#Uncle Wayne I love you

[depressedtheatrekiddo]

Fear of the Dark is so Eddie Munson coded, yeah?

What if I said Fear of the Dark is so Uncle Wayne coded too, uh? What if?

[theerurishipper]

Hate it when people erase Dick and Clark’s relationship. "Dick doesn't have a super" ummm actually he does. It's Clark. "Superman and Batman are the World's Finest" WRONG. World's Finest is Superman and Batman and Robin. Clark and Dick are as close as Clark and Bruce. This has been a PSA

[tennant-the-tigger]

Proud of you, Eddie

Wayne makes time to attend Eddie's first gig at the hideout. He hasn't stopped making time since...

My Stranger Things Art |  The Munsons

[trensu]

ETA: now on ao3 as Hawkins Halfway House for Homeless Horrors

ETA2: now with an additional snippet

okay, how's this for an AU

We know that Steve wants to be a dad. Like, his literal life dream is to have a minimum of six children. SIX. who wants that?? crazy people, that's who. but we forgive him his insanity because he's sweet and will actually probably be a really good dad and there's not enough of those in the world.

the downer is that it's the late 90s, he's a (still) single guy in his thirties, and every adoption agency on the planet would rather give their children to a heteronormative couple who don't even want kids than to a single dude who would dedicate his heart and soul to giving his kids a happy healthy home.

He's bemoaning his fate to Robin at a bar they recently discovered. It's a weird little joint, kinda tucked away on the outskirts where Steve could've sworn didn't exist just last week. The patrons were kinda weird too but neither he or Robin could put their finger on why or how. If Steve had been a little less miserable, and Robin a little less caught up in comforting him, they might've noticed how everyone else in the bar kept sneaking curious glances at them or how they somehow always kept most of their features hidden.

They didn't though. Even when they were interrupted by a handsome black gentleman who called himself Jeff. Jeff said that he couldn't help but overhear their dilemma and that he's actually part of an agency that is more open minded about potential foster or adoptive parents. Steve's a little deeper in his cups than he intended, and doesn't question that some random guy in a bar is offering him a chance of having children. Robin is not as far in her cups and finds it a bit suspicious.

She was going to say something about it but Jeff looked her in the eye and said, "Everything is fine. There's no reason to worry. I'm only trying to help."

"You're only trying to help," Robin murmured back blearily. "Everything is fine. Yeah. Yeah, 'm not worried."

Jeff gives Steve his card and tells him he can stop by the very next day if he'd like, since his schedule is open.

The next day, Steve is regretting having gotten so drunk. Not really because of the hangover (though holy shit, he is NOT twenty anymore he needs to stop drinking like one). No. It's because Jeff had just finished giving him a tour of the facility full of rambunctious children in need of a home.

Actually, that had been pretty okay even if the other adults in the facility startled at the sight of him and the children kept ducking into other rooms to hide from him.

No. It's because Jeff had just introduced him to a child named Dustin who sneezed unexpectedly and somehow turned into a kitten.

"Um," Steve said. Jeff sighed.

"Dustin hasn't gotten back control over his shapeshifting since his mother's passing, but I assure you he's been improving."

"...shapeshifting," Steve said, numbly.

"Yes. Dustin tends to go for cat shapes, like his mother did." Jeff bends down to pick up the loudly mewing tabby kitten. "We've managed to get him to shift mostly into a domestic shorthair, rather than a cougar cub."

"That's great," Steve squeaked as he tried to tamp down the growing hysteria in him. "Really, really great. Y'know what, Jeff, this whole thing's been great but I think I'm still kind of drunk so I'm just gonna go--"

"No, wait," Jeff says, quickly placing the Dustin kitten on his shoulder before reaching out to grab Steve by the elbow. "Please. Look, you seem like a good guy. I did a quick scan of you and everything, and I really think if you'd take a moment to sit down and--"

"JEFFORD BILLANY JONES."

Jeff's shoulders hunched, nearly dislodging Dustin from his shoulder. He sighed again and turned to face the man storming towards him and Steve.

"Eddy, you know none of that is my name."

"I'll call you whatever I want since for some unfathomable reason, you've brought a human into my sanctuary. Why is there a human in my home, Jeffamy."

"Eddy, let me explain."

"It's Eddie in front of the human," Eddie said.

Steve's brain was experiencing some sort of malfunction because Jeff had been calling this man Eddie, except if he concentrated, the way Jeff said Eddie and the way Eddie had said Eddie sounded very very different except it hadn't because they both sounded like Eddie except for how Jeff's Eddie sounded different from, the same as, different, just like--

A pair of ringed fingers snapped aggressively in front of his face, startling Steve from an impending aneurysm.

"You. Who are you, who sent you, what do you want."

Steve stuttered something incoherent. He's pretty sure he's had a mental break from reality. There was some sort of sentient black sludge creeping across the tiled floor, wrapping a tendril around Jeff's leg.

