. "A little bit of fucking with you with huge dash of wanting you to fuck me."

Steve runs his tongue over his teeth as he thinks it over. "Hmm... if I'm honest I always assumed that if there was fucking you'd be the one giving, not taking."

Eddie just shrugs. "You're not going to hold it against me are ya?"

Steve grins, feral. "You'd like that, huh? Me holding you down, while I fucked you?"

Eddie's brain has completely whited out. Just static.

"I'd drag you to the bathroom," Steve purrs, "but I want to see you under me, hair splayed out on my pillow as fucked into you."

Eddie tries to get up so that they can do just that, but Steve puts his hand on his chest.

"Not so fast, rockstar," Steve says with a sly smile. "If we leave now, our friends would be upset since we just got here. So can you be a good boy for me and wait?"

Eddie gulps and nods. "How long?"

Steve checks his watch. "Is an hour okay?"

Eddie nods again, so Steve pulls his hand and drags him out on the dance floor. The music slows to a love song and Eddie thinks Steve's going to pull away, only he doesn't.

He pulls him closer and they're dancing cheek to cheek.

"I have to tell you," Steve says a little desperate, "if I take you home tonight, that's it--"

"Oh," Eddie says trying to pull away, trying not cry.

"It's you and me as a couple," Steve continues and Eddie just stares at him wide-eyed. "And if that's something you don't want, I'd rather we didn't do anything at all. Because if I got to taste you and not keep you I don't think I'd surv--"

He never finishes that sentence because Eddie is kissing him on the lips as firmly and sincerely as possible.

"Oh!" Steve says brightly. "So that's a yes to the boyfriend thing?"

"Yes, Stevie," Eddie says shaking his head fondly, "it's a yes to the boyfriend thing."

~

On the other side of the dance floor both Jonathan and Nancy are putting money in Robin's hands.

"Do you think it's just sex or..." Nancy asks.

Robin cackles. "Oh it's definitely sex, but it's a relationship all the way."

Nancy huffed. Not because she didn't believe her, she could see it with her eyes. But if it is a relationship--

They kiss and Nancy sighs, digging out another five dollars and handing it Robin.

"How did you know it would happen tonight?" Jonathan asked after handing Robin his own five dollars.

"Eddie has no filter especially two cocktails in," Robin explained, cocking her head to the side and half shrugging. "And Steve loves to bitch about not getting any lately. So you put the two together..." she smashed her hands together, "and you get at the very least, sex in the bathroom. But this is Steve, the most romantic bastard in all of Indiana if not the whole country, he'd only be willing to have sex with Eddie, if it led to more."

Jonathan and Nancy sighed. They really never should have bet against best friend knowledge.

~

Later that night when Steve has Eddie right where he wants him, he reaches out and strokes his cheek.

"You're sweet, Stevie," Eddie murmurs, "but if you don't start soon, I may explode!"

Steve laughs and gets to work fucking wildly into Eddie as they both starts spouting inanities and endearments.

Steve grabs Eddie's cock and works him in rhythm to his own thrusts, with Eddie tripping over his words as he holds on dear life.

After they've both come, and they've cleaned up, they'll lie next to each other on Steve's bed.

Eddie gets up on his elbow to look down at Steve, "So boyfriend privileges means shot gun right?"

Steve bursts out laughing. "Sorry, love," he says shaking his head. "Robin would murder us both."

Eddie cocks his head to the side and then nods. "Yeah, that's fair."

End ~

I don't usually write sub/bottom Eddie, because I picture Steve as a pillow princess all the way, but this wouldn't leave my head. Especially the fucking line. It was too good of a pun not to write, if I'm honest.

[marybeatriceofmodena]

What did Andrew Lloyd Webber do to make Patti Lupone upset? Sorry, saw your tags and i was curious

Oh.

Oh honey.

You sweet child.

Anyway, get ready for one of the most infamous showdowns in all musical theatre history, with the guy who writes the straightest musicals on Broadway (derogatory) and the one and only, the matriarch, the queen, two three-time Tony award winner Patti LuPone.

So, Andrew Lloyd Webber was basically kind of a boy genius in his prime - he met his future collaborator Tim Rice when they were 17 and 20 respectively, he wrote his first big hit, Jesus Christ Superstar, at 22, with Tim Rice writing the lyrics. And it was kind of a big deal at the time because the topic was controversial (you know, the Passion with rock music), but also because Broadway wasn't that far off from its golden age and let's just say the music and style were very different from, say, My Fair Lady. Or The Sound of Music. Or Funny Girl. It was basically the Rent/Hamilton of its time. (Yeah, Stephen Sondheim was around at that time, he worked on West Side Story which was revolutionary in of itself, but he's kind of an oddball in this case. You'll understand why later.)

