#Steve: Of course you go out with us on date night. That's not that weird--me and Tommy and Carol used to do it all the time.

[augustjustice]

Pre-S1 Steve Harrington who time traveled to the future would at first automatically assume Robin was his girlfriend and Eddie was his boy best friend who tagged along with them everywhere, including on dates. As the person who spent the entirety of his youth as Tommy and Carol's (vaguely romantic and homoerotically charged) third wheel, Steve sees absolutely nothing odd about this except for the fact that he's now apparently willing to spend all of his time...with two band geeks.

[taintedcigs]

— even if it’s handcuffed i’m leaving here with you

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader x eddie munson

summary: steve asks eddie for his handcuffs to spice up things in the bedroom with you, and once things go wrong, the two of you turn to eddie for help… in more ways than one. (wc: 3.1k+)

warnings: MINORS DNI, smut smut smut, or*l (f!receiving), handcuffs duh, lots of praises, dom!eddie, steve kinda subby but also soft!dom? the dynamics are mixed LMAO, pet names (sweetheart, honey, baby, slut), mmf, three way kissing idk

authors note: so this is what happens when a girl mixes her three hyperfixations; 9-1-1, steddie and CHALLENGERS. i wrote this v long ago it is a bit shitty and not proof-read SO IGNORE ALL MISTAKES THANK U. (also this is sm more meaningful to me now bc i got this song as my surprise song like i accidentally manifested this WAIT.)

and please, if you wanna support me; reblog + like + comment ILY!!

Steve is embarrassed.

Embarrassed that he has to ask Eddie for this. For handcuffs to use that he has no idea what the fuck to do with.

And of course Eddie finds it all amusing, a smirk plastered on his face while he teases Steve, rosy-cheeks turning pinker.

And normally, it would've pissed him off, Eddie's teasing, his flirty comments towards you, towards him.

But for some reason, it doesn't.

The three of you have this dynamic that he can't quite put his hand on, it's different, exciting, new, it intrigues him, more than anything.

You and Steve had just started dating, a couple months in, the honeymoon phase and all, and of course, Eddie had been there for it all.

The first moment you caught Steve's eye, you caught Eddie's too, the dynamic settled in then with Steve charming you right away, while Eddie's flirty antics didn't go unnoticed by you.

Yet, somehow, someway, it snowballed into you dating Steve. But it didn't end there. The three of you hung out often.

Very often.

So much so that you had regular movie nights, always ending up high out of your minds with Eddie’s shitty weed, talking each other's ears off 'till the sun came up.

You knew everything about his life, his shitty band gigs (the one Steve dragged you to, and surprisingly his music didn't suck), his uncle, his girlfriends. Or the lack thereof.

Eddie always mentioned how he just hadn't found the right one yet, just a bunch of meaningless sex.

And he made sure to always come to the both of you afterwards, telling everything, in great fucking detail too. 

Maybe it was weird for anyone else. But for the three of you, it was your normal. 

Especially for you, because you enjoyed them. Enjoyed his stories as they made you squirm in your seat. Reactions not going unnoticed by Steve.

And it's what led to Steve wanting to spice things up in the bedroom with you. He knew the sex was great. He was obsessed with you, and you were with him.

But, fuck, there was something missing. Something he couldn't pin point exactly. And he was willing to try out anything, especially when he remembered how much you reacted to one of Eddie's stories with the handcuffs, later mentioning to him that you really liked the idea.

The idea of losing control, giving yourself fully to another partner, and Steve's knees almost gave out right then and there.

He didn't know where the fuck to obtain handcuffs, hence why he immediately ended up at Eddie's door, enduring his endless teasing, sort of hoping that he'd offer to help.

An idea that crossed his mind, but one that he'd never verbalize, unless, you mentioned it too.

The second he showed you the handcuffs you squealed in excitement, putting on your best lingerie, making a show out of everything before the two of you didn't hesitate to jump on each other. His clothes scattered in the room, you in your lingerie, hungry for each other.

His mouth lingered, scent so intoxicating that you could feel your thighs dampen, lips all over your skin and hands squeezing whatever he could grab onto, both of you feral.

“Y'know I didn't wanna have to do this,” he murmurs into your lips, bringing the cuffs in your view, playing into it, enjoying the giggles you give him in return. 

“Please, sir, promise I'll be good,” you pout with those doe eyes, making Steve almost cave in, cock stirring against his tight boxers, begging to be attended to. 

He gives a rough grunt before pining your hands above your head “That’s my girl.” 

“But you still have to be punished,” he hisses quietly, putting his weight on top of you, the cold metal off the first cuff making you shiver, he tightens it as soon as he locks it, making sure your other wrist is free, for now. “Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on ya, doll.” His hums make you whine loudly.

“For now.” You can feel his smirk widening when his lips attack yours again, hungry, as his bulge presses against your inner thighs, his hand holding your cuffed one in place, making you mewl desperately, kisses traveling down your chest. 

And of course, you use his distraction to your advantage, quickly grabbing onto his free hand, the second cuff clicking onto its place before he can even attempt to protest. 

“I guess we’re even now, pretty boy,” you tease with a sultry voice, but Steve’s head pops up to meet your doe eyed gaze with a panic. 

“Did you just handcuff us both to the bed?” He asks, shear dread overtaking his face, making you furrow your brows. 

“Yeah, baby, that’s the whole point,” you giggled, attempting to kiss him again but he pulled away. “Fuck,” he groaned, making you roll your eyes. 

“Oh c’mon, I know you have a thing for women being in control.” 

True, and it would’ve turned him on, almost made him bust out right then and there, if the context was any different, but instead he could just groan in panic. “Oh, sweetheart, I do, but fuck-”

“What?” You ask, face puzzled.

“The keys are in my pockets,” he murmurs, gaze trailing near the dresser. 

Your eyes follow his, the jeans you threw in a hurry were placed upon the dresser, far away from the two of you, and there was no physical way to reach for them. 

Both of you, cuffed to the bed, and no one there to save you.

“Oh, shit.” 

-

The two of you tried every possible position to get out, but there was no fucking luck, and that’s when you finally settled on calling someone for help. 

It was obvious the only person you could call for help was Eddie, but you knew his teasing would be relentless, curls bouncing each time a laughter rumbled from his stomach, making you huff out immaturely. 

“Seriously, Eddie, this isn’t funny!” Steve chided, a bit playfully considering he knew how stupid the two of you must’ve looked, and it just made Eddie chuckle louder and louder. 

“Are you kidding? This is the highlight of my week!” 

“C’mon, Eds, just help us.” Your soft tone caught his attention quickly, his smirk disappearing just as fast before he approached the two of you closer, now able to get a much better look at the two of you. 

“Oh, Harrington, what did you even do?” He rambled, trying to ignore that feeling he always got, but this time much stronger, you in your lingerie, and Steve’s obvious bulge that made Eddie gulp physically. Shit.  

“I totally should’ve offered to teach you both.” He didn’t even know where the fuck that came from. Word vomit.  

“Why didn’t you?” Curiosity got the best of you, and you didn’t even realize the implications of your words, until the two boys snapped their heads in your direction, like you’ve blurted out the most scandalous shit ever. 

“I- uh- what?” Eddie stammered, eyeing Steve carefully, not knowing if this was a joke. Or if both of you actually meant it.

He never thought it was possible. This. The three of you. Sure the dynamic between all of you had been tethering on something more. But never straight forward like this. 

It surprised both of you when Steve spoke up, lips twitching into a smirk. “Why didn’t you offer to teach us?” The two of you finished each other’s sentences, it almost looked intentional, as if the two of you have planned this, like the two of you ever talked about this. 

You didn’t, it was just natural. Something you both had been too ashamed to admit. 

Something even Eddie couldn’t admit to himself, other than a few jokes, and some drunken confessions here and there, but nothing like this.

All he ever wanted.

Eddie’s usual confidence was wavering, and it was amusing to see, exciting. Something you’d love to explore. Make him beg. God, you knew he’d sound pretty as fuck when he whined. 

“W-would you guys want that?” Stammering, again, yet you can’t get too cocky, because you know once Eddie fully wraps his head around what the fuck is happening, he’ll lean back into that domineering side. After the countless stories the two of you  have heard, it intrigues you both. So you and Steve unanimously help him to get there. 

“If we didn’t, we wouldn’t offer it, Munson,” you encouraged, watching the way his eyes oggle both of you, curious, ecstatic, that dirty mind conjuring something.

“So… you’re both sure about this?” 

“Sure that I want to be fucked by both of you? I think so, Munson.” You roll your eyes, so bored of the fact that you’ve been handcuffed for the past twenty minutes with no action, and because you knew it’d rile Eddie up. You’ve seen the flare in his gaze before, jaw locking in each time you rolled your eyes at him. 

And it works, like a switch, you see the dominance bubbling up on his face.

“Feisty that one, isn’t she, Stevie?”

“Mmhm, the dirtiest mouth,” Steve adds, soft hands squishing your cheeks with a smirk, insides feeling gooey with the way they both eye you. 

He tssked, “Haven’t you taught her some manners?” You whined slightly at that comment, they both knew what you wanted, what you desired, your boundaries… everything. 

A dynamic that’s been brewing for months… finally exploding into reality, and of fucking course you couldn’t hide your excitement, making Eddie grin. 

He’s quick to uncuff Steve, a groan leaving his lips at the relief from the cold metal against his skin, making Eddie’s cock stir at the sound. His two play things. And he’s going to have so much fun. 

“Wanna help me teach her some manners, pretty boy?” Steve didn’t even answer, holding you down and spreading your thighs while Eddie grabbed your other hand, cuffing you properly this time, tightening it and relishing in your pathetic mewls. 

Biting the inside of your thighs, Steve didn’t hesitate to tease you, spreading your pussy lips open to show it to Eddie, both of them grinning hungrily, “look how pretty she looks, Eds.” 

“Such a gorgeous pussy,” Eddie hummed, admiring, groaning with a deep sigh. 

All he fucking dreamed about. 

Glistening with your arousal, inviting him in, and those goddamn sultry eyes were driving him insane, making him blink twice to make sure he wasn’t imagining, both of you looking at him like you wanted to eat him up. 

A kind of attention he wasn’t used to, but it got him more and more riled up, confident, trailing his fingers by your inner thighs, the sensation of Steve’s lips brushing against your thighs while Eddie’s fingertips softly teased at your skin was something straight out of a dream. 

Eddie looked at Steve, a subtle need to get his permission to press his lips to you.

So new… boundaries blurred and unknown, and Steve was quick to nod, hungrily watching the two of you, cock straining so hard against his boxers that he was aching.

Desperate. 

Eddie was more or less the same, especially when you initiated the kiss, the softness of your lips brushing against his, making him whine pathetically. 

It didn’t take long for him to take control again, the dynamic between the three of you changing ever so quickly, Steve still ghosting inside of your thighs, stomach, chest, legs, everywhere.

And shit… Eddie was a good kisser. 

His lips were demanding, soft but somehow still teasing, attentive. His tongue didn’t meet much resistance as it danced against yours, smooth, on beat, the type that made flutters appear in your stomach, all the while Steve’s touches making your thighs dampen. 

Too much. But in the best way possible. 

If your hands weren’t tied up, it would’ve been surfing through their soft hair, demanding more attention, making you grew more and more frustrated, a smirk sitting on both of their lips at your pathetic moans. 

A light scruff of Eddie’s beard scratched against your cheeks before he broke the kiss, “Steve,” he hummed, gaining his attention, head popping up all ecstatic, “C’mere.” 

Both of them stick to your side, weight of the bed shifting as the gazes exchanged almost burned each other through the core. Full of longing, desire, and hunger.  

Eddie angled your face toward Steve, “Kiss her,” he demanded.

A demand that didn’t take Steve a second longer to obey, thick fingers brushing against your face as his big hands cupped your heated cheeks, with your lips parted slightly he didn’t hesitate to push his tongue inside your mouth, possessing you fully, completely, an uncontrollable whine slipping past your lips. 

“Fuck,” Eddie whispered, “you guys are so hot.” His breath fanned against your neck, hot hands running down your body, all three of you growing more and more impatient with each ragged breath, Steve’s tongue still shoved down your throat while Eddie played with your breasts, lips on your neck, making you squirm. 

You could feel Eddie’s needy cock pressing against your ass, while Steve’s was barely confined in his boxers, prodding against your thigh, you don’t know how or when it happened but Eddie had joined in on the kiss too, the three of your lips moving in synch, busy between each other’s hot mouths, tongues curious and on beat, all magical and tempting.

Dark depths you always wanted to explore but never could, sloppy and filthy in the best way possible, shutting your eyes close as you enjoyed it, felt it all. 

Unsure of who’s tongue was tangled in yours at this point but you could careless, disorienting you in a way that you couldn’t tell whose hands were hot all over your body, everywhere, messy, and uncontrolled. 

And fuck, did you need more. 

You could tell they did too, dicks twitching against you in a way that made you flutter. 

And it felt like the three of you communicated, telepathically, because both of them, somehow managed to break the kiss, making your face fall in for more, unable to do anything with your hands cuffed to the bed. Infuriating, and not helping the wetness that had well already pooled inside of you. 

“Awww, our pretty baby is needy, isn’t she?” Eddie mocked, both of them shifting down to your thighs, attention all on you as they spread you wider, mesmerized gaze following your every slight twitch. 

“Relax,” Eddie cooed, amber gaze dangerously warm, both making you whine and giving you comfort at the same time, and before you could think, Steve’s hands warmed you up as well. 

“Let us take care of you,” he added, and you couldn’t help but enjoy their squeezing, kneading, making you feel so fucking good. 

You nodded, squirming as Eddie’s bearded chin tickled your skin, planting kisses inside of your thigh, while Steve’s fingers teased you, and all you could do was whine, hips rising from the bed, lust overshadowing the initial doubt. 

“That’s our good girl,” Eddie praised, your thighs spread open, pussy exposed, completely. The two of them taking care of you, hands everywhere and one of their thumbs teasing your entrance, collecting your juices, smearing it around your lips, making you go airborne. 

You could barely comprehend what happened when fingers slipped inside of you, one at first, then two, slicked in your juices, teasing, pumping in and out of you.

Head thrown back, you embrace the euphoria, different fingers entering inside of you, both of them deeper and deeper, squelching noises and your whimpers so heavenly that Eddie could feel his cock twitching, while Steve pathetically rutted into the sheets, desperate for some friction.

Fingering you until you could hear how wet you were, opening you up. Fully exposed to them.

You were too fucked out to notice that they had both started kissing your pussy lips, lapping up your juices, drinking you in, Eddie on one side and Steve on the other. 

Heaven-sent.

You moaned like a bitch in heat, Eddie and Steve’s dripping cocks stirred at the sound, desperate to make you cum, to taste you.

Their fingers linked inside of you, thumbs continuing their rubs, and that hot white spot appeared behind your eyes. 

You wanted to cum.

Fuck that.

You needed to cum.

And who were they to deny their little angel? 

You had earned it.

Back arched, hands tight against the cuffs, all you could do was mewl as their fingers were stretching you, licks all over your hole making your breath ragged, “E-Eds… Stevie… I-I… shit!” 

Eddie was quick to pop his head to meet your gaze, fingers still continuing their movements, flicking your sensitive spots as he gave you that goddamn grin again. “You wanna cum doll… don’t ya?” 

Your body was frail. The most beautiful ache. Your entire nerve system felt like it was about to explode. 

Everywhere. All at once. 

“Come for us,” Steve  encouraged, his and Eddie’s fingers moving faster, Steve lapping up your juices while Eddie’s tongue found your clit, sucking on it like it was his lifeline. 

The softest tongue, but the roughest movements. Just fucking perfect. 

“Oh, fuck!” You hissed, “E-Eddie, S-Steve!” 

“That’s right, slut, scream our name while you come for us,” Eddie demanded. 

And fuck you wanted more, so much more. Just the idea of having two of them inside of you at the same time was enough to have your eyes roll all the way to the back of your head. 