"What is that?" Steve squawked. Jeff beamed at him.

"Oh, this is El! She's a Monster Under the Bed. She hasn't decided on a form yet, but that's okay, we love her just as she is."

"Jeff," Eddie snapped. Jeff looked at Eddie stubbornly.

"You told me we needed all hands on deck."

"How dare you, I'd never stoop to using boat metaphors."

"Don't distract me with blatant lies. Eddy, you said we needed help. You said you'd take anyone at this point."

Steve has not been able to stop staring at the sludge creature (El?). He's beginning to realize that he can't quite remember what Jeff looked like, or any of the adults they had seen. He's noticing that some of the children that have been scampering about had looked off. Like the boy with the bowl-cut they had passed by earlier who had looked...frosty around the edges. Or the girl he thought had had red feathers in her hair but is now suspecting the feathers were something more than decorative.

Ringed fingers snap in front of his face again. Steve finally focused on the man named Eddie who was actually named Eddie which was different from Eddie somehow. Now that he's able to shove away the confusion that is this man's name, he's struck by the fact that Eddie was quite possibly the most gorgeous man Steve's ever seen. He had wide, dark eyes that made Steve think of seabeds in the deepest of waters. His hair was a riot of dark brown curls that for some reason brought to mind swirling schools of fish.

"Answer my questions," Eddie demanded. Steve blinked and, with some difficulty, remembered the previous interrogation.

"Uh, I'm Steve. Jeff invited me because I want to be a dad."

Eddie barked out a laugh.

"Oh, is that right? In that case, welcome to Hawkins' Halfway House for Homeless Horrors! I'm sure Jeff would love to finish introducing you to the rest of our children. Have you met Mike? He's a ghoul! Or Lucas! He's a werewolf and his dream is to become a basketball star. They both have very sharp teeth so watch out for their tantrums."

Jeff scowls at Eddie before turning back to Steve. Steve was starting to feel faint and he was no longer sure if he regretted drinking the night before or regretted not drinking more.

"Steve, it's okay. Eddy is making it sound scarier than it actually is. You said you wanted to be a dad, and we need foster parents that can help these kids learn how to blend in with humans. That's what the halfway house is for, but there's only so much they can learn while living in sanctuary. We need a way to have them experience the human world more directly while still keeping them safe, and I think you're the solution we've been looking for. What do you think?"

"I think I need to sit down," Steve said thinly. Eddie snorted derisively. Steve was slightly offended but honestly everything was a bit too much right now and he really would like to sit down for a moment just to process. Because monsters are real, apparently, and some of them need parents. Which was terrifying to think about but also not so much? Because all kids were little monsters some of the time right? If Steve could have a moment to get his bearings...

"This was a terrible idea, Jeffathan."

"I think it was a great idea, actually. I really think this could work."

"No. I forbid it. Don't do this again."

Then there was a sweet and beautiful humming. It made the edges of Steve's mind go fuzzy and soft. He blinked slowly and looked for the source of the sound. Eddie stared at him intently and when he spoke, his voice was like music.

"Steve," Eddie said. "Steve, do you want to make me happy?"

Steve nodded dumbly. He wanted that more than anything in the whole world. He wanted to make Eddie smile. He wanted Eddie to never stop singing.

"It would make me very happy if you went home and forgot everything you saw here today," Eddie continued.

Steve made a sad sound. He didn't want to forget. He didn't want to forget beautiful, gorgeous Eddie and this place that could make his dream come true.

"Please, Steve," Eddie's lyrical voice took on an aching mournful tone. "If you don't, you'll break my heart. I'll never be happy again."

The sadness in the song made Steve feel like the world was ending. Eddie couldn't be sad! Steve would rather die than make Eddie sad!

"I forget," Steve mumbled through the fog in his mind. "And you'll be happy?"

"So happy. I'd be the happiest man alive if you do that one little thing for me, my sweet Steve."

Steve nods again. "Okay."

"Good boy," Eddie croons. Steve felt like he swallowed the sun at those words. He followed Eddie as Eddie guided him through the halfway house. Eddie hummed his lovely song the entire way.

"Go home and forget," Eddie sang one last time as he helped Steve get behind the wheel of his car.

"Yeah," Steve replied dreamily and drove away.

--

The telephone rang shrilly through his apartment. Steve stumbled out of bed and picked up, only fumbling it a little bit.

"H'llo?"

"Steve, what the hell, I've been trying to get a hold of you all day! Where have you been?" Robin's voice rang out, making Steve flinch. He scrubbed his free hand over his face tiredly.

"Home? I just woke up," Steve said. It was weird that he was fully dressed, he thought dazedly, but it wouldn't be the first time he's passed out drunk in his street clothes. Was he wearing this shirt yesterday? He could've sworn he'd worn the navy one.

"What? Just now? It's like five in the evening!"