Their real follow up (I'm not counting Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for a variety of reasons) was a little musical called Evita, which you might know mainly because of a song called Don't Cry For Me Argentina. Or at least, your mom has probably heard it once at the very least. It's that song that's oversung from a musical while being out of context along with I Dreamed a Dream for Les Misérables. Or Memory from Cats.

Evita tells the story of Eva Peron, the wife of an Argentinian dictator, who basically screws her way to the top and ends up becoming the mistress of Juan Peron and the most beloved woman in her country through guile and deceit. Yes, I know the historical accuracy is very much debated but I know jackshit about Argentina's history except the bare basics so don't come at me. It was first produced in the West End in London, with Elaine Paige in the role, but because of Equity issues, she couldn't reprise her role for the Broadway production. So a Julliard graduate who was mostly starring in David Mamet plays got the part instead, and that was Patti LuPone.

Patti... did not have a good time during Evita, because the part is basically the kind of score where you can tell the composer is used to writing male parts, but most female singers have a two-octave range (yes, you got Julie Andrews who used to have a three-octave range, and many others, but they're exceptions), so she struggled a lot. That being said, if you listen to live recordings of her, you wouldn't be able to tell, and it got a lot easier later on. But she had this to say:

"Evita was the worst experience of my life. I was screaming my way through a part that could only have been written by a man who hates women. And I had no support from the producers, who wanted a star performance onstage but treated me as an unknown backstage. It was like Beirut, and I fought like a banshee."

This is from Patti's autobiography, which she wrote in 2007 - 8 years after shit with ALW went down. With all that said, she won a Tony Award for Evita, and she pretty much became a musical theatre household name from then on. She played Fantine in Les Misérables, Nancy in Oliver!, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. Meanwhile, ALW's next big hits were Cats (I'm not even kidding, Cats was a hit), and, you guessed it, The Phantom of the Opera, which he wrote in part to showcase his then wife Sarah Brightman's triple threat talents.

So, you need to understand before I continue that ALW, from my perspective, has always had a bit of an inferiority complex. He's basically associated to writing these commercially successful musicals that show a big spectacle but aren't ultimately substantial. I'm not sure I entirely agree with that, but I do think that if he didn't have Hal Prince, Maria Bjornson, Charles Hart and Gillian Lynne backing him up for Phantom, it would have probably been a Rocky Horror Picture Show knockoff people would have forgotten about pretty quickly. This is what I mean:

Yep, that was Phantom before any of the people I mentioned above (and Michael Crawford) were really involved.

Remember how I said Stephen Sondheim was an oddball? The thing with him is that his musicals weren't always commercially successful, but in general, in part thanks to being Leonard Bernstein's protégé, he was generally pretty well-respected and it was considered that his work was bringing musicals to a whole other level. Without Sondheim, you wouldn't have Jonathan Larson, and you wouldn't have Lin-Manuel Miranda. I am convinced ALW is resentful of that, and when you stop and think about it for more than 10 seconds, it's so obvious he REALLY wants to be Sondheim or at least command the same level of respect, but that's a story for another day.

So, after Phantom, ALW had other musicals that followed that either got a meh reception or outright flopped. Then there was Sunset Boulevard, which is based on the movie of the same name with Gloria Swanson. Despite all of her griefs for Evita, Patti LuPone agreed to partake in the musical as Norma Desmond, for its production in London, with the promise that she would transfer to Broadway once that production would open. And overall, after a string of flops, Sunset was actually doing pretty well.

HOWEVER. One day, while reading the gossip column of a newspaper, Patti found out that contrary to what she was promised, Glenn Close, who was meanwhile starring as Norma in the Los Angeles production, was to play Norma on Broadway. That was a complete surprise for her since no one on the production team had bothered to tell her it was happening - and keep in mind that for the news to come up the way it did in a gossip column, it probably would have necessitated a delay of a few weeks between the producers and the newspaper, which would have given them plenty of time to break the news to Patti. And Patti kind of needed the leg up because she was pretty bitter that a) Madonna was cast in the Evita adaptation instead of her; b) they actually lowered the key to fit Madonna's voice range, and she still had to expand her own to be able to sing the (lowered) score. And trust me, Patti is mad about it to this day.