But you couldn’t wait. 

“You-you’re both so… fuck… fu… fu… fuckkkkk…” Your words got caught in the back of your throat, pathetic noises was all they could make out, especially as Eddie’s tongue circled around your clit, suckling, fingers working faster as it finally brought you over the edge. Making you jerk and come so hard that white spots flew behind your eyes. 

The wildfire and the chemistry between the three of you burning your insides, that tingling warm sensation prickling every inch of your skin. 

“God, you taste perfect, sweetheart,” Eddie praised with a low hum. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to hear that fucking moan?”

“You’re so fucking hot, baby,” Steve growled, making you his while he gently uncuffed you, each of their praises sending warm tingles down your spine.

Fuck, they were good. 

And as Steve was about to get up, Eddie stopped him with a quick tut. “Okay, pipe down, sweetheart, you still have a lot to learn.” 

With that dumbfounded look on his face, he turned to face Eddie, making him grin wider. 

“Oh, Stevie you look so cute with that confused look on your face, such a pretty face isn’t he?” Eddie’s attention turned to you, still so domineering that all you could do was frantically nod. 

“Do you wanna help me teach him, baby?” You nodded, again, gaze glazed, overtaken by desire.

The two of you were quick to pin him down, skin meshing all together when you helped Eddie cuff him.

“Let us take care of you, pretty boy.” 

[alotofpockets]

Seeking comfort | Natasha Romanoff

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Prompt: "I didn't know where else to go."

Masterlist | Marvel masterlist | Words: 1.3k

A little over a week ago Natasha had left to go on an Avenger mission, it wasn’t the first mission she went on since the two of you started dating six months ago, but it had been the longest one. Every day that Natasha was away, your worries for her wellbeing grew. You weren’t in the superhero world yourself, so it was all still rather new for you. 

The more that your worries grew, the harder it got for you to sleep at night, it was getting to the point where you woke up to a nightmare every hour or so. You decided to text Wanda to ask if maybe you could stay at the Compound for a bit. She agreed instantly and texted you the address. You had met the Avengers on a few occasions but it had always been for events that were elsewhere, so when you walked up on the Compound’s gigantic driveway, your eyes looked all over the place, taking in the enormous buildings. 

Wanda opened the door and let you in. "Sorry, I didn't know where else to go." She shakes her head, “No worries, you’re always welcome here. Let me show you around.” After a tour of the Compound you found yourself in the common room where a bunch of the Avengers were gathered, “Hey y/n, good to see you!” Steve gets up and gives you a hug. “We were just about to start a movie, want to join us?” Natasha’s friends surrounding you was a nice distraction, of course you still had your worries, but at least your mind wasn’t constantly on those anymore. 

It was getting late when the movie ended, so Wanda showed you to Natasha’s room. At first it felt a little bit weird being in your girlfriend’s room, without having you by her side, but it quickly started to feel comforting. Her familiar scent was all around you, pictures and trinkets filled the shelves in her room. You look around, and find pictures with her teammates, her family, as well as a few with the two of you. You smile when you come across the picture that you deemed your favorite picture of the two of you. It made you feel warm inside that Natasha collected all these memorabilia from her favorite moments, there was something so sweet about it. 

Once you finished looking around her room, you went ahead and found a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants in her closet. Wearing her clothes made you feel instantly closer to her, as you slipped into her bed and laid your head down on her pillow. It was the first night that the nightmares stayed away. Your night was peaceful, until a slight shaking woke you up. “Hi baby.” The familiar voice of your girlfriend whispers softly. You have to blink a few times in order to realize that you aren’t dreaming, and that your girlfriend is actually sitting beside you on the bed. “Nat!” You sit up and fall into her arms, “I missed you so much.” She wraps her arms around you and kisses the top of your head. “I’ve missed you too, detka.” After a moment of quiet embrace Natasha speaks up, her voice still soft. “Not that I don’t love having you here, but how come you’re here?” 

“I missed you so much, and I was so worried about you, so I asked Wanda if I could come by the Compound for a bit. Then I was invited to join movie night and Wanda let me stay the night because it was getting late. It has been so nice sleeping in your room though, it helped with the missing part a bit.” Natasha smiles down at you, “Well, let me get changed real quick and I will join you.” After she presses a soft kiss to your forehead, she walks over to her closet to pick out some pajamas.

Natasha lays down beside you in her bed, “Come on, let’s get some more sleep, and then we can catch up tomorrow. How does that sound?” You hum in agreement, already fighting to keep your eyes open. Natasha turns on her side to put her phone down on her nightstand, you take it as an opportunity to wrap your arm around her, and snuggle into her back. Your girlfriend scooted back into you a bit, getting comfortable herself, she intertwined her fingers with yours and pulled them closer to her chest. 

The comfort of your girlfriend laying safely in your arms, let your body drift away in a peaceful slumber. Natasha stays awake for a while longer, her thumb rubbing lightly over the back of your hand. She was so glad to be with you again, your arms wrapped around her, and your legs intertwined. There wasn’t anywhere she would rather be than in your arms. She had missed you so much while she was away, it made her realize just how much she loved you. Natasha had missed you every moment of every day that she had been apart from you. She knew that being away was a part of her job, but the way she had missed you the past week, made her realize something. She wanted to come home to you.

Natasha had let you sleep in, realizing you needed the extra rest. She was watching so sleep, not in a creepy way, just full of love. You woke up to her green eyes lighting up at the realization that you were awake. “Good morning, baby.” Your voice slightly raspy. “Good morning, detka, how did you sleep?” She gently moves some hair away from your face. “Better than I have the whole week, I love when I get to fall asleep with you.” Natasha’s smile widens at your words, now was the perfect time to ask you. “I would love to come home to you, like how I did last night. It made me so happy, so I wanted to ask you if maybe you would want to move in together?” Her question got you to wake up fully fast. “I would love that.” You hug her tight and start placing kisses all over her face. “That would be perfect.” 

A couple weeks later you were moving into a beautiful apartment in New York, close to the Compound and your job. It had big windows overlooking the Hudson river, one of the few requests that Natasha had for an apartment. Her view on the Hudson river had always helped her calm down when she was looking out of her window in the Compound. All of the Avengers that were around helped the two of you move in, declining Tony’s offer to pay for the movers, you wanted to share this experience with Natasha, without missing any part of it. 

When everything was moved in the Avengers stayed for some take out dinner, the first meal shared in your shared home with Natasha. After they left, you took Natasha’s hand and walked around your new house together. Talking about all the ideas the both of you had to turn your house into a home. 

The first night in your new place was special, and Natasha wanted to make sure that it would be memorable. She took out her polaroid camera and took a few pictures of the both of you. Since movie nights were special to the both of you, Natasha had set everything for a relaxing evening in bed, filled with your favorite movies, and snacks. The pile of polaroids grew, and you couldn’t wait to fill your home with memories, just like you had seen in Natasha’s room back at the Compound. 

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[munsster]

best friends kiss

A/N: i LOVE oblivious pining/ yearning trope, see me running it into the ground for the next month give or take

Pairings: Best Friend!Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Summary: What’s a heartfelt makeout sesh between good friends? 1.0k words

Warnings: best friends to? lovers, established friendship, fluff, kissing!, denial of romance, obliviousness to the point of frustration, insecurity surrounding relationships, reader uses she/her pronouns otherwise character descriptions are gender neutral, reference to canon

“So… are you two dating?”

Perched side by side, legs intertwined, fingers locked, foreheads nearly touching as giggles pass through the limited space. You’ve got your hand wound into the hair at the back of his head, and his fingertips are digging into your soft and denim-clad thigh like he knows you that well. That intimately.

It’s movie night, and Mike Wheeler doesn’t understand how distinct the line between friends and lovers should be.

You look at each other like the question was outrageously offensive. Like even the thought is abhorrent. Yuck and gross and more laughter as you both vehemently deny any sentiment of the sort.

“Not even close, Wheeler.” His hand is on your thigh.

“It’s too hard to explain best-friendship to youngins these days.” He looks at you with a glimmer in his eye, and you push your fingers through his hair to his neck.

Just an hour before, chocolate fudge had melted down the side of your sundae bowl, coating your fingers in sticky-sweet sludge. Steve had noticed almost immediately—the two of you had been sharing a serving—and seized the cup from your hands, lifting your fingers to his mouth so he could lick the topping from your hot skin.

Everyone was ogling at the two of you. This again.

“Thanks, stud,” you had teased.

“Anything for my darling sweetums.”

A loud snort and a half-cackle later and you two were back to silently sharing a spoon and inching closer beneath your sherpa blanket.

And it wouldn’t be half as weird or awkward in your head if, back at your shared apartment, it wasn’t all silence and shy glances. Back at your shared apartment, there’s no sharing spoons or blankets or handholding or giggling. There is space between your seating arrangements, and your schedules are offset to avoid unwarranted eye contact. It’s awkwardly domestic like there’s something to be nervous about. Something unconfronted and unconfrontable.

Not like it’s ever been uncomfortable. No, the snack bowl is a safe divider for solo movie nights and there’s a diner down the road where the two of you opt to eat in silence and split the check. The silence is welcomed, of course, but different. Different from the hustle and bustle of the high school rascals and Family Video and house parties. Different and, at times, swell.

“Stevie…”

You coo it, and he glances over at you with a mouth full of popcorn, drunk on the gentle way you manage to command his attention like that. The light of the TV drenches your cheek blue and white, and he smiles when you wriggle beneath your blanket.

“Mhm?” There’s popcorn grease painted across his mouth, and it makes you laugh. He rolls his eyes. “Well, would’ya mind helping me out a little?”

“If you insist,” you huff, pushing onto your knees, abandoning the large bowl to the side, one hand firm on his shoulder, the other gripping his jaw. You lean in, and his heart stops when your tongue pokes out against his cupid’s bow. His eyes go wide when you pull back enough to realize what you’ve done.

But he’s already got his fist in the collar of your tee, tugging you into his space once more, mouths open and clobbering for a long-awaited kiss. Or kisses with the way your bodies hold each other closer.

Well, not as long-awaited as legend would have it; the two of you have kissed many times before. On the cheek, on the hand, on the forehead, Hell, even on the mouth. But this time, it’s more than a ‘hello’ or a new year’s eve, it’s without reason and without rhyme in your shared living room on your shared couch with the lights low and nobody but the two of you to bear witness. To breathlessness and close-contact that goes no further than a few needy kisses on a Thursday night.

The half heart necklace that dangles around your neck magnetizes to the matching one he wears. It’s from a theme park gift shop about two hours out of the way of Hawkins and it’ll crumble if you tug it hard enough, but you both convince yourselves it’s better that way. The kids don’t understand your interactions, and they’re in a constantly inconsistent state of ‘why’ and ‘ew’ and curiosity and waiting for something normal to happen. Something less platonic and more tangible, maybe.

Because Steve is treating you like a girlfriend. Not only that, but he’s doing a damn good job at it. He surprises you with hand-picked dandelions and buys drinks for you and gives you discounts and drives you everywhere.

But he’ll deny it.

“Nah, I’d be no good at it”—the whole ‘boyfriend’ thing—“I’ve tried it. I think I was made for the friendzone.”

And as delightful it may be to imagine, you’ll find it unnecessary.

“We’re just good friends. We already do most of the couply stuff, so why try and put a label on it?”

Dustin felt so out of the loop at one point, he decided to conduct his own mock-interview. Set up a stolen borrowed camera from the audio-visual room and hung a sheet up behind his desk chair to act as a backdrop. You had laughed when he called Mr. Steven Harrington into the studio.

“Do I love her?” Steve had laughed and gone a little pink at Dustin’s third question, the first and second being on the subject of favorite colors and ideal first dates. “‘Course, I do. We’re best friends, aren’t we?”

“Aw, c’mon, do I love him? What is this, preschool?” It had made your heart flutter in a moment of unexpected vulnerability. “We’re mature adults, we obviously love each other.”

Would you ever date each other?

“…”

“…”

“Hadn’t thought about it.”

“Hmm, that’s a hard question.”

But Steve still thinks about the way you pressed your tongue to his upper lip, and you still think about the way he looked at you when you pulled away.



masterlist

[tinytalkingtina]

Fancy Falling Into You Here

Written for the August @steddiemicrofic prompt, using the word "plug" and 437 words.

437 words | Rating T | Ao3 link

On their first date, Steve and Eddie come to realize they had first met under much more embarrassing circumstances.

Tags: EMT Steve, Coffee shop owner/clumsy Eddie, first date, minor injuries (nothing described in detail), modern AU, embarrassment, BBC's Sherlock haunting all of us when plugging in our phones

Inspired by @dreamwatch for making me think of steddifying this post! Author's notes under the cut

"G-d damn BBC Sherlock," Eddie grumbled as he fumbled plugging his phone into its charging cable for a third time. "Stupid Benedict Cumberbatch and his weird attractive cheekbones." 

A snort from the couch reminded him he actually had company, oops.

Eddie gave his date a grin. "Sorry, I'd love to say that I'm normally as graceful as a swan or something, but as you've seen, unfortunately abject clumsiness is par for the course. It's a miracle my coffee shop's still standing."

It was fine. He could still salvage this and come off as less of a disgruntled sad wet cat man to Smooth Hottie with Glasses and That ButtTM of daily matcha latte with oat milk order fame. Still, Hottie (who went by "Steve", apparently) didn't really seem turned off by Eddie's whole deal. He just laughed.

"Oh, trust me, I've seen much worse. My first year as an EMT, we got a call to a college dorm. This unlucky dude fell off the top bunk and somehow broke both legs and an arm.”

Eddie froze, his quest to charge his phone completely forgotten.

“Plus the guy managed to down the shade on the way too, honestly it was an impressive amount of damage from a 4 foot drop," Steve continued on, oblivious. “One of the funniest calls me and my partner have gotten, and we once had to take care of someone who accidentally fell on a Buzz Lightyear toy and somehow got it stuck up their—you okay man?"

"I panicked and thought the cord would hold my weight." Eddie hid his face in his hands.

"Oh shit. You're 'broke all his bones man'?”

This was a nightmare. "Oh my G-d, I was so woozy. Please tell me I didn’t say anything weird.”

“You asked if I could ‘kiss your booboos better.’ Guess you’ve grown out your hair since?”

"I had to buzz it all off that semester because I had an Incident with some gum," Eddie groaned. "You can go now, I won't hold it against you."

He heard Steve slide closer. "And what makes you think your whole 'Bambi on ice' thing isn't working for me?"

Eddie cracked open an eye. "You sure about that?"

"Pretty sure," he said with a wink. "Plus, if you meet my friend Robin, she's known me since high school. Which means she unfortunately has photos of my braces years. You’re gonna have to stick around long enough to see em."

Eddie stared. Smooth Hottie still wanted him somehow? "Okay Big Boy, looks like I will." 

Steve smiled back. “Good. Now, lean back, I owe you a few kisses.”

Authors notes:

In case you weren't on Tumblr in the early-mid 2010's and remain blissfully unaware of BBC's Sherlock, please watch this clip to understand why Eddie is cursing Benedict Cumberbatch when he fails to plug in his phone fully sober

Eddie, Jeff, and Chrissy run a little coffee shop (complete with monthly open mic/karaoke nights) that EMTs Steve and Robin frequent. Not to worry, Robin will eventually meet her future wife Vickie at the shop after Vickie wins her heart with a rendition of "Before He Cheats."

Originally I had injured Eddie ask Steve about his biblically accurate angel form, but since I decided that Eddie's accident took place around 2010, and the angel meme only took off in 2020, I rewrote the line to be about kissing his booboos. Let's pretend this happens after a separate accident befalls Eddie (he'll be fine): Eddie: Ouch, I was out of it after they gave me the painkillers. I think I called you an angel? Steve: Yeah, you asked if my biblically accurate form had eyes as pretty as my human ones.

[steviesbicrisis]

Thinking about Steve and Eddie being totally clueless about their sexuality because they both had bro friendship which was more of a romantic relationship but they didn't know so they think whatever they're doing is just bros being bros.