"Huh. That'd explain the weird dream," Steve mumbled.

"Was it the one where you get seduced by a giant squid? Because I don't need to know more about your weird tentacle fetish."

"I don't have a tentacle fetish! I had the dream ONE time, and I wasn't being seduced, I was getting drowned and it was terrifying!"

"To-may-to, to-mah-to."

"Whatever, this one was weirder anyway."

"I find that hard to believe but now I'm morbidly curious. Hit me with it."

"...I don't remember."

"There goes my entertainment for the evening."

"Was there a reason you called, Robin?"

"Yes! I met this girl named Chrissy and I swear Steve, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen..."

Beautiful. Steve had the faint impression of dark eyes and silver rings, but it was quickly washed away like a child's sandcastle in the tide under the onslaught of Robin's ramblings. As he listened to his best friend, he couldn't help but feel there was something he'd forgotten. There was something he'd been planning on doing today, wasn't there...?

...oh, well. If it was really important, he'd remember eventually.

[sunflowerxthoughts]

But like… Imagine dating Eddie but having a really close relationship with Wayne. I will forever headcanon that the man needs a minute to warm up to people in Eddie’s life but after that? Besties. Family.

Having breakfast with him while Eddie is still asleep and he knows how you like your breakfast and you two read the paper together and comment on the local news. He’d love to gossip with you!!!

“Oh my god Wayne, did you hear Tabitha’s son, the kid who works in the Grocery store found her kissing another man in the parking lot????” And he just sips his coffe and goes, “Leave it to Tabitha to make such a rookie mistake… Don’t blame her though, kiddo. Husband’s an ass.”

Eddie is amazed by it but doesn’t complain because he gets to be with you most of the time and you get to sleep over as much as you want.

Ooooh and imagine if like one summer night the three of you are in the little porch and Eddie is strumming the guitar, Wayne is nursing a cup of coffee and you are drinking some tea and Wayne is just just super happy because life is good.

He has his nephew with him at home, he has a good soul next to him that cares for both of them and is like a daughter to him and he thinks hey, maybe it’s time to put himself out there, meet a special someone too. After all you’ve shown him he deserves to be loved ane taken care off too.

[canongf]

in-law f/os that tell you to call them by their first name. or by mom or dad. in-law f/os that ask you if you're staying for dinner. in-law f/os that ask you if you're staying the night. in-law f/os that give you your own key. in-law f/os that tell you to call them if you need anything. in-law f/os that welcome you into their lives easily because they see the way you love their kid and they see the way their kid loves you.

[oatmilk-vampire]

A steddie au but it's just the plot of Meet Cute (2022).

Steve, a young man grappling with suicidal thoughts, discovers that a tanning bed in a nail salon is a time machine. Traveling back 24 hours, he relives the best date night of his life over and over, only to decide that his date, Eddie, needs some fixing. Unaware that meddling with the past could ruin the future, Steve goes even further back in time to turn him into the perfect man and free from trauma -- even though he was already pretty perfect.

[byler-alarmist]

NEW Puzzle Tales Character Drop: WAYNE MUNSON!!!

A.K.A. Puzzle Tales decided to eviscerate me as a birthday surprise

They are so evil for this

Taken.....

I love that there's a purple character with Dodge, since usually it's red characters . Also, why is he purple? I'm noodling that one around in my head....

He deserves to avenge his nephew. Mete out that punishment, Uncle Wayne!!

Now the last one stands out to me a little....

🤔🤔

Oh, but if you really want to feel miserable, his activated power is him sadly waving a "missing" sign at the attackers.:

LITERALLY GET OUT OF HERE, GET OUT OF MY LIFE BEFORE I DIE IN PAIN

[steviesbicrisis]

It starts out as any other Sunday morning. Eddie takes his time to come out of his room and finds his uncle already in the kitchen, the usual cup of coffee in his hand.

“‘Morning son” Wayne greets him, looking up from the newspaper.

“‘Morning” mumbles Eddie, still half asleep.

Per usual, Wayne tells him about stuff that happened to him during the week, since he works night shifts and they don’t get much time to talk except on Sundays.

“Oh, you won’t believe what I witnessed on Thursday night” Wayne begins, catching Eddie’s interest “we were grabbing something for dinner when I caught this piece of shit launching himself on another man! A disgusting scene to witness, I was so mad. Just like that, out in the open, in that alley next to the diner, you know that one?”

Everything Wayne says after that, Eddie barely registers.

The sound of his voice is muffled, Eddie can feel his jaw clenching, his knees weak, his vision blur. He keeps himself busy making his breakfast, trying not to show his inner turmoil, but something betrays him. He doesn’t know if it’s him putting salt in his coffee or pouring water on his cereals instead of milk.

“Son, are you okay?” Wayne sounds concerned.

Eddie snaps out of his trance, he really tries to act normal but he can’t, he’s so tired of hiding in his own home.