So of course, she trashed her dressing room, the cast and crew weren't even mad about it because they were as shocked and angered as she was by the news. Patti sued Andrew Lloyd Webber for breach of contract, namely for 1 MILLION DOLLARS (yup, those are the real numbers), won, used the money she got from the lawsuit to get a swimming pool, which she called (and I SHIT YOU NOT) the Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Pool. Since then, Webber is dead to her, to the point rumor has it she had part of a building blocked during an event so she could get out of it without coming across Webber, because she hates him so flipping much she doesn't even want to be in the same building as the guy.

(There's also drama that happened with Faye Dunaway who was supposed to replace Glenn Close after she went from Los Angeles to Broadway, except they abruptly closed the show down after Close left, but that's a story for another day)

So with all the bad press, and with ALW forced to pay 1 million dollars for Patti's lawsuit, that led Sunset's productions to close earlier than expected. ALW has stayed around since, with... mitigated output, so to say. The lowest point for a lot of people is Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom, which some people love, and that's fine, but it didn't do well with either critics nor fans of the original show, which ALW is EXTREMELY BUTTHURT ABOUT. And like, there are so many stories I could tell about LND alone, but I will share my own crack theory about it, since it does relate to the ask.

Anyway, buckle up.

So. There have been jokes going around for years that the Phantom in LND is basically ALW's self-insert, where he displays to the world that he's totally not over Sarah Brightman leaving him (in part because making Phantom kinda ruined their marriage lmao), despite, you know, having married since. (Aaaaaakward.) So LND basically becomes this really uncomfortable therapy session where a man writes a self-insert musical about how his ex-wife made a big mistake of leaving a sensitive artistic soul such as himself. The characters from Phantom who appear in LND are all more or less unrecognizable as a result, and one who gets it worse (in my humble opinion) is Meg Giry, who was basically Christine's sweet and loyal ballerina friend who basically went into the Phantom's lair on her own to save her friend despite the danger. In LND, she's basically a bitter hag (because ALW hates women, guess Patti was right about that), who really likes the swim and even has a stripping vaudeville number about it, written in universe by the Phantom, no less.

For comparison, here's Don Juan Triumphant (the Phantom's opera in the original):

And here's Bathing Beauty (the vaudeville number):

Yeah, so... do you see why people hate LND already?

And that's not the only thing with Meg! She's also pining for the Phantom to pay attention to her and threatens to drown the Phantom and Christine's secret love child when he makes it clear that he's gonna love Christine for EVA AND EVA.

So, with everything we learned today about ALW, would someone like him view someone like Patti LuPone as some sort of crazy, bitter diva who's obsessed with him for whatever reason? Absolutely. Would he be petty enough to insert Patti LuPone into his self-insert musical, which gave us the version of Meg Giry we got in LND? Of course. Why does Meg love to swim so much and why does she drag Gustave out ostensibly for a swim? Is it a dig at Patti's Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Pool? Maybe.

I kind of hope we find out one day if that theory is true. And maybe start a kickstarter so Patti can add this painting from the 2004 movie in her collection.

Fun fact: during the process of casting for the 2004 movie adaptation of POTO, ALW allegedly suggested Patti LuPone to play Carlotta... only for Joel Schumacher to have to awkwardly remind him that they were not on speaking terms. The idea was therefore promptly dropped.

[miheartsedthings]

Billy request if you do em :)

52. “Can I kiss you?”

TA-DA! Hope you didn't think I forgot you or anything.

Summary: Post- graduation, Billy's found-family has been teaching him about consent. He hasn't fully grasped it.

"Can I Kiss You?"*

TW: Dubious consent

Billy and his friends approach you at the first party of the semester. Billy’s one of the hottest guys you’ve ever seen in person, overshadowing anyone else you’ve met on campus and easily trumping everyone at the party. You don’t expect to look up from your drink and have his undivided attention. Yet there he is, sauntering over to you in a leather jacket with no shirt underneath. In his eyes is such a steady determination you find yourself unable to look away as he approaches.  

“Ask her first, B.” Steve urges him but Billy's eyes are cloudy with drink and intention. Nancy stands red-faced between him and Robin while Steve is shaking his head at the way Billy is invading your personal space. Whatever group mission they're on has already derailed and you're at the center of it.

“Damn,” he says, his eyes dragging up and down your form “Gorgeous, every time.” His proximity forces you against the wall. 