Thinking about Robin being the only one aware of herself and those two idiots and losing her mind because of them.

--

*getting ready for Pride*

Steve: *rainbow stickers on his cheeks* how do I look?

Eddie: wow you're so pretty

Steve: ah thank you bro

Robin: what the fuck

--

Steve: *upset*

Robin: what happened

Steve: I had a date two nights in a row and I didn't have the time to see Eddie

Steve: it is outrageous

Robin: what about going on dates with Eddie?

Steve: ahaha you're so weird

Robin: *screams into a pillow*

--

Eddie: ... and she's like cool and all but, I don't know. She isn't my type

Robin: what's your type

Eddie: I don't know, someone who cares for their people, someone who acts like the parent of the group, maybe my same height, hot of course, and strong

Eddie: like, I think they should have the strength to pick me up, that would be hot

Eddie: and with gorgeous hair

Robin: sounds like someone I know

Eddie: What??? why haven't you introduced her to me yet???

--

Eddie: *DMing a campaign*

Steve: *sighs* isn't he cute?

Robin: you don't pay me enough for this shit

Steve: I don't pay you...?

Robin: EXACTLY

--

Eddie: Robin I have to ask you something important, it's about me and Steve

Robin: Finally!! It's happening! I've been waiting!!

Eddie: You knew I wanted to ask you who has the best hair??

Robin: I'm going to murder you

Robin: Steve of course

--

Steve: *on Eddie's lap*

Eddie: *petting Steve's hair*

Robin: Explain this.

Robin: in a straight way.

Steve: we're watching a movie??

--

Steve: *flirting with a girl*

Eddie: I hate her

Robin: you literally never spoken to her, how do you know?

Eddie: I'm a great judge of character

--

Eddie: *asking a girl out*

Steve: I hate her

Robin: give me one good reason to hate her

Steve: Eddie is a terrible judge of character

--

Robin: I'm tired of this, I have to get to the core of the problem.

Robin: have you ever had the same relationship you have with Eddie with any other guy??

Steve: Yeah me and Tommy used to be pretty close. You know, playing basketball together, sleeping at each other's place, helping each other with girls...

Steve: ah, and practice kissing of course

--

Robin: you quick, I have no time to waste. Who was your Steve before you met Steve?

Eddie: which one? I've had many close friends since kindergarten. I'm pretty sure my first friend was Andy, we would hold hands all the time. He was such a nice friend

Robin: That explains... so much.

--

Robin: OKAY THAT'S IT!

Robin: have you ever thought there is something a lil gay going on here???

Eddie: What? of course we did!

Steve: Robs we know you're gay

Robin:

Robin: I'm moving out

[supernovafics]

𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

word count: 6.3k words

summary: in which the summer of ‘84 was both the best and worst time of your life

warnings: explicit language, underaged drinking, angst, fluff, implied smut, cheating

author’s note: second part to cardigan (but could be read out of order). i fully did not expect this to end up this long but hope y’all enjoy<33 (full “folklore” album series masterlist here!)

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“but i can see us lost in the memory. august slipped away into a moment in time.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

July 19, 1984

Ten. 

That was how many days in a row you and Steve had seen each other. 

From the first time you two talked to one another outside of Ralph’s Sandwich Shop, his first ever words to you being, “Potato chips on a sandwich? That’s kinda weird,” and the conversation that proceeded from that somehow led you to watching a movie in the theater room at his house that same night. To now this— him spending the majority of his afternoon with you at the library, where you had been working for the past year and a half. 

You wondered how long the two of you would keep the streak alive. 

If it was anyone else you probably would have gotten sick of seeing them that many days in a row, but with Steve you weren’t. In fact, you looked forward to whenever you got to see him again. And maybe that feeling, the anticipation toward seeing this guy who you probably shouldn’t even be seeing this often anyway, should’ve worried you. 

Whenever you thought about how easily the two of you were able to go from absolutely nothing to this— an unlikely friendship that somehow felt like you’d known each other so much longer than barely two weeks— it startled you. 

Before, you had simply known of him; of course, you had, he was practically royalty at your high school. “King Steve,” a charmer, a perpetual flirter, somehow dating straight-A student Nancy Wheeler. It was the combination of those things that told you during that first conversation you had with him that you should stay away from him, but for some reason, you still said yes. 

Maybe it was because the home theater he had been bragging about sounded way too tempting not to take up the offer. Or maybe it was because you liked being an idiot sometimes. 

If it was the latter that was true then you still were an idiot because there you were ten days later still hanging out with him and not regretting it one bit. 

“I need to bring you better games here,” Steve said. He was standing across from you on the other side of the counter. 

“What’s wrong with Uno? Is it because you keep losing?” You jokingly asked, a small smile on your face as you started shuffling the deck. “Also, I’m technically working right now, so I shouldn’t even be playing any games with you.”

“There’s no one here except you and me,” He said and then gestured to the quietness that surrounded you both. “Actually, I think the only other person that’s been in here all day was that old lady who just wanted directions to the park.”

You loved your job at the library and you really didn’t mind how it was rarely busy, especially during the summer, because it meant that you could spend most of your shifts reading instead of helping someone find what they needed or reshelving books. Now the majority of your non-busy moments during your shift were spent with Steve. 

“What are you doing tonight?” He asked as you began dealing the cards, because what else was there to do but play another round of Uno? 

“My guess is hanging out with you,” You answered. “What’s happening?” 

“Party,” He stated simply, and you realized that probably should’ve been your first guess. “Need us to be beer pong partners again.” 

It had been last week, two days after you and Steve unspokenly decided that hanging out with one another would become a common occurrence, when he dragged you to a party; some too big thing at Matthew Lancaster’s lake house. 

A beer pong table was set up, which was not all surprising for a high school party, and you suggested that you and Steve play and be on a team with one another. You were insanely good, practically making every shot, and Steve wasn’t too bad at playing either, which made your team pretty unstoppable. It was a random hidden talent of yours that you would only show off every once in a blue moon because you deliberately didn’t frequent parties. 

“I’ve retired for the time being,” You told him. “I can’t show off my beer pong skills too often or it won’t be a cool talent anymore.”

He laughed a bit at that but still nodded. “Okay, what do you wanna do tonight instead?” 

“Don’t let me stop you from going to the party.”

Steve shrugged and shook his head. “Probably wouldn’t be fun without you, anyway.”

His words confused you as much as they made you feel so happy. And you quickly pushed that “happy” feeling away because you knew just how fast it could lead to feeling other things; things that would make you look like the worst person in the world.

Once again, you wondered why you were doing this. Why were you allowing yourself to get close to him when you’d probably just look like an idiot in the end? And why had he wanted to talk to you in the first place? Those fleeting questions would hit you a lot over the past few days, but you’d quickly push them away because you didn’t want to think too hard about everything. However, this time you couldn’t force them away. 

“Why?” You asked, breaking eye contact with him for the first time probably that entire afternoon. “Why… are we friends right now?”

If he was surprised or confused by the randomness of your question, he didn’t show it. 

“I don’t know. I wanted to talk to you that day, so I did it,” He made the answer sound so simple. “I didn’t really expect it to turn into this friendship, but it’s nice finally having something that actually feels so easy.”

What about you and Nancy wasn’t easy? 

You wanted to ask that but refrained from doing so. He probably didn’t mean her when he said that. You knew that the only reason why he was with you instead of her, and had been for the past ten days, was because she was out of town for the summer. That thought hurt a bit, knowing that you were essentially some sort of “consolation prize,” but it kept you from looking too much into things. You took everything Steve said that could be read as flirtatious with a grain of salt and forced yourself to see it as solely platonic. 

And you’d rather it all be completely platonic anyway because you really liked the friendship you’d developed with him. 

“You’re right. This does feel easy,” You ultimately responded, smiling at him because now that the unspoken lines were finally verbally drawn— the two of you were friends; nothing more, nothing less— you felt the tiniest bit better about it all. “But, I’m glad it does. I’m happy we’re friends.”

Steve smiled back at you. “Me too.” 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“you back beneath the sun. wishin’ i could write my name on it.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

July 28, 1984

The only reason why you allowed Steve to bring you to this party was because you were a sucker for a bonfire. 

And the only reason why you were currently drunk off your ass was because you couldn’t say no to a game of hide and seek, especially a drinking version of the childish game, which Steve had suggested and you quickly agreed to. 

There was something about this game that made you realize that maybe your entire friendship was a game; a game of who would break first. But, that was something to think about at a different time. Or actually not at all, because thinking further about that would probably only complicate things. 

It was easy to pretend that there was nothing more to you and him when you both were sober. It was also so much easier to lie to yourself that you didn’t feel anything romantic toward him and that you didn’t see that maybe he actually felt the same way too.

There was a constant back and forth happening in your mind, with you continuously telling yourself that being friends with Steve wasn’t a bad idea, even though maybe it was because it was slowly making you want something more. Sometimes it felt as if it made sense to like him; it felt obvious. The way you could talk to each other about anything and everything mixed with how constantly you two wanted to spend time together made you fall in so deep so fast. 

But, you couldn’t accept or think about any of that, and the reasons why were painfully obvious. 

However, with the alcohol currently clouding your brain, that felt like a slightly different story. 

“Sitting behind a tree? Not your best hiding spot.”

Hearing Steve’s voice right then should’ve made you feel at least the tiniest bit upset because it meant that you lost that round of hide and seek, but you drunkenly smiled up at him. 

“I wanted to be original and we’ve been playing for so long I feel like we’ve done everything else at this point. But, that was at least two minutes, though, right?”

“It was actually barely thirty seconds.”

“Oh, wow,” You said with a laugh as you extended a hand up toward him so that he could help you up. You wobbled a bit before getting your balance and then you grabbed the red solo cup in Steve’s free hand to drink the rest of what was left in it as your punishment for losing; the exact contents of the drink were unknown, but it tasted fruity. 

When you were done, you handed the cup back to him and then leaned back against the tree because it somehow felt nice and you weren’t bothered by the roughness of it touching the parts of your skin that the tank top you were wearing didn’t cover.

There were a ton of people at the infamous “Lover’s Lake” because of the party, but nobody had been paying attention to you and Steve running around like five-year-olds playing hide and seek and getting severely drunk in the process.  

The lopsided grin taking over Steve’s features let you know that he was just as inebriated as you were, maybe even more so because he’d been drinking a bit before you two started the game. 

“Maybe we should be done with hide and seek now.”

You gave him a nod. “That sounds like a good idea.” 

Things became quiet for a few moments with the two of you solely staring at each other in the darkness and ignoring the loud rowdiness of everyone else who was only a few feet away. Steve closed a bit of the distance between you both and leaned in close to you; his gaze flickered down to your lips for a hint of a second before going right back to your eyes.  

If this was any other moment, your mind would be running a million miles a minute, screaming at you to not allow the inevitable to happen. But, somehow, you were actually calm. 

“We can’t do that, friend,” You told him, making your voice sound as serious as possible, but you couldn’t help but smile a bit. 

“I know,” He responded but still shut the final space of distance between you both, bypassing your lips and kissing your cheek instead. “That’s okay, though, right?”

The reasonable side of you was obviously telling you to say “no,” but it was hard to make yourself care enough to listen to it. “I’ll allow it.”

The three words came out so quietly, but Steve heard you. He kissed your other cheek and then your forehead and then your nose before pulling away and smiling at you. 

Before he could say anything, you did the same to him; kissing both of his cheeks, his forehead, and his nose, and then pulling back to lean against the tree again. That time it was your eyes that glanced down at his lips before going back to his eyes. 

You were so close to doing it, and he almost begged you to, but then you were pushing off of the tree and asking him to turn around. 

“Piggyback ride to the car, please?”

“We can’t drive right now,” He said as he leaned down a bit so you could hop onto his back. 

You nodded even though he couldn’t see you. “I know, but I will die if I don’t sit down.”

The walk to your car should’ve taken less than a minute, but instead, it nearly took five because, of course, the two of you got a little lost and it took way too long to realize that the first car you had walked past was yours. 

“God, we’re acting like such idiots right now,” You said, laughing as Steve let you down so you could get into the car. 

He laughed too as he got in on the passenger side. “Yeah, definitely not our finest moment.”   

You sighed in contentment when you leaned back against the seat, immediately finding comfort in it, which definitely said a lot about how drunk and exhausted you were because you never usually found your car as super comfortable. 

You turned on your side to face Steve, and as if feeling your gaze on him, he turned to look at you as well. You silently admired each other. Sometimes it felt as if a thousand things were being said in the silences you two shared with one another, things that would probably always be left unsaid. 

“I really like you,” He whispered suddenly and you realized that maybe not everything silently said would be left unspoken. 

You let out a small breath before closing your eyes because it felt too hard to look at him right then. “I really like you too.”

“Please let me kiss you.”

It was difficult to describe exactly what his words managed to do to you, and you tried your hardest to disregard those feelings. 

“We can’t.” You shook your head, eyes still shut. “It’ll ruin everything.”

“What if that’s okay?” He said, voice still quiet. 

It could’ve been easy.

To finally do what you both had desperately wanted to do for weeks at this point, but had refused to admit. And doing it at this moment instead of any other time because, with the drunken states you both were in, none of this would be remembered. Which would also mean that it didn’t really happen, right? 

Your eyes finally opened and you looked at him. “Neither of us is gonna remember this conversation in the morning.”

“You’re probably right.”

“And if you did, you’d regret saying any of this,” You said, and your words were met with silence from him. You couldn’t tell if that meant that they were the truth, or instead, quite far from it. 

Even in your inebriated state, you were too scared to push him further and get an answer because you were unsure which response would be worse; “Yes, I’d regret it,” or “No, I wouldn’t regret it at all.”

Before he could potentially say a version of either of those responses, you began speaking again. “I’m really tired.” 

You then pulled your eyes away from him and looked straight ahead at the people that were still partying around the fire. A part of you wanted to join them, but the other part of you just wanted to fall asleep. 

“Me too,” Steve said and with how long he had been quiet, you were actually surprised to hear his voice right then.

Both of you fell asleep just like that for the time being, putting an end to a conversation that would not be talked about in the morning because just as you’d both assumed, it seemed as if it had been long forgotten.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“salt air, and the rust on your door. i never needed anything more. whispers of ‘are you sure?’ ‘never have i ever before.’”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

July 31, 1984

The sun had long ago set behind the trees, but you and Steve still had no plans to leave his pool anytime soon. 

You swam close to him, your hands finding his shoulders and then pushing down to dunk him under the water. A laugh fell from your lips as you immediately started swimming away, but Steve’s hand quickly found your waist and pulled you back toward him.

“What was that for?” He asked, one arm still wrapped around you, causing your back to be firmly pressed against his chest, while his other hand pushed back his wet hair. 

“For pushing me in the pool earlier,” You answered, only trying for a moment to wriggle out of his grasp but failing miserably so you stopped. 

“That was hours ago.”

“Revenge is best when you don’t see it coming,” You said, smiling widely. 

He laughed against your ear. “You’re evil.” 

You attempted to pull away again but he was still holding on to you, so instead you maneuvered so you were simply facing him instead. 

You were smiling up at him, and you assumed he’d match it with a smile of his own, but he didn’t. Instead, there was a certain look on his face that you couldn’t necessarily decipher. You almost asked him what was wrong, but he started speaking before you got the chance to.

“I remember the conversation we had in your car at the bonfire.”  

You could feel your heart start to race a bit, not expecting things to take that turn. “Oh… You do?”

He nodded his head. “Do you?”

“I remember the whole thing,” You told him, and that was entirely true. You’d spent the past few days constantly thinking about that moment and running through every single thing that was said. You had also tried your hardest to push the memory away because it seemed as if Steve didn’t remember it. 

“I don’t regret anything I said,” He told you and then a hand came up to cup your cheek. “I still really wanna kiss you.”

You were quiet for a moment, letting Steve’s words settle over you, before responding to him in a small voice. “Are you sure?”