He knows that diner alley too well, he has been there one too many times, risking getting caught doing exactly what Wayne got disgusted about.

“I’m fine” Eddie forces himself to say but, for better or for worse, his uncle knows him way too well.

“What’s going on? Is it something I said?” Wayne gets up from his chair and moves a step closer to him, Eddie flinches.

They've never experienced a situation like this, whenever one of them has a problem with the other, they just say it out loud, bicker for a while, and then go on with their life. Eddie has never had troubles telling his uncle anything, until now.

"What I've said about those men, upset you?" Wayne tries again, and Eddie cannot keep looking at his uncle and lie.

"You said it was a disgusting scene to witness. You're saying that people like me are a disgusting scene to witness."

They look at each other in silence for probably a few seconds but it feels like a lifetime from Eddie's perspective.

Then Wayne rushes to his side and envelopes him in a tight embrace.

"Son, that isn't what I meant- I don't care what you are, what I said about that man has nothing to do with you" Wayne has trouble expressing whatever is going inside his head.

Eddie has never told this to anyone before. He tries to interpret his words the best he can "but I am like that man, you can't just hate every queer that ever existed but me just because I'm your nephew."

Wayne grips his shoulders as if he was afraid Eddie would run away any second. Eddie realizes he is probably right: his gaze was scanning the room behind Wayne, searching for a way out, without fully realizing it.

He feels extremely stupid for coming out like this, without a backup plan, right after Wayne had shown him just how much he cannot stand gay people. He knows Wayne loves him like a son, but being fucked up like Eddie has to be too much even for him.

Wayne takes a deep breath, finally recollecting his thoughts. He moves his hands on Eddie's cheeks "Eddie, I want you to look at me. Look at me in the eyes, son."

Eddie focuses his gaze on his uncle's face. His hands are shaking, his posture stiff. He decides in that moment that whatever happens he will take the hit, fight back and run away.

"I love you Eddie, you are my son. I don't give a shit about who you wanna sleep with as long as you're cautious and you're safe. I don't have prejudice for anything, people can love whoever they wanna love, I don't fucking care. Are we understood?"

Eddie releases a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He really focuses on Wayne's expression, looking for any indication of him lying but he finds none. He seems concerned, determined and also sad at the same time.

"This changes nothing, I love you just the same."

It could have been because his uncle never told him he loved him so openly until now, because he was scared shitless and an adrenaline rush was running through his body, or because as soon as he figured out he was gay he had always feared the moment Wayne would find out.

It could have been all of those things at the same time that make his eyes watery. He looks away and rubs his arm on his eyes, Wayne lets him without a fuss. He knows Eddie won't run away now.

"But what about those men you were telling me about?" he asks, once he feels calm enough.

"The piece of shit was harassing the other man, it was clear from a mile away, I was pissed he thought he could do it out in the open and that no one would've stopped him" Wayne grumbles.

"Most people wouldn't have stopped him" Eddie says, still stunned.

"Well not your old man... wait, has that ever happened to you?" he questions, Eddie goes red in the face.

"Of course not! I can defend myself!" Eddie sputters, making his uncle chuckle.

Another silence spreads between them, but a much comfortable one.

"Listen, this ain't gonna be a piece of cake. I don't care, I told you, but there's people out there who do. So, when you're out, be careful but when you're here... this is your home Eddie, you have to feel free in here."

Eddie mentally curses him for turning what he thought was a dangerous situation into a sentimental one in a span of ten minutes, making him go to the verge of tears once again.

"Are we understood?" Wayne asks once again.

"We are" Eddie nods, and that's the end of it.

When the time comes and Eddie brings someone home, a boyfriend, to spend the night there and live comfortably around each other without any fear, Wayne knows he has done his job right.

----

So... I came out to my parents today. It wasn't planned, I was scared, but it went the best way I could've imagined. They're both an uncle Wayne, if that makes any sense ahahha But yeah, this inspired me to write Eddie's coming out. Wayne really doesn't care about queer people, he just wants Eddie to be okay, as any parent should.

[artiststarme]

What If Steve Were To Leave Hawkins? Part 16

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Here we go, part 16! I hope you guys enjoy reading this part and I'm excited to hear what you guys think in the comments. What do you think should happen next?

~*~*~*~

Eddie was definitely having trouble packing up his room at the trailer. All of his belongings had sentimental value and he didn’t want to part with any of it. From his many song lyric notebooks to his multitude of DnD figurines to his Sweetheart, everything was important to him. But, he knew that they wouldn’t have enough room in their current apartment to house all of his belongings. And he doubted that Steve would tolerate him taking over the bedroom of their future apartment with all of his nerdy shit. He was so entranced in a staring match with his posters that he didn’t notice his uncle arriving home and moving to stand in his doorway. 

“Eddie? Whatcha looking at?”