“Billy boy,” Robin calls with a chuckle, “Ask.”

“Ask–?” you're interrupted as he takes your cheeks into his warm palms.

“Can I?”

Billy pulls you into a kiss, intense and greedy. He knows you want him just as much as he wants you. His mouth is warm, beer sour. His breath brushes your face as he turns that penetrating gaze into your eyes. 

“You liked that. Yeah?”

His words are buried under music for the others, but you hear him loud and clear, nose to nose as you are. You nod. 

“What did you wanna ask?” 

Your tone is distracted, and your brain goes fuzzy when he kisses you again, your back bumps into the wall and you hold his forearms. His friends are snickering behind him. 

“There goes the consent rule” Steve says. 

“Was that ever a stable subject for him?” Nancy adds. 

Billy picks you up and you straddle him, earning moans from the others which both of you ignore. Billy takes you somewhere, a playful grin spreading his lips as he carries you up the steps. He’s drunk, stumbling to the side a little, bumping you into the wall. The two of you laugh. 

“A little sloppy, huh?” You chide. 

He snickers, tossing you up against his chest, his hands gripping up under your skirt, the sudden violation elicits a startled, thrilling sound as you look down at him with renewed excitement. His eyes amused, daring you to doubt his control. 

“Yeah,” he says, “A bit.” 

Upstairs, the music slightly faded, the darkened hallway is sparse of bodies. The occasional mumbled voice from behind a closed door is all. Billy backs you against a wall and now your tongues have met. Your fingers play in his hair and his crotch is pushed against yours, warm and so close. This feeling is painfully good. The power of being that thing he wants to fuck. Radient with some golden honey men can smell. His tongue curls into your mouth to taste it, hands messaging your ass, his fingers rubbing the little strip of cloth covering your pussy. 

He moves to your neck, biting hard enough to startle you and then sucking, intent on leaving a mark as his hips grind into you. The hard curve of his tip bumps your clit and your hand tightens in his hair. He’s warm. His toned body between your legs, pressing you to the wall, his mouth against your neck, drawing moans without hardly trying. The pressure of him between your legs feels so sweet. So perfect. 

He moves his mouth to your cleveage, then pulls down your dress, exposing your tits, and in the moment between seeing your nipples and sucking them, words tumble from his lips which reach your ears at a delay. 

“Can I?” 

Every swirl of his tongue around your nipple sends a little surge right through your clit, a magic trick that makes you press his head in harder, urging his sucking and gently nibbling. 

“Fuck,” you breath, every little swivel of your hips grinds against his shaft, and he moans, switching to your other nipple. Footsteps on the stairs send a flush of raw nerves buzzing through you in a warm rush. “Someone’s coming.” 

Your words hushed against his ear only excite him more. The idea that someone will see the two of you- see you with your legs open for him, as close to fucking as kissing can get. 

“Billy,” you whisper. The people have reached the hall and you know they’ve spotted you, their loud voices drop to hushed tones. A flush of embarrassment makes you squirm against the wall, burying your face into his neck to hide. “Billy, please.” 

Finally, he listens. Abruptly, he takes your weight against him and continues down the hall, bursting into the first room you find unlocked. You find yourself tossed onto your back on a mess of blankets. Billy pulls off your panties, his eyes heavy with lust and focused on your nakedness as he stands back and takes off his jacket. 

“Fuck, baby,” his eyes trail up to your chest, and finally your face. He smirks. “Don’t look so nervous.” 

“I’m not,” you say, though your words are belied by the quiver in your voice. You prop yourself up on your elbows as Billy is crawling onto the bed, his hand falls to your lips, rubbing your wetness over them, staring down at the act like it’s just so beautiful. 

“Billy,” 

“Yeah?” 

He doesn’t look up. Transfixed as he is by the slow swirling. 

“What did you wanna ask me?” 

He pushes his middle finger inside, and as he does, as he’s sinking in past the first knuckle and you’re softening at the feeling- his lips part, a wisp of an exhale. Finally, he looks at you with those drunken, lover-boy eyes and all of you goes warm from the center of your stomach out.

“If I could kiss you,” he says, leaning closer, eyeing your mouth again, his weight sinking the mattress beside your hip. You feel like a small animal about to be eaten. You start to form words, but he’s so close, and just as you try he pushes in another finger. 

“Ask me? You didn’t–”

He’s kissing you, and his fingers are buried inside, curving into your flesh, pulling wetness out of you like fingering fruit. He groans and pulls back to look down. 