Instead of verbally responding, he gave you the smallest of nods and closed the tiny bit of space between you both, dipping his head down and slotting his lips against yours. 

All you could think at that moment was finally.  

Finally, you were this close to one another.

Finally, you were kissing.

Finally, you were doing what you had wanted to do for so long.

The thing that both of you told each other and even convinced yourselves wasn’t going to happen, finally happened. And in a way, it sucked because neither of you felt bad about it, at least not bad enough to stop. 

Your legs wrapped around his waist beneath the water and your arms came up to wrap around his neck, one hand finding its way into the hair at the nape of his neck.

You weren’t in the deepest part of the pool anymore so Steve was able to stand, but both of you were still almost completely submerged in the water. He walked you both over to one of the sides of the pool, pressing you back against it and deepening the kiss. 

Nothing was said, and nothing needed to be said. In fact, you thought that if either of you said something, it would ruin the perfection that was that moment and harshly shove you both back to reality. A reality that told you that this was the farthest thing that should have been happening. 

For the time being, with Steve against you and his lips finding that particularly sensitive part of your neck, you were happy living in this fantasy world. It was a dream that you didn’t want to wake up from, and you convinced yourself that it wouldn’t hurt too bad when you did finally have to wake up from it. 

“We should…” You took a breath, biting back the moan that threatened to spill from your lips as Steve continued the assault on your neck. Your next word should’ve been “stop,” but stopping this was the absolute last thing you wanted to do. “We should go to your room.” 

He finally, and sadly, pulled away from your neck and pressed a quick kiss against your lips. “That sounds like a great idea.”

You detached yourselves from one another just enough to step out of the pool and into his house, wet bodies leaving drops of water across the floor that weren’t the slightest bit cared about. 

You couldn’t keep your hands off of each other.

After getting as close as you just had been, it was hard to go back to how it used to be; the friendliness and innocence that had surrounded the brief touches you two would usually share. Instead, your hand was intertwined with his as he led you up the stairs, and then his arms circled around you when you entered his room, cocooning you in the towel he’d grabbed from behind his door. 

It was you that kissed him that second time. 

You reached up to push his wet hair back and then leaned in, inwardly sighing in contentment. Both of his hands found your waist, causing the towel to fall and it was immediately long forgotten. 

When you pulled away you took the smallest step back and simply looked at him, his pretty face and soft brown eyes that were full of nothing but adoration for you. You tried your hardest to find something within you that resembled regret or made you want to stop this, but you couldn’t. And you knew exactly what that said about you, but it was also difficult to force yourself to care about that either. 

Steve eagerly brought you close to him again, which made you smile into the kiss he pulled you into. He slowly started leading you back toward his bed.

“Wait,” You said, detaching your lips from his and softly pushing him back a bit. “It would be really rude of me to lay on your bed with my bathing suit on.”

He slowly nodded and swallowed harshly as you removed your top first, letting that fall to the floor, and then going to your bottoms. “That’s very considerate of you.” 

You only smiled at him and his sudden nervousness, which managed to wash away any and all of your own shyness at that moment. 

His eyes met yours. “You’re so fucking pretty.” 

“You’re not too bad yourself,” You whispered, reaching out to grab his hands and pull him close to you again. You were about to kiss him again, but it was then that you noticed the time on the clock that was hanging on the wall behind him. “Shit, shit.”

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion and a look of concern crossed his face. “What’s wrong?”

“The time,” You answered and then sighed as you started grabbing your bathing suit. “It’s 12:40, and if I’m not home by one, my mom will kill me and then you.” 

“Your mom loves me too much to kill me,” Steve responded, grabbing a t-shirt for you to slip on too. 

“Yeah, kinda weird how after only one meeting where you two barely even talked, she somehow likes you more than me now,” You said as you put on his shirt which kind of swallowed you whole but you loved it and already knew that you would never be giving it back to him.  

You looked up at him and your next words came out quietly. “I’m sorry I have to ruin this right now.” 

Steve shook his head at you. “It’s okay. Don’t be sorry.” Both of his hands found your hips again, squeezing softly. “We’ll pick up where we left off next time.” 

You couldn’t help but smile at that. “Next time?” 

“Mhm, next time,” He said, smiling back at you and nodding. “If you want there to be one?”

“I’d like that,”  You responded and pressed a quick kiss against his lips. 

Even as you headed back downstairs and Steve walked you to your car, kissing you for a few more minutes before you reluctantly drove away, your stomach had yet to fill with even a hint of regret or guilt. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“wanting was enough. for me, it was enough. to live for the hope of it all.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

August 12, 1984

The constant sound of something softly pinging against your window pulled your attention away from the book you were reading in your bed. 

There was only one person that could've been throwing something at your window, but still, you were the tiniest bit surprised when you opened your curtains and saw Steve standing on your front lawn. 

Even though seeing him was such a natural thing at this point, it made sense that you were at least a little surprised because no part of you felt secure with this “thing” you had going on with him, which was more than just a friendship but so much less than any type of actual relationship. You lived in the perpetual state that it would all abruptly end. And maybe that thought process came from you knowing that eventually, this would all have to come to an end; there weren’t that many days of summer left. 

But then there was that tiny slither of hope that maybe it all wouldn’t have to end. You kept that thought buried deep down inside of you, though. 

You lifted your window. “Throwing rocks at my window? That’s very rom-com of you.”

“Sometimes I like to be cheesy,” Steve said, smiling at you. 

It was a sweet, adoring smile that you shouldn’t have been on the receiving end of; it was a smile that didn’t belong to you. It was so easy to see that, but it was nearly impossible to actually do something about it and let him go.

“Can I come up?” He asked. “I promise I’ll be quiet and your mom won’t hear me.” 

“She’s gone for the weekend, actually,” You told him, smiling a bit. “I’ll be down in a second.”

When you opened the front door, he was quick to greet you with a kiss before pulling you in for a hug. 

After that first kiss in his pool, there was an almost immediate shift that happened. An easy shift where you’d gone from constantly telling yourselves that everything was solely platonic to finally allowing yourselves to do every little thing that deep down you both had always wanted to do. With him now always greeting you with soft kisses, and you secretly spending so many nights in his bed because his parents were never home and most of the time it was easy to make up some sort of excuse to your mom. 

Something else shifted too, though. It was a shift that neither of you spoke about because you never really wanted to acknowledge what exactly your friendship had transformed into and what it really meant. Not talking about any of it was a decision that you were unsure if it was completely yours or his because it was all so unspoken. 

When you thought about it hard enough though, you could see that the decision was mutual, because on both sides it was easier to pretend that none of the outside things existed. In that fairytale, he didn’t have a girlfriend, he didn’t belong to anyone else. You were his and he was solely yours. 

“Tell me about this thing that your parents forced you to go to tonight,” You said as Steve kicked off his shoes by the front door and the two of you started heading up the stairs. One of his hands was intertwined with yours and there was barely an inch of space between you both. It had become really hard not to be close to one another.

“It was this big event for my dad’s job, and they always drag me to stuff like that as a way to prove to his coworkers that they’re ‘good parents.’ It was very boring,” Steve responded with a small sigh and then gave your hand a light squeeze. “It would’ve been much less painful if you came.”

He sat down on the foot of your bed when the two of you walked into your room, and the oversized t-shirt you had on as your pajamas rode up a lot as you settled yourself in his lap, knees on either side of his thighs and hands resting on his shoulders. It was an un-innocent position that, for the time being, felt quite the opposite. 

“Going to something like that is something a girlfriend would do, not…” That was the first time you’d even minorly referred to Nancy, and it felt both weird and wrong. It woke you up for a second and made you falter a bit in your next words, breaking Steve’s gaze. “Not a… friend.” 

One of his hands found the side of your thigh, rubbing the skin softly and trying to pull you back into this moment with him. You could feel him reading you so easily and knowing where your mind was going, and he didn’t want you to go there, and neither did you. 

You didn’t want this– you and him, him and you– to break just yet.

“Um, anyway, you didn’t tell me that it would be so formal,” You said, gesturing with your head to the suit he was wearing. 

Your eyes met his again and you could see the relief wash over his face because you didn’t bring up the unspoken topic. Things shifted right back to normal. Well, the normal that you two created for yourselves. 

“I feel kinda ridiculous, and I hate this bow tie,” He responded, hand continuing to rub your thigh. “I should’ve probably changed before I came here but I just really wanted to see you.”

You let his words further push away any thoughts of Nancy that lingered in your mind, thoughts that finally told you that what you were doing with him was wrong.

“Stop. You look good,” You told him, your fingers playing with the bow tie for a brief moment. “Like, really good.” 

“Okay, now I’m really glad that I didn’t change, then.” He smiled before leaning in to kiss you. 

You only deepened the kiss in response and focused on nothing but the feeling of his mouth on yours and his hands beginning to snake underneath your shirt. 

He pulled back, maneuvering things so you were sitting at the foot of the bed and he was standing. The black suit jacket he had on was the first thing to fall on the floor. You slipped your t-shirt over your head and tossed it to the side before helping him unbutton the long sleeve white shirt he had on. 

His hands found your bare waist and squeezed softly. “I’m so fucking happy I’m here right now.”

“Me too,” You responded and then sighed in contentment, eyes slipping shut for a brief moment, when you felt his thumb graze over your already hard nipple. 

Sometimes, usually in moments like these, it felt as if it was your sole purpose to be with him; canceling your plans just in case he’d call or show up, and meeting solely at his place, or yours, or the library.

How deeply intertwined you felt with him let you know exactly how much it would hurt when this all came to its eventual end. But then you were hit with the thought that maybe you would deserve it because you put yourself in this situation. 

Steve’s hand came up to gently stroke your cheek and pull you out of your thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”

Your gaze met his as you shook your head. “Nothing important.”

But, maybe it was the most important thing. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“i remember thinkin' i had you.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

August 23, 1984

You expected to see him that night. 

So maybe him unexpectedly showing up to the library– which was now busy with a bunch of kids scrambling to do their summer reading assignments– was what should have told you that everything was about to go to shit. 

“Hey,” You said to him and placed the book in your hand in its rightful place on the shelf and then did the same thing with the other one you were holding. “I didn’t think I’d see you until tonight.” 

Steve was quiet for a few moments too long, which made you look at him, and your eyebrows furrowed in confusion when you saw the look on his face. It was hard to exactly decipher his expression because it looked as if he was experiencing a thousand different emotions at once. 

“What’s wrong?” You asked, voice quiet. 

“I got a call from Nancy,” He told you, and you nearly flinched at hearing him saying her name to you for the first time ever. “She said she’s coming back tonight.” 

“Oh…” Was the first thing that fell from your lips. It was the word that perfectly encompassed your initial shock at that moment. “That’s, um– That’s really, uh…” You almost said “great,” because if the circumstances were different and if things were actually normal between you two, it probably would’ve been great that his girlfriend was coming back after being gone for almost two months. But, things were far from normal and the circumstances weren’t different at all, so you were at a loss for words.  

Finally, after what felt like hours of silence, but what was really probably only seconds, you said something. “I really don’t know what to say to that, honestly.” 

“I’m sorry,” He said softly and pulled his eyes away from you. He looked down and ran a nervous hand through his hair. “I guess we, uh, both know what that means.” 

“Say it, Steve.” You muttered. You had to hear him say the words in order for it all to be real for you. You couldn’t take all of the unspoken, reading-between-the-lines bullshit. 

He was quiet for an unbearable amount of time before he finally spoke. “We can’t see each other anymore.” 

From the second he kissed you in his pool nearly a month ago, you knew that those words would ultimately come. Each happy day that passed with you tangled up in his bedsheets or cuddled up on his couch laughing about nothing was leading to this moment. 

It had all been so inevitable, but it still hurt harder than you had expected it to. You quickly decided to pretend as if it didn’t, though. 

You nodded at him. “Okay. Got it.” 

“I’m sorry. This shouldn’t– I didn’t–”

“Don’t,” You quickly shook your head, not at all wanting to hear whatever pitying thing he would say to you at that moment. “Please don’t.” 

You were suddenly glad that you were at work right then because you could distract yourself from thoughts of him and everything that had just ended with the current busyness of the library. You looked away from Steve and noticed a little girl struggling to grab a book that was high on a shelf.

“It’s really chaotic here right now, and I have to actually do work for the first time probably all summer, so yeah…” You forced a small smile and then walked away from him, ignoring the words he said to you that you barely heard and couldn’t make out. 

Over the next two final hours of your shift, you’d silently accepted that that brief conversation would be the last time you talked to Steve Harrington. Although there were a thousand more things that probably could’ve been said, it was okay. That ending was okay. Or at least in the long run, it would be. 

So it slightly startled you when you saw him in the parking lot, leaning against the side of his car. When he noticed you, he waved. 

“Have you been here this whole time?” You asked, walking toward him, but leaving a wide space of distance between you two. 

“Maybe, yeah.”

“Why?” 

“I don’t know…”

For the first time probably ever, he confused you. 

“I just— I wish things could be different,” He ultimately said, and hearing those words simultaneously made you feel happy while also making you feel so fucking upset. 

“Things can be different,” You told him as you stepped toward him, the tiniest glimmer of hope inadvertently beginning to swirl in your stomach. “We could be together.”

Your hands found his, slowly intertwining them. His gaze met yours and you let the silent conversation play out. Your eyes pleading with him to not let go of what you two had, and him looking at you so softly while also battling whatever else was going on in his mind. After a few moments, he gave your hands a quick squeeze before he let go of them. 

“I love Nancy.”

Not you. Those were the words he didn’t say, but you could read between those lines a little too easily. 

“I love you” was the one thing you hadn’t said to one another, but you thought that you could feel how much he loved you through each soft touch, every longing look, every plea for you to stay in his bed for just a minute longer; one minute that always turned into at least five. 

Apparently, you were wrong, though. 

And now you knew for certain that you were wrong about every single thing that happened that summer. 

Because you knew that you felt that way toward him. You loved him. 

But he didn’t love you. He didn’t want to be with you. 

He loved her. 

His girlfriend— the only girl he was supposed to love. 

You let the feeling of regret and guilt toward everything that happened this summer crash over you like a tsunami. 

“I should’ve never done this,” You said, whispering that more to yourself, than to him. 

“What?” He asked, unsure of what you’d just said.

“You love her.” You said as you moved away from him. “Go be with her.”

“I’m really sorry,” You heard him say as you walked toward your car. 

You didn’t say anything in response to that. Mainly because there was nothing to say, but also because you refused to talk to him any longer. And quite frankly, you never wanted to talk to him again. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“so much for summer love and saying ‘us.’ ‘cause you weren't mine to lose.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

let me know ur thoughts<333

(read “betty” here!)

[bittersweet-skylines]

Steve once made a passing remark that the best kind of movies to watch on dates were horror movies. "I don't get scared, and the girl always cuddles into me. It's a win win."

Now, of course, Eddie takes this as a personal challenge. They already cuddle during movies when it's just the two of them, but they've both agreed to keep their relationship pretty secret from everyone else. He respects that, he just wants to see if it's possible to make Steve scared enough to curl into him while the others are around. At least this way they'll have a good excuse.

This means whenever it's his turn to pick the movies for their weekly movie night, he goes straight to the horror section of Family Video. They work their way through the more mainstream ones; Steve spends most of The Shining bored out of his mind, he laughs all throughout Christine, if The Nightmare on Elm Street was real, Steve would've been the first victim (he fell sleep during the first half hour), watching Texas Chainsaw actually sparks a very interesting conversation about mortality and death but he doesn't even flinch watching it.

So Eddie starts digging. He gets the weird ones. The ones that are almost never rented (for good reasons, he quickly realises). Nothing. This goes on until Eddie's almost exhausted the entirety of the Family Video horror catalogue, which isn't very big.

Eddie decides to drive all the way to the city, and he manages to find this weird hole in the wall place with some of the most obscure movies ever. Most of these titles he's never heard of, so he grabs three of the most interesting ones and brings them back to Hawkins.