Eddie jumped a foot in the air and let out an unseemly squeak of fright. “Jesus H. Christ, Wayne! Are you trying to give me a heart attack? My god, I just saw my life flash before my eyes.”

He watched Uncle Wayne roll his eyes, “No need ta be so dramatic, son. Whatcha doing?”

Eddie sighed, “I’m trying to finish packing before Steve gets back with Robin but I don’t know where to start. I want to take all of it but we don’t have enough room.”

Wayne shrugged, “Just leave it. You’ll always have a home here so ya don’t have to get rid of anything. Take whatcha need right now and you can always come pick stuff up when you need it. This room’ll always be yours, I won’t touch anything.”

Eddie’s eyes watered as he considered his uncle’s words. Wayne had always been there for him, had always encouraged him to do what made him happy, and had done whatever he could to ensure that Eddie got what he wanted. He remembered the extra shifts Wayne had worked leading up to Eddie’s twelfth birthday so he could buy him his first guitar when he had mentioned his desire to learn how to play. And when Wayne found out he liked to feed the  stray cats around the neighborhood he loaded the cupboards with dry cat food and tuna cans. Eddie would miss living in the trailer with him and seeing him between his shifts. 

Wayne watched as tears started to leak from his nephew’s eyes and took a step closer, arms reaching towards him in concern. “Eds? Hey, what’s goin’ on? It’s alright, whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

The soft words of comfort delivered in his southern-sounding drawl caused the tentative tears to renew with a vengeance. Eddie lunged into his uncle’s open arms and hugged him like he would when he first moved in with Wayne at the ripe age of eleven. While he was taller than his uncle now, the embrace comforted him just the same as it had then.

“Eds, do ya not want to move? Is the Harrington boy forcing you or something? You don’t have to do anythin’ you’re not comfortable with, just tell me and I’ll help ya.”

Eddie just shook his head on his uncle’s shoulder and held on tighter. “I’m gonna miss you, Uncle Wayne.”

Eddie could tell from the stiffening of the man’s shoulders that that wasn’t what he had expected to hear. “That’s it? Kid, I’m not dying. You can come visit whenever you want to and I’ll drag my ol’ hillbilly ass up to the city to see you too. Ya can’t get rid of me that easy.”

Eddie released a teary laugh and stepped back from his uncle’s hug. He knew Wayne would always accept hugs from his physically-affectionate nephew but he had limits and it made him uncomfortable after too long. “Thanks Uncle Wayne. I love you, you know?”

Wayne shuffled his feet and ran an awkward hand over his balding head. They both knew he wasn’t the best at emotions but he did try. “I love you too, kid. Now start packing or you’re gonna upset yer boy.”

Eddie chuckled and nodded as Wayne took his leave to go make coffee. He might be moving but he’d always come back to the man that raised him and loved him more than his own father ever had. Even though the other residents of Hawkins had never liked him, his home would always be there because of the love his uncle had for him. 

With a renewed vigor, he started pulling his least used notebooks from the desk and his most treasured journals from their positions. He packed his most important belongings into a duffel bag Wayne had bestowed on him and moved to his dresser drawers. He placed the slim pickings of all of his clothes into another duffel. Eddie decided that the room decor in Steve’s apartment was nowhere near metal enough to house him. And so, all of his Corroded Coffin signs, metal band posters, and concert flyers were coming with him to liven up the drab interior. Steve was not going to make another bedroom into a plaid disaster if he could help it. 

Soon enough, all of his items deemed essential were packed and ready to go so Eddie moved his few bags and boxes into the dining area and sat down to watch whatever sport game was on with Wayne. He didn’t know what the hell was happening on the screen but the time spent with his old man was appreciated regardless. 

~*~*~*~

Steve and Robin arrived nearly an hour later with an overexcited teenager in tow. Dustin’s smile dimmed once Eddie and Wayne came into view, Eddie appearing wary and Wayne’s wrathful gaze trying to glare holes into his head. “Um,” Dustin started hesitantly. “Eddie, can I talk to you?”

Eddie fiddled with his rings nervously but nodded. “Sure, man. Steve, can you take my stuff to the van, pretty please?”

Steve huffed in outrage but grabbed the first overstuffed box and made his way back outside. Eddie saw Uncle Wayne grab one of the bags before following his boyfriend out. He briefly considered going outside to act as a buffer between the two men but decided that Steve was a big boy that could handle himself. So, he chuckled and moved his eyes away from Steve in order to focus on  Henderson. The two boys moved into Eddie’s bedroom where Eddie nudged the door shut and crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture of self-comfort. He looked at Dustin expectantly. While Eddie himself may believe the words Dustin had called him, Steve had reinforced several times that he deserved an apology because what he had said was wrong. 

Dustin paced a few steps before looking at Eddie imploringly, “I’m sorry for calling you a coward and I don’t really blame you for anything that happened in the Upside Down! I was upset and I know I hurt you by saying that but I was so angry that I ended up saying things that I didn’t mean. I’m sorry and I can promise you that it’ll never happen again.”