“Fuck,” he says, “I knew it. Fuckin knew you were like this.” 

He pulls harder, his fingers pushing hard and slow and every stroke brings more out of you, making you moan, turning your mouth onto his neck, your hands into his hair. You never do manage to answer the question. He never gets around to properly asking.

Hope you loved it ~

[mochinomnoms]

this has been rotting my mind for a while what if ptm Jade and reader were in the same music class and they were singing 'something stupid by Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra' for a little assignment and they had a little moment

BRO THAT'S SO CUTE

I personally like to think that in canon, Yuu/Reader isn't actually that bad at singing. It's just that these rich assholes had singing lessons growing up and have practice. So what happens with poor you and the other students (Ruggie, Deuce, Ace, Epel, Trey) that came from normal ass (or poor...sorry rugs) families that didn't think to spend money on something like singing lessons? They get paired with a classmate who knows what they're doing.

Perhaps Jade and you get paired and are randomly assigned a song...a love song for some forsaken reason. Though, seeing as it's Jade, you suspect that it might not be as random as you think it is.

Either way, you two are paired and the professor needs to hear some improvement from you! So Jade does his best to coach you on matching the tone of the song. Though, he's a bit distracted...everytime you two sing the words "I love you” you can hear the way his thoughts fawn over hearing those three words from your mouth. He keeps making an excuse “you're a bit pitchy” “your voicec cracked there.” “You're singing to the voice of the singing, not your own. Sing it in your own voice.”

So you two keep singing the song, focusing on a few particular lines. You'd think you'd be embarrassed, but the way his pupils dilate and look at your so softly, you're not 100% turned off by the experience. It's almost sweet, you think you could get used to seeing Jade look at you like that.

Wait, what.

Don't think too much about that last thought.

[funnylittlelad]

birdsong - steddie ficlet (-1.5k)

That time Steve got hearing aids.

Steve has been pissing people off for weeks and he knows it. He just doesn’t know what to do about it. It gets to the point where Dustin snaps at him for never paying attention to them. Steve starts to consider just leaving the country and starting new somewhere else. Somewhere it doesn't matter if he can hear who’s talking to him because he can't understand them anyways. He always thought Italy could be nice. Instead of running, he just shows up less. Both literally and metaphorically.

He starts bailing on more hangouts, figuring he won't be able to hear everyone so what's the point. When he is there he participates less in the conversation. He only engages when he’s really sure he can hear, which isn't a lot. It's mostly one-on-one or one-on-two. He doesn't think anyone notices, but they do. Eddie most of all feels Steve’s absence even when he’s sitting right next to him. He’s noticed the anxious tension in him when they're in groups. He just isn't sure what to do. So, he sits with a Steve-sized ache in his chest. There’s a day when the ache becomes too much, though, and Eddie breaks.

Steve sits in his living room with everyone strewn about. Eddie is next to him like he usually is unless Robin was already at Steve’s first. The kids lay and sit on the rug around the coffee table. Robin is on the other side of Eddie. Nancy sits with her legs tucked under her in a big armchair. The sound of conversation and life flows around him like a pebble in a stream. His edges have been smoothed so the water can move effortlessly, never catching on his surface. He can feel that there are words in the air around him, but there are too many other things around those words. Too much background noise and laughter. He can’t dig through it all in time to figure out what anyone is saying. So, he just stays silent like he has been. 

“He’s not listening again,” Dustin says frustratedly. 

Eddie frowns and looks at Steve. The movement catches Steve’s attention. He turns to look at Eddie with a small smile. Then he notices that it's more than just Eddie’s eyes on him. His blood runs cold and his throat dries.

“What?” He asks cautiously, eyes flitting to everyone else before landing on Eddie.

“Be honest, can you hear us?” Eddie answers Steve’s question with his own.

“I-”

“Be honest,” Eddie warns.

“No,” Steve sighs, “most of the time I can't really. I mean, I can hear you, but I can't tell what you're saying. It all garbles together like I’m underwater or something.”

“I think it's time to go to the doctor, Stevie,” Eddie says softly.

Steve frowns, but nods. There's a nervous twist in his stomach at the thought. He agrees to make an appointment the following day. Eddie hangs behind after everyone else leaves for a little bit. He does this sometimes and Steve’s never complained. Steve’s never thought about complaining. There's no surprise when Eddie gently grabs his hand either. He does that sometimes too. 

“Do you want me to go with you?” Eddie asks. 

