#WHAT’s THE MATTER EDDIE? DOES IT FRIGHTEN YOU?

[elfpylon]

the hoez that embody both of ministry’s first and second albums

[stevieschrodinger]

Part One Two

“I’m really sorry,” Steve is saying before Eddie has the door fully open, but it makes Eddie smile. It feels like Steve has started saying ‘I’m sorry,’ instead of ‘hello’ as a matter of course.

It’s Sunday afternoon though, and Eddie isn’t cooking anything and Steve isn’t holding an empty plate, so Eddie has no clue what Steve could be sorry for this time.

“Could you come and help me with something? It’ll just take two moments.��

“Sure thing,” Eddie agrees easily, slipping on his adventure crocs and following Steve down the hall.

Eddie follows Steve into and then through his apartment into the small bedroom. It’s a two bed apartment, the same as Eddie’s. Eddie uses his spare room to store his guitars. He has a desk in there too; a place to write and paint his miniatures and do guitar maintenance.

It’s a nursery. It’s cute, animal themed. The ceiling is painted powder blue, which drops down onto the walls about a foot before ending in a neatly done scalloped edge. The walls are white, but have cloud shapes printed on them in the same blue. There are random tufts of painted grass popping up from the floor; some with flowers. The rocker and the other furniture, including crib and chest of drawers, are all painted the same green, and the blinds are green jungle, with elephants and big cats and monkeys hiding amongst the leaves. A lot of the soft things are yellow and white, and Eddie has not a fucking clue as to the sex of Steve’s pup, so he asks as much.

Steve smiles, “I don’t know. I didn’t want to know. I like surprises.”

“Huh. Well. I’m always the one shaking the gifts at Christmas, but I do love a surprise too. What did you need?”

“We have the fixings for the mobile there ready, but I clean forgot about it until now, and I’m too big to stretch up there. Didn’t do it at the time because we were moving furniture and I was frightened I’d break it.”

“Okay sure,” Eddie takes the dangly parts of the mobile; cute little moons and stars and sun shapes, and fixes it to the bit already attached to the ceiling. It’s nice, and easy to figure out, but it does hang low so he gets what Steve means.

He also sees why Steve can’t reach; he seems to have suddenly gotten even bigger over the last week, and he's also only been wearing these sort of loose shift dresses, like a blouse, a button up, and a tent had a horrendous love child.

He looks gorgeous though. Eddie always thought pregnancy must be pretty fucking miserable; your body betraying you almost. Needing to pee all the time, unreasonable hormones. Cravings. Morning sickness. Odd shit happening all over the place. Eddie always figured telling pregnant people that they’re ‘glowing’ was just a nice thing people said to make them feel better during what must be a pretty shitty nine months.

Not with Steve though. Steve’s actually glowing. Not like literally glowing but...he’s beautiful, and Eddie suddenly understands what all the fuss is about.

Steve clears his throat. Right. Right okay, Eddie’s creepy staring, “so I was going to make chicken parm again tonight, since I know you like it and it’s been a bit...do you maybe want to get out the apartment and come to another, slightly different, apartment?”

Steve laughs a little, looking at where his hands cradle his bump, before looking back up, cheeks pink, “I think I’d like that.”

Eddie’s laid the table as nice as he can. He snagged a little bunch of daisy looking things out of the garden and shoved them in a mug, just because he remembered Steve’s little daffodil.

He doesn’t own place mats, but he does dig out a table cloth he usually only uses for games night; it’s black, but it’s clean.

Steve settles himself at the table and Eddie goes and gets dinner, he can’t help but notice Steve shift in his seat, wincing.

“You okay?”

Steve hums, “been getting funny back pain, but it’s all normal. Could be anything really, just the weight of the baby, or maybe they are leaning on my sciatic nerve. It’s all fine. Nearly done now.”

Steve takes the first bite of his dinner and hums appreciatively. It makes Eddie warm inside, a little tickle of his brain releasing happy chemicals. Omega is being fed. Omega is safe and happy.

Eddie tells it to fuck off.

“So you’re due soon?” Which feels like he;s stating the obvious, Steve is the size of a tiny moon.

“Tomorrow.”

Eddie makes a noise, startled, then nearly chokes on a string of spaghetti, “excuse me,” he manages to get out, before drinking half his water, Steve looking half concerned and more than a little amused from the other side of the table. “Tomorrow?” Eddie asks weakly.

Steve nods, chewing and swallowing before he answers, “the due date is tomorrow, but it’s the norm really for first pups to go over that, even more normal with male Omega, don’t worry, it’s fine. Although it should be soon, I passed the mucus plug yesterday.”

Eddie nearly chokes again, “the what?” he tries his best not to sound too horrified.

“Oh. Sorry, you probably don't want to hear about the uhm, the kind of gross stuff.”

“No, no, of course it’s fine what is...uhm...that?” And Eddie is fully prepared to regret acquiring this cursed knowledge. He doesn’t even know what it is and he’s already eyeing his spaghetti sauce dubiously. For Steve though...he will learn about the gross stuff.

“Oh, well, when you’re pregnant you get sort of this...lump of...gacky stuff and blood. You don’t have periods when you’re pregnant usually, so it kind of protects everything from infection getting in and stuff like that.”

Eddie takes a deep breath and lets it out, blowing up his bangs, and makes himself eat his dinner normally, “fair enough, but that means you’re...kinda’ close?”

“Well, kinda’. Robin’s spending this morning with her girlfriend and then this afternoon sorting her place out. She’ll be over later, she’s moving in until the pups a week old or so, just make sure I’m okay.”

“She’s...a really good friend, right?” It warms Eddie to know Steve has someone like that in his life.

“Yeah...she’s been there with me through everything. Every appointment, all the classes, everything. Even when I decided I wanted to do this it was...it was right after yet another crappy breakup, you know. She could have said all the sensible things about maybe it's not the right time yet, or that I should...think about it. You know, all that things that would have been totally reasonable for her to say but I'd just...I’d just had enough of waiting and she said she’d support me whatever, and that was that. She’s the best.”

Steve shifts again, putting down his cutlery to try and stretch his back out, hissing with pain, “you sure you’re okay?” Eddie asks, concerned.

“Yeah, fine I think,” Steve bends forward then, gripping the edge of the table and breathing out harshly through his nose, “oh that felt weird.”

Eddie’s up and coming around the table before he can stop himself, hovering his hands, not sure if it’s okay to touch, “Steve?”

“I...oh. Oh gosh I’m so sorry Eddie,” Steve stands cautiously revealing a very clear wet patch on the seat.

“I...that’s fine,” Eddie squeaks out, “are you...is this. Is that…?”

“Yeah, pretty sure my water just broke. And I really wanted that chicken parm,” Steve sighs.

“I can make it again,” Eddie says reflexively, “kind of feel like there’s bigger things to think about what should- like can I help? What do we do?”

Eddie finds himself, very strangely, not panicking. Like, well, maybe a little, but not an uncontrollable amount. Which now he’s here that’s a really nice surprise.

“I’ll just call Robbie, and then will you walk me home?”

And Eddie had maybe had inappropriate thoughts about walking Steve home so he could steal a kiss, not whatever this is. But. Still. “Of course.”

Steve smiles at him with his phone next to his ear, “it’s go time Birdie. Oh, what was I supposed to say? Code red? The eagle is...leaving? I can’t remember, you couldn’t make your mind up about the-” Steve hisses, bending to lean on the table, “yep, yep, see you soon.”

Steve hangs up, telling Eddie she’s on her way as they walk down the hall, dinner abandoned on the table. Steve chooses to stand, walking little laps back and forth along the back of the couch, “is there anything I can do?”

“My bag and car seat are in the nursery, if you don’t mind grabbing those?” Eddie does, putting Steve’s things right by the door, “oh, and a towel, from the bathroom? I don’t want to make a mess in Rob’s car.”

“Sure thing,” Eddie grabs a bath towel from there, and puts it on top, just as Steve’s phone starts ringing.

Eddie can practically feel it when Steve tenses up, his scent turning bitter with distress. Despite what’s going on, Steve’s scent hadn’t changed at all until now, “your car won’t start?”

He sounds terrified.

“I. Yeah. Okay. I can wait I’ll- okay.”

“Okay?” Steve shakes his head, eyes suddenly wet, he looks like he’s biting back tears and Eddie can’t stop himself from going to him.

“She’s got to wait for Chrissy to get to her place and pick her up, then they’ll come over,” Eddie has to make this better. He has to.

“Okay, how about this, me and you go now, I’ll take you, and they can meet you there? That’ll make it faster right?”

“I mean, I’m not...I mean labor can take hours and hours, I’m being silly I just- Eddie I’m a bit scared. She was supposed to be here, it’s a bit too soon.”

They end up holding hands, which Eddie’s kind of thrilled about even if Steve is squeezing the life out of him, “would you feel better if you were waiting at the hospital?”

Steve bites his lip, clearly torn, “are you sure you don’t mind?”

“I’ll get my keys.”

Part Four

[justmeinadaze]

Little Girl Gone (Steddie X You)

A/N: This is the story I mentioned yesterday! Trying something new for me but I hope y'all enjoy it. I've always found Mafia Eddie incredible sexy <3. This is an AU with a mixture of Stranger Things you will definitely recognize :). I wrote with the idea that Hawkins is a big city so keep that in mind lol

Warnings: Mafia Gangster Eddie/ Officer (slightly mean) Steve Harrington/ Doctor Fem Reader, SMUT, use of the color system, degrading if you squint, spanking, dirty talk, etc.

ANGST, Obviously (and not just because I am me lol), Eddie runs a rival gang in Hawkins and is in love with Steve (Romeo and Juliet style), Steve mentions being jumped and Eddie retaliates getting hurt in the process, mentions of murders by Eddie, Reader takes care of them both performing surgery on the gangster, guns are pulled and our boys are threatened, cliff hanger ending because I can.

Word Count: 8284

"Little girl gone, got a gun from a gangster Run little girl, run little girl, bang, ha."

“Officer Steve Harrington.”, you read from his chart as you enter the exam room before flashing him a big smile. “I’m Dr. Y/L/N. How can I help you today?”

“My, uh, Captain said I needed to come get a checkup. I was wounded in the line of duty a few days ago.”

“Oh no. I’m really sorry to hear that. May I ask what happened?”

“Does that matter?”, he snapped.

You dealt with sassy patients on the regular. It came with the territory especially in the area your office was located in. In this part of the city, your clinic usually catered to people who didn’t want to check in at a regular hospital because their name could get dinged for other offenses. You always felt like everyone deserved care so when you opened your clinic, you made sure to do what you could within the means and resources you had available. 

Officers normally never entered your building but within these past few months you had seen them more and more frequently. You had heard rumors of a new gang in the area trying to make things more…democratic…so there was less chaos in the streets but in turn that brought more of a police presence because most of the people around here hated being threatened into submission reacting violently if need be. 

Thankfully, you weren’t easily shaken so this admittedly good-looking man of the law raising his voice didn’t frighten you one bit. 

“It does if you want me to assess you properly.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“I like to be polite at first. Now, are you going to tell me what happened or should I mark in your file here that you refused to answer so your Captain can deal with you?”

Steve’s amber eyes scanned you over briefly before a small smirk painted his beautiful lips. 

“I got jumped by one of the rival gangs in the area. Beat me up pretty good.” 

Sitting in your wheely chair, you slid toward him and carefully lifted off his shirt, his face wincing as he lifted his arms. Large purple bruises were splattered along his ribs and around to his back. Just from the wounds alone, you could tell he was kicked and punched repeatedly. His face had some scratches and swelling but it looked like nothing compared to his upper torso. 

“Oh wow. I’m so sorry. Did you go to the hospital?”

“I did. They did some X-rays and shit. Thankfully nothing was broken but, obviously, moving around has been hard.”

“Beside the bruising, have you experienced any other pain? Like a sharp stabbing pain in your side or anything like that?”

“Uh, no. Just emotional pain.”, he chuckles as his eyes look past you into a memory. 

“Ok, I’ll get you some medicine I think will help as well as some cream to sooth the pain of those bruises and swelling. I’ll be right back.”

You weren’t gone long but as you were returning you could vaguely hear his voice through the door between you both. 

“Naw, she said she’s going to get me some meds and shit…Baby! Seriously, you worry too much. I’m fine… No, NO. Don’t you dare go over there or I swear God—” Hastily, he hung up his phone when he heard you knock and reenter the room he was in. “Sorry. That was my, um, my boss checking in. Just reiterated what you told me.”

“Good. Now this will help with the pain…”, you instruct as you hand him some medication before flashing him the cream. “…and this will help with the swelling. Just put this on your bruises every six hours and you’ll be good to go in no time.”

Opening the bottle, you squeeze some of the medicine in your hand, and gently rub it along his admittedly muscular abs. 

“You’re, um, going to feel it tingle a bit and feel warm but after a few moments it will cool down.”

That smirk you saw previously appeared on his lips again when he caught you staring as your hands slowly rubbed along his skin. 

“That feels really good actually. Your hands not the cream.”

“Hm. I’m sure your girlfriend touches you enough.” Steve raises an eyebrow at your insinuation. “I mean unless you call your captain ‘baby’.”

A slightly nervous sigh leaves you as the officer’s grin grows and his eyes meet yours. 

“Hm. Bad girl listening in on my phone calls. Do you always misbehave like that?”

“This is my clinic, Officer Harrington. I can do whatever I want especially when I have signs everywhere that say, ‘No Cell Phones in the Exam Room.’”

His palm abruptly takes hold of your wrist, pulling you closer to him till your nose was just above his own.

“This may be your clinic, honey, but these are my streets. I keep order here.”

“I think the gangs here would disagree.”

“Pfft, like you know anything about what goes on out there.”, he spits as he lets you go.

After throwing a scowl his way, you pretend to be preoccupied with washing your hands.

“I know that when I first moved here, the fatality rate in this area was extremely high until that new gang leader took over the Munson crew. I believe, if the rumors are correct, the new boss is actually the son of the old leader Al Munson. Since the son has taken over, oddly enough, the streets have become safer. More kids come out to play and I’ve seen less addicts in the last couple of months.”

As you dry your hands and turn to face him, you notice the hardened look on the officer’s face as he listens to you speak.

“I also know there have been more of a police presence on this side of town as well. I’ve seen a lot of innocent civilians put in ambulances or worse due to the push back of change. Tell me, Officer Harrington, which side are you on? Which gang did that to you? The Munson’s or The Carver’s?”

“I’m on the side of peace. That’s my job.”, he seethes through gritted teeth.  

“Yeah… you’re good to go, officer. Have a nice day.”, you growl in annoyance as you leave the room without waiting for him to retort.

##############

Today had been an incredibly long day. After your appointment with Officer Harrington, you had back-to-back visits from so many clients just needing a little bit of help. Your mind was racing as you and your staff did what you could but the truth was you desperately needed more funding. You were running low on supplies and the equipment you had wasn’t the best. It killed you to see your patient’s sad faces when you strongly recommended they head to the nearest hospital for certain tests that you just couldn’t provide at that time. 

Your mind was still racing as you began to gather your things to head out for the evening which is most likely why you didn’t even hear him till you exited your office and were met with a gun pointed at your face. 

“Don’t be scared. I’m not…I’m not here to hurt you. We need help.”, Steve panted with a heavy breath as the weapon shook in his hand. He was still dressed in the uniform he was wearing when you last saw him but now it was stained in blood and sweat.

“I-I-I…”

Roughly, he took hold of your bicep and dragged you to your waiting room where another man was sitting with his head leaning against the wall. You knew he wasn’t a cop because he wasn’t dressed like the man beside you but instead in an expensive looking black suit with the white button up shirt underneath his jacket now stained with red. You noticed immediately his palm was holding his side and that area of his clothing was a darker shade than all the rest. 

“I can’t help with a wound like that. He needs a hospital.”

“Oh you don’t say?”, he snarled as he tugged you to his chest. “If I could have taken him to a fucking hospital I would have! But I brought him to you, now HELP HIM!”

“Steven!”, the long-haired man grumbled as he looked your way. “Be nice. She’s just being…honest. Right, sweetheart?” He sighs when you nod and tries to get to his feet but the officer is quicker, running to his side to help him stand. “See, the thing is, princess, if I go to a hospital I’ll die anyway…because they will put me…in jail especially after they find out…what-what I did tonight.”