Eddie nodded, “it’s cool, Henderson. I get it. I should’ve told you that I was talking to Steve and I understand why you were mad. It’s fine.”

Dustin shook his head profusely, “No, it’s not fine! Yeah, I was a little upset that you didn’t tell me but I understand why you didn’t. I shouldn’t have attacked you like that or yelled at you enough to give you a panic attack. I’m sorry and I’ll spend forever trying to make it up to you.”

Eddie nodded and placed a hand on Dustin’s head to wiggle it around, drawing a laugh from the boy. “Apology accepted, my little sheep. Now let’s go help Steve, I’m pretty sure my Uncle Wayne’s giving him the shovel talk.”

They both laughed and shoved at each other on their way outside where Wayne was indeed trying to give Steve a shovel talk. They both watched from the front slope, where Robin too was situated, as Wayne cornered Steve against the side of the van with a pointed finger waggling in his face. 

They could hear the tail end of what Wayne was saying, “If you hurt my boy, Eddie won’t be the only Munson that was wanted for murder. I’ve got a shotgun and I will use it on ya, Harrington, if I need ta. Ya understand me?”

Steve nodded fervently, “yep, yep, uh, yep. I get it, Mr. Munson. I promise, I will not hurt Eddie ever. I swear!”

Wayne let him go with a considering hum and watched as Steve ran behind Eddie. If he hid behind Eddie the rest of the night and kept sending scared looks Wayne’s way, well, that was no one’s business but his own.

Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20: Epilogue

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[g1rlr0b1n]

Does anyone else ever think about how Damian might have had a semblance of a normal childhood if Dick had just like chosen not to relinquish guardianship of him? Because, I think about it a lot actually.

Like I know why he did but what if he didn't? Like what if Dick and Barbara raised him together? Like what then? Sure, it would be awkward because your bio-dad would also technically be your granddad and your father would also be your brother, but overall I think it would have been better for Damian.

I'm sure there are fics about this, drop them in the comments for me, will ya?

[dracaelus]

The canon of bruce leaving gotham for his training at the age of 14... but instead of forging letters and documents to get rid of any legal guardian while maintaining the appearence of being cared for by someone (no one is sure by whom), he just. Disappears. Runs away from his guardian's house. Steals some of (his) money and leaves. He learns how to use fake id's and disguises. No one hears about him until he comes back in his twenties and says he was kidnapped by the mafia or something like that. Can you see the headlines

[clownzaf]

More about the Single dad Au + more about Anthony!!!!

Anthony HATES Red Hood.

And Jason is really fucking sad about it bc he saw that little red headed boy who came from the worst of crime alley and saw so much of himself on him that immediately wanted to imprint on the boy.

But there’s one thing

Anthony’s father was a goon. And also a fucking piece of shit who molested corner girls.

Anthony’s father was killed by the Red Hood.

Don’t get him wrong- Anthony knows that his father was bad. He saw things coming from his dad that no boy his age should ever see. But he also knew that very deep down on that ruthless body was a heart who loved him. Even when his dad drank so much outside and came home smelling funny and saying cruel things about Anthony that made his little heart ache, even when he yelled at him or hit him when the anger was too much for words to be enough, even when he disappeared for months leaving Anthony to his own luck only to come back and do like nothing happened.

Tim knew his father loved him. Even when he drank so much that he left the apartment smelling funny, even when he screamed at him, saying things that left his heart aching, even when he yelled or hit him when the anger was too much for words to be enough, even when he disappeared for months leaving Tim to his own luck only to come back and do like nothing happened

Anthony saw his father with the blindfold that came with the hope of wanted to be loved so intensely as he loved.

Tim saw his dad with the blindfold that came with the hope of being loved so intensely as he loved

Tim could never blame him. Nor he tried to tell him that blaming his father’s killer was wrong. He still dreamed about crushing Boomerang’s skull open with his own hands

Anthony also knows about everything Jason did to his DAD (not father. Dad. Anthony might’ve loved his father, but he knows that he was bad. That man never loved Anthony as much as Tim loved him.) and he decided to took it personal then.

That awful man killed one father and tried endlessly to kill one dad. Anthony may not be trained yet, but he knows how to make people’s life hell and he will make sure that Jason gets a spoon of his own medicine in the most “innocent” way.

Anthony may not be a trained fighter. But he is a detective (Tim called him his little detective after letting Anthony help in one of his more child-friendly cases and see Anthony crack that case like an eggshell in 8 seconds flat) and a strategist. Jason never stood a chance against a manipulator with such a cute face.

I need to see Tim Drake with a Kid so much. MAKE THAT BOY A SINGLE PARENT.

A kid knocks on his door and says “I know what you are”.

Tim thinks he’s being pushed out of the closet.