Steve's sort of freaked out by the first one, but by the second one he's curled up into Eddie's side, a pillow hugged close to his chest so it's easy to hide his face. Eddie's got a smug smirk on his face the entire time.

Later that night, while they're getting ready for bed in Steve's room, Eddie is gloating. Maybe a little bit too much. Steve seems to be going along with it though, congratulating him and taking the teasing like a champ.

It isn't until they're laying in bed with the lights out that Steve gently whispers, "hey, Eds? Can I tell you something?"

Eddie's already practically asleep, but he manages to get out a "sure."

"Every week, I'd look up your file and rent the same movies from Blockbuster. I was never scared because I'd seen them already. I was just hoping you'd use them as an excuse to cuddle into me."

[unclewaynemunson]

Wingman Wayne AU pt4 is here! | AO3 link

Eddie comes back home from his not-a-date with Steve much later than planned; the two of them ended up spending the whole afternoon at the cafe together, sharing stories, getting to know each other, laughing at weird passersby... Eddie hadn't even noticed how much time had passed until it was already getting dark outside.

Wayne is about ready to head out for his night shift when Eddie gets to the trailer, and shoots him a way too smug look.

'So your date went well, huh?'

Eddie makes a face at him. ‘Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly, old man,’ he says. ‘In all honesty, I do have to admit that Steve’s actually a good guy - but that’s the only credit you’ll be gettin’ here. We merely had a fun time bonding over some queer stuff. I can assure you that there was completely no attraction whatsoever.’

Wayne's face drops. 'That's too bad, Ed.'

'No, it's not,' Eddie replies. 'I'm perfectly happy being single, you do know that, right?'

'Yeah, of course.' But it doesn't quite sound like he means it.

'Seriously, don't worry about me. I'm fine,’ Eddie says. He gives Wayne an affectionate pat on his near-bald head. ‘And you should go to work now, before they fire you for being a sentimental old man.'

As soon as Wayne’s truck drives off, Eddie finds himself at the phone, the gross note with Steve's number on it clenched in his hand again.

'Hey, um, just wanted to let you know that uncle was very disappointed there was no spark between us,' Eddie reports when Steve picks up the phone.

'Well, let's hope he finally learned his lesson not to mingle in your love life, then,' Steve answers with a light chuckle.

'He's the worst,' Eddie says, but then immediately feels bad about it, so he adds, 'He actually means well. I think he worries. Not that he needs to, I decided I'm better off single anyway.'

'Really?' Steve sounds surprised.

'Yeah, I guess I'm not exactly a relationship type of guy, you know.'

'You've never been in a relationship?' There's no judgment behind the question, only curiosity.

'Uhh...' Eddie hesitates. But Steve's queer too, he'd understand, right?

'I don't know,' he settles on saying. 'I mean, I've been someone's dirty secret a couple times. Turns out that my definition of a relationship doesn't always align with that of closeted Chads. So that’s why I decided I'm better off alone.'

There's a silence at the other end of the line, and Eddie wonders if he overshared again. He knows he shouldn't do that, but sometimes he just can't help himself. He had been so excited about having met a fellow queer guy, someone who'd understand him... Maybe he misjudged Steve after all.

'You do know there are options out there that aren't closeted Chads, right?' Steve finally says. It sounds genuinely empathetic, putting a halt to Eddie's spiraling thoughts and reminding him that he doesn't need to worry, that Steve's a good guy, that he indeed understands.

Eddie laughs. 'Sorry, Stevie, you're still not my type.'

'I'm not – that's wasn't – I didn't mean it like that,' Steve splutters at the other end of the line. 'I just meant, you know, it’s not completely impossible that there could be someone out there for you. Someone who won't treat you like some dirty secret, who will love you as much as you deserve, you know?'

Eddie feels his cheeks heat up at those words. He clears his throat, suddenly feeling nervous but not exactly knowing why. 'You're starting to sound like my uncle,' he tries to joke.

Steve chuckles. 'Maybe your uncle is wiser than you give him credit for.'

'Are you calling yourself wise, Steve?'

'No, I'm calling your uncle wise. You should probably listen to him more.'

'If I listened to him more, we'd be going on another date tomorrow and get married this summer. Is that what you want, Stevie?'

'Well, the getting married this summer sounds a bit rushed,' Steve says, 'but I wouldn't mind seeing you again.'

Eddie's heart drops to his stomach. 'Steve...' he starts, all the jokey undertones having disappeared from his voice. 'I told you that it's not like that, for me.' He thought he had been more than clear about that right from the start, in fact.

'No! Oh, God, no, I didn't mean it like that,' Steve immediately says. 'I just meant, like, if you ever wanna hang out or something... As friends, you know. It's um – it'd be nice to have a – another queer friend.'

Eddie releases a relieved breath. 'Okay, got it,' he says. 'Good. Perfect. Yeah, we should definitely hang out another time. As friends.'

Pt5

Jesus H Christ I’m honestly blown away by the response to this silly au, it means so much to me <333 I’m reading all your lovely comments and hilarious tags with the biggest smile on my face, makes me sooo happy!!

(Update: apparently there was something wrong with the taglist but I think I fixed it, sorry!! Please lemme know if the tags are still not coming through)

Taglist: @phantypurple @love-kurdt @eddiemunsonswife @mackdaddyofheimlichcountyy @swimmingbirdrunningrock @paintsplatteredandimperfect @stevesbipanic @momotonescreaming @yourebuckingkiddingme @th3-r4t-k1ng @messrs-weasley @moonshadows-13 @im-sam-fucking-winchester @xjessicafaithx @yournowheregirl @henderdads @lwhoscribbles @courtjestermunson @steveisabicon @rainydays35  @cassaloopa @skeliiix @thesuninyaface @silversnaffles @jestyzesty @4nemo1egend @ace-of-foxes @harringtonsgother @thegingervulcan @snapshotmaestro @thereindeerlady @jillfriend @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @gamerdano @spectrum-spectre @zerokrox-blog @00biscuit @mixsethaddams @steve-the-hairrington @episcogoth @caligularib @gaydrieeen @winterbuckwild @bookbinderbitch @daysarestranger @nonbinary-eddie-munson @fangirltofangod @solalasoforth @obsessivlyme @slit-wrist @fxndom-hoe @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @joruni @roastingdragon @lenore1232 @princessstevemunson @cuips-not-cute @munsonsuccubus @justalittlefungi @cherrycolas-things @nitrilexam @thepainisspicy @hopefulslothcollecter @whatisreggieshortfor @doctorqueensanatomy @fandemonium-takes-its-toll @sadcanadianwinter @iamsotiredman @orangeandthefairroadkill @anything-thats-rock-and-roll @b-icetea @freddykicksasses @faery-god @poleaxed-aloe @mamaclownhunter @paperbackribs @blvckwidow @mightbeasleep @butuglypeoplefucktoo @lolawon @angryavocadofrog @iwouldsail @livelaughlexa @magpiemuseum @shushuac  @ravnlinn @homohomohoe @kissaphobic-kas @cmackz93 @your-greatest-queen @alltheweirdkidsinoneplace @soulsofstarsliveinyourveins @ceaselessly-watching @anaibis @enchantedlandcoffee @fluffy-alpaca-of-darkness @nelotegreitic @mollymawkwrites @evix-syne666 @redfreckledwolf @ajamlessbaby @connected-dots @nothisisntmyname @steddieassheg0es @anxiouseds

[allthingsfangirl101]

To The Rescue – Steve Harrington

Steve's POV

Y/N Henderson and I started dating right before I found out about the UpsideDown. When I found out that Dustin had dragged her into all this shit, I was furious. It was right after we killed one of the demodogs and were hiding out at Will's house. Y/N came running into the house and instantly went to Dustin's side.

~•~

"What happened? Are you okay? What's wrong with you? Why would you go after. . ."

"Y/N?" I panicked, interrupting her. I ran over, pulled her away from Dustin and into my arms. We broke out of the hug and I led her to the kitchen. The second we were alone, I leaned down and crashed my lips onto hers. I felt her smile against my lips as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"What are you doing here?" I asked when I broke the kiss.

"Well, Dustin told me that you guys were planning on going . . ."

"He told you about all this?!" I couldn't help but snap. I let go of her and was about to run to Dustin and beat some sense into him. Y/N grabbed my hand and pulled me into her chest. She slid her hands up my chest and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Breathe, baby," she whispered. "I've known about all of this long before you did, but Dusty made me promise not to get involved."

"You knew?" I stuttered.

"Oh, come on," she chuckled. "It's Dustin dealing with weird science-fictiony stuff. Of course, he told me."

"I hate that he told you," I sighed.

"Steve. . ."

"I don't want you anywhere near this shit, Y/N," I cut her off. "I mean it. I need you safe. I can handle running after the kids, protecting them from all of this weird shit. But if you were running around with us, and I couldn't keep you safe. . . If something happened to you. . . I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

She stood on her toes and delicately pressed her lips to mine. "I'm not involved, baby," she whispered. "And even if I was, you would never let something happen to me."

~•~

Ever since then, I've constantly checked on Y/N whenever something has gone down. The second we stopped fighting, I'd drive straight to her house. There were many nights after a fight that I'd sleep next to her. It got to the point where I couldn't sleep unless I was holding her.

Tonight, we were using raw meat to lead Dustin's lizard pet and friends to the junkyard. A while ago, Dustin ran off to go check on something while I continued leaving a trail. Once I finished, I went back to my car.

"Steve!"

I turned around to see Dustin running toward me. "What's wrong with you?" I chuckled.

"Y/N's gone."

"She's what?!"

"I went to the house, but she wasn't there," he started to explain. "Her car was still at the house. Her backpack was there, but she wasn't. I asked my mom but she hasn't seen her since after school."

"Maybe she's at my house," I said, trying to remain calm.

"I tried that," Dustin mumbled. "No one was there."

"She's not. . . Then where is she, Dustin?" I asked through my teeth.

"I don't know," he sighed. "But I have a theory."

"What?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"She might've. . . The hive mind could've. . . There's a possibility. . ."

"Spit. It. Out."

"The hive mind could've grabbed Y/N."

I went over and opened the trunk. I reached in and grabbed the bat of nails. I gripped it so tight, my knuckles immediately turned white. I turned to Dustin to see him watching me closely.

"Let's go get our girl back."

* * * * *

"Shouldn't we tell the others?" Dustin asked, briefly changing the subject.

"No."

"They could help."

"No."

"But maybe Hopper can help us."

"No."

"Are you sure? Eleven can. . ."

"I said no," I snapped. "You and I are going to do this alone. We aren't risking anyone else's lives."

"What if we can't find her?"

"We'll find her."

"It took us weeks to find Will."

"We'll find her."

"And we never found Barb."

"That's not going to happen to Y/N."

"I never should've brought my sister into any of this."

"No, you shouldn't have."

"If something happens, it's all my fault."

"Little bit."

"I can't believe I brought her into this."

"I wanted to keep her away from it."

"But she's smart. I figured she could help us."

"She has."

"I love my sister, but she's not much of a badass."

"Yes, she is."

"She doesn't really like doing anything adventurous."

"So? She's still a badass."

"She sits at home, reading. Honestly, I'm not even sure why you would go out with her."

"Hey," I scoffed. "I like your sister. She's funny and smart and sweet. I don't care that she isn't adventurous. I like spending date nights, sitting around, and watching movies. She's the whole reason I'm not an asshole anymore. I knew that if I really wanted her, and I did, I'd have to grow up."

"We have to save her, Steve. If we don't. . ."

"Stop!" I yelled. I froze along the path and turned toward him. "You gotta stop, Dustin. I can't handle you talking about Y/N like she. . . Like we aren't. . . We are going to find her. We are going to go down the hive and find Y/N. You and I are going to bring her home. I'm not losing her."

"Holy shit!"

I stopped walking and turned toward a smirking Dustin. "What?"

"You're in love with Y/N."

I turned my focus back on the path. My thoughts went back to every moment I've spent with Y/N. I thought about her smile and her laugh. I thought about the feeling I got when I held her hand, when she laid her head on my shoulder, when she fell asleep in my arms, when we kissed. Every moment we spent together was burned into my brain.

We haven't slept together because she was a little nervous. I didn't mind waiting. I wanted her to be comfortable with me. I'd wait years if it meant that I was the only one who got to hold her, hug her, kiss her, love her.

"Yes."

"Wait, really?" Dustin gasped. "Steve, cut the shit. Alright? This is my big sister we're talking about. She's not one of your drunken one-night stands. She's not one of your bimbos."

"I know that," I said. "She's not one of my drunken one-night stands. She's not one of my bimbos. I care about her, Dustin. In fact, you were right. I'm in love with her. And I am ready to do whatever it takes to bring her home."

* * * * *

When we finally got to the hive, Dustin and I carefully lowered ourselves into the tunnels. After some debate, we finally decided which way to go. The entire way down the tunnels, I made sure to keep Dustin safe as my thoughts constantly went to Y/N. I had to find her. Once I did, I'd wrap her in my arms and never let her go.

"Can you promise me something?" Dustin asked, breaking the silence.

"Sure," I shrugged. Dustin grabbed my arm, making me stop.

"Promise me that when we find Y/N, you'll tell her the truth."

"The truth. . ."

"About how you feel," he clarified. "I hate to tell you this, but Y/N used to think she'd never find someone to love her. Since you do, you need to tell her. She needs to know that someone can love her, that someone does love her."

"She really thought. . ."

"She's always thought it," Dustin shrugged as he started walking again. "My mom and I kept telling her that she would find someone, but Y/N always thought that she was too quiet to get a guy."

"That's ridiculous," I sighed. "Just because she's quiet doesn't mean a guy won't fall in love with her."

"Then promise that you'll. . ." Suddenly, Dustin stopped talking.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked. I turned and saw what he had stopped him in his tracks.

Y/N wrapped up in vines.

I ran over and immediately started ripping them off her. Dustin was quickly by my side, helping me free her. When we got her free, she fell forward. I quickly caught her, lowered us both to the ground, and brought her into my chest. I wrapped my arms tightly around her as my heart rate slowed down.

"Is she okay?" Dustin asked.

I looked down and delicately moved some hair out of her face. I gently pressed my fingers to her neck and held my breath as I waited to feel her pulse. I let out a soft chuckle when I felt her pulse against my fingers.

"She's okay," I said, letting out a sigh of relief. I pulled her back into my chest and kissed the top of her head. "She's okay."

"Steve?"

I gasped and looked down as Y/N's eyes fluttered open. When she looked at me, a sob got stuck in my throat.

"Hi," I whispered.

"You found me," she giggled weakly. I leaned down and smashed my lips onto hers. I felt her smile as she reached up and cupped my cheek while our lips moved in sync.

"I'll always find you," I whispered, breaking the kiss. I glanced over at Dustin before turning back to Y/N. At the last minute, I decided to wait.

"Let's get you home."

I stood up and instantly helped Y/N to her feet. She smiled when Dustin ran over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm okay," Y/N whispered. "Dusty?"

"Yeah?" He asked, quickly pulling out of the hug and eagerly bouncing on his toes.

"Can we go home?" She asked, her voice breaking. "I'm really tired."

"Sorry," Dustin chuckled. I wrapped my arm around Y/N's waist and helped her back down the tunnel. Once we got to the hole, I turned toward her.

"You okay?" I asked as I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I don't know if I'm gonna be strong enough to climb up there," she admitted. She looked down, hoping to hide her embarrassment from me. I gently grabbed her chin and made her look back up at me.

"Don't worry," I whispered. "I'll get you out of here."

I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. She smiled gently as she kissed me back. We broke apart when Dustin groaned.

"You promised you wouldn't do that in front of me and now you've done it twice."

"Sorry, Dusty," Y/N said, the tiredness coming through in her voice. I smiled when she leaned her head against my chest.

"Dustin, climb back up and run to my car," I started instructing him. "I have a rope ladder in my trunk. Bring it here and tie it to a tree. It'll be easier for Y/N to go up a ladder than to try and climb up the rope."

Dustin looked at his sister leaning against me and nodded. As quickly as he could, he climbed the rope and ran to my car. While he was gone, I turned toward Y/N.

"Baby?" I whispered. "Can you tell me what happened? How did you get down here?"

"Can we sit down?" She asked. I nodded and instantly helped her sit down. I sat next to her and she leaned against me.

"What happened, gorgeous?"

"I had just gotten home," she started to explain. I almost told her to stop because of how tired she sounded. "I was dropping off my backpack before going to see you."

"You were on your way to see me?" I couldn't help but ask. I subconsciously tightened my arms around her.

"Before I left, my Mom needed me to do something in the backyard," she continued quickly. "One minute, I'm checking on my Mom's garden, and the next. . ."

I leaned down and kissed the top of her head when she didn't continue.

"It's okay, baby," I whispered. "You're safe now."

"He kept showing me. . . Things," Y/N said, her voice breaking as tears started streaming down her face.

"Baby, you don't have to tell me anything. Let's get you home."

"You'll stay the night, right?" She asked as she looked up at me. "Please?"

I reached up and cupped her face in my hand. I leaned down and delicately kissed her. When I broke the kiss, I kept my face inches from hers.

"Of course, baby," I whispered. "I'll stay over as long as you need me."

"Y/N? Steve? You guys still down there?" Dustin called from above.

"Yeah," I called back. "We're still here. Y/N needed to sit down."

I stood up and turned back around toward Y/N. I extended my hands and helped her to her feet.

"Let's get you home, gorgeous," I whispered. With our hands intertwined, I led her over to the rope ladder. "I'm right here, baby. Just take it one step at a time."

Before she grabbed the rope ladder, she turned around. She gently pressed her hands to my chest as she stood up and kissed me.

"Thank you for finding me," she whispered.

"I'd do anything to find you," I whispered.

"Come on, you weirdos!"

"You go first," I chuckled. "I'll be right behind you."

Y/N kissed my cheek before shakily climbing the rope ladder. I stayed right behind her, like I promised, just in case she fell. When she reached the top, Dustin helped her the rest of the way up.

The second she was safely with her brother, I quickly climbed the ladder. When I got to the top, Y/N was in her brother's arms. She turned to me and smiled when she saw me.

"Can we go home?" She asked.

"Of course," Dustin said, trying to laugh.

I walked over and wrapped my arm around Y/N's waist. She stayed pressed to my side as we walked back to my car. Dustin got in the back as I helped Y/N into the front seat. When I got into the driver's seat, she scooted over and leaned her head against my shoulder.

When we got to the Henderson house, Dustin checked on his sister one last time before grabbing his bike and heading to check on Will. I kept my arms around her and escorted her inside.

"Is your Mom home?" I asked as I closed and locked the door behind us.

"No," she sighed. "She's been working late a lot. She's saving up for Christmas."

"Is she going to be okay with me staying over?"

"I don't know," she mumbled as she shrugged. I laughed as I walked her over to their couch and we sat down.

"Are you hungry?" I asked. "I could make you something to eat."

I started to get up but she stopped me. "Please don't go," she said quickly. "I just. . . I need you."

My heart melted as she started to silently sob. I tightened my arms around her, pulling her as close to me as I could get her.

"I'm not going anywhere," I promised. "You get some sleep and I will be here when you wake up."

"Before I do," Y/N stuttered as she sat up and turned toward me, "there's something I need to tell you."

"Okay," I whispered. "What is it?"

"I love you," she blurted out quickly. I was so happy, I couldn't think of anything to say to her.

Which may not have been the best thing for her. Her eyes filled with tears again. She started to get up but I stopped her. Instead of saying anything, I gently grabbed her face and pressed my lips to hers. I felt her slowly start kissing me back. When I broke the kiss, she looked at me confused.

"I love you, Y/N Henderson."

[steddieas-shegoes]

For your prompt idea request: Either the original line from Hamlet ("Though this be madness yet there's method in it") or the more commonly paraphrased, there's a method to my madness?

The plan would work. It had to.

It wasn’t as dire as their last plan, not even close, but Eddie needed fresh air and Steve and Dustin were going to give it to him, dammit.

He’d been stuck in the hospital room for 27 days — 6 of which were unconscious — and he was desperate to feel a breeze on his face that wasn’t from his cannula falling out of place on his nose.

He didn’t even need the damn thing anymore, but the nurses insisted.

Steve was currently in part 1 of the plan: get Eddie into a wheelchair while Dustin distracted everyone at the nurse’s station with his Gumby limbs.

The wheelchair was stolen from a neighboring room, but the guy was passed out in his bed, so Steve figured it was fair game.

Part 2 was the most difficult part: get Eddie into the elevator across the hall and onto the roof without anyone seeing.

Dustin was certainly great at distractions, but he could only do so much. Doctors and nurses walked up and down the halls every couple of minutes.

They didn’t really have a window of opportunity, but they had to try anyways.

Eddie didn’t know the entire plan, had specifically asked them not to tell him so he could act innocent if they got caught. He didn’t need anymore misplaced vitriol from the staff.

So when Steve managed to actually get him to the elevator, Eddie looked up at him through glassy eyes, the dark circles and bags under them slowly fading as he started to get more sleep at night, and asked where they were going next.

“No questions. Just trust me. There’s a method to my madness,” Steve replied with a pat to his shoulder.

Eddie didn’t say anything in response, just smiled down at his lap and waited to see what was happening next.

When they got to the roof, Eddie’s jaw dropped.

Someone had set up a makeshift picnic on the lone picnic table, including a bottle of sparkling grape juice and Eddie’s favorite foods.

He looked behind him at Steve, who seemed nervous as he walked in front of the chair.

“Hope you don’t mind Dustin isn’t coming up here. I wanted it to be just us.”

Eddie’s breath hitched. Of course, the one time he doesn’t have an oxygen tank with him is when his body would deceive him.

Steve’s hand cupped his cheek and his chest fluttered.

Great, now he was having heart palpitations.

“This isn’t really how I wanted our first date to go, and I never even really asked if you wanted to go on one with me, but-“

“Steve. You did this for me?”

Steve nodded, rubbing his thumb along Eddie’s cheek.

“I wanted you to get the full outside experience. It ain’t much right now, but just you wait. When El closes the last gate, it’ll be paradise.”

“Blue skies and warm sand? The sound of waves crashing?” Eddie teased, turning his face into Steve’s hand to leave a kiss in his palm.

“Probably just a lot of weird smells. But we could go to a beach! I owe the kids a trip.”

Eddie listened and watched as Steve talked for a few minutes about what he wanted to do with the kids, with Eddie.

Eddie finally silenced him with a kiss.

“This method of yours works pretty damn good, Stevie.”

“Ya think?”

Eddie kissed him again.

He didn’t stop until a nurse was opening the roof door and yelling at them both to get back inside before Eddie got hurt.

She did smirk at them both before checking the lock on the door and following them to the elevator, but she hid it quickly when Eddie opened his mouth to say something.

Luckily, on day 39, Eddie was free from the hospital. This time, Steve pushed the wheelchair out the front door, and the breeze on his face tasted like the saltwater of the beach trip waiting for them.

[eashmo]

-The terror... the fear...the thrills... of halloween night - 18+

Warnings: Smut, knife play, blood kink (tasting), Teratophilia (i guess), small fluff.

A/N:  happy halloween ya filthy animals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1984

“Baby girl” he sighs

“Don't baby girl me Billy, we were supposed to have a halloween date tonight, remember?”

“I remembered”

“Then why are you going to Tina’s Halloween party? And did not want to invite me, is it because you don't wanna be seen with me?”

“Of course I want to be seen with you!” he shouted. Causing everyone in the hallway. To look at us. “it's because i know you don't do parties, and i have to show up to overthrow Harrington at being keg king”

“Not everything with him has to be a competition, you know” I scoffed. 

“You don't understand, y/n”

“No i don't, have a nice halloween Hargrove” was the last thing i told him as i left him in the empty hallways. 

(that night)

me and Billy have been fighting a lot more recently, usually about my best friend Steve. I really didn't know what Billy was trying to prove when it came to Steve, that's why i was alone in my house on my most favorite holiday, we were supposed to be having a quite spooky movie night no parents, no siblings and pig out on candy but no he had to go to that stupid party to prove his so called dominance within the school system, i would have gone to the party with him if he asked but with his attitude lately i didn't want to deal with him or drunk people. I'm not going to let my boyfriend ruin my holiday. 

“Fuck it” i popped in my favorite movie Halloween. I had always been intrigued by masked killers ever since i was little, of course my friends thought i was weird because of it but whenever. It was quite thrilling, actually to be dominaned by a masked man. 

I was in the kitchen making some popcorn when I felt like someone was watching me. Peering through the kitchen window, I saw a shadow figure near the bushes, thinking it was just the neighborhood kids trick or treating. I ignored it. I moved to my living room and thought I saw another shadow near my back sliding door window, scoffing thinking I was getting parodied for it being halloween i ignored it again, laying back on the couch i watched the climax of the movie play out. I was so distracted by the killing scene that was playing out on the screen that I immediately jumped when the doorbell rang. I grabbed the candy bowl and opened the door to find no one there.

“Damn kids playing ding dong ditch again” I shook my head as I closed the front door. I didn’t notice the large figure creeping through the living room. As I turned, I was pushed roughly against the door. A large hand was over my mouth, preventing my scream from being heard. The intruder was tall and wore dark blue coveralls and a Michael Myers mask. I instantly felt exposed. I was only wearing a thin white button-down shirt and short booty shorts. He held a kitchen knife, which he used to slowly rip open my shirt. I struggled, fearing for the worse. The intruder didn't say anything as he devoured me with his eyes, I stopped struggling to wait…blue eyes. His hand that covered my mouth went to my neck.

“Billy?”

“Hey baby girl” I knew he was smirking behind the mask. 

“You jerk, you scared me.” I huffed, but then his hand squeezed tightly. Causing me to let out a breathy moan.

He chuckles as he continues to slice my shirt open. He discovered I was braless, I could see his eyes dilate. He suddenly lets go of me.  

“Run” he growled.

 I smirked as I sprinted up the stairs as fast as I could. I could hear the thundering footsteps of him behind me, each step he took turned me on as I raced to my bedroom. I slammed my door closed and locked it as I removed the last bit of clothing I had on. I jumped on the bed as I heard the floor creaking outside of my room. Eventually, I heard the handle trying to turn, Billy gave one solid kick, forcing the door open, he stepped inside of the room, his eyes taking in the sight of me bare on the bed. 

He slowly walked closer to where I lay on the bed. knife tightly gripped in his hand as he approached me. I squeezed my thighs shut as I looked up at the dark eye holes of the mask. He gently ran the back of his knife up my breast to my neck, the sharp tip dragging across my skin before pressing into the front of my neck, a thin trickle of blood falling down my breast. he leaned down, and when i  felt his warm breath on my skin, i realized he pulled his mask up slightly. His tongue ran over my skin gently, and I felt myself shudder with pleasure when he lapped up the crimson liquid.

“B-Billy” I moaned. He slowly went down the curves of my body as his fingers reached my drenched core. He softly ran his fingers over your entrance.

“So wet for me babygirl” his voice husky behind the mask. He pushed a single finger into me, my walls instantly clamped down “only one finger and you're squeezing me so tightly” he curled it as it pushed deep inside of me. I whimpered, wanting more.

“Please”

“Please what?”

“Please fuck me, abuse me, cut me, whatever you wish i just need more!” He added a second and third finger. My eyes rolled back as he finger fucked my tight pussy. He lifted the knife and pressed it back down into my skin, he made a deeper cut on my thigh, bending down his mouth and lapping up the blood then was immediately on my clit. The pain and pleasure made me see stars as he scissored his fingers inside of me as he continued to carve little lines on my thighs.

“Billy.. I’m”

“Cum for me” 

I could feel myself release on his fingers seeing white. He pulled the knife back and licked off the rest of my blood that coated the silver. Standing up He then removed his fingers from me and cleaned those off, slowly savoring my release and blood mixed together.

I looked up at him, dazed, and breathed heavily. He fixes the mask and he unzips the coveralls and rolls it at his lower hip, his bare chest sweaty, he pulls out his cock. 

“Do you want me to fuck you with the mask on? or off?”

“on”

“As you wish baby girl” he lines himself up, his tip tensing my slit. I wrapped my legs around his waist using my heels to push him in. He groaned as I squeezed him, and he was barely in. One thrust he roughly bottoms out, he growls as he fills every inch of my pussy. I moaned loudly when he pulled back, arching himself over me he thrust into me roughly. He used the head board as leverage. He began moving himself at a steady pace. He fucked me like He needed to remind me of who i belonged to. I love dominate Billy. faster and harder he moved, I was completely at his mercy, and he knew it.

 “ All mine” he growled in my ear.

“As much i love the masked i want to see my boyfriends face now as he fucks me” he ripped off the mask in one swift movement, his hair stuck on his sweaty face and neck. He looked delicious. He swallowed my moans as they spilled from my throat as he kissed me. His kisses went down to my throat, his teeth clamped down on my skin as his thrusts got sloppier. I gripped onto him and screamed out as I came over him, he was right behind me with his release, he growls out my name as his cum coats the walls of my pussy, right where it belongs. We whispered i love yous as we came down from our highs. He collapsed on top of me. 

“sorry for being a dick lately, and I didn't go too far with the cutting, did i?”

“its ok and no baby, it was actually kinda hot, especially when you licked up the blood” I giggled “ Also, what happened with going to Tina’s party?”

“good to know" he winked but he continued to speak "I realized how lame it was to keep competing with my girlfriend's best friend and I would rather spend my time with that said beautiful horror freak girlfriend because it is our date night after all” he chuckles.

“How did you know I fantasized about Myers?” 

“I heard from Harrington at basketball practice that you sorta have a thing for Michael Myers, so I decided to surprise you”

“It definitely was a good surprise” I grinned.

“Happy halloween, baby girl” 

Masterlist

2023

[blankinsidecards]

Steddie fic rec list part 2:

Fluff Edition

Part 1

These are the only the ooeyiest of gooeyiest of comfort fics. As little angst as you can get with these two.

a cinematic vision ensued (like the holiest daydream) by @fivecenturiesofverse

• Rating: T • Complete

Eddie and Steve have been spending a lot of time together since Vecna. They're co-parenting kids, getting high every night, and sleeping in the same bed. They basically share a wardrobe too.

He thinks this is dangerous, its like they’re married, the casual sharing of intimacy, this space between them which feels like something and nothing all at the same time. He thinks it’s dangerous for him to pretend Steve sees it the same way, that one day Steve’s droopy, kind eyes are going to see right through him and he’ll lose this. This being a side of Steve’s bed that is his, a nightstand where his rings always pile, a draw of shirts in Steve’s bedroom that only Steve uses. He can’t lose it, so he shuts his mouth, turns out the light, and watches the slow breathing of sleep fill Steve’s chest.

This one is so sweet; all sharing of clothes and beds and weed. It’s really short but god is it soft. The weighted blanket of fluff fics. Really adore all of Eddie’s internal arguments when he’s looking at Steve being the softest motherfucker on the planet and forcefully reminding himself that Steve is dangerous. I think about Eddie walking his knuckles down the knobs of Steve’s spine almost daily.

Linger by @yournowheregirl

• Rating: T • Complete • Modern!AU

Eddie hates the library, he hates how quiet it is and how he’s always getting shushed by that librarian hag Muriel. But he hates his idiot roommate and his tendency to hog their dorm room to have loud sex with his girlfriend all night long, even more. And now he has to spend all night in the library cramming for an exam, which would be fine, if not for the fact that some polo-clad douchebag shows up and declares that Eddie’s study spot is actually his.

Or: Steve and Eddie fight over a study spot and accidentally fall in love over coffee, Vivaldi and the horror that is finals week.

So fucking cute. I forgot how much I love college AU’s. Features: Wonderwall by Oasis (much to Eddie’s chagrin), a librarian from hell, a SickFic Chapter, and an Eddie that has ADHD. Also, this one’s for the emo-kid Eddie truthers out there. Teeny bit of angst and some miscommunication but for me it was worth it. Frickin adorable.

Date me instead by @zhuletta

• Rating: E • Complete

Every date Steve has gone to lately has been horrible. It’s impossible that there’s something wrong with the entire female population of Hawkins, so surely there must be something wrong with him.

“Why don’t you take me on a date then?”

“Wh— what?”

“Take me on a date, pretend, of course, and then I’ll tell you if there’s something wrong with you or not.”

Or: Eddie proposes a crazy idea to see if there's something wrong with him, Steve finds the fact that it works is even crazier.

So so fluffy. You will get a toothache from this one. It’s the cheesiest plot you could think of. For those of you who love a good loverboy!steve this for you. They’re just wooing eachother all the way through. Delightful.

Saving All My Love For You (and it’s sequel Endless Love) by @subtlehysteria

• Rating: M • Complete

It was decided then and there in the Buckley residence’s lounge, on their weird Persian carpet while staring up at the off-white ceiling and Robin giggling at his side. He was going to rock Steve Harrington’s platonic world, man. And nothing was going to get in his way.

Or: Eddie notices Steve struggles with touch and in trying to help his new friend, develops feelings along the way.

Really sweet. Classic touch-starved Steve and tactile affection Eddie. Bedsharing, pinkie promises, and platonic hand-holding. Eddie gives Will a makeover and some advice. A bit of subtle body worship, love that. Sequel fic is also really cute but it has a bit of a rough scene with The Harrington Parents so be aware of that.

Do Nothing With You by @red-0ak-tree

• Rating: M • Complete

Steve and Robin get a two bedroom in Hawkins. It's perfect, except for all the ways it isn't. Drafty windows, clogged drains, shitty landlord. But it's got a couch. A couch that's often occupied by Eddie Munson. Home isn't really the kind of thing Eddie has much of anymore, ever since his trailer became the primary source for all his nightmares. Luckily, he knows of a semi-comfortable couch where he's always welcome.

Despite all it's problem, the house has perks. Primarily, it's somewhere Steve can actually call home. Secondarily, it's somewhere he can share with the people he loves.

AKA: The fruity four live in a convoluted roommate situation, and romance happens along the way.

We all love a good co-habitation fic. Robin and Steve get an apartment together, it’s falling apart, and Eddie knows how to fix things. Slowly, Steve and Eddie start to help fix eachother. This probably has the most angst out of all of these, but it’s also one of my absolute favorites and the sweetness overpowers the lows.

PTA Shouldn’t Stand for Pretty Tight Ass by @samthefrank and @humanityinahandbag

• Rating: M • Incomplete • Future fic/Modern!AU

Steve Harrington - ex local legend and fearsome bully, now single father of two - returns to Hawkins after the world spit him out. With a messy life to sort through, all he wanted was settle down and get his kids through seventh grade without any surprises.

Cue Mr. Eddie Munson, ex victim of one Steve Harrington, now Hawkins Middle School's favorite music teacher.

Or: What happens when your former high school bully raises two absolute nerds, joins the PTA, helps run the bake sale, makes the best cupcakes in Indiana, and may or may not be having a bisexual crisis.

This was the very first Steddie fic I ever subscribed to and let me tell you I get so HYPED every time I get the notification they update. Steve is a single dad to twins Dustin & Max, a damn good baker, and custodian at his dad’s auto dealership. Eddie is a music teacher in the style of Jack Black in School of Rock, who’s best friends with his fellow teachers Miss Buckley and Miss Cunningham. This fic has Robin and Eddie perform Body Talks by The Struts & Ke$ha at an open-mic karaoke and it’s so fucking electric that that song earned a place on my steddie playlist. It’s a real slow burn but I’m so excited to see where they take this story.

it’s such a magical mysteria by @phantom-of-the-wapera

• Rating: M • Complete

Eddie's staring at the ceiling, eyes half closed and still giggling faintly. He looks pretty. He looks like he belongs here, in Steve’s bed, and Steve gets hit with how much he wants Eddie to stay, to crawl in bed beside Steve every night and wake up there every sunrise.

And, shit, it’s a lot. Steve's gone, completely, fully, fucking free-falling his way into everything that was, is, and will be Eddie Munson. Head over heels, ass over tits, heart-took-a-nosedive off his sleeve and into the lap of the boy beside him, gazing half-lidded at the ceiling, the glimmer of dreamy stars in the sliver of his eyes Steve can see.

or, the one where Steve's trying to figure out his future, his feelings, and one Eddie Munson.

So fluffy, so sweet. They’re all nerds and they love Star Wars. This is a tiny detail but Steve goes to college and he likes it and I love that for him. Completely SMOTHERED in hope for a bright future.

nice to meet you, where you been? by @flowercrowngods

• Rating: T • Edit: Complete • Modern!AU

When Eddie enters the tattoo parlour that Chrissy recommended to him, he doesn't know what'll hit him. Never in a million years would he have expected the pastel or the minimalistic decor or how really fucking polished everything about this place is. It's like an antithesis to Eddie's entire existence has been created with the makings of this shop.

The absolute cherry on top is the man that walks into the room to greet him, though, and Eddie can't contain the look of absolute bafflement. Because there is no way that Steve Harrington, whom Eddie has has the maddest crush on in high school, owns a tattoo shop. No way. Nuh-uh. Not dressed in pastel like he is.

Eddie wants to punch a wall. What he doesn't know yet is that he'll have the best time reconnecting with Steve. And if he gets a tattoo out of it, well, then that's just another win for the community in his book.

LOVE a Tattoo Shop!AU and this is no exception. This one is pretty new, but so far it’s the fluffiest shit I’ve read in ages. Features trans man Eddie, Chrissy Cunningham as his scheming best friend, and a lot of Taylor Swift. I literally found this one moments ago and immediately needed to put it on this list. It’s too fucking cute, I can’t wait to see where it goes.

[munsster]

I just rewatched 10 Things I Hate About You and can’t stop thinking about Billy x a reader who is similar to Kat (Idk if you’ve watched it, if not then just ignore this) but could you do any headcanons or anything for this?

10 things i hate about billy hargrove

A/N: i fuckin love this movie and i love miss kat stratford and her hot grungy bf

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader, 10 Things I Hate About You AU

Warnings: 10 things i hate about you AU, fluff, enemies to lovers, pet names (doll), fem!reader

the story the headcanons

dustin, lucas, and steve are 100% the ones trying to set billy up with you

at first it was dustin and lucas trying to befriend max

then realizing they’d have to distract her scary ass brother

“i heard he smokes 10 packs a day” + “didn’t he just get out of jail???” + “no way, all he did was break some guy’s leg” “dude, he’s gonna murder us” + “i heard he has a chainsaw collection. and it’s stored right next to his hunting knife collection” + “dude… he’s gonna murder us”

THEN realizing steve is acquainted with him

and, finally, realizing steve has other connections

like you, for instance

clever, stubborn, and most of all: distracting

turns out, you and billy already know each other!!!!!

also, turns out, you and billy already hate each other

like fr loathing, foaming at the mouth, seething sexually charged hatred

so when dustin bribes steve into bribing billy into dating you, it doesn’t go so well

(“you think i’m fuckin’ stupid, golden boy? there’s no chance in hell—” “actually, i think you’re a loser and… i have a debt to repay” “so you think $30 is gonna convince me to take some shrew on a date?” “fine, i’ll give you $50” “$100” “$75. and if it goes well *sigh* i’ll give u the $25” “one date?” “yup” “deal”)

so now he’s got 75 bucks in his pocket and a cigarette between his lips and his sights set on you

you’re right outside the music room perched on an amp with a stratocaster in your lap

and you KNOW this asshole stalks up to you and flicks your amp off WHILE YOU’RE PLAYING 🤬

oh and he lays it on thick, he is working for that extra $25

“hey, don’t i know you?” + “shit, you sit in front of me in history” + “sooooo… how ‘bout that mrs. click, huh—ow, jesus” + “play nice” + “so… you know any whitesnake?” + “c’mon, doll, how ‘bout you let me take you to a party friday night—lemme guess, not your scene, right?” + “what..? you want a drag?”

he is definitely being too nice to you

so you tell him to scram and he gets all defensive and oooooH he is fuming

dustin and lucas are watching from behind a tree or bush or something and they just *facepalm*

and max like BEGS steve to pay him more and steve is all like mumblegrumblebrbrbrb i already paid him

but steve gets PISSED at billy like “give me my money back if you’re not even gonna try”

and billy scoffs like “hey man, i’m tryna work a miracle. shit takes time”

then he finds your car in the lot after school, leaned against the driver’s side like

(“nice car. y’know, you can bum a ride with me anytime.” “as… radical as that sounds, i prefer riding in cars that don’t smell like smoke” “hey. the camaro’s a smoke-free zone, doll face. keepin’ it clean just for you” “bite me” “don’t have to tell me twice”)

at this point the three stooges—dustin, lucas, steve—and max decide to do a little digging

and actually????? you and billy are scarily alike

same music taste, hang out at the same places, hate the same people

it’s a wonder nobody thought of this sooner

so steve keeps giving billy advice like “she goes to that one really weird place with the loud music on thursdays so go and… try to look nice, alright?”

“are you sayin’ i don’t look nice, harrington?”

“NO. 😐” steve likes to rethink all of his life choices sometimes

anyways, billy goes, of course, and he spots you immediately

and you look hot

you’re dancing up by the stage, and even the bassist is making eyes at you

if he didn’t think you were a bitch, he probably would’ve bought you a drink by now

he’s also wearing a shit ton of cologne because he got nervous he prioritizes smelling good 🥰

and he looks down at the little piece of paper steve gave him and labeled ‘USE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY’, so he opens it and it says “say ‘can i have your number because i lost mine’ and then make a cool face, the ladies love that one”

jesus christ, harrington, how did you ever get laid

then you’re blowing past him in your miniskirt and boots headed for the bar, so he follows you and leans up next to you

(“you come here often?” “do you?” “you kidding? this is my favorite spot” “yeah, right. now, if you’d excuse me, should be getting back to my—” “aw, come on, doll, let me hang around. i’m good asshole repellent” “is that because like repels like?” “har har”)

despite your resistance, he’s right

this place is a breeding ground for weirdos, and you were actually kind of glad that billy stuck around

that and he didn’t dance with anyone else the whole night, even if he wasn’t exactly dancing with you either

he stayed close, but he knew he’d get chewed out if he touched you

it was nice to have—

a friend??? you’re not sure that’s what this is, but having someone is better than having to look out for yourself all of the time

and at the end of the night, he walked you to your car after realizing you were drinking water the whole night

“yunno, my offer for tomorrow night still stands.”

ah yes the party

and you get in your car like “good to know😶”

he’s about to walk away when you roll down the window and say “pick me up at 8”

ohhhh you better believe he’s smirking to himself the whole way home

billy calls max at lucas’s, telling her to ‘keep herself busy tmrw’ because he’d be gone

max hangs up and bolts to the living room to tell the three stooges (who have been joined by mike and robin):

“BILLY’S TAKING HER TO THE PARTY TOMORROW—YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?????” “moviE NIGHT AT STEVE’S HOUSE!!!!” “NO!” “YAYYYY”

anyways, this date-not-date has him all palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy

Nervous with a capital n

he pulls up, walks to the door (a first, he’s the honking type), knocks, and is pretty much floored when you open the door and slam it behind yourself

“oh hi.”

and you half smile like “oh hi”

and he is alarmingly close to you, but you are determined to keep your arms/body about half an inch from his chest while he just

blink blink

stares down at you

“are you… feeling okay?”

he SNAPS out of it

“feeling fine. let’s go” but he definitely had that glazed over, pale but also sweaty and feverish, lifeless flu-gaze just then

true to his word, his car actually smells…. kinda sweet

vanilla somethin-or-other. some kind of baked good. you can’t really place it all too well. pancakes?

DOESN’T MATTER 😟 were u really just thinking about how good his car smells???

embarrassing 😳 for u

all the while he is just about ready to implode while tripping along behind you into the loud ass party

you’re gorgeous

and lost immediately

you roll your eyes when a pretty cheerleader runs her fingers through the curly ends of his hair and coos his name sweetly

you’re out of sight when she plants a kiss on his cheek, and he unceremoniously shoves her away

he gets that treatment all night

people are suddenly obsessed with him?????? god 🙄

by the time he actually finds you again, it’s two hours later, and you’re watching cartoons in the living room in some guy’s lap leaning against him like—like ?? i dont know but GOD billy could die right there

you’re just giggling to yourself, suddenly tame and half-lidded and pressing yourself against some stranger in a dark room with a red solo cup in your hand

“alright, doll, time to wrap it up, it’s gettin’ late” “no it’s not. why do you care?” “cmon, i’m playing chaperone, let’s go” “nuh-uh—”

and then sideburns over here goes “think the lady can speak for herself, buster” and that’s pretty much billy’s last straw

it’s no secret he has a talent for physical altercations with assholes, so he manages you off the guy’s lap before yanking him up by the collar and laying him out on the floor

just wailing on him really, and you’re slurring out some curses to yourself, trying so hard not to watch but billy is undoubtedly stunning

even while yk beating some sicko up

“alright, let it go!” tommy shouts from the back of the crowd that inevitably formed when someone yelled fight “billy, come on”

and he uses his sleeve to wipe at his bloody nose before tilting his head back, grabbing your hand, and jetting out the back door

“the hell wh—just happened?????” …. you are three sheets to the wind i am afraid

“leave it. i—he was… dunno, you’re gonna be mad no matter what i do so”

and you stop on the sidewalk by his car, tugging his hand and impulsively—drunkenly, gently, coyly, with your lip between your teeth—reach for one of his loosely wound curls

“that guy was pretty weird anyway” your eyes go wide, and he chuckles

“let’s get you home”

“it’s like ten??????????”

“so you’ll be asleep by, what? eleven?”

“better race home then.”

you slump into the passenger’s seat with a—for lack of a better word—sauced smile

not all there, googly eyes, half drooling, it’s a sight

and when he glances at you, you’re staring back at him and it makes him nervous

he finally gets you tucked into bed, sitting next to you with a sigh

“you always get shitfaced at parties?”

“you always abandon your date at parties?”

“touché.”

and he just messes with your blankets, making sure you dont throw up on yourself while you’re still awake

“you’re bleeding. riiiiiiiight”—you poke his temple and he hisses—“there!”

“got it, dollface. thanks.”

“noo problemo, billy-o. heheh.”

he snickers and shakes his head, finally standing from the bed and flicking the lights off

“gonna be alright, sweetheart?” you nod “alright. i’m gonna trust you on this one”

and JUST as he turns to leave—

“billy?” 🥺

its sososo soft and he whips around like “YES!!”

and you pucker your lips

and GOD

as bad as he wants to, you’re too plastered for a goodnight kiss

and this night doesn’t exactly warrant one either

admittedly he had been a shithead

maybe next time

he pecks your cheek quickly before heading home

oh and now you’ve got a Grudge

you do not speak to him. you do not look at him. but try as you might, billy hargrove is really hard not to think about

not with the longing glances you catch him giving you or the way he tends to linger around wherever you are or the way he calls your name as you storm out of the gym

and then he FINALLY starts leaving you alone

no glances or shouting or longing

but homeroom, friday morning, one week after the incident (if you can really call it that)

*tap tap* “is this thing on”

over the loud speaker???? that’s definitely billy’s voice, and you have to laugh at the shrill screaming of the woman who takes care of attendance in the background

“good morning, hawkins high, this one goes out to someone i should have apologized to a week ago. hey,”—he doesn’t say your name, but your entire class swivels their heads to look at you—“if you’re listening, i’m sorry, about last week and i’d like to take you to prom if you’ll have me. and if this announcement isn’t convincing enough then…..”

everyone seems to hold their breath in anticipation of his next words

oh but what comes next is so much better than that

“without you…… there’s no change—”

he’s singing. he’s singing over the loud speaker to the entire school.

and your homeroom riots.

there’s howling and cackling and someone shouts “billy’s down bad!”

you cover your face but you cant hide that smile from a mile away

“my nights and days are gray”

he couldn’t have picked a more embarrassing song, and you’re relieved when the principal bursts in to the office

theres muffled shouting while billy tries to croak out the next line and then a manic “sorry, hawkins high, this is your principal. we formally apologize for the—”

“there’s no place for lovers in this world thanks to hard asses like you” billy grumbles from the background

then there’s a fumbling and an expletive and a short and high-pitched tone to signal the end of the announcement

you find billy at lunch, and his buddies hoot and holler when you grab his wrist and tug him away

“what the hell did you do that for”

“you”

“yeah i got that”

“well?”

“well what?”

and he gives you this look like he’s lying in wait for an answer

and you soften and let go of his wrist: “that was stupid”

“but you liked it” he shrugs

“yeah”

“so…… is that a yes?”

“yeah—just…. yeah, alright? but don’t do that again”

“i wont”

“promise?”

“i promise”

“thank you”

and his nose scrunches because before you can walk away, he catches you by the hand and taps his jaw and turns his head and you roll your eyes

“whatever”

but you kiss his cheek anyways

and then like ten minutes later, steve find him and slides him a fifty like “dude, that was solid, i cant believe you pulled it off”

but billy shakes his head and crumples the bill back into steves hand like

“nah, don’t need it”

and steve’s eyes r so wide like…… ogey…. what just happened

and then cut to saturday—prom—and billy is like FREAKING out, he did his hair all nice and spent the money steve’s been giving him on renting a tux and buying a corsage and boutonnière for the two of you

“ay, mallrat, here”—and he hands max a $20–“get lost for a couple hours, alright?”

“why?”

“‘m fucking busy—”

“with what? or… who?”

“get out”

dude max is doing a VICTORY DANCE on her way to lucas’ house because holy shit???? it worked??? and billy’s actually paying her for her freedom???? this is the life🤩

and billy knocks on your door, knowing he’s early as hell and over eager

what’s gotten into him. he doesn’t just do things like this. he doesn’t show up early or feel all tingly and actually pleasant. ever. for anything or anyone.

and god do you look beautiful. like youre glowing.

he opens the door for you and holds his breath when you pin his boutonnière on and holds your hand on the drive to the venue

“may i have this dance” he is putting the moves on

“you do know i’m your date, right?”

“doesn’t hurt to ask”

so you two dance together and then….

the slow dance 🥺

he holds you to his chest and PRAYS you don’t feel his heart beating wildly

it’s just. you look at him like he’s more than his reputation and more than the things he pretends to be, and he’s never received something as tender as that before.

and about an hour into the night, steve grooves over with a devious look on his face, butting in while you two dance together

“so this is what you spent all that money on? man, i would’ve given you more if i’d’ve known”

and billy’s eyes go wide because you’re SCOWLING at him like

“what money?”

“nothing, he’s—he doesn’t know what he’s talking about”

“billy? what money?”

and steve just backs away… 😟

“did he….. did he pay you to take me out?”

“no, that’s not—it’s not what it sounds like”

“yeah right. hope he paid you a shit ton, cause im a handful, right? god, i can’t believe this—i really hope he made this whole deal worth it to you.”

oh man……..

weeks go by

you brush him off and avoid him and sometimes don’t even show up to the classes you have together

but if only you knew

he feels so guilty and on edge and like he could punch steve in the face for being such a dickhead

then comes the final project in your shared english class

“can i present first?”

it’s you.

billy almost perks up until you look him in the eye and you do not look happy

“i hate the way you talk to me…”

(i’m not gonna rewrite miss stratfords iconic poem, but i will rewrite the first + last line for dramatic effect)

“but mostly, i hate the way i don’t hate you. not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all”

and you sit back in your seat, leaving billy feeling more dejected than before

he can’t help but look to his own little sister for help

“what are you, a sap?

“shut up, i need help”

“what’s in it for me?”

“i won’t say shit when you go over to your boyfriends house” he groans

“deal”

and he explains the whole thing and his shit luck and how he needs to get you back

“well how about special interests? maybe make up with concert tickets or a puppy or something—"

“got it. thank’s max” and he ruffles her hair and she whines about it but she’ll be fine

next day, you’re literally just walking to your car when you see a guitar leaned up against the door

and you 🫢

“surprise”

he comes up behind you, glancing over your shoulder when you grab for the teal mockingbird in utter silence

“how did you—wha—why did you—billy….”

“it’s alright, you can say thank you”

“you suck”

“i know”

and you look between him and the guitar with a grin “i love it”

“i know” and he sighs and pushes a hand thru his hair

“i never did it for the money. maybe at the beginning, but steve’s an idiot. i would’ve done it for free. you weren’t some thing to just conquer, and i shouldn’t have treated it like a game. i’m sorry, doll. and i’ll get it if you never forgive me. you can still keep the guitar”

he puts his hands in his pockets and looks away

but you just jab at his chest and grin like

“you can’t just do that, you know? and a guitar won’t make up for everything”

“yeah, i know, i know” he pulls something out of his pocket, mirroring your smile when he puts the small box into your hand

“that’s exactly why i came prepared with this”

“a ring?????? jesus christ”

“not one of those rings. its like… like a promise ring. but more like…. i promise not to be an asshole ever again.”

“i dunno billy, that’s a pretty big commitment for you”

“shut up. i’ll do it for you, dolly” oh and he’s cheeky with it, one hand on your hip and tilting his head to the side with a smirk

“oh and one more thing” he says, watching you slide the ring onto your middle finger

“mhm?” you blink up at him, but he’s gazing a little lower than the tip of your nose

he leans closer and closer, and you lean back against your car, lips parting as he smiles wife and kisses you hard

“been waiting to do that for a while now”

“well…….. what took you so long?”

masterlist

[hellfirebabe666]

I Don't Love You Like I Did

Reader and ModernDay!Steve grow apart after being together for 2 years (Told for perspective of reader. No mention of gender or use of y/n) WARNINGS: Just angst overall WORD COUNT: 4.4k o.o

It started with minor things. We would text each other every morning a good morning greeting before discussing briefly how we were and what our days had ahead of us. Now his messages were short and scattered and sometimes unanswered, but I chalked it up to the fact that he was stressed with work and a recent new position he got into.

Then when we would go out on dates he stopped holding my hand unless I happened to slip my hand in his and even then it was different his grip loose and scarce and barely there. Lifeless. It was another stab in the heart, but we continued like normal. Speaking to each other like nothing was wrong.

But we both knew there was something terribly wrong. We were drifting far apart like ships passing in the night. When it had been several months since we were last intimate I felt like I did something wrong. Steve was usually the one who initiated a lot of intimate contact, but for some reason it started shifting and it was like he was on autopilot and his mind was elsewhere entirely and it scared me.

Steve came into my life at such a weird crossroads and he helped me come into my own and really build myself back up from such a dark place that still creeps in to the edges of my psyche but is better controlled and bay. But now the man that means the most to me is pulling away from me and I don't even think I have a way of stopping it.

I finally decide to bite the bullet and talk to him after we made plans to watch movies at his which was our go to stay in date night. I settled on the bed with him and laid my head on his chest to which he lightly rested on hand over my arm for some minor contact but he made no effort to wrap his arms around me like he used to. I felt like bursting into tears, but I had to put on a brave face. I had to speak.

"Steve?" I lift my head up and sit up to look at him. He eyes me curiously, "What's going on, sweetheart?" His eyes scan over my features noting the crease in my brow and how I gnaw at my lip trying to will the words out of my mouth to speak about how this whole situation has made me feel and finding out where we stood. "Is there..." I sigh trying to gather the words, "I just...I want to know if there was something that was bothering you, or something that I did to hurt you, you'd tell me right?"

Steve looked taken aback at first but I think he also saw this conversation coming along at some point. He sat up and moved to press his back against the headboard as he spoke, "Of course. And there's nothing you did wrong. And there's nothing bothering me I promise you." He tried to lie but he knew I could see right through it. He was easy to read especially when he lied.

"Please be honest with me, Steve. The last few months...I just," my voice begins to waver as tears form in my eyes, "I just want...to know if we're okay. Because you're not acting the same and it's scaring me. You barely even touch me, Steve." I say the last part in almost a whisper but he heard it and he knew it was true. And if he was honest with himself he really didn't have an explanation for it. It was nothing I really did or said. It was just people growing up and growing apart, at least that's how he saw it.

"Sweetheart...I-" He has a hard time looking at me his gaze flickering down to his hands as he spoke, "It's nothing you did. You've been an absolute angel, but I...just don't feel it anymore. I care for you I do, but I just..." and he trails off words caught in his throat and tears spring from my eyes streaking down my cheeks, "You don't love me anymore..." I whisper letting it settle in.

Steve's head hung as he watched me crumble in front of him and it broke his heart because he know he's the cause, but he needed to speak his true feelings. He couldn't keep me stuck in a relationship where he couldn't return the feelings I had. "I'm sorry, honey. I really am. I don't want to hurt you. I still care about you I do," He says as he tries to move closer to me and brush the tears from my eyes but I flinch away feeling myself shake as tears continue to pour from my eyes.

"I'm gonna go," I whisper standing up and grabbing my purse and the cardigan I had discarded on the side. Steve looked at me like a kicked puppy taking pure pity on me as I shuffled my way to the door. "Goodbye, Steve. I...I hope You can find someone who is worthy of your love," I say with a frown and make my way out the door and rushing to my car speeding away back to my apartment. My heart was shattered beyond repair.

[reigningqueenofwords]

Hiding Things

Pairings: Steve x Reader x Bucky Word count: 1,295

Read on AO3

Bucky raised an eyebrow when you quickly closed your laptop the moment he walked in the door. “Babe, if you’re watching porn, there’s no need to be embarrassed.” He chuckled, heading to the kitchen to serve up the takeout he was just getting. 

Your cheeks turned a light pink at that. Setting your laptop on the coffee table, you got up to follow him. “Wasn’t watching porn.” You told him as you grabbed each of you a soda. “Why would I? I have you and Steve.” You flirted, wanting to steer him away from the subject. 

“Speaking of, where is he? He knew I was getting dinner.” He asked. 

“Went to see Tony for a second. He said he’ll be right back, but that was half an hour ago.” You shrugged, moving to sit on the counter. “JARVIS, can you tell Steve our man is back with food? And if he doesn’t get up here, I’m eating his egg rolls.” 

Bucky smirked at that. “Good thing I got extra.” He teased you, knowing they were your favorite part. 

“Oh, I love you.” You gasped as he handed you one. 

A couple weeks later, you were lounging in your bed, scrolling on your phone, when Steve came in. He was wearing nothing but a towel, and you didn’t even blink. You were so into what you were reading that it didn’t register. “What’re you reading?” Steve asked, moving to crawl up next to you. 

“Nothing.” You said quickly, locking your phone. “Besides, you crawled into bed to talk to me about what I was reading…while only wearing a towel?” You smirked, setting your phone on the nightstand. “It seems more like you wanted to distract me from reading.” 

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Actually, yes. Tonight’s my date with Buck. Remember? You and Wanda planned to have a girl’s night?” 

“Oh shit. I forgot.” You scrambled off the bed to get dressed. “I was supposed to get snacks!” You tripped as you put on your pants. 

Steve watched, amused, leaning on his arm. “Babe?” He tried to get your attention as you pulled off the shirt you’d been wearing. “Babe!” He laughed, making you look at him. “Bucky got them for you already. They’re on the kitchen counter.” He watched you relax at that. “Now, how about you help me pick what I wear tonight instead of scrambling around?”

Blushing, you nodded. “I vote those blue jeans that make your butt look good.” 

Both men noticed odd behavior from you more and more as time went on. Neither could figure out what you were hiding. “I don’t think she’s cheating.” Bucky noted as him and Steve showered together one night. 

“Me, either. But what else could it be?” Steve sounded worried. “We live together, we share our lives, what could she possibly want to hide from us?” He sighed. 

Bucky was at a loss. “I think our only option is to confront her.” He said softly. “What if she’s sick and is just reading up on whatever she has?!” Of course his mind would go to the worst case scenario. 

“I don’t think that’s it, Buck.” He assured him. “But we can talk to her.” He agreed. 

You were curled up in a blanket, ice cream in a bowl, and some cheesy reality tv on when the guys came in. “Hey, guys.” You smiled. “How was your shower?” You wiggled your eyebrows, but your amused look fell when you saw the look on their faces. “What’s wrong?” You looked between them, grabbing the remote to pause your show. “Did something happen?” 

Bucky had his hands on his hips, and glanced to Steve to have him speak up. “We’re worried.” Steve started. “You’ve been acting weird, and we can’t figure out why.”

“How so…?” You tried to think, but nothing came to mind. 

“The quickly closing your laptop when we come in the room.” Bucky started. “Or locking your phone when we get too close.” He went on. “You’re hiding something, and we’re trying not to think the worst.” 

“Cheating? You think I’m cheating?” You sagged. 

“Or sick.” Steve noted. 

Licking your lips, you picked up the remote and backed out of the show to bring up your watch list. “This is why.” You motioned to it. 

Both men looked confused. “I’m lost.” Bucky looked back to you. “Your netflix list is what you’re hiding?” 

“I didn’t want you two to realize what a slut I am for romance or period dramas!” You groaned. “I shut down what I’m watching so you won’t see, and I lock my phone so you can’t see what I’m reading.” You flopped to the side, setting your bowl on the table. “It’s silly, I know, but I can’t help it.” 

“You don’t want us to know you’re watching and reading romance?” Steve asked, an amused look on his face. “That’s all? That’s why you’ve been acting all sneaky? And not very well, I might add.” 

“Yes.” Your voice was muffled by the blanket you’d pulled over your head. 

You were surprised when you felt your feet be lifted, and then put on Bucky’s lap (you could tell your men apart by feel at this point). “Okay, put one one.” He told you. 

Pulling the blanket down, you looked at him. “You want to watch a romance with me?” You sounded skeptical. 

Steve moved to sit so that your head was on his lap. “Which is your favorite?” 

“My favorite is a nearly 6 hour long mini series.” You pointed out. “I would start with something other than something that long. How about another version of the same thing?” 

“Deal.” Both men said at the same time. 

“So, did you get the gown ordered?” Steve asked as him and Bucky were in the training room. 

“Yeah, I’m glad we have JARVIS. Or I wouldn’t have been able to get her measurements.” He shook his head. “What about the hat? I hope you had better luck than I did.” 

Steve chuckled, nodding. “I did. I found someone to make it.” 

Nat paused what she was doing and looked over at them, eyebrow raised. “Are you seriously casually discussing what you three do in the bedroom while training?” Her tone was slightly amused. 

“No!” Steve laughed. “We’re planning a surprise for Y/N for our anniversary. This is the only time we can really talk about it without worrying she’ll overhear.” He explained. Him and Bucky were going all out to make you the period drama/romance dinner of your dreams. Although, both men were actually looking forward to it, too. They even had their favorites movies, shows, and characters. More than once you’d find them having a heated discussion about it. It was beyond amusing. 

“Here, put this on.” Steve held out a dress bag. “Me and Buck are getting ready on Thor’s floor, and we’ll meet you on the roof for dinner.” 

You blinked. “I bought a dress for our anniversary.” You pointed to the dress on the bed. 

He smiled. “I promise you’ll like this one more. Shoes and accessories are under the bed in a couple boxes. Wanda is coming to do your hair.” He kissed your cheek. He couldn’t wait to see what you looked like in your dress. 

Smiling back, you bit your lip. “I am very intrigued.” You giggled. “I can’t wait to see what you guys have planned.” You said happily before he left you to get ready. As soon as you heard the door click shut, you hung the bag on your closet door and unzipped it. Inside was the most gorgeous 1800s inspired dress you’d ever seen. Reaching out, you brushed your fingers over it. “Wow.” You breathed. “What did you guys plan?”