The question nearly makes Steve cry. He wants to cry so bad. He wants to cry because he misses being able to hear his friends. He wants to cry because he’s scared of what's going to happen to what's left of his hearing. He wants to cry because Eddie is standing here offering to go to his doctor’s appointment with him like he’s a child. Mostly, he wants to cry because he’s so fucking happy Eddie offered and he doesn't have to ask. Steve nods.

“Yeah, if you don't mind,” he answers with a slight waver in his voice. 

Eddie smiles all sticky and sweet at him. Steve silently wonders what he did to be worthy of a smile like that. 

“‘Course I don't mind. Just tell me when and where and I’m there,” Eddie promises.

And he was. Eddie drives Steve to the ENT on the morning of his appointment the next week. He sat in the waiting room until Steve was done, but the knowledge he was there was enough. It was the same thing when Steve was sent to the Audiologist two weeks later. Eddie sat in the waiting room patiently while Steve sat in a booth answering all sorts of questions and prompts. It doesn't really sink in until he sees Eddie stand from his chair. The knit of his brow tells Steve his face says it all.

“What’s the verdict?” Eddie asks. 

“They’ll let me know when to come in and be fitted for my hearing aids,” he sighs with a frown.

“That’s good!” Eddie smiles as they walk out of the office. 

“Good? Eds, I’m going to have hearing aids,” Steve scoffs.

“Yeah, which means you’ll, y’know, be able to hear,” Eddie points out. 

“Well, yeah, but-”

“Nope, no buts except yours in my van,” Eddie interrupts him and points to the passenger side as they approach the van.

Steve rolls his eyes with a small smile as he climbs in. 

“I just don’t feel like it's that bad,” he admits quietly as the van choked to a start.

“How bad did they say it was?” 

Steve remains silent for a beat as Eddie pulls out. He sighs and glances out the window at the building as they leave.

“I'm working with sixty percent of my hearing in one ear and seventy in the other,” he tells Eddie.

“Stevie,” Eddie breathes with a shake of his head, “If the doctors say these things will help you then they’re worth a shot. M’tired of you bailing out on things- yeah, I noticed.”

Steve’s face flushes at being caught like that. He exhales slowly and nods. 

“Okay,” he agrees, “I’ll give them a shot.”

A couple weeks later he’s called into the office for his hearing aids. Eddie is so quick to drop what he’s doing to go with him it nearly gives Steve whiplash. The sight of Eddie’s van pulling up gives a strange swooping sensation that he's grown used to around Eddie. The appointment itself takes around an hour. Then Steve is walking out fashioned with two white hearing aids hooked over his ears. His eyes are wide as they bounce to the television and then the clacking behind the desk. Eddie beams at him and stands. Steve looks beautiful so stunned. Hell, Eddie can admit that Steve just looks beautiful. 

“C’mon, Stevie, let’s go give’em a spin,” he says with a wolfish grin.

Steve laughs and nods. They don't get far, though. Once they step foot outside Steve comes to a halt. He makes a noise that's a cross between choking and a sob. Eddie’s hands fly to examine him for injury, but there is none. Steve’s lip wobbles, his face is blotchy and red, and his warm toffee eyes are trained on the tree a few feet away. Eddie’s mouth opens to ask, but then Steve’s eyes are on him like that. His eyes overflow with more emotion than Eddie knew a human could hold. 

“The birds,” Steve croaks. 

“What about’em?” Eddie’s brows furrow.

He glances accusingly at the little chirping finches in the tree. Steve chuckles wetly at the sight.

“I- I can hear them. It’s been so long- I didn't even realize,” Steve shakes his head, “I don’t know the last time I’ve actually heard the birds.”

Steve’s wonder-filled gaze turns back to the birds in question. He laughs again, heartier this time at the notion. He can hear birds. 

“Shit,” Eddie whispers to himself, “I’m so in love with you.”

At least he thought it was to himself. An hour ago it would have been to himself. Steve’s face whips around with huge eyes. His lips part slightly as he watches Eddie stunned. Eddie freezes, absolutely terrified. He’s so sure he just fucked it all up. 

“I can hear you too,” Steve whispers.

Eddie swallows the lump in his throat.

“Nah, pretty sure that was a bird too,” he attempts to joke it off. 

“I really hope not,” Steve frowns.

Eddie blinks hopefully.

“Really? Why?”

“Because I’m in love with you too.”

Safe to say, Steve is very happy he got hearing aids. 

Masterlist - beta read by @steveslilshorts