The kid has a picture of Red Robin slipping through Tim window’s.

Tim lets him in.

The kid looks him dead in the eye and says “I think you need a sidekick”

Tim has a Deja vu so hard he ends up saying yes out of shock. He keeps the kid though, that’s his son now and he’s gonna protect that little shit like his life depends on it.

Who cares if Tim is 19 and the kid is only 7 years younger? He’s son shaped so he’s gonna be son.

[depressedtheatrekiddo]

I'm sorry Wayne Munson I swear I love you

[loserboysandlithium]

18+ hoes

Eddie’s hand is clamped down on your mouth firmly as he pounds into your soaked pussy. Not only is Uncle Wayne home but his entire college D&D party is seated outside in the small living room waiting for Eddie to join them.

Eddie knew they were coming but he couldn’t stop. Not once the two of you had started. What was supposed to be a quickie before his campaign night was now coming up on an hour.

Your moans are muffled by his large hand as you struggle to keep your eyes open. You want to watch him. You love seeing his face as he loses himself completely. Fucking into you like an animal. His brown eyes half lidded, drunken mumbles of praise falling from his lips, the sound of your slick coating his cock every time he enters you.

“So fuckin good. Feels so fuckin good.” he murmurs, slowing down his thrusts. He looks down, watching as he pulls his long cock out, glistening with your cum. He pulls out almost completely before slamming back into you with a force so rough you scream into his hand.

Eddie chuckles darkly as nothing but a squeak escapes through his fingers. “Gotta be quiet, princess. We’ve got company.” he teases cruelly before he’s back at it. Shoving his cock deep inside, making your eyes roll. He loves every second of making you lose your mind beneath him.

You struggle to speak, mumbling a single word against his palm multiple times before he finally removes his hand.

“Harder.” you finally breathe out and Eddie’s eyes darken as a beautiful smirk appears on his lips.

“I fucking love you.” he moans before fucking into you with every ounce of strength he has.

[hairmetal666]

It's Wayne that goes with him when he buys the truck. He offers to go with him. Uses one of his few days off to do it.

On the way there, it strikes Steve that his own father would never do this with him. The man hadn't even bought the Beemer himself, just sent an assistant to take care of it. And here Wayne is, driving them to a used car dealership, humming along to some old country-western song on the radio.

It takes three dealerships for them to find it, but Wayne is patient, stoic, takes careful note of the cars that catch Steve's interest. He asks the salesman if he can pop the hood, peers at the engine, kicks the tires. He asks questions Steve would never think of, about adjustments to the odometer, history of repairs, if it was in any accidents.

Steve never considered wanting a truck, doesn't think it's his style. But he's walking the lot at the third dealership, and he sees it. It's a Chevy, blue and white, a few years old. It's in good condition, but was obviously used for work.

He walks towards it.

"You like this one?" Wayne asks. If he's surprised, he doesn't show it.

"Yeah, it's--yeah," Steve nods.

Wayne does his checks, asks his questions, gives a nod of approval.

It's the first car he takes on a test drive.

He barely has it on the road before he knows it's the one. It surprises him. He always thought he was his true self in the BMW, but now--the engine has a throaty grumble to it, can feel it rumbling through his foot on the pedal, and it's--it's--perfect.

"This it?" Wayne asks as they pull back into the lot.

"Yeah, yes. It's. Yeah."

"Well, let's get to hagglin."

Wayne is, of course, an expert haggler. By the end of it, he's got a couple thousand dollars knocked off the asking price, Steve more than within budget.

They drive back to Wayne's little house on the outskirts of Hawkins, the one the government gave him, the sun just disappearing behind the horizon.

Eddie stands on the small porch, wide smile on his face.

"Wow, Wayne," he says. He wraps an arm around his uncle's shoulders. "You really did a number on him."

"It's a solid vehicle, Ed."

"Never took you for a truck man, Harrington," Eddie teases.

"Can't you see how gorgeous she is?"

Eddie raises an eyebrow, his smile not faltering. "Wow, it's true love then."

"Looks like it. Wanna come for a ride?"

There's only a second where Eddie hesitates, but then he's running inside to grab shoes, tripping on his way to the truck.

---

It happened like this:

Eddie Munson died in the Upside Down in 1986.

He's reanimated by Vecna for the final battle, a puppet to do his master's bidding.

When they win, when Vecna is dead in a pile of dessicated vines, they can't find Eddie. Scour the Upside Down for him and come up empty. They have to assume he's dead, like everything else there, kept alive only by Vecna's power. None of them want to leave without him, but the world is destabilized, they can't stay, El has to close the gates.

That night, Steve pulls the battle vest from under his bed, sobs into the blood-soaked denim, the grief from the loss just as fresh as March of '86.

He and the kids, they go visit Wayne. It becomes a regular thing.

Two weeks after the end of Vecna, Wayne calls him. He's panicked, near hysterical, nothing like the man Steve's come to know.