“What did you do?”

“That doesn’t fucking matter right now. He’s losing blood and fast!”

Swallowing nervously, you step forward to unbutton his shirt and examine the cut you found. He needed stitches as soon as possible and most likely a blood transfusion unless someone got to his wound fast enough. Gesturing them both to follow you, you power walk to an exam room and begin searching for supplies as Steve carefully places the man on the table. While he removes the bloody clothes from his top half, you prep a syringe.

“Is he allergic to anything?”

“No. What is that, that you’re giving him?”

“It’s a pain killer. It won’t be as strong as ones at a hospital but…”

As you stick the needle into his stomach just above his cut, he flinches causing Steve’s expression to flood with worry as he moves the man’s hair out of his face. After quickly cleaning the area, you let out a long sigh as you glance their way. 

“Even with the shot, this is going to hurt a lot I’m afraid. I’ll try to go as fast as I can but, officer, if you can distract him that may help.”

The man on the table chuckles as he turns his head towards his friend. 

“She keeps calling you ‘officer’. Did… you not tell her your name? Or did you… scare her too much to use it?” He cringes as he hisses once you begin sewing in his stitches. “You like to…pretend to be so badass…but we both know you’re a…sweetheart.”

“Pretend to be a badass, huh? You’re one to talk.”, Steve scolds in a light sounding tone as he softly places his forehead against his own. “Eddie, I told you not to go over there.”

“They tried to hurt what was mine…”, he growled low in his throat even making you pause for a moment before focusing again on your task. “They wanted to send a message, well, message received.”

“I could have handled it.”

Grabbing Steve’s cheeks roughly, he brings his lips to his own. 

“No one takes my things and NO ONE hurts what’s mine. You belong to me, baby, and I promised I’d keep you safe.”

Finishing his sutures, you bandage him up and wrap some gauze around his lower waist. 

“Thank you.”, he whispers exhaustedly as he extends his shaky hand towards you. “What’s your name, pretty girl?”

“Y/N. Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Don’t worry, Y/N. You’re safe and I promise neither of us are going to hurt you. I’m Edward Munson but you can call me Eddie.” Your eyes widen as you slowly back away from them causing Steve to rise to his feet. “Ah. I see you’ve heard of me. Then you know you can trust me.”

Eddie tries to stand as well but sways before Steve steadies him. 

“You…you should be in a hospital. That wound needs to be looked after and you need to rest.”

“I can take care of him.”

“Steve…”

“No. No you can’t. That’s why you brought him to me.”, you sass in frustration as you try to display an air of confidence. Both men scan you over as they try to get a read on you as you continue. “If you refuse to go to a hospital, then give me your address and I can come—”

“No. No addresses. We can’t have you giving it to the police.”

“Oh you mean you?!”

You and Steve square off, tightening your stances as you glare at each other until Eddie laughed beside you both. 

“Brave girl with attitude. I like it.”

“I don’t. Little girl needs to be put in her place.”

“I highly doubt you’re the man to do that.”, you sass.

“Yeah well good thing there’s two of us, honey, and trust me, whatever I start Eddie can definitely finish.”

Sighing, you fold your arms as you argue with the internal dialogue inside your head. 

“You can come to my apartment but I have one condition. After he heals, I never want to see either of you again.”

Their eyes meet for a moment before Eddie finally nods. 

“You have a deal, princess.”

############

“Um, I don’t have a spare room or anything but the couch is comfortable. Just make sure to stay on your back if you can.” Eddie nods as Steve places him down and hastily begins removing the gear attached to him. “Let me grab some blankets and pillows.”

Disappearing into your bedroom, you grab any extra bedding you had and began to head their way but paused when you heard them talking. 

“Why are you being mean to her? I thought you said she took care of you.”

“She did. I just… I was worried about you. It’s my job to take care of you to, honey.”

“And snapping at the woman who’s trying to help will do what exactly?” Steve laughs through his teeth at Eddie question. “I think it’s because you like her.”

“Pfft what?”

“Oh, look at Officer Harrington blushing.”, the long-haired man teases as he reaches out to touch the boy’s face. “I know I just met her and she was busy saving my life but I can see why…”, he chuckles before wincing as he grabs his side. 

“Are you alright?”, you ask as you come back to the living room and kneel down on your knees in front of him. 

“Yeah, I’m alright. I’ve been through way worse than this.”

You take quick note of his wound before handing Steve the things you found, watching with fascination as he tosses the things for him to the side before placing the pillow on his lap and guiding the man back to lay down. 

“If, um, if you notice it bleeding through or he starts getting a fever, come and get me immediately.” 

The officer nods as he throws the blanket over Eddie and comfortingly rests his hand on his chest, his thumb gently running along the man’s tattooed skin. 

***

Your alarm goes at 4am that morning, startling you as you shoot up right. Groggily, you shuffled to your bathroom and grabbed the items Eddie would need so you could change his bandages. Both men were fast asleep when you entered the living room, Steve still clinging to him with his other hand very close to where his gun was resting on the little table you had beside your couch. 

“Mr. Munson?”, you whisper as you sit on the coffee table across from them. When he didn’t stir you couldn’t help but take the opportunity to visually take in one of the most notorious gangsters in the city. You had never seen a picture of him and he definitely wasn’t what you pictured when you heard the rumors from people in the clinic. 

He did have an air of control surrounding him but his voice and face were incredibly soft especially when it came to Steve. You heard him get upset though so you imagined that amplified out in the streets and you hoped you never met that version of him. He had a lot of tattoos painting his upper torso that seemed completely random except for the symbol of his gang that was tattooed on many other men and women you had seen previously minus the tiny initials “S.H.” inscribed within the design. 

Eddie was fairly muscular appearing more toned in his abs and upper arms. Slightly blocking your view was Steve’s massive palm over his chest, almost as if that was his way to make sure the man was still breathing. He had been exceptionally rude with you but with the gangster, he transformed before your eyes, becoming softer and listening to everything the other man said without question. They both obviously seemed to care strongly about each other which you found slightly amusing given their slight Romeo and Juliet story; one being a cop and the other a criminal. 

“Mr. Munson.”

Extending your hand, you tried gently shaking his upper shoulder and in one swift motion, he grabbed your wrist and held you tightly as he raised his fist in the air prepared to defend himself. Swallowing nervously, you froze as his intense eyes scanned your own. 

“Fuck. Fuck, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t…” Eddie promptly let you go and winced as he sat up in front of you. 

“No, no. It’s ok. After what happened, I completely understand. I just need to check you out and rewrap your wound.”

“Would it be easier for you if we went to the table?”

“Oh, no, this is ok but I do have to turn on the light.”

Eddie follows your eyes as you glance towards Steve. 

“Trust me, it won’t bother him one bit. I don’t think he’s had a consistent night’s sleep since he was hurt.”

“How long have you two been involved?”, you ask as you begin the task in front of you hoping to distract him as well from the pain. 

“In my business or each other?”, he smirks when you breathily laugh. “Both answers are more or less the same. He had the balls to arrest me on a charge we both knew wouldn’t stick. I knew he was different when he tried to get me to flip sides and sell out my friends. Usually, cops knew better than to do that especially with me.”

The gangster paused when you tried to clean his cut, flinching as he gritted his teeth. 

“What happened? Did he take you in?”

“No, I did when I let him fuck me handcuffed in the back of his cruiser.”, he chuckled, slightly surprised when you did as well. “We’ve been watching out for each other ever since. He’s actually not as big of an asshole as he seems. Steve just has a big heart and wants to take care of everything himself. He likes to be the big, strong man, you know? That’s why he’s been so short lately.”

“What happened there? He didn’t tell me; just said he was jumped.”

“I don’t think that’s something you should know. The less we tell you the better.”

“Mr. Munson, you, a well-known Mafia style gang leader, showed up at my clinic after hours with a police officer bleeding out. I think that line has been crossed.”, you grin up at him finding his eyes watching you again. “I assume it was someone from Carver’s side. You told Steve something about them sending a message.”

“Yeah… Jason Carver isn’t exactly a fan of mine even more so since I took over. My dad was always a…shoot first ask questions later which is why he’s in jail right now. He was sloppy and greedy like Jason. I don’t want to hurt people I don’t have to.” Leaning forward, you start wrapping the gauze around him but you can’t help to inhale the strong scent of cigarettes and cologne. You don’t see it but his own head tilts slightly, inhaling your shampoo from the night before when you finally had time for a shower and the regular smells of your office that attached to your skin. 

Eddie’s lips ever so slightly grazed your shoulder that was exposed due to the tank top you were currently wearing causing you to shutter softly as you pulled back to cut the bandage. 

“Are you afraid of me, Y/N?”, he asked in a low tone that had you exhaling as you tried to maintain your composure. 

“Mr. Munson, I work in a city filled with crime and scared citizens. I don’t really have the luxury of being afraid.”

“That’s not what I asked you.” Calloused fingers reached out to grip the bottom of your chin and forced your eyes to meet his. “Even though I take no pleasure in it, I have hurt and killed people. I killed two people just last night. Carver got the idea in his head that roughing up the man I love would have me submitting to him and his whims. I’m not the submissive type and I made sure he knew that by slitting the throats of the two men that put hands on him. I don’t regret it and I’d do it again.”

“How did you get hurt then?”

“Unfortunately, Carver isn’t an idiot. He had more men appear and try to take us out. Steve showed up and someone pulled a knife… Let’s just say that someone got in a good attempt before I snapped his neck.”

The way he spoke about such violent things was so even, almost as if he could be reading from a grocery list. This was his every day and you could tell by his tone he knew it would continue to be. But there was something about him… something that made you feel safe. 

“No, I’m not afraid of you, Mr. Munson.”

“I think under the circumstances, you can call me Eddie.”

A cell phone ringing pulled you both apart but didn’t stir the man it belonged to as he continued to snore with his head leaning over the back of the couch. 

“Steve. Steven.”, the man called as he shook his arm rousing him from his deep sleep. “Your phone is ringing.”

Without opening his eyes, the officer reached into his pocket, producing his device, and placing it to his ear as he answered with gravelly “yeahs” and “mhmms”. 

“I have to go in. Someone called in about the shooting on the eastside and they found Carver’s guys.” Rubbing his eyes and as if he forgot you were there, Steve tenderly kissed Eddie’s lips before rising to his feet and putting on all of his gear once more. “Please keep an eye on him and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“I have to go to work.” Pausing, he exhaled heavily as he turned and flashed you an annoyed look. “I have to. It would look weird if I didn’t. I’ve never missed a day but if we leave early enough…I can bring him with me and keep him in my office.”

“Is it ok to move him that much?”

As if to prove a point, Eddie rose to his feet. 

“I’ll be ok. I’m a quick healer. Don’t worry about us.”

###############

Thankfully, you didn’t have too many patients today so you were able to keep yourself locked in your office with the gangster you were attempting to hide. As soon as you brought him in, he fell asleep on your office couch, allowing you to leave him be so you could do what you needed. 

As you were reading a chart however you heard giggling in the exam room beside your office and quickly went to investigate, finding Eddie sitting next to a child on the exam table making her laugh. 

“Look, princess, you can’t trick me like that.”

“It’s thumb war! You have to be stronger.”

“Ok, best two out of three.”

“Kylie, sweetheart, what are you doing here?”, you beam trying not to startle either of them. 

“Hey Dr. Y/L/N! My mom told me to come down to see if you had any more samples of my inhaler.”

“Oh, honey. I don’t. I’m so sorry. I usually try and save one for you but I had another patient who had an emergency so I had to give it to him.”

“Why do you need an inhaler? Is it for the other people whose breath you take away because you’re so adorable?”

Kylie giggles as she turns towards Eddie and blushes. 

“No! I have asthma. My mommy brings me here to get my medicine because we can’t afford the stores.”, she sighs as her head hangs.

The man’s eyes meet your sympathetic ones before softly smiling and giving the little girl his attention again. 

“Hey. Can you keep a secret?” The small child nods in earnest making his smile widen. “Have you heard of a little convenience store called Cunningham’s Corner? It’s about a 5-minute walk from here. Go to that store and ask for Chrissy. Tell her Eddie sent you and you need an inhaler. She’ll give it to you for free.”

Kylie’s eyes widen as if this man just told her a fairytale.

“Free?”

“Mhmm. But you can’t tell anyone! Because then other people will take advantage.”

After giving him a hug, she jumps down from the table and starts to head for the door. 

“Hey! Here. Give Miss Cunningham this paper when you tell her what you need, ok?”, you instruct as you hand her a prescription with the name of what she needs. 

“Ok. Thank you, Dr. Y/L/N!”

“Thank you. That was really nice of you.”

Rising from his seat, he waddles with you back to your office. 

“It’s not a problem. I heard her coughing and crying so I wanted to make sure she was alright. Is she a regular?”

“Yeah and, unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for her to come by herself. Her mom is a single mother who works 60hrs a week trying to make ends meet. They came to me when she started having her symptoms but there’s only so much I can do here with my resources.”

“Are you underfunded?”

“Yeah. I do what I can but because of where I’m located…”

“Why don’t you move to a better location?”

“I can’t do that. I can’t leave these people. They need someone to help them since a regular clinic would immediately turn them away since a lot of them have no money or no insurance.”

“You’re a very kind woman, Y/N.”

Flashing him a smile, a knock makes you jump as you quickly get up to see who it is. 

“It’s Hawkins PD Detective Jim Hopper. I’d like to have word with you for a moment.”

Right as you scan your room, Eddie hides himself in front of you against the wall so he wouldn’t be seen when you finally open the door between you and the gentleman.

“May, uh, my we come in?”

“We?”, you ask as your eyes flick to the wide, stern eyes of Steve behind him. “What’s this about, detective?”

“I don’t know if you heard but we had a gang related fight in the area and we got some intel that Edward Munson may have been severally wounded.”

“Ok? And what does that have to do with me?”

“It wasn’t far from your clinic so we thought, maybe, you heard something or saw something?”

“What time was this?”

“Around 7-8pm.”

“My clinic closes at 6 so—”

“I mean, as a doctor though I’m sure you work late hours—”

“Not last night.” Out of the corner of your eye you see Eddie mime with his hand for you to calm down a bit and you close your eyes as you sigh before responding again. “I’m sorry, Officers. It’s just been a rough week. I left early last night to come in early this morning and do some work. I haven’t heard or seen anything but I can be on the lookout.”

Hopper nods, tilting his hat as he begins to walk away. 

“I’m just going to give her some details and information so she knows what to be on the lookout for exactly.”, Steve informs his colleague who confirms before disappearing to lean against the waiting room desk. 

Pulling out his notepad, he steps closer to you pretending to write things down. 

“Where is he?”, Steve whispers, smirking when your eyes flick to the side. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

“You like it.”, Eddie murmurs. “Should we be worried?”

“No, a few of Carver’s guys are in the morgue.” 

You had seen many people come and go during your time as a physician so when the officer shook his head looking away down the hallway, you could tell he was lying. 

“What aren’t you telling him?”

Steve’s angry, amber eyes met yours as an annoyed grunt left his lips. 

“Nothing. Stay in your lane, doctor.”

“Hey.”, Eddie growled low beside you. “Watch your tone. You wouldn’t keep anything from me would you, Steven?”

“I was questioned this morning seeing as how I was jumped and then suddenly men from Carver’s gang show up dead.”, the cop sighs. “I told you not to go over there.”

You could feel the tension rising between them but you were still being watched and couldn’t risk the gangster being seen. Eddie was slipping to far in his own frustration to think that far as he began pushing off the wall to scold his partner but you quickly placed your hand on his chest lightly pushing him back down. 

“Did you get in trouble?”

“No.”, he responds to your question. “But I am being watched a lot closer hence the detective.”

“And your bruises?”

“Huh?”

“You were hurt to. Is the medicine helping at all?”

Steve’s eyes take in your face clocking in your genuine concern. 

“It is actually. Thank you.” When you smile back at his answer a tooth filled grin paints his features. “I, um, I should be done here by about 7 or so. I’ll head to your place, come get him, and then…we’ll be out of your hair.”

#############

“Ok, so, make sure to keep this clean and if you find yourself in any excruciating pain or like I told Steve if you get a fever come back to me so I can take a look.”

“Hm. I thought you never wanted to see us again.”, Eddie teased as he carefully put back on the shirt you gave him. 

“I don’t but that doesn’t mean I want you to get sick or die or whatever.”

The gangster’s smile grew as he watched you blush. 

“How come you don’t have a boyfriend or husband or whatever?”

“What makes you think I don’t?”

“Because if you were our girl, there’s no way I would have gone two days without calling or checking in and I’d definitely have something to say if I found two men sleeping here.”

“Our girl?”

“Oh, sweetheart. Any woman I date is with Steve as well and most can barely handle my attitude and temper let alone both of ours.”

“You seem nice enough to me.”

“I can be mean when I want to be.”

“I’m always busy…to answer your question. A lot of relationships I’ve had can’t handle my schedule.”

“Hm, I understand that. Steve and I have conflicting schedules all the time.” Eddie’s eyes watch you as you gather the trash from cleaning his cut and head towards the trashcan to avoid his gaze. “But we make time for each other. That’s what you do when you care about someone.”

“Yeah, well, I guess no one really cares about me.”, you sassily smirk as you sigh and wash your hands in the sink. 

Feeling the energy shift, you turn coming chest to chest with the man himself.

“I care about you. Steve cares about you.”

“I’m pretty sure Officer Harrington hates me.”, you giggle but it tapers off when his face remains stoic.

“He doesn’t. He wouldn’t have brought me to you if he didn’t trust you.”

“You don’t know me, Eddie.”

“I know enough.” 

Shaking your head, you laugh again trying to lighten the intense atmosphere as you begin to walk back towards the living room but his hand promptly grabs your bicep and moves you till your standing in front of him once more. 

“You saved me and helped him. I just watched you all day take care of people who can’t normally afford care. You have a kind heart and you’re extremely beautiful. Do you know that? Do you know how beautiful you are?”

A knock on your door startled you but not him as he continued to stare down at you waiting for an answer. Silently, you allowed Steve entry who immediately took in your rattled appearance. 

“Everything ok?”

“Mhmm. I was just asking Y/N if she knew how beautiful she was.”

His gorgeous, honey hues widen slightly as if he was surprised before turning his attention back to you. 

“You know you are, right?”

“I-I think you both should leave.”, you whisper with little to no confidence in what you were saying. 

“Is that what you want?”, he mused as he strolled further into your apartment. “Because we can leave right now and like you asked, disappear from your life forever. Or, maybe, you can let us thank you properly.”

“I thought you didn’t like me…said you wanted to put me in my place.”

They both chuckle making your face turn a deep crimson in embarrassment.

“Baby, that doesn’t mean I don’t like you. It just means that I think I’d have a lot of fun playing with you.”

“Playing with me?”

Steve subtly nods his head as Eddie slowly moves closer to the living room where you two were standing. 

“Teasing you, kissing you, taking care of you…taking control of you and your gorgeous body till you’re begging me to let you cum.” Tilting his head, his eyes meet yours as his fingers caress your face. “When’s the last time you had someone take care of you?”

The other man comes up behind you, sandwiching you between them as he gently places his palm on your stomach under your blouse. 

“I asked you something, honey.”

“It’s been a while.”, you jest making Steve smirk as Eddie stepped closer to you till your back was to his chest. His hand continued to run along your skin with his fingers just barely floating under the waistband of your pants before coming back up to rub your stomach. “I’m scared.”

Everyone freezes in place at your words but as the gangster tries to drop his hand, you quickly catch it and hold it in place back on your tummy. 

“Of us?”, he asks.

“I don’t want to get in trouble.”

Resting his head on your shoulder, his palm wonders again this time going further as you feel him slide into your underwear and cup his hand around your heat. 

“You won’t, sweetheart. I promise, you’re safe with us. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

“And neither will I. I can protect you from getting in any kind of trouble with the law or anything like that. You have two men here who control both sides of the coin…” As Steve’s voice dropped into a more and more seductive register, Eddie’s lips gently pecked your shoulder and up to your neck as his finger graze your clit while gliding them through your folds.

“You just need to let go and let us control you.”

“Fuck.”, you groaned as he slid two of his digits into your core.

“Is that a yes?”, Steve chuckles sassily as he watches your eyes close as you lean your head against his boyfriend.

“I think so, Harrington, because pretty girl here is just dripping all over my hand.”

“Yeah? We need to hear her say it though. Do you want us to take care of you tonight, honey?”

“H-He—mmm—Eddie can’t with his…with his cut.”

“Oh trust me, Y/N, that won’t be an issue. Now answer my question, please.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I want you to take care of me.”

As if they could read each other’s minds, Eddie’s hand slipped out of your pants and Steve picked you up, throwing you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and carried you to your bedroom. 

“Ow! Something in your vest is stabbing me, Officer Harrington.”, you giggle before he tosses you onto your mattress. 

“Sorry. I forgot to take this stuff off. I was blindsided by a stupid question when I came in.”, he grinned as he began removing his equipment and placed them on your bedside table. 

Eddie carefully climbed in and you hastily set up pillows so he could lean back comfortable against your headboard. 

“Thank you. I don’t think that question was ever answered. DO you know how beautiful you are?”

“Sometimes I need reminding.”, you sigh as your nervous eyes meet his soft ones. 

“We can do that, sweetheart.”

Taking hold of your cheeks, he brought your lips to his and your body ignited with an electricity you had never felt before as his lips carefully but firmly mingled with yours. Steve’s laugh echoed through your room as he looped his arm around your waist and pulled you away from the gangster to bring you in front of him at the edge of the bed. 

He had taken off his shirt and out of habit as a doctor you scanned his bruises to make sure he was ok. Clocking your care once again, his fingers gripped your chin and brought your mouth to his own.

“It’s ok. I’m still a bit sore but you helped me a lot.”

As he continued to kiss your lips, you allowed him to undress you making him pause when you were fully naked in front of them. 

“Jesus Christ.”

“I told you, princess…beautiful.”, Eddie grinned.

Smiling widely at their compliments, your hands roamed Steve’s chest, kissing a trail along the way till you reached his belt and fumbled with the barrier before fully pushing down his pants. You gasped when his cock sprang free causing them both the chuckle again as you practically gapped at the size. 

“I know. It was a shock to me to.”, the gangster teased as the officer stuck out his tongue playfully. 

“You liked it. And I promise, honey, you’ll like it to.”

Gripping the base, he held his mushroom tip towards your lips and moaned when your tongue darted out to lick the small beads of precum that had begun to leak. Steve pulled your hair into a makeshift ponytail so he could watch as you slowly wrapped your mouth around him and gradually began bobbing your head.

 “Shit. Atta girl. Flatten that tongue. J-Just like that.”

Another set of hands softly ran down you back and over your ass before the cool sting of metal hit your behind. 

“Did you like that, pretty girl? Did you like Eddie spanking you?”, the officer asked when you moaned loudly. 

Fingers glided ever so slightly through your pussy lips and even you couldn’t deny hearing the squishy sound of your slick that obscenely filled your bedroom. 

“Oh Stevie. She definitely enjoyed that.”

“Yeah? You like it a bit rough, little girl?”

Eddie guided his middle and ring fingers inside of you eliciting a mewl from your throat that had the man inside of your mouth grunting with pleasure. 

“Fuck. I think…I think you can take me a bit deeper.”

Thrusting his hips a bit, you gag around him spilling drool and spit down his length as you mentally take note of the fact that that wasn’t all of him you choked on. 

“Come on, honey, take more. I know you can, baby.”

Tears stream down your face as you try but barely take more of him in. Gripping your jaw, he pulls out of your mouth and leans his face in front of yours as his eyes search yours. 

“Green, good. Yellow, slow down. Red, stop. What color are you at, Y/N?”

“Fuck… green.”

“Ok, then why are you crying? We haven’t even fucked you yet.”

“I-I-I wanna take more. I want to make you feel good to.”

You heard your tone as it came out of your mouth but you barely recognized it. You sounded like a child who was told she couldn’t play outside because it was raining. What was it about these men that transformed you in this way? In relationships or even one-night stands, you never cared about this kind of thing. Usually, men never complained and you were never fully satisfied after they left resorting to your vibrator to get you the rest of the way. 

But for whatever reason, you wanted to impress them. You desperately wanted them to feel good because some part of you had a feeling that they were going to do the same for you. 

Steve’s eyes softened as Eddie’s fingers slowed inside of you. 

“Be nice to her, babe. She’s got a good heart and she did take care of us.”

“Can you keep your mouth open for me, pretty girl?” He grins when you nod your head, wiping your tears with his thumb before kissing your cheek. “And you are making me feel good. Your mouth feels fucking amazing.”

You beam with pride as you do what he asked, whimpering when Eddie began building you up again. 

Holding your head still, Steve guided his cock back between your lips, doing the slow thrusts he was doing before as you kept your mouth closed around him. Your eyes squeezed shut as his pace began to quicken, his tip occasionally hitting the back of your throat. 

“There you go, baby. T-That’s it. See? Doing—fuck—doing so well. Now, stay still.”

As he began fucking your face, the gangster matched his pace making you groan as obscenities flowed from the officer’s mouth.  

“Shit. Take it, little girl. That’s right. You love the taste of my cock in your throat, don’t you?” Reaching over you, his hand calm down hard on your ass and your palm pushed at his legs signaling you needed air. “Are you gonna cum? Ask him, Y/N. Ask Eddie if it’s ok.”, he commanded as he forced your head towards the other man. 

“Eddie, please. Please… can I…”

“Yeah, princess. Cum on my fingers.”

You collapsed as you came, moaning loudly into the mattress as you tried to catch your breath. You weren’t given much time however as Steve manhandled you till you up on your hands and knees again with your face hovering over the bulge in the other man’s pants. 

After unbuckling his belt, he pushed them down just enough to free his own cock from his denim confinement and you didn’t hesitate as you wrapped your tiny hands around his thick girth. Hands clung tightly to your waist and you braced yourself when you felt Steve collect some of your arousal with his length before gradually pushing into your entrance. 

“Oh, fuck me.”

“How does she feel, Harrington?”

Your eyes fluttered closed as you tried to focus on the man in front of you, letting a long glob of spit land on his tip as you stroked it with your hand. 

“S-So…So fucking tight.” His palm came down on your ass and you groaned as he continued to push further inside of you. 

“I like my view here. Make—mmm—make sure you fuck her nice and deep. Beautiful girl deserves it after everything she’s been through.”

“Oh, don’t worry, honey. I plan on ruining this little pussy.”

Eddie chuckles as he watches Steve lick his lips as your cunt tightens around him at his words. 

“What about you, princess?”, he murmurs as he tenderly pets your head.

“He’s…so BIG.”

“Yeah, he is. Does he feel good?” You nod as your head hangs and he promptly grabs your jaw forcing you to look his way. “Say it.”

“Fuck, Steve, you feel so fucking good!”

“That’s a good girl.”

You mewled when you felt him bottom out, his hips connecting with yours, allowing you to feel every inch before he pulled back and slammed back into you. Eddie’s mouth fell open as you bobbed your head on his cock. While he wasn’t as big as his boyfriend, he was definitely thicker and you felt like your mouth was full of him. 

He was much gentler with you, continuing to play with your hair and mutter praises as Steve pounded into you, rocking you further down the gangster’s length as you choked and spit around him. 

“God, honey, this pussy is too…fucking…good.”, Steve grunted, smacking his lower half into yours between each word. Leaning over you, he rolled his hips, pushing him impossibly deeper into your cunt as your eyes rolled back. “His dick tastes amazing, doesn’t it? Mmm—fucking love when he shoves it down my throat.”

Moving out of his way, Steve envelopes Eddie into his mouth making the gangster moan as he extends his hand to tangle in his hair. As his boyfriend continued to fuck you, your own groans vibrated against the long haired boy’s balls driving him crazy as he growled through his clenched teeth. 

“Fuck! You’re both so fucking sexy. That’s it, baby boy, take my cock.”

After pumping his hips a few times, Eddie let him go and Steve pushed up onto his knees pounding into you till you were seeing stars. Taking the man’s length in your mouth again, you mimicked the other boy’s movements trying to keep a steady pace as you hurdled towards the edge. 

“A-Are you about to cum? Fuck, Y/N, you better fucking ask one of us, little girl, if you want to fucking cum!”

Your glassy, needy eyes met the chocolate ones of the man in front of you, pleading as you began to shake.

“Ask, Y/N.”

“Please, Eddie! Please, I need to cum!”

Taking a hold of your hair, he firmly tugged you till your face was fully visible. A small smile flickered across his lips, watching you struggle till he finally nodded granting you permission. 

Steve reached around and took hold of your throat, lifting you till you were pressed against him, squeezing you tightly as he fucked you through the most intense orgasm you had ever had. 

“Good girl. Good fucking girl. Are you on the pill?”, Steve roughly growled in your ear, his rhythm and intensity increasing when you said yes. “Good because I’m going to fill up this pussy and you’re going to take it like a good little girl. You’re going to take everything I give you and be fucking thankful.”

He grunted in your ear as he held your lower half against him as he rolled his hips aggressively, pumping his release into your cunt.

“Steve.”, Eddie called in a firm tone you barely heard through your haze.

“Excuse me, honey.”

Carefully, he pulled his softening cock out of your aching hole and gently laid you on your side before crawling up the gangster’s legs and taking him into his mouth. You watched with hooded eyes as his boyfriend took him all the way down his shaft, massaging his balls with his palm, as Eddie groaned.

“That’s my good boy. You wanna swallow my cum?”

Steve nodded as his eyes met his own and with a few thrusts of Eddie’s hips, his head fell back as he released his spend down the man’s throat. After sharing a soft but passionate kiss, they turned their attention to you.

“Are you ok, babe? Do you need anything? Water?”

“Will you lay with me?”

“Yeah, sweetheart, of course.”

You didn’t even hesitate when you scoot to Eddie’s side and wrapped your arms around your stomach, placing your head on his chest. The last thing you remember is feeling warmth behind you and the sound of Steve’s steady breathing on your skin before you fell asleep.

***

“DID YOU SERIOUSLY THINK THERE WOULD BE NO CONSEQUENCES?!”

Your head shot up when you heard shouting in your living room. Eddie and Steve were missing but the voice you heard definitely wasn’t theirs. Quickly throwing on the officer’s shirt you listened as the voice continued.

“Did you really think you could come on to our territory, break into one of our stash houses, and kill a bunch of our guys?”

“I think the real question you should be asking is how easy it was for me and my guys to break in.”, Eddie responded angrily. 

“Shut the fuck up, trailer trash! You think because you moved out here and took over Al’s business, you’re different but you aren’t. You’re still that garbage that he left behind with his brother before you suddenly decided you wanted in. Ah ah ah! Don’t make me shoot you, Steve. I have no problem killing a law man.”

“If you’re not here to kill us, Andrew, then what do you want?”, Steve spat.

Glancing quickly around the room, you realize his gun was still in its holster near your nightstand and as quietly as you could pulled it from its home. Tip toeing out into the hallway, you held it in front of you as you peaked around the corner. 

The person you didn’t recognize had his back to you as he pointed his own pistol at Eddie and Steve who both had their hands raised where he could see them. 

“Jason just wants Edward so we can make an example of him and what happens when you cross the Carvers.”

“I think you underestimate the Munsons, Andy.” Slowly, you creeped up behind him, praying he wouldn’t turn around. “Unfortunately for you, I’m not going anywhere. I hope Jason understands that this wasn’t a good move.”

“Yeah well, you can tell him yourself. Now come on or I will shoot him.”, Andrew threatens as he points his weapon Steve.

“Not if we shoot you first.”

At Eddie’s words, you cock the gun and pull the trigger.

##############

[tartarusknight]

wrote you a little omegaverse ficlet, i hope that's alright. thanks for all of your fics they are always so wonderful. have a great night!:

Omega!Steve had been told he gave off a scent like vanilla ice cream, and because of his status as a rare male Omega it somehow is overactive. His doctors scratched their heads and basically told him it's just one of those things. His scent so strong even scent blockers don't quite block it enough for alphas with the strongest noses. He dates betas exclusively after presenting, even though there are many alphas interested. True it's not ALL alphas, there are more respectful ones than disrespectful, but still too many of them came on too strong, and made him nervous. His only Alpha exception being Nancy, who despite his hopes barely even scented him. She never helped him through a heat, never knotted him. And looking back he knows it was for the best, feels complicated feelings about knowing she didn't really want to be with him forever, like he'd dreamt. Is sort of thankful he gets to experience those things with someone who truly wants him. In the meantime he is accosted by plenty of leering alphas and wants to straight up give his social life a break, even from betas.

Steve is delighted to find out he's been hired at Scoops, thinks,with the strong scent of ice cream in his workplace, it'll help get unwanted alphas off his back. Everywhere he goes he can play off the scent as being from his job. Has a somewhat blissful,albeit lonely, summer pretending to tank his flirting skills, get to know his coworker. And then everything goes down and he's captured ridiculed, and hurt for the prejudices involved in being a rare Male Omega, on top of being beaten for being found in the base. A scent he was simply annoyed by now genuinely frightens him more than ever. He smells so good,alphas with no sense of personal space are back to sniffing around and he hates it, just stop. Leave him alone. Dates betas praying one is a good match, but they all just leave him feeling lonelier than ever. It goes on like that until after spring break.

Cue Eddie,an Alpha who doesn't have a strong sense of smell, and has been ridiculed for that since he presented. Barely catches a whiff of Steve. But sees how Steve tenses when other alphas come sniffing around. Takes it upon himself to protect Steve, steps in front of other alphas when he sees something going on. It's not often, and they don't really talk about it. Eddie does have a bit of a crush on Steve but knows how unhappy Steve gets about leering Alphas doesn't try anything other than occasionally flirt, tries not to take it too far. He doesn't ever want Steve to feel uncomfortable with him. But Steve,who knows about Eddie's poor sense of smell is smitten, and hopes someday Eddie would stick around longer than just to be a gentleman and fend off other alphas. Stay closer. Problem is Steve's Omega adapts to Eddie's poor sense of smell and makes Steve's scent even stronger to try and entice Eddie. Even though he uses even MORE scent blockers his sweet scent lures in even more rude alphas,female and male alike, than ever. Steve, who finally decides to put it all on the line, invites Eddie over. Tells him he likes him and politely asks Eddie if it's okay if he removes his blockers. Eddie sheepishly tells him he doesn't think it'll matter he just doesn't smell anything anyway. But an amazing thing happens. Eddie finally gets a strong whiff of what he's heard others wax poetic about. Looks at Steve in sheer delight, his pulse racing. His(!?) omega smells SO GOOD!!!! Eddie still holds himself back, panting gazing at Steve. until Steve walks up close,leans in and says "I trust you" Undoes the first few buttons of his shirt, bares his neck "please, scent me. My Alpha," he kisses him "Yes, sweetheart. Anything you want, my sweet Omega. Anything at all." Steve smiles,puts his hand to Eddie's face, takes a calming breath and looks into his eyes,"Please,my Alpha, give me your knot?"

Awww Eddie's being such a gentleman!!!! And Steve he's trying his best with what he's born with. But it's hard and it's frightening yet he still finds the alpha of his dreams 🥰

Thank you so much for the ficlet!!!! I really appreciate you 💕

[silent-stories]

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐑 - 𝟕

Pairing: Eddie x F!Reader

Summary: Eddie finally explains why he's been avoiding you.

Part 6

Eddie's room was messy to say the least.

The table near the bed and a nearby desk were covered with plenty of random objects and some clothes were scattered around the room.

The walls were covered with posters of metal bands, one in particular, bigger than the others, had the name "Corroded Coffin" written on it.

Some books were left around, a guitar with "this machine slays dragons" written on it was in the corner of the room and not far from it was a second one, dark red and black.

Eddie closed the door behind him as he entered his room after you.

"Don't tell me my room sucks, I know." He chuckled sitting on the edge of his bed. "I wasn't expecting anyone."

You looked around, walking slowly around the room like an animal discovering a place it had never seen before.

"That's so cool." You muttered as your eyes ran over the posters on the walls.

"I'm sorry?" Eddie raised his eyebrows, thinking he must have misunderstood.

"Your room. It's cool." You stopped in front of Eddie's guitar, turning your back on him and so not seeing the smile that was born on his lips.

You reached out to run your fingers over its strings, causing a soft sound.

Eddie felt the sudden dullness of telling you to stop: no one could touch his guitar but him, but then he stopped and almost had to repress the thought that he would have liked to teach you how to play it.

"So?" You asked before turning back to him and then sitting on the edge of the bed next to him.

"What?"

"Why have you been avoiding me all day?"

He shook his head. "It's stupid."

He wasn't too sure about that though.

"It's not stupid if it made you ignore me all day."

"I talked to Aaron." He confessed.

You sighed. "Well, I'm sorry you had to do that."

"He said some things." Eddie wasn't looking at you anymore, suddenly the floor was much more interesting and his voice less confident.

"Things?"

Eddie sighed. "Promise me you'll tell me the truth no matter what."

"Eddie you're scaring me."

"He told me that you decided to become my friend because you wanted to buy drugs and you were hoping to get them for free." He choked out as if taking a weight off his chest.

"Well, that's not true." You responded promptly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Okay." He brethed in response.

Then silence fell in the room.

"Eddie."

"Mh." He wasn't looking at you yet.

"Ed, don't tell me you believed him." Your voice was softer now.

His silence almost scared you. "Eddie...I would never do that."

"I know." He murmured, his fingers playing with his skull ring, his eyes still stubbornly not meeting your gaze.

"So why are you doing this now? Why have you been ignoring me all day and now you can't even look at me?"

"Because there's always a voice in my head telling me you'd be better off without me." He finally confessed while you, as if by instinct, reached out for his hand, grabbing it as it stopped shaking and intertwining your fingers with his. "It says there's no way you really want to be- friends with someone like me or be seen hanging out with Eddie 'the freak'."

The fact that after all that time you've known Eddie, he still doubted your relationship, it made you realize how much all those years of insults had really affected him, even though he always tried to hide it, pretending he didn't care.

"Eddie, I like you. I like you because you are you. Because you're kind, nice, caring and you always make me laugh when I'm feeling down." He finally looked up and his gentle brown eyes met yours. You wondered if the shimmer was caused by the yellowish light in his room or if it was beacuse of some unshed tears.

"You're such a good person, I'm sorry so many people can't see that." You smiled softly, hoping he believed you.

"I'm always scared that one day you'll start seeing me the way everyone else does." He mumbled, his voice like the one of a frightened child during a thunderstorm. "I can't loose you too."

If your heart hadn't already broken during that conversation, it did right now. "You won't."

"And I hope that one day they will see you as I do." You gently pulled his hand still in yours towards you, pulling him into a hug as you wrapped your arms around his neck and he buried his face in the crook of yours, closing his eyes. "Because you deserve it."

You felt Eddie's hands on your back, gently pushing you closer.

"Eddie, I care about you. I really do."

You didn't say anything about what you understood to be a tear falling on your skin.

"Oh, sweetie." You breathed out as you ran a hand through his hair, your fingers through his curly dark locks. "Don't let some asshole let you think I don't care about you. Don't think you're not important to me, that you're one of the best people I've ever met in my entire life and that I'm glad you're part of mine."

You pulled Eddie closer to you and he grabbed the fabric of your shirt on your back, squeezing it lightly in his hands as if he didn't hold you so tight you would have disappeared and as he wanted that moment to never end.

After a few moments, Eddie slowly raised his head. He would never admit he had shed some tears but you brought your hands to his cheeks to gently brush away the last of them.

Your hands lingered on his cheeks, cupping his face still inches away from yours.

He felt like you were a blessing he was never meant to found and by the gods he was so happy, that in spite of that he still had found you.

"Thank you." he whispered.

"For what?" You asked.

For being there with him, for waiting for him outside school in the morning, for not feeling ashamed to be with him in public, for making him feel important, for smiling every time you saw him in the hallway, for spending your time with him, for being there when he needed you, for showing him your affection when hardly anyone ever had in his life, for not judging, for getting along with Wayne...

"For everything." He murmured, your hands still on the sides of his face, your noses almost touching and your breaths felt on each other's skin.

Suddenly the bedroom door opened and Wayne peeped out.

"Just wanted to ask if you're coming to eat or not. The food will get cold." Said the man as your hands fell from Eddie's face to your lap.

You cleared your throat.

"Sure. We'll be right there." You nodded.

Eddie did the same, getting off the bed to look at you and offer you a soft sincere smile.

"After you." He said gesturing to the door, the feel of your fingers caressing his cheeks still hard to shake.

"It was all really good." Wayne commented, sitting at the table across from you and Eddie, his voice easily audible despite the background TV playing some random program no one was paying attention to, mostly showing commercials.

"Thank you." You answered putting down your fork. "Ever since I nearly set Robin's house on fire trying to cook with her, I've decided maybe I needed to learn."

"I'm glad you did." Eddie said as he stuffed the last baked potato into his mouth. "Learn to cook, don't burn Buckley's house down." He specified causing a laugh on your part.

You read the time on the clock on the wall, noting that the sun had gone down and the sky had become completely dark.

"I think I should go home now, my mum always complains when I walk alone after dark." You said getting up from your chair.

"Walk?" Eddie did the same, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I walked to get here." You explained grabbing your jacket off the chair.

"Okay, slow down." Eddie chuckled walking in your direction. "I'll drive you home."

"Oh look, I raised him well." Wayne commented softly from across the room.

Your eyes met Eddie's, who never lost their sincerity and kindness.

"I'll take you home." He repeated. "It's the least after what you've done for us. For me."

You smiled slightly at his words, your gaze passing over his face, the memory of your lips inches from his was hard to forget, like the desire to have nipped the space between you with a kiss when you had the chance.

"Okay." You said finally and Eddie grabbed his leather jacket.

"Thanks for making me stay Mr…Wayne. Thank you, Wayne." You said goodbye to the man, correcting your little mistake.

"Thanks to you. See ya soon, kid."

You and Eddie left the trailer, walking to his van, when you spoke again.

"I.. I forgot something."

"What?" He frowned as he opened the vehicle's door.

"Just one thing, I'll be right back." You hurried back to the trailer, opening the door again.

"Wayne?" You called him, the man raised his head from the dishes he was putting away in the sink.

"You did." You said and he looked at you questioningly.

"Raised him well. You really did." You specified and a corner of the man's lips lifted.

You smiled, you had just felt the need to let him know. Wayne must have been an amazing father when Eddie's biological one wasn't with him.

He just smiled, before you went back to Eddie, waiting for you.

"What did you forget?" He asked as you sat next to him.

"Oh, nothing. I realized I already had it."

Eddie looked at you suspiciously but didn't insist and started the van while a Black Sabbath song played softly.

During the journey you spoke relatively little but the silence between you was anything but awkward. It was calm and intimate, you didn't need to talk at that moment.

When Eddie parked in front of your house a few minutes later and said good night to you, you kissed his cheek before getting out of the car.

You chuckled when, despite the darkness, you saw that his cheeks had acquired a certain blush.

Who would have thought Eddie blushed?

"Goodnight Eddie." You whispered before starting to walk towards your house, your figure illuminated by the weak light of the street lamps as you walked away.

"Good- goodnight." He mumbled, almost stammered, even if you were already gone.

After you walked into the house he stayed there for a few more minutes, an almost stupid and lovesick smile plastered on his face.

After everything that had happened that day, after what you'd said and done, after your soft whispered words, your hug and that kiss, he couldn't help but smile.

And he kept doing it even on all his way home.

Part 8

As I was writing this I was telling to myself "let them kiss!" and still... here we are :)

Tags: @jacklesdeanvessel @morning-sky7 @pipsqueakkitten @navs-bhat @michaelfuckinglangdon

Love you from afar tags: @capitanostella @enam3l @saramelaniemoon @ang3lb44by @einkitty @themorriganisamonster @esme-viridian @daisyridleyyyy @whenshelanded @eggo-segual @comfortcharactercraze @callmeyn @expiredcum21 @unholyyylita @squidscottjeans @twilight-love-nochu-main @idkatee @bakugouswh0r3 @amira0303 @greatpizzascissorstaco @ebonybloom @emxxblog @lunaryasha @cherryobx @jasminelafleur @magicalchocolatecheesecake @tracymbcm @harrypotter-imaginees @eli-flower @mrsjellymunson @tttttttttttts-things @miabiar @wayfaring----stranger @princess-eddie @omgshesinsane @littlestarfighter03 @zoeymunson @tanyaherondale @bl4ckt00thgr1n @thebook-hobbit @eris-rose-86 @ly17 @jenuhlyn-blog @ximi1315 @avocadotoastwithegg @lomljigg @urdad-hot @1paire2vans @praline357

[mvltisstuff]

Hi! i was wondering if i could do an eddie request. if so can you do one where him and the reader have been friends he joined the 118 (she’d been there a bit longer and helped him get comfortable). they always flirted but because of prior relationships, they never moved to level up the relationship. it takes chris (who loves the reader) to encourage him to ask her out.

how you get the girl - e.d

summary: request :)

eddie diaz x reader

a/n: i have yet to write for eddie so i hope this is good :) this idea is so cute 🥲

since the very start of eddie’s probationary period at the 118, y/n had been there as a leader for him. she led him everywhere, as it can be incredibly overwhelming starting at a new work environment. especially having buck on his back the first few days.

both immediately clicked on the first day he arrived. if she’s being honest, watching a powerful, and definitely hot new person come into the firehouse. whenever he needed help during the first few shifts, y/n was right behind him to be his guide. having to deal with his son and even adjusting to a new place himself was scary, and y/n was able to wash away his anxiety.

the policy of dating between firefighters was strict and surely made clear, and their rule-following personalities is what kept them even further apart.

after shannon had passed away, it took eddie a while to go back to his normal world. it felt like things had been shattered, christopher was happy and so was he. even when she asked for a divorce, if it mean chris was happy, so be it. eddie was the most selfless person y/n knew, and that’s what she admired most about him. watching him deal with every causality and call with nothing but care and respect created a new love for him, and it grew more every day.

there was no denying eddie felt the same exact way. he knew y/n has also had a rocky past with her exes, and he never would want to disturb the peace she has made with herself as he is well aware of the strength it took. her resilience and patience with him made him feel safe and loved every day at work. the way she cared for christopher and the way he lit up when she was around made his heart swell. he absolutely adored her, but both of their pasts had achieved in making them frightened to admit.

watching y/n walk in every single day with a motivating smile on her face was the highlight of eddie’s day. she was beautiful, too. her hair was always done neatly, no matter what. even if she was covered in ash or dirt, she still shines through it. her smile was like a thousand fireflies and her laugh was music to his ears.

they had both had their fair share of teasing from other people. buck, carla, chimney and hen, and even his own son had joined in on the fun. they pestered them about when they’d end up in between the sheets, and how long they would last before their true feelings about each other came out.

the one thing that gave eddie hope was how christopher felt. he absolutely looked up to her in the best way, and she treated him like her own. she gently speaks to him in a sweet voice and treats him with nothing but respect, like she would any adult.

they admit all the time that they flirt constantly. passing little comments about each other back and forth. for how smart they are, it shocks everyone else that they are so oblivious to each others feelings. and it drives them up a wall. making bets as to when they’d get together, and taking guesses as to when one of them would crack under the pressure.

as eddie had set the table, carla had prepared another home cooked meal for the father and son. christopher, as much as he loves his dad, cannot stand his cooking, so carla certainly does most. sometimes y/n will stop by to help carla make dinner, saying hello to christopher and spending as much time as she can with eddie, trying not to make it noticeable.

they all sit around the table, devouring the delicious meal carla had served to them. “so, eddie,” carla starts with a small smirk growing on her face. “where is miss y/n tonight?”

“she had a few things to finish up at work, so her shift ended later than mine did,” eddie tells him before christopher interrupts.

“you should take her out to dinner,” he suggests. “to a restaurant, don’t make her something.”

carla and eddie share a laugh before he questions christopher. “and what makes you say that? you don’t think she’d be impressed?”

“oh, honey, i think she’d flee the country,” carla laughs, earning a loud chuckle from christopher.

“alright, fine. i could take her out, but why?”

“because…” chris begins.

“because?” eddie and carla repeat after him.

“she likes you a lot, dad!” christopher exclaims like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“you got a smart kid there, eddie.”

eddie didn’t really know how to respond as he wanted to completely come clean with them, but also wanting to keep his cool. the thought of him and y/n, alone, out to dinner is honestly a dream, but it also makes him nervous because he would definitely not be able to contain his feelings about her then.

“you- you think so, chris?”

“i know so, dad. even buck told me he knows,” eddie gives him a confused look.

“why is buck talking about that?” he says, under his breath.

“i think we all know so,” carla says. “don’t think you’re good at hiding, i wouldn’t boost your ego that much.”

“what do you mean? y/n and i are very close friends, she helps me a lot,” eddie tries to cool down the topic that has risen over dinner.

“only love can make you that bad at covering something up, honey.” carla tells him with a pat to his shoulder.

the next day at work, eddie walks in with his head up after a night of barely any sleep. he thought that if anyone he needed approval from, it was the most important person in his life. and he had gotten that. the only person left was y/n herself. confidence was running through his veins, and he knew he had to ask now before he chickened out again.

he spotted y/n, already in uniform with two french braids running down the crown of her head. a breath was sucked from his mouth as he looked at her, laughing at the playful bickering from hen and chim. music to his ears, the laughing, of course. the fighting was practically white noise at this point.

“y/n! hey!” he says, jogging up to her with his bag thumping behind him.

“hi, eddie!” she replies back, another glowing smile even bigger than before grows on her face. “what’s u-“

“do you wanna grab dinner after todays shift? i heard of a really nice restaurant downtown.” he says abruptly, and she would be lying if she said it hadn’t startled her a bit.

“u-um, sure? what time?”

“get there at 5:30?” eddie says, almost sounding like he’s out of breath.

“okay…” she says slowly as eddie runs off again to the locker rooms to get dressed. y/n turns around, walking back over to the trucks and begins polishing the sides.

the grin on her face is almost painful as she can’t conceal it anymore. it does not go unnoticed by the rest of the team, as buck and bobby make their way downstairs.

“what’s she so thrilled about this morning?” bobby asks and gives her a side eye.

“diaz.” hen and chimney say at the same exact time.

y/n stands in her apartment with some of her girlfriends standing around. she invited hen, athena, and maddie over and athena had also brought may over.

“do you think this is ok?” y/n asks, holding up a skirt. “or maybe i should just grab some jeans, do you think he’d like that? he said a nice place, so maybe a dress or-“

“ok, relax,” athena says. “take a breath. i’m sure he’ll be head over heels if you were in sweatpants.” y/n smiles at herself in the mirror as may shuffles through her closet.

“you could do this!” she says, holding up a navy blue dress that fell mid thigh, with thin straps and a cross in the back. “did you forget about this baby or something? this is perfect! you’d look so hot in this, y/n, he’d probably transfer.”

“well, i don’t think that is the goal tonight sweetie,” athena says, pulling may in to have a seat. “i think it’s perfect too, it’s sexy, but not too much.”

“20 says he’s speechless,” maddie says.

“40 says he faints,” hen jokes back.

y/n exits to try it on, and comes out of the bathroom with a face of light makeup, but not too much. she pulled her hair down with some loose curls in it, hopefully something different from the average up-do for work.

“oh, my god!” may exclaims. “am i a beauty icon or what?”

“may, i have everything to thank you for this!” y/n says, slipping on a pair of heels and grabbing her purse. “it’s getting late, so i’m going to go, thank you for coming and if you guys need anything-“

“go! get out of here!” maddie yells. “he’s probably waiting for you!”

y/n scurries out of the apartment building and into her car, playing some music to get her feeling confidence for tonight. she’s worried her heart might burst out of her chest and break her ribs from how anxious she is. if tonight goes well, she might throw a party in her honor.

when y/n arrives, eddie had already been there. he was dressed in a casual suit, with a few of the buttons undone. the second he saw y/n walk up to the waitress at the front, and say she’s here for eddie, hearing his name making him shake a little.

when y/n is finally directed to the table, eddie stands up and walks over to her. he’s praying he’s not about to fall over right in front of her, because of how breathtaking she looks.

y/n, looking right at him, feels identical. she takes one glance at him and suddenly her eyes are glued there. the breath that she’s been harvesting is let out, and she walks over to get closer to him.

“y-you look,” eddie starts, looking at her figure up and down as she suddenly feels like all the lights in the world are on her. “stunning. wow, uh..”

“you look hot, eddie,” she spits out, not even thinking about her words. “or, amazing! you look amazing! sorry, that was really forward but uh-“

“it’s ok,” eddie laughs and smiles and he appears content, but his heartbeat is clear in his own ears. “i, uh, hope this isn’t too fancy for you.”

“no, it’s perfect! just weird seeing each other in such a, clean? place,” she says. “i mean we’re surrounded by tragedy every day, so.”

“that’s true,” eddie replies. once they order their food, they spend the whole night laughing, and forgetting about their worries and stubbornness. they exchange stories from when they were younger, and eddie shares funny things about chris which y/n absolutely adores.

after the night goes on, they both sit back and don’t know where to go. they could take this opportunity to change everything that they have, or ruin a perfect relationship because they thought they were too greedy for more.

standing outside, they both wait, the upset settling in that the night is over. they start mocking some of the rich people that were sitting next to them who demanded everything be perfect for them, but ultimately land just sighing and standing in silence.

“i had a really great night, eddie. thank you,” y/n says.

“it was really no problem, i had a perfect night, too,” he tells her back.

“i think there’s something we need to talk about, though.”

eddie’s heart drops a bit, as she might be completely dropping their friendship. he fears the worst, but allows her to continue.

“this friendship between us has opened to many doors for me, and you have taught me so much,” she begins, carefully as eddie gets more nervous for the result. “but i cannot keep doing this if i keep pretending i’m not in love with you, eddie.”

he stops for a minute, taking a step back and having to bring himself together. “you’re in love with me?” he says, barely above a whisper. y/n nervously nods back and he lets out a relieved laugh. she immediately turns red, worried it’s a mocking laugh and that he’s about to tell her he’s crazy.

“shit, sorry,” she starts to apologize, “i didn’t wanna mess things up but i couldn’t hide anymore and i haven’t felt this way about someone and i, oh god, i’m so sorry-“

eddie moves in to cut her off. his hand lands on the dip of her waist and pulls her in. he brushes a piece of her hair away behind her ear and lands a passionate kiss on her lips, trying to calm her nerves. “you have nothing to be sorry for, y/n.” he says and she pulls him back in, grabbing the back of his neck and planting a deep kiss. their sweet kiss turns into a heated make out in front of this fancy restaurant. they stay there for a few minutes, before they pull away and smile at each other, brightly.

“i’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

“of course, eddie,” y/n says back with a gentle grin as she turns around and walks back to her car. eddie makes his way back around, quietly cheering himself on for finally landing the girl he’s been thinking about for months.

[try-set-me-on-fire]

Got tagged for several sentence Sunday by @bigfootsmom @eowon @rewritetheending @eddiebabygirldiaz @devirnis @thewolvesof1998 @lover-of-mine and @daffi-990, as well as a lot of people for a lot of tag games all week. I was out of town and didn’t get the chance to respond, but I did scribble out this little fic in hotel rooms across the state. Tagging @shitouttabuck @malewifediaz @homerforsure @jeeyuns @rogerzsteven @wildlife4life if you have seven, or several, or, uh, however many sentences this is you’d like to share!

This isn’t the first and only time Eddie has found himself watching Buck’s hands. It's the variety, maybe, in how many ways he’s good with them that’s so captivating. Work, obviously, was the first time he’d noticed. Buck — and Eddie smiles whenever he thinks about it, now — had made himself so loud and blustery when they’d met. Eddie hadn’t doubted Bobby’s assessment that the man was a good firefighter, but he figured he was a heavy rescue kind of a guy, here for his brawn, someone to point at danger to terminator his way through it. Then, he’d held a box out for a bomb so steadily it saved all their lives; then, his grip was strong and sure in a collapsing hotel; then, on every call, no matter what, he moved with absolute confidence whether he was tying a perfect hitch knot or offering a hand to help a frightened vic to their feet. He’s good, he’s good at his job, he’s good with his hands, and still even years later Eddie has to remind himself to pay attention to his own task when Buck is at his side with a kind smile and reassuring chatter as his hands work carefully away.

The second place he’d noticed was with Chris. Buck understands lego diagrams that look like rocket science to Eddie, Buck wasn’t overseas or parenting a young child and so has played video games newer than Grand Theft Auto on a hand me down 360 sometime before 2010. He’s right there with the kid, always ready to advise on a tricky part of the diagram or give pointers for a difficult level, always ready to catch and support and comfort and protect, but the thing Eddie realized pretty quickly is how often he doesn’t do these things. Buck, from the beginning, had complete confidence in Christopher being able to figure out anything he puts his mind to. He doesn’t coddle, he never gets impatient and does something for him to get it done quicker. He’s just there to hand him the next requested lego piece with the same sort of awed smile Eddie knows is reflected on his own face when he watches his son.

Then, probably the kitchen. Eddie’s a better cook than he used to be, but he’d still rather watch Buck prepare food, diligently studying his hand on a knife or how he flips a pancake. When Eddie was a child and his abuela still lived in Texas he would watch her cook, how she would pour all her love and care for all of them into the meal, and Buck is just the same. Seeing him try the same dish over and over to get it just right makes Eddie wonder how anyone could ever think of this man as reckless, thoughtless. Being handed a plate by Buck is to be cherished in a way Eddie thinks not many people get to know.

Eddie has watched Buck’s hand on the small of Ali’s back, Taylor’s, Natalia’s. He’s watched them hold their hands, lead them in dances, seen how big his palm looked where it gently rested against their faces, wondered very quietly in some deep and hidden corner of himself what that kind of touch from that specific hand might feel like. He’s good with his hands and he’s got good hands, long fingers, little scars and freckles all over, a little bigger than Eddie’s own. He’d wondered — how could he not — quietly, and then louder and louder, and then-

And then Buck’s touches started to last longer, started happening with more frequency. A hand on his back as he passes him in Eddie’s kitchen, a room so familiar to them that the gesture is entirely unnecessary. A hand on his knee in the engine as Buck laughs at his jokes, Buck’s fingers curled gracefully around his elbow as they talk in a quiet corner of the station, gentle probing touches on every tiny scrape and bump Eddie accumulates on the job. Lingering, is the word for it, Buck’s fingers more and more reluctant to pull away, Eddie always leaning into the touch.

And now - a holiday party, full of folks from dispatch, the entire 118, Eddie’s pretty sure he even saw Ransone around the dessert table earlier. Buck’s got himself trapped behind the bar after he mixed a cosmopolitan for Karen and her delighted sound upon tasting it drew a crowd and endless requests started pouring in. So here Eddie is, too, the pair of them never far apart. He’s been perched on a stool for the last hour at least, watching Buck’s deft hands pour and mix and even do some fancy tricks with the bottles, tossing them in the air or behind his back. It makes Eddie laugh every time, and Buck’s responding grin makes him feel warmer than the alcohol could.

“You’re good at this,” Eddie says, which feels too obvious, or at the very least a vast understatement, and definitely something someone with a terrible crush would say, but something about the party and the way Buck keeps leaning towards him and, probably, the very good blackberry brambles that appear in front of him at regular intervals are all making him over inclined to share.

Buck’s grin is a little crooked, like his tongue is pressed against his teeth, and he winks, the bastard. Eddie’s probably turned a dozen shades of pink. “Bars I worked in had shit wages. Had to rake in the tips.” He nods towards Eddie’s glass, even this movement seeming extraordinarily smooth. “How’s the drink?”

Eddie snorts and takes a sip, like he needs to think about it. “You know it’s good. How come we just drink beers all the time when you can make shit like this?”

Buck laughs, head tilted back as he shakes a mixer full of Chimney’s piña colada. “Seems kinda overkill for a Tuesday night.”

Eddie grins into his drink, because Buck is at his house on Tuesday nights, and Wednesdays, and most of the rest of the week too if they can swing it. “Oh, I’m not a special enough occasion?”

“You’re plenty special, Eds.” Buck’s response is immediate, and his eyes have got all terribly soft and hard to look directly at, but the party and the leaning and the drinking have made Eddie brave, so he doesn’t duck his head. “I’ll make you a nice drink anytime.”

“Or you could-“ Eddie’s words catch, he coughs, he takes another sip of the bramble. Chimney leans against his side for a moment to grab the glass Buck’s poured his drink into, and Eddie remembers they’re not alone, they’re in a crowded room full of people who know them, he should probably go find water or breathe some fresh air, but then Chimney flits away again and Buck is looking at him expectantly.

“I could?” He prompts, with a smile that Eddie wants to fall asleep and wake up to, wants to taste.

Brave. He can be brave. Eddie rests two fingers on the back of Buck’s hand where he’s set it on the counter, looks up at him like his sister’s cosmopolitan magazines said to do. “You could show me what else you can do with your hands.”

Buck searches his face, taking big marathon runner breaths. “Eddie-” whatever he’s looking for he seems to find, because he nods, glances at Eddie’s drink, downs whatever’s left of it, and tilts his head towards the back door. It’s California, it’s not cold, but it’s winter and uncomfortable enough the backyard will be empty of party guests. Neither of them should get in a car yet, but this- this’ll work. This’ll do, in a pinch. Buck turns his hand palm up. “You wanna get out of here?”

Eddie takes Buck’s hand in his own, and they fit together just as perfectly as he hoped they might. “Yeah,” he grins, wide and goofy, unable to try and look cool about this at all. “Yes, please.” Buck is grinning just as wide, so there. “Your patrons might be upset though. Pretty early for a bar to close.”

“Fuck ‘em,” Buck says, tugging Eddie’s hand to start moving across the room. “You gave me the best tip of the night. I-“ he trips a little over somebody's toe, apologizes while Eddie giggles into his shoulder blades. “I’m retiring. They can make their own drinks.”

“Retiring?” Eddie’s impressed Buck gets the door open on only the second try. “What are you thinking of doing next?”

Buck turns around, bright against the dark backdrop of the empty yard and cloudy night sky, big dumb smile on his face. “I thought I’d become a firefighter.”

Eddie cackles, and chases Buck through the door. He stumbles a little but Buck’s hands come up to rest steady on his waist, catching him, easy.

[hitlikehammers]

intimately entwined

rating: e (but not how you think) ♥️ cw: the deepest intimacies in the most unexpected places knocking someone on their ass  ♥️ tags: established relationship, care-taking, casual intimacy, fluff, relationship development, slice of life, idiots in love

for @steddielovemonth day three: Love is wanting to do everything with someone, even if its nothing special

and yes, again: these boys probably grow up to star in the rockstar-husbands-with-the-sex-toys fic je ne regrette rien which will have a sequel flavoured revival via @subeddieweek in April whaaaaaatttt

“Another.”

And the way it’s said: it’s almost fucking expectant too, Jesus Christ, this man.

“You’re sure this is okay?”

Because, like, Eddie needs to know it is. He needs to check, then double check, then triple check because…because this feels like a wholly different step, y’know? This feels like crossing a kind of line they haven’t even dared to tiptoe near just yet, wholly different from all the other lines they’ve navigated, both reckless and careless but together, always, and that helps, in theory. It helps to know that no matter how they’ve fumbled or triumphed in this, between them: it’s been hand in hand. Before, and during, and after.

Still, though. This is…this just feels very fucking different. The kind of boundary with implications that feel heavy and expansive under Eddie’s ribs. Maybe it should seem less monumental compared to other shit they’ve done, and most of that with far less deliberation and hesitation for them, at that. But this does, it…Eddie genuinely believes this pumps weird and novel through his veins, because it is different; and incredible for it, no question. Terrifying. Wholly beggars belief, honestly, and Eddie never really understood that phrase meant but.

He thinks this thing fits it, to a T.

“I said it was, didn’t I?”

Eddie blinks, recenters: was it okay?

And this, this…brilliant perfect little shit: Eddie can hear the smirk in his voice without even looking. He can hear the amusement as much as the loose-ends of frustration. Like Eddie is being absurd here.

Which: what the actual fuck; seriously.

Like, like: goddamn seriously.

“Yeah,” Eddie answers, a little hesitant, a lot fucking dazed; “yeah you did,” because…he did. From the beginning, from even before they settled int to start this: Steve had been…vocally enthusiastic. Not that Eddie hadn’t been! He’d mostly just, he’d just been—

“You think I’m fucking with you?”

Again: without having to see Eddie clocks the eye roll, the not-even-subtle challenge in it.

Alongside the nugget of genuine hurt held for if it turns out true and that: no.

No, Eddie will not fucking have that, so.

Okay, he won’t have that, but also first:

“I mean, yeah—“ because umm…their sex life is a little undeniable.

Steve snorts; how. How

“Here and now, jackass,” he snipes back and Eddie…Eddie really and truly doesn’t fucking know what to do with this. How cal, Steve is. How focused and dedicated to the task. How monumentally and profoundly, just…

How this is sitting in his chest as so much more than the rest of it somehow in a way Eddie cannot wrap his mind around to understand and it’s frightening. Not understanding something so clearly and intimately important; so clearly fucking intimate.

“Not exactly,” Eddie ultimately settles on speaking rather than continuing to gape, continuing to stew in his terror as his heartbeat picks up but speed, it comes out more choked than he’d been hoping; less convincing by a mile as a result. “I don’t think you’re fucking with me like, like it’s something intentional,” and Eddie seeks out Steve’s gaze directly then because that’s it, that’s the hurt part he needs to root out and not crush to bits because he doesn’t crush any part of the man he loves, ever; no.

No, Eddie needs to root that out so he can draw it into the pounding in his chest warm and safe to be cradled and adored until it snuffs itself out in contented fucking joy, for being loved right. Like it deserves.

Which might be part of the problem in the present case just: this time it’s a problem for Eddie.

“Like not mean or anything,” he reiterates, to make absolute sure of this part too; “I just…”

Steve watches him as he struggles to put any part of it into words, can’t even move, or fidget like this: caught, and kinda giddily so underneath everything else, and maybe he needs to lean into that base sensation, see if he can chart his way out from the center versus stumbling around the sides:

“It can’t be, like, enjoyable,” is what he ultimately settles on saying as clear as he came because honestly, that sums up the bulk of it.

Plus he’s learned by now to trust Steve to reach around his rougher edges and find the heart of his meaning, or else, and probably more often: hold his hand as the send out a search party between them for the right words.

Because that’s still it, isn’t it: together.

And of everything else, Eddie doesn’t have to even pysch himself up to trust in that; it just it. It comes natural like breathing.

“Umm,” Steve draws out, a little incredulous; “why not?”

Why not? Why isn’t this exchange clearly one-sided?

“Because,” Eddie tries to find his words, or at least some of them: “I guess, what do you get out of it?”

Steve’s the one glancing to lock their gazes and Eddie…Eddie doesn’t feel ashamed where he might have early on. But he recognises the similar dive where it still lives in his stomach for the gentle warmth that Steve stares into him. Like he sees Eddie’s question, and loves Eddie enough that he won’t dismiss it.

“One more,” Steve instructs confidently, just-shy-of-demands.

“Steve—“

“If you hate it we never have to do it again,” Steve counters; a compromise; “promise.”

“That’s not—“ because fucking hell, as if Eddie could ever hate it.

“One more,” Steve reminds him with the patience of a saint and…Eddie’s moving almost without any thought for it at all, like his body runs the way of his heart and moves for Steve be rote, which.

Kinda, yeah.

“Blow,” Steve’s instructing and Eddie’s doing the moving-by-instinct-because-Steve-says thing again; knows he’s blinking owlishly as he purses his lips and does as he’s asked.

Blows. Ever-so-gentle.

“Okay,” Steve assesses and then grins: “okay, that’s it. Perfect.”

Eddie won’t fucking argue. Not least because it’s true.

Though he’s more invested in the perfection looking up at him like this.

“Verdict?”

And okay, Eddie thinks maybe he has words now, at least inside his head: intimacy wasn’t something he’d ever had before Steve, and frankly was never something he was hanging hopes on ever getting, again—before Steve.

But it wasn’t just because he didn’t have other options that Eddie banked on intimacy equalling sex, either. Because once he did have Steve, it just shifted to the idea of sex as a way of showing love. The more of himself he could give to Steve, the more intimate they’d become: the more of him that was Steve’s for the taking, the more of Steve he look reverent into himself, body to body: that was intimate. That was a relationship, how it looked as it grew. First time Steve came inside him. First time Eddie licked him open. First time he fucked Steve’s gorgeous goddamn thighs.

That kind of thing.

But Eddie’s not sure even the heaviest, headiest sex has ever left his heart as much of a thumping, fluttery mess as just this, which doesn’t feel like just anything: Steve. Sitting in front of him. With a bottle he drove out to Indy to get just for Eddie. Because Eddie wanted it. Because Eddie would like it. Because it might make Eddie happy and it did, it really really did, and—

Steve’s just painted his fucking nails the most gorgeous shiny black, only the slightest bit straying off on the skin, too, and it’s somehow hitting Eddie deeper than the first time they fucked, the first time they stretched each other open, the first time they 69’d in the sheets.

This is apparently what knocks Eddie on his ass for just how deep the love goddamn goes.

“That.”

“Hmm,” Eddie hums, blinking back to the moment where he was busy getting caught up in the new revelation of what intimacy looked like, not to mention caught up in admiring his nails: “what’s ‘that’?”

And Steve’s smiling beatific, incandescent, as he pokes Eddie’s cheek, no, more specifically: as he pokes Eddie’s dimple.

“What I get out of it.”

And Eddie flushes hot under Steve’s touch, then, as it all adds up and seeps in strong enough to shake his core before reshaping him from the inside out as Steve taps the little divot in his skin playfully:

“That.”

Which is how Eddie realizes full on and forever, probably something he already knew, just somewhere under the surface: the intimacy was the sharing of the joy. And in love, especially a love like this one: joy itself is the payoff.

Joy, like everything, is shared by default.

Eddie lifts his eyes, meets Steve’s smile so wide, and relishes the color on his nails as a sign of it for seeing; relishes the dizzy cadence pumping in his chest as proof for the rest of him, to feed and nurture this depth of loving for all the simple things, undimmed and forever until his heart stops doing anything at all. Because there is no pay off, even if there is always something to get out of it. Out of all of it.

Because love is them; together.

Intimately entwined to the goddamn cells.

tag list (comment to be added): @pearynice @hbyrde36 @slashify @finntheehumaneater @wxrmland

♥️

divider credit here

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

I was tagged by the lovely @sidekick-hero to share a few lines from a WIP without context. Thank you, friend! 💖

“Chrissy was here, I see,” Eddie comments, inspecting the bouquet of flowers on the table. 

Steve nods. “You just missed her. Robin and her went to look at some herbs, I think?” 

“Did they now?” Eddie turns away from the flowers to shoot him a knowing grin. “How many times did Robin trip over her own feet?” 

Steve can’t help it, he grins back. “Erm, only once, actually. I caught her.” 

“Oh, that’s progress, good for her,” Eddie nods appreciatively, then cups a hand to his face to lean towards him for a conspiratorial stage whisper. “She doesn’t like it when I say it, but she does suck at flirting.” 

“Yeah, well,” Steve shrugs. “She’s not the one going around trying to smooch strangers.” 

Eddie flinches. Steve winces. Shit, there goes his smart mouth again. 

“Fuck, sorry,” he blurts, averting his gaze, fingers twisting into the frilly hems of his shirt sleeves. “I didn’t mean-” 

“No, no, you’re right.” 

Steve feels his mouth drop open. When he whips his head up, Eddie isn’t looking at him. Instead, he’s laboriously pulling out a chair from under the table so that he can sit opposite Steve on his chest, at a healthy distance. Steve watches how he pulls his hands into his lap, twisting one of his rings on his finger, brow furrowed in thought. 

“So,” he says at length, gritting the word out like it’s physical effort. “It, um … It has been brought to my attention that my behavior today may have come off as rude and overbearing, and that I need to make more of an effort to restrain myself, lest I frighten you away, seeing how you’re in a highly unusual and confusing situation already and will need some time to adjust before-” 

“Did your uncle say that?” Steve remembers, suddenly, how Wayne excused himself as soon as they left El’s cabin, citing some important business he still had to attend to. He’s beginning to suspect what it was. 

Eddie licks his lips. 

“Doesn’t matter who said it,” he deflects, and Steve feels his mouth curl into a smug little grin. “Point is, he’s right, the old fucker. He’s right most of the time. So, I just … I wanted to apologize, I guess. I’ll try to not let it happen again.” 

“Try?” Steve parrots. “As in, you’ll try not to kiss me again, but it might just happen accidentally? Like a hiccup, or what?”  Eddie cringes, fingers reaching up to play with the gemstone necklace again.

“It’s hard, alright?” he mutters. “I’ve been waiting for you a long time, and nobody prepared me for how very kissable you’d be.”

Tagging: @sourw0lfs @wynnyfryd @wormdebut @cranberrymoons - no pressure, just kisses. 💋

[unclewaynemunson]

Belated happy birthday to @steviesbicrisis! Your bday post made me think about a steddie pride and prejudice au with a twist so this one's for you :D

(obviously this takes place in a world where gay marriage has always been completely normal. Fuck historic accuracy)

----------

Steve feels his face light up when an all-too-familiar knock sounds through the house; there's only one person in his life who tirelessly drums out the most elaborately ridiculous rhythms on the wood of the door. 

Unsurprisingly, Eddie stumbles inside a moment later. Something is different, though, Steve notices that much right away. His friend doesn't barge into the room to drape himself over the couch like he usually does. Instead, he closes the door behind him and keeps standing still right in front of it.

'I have some news for you,' he says, in a strangely solemn voice.

'Is something wrong?' Steve asks, immediately worried.

'No.' Eddie shakes his head. He smiles, but it's only a weak version of his usual bright grin and it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. 'No, it's um... It's good news.' He nods, almost as if he's saying that to convince himself, and Steve feels a frown creep onto his own face.

'I'm engaged. To Keith.'

For a few seconds, Steve can do nothing but stare at him.

'Engaged?' he then stupidly repeats.

'Yes.' Eddie nods again.

'To be married?!' Steve asks urgently.

Now, Eddie rolls his eyes. 'Yes of course, Steve, what other kind of engaged is there?'

Steve feels his jaw drop. 'How– Why–'

'Oh for heavens sake, Steve,' Eddie impatiently interrupts his stuttered, unfinished questions. 'There's no earthly reason why I shouldn't accept his hand.'

'But he's – ridiculous!' Steve finally manages to spit out.

And something shifts in Eddie's posture. 'Well, not all of us can afford to be romantic,' he says with a chilly edge to his voice. ‘He's rich, he can give me a comfortable home and a reasonable position in society – I wouldn't dare ask for more.'

'Eddie,' Steve says. He doesn't even know where to start. He wants to tell Eddie exactly how much more he deserves than some gross creep, how he's betraying everything he stands for by marrying Keith, how he's signing for a life devoid of any happiness – but before he can even begin to properly phrase any of those thoughts, Eddie already narrows his eyes at him. He looks at him like a cornered animal, and Steve understands that Eddie interprets his silence not as caring, but as judging, or maybe even pity.

'I am twenty-seven years old,' Eddie says, his voice colored with a kind of forced calmness. 'I have no money and no prospects. I'm already a burden to my uncle. And I'm frightened. So don't judge me, Steve, don't you dare judge me.' Then, he resolutely turns around and opens the door.

'Eddie, wait,' Steve quickly says.

For a second, it looks like he won't listen, like he will walk away without looking back – but then, he turns his head around, and Steve sees tears glistening in his eyes.

'I – I'm not judging you. I'll respect your choice, even if I don't understand it. Don't cry, please.' He knows it's a useless thing to do, telling people not to cry, but he hates seeing this look on Eddie's face. It makes his hands itch with the desire to hold him.

'I’m just... You caught me off-guard. I didn't know you were interested in marriage all of a sudden.'

'Why does it matter?' Eddie asks with an arched eyebrow. 'Were you planning on asking me if I was?'

And that question, phrased in such a sarcastic way, paired with the defensive look in Eddie's eyes... The insinuation of how truly preposterous that would be feels exactly how Steve would imagine getting stabbed in the heart would feel like.

It makes him realize that he has nothing left to lose. Eddie will walk out of that door – maybe they'll make up, maybe they won't, but their friendship will never be the same as before Eddie got engaged to Keith.

'What would you say if I was?'

Eddie stares at him. He opens his mouth, then closes it again.

Steve just stands there, waiting, until the surprise on Eddie's face makes place for something more unreadable.

'Don't be ridiculous now, Steve.'

'Is it truly that much more ridiculous than you marrying Keith?'

'Are you seriously asking me to marry you only to keep me away from Keith?'

'No, I –' Steve pauses; he wishes he would have had time to think about what to say. It feels like his words won't ever be able to do his feelings justice.

'I have loved you for years, Eddie,' he finally admits. 'And if you truly want to marry Keith, I won't try to change your mind. But I can't let you go without telling you the truth.'

Eddie's eyes widen as he lets the words sink in with a shocked look on his face.

'You love me?' he repeats in a slightly raspy voice.

Steve nods, only to be met with more silence, as the clock on the wall ticks away the seconds.

'You don't have to say anything. I just needed you to know.'

'Steve... Is this a goddamn proposal or not?'

'I don't know.'

'You don't know?!'

'I mean, it isn't – I don't think it is.’ Steve stumbles through the words. ‘I don't want you to choose me because I'm richer, or – or better-looking than Keith... I only want to marry for love, and I'm not as arrogant to expect you to feel the same way about me.'

'Oh, Steve...' The shock on Eddie's face melts away, softening his features and making the look in his eyes gentler.

'You don't need to pity me.’

'No, no way, I'm not pitying you,' Eddie answers. He takes two big steps towards Steve, wraps his hands around Steve's. They're warm and familiar and making him miss what he can't have even stronger.

'If I had known... Stevie, I would've never said yes to Keith, it's not even close to a competition. If I had known I could have you, all this time... I never even thought I'd stand a chance. You're probably the most perfect person I know, and I'm, well, just Eddie.'

'Oh, we need to work on your self-esteem, baby.' The pet name slips out of Steve's mouth before he can help it, and it brings that beaming bright smile to Eddie's face; the smile that Steve loves so much.

He feels Eddie’s hands slide around his waist and they rest their foreheads together, both breathing shakily, trying desperately not to let their emotions overpower them.

'Does this mean that we're engaged now?' Steve finally manages to ask; his voice is shaking but he needs to hear it. He needs to be sure that he indeed gets to hold the man in front of him for the rest of their lives.

Eddie utters a tearful chuckle. 'I suppose I have another wedding to cancel first.'

[xiaq]

Steddie Time Travel Fix-it: Pt 2

Ao3 Pt. 1 Pt. 3

There’s a knock on the door halfway through dinner.

Wayne gets up to answer and Eddie doesn’t think much of it until Wayne pauses with the interior door only half open. He doesn’t reach for the screen.

“Eddie,” he says.

He sounds cautious.

Eddie gets up to join him.

Steve Harrington is standing on their stoop. The shoulders of his letterman jacket are beaded with water from the mist of rain that accompanied the sunset and then never dissipated. He’s holding Eddie’s lunchbox in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other.

Earlier, after the incident in the hallway, Eddie had gone back to the school during fourth period. He already knew the lunchbox would be gone, and it was, but he had to check. He walked home before he had the chance to run into Harrington in the hallway again. He tidied up the trailer and cleaned the bathroom and made pasta for dinner and actually did some of the homework he’s constantly neglecting and tried to focus on anything that wasn't mentally replaying every fraught second that occurred in the bathroom that morning. 

It couldn’t have really happened like that.

Could it?

He’s nearly convinced himself if didn’t.

Except now Steve Harrington is standing on the scrubby half-dead grass of their lawn looking sheepish. Despite his relaxed posture, his eyes are still…intense. Frightening, maybe, if Wayne wasn’t standing right next to him, arms crossed.

“Hi,” Steve says. He holds up the lunchbox. “You left this and I figured you’d want it back.” He glances at Wayne. “And, uh. I wanted to apologize for this morning.”

He looks like he means it.

Eddie taps Wayne between the shoulders. “I’m good,” he murmurs.

Wayne gives him a disbelieving look, which is fair, but he backs up, letting Eddie pull open the screen door and step outside.

He waits until Wayne has fully retreated inside to gesture toward the lunchbox with one hand.

“Well?” He says, full of bravado he doesn’t feel.

Steve takes a careful step forward and proffers it.  He’s deliberate with the exchange; their hands don’t touch as Eddie curls his fingers around the handle.

He opens it. 

“I didn’t take anything,” Steve says quietly. 

Eddie has to admit that it doesn’t appear he did. Everything is still just where he left it that morning. He does a quick count and, baffled, closes it again.

“So you’re just bringing it back to me. No finders fee. No strings attached?”

“No, of course not. I mean, it was my fault you left it,” he says. 

This is true. But truth doesn’t often matter for the people Harrington runs with.

Eddie shoves at his quickly dampening hair. “You said you had an apology too.”

“Right, yeah.” Steve takes a step back, hooking his free thumb in his pocket, eyes on his too-white sneakers. “I’m sorry for freaking you out. I had a really weird morning and I know that’s not an excuse but––”

He glances up, meets Eddie’s eyes for a single, heart-wrenching, second, and then abruptly looks down again. “I noticed you didn’t come back and I don’t want you to miss school because of me. So, I’ll leave you alone from now on.” It sounds like it costs him something, saying that. 

“I miss plenty of school. Has nothing to do with you,” Eddie says. “Any chance you want to explain what the hell that was this morning?”

“I can’t,” Steve says to his shoes. “I’m sorry but I really can’t. It won’t happen again, though. I swear.”

The mist is starting to turn into actual rain.

“Listen,” Eddie says, half regretting it before he’s even extended the invitation. “Do you want to come inside for a minute? I don’t think that radio should be getting wet.”

Steve looks at the walkie in his hand like he’s seeing it for the first time. “Right,” he says. “Is that––I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Eddie pulls open the door and holds it. “Come on, Harrington. I trust you’ll keep my virtue intact.”

“Do I need to leave?” Wayne asks dryly.

“I said keep my virtue intact,” Eddie responds, “get your ears checked, old man.”

“Not sure you’ve got much virtue left,” Wayne mutters, nodding to Steve from where he’s sitting at the table.

Eddie looks for Steve’s reaction. Sure, the guy felt him up that morning, but he’s still an asshole jock who probably won’t appreciate the implication that he’d be interested in despoiling Eddie to begin with. Except Steve is standing just inside the door, seemingly oblivious to anything Wayne has said.

He’s staring up at the living room ceiling.

His body is a line of unassailable tension.

Eddie follows his gaze but there’s nothing there––not so much as a stain or a bug or a cobweb or…anything else worth glancing at, much less whatever the hell Steve is doing. ‘Staring’ seems like a tame description.

“Dude,” Eddie says, “are you okay?”

Steve flinches, redirecting his attention. “Weird day. Like I said.” He waves awkwardly to Wayne. “Hi, sorry for interrupting your dinner.”

“We were mostly done anyway,” Wayne says. “Don’t mind me.” He pointedly picks up the newspaper, shooting Eddie a glance that Eddie ignores. He leans into the bathroom to grab a towel and tosses it to Steve who catches it against his chest, like a reflex more than an intentional movement.

“Thanks,” he says.

He notices Eddie’s guitar, still sitting on the couch where he’d been attempting to work on a song earlier, and his face does something complicated. “Are you playing at Hideout this weekend?” he asks, rubbing the towel briskly over his hair.

Eddie stills. “What?”

“Your band?” He looks uncertain. “I thought I heard you might be playing at Hideout this weekend.”

“We have an audition there this weekend,” Eddie says slowly, “For a semi-permanent spot that just opened up. But we haven’t told anyone. Or I didn’t think we had.”

“Oh,” Steve says. He hands the now-damp towel back. “I must have misunderstood––Robin said she heard about it.”

“Robin Buckley,” Eddie says.

“Yeah, we…recently became friends.”

It’s a stilted statement, and clearly untrue. But Eddie doesn’t understand how it can be a lie when he has never, never, seen the two of them interact until this morning. Whatever the hell that interaction was. And how Robin would have heard about the audition, he doesn’t know. Though Gareth does sit next to her in English.

“Anyway,” Steve says. “Good luck.”

“Would you come see us play if we do get the slot?” Eddie asks, genuinely curious.

“Yeah,” he says, “if you were ok with it.”

Eddie tosses the towel over the edge of the sink and leans back against the counter, arms crossed disbelievingly. “Do you even listen to metal music?”

“Sure.”

“Like what?”

“Dio,” Steve says promptly, and then flushes for some incomprehensible reason. “Metallica. Black Sabbath. You know.” He gestures as if to say ‘the usual,’ except there is nothing usual about this conversation.

“I do know. The fact that you know is surprising,” Eddie sighs. “Steve Harrington, you have hidden depths. Here I was thinking you probably jammed to Madonna and ABBA but apparently you actually have good taste.”

Steve smiles: a small, pleased, little thing. “I mean. I like Madonna and ABBA too.”

“Well,” Eddie sighs, “I guess no one’s perfect.” He gestures to the radio in Steve’s hand. “Can I ask what the walkie talkie is about?”

“Oh,” Steve says. “It’s––” he looks at it, scrubbing his free hand through the back of his already disheveled hair. Eddie likes him much better like this: mussed, awkward, real.

 “I don’t know how to say this without it being weird,” Steve says. “But it’s for you. If you’ll take it.”

“...why?”

 “Just. If anything ever happens. If you’re in trouble and need help or anything. I’m on channel two. And I always have mine on.”

He’s holding the radio out now with a kind of desperate urgency, eyes dark and liquid and entreating.

Eddie takes it. He looks down at the walkie and then back at Steve’s relieved face. “So I call and you’ll, what, come rescue me?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’d try.” He glances at the ceiling again, just for a second. “I’d try,” he says again, quieter.

Eddie believes him.

“Do you know something I don’t?” Eddie asks. “Am I in some kind of danger?”

“No, no, just a precaution. I’ve heard some stories about weird shit happening in the woods recently and I was…” he trails off.

“Worried about me,” Eddie says flatly.

“Yeah.”

He doesn’t get a chance to point out that Steve Harrington worrying about Eddie Munson makes no fucking sense because the lights flicker.

It’s not even a full outage, which wouldn’t be uncommon; the wiring in the trailer is shit and the electric company is even shittier. But the lights dim briefly and the TV, playing a ballgame quietly in the background, cuts off and back on. It’s hardly two seconds of time total.

But Steve goes still. The kind of still that makes Eddie think of predators and prey and he’s pretty certain he feels like the latter in this scenario, watching as Steve’s eyes track from the floor lamp to the table lamp to the light over the sink.

“You ok, son?” Wayne asks.

Steve abruptly moves back toward the door. “Fine,” he says, pulling it open. “Sorry. I should go.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Eddie says slowly. He sets the walkie talkie on the counter.

Eddie follows him down the steps and then pauses because Steve has stopped walking.

He turns abruptly, hands shoved in his pockets. “Can we be friends?” he asks. “I know you think I’m an asshole and god knows I was then. Or, I mean, I know I’ve been an asshole. But I’m trying not to be, anymore. And I’d like to be friends.”

Eddie still isn’t fully convinced this isn’t some sort of long, weird, trip.

He has no idea what the hell is going on with Steve Harrington, but he knows intimately what it’s like to need someone, and for some unfathomable reason Steve seems to think the someone he needs is Eddie. He might be ok with being that someone. Maybe. If only because he’s so, desperately, curious to see what will happen if he does.

“Well, I think we have to be friends at this point,” Eddie says slowly.

“We do?”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard,” Eddie says, gesturing to himself, “but I’m the king of the freaks around here, and you, Harrington,” he pokes Steve with a single, brave, finger, in the chest, “you are definitely a freak.”

Steve laughs. It’s a shallow, fragile, little noise, but it’s real and Eddie feels unaccountably proud being responsible for it.

“Good point,” Steve says.

“Steve Harrington, admitting he’s a freak. You really have undergone a transformation.  Next you’ll be telling me you want to join Hellfire. Which, hey, a new campaign starts in two weeks, if you’re interested.”

“Okay.”

“…okay,” Eddie repeats.

“I quit the basketball team,” Steve says. 

“You what?”

“So I’m free after school. I’m not good at math, but I can get some dice and come up with a character by then, yeah.”

“What the fuck,” Eddie says blankly.

“Sorry?”

“You’re serious.”

“Yeah,” Steve says. He squints through the darkness, head tipped, like he’s confused by Eddie’s confusion. Like all-star athlete team captains routinely quit their sport and ask to join the school’s most-derided club.

“You know how to play D&D?” Eddie clarifies.

“Sure. Mostly.” “Okay. What kind of character are you thinking of playing?” He’s expecting a Fighter. Maybe a Barbarian. If Steve even knows what those are. He’s not expecting—

“Paladin,” Steve says. “If that’s ok.”

“Sure. Paladin.”

“Cool. I’ll see you at school tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

Steve makes an aborted move like he wants to reach out to him, the same haunted look on his face that he’d worn that morning when he touched Eddie’s side and repeated you’re ok over and over again like he was trying to convince himself the words were true.

He doesn’t touch him, this time, but he does say, “Goodnight, Eddie,” with what feels like a continent of emotion behind it.

And then he wheels around and practically runs for his car.

Eddie goes back inside with even more questions than he had this morning.

“That boy is not okay,” Wayne says conversationally as Eddie returns to the kitchen.

“What?”

Wayne gestures with his beer toward the closed door. “The only people I know who move around in an enclosed space like that are war vets. Tell me why a teenager puts his back to corners and keeps tabs on exits and looks like he’s trying to decide between fight or flight when the power flickers.”

Those are all excellent points.

“Just be careful around him,” Wayne says.

“Yeah,” Eddie agrees. “Yeah, for sure.”

He moves to retrieve the radio from the counter and walks back to his bedroom with it. He uses the hem of his shirt to wipe off a few raindrops on the mic and sets it on his bed until he can think of a better place to put it.

He thinks about Steve’s hands, fisted in his pockets, the wet curl of hair, the way he’d asked, like it would be a favor, if Eddie would be his friend.

He still has no idea what’s happening, but he’s not sure he wants it to stop.

Pt. 3

[gamesofmuggles]

warren and june.

a little image.

summary : june, billy's and graham's little sister is a part of the band in her own way. she told us in exclusivity how she found the inspiration for all the most successful songs!

Billy's little sister, Graham's little sister, The Dunne Sister. In the background, discreet, calm, sweet as honey. The secret ingredient that not many people know of regarding Daisy Jones and the Six.

Interviewer : You’ve been secretly writing most of the band songs over time without people knowing about it. Why?

June : (chuckles) well not everybody wants the spotlight.

Interviewer : The most beautiful lyrics, the more remembered, the critics' favorites are songs with a common factor: love. Where does everything start for you?

I agreed to come to the house in LA, of course. Graham was so pushy about it, I think he was afraid that I would get bored without them and that ill wouldn’t write for them anymore. Billy, oh Billy was just happy to be my big brother and protect me. I was the first fan you know, and I will be the last. I remember there wasn’t enough room in the house, but Graham and Camila urge me to accept the nicest room. « To keep her mind fresh,» said Graham before dropping my suitcase on the bed. « I’m coquette too you know » I heard Warren say to Graham after he closed the door.

Warren: I slept in the bathtub for a while.

June: Karen arrived a few days after, finding Graham, Warren, and Eddie fighting in the living room. I was on the couch supervising the points, it was my first encounter with her. She asked « is it always like this » with a raised eyebrow. « Most of the time » I answered. Then I show her her room.

Warren: I wore her hoops back then, I looked fabulous in them.

June: I said to Warren I needed the hoop back. But he did look fabulous in it. To return to the question, my inspiration, well all the nights at the Filthy Mc Nasty, in the back writing while smoking and listening to the band play, alone except for the barman sometimes with more crowd. All the hangover brunch near the beach. The movie nights on a dusty screen. The fighting was because nobody -especially not women- wanted to clean those boys' mess. The adventurous meal cooked with cheap cans. Yeah, that was the inspiration. « June, how is your mind so powerful? » Graham asked me one day reading some of my last work. « can’t recall some of the highest heights / but I’ve memorized you, yeah we need to use this in the future» he added. Lyrics that were used for Midnight, I’m very proud of this song. I remembered I tried to hide blushing, cause every writing was always easy when I was thinking of Warren.

I had found the perfect spot in the Filthy McNasty so I could have an eye on him behind all those men on stage. I knew how he liked his eggs and his beer. His taste in movies. The curve on every one of his hair. I watched him a lot, a writer needed a muse you know? But also what a muse if he didn’t know he was one. Cause I never wanted to meddle with the band whatsoever and wished to keep my feelings very private, except when I wrote the songs of course. Every flirting interaction Warren may had have with me was pure imagination, it must be. Also, Warren was always a flirty guy.

Warren: It was no imagination. We were all clueless, awkward, and well, a little bit high back then. Every time I thought about it, I had to go out and smoke some. The small idea that everything could go to shit because of a tiny crush was frightening. But how could something could go wrong with June, sweet June who makes my eggs, perfect eggs every morning she can. Who went to search for the best curls cream for my hair. Imagine how someone could be this important that no matter the numbers of tits fans show you, you only want one?

June: He said that? How romantic. Where was I?

I remembered one night. We were on the beach, Graham and Billy playing guitars. Eddie Karen, Warren, and I are in the waves. Eddie wanted to fight, he’s such a fighter sometimes. He picked up Karen on his shoulder, Warren did the same with me. I was on top of his shoulder alarmed to move after the sudden physical touch. I was no prude and it was the 70s there was no secret but yeah. Karen took my hesitation for a win and pushed the both of us in the waves, Warren's hands still holding onto me. He asked if I was alright. Yeah. He had brushed my hair away from my face, a big smile on his. I remembered, ok. I need to have this smile in my life forever.

Billy: Are you asking me If I knew my little sister had a crush on Warren? Well, Ringo Starr was always her favorite so take a guess. Graham: I knew of course. Karen: Graham is gonna say he knew but he was clueless. They were pretty damn secret at first. But Warren was taking too many drugs to keep his mouth shut you know? Daisy: June still sends me Christmas cards. She was what glued this band I can tell you that. Eddie: I still can’t believe Warren scored this well.

June: I was scared of Billy’s reaction. Nothing happened at this point but I kept thinking about it. We were at a diner, the band suffered from the lack of notoriety while working their ass off. I wanted to comfort him. At least the band had a shiny new name.

Eddie: About damn time!

Warren: That night, I was ready to join that couch as always. Breaking my back. When June ask me to meet her in her room after everybody was asleep. So I did. At 2 am, I knocked and enter. She was wearing Billy’s old Black Sabbath tee shirt, writing on her stomach. Man oh, man.

June: I was very nervous, but It was time I also lived a little bit. Also whatever occurred it would have been good materials for the band you know (chuckles). He entered and he was wearing his flannel pant. I nearly jumped out of bed and I ran to his side, practically smashing him against the door and I kissed him. I (blushing) I never was nearly as adventurous as Karen, or Camila. It was a bold move for me you have to know that.

Karen: I heard a bang, yeah. Thought it was the ghost of my room. Or a bird.

Warren: Man oh man, I can’t tell you more about that night.

June: You have your answer, but you knew about it don't you?

Warren: You just wanted the sweet story to cover the bad ones don't you?

Interview : (smiles) sunshine after the rain, and by the way congrats on your 10th anniversary.

June: thank you.

[homiesexual-or-homosexual]

Undead

Pairing: Monster! Eddie x reader

Summary: dustin hides now not dead and very alive and very much a vampire eddie in his basement. the whole group knows except you. steve tells Eddie that it’s not smart to see you but eddie doesn’t care. so eddie just like breaks out of dustin’s basement and goes to find you

Warnings: Plot divergent, mike is bad at keeping secrets, steve is maybe a little mean to heartbroken and kinda lonely eddie, happy reunion at the end <3

———

Grief. It’s all you feel. Other than the numbness that’s fogged your brain.

You barely feel anything than those two feelings anymore.

After loosing one of your bestest friends and potential life partner about 3 months ago now, you feel lost. You’d buried yourself in rebuilding and replenishing the town after Hawkins was hit by a massive earthquake, and buried yourself some more in your job at the local record store. Woodwork, food making, cloth folding, box packing, record restocking, and home chores are all you know now.

You barely see your friends anymore. While you cross paths as you work at the makeshift shelter in the Hawkins High gymnasium, you often work on the other side of the large room. You feel their eyes but you ignore them, not ready to face them yet.

But unbeknownst to you, and all the other older kids/adults of the group, Dustin Henderson has been hiding something too. Rather than hide himself from the world, he’s been hiding someone. Someone that was supposed to be very dead and very not alive.

Well, that someone did die, but he’s alive now, again. But different. Physically and mentally.

This very alive someone has large, ratty, bat-like wings and fangs, like some otherworldly creature. His nails grow fast and are sharp, but he tries to keep them cut short, nervous chewing does it’s work on keeping the nails/claws short as well. Some senses seem enhanced as well too. Hearing, smell, sight (especially as night), and taste. He can eat fine and normal food, much to Dustin’s amazement and bewilderment.

But Dustin could only keep this secret for so long. When Mike opens his big mouth and spills the beans to Nancy, Nancy is so shocked that her first instinct is to drag Mike to Dustin’s and barge into the basement to find a very alive Eddie Munson.

Upon the discovery, Nancy calls her first emergency group meeting in Dustin’s basement, despite his and Mike’s protests. And Nancy spills the secret to the rest of the group, with definite proof.

The group panics and bickers amongst each other until Erica speaks up.

“What are we gonna tell Y/n?” She asks.

The group goes quiet at the same time Robin blurts, “We can’t tell Y/n!”

Eddie, who’s been sitting off to the side, stands and asks, “Why not? Are you afraid she’ll be frightened of me?”

“Yes,” Nancy answers.

Eddie opens his mouth to protest but Nancy continues.

“It’ll be like seeing a ghost, Eddie,” Nancy tells him. “You died in front of her. Sure, you’re still you, but you’re not you anymore.”

“But-“ Eddie starts.

“Eddie,” Steve grabs the boy’s attention. “It’s been three months since you died. She’s still acting like you died yesterday. We’ve barely seen her, much less talked to her. She might quite literally die from shock from seeing you, especially with the way you are now.”

“How I am now?” Eddie snaps.

“You’ve got fangs now, man,” Steve defends his statement. “And wings. And claws.”

“I keep them short!” Eddie protests.

“That doesn’t matter now!” Steve starts to raise his voice. “She can’t handle you! She’s not well! She needs help before we introduce this new you to her!!”

“But maybe she’ll get better when she sees me!” Eddie protests again.

“No! Eddie!!” Steve sighs heavily, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “Eddie, just listen to me. It’s too soon, man. Just give her some time.”

“So I’m just supposed to hide down here for who knows how long?” Eddie asks, voiced lowered but dripping with irritation.

“Yes,” Steve answered. “I’m sorry, but yes.”

Eddie huffed, throwing himself down onto the couch in the basement.

“Can you ever go outside during the day anyway?” Robin asked, a little sass to her voice.

“Yes,” Eddie grumbled, crossing his arms.

Unbeknownst to quite literally everyone in the room, Eddie came up with a plan.

After everyone left and Dustin went to bed, and was in bed for at least an hour, Eddie would sneak out through the basement fire escape. Once out in the world, he’d make his way to your house. The only obstacle left would be getting into your house, hopefully through your bedroom window that you possibly left unlocked even after all this time.

The air is tingly. The smell of fresh leaves, blooming flowers, and the day’s cars waft through the air. It’s cool and smooth, better than the warm, stuffy air of Dustin’s basement.

Eddie makes his way through the streets, going by heart to the way to your house, but he decides to go the long way around. He slows as he passes the trailer park. It seems that the earthquake hit his former home the hardest, only a few new homes have been placed and their respective properties have been cleaned up. He shakes his head of memories and picks up his pace, making his way to the suburbs on the other side of the woods that borders the Hawkins trailer park.

A few of the house’s lights are on, but most are off. Cars are parked in the driveway. He doesn’t see the two story he’s looking for and keeps walking, making it important to stick to the shadows.

It’s a few moments before he comes up on the familiar oak that covers a majority of the front yard. Eddie makes his way to the side yard and climbs the scrangly cherry blossom tree so he can make his way into your backyard. He climbs the trellis filled with orange trumpet vines and practically starts shaking when he sees the lilac curtains shielding his view from your lit bedroom window. Eddie feels his wings vibrate as he makes his way to the window. He tries the little lip on the bottom of the window and it gives, letting him be able to slip his fingers between the window sill and window.

Eddie lifts the window more and stops when it abruptly squeaks. He pauses, listening for footsteps. He doesn’t hear footsteps, or any noise that indicated, but what he does hear is the muffled lull of The Call of Ktulu, playing from the vinyl that Eddie had gifted you for your birthday.

The boy tries the window again, successfully lifting your window without any noise.

He slips inside, parting your curtain.

Your room hasn’t changed one bit. Your bed is still against the opposite wall from the window, nestled into the far corner. Your desk is against the wall to the right, facing away from the bed and adjacent from your bedroom door and the window Eddie just slithered through. Your closet sits in the wall next to your desk, filled with your shirts and his, a little three drawer dresser sits under the shirts, your shoes filling one of the corners inside the closet. And your, rectangular shaped, nightstand sits beside your bed, the record player that eddie gifted your sits atop it, sitting beside the lamp that sat closest to your bed. Though the room is a little messy, your laundry overflowing a little and some and some water bottles litter your desk and nightstand.

“Eddie?”

You. You stand in the doorway of your room, looking like a deer in headlights. You’re dressed in pjs, a large t-shirt and some shorts. You look tired, exhausted even.

“Is that you?”

Eddie wills his mouth to move and vocal chords to vibrate but it’s as if his body forgot how to function. So with no air entering or exiting his lungs, he goes for a simple nod. He suddenly feels nervous and the previous shaking from before comes back.

You stand there for a few moments before taking a step forward. And then another. And another. Until you’re crashing into Eddie’s chest and pulling him down by your arms wrapped around his neck. You’re practically choking him with how tight you have him wrapped in your arms.

Eddie hesitates before squeezing you into his own hug. He’s crushing you in a bear hug and stuffing his face into the side of your head. The metalhead doesn’t even realize he’s crying until you’re both pulling away from each other and his cheeks are cold. Eddie holds you by your forearms, and you cling to his wrists.

You’re crying too. Eyes are bloodshot and a river of tears flow down your cheeks and drip down onto your plush carpet flooring. You laugh a little bit, taking in a shuttering breath.

“Hi,” Your breathing stutters, and you take a hand away to wipe at your cheek.

“Hi,” Eddie responds. He moves his hands to cup your cheeks, smudging the wet tears aside.

“You look… different,” You point out, eyeing his new characteristics.

“Really?? I hadn’t noticed,” he says with a toothy smile on his face, and that’s when you notice his fangs. They don’t look too sharp, but sharp enough to cause some damage.

“Oh,” Your eyebrows raise in surprise. “What are these?”

You move your hands to poke at his fangs, testing their sharpness with the pad of your pointer finger.

“Careful,” he mumbles so he doesn’t accidentally prick your finger by talking. “They’re kinda sharp.”

“I see that,” You tell him. “How have you been? Where have you been?”

“Umm tired, hungry, and a little grumpy,” Eddie lists off. “And been down in Dustin’s stuffy basement with like zero outside time.”

“Dustin’s basement?” You press.

“Umm yeah,” Eddie scratches the back of his neck nervously. “Everyone else might’ve known i’ve been alive for about three months now. But nobody told you cause they didn’t want to upset you or anything, and they didn’t want me to come “hunt you down” or anything. Cause I assume you’ve been pretty down since I like… died and everything.”

“Three months?!” You seem to latch onto that first before processing everything else. “Hunt me down?? Did you actually die or what that something that I just imagined??”

“Uhhmmm yeah…” Eddie’s nervous now, twiddling with his hair now. “I did die, for like a couple days I guess. And Dustin said when I “woke back up” I had the wings and stuff. And I guess they didn’t know if i’d be Eddie Eddie or like Monster Eddie, or if i’d go on like a weird predatory killing spree or anything. I guess no one’s ever died and then come back with wings and fangs, y’know. You’re not mad or anything?? I hope???”

You sigh heavily, “No, I’m not mad. I guess irritated? That Dustin and everyone else decided to let me grief for like three months despite you being alive for that period of time. But I’m very glad that you’re alive and well, if not a little different as well.”

“Hey,” Eddie spreads his wings a little. “I guess I give better hugs now!”

“Yeah!” You agree. “Are you hungry?”

“Very. Chicken nuggets and poptarts aren’t very good breakfast and dinners for three months straight,” Eddie tells you.

“Good,” You move and grab his hand. “Spaghetti it is.”

He follows after you, happy as a puppy. Eddie’s happy to be back, officially now. And with his favorite girl of all time that truly does love him completely and unconditionally.

[lost-in-sokovia]

figure it out

the one where you tell the boy you’ve been hooking up with that you’re pregnant.

warnings: angst, fluff, cursing, allusions to smut, mentions of abortion, pregnancy

it was just like a movie.

you were crying quietly on the floor of your dorm, holding the little plastic pregnancy test in your shaky hands. there was no denying the bold “pregnant +” that was staring back at you, your mind in a million places as your stomach twisted and flipped.

you had only known edward since september, only four months. he had started out as a tutor for you— well, the intent had started out as him tutoring you, but your “study sessions” had often turned into other things. he was cute, light brown hair, soft and round face, clear-framed glasses in front of his green doe eyes, and a voice that stuttered but was soft and sweet. he was also incredibly intelligent, which is why you had sought his help in the first place.

you had told edward that you weren’t looking for a real relationship — this was just casual. it might’ve broken the poor boy’s heart to hear you say that, because he was genuinely so sweet, but he had agreed because truth be told, he would do anything just to be around you.

and now, karma due to your actions, you were pregnant with the baby who could only be eddie’s. you couldn’t remember a time when you weren’t careful no matter how hard you racked your brain. were you drunk? did the protection break? had he forgotten to put it on?

“shit, shit, shit,” you cursed shakily, a fresh front of tears sliding down your pink cheeks. you were a broke college kid knocked up with a baby from a guy you weren’t even dating. there was no good solution to the problem; abortions cost money, supporting a baby cost a lot more money for longer, and the thing you nor eddie had was money.

you hadn’t talked to eddie in a week, the pregnancy symptoms had been setting in and as soon as your brain connected the dots you gave the poor boy the cold shoulder. you felt slightly guilty, it’s not like edward had any other friends. when he nervously smiled at you in the hallway of your dorm you’d keep your eyes forward as if he wasn’t there. when he asked if you wanted to meet up you’d curtly tell him you had other things going on and walk away. now, you were faced with the task of telling him the situation. maybe he’d stop talking to you, just remove himself from the situation. maybe he’d help you scrape up enough money to get an abortion and then you two could part ways. no matter what, there seemed zero possible way you were keeping this nashton baby.

after fifteen minutes of crying it out, you had picked yourself up, your arms wrapped around yourself in your sweatshirt, and made your way slowly out your dorm to eddie’s, pregnancy test in your pocket. your face was pink and you sniffled as you pulled your hood up, shuffling down the empty hallway, fragments of leftover christmas decorations still littered the floors.

you realized you weren’t quite sure what you were going to say to him until you made it to his door. everything still felt like a fever dream, like it wasn’t real. how were you supposed to complete a comprehensive sentence, anyway? you accepted that trying to formulate a coherent thought was not going to work anyway, and you knocked on his door before you could let your brain overthink it.

edward opened the metal door quickly, in a millisecond his face going from a relieved smile to a frightened frown as he looked at your state standing right in front of him.

“h-hey,” he started carefully. he said your name gently and you felt more salty tears brim your eyelids. “what’s wrong?”

“can i come in?” you whispered brokenly. eddie nodded quickly and gestured for you to come inside, you stalking in and hoisting yourself up onto his bed. edward quickly shut the door before scrambling up next to you, unsure of what to do. it was obvious he wanted to hug you, hold your hand, something, but considering that you hadn’t spoken to him in a week, he didn’t want to cross any lines.

you sat with him on his bed, him silent and looking at you with concern as you sniffled and stared at your lap. you swallowed the lump in your throat and looked up at him, tired and numb from crying.

“i need to tell you something,” you started weakly. edward’s eyes were locked with yours and he gently nodded his head.

“okay, what is it?” he asked, trying to hold back any anxieties he felt.

it wasn’t going to get any easier to say it.

“eddie i’m pregnant,” you breathed shakily. all the color drained from edward’s face and his mouth parted. you felt like crying again, afraid of the unknown, afraid of what he was going to say. you exhaled and pulled the pregnancy test out and handed it to edward, his eyes growing wider than you thought was possible as he examined it. your stomach started twisting again, the silence so incredibly loud.

“i-i’m—“ edward tried to stutter out. you shook your head.

“i don’t know how it happened, i ran everything over in my head and i still can’t find an answer,” you answered for him. he ran a hand through his hair before he looked back up at you, his heart surely beating a thousand beats per second. “i’m sorry, eddie, i don’t know what else—“

“why are you apologizing?” he interrupted quietly. “i should be the one apologizing, i’m the one who got you pregnant.”

his humbled attitude had you broken in seconds. you started crying again and moved yourself to embrace him, him quickly wrapping his arms around you too. you started sobbing full force once again and edward stroked your hair, shakily exhaling as you nuzzled against him.

“wh-what are we gonna do?” you sobbed. edward hushed you gently and swallowed, trying to think of a somewhat calming answer for a moment.

“w-well… i’ll get another job, we’ll see if we can find an apartment right outside campus,” he replied slowly. it took you a moment to process what he was saying before you blinked and sniffled, looking up at him.

“what do you mean?” you croaked. eddie paused and took in a breath as he looked down at you like you were his entire world, confused by why you were questioning him. then you swore you felt his heart skip a beat.

“well, i mean, unless you want an abortion, of course… which i’ll also help pay for…” he muttered, melancholy lacing his tone. you were stunned; he wanted to keep this baby.

“you wanna keep it?”

“you don’t?”

the silence was so loud again as you stared at each other. you hadn’t entirely made that decision, truth be told, you had been so caught up in the oh shit moment that the future hadn’t entirely marinated in your head.

edward took a breath and licked his lips nervously. “i-it’s up to you, of course,” he added. the idea that from the second you told him you were pregnant that he assumed the two of you were keeping it made your heart soar in a way, just as the sad disappointment in his voice when you had mentioned other options caused a pang in your heartstrings. you of course would never shame a person for having an abortion; it’s each individual’s right to choose. however, in the few short minutes that you had been in edward’s arms and exchanging small sentences, the idea of having an abortion of your own wasn’t appealing.

you took a deep breath.

“we’re not even dating,” you whispered. edward bit his lip.

“i know,” he replied with that same melancholy tone that made it obvious to you that he wanted more.

“i can’t make you do this if you don’t want to,” you said. edward shook his head and hesitantly took your hands in his.

“i want to if you want to,” he replied earnestly. “i told you, i’ll get another job, save up… we’ve got nine months to figure this out.” his tone was sweet and genuine. you swore there was a glimmer of excitement and love in those green eyes of his, this lovesick boy willing to follow your every move and command.

“and over the summer? when you go back home?” you asked. edward smiled sadly.

“‘home’ isn’t really a place for me; i’ll follow you wherever, or we can’t look into an apartment together. we can sort that out later.”

edward was calm and reassuring. the way he looked at you held you in a trance and soothed your nerves, though your stomach was still knotted and your eyes were dry from crying. was all this still real?

cribs, baby blankets, baby bottles, diapers, and pacifiers danced through your head as edward swallowed, anxiously awaiting your final verdict.

“are you sure?” you questioned again. eddie scoffed and shook his head.

“it’s your call, i’m here to support you with whatever you pick,” he reminded you. you took a deep breath and nodded.

“okay,” you whispered. it was official, no matter what the future was going to bring, you had nine months to wrap your head around this baby. it was scary; nine months was