He goes, fast as he can, to Wayne's house. All the lights are off, the front door ajar, and he runs, clattering into the living room.

Wayne is in the recliner, face pale and strained, and on the couch--on the couch--

Eddie Munson.

His hair's lank, his skin sallow, the light in his eyes dim, but it's him. Unquestionably.

Steve does the only thing he can think of, calls Hopper. He shows up a little while later with El and Will.

"I called Owens," Hopper says.

"Why would you do that?" Steve is angry.

"Look, kid, I get it. But none of us are equipped to deal with this."

He's right, so they wait.

It doesn't take the doctor, El, and Will long to figure that Eddie is Eddie, even though his heart beats a little slow and his skin's always cold and his blood is slightly the wrong color. He's still at least 75% human, and that's enough.

Only those six people know. It's dangerous to tell anyone else when the world still thinks Eddie Munson is a serial murderer. Owens asks for time to clear his name, and they have no choice but to agree.

After two days, Steve thinks he should give Eddie and Wayne space, but as he rises to go, Eddie's hand grips his wrist. "Stay?" He asks. Steve doesn't leave.

It's hard, keeping the secret from the rest of the kids, Robin. He wants to tell her, more than anything. About how they share a bed most nights, how he's memorizing the shape of Eddie's body in a way he shouldn't, how the gentle desire turns to profound longing--but Eddie's safety is the most important thing, so Steve keeps it to himself.

---

They go out in Steve's truck almost every night, always on backroads. It's the only way Eddie can leave the house.

It's Steve's favorite thing, the only time Eddie seems truly happy. They roll the windows down, turn the music up, and whip around deserted farm roads. Sometimes, Eddie will stick his head out the window, shout out into the night.

Steve is in love with him.

He has no idea if Eddie feels the same, figures it doesn't matter. He'll harbor this flame for the rest of his life without complaint because Eddie is alive.

He thinks he's done a good job at hiding his feelings, thinks he's able to avert his gaze, hide his blush, when Eddie comes out of his room in only his boxers, thinks Eddie hasn't noticed how Steve's eyes linger when they share joints lying in the bed of the truck.

Except tonight--tonight--they're driving back home, and Eddie, he's been quiet, distant, fidgety, and now he reaches out to turn down the radio, which has Steve's stomach in a knot.

"You--Steve, you've been so great. To me and Wayne, and--you're family, you know? To us, you're--but--"

And Steve thinks this is it, that Eddie noticed, that he's being let down easy, and he wants to throw up, cry, but Eddie's still talking.

"You have a life to live, right? You're--you're 23 and you're not stuck here like me, and I know Robin is ready to go and the kids are--they're going to college soon, and you shouldn't stay here for me, I'm--"

"What?" Steve says.

"What?" Eddie echoes.

"I don't want to leave," Steve says.

"But--"

"Where you are is where I want to be."

"I'm in love with you," Eddie says. Cover his face with his hands.

Steve pulls the truck to the shoulder. His hands are shaking.

"You love me?"

"I'm sorry." His apology is muffled. "I didn't mean--I know this fucks up--"

"Eddie." He says, soft. "Look at me?"

One deep brown eye peers up at him. "Eddie, I--I'm hopelessly in love with you."

Both eyes now, mouth a bright curve. "You mean it, Harrington?"

"Fuck, can't get enough of you, Munson."

"You know, if I thought for a second anything like was possible, I would've--fuck, I would've made a move ages ago. I would've--"

"Shut-up," he whispers against Eddie's mouth. "Kiss me."

---

And later, Robin will ask if he has someone, and he'll say yes, and she'll ask, soft, "is it him?" and he'll nod, and they'll both cry.

Later, a news report, Eddie Munson's body was recovered from the bottom of Sattler Quarry, bearing the same wounds as Vecna's other victims.

Later, Chief Powell will hold a press conference, say they're looking for a man named Henry Creel, wanted on suspicion of killing his mother and sister and the aggravated assault of his father with an MO that matches the 1986 killing spree.

Later, Steve will shave Eddie's head, Eddie crying softly as the hair tumbles to the bathroom floor. Steve will kiss the tears away, one by one, say, "I know it's hard to let go. But we'll move away, to a place where people say 'you look like that guy, that Eddie Munson,' and you'll say, 'I get that a lot,' and your hair will grow back, if you want it to."

Later, they'll invite everyone to Wayne's , everyone except Dustin, busy in Boston with an internship, and Eddie will be there to welcome them.

Later, he and Eddie will take the truck, drive up to Boston. And Eddie, he'll spy Dustin first, walks up to him and says, "Pretty metal tattoos, little dude," and they'll all cry until Dustin stops to yell at them for keeping the secret.

Later, Steve and Eddie will leave MIT--Dustin screeching that they have to call him every night promptly at 8pm still ringing in their ears-- in search of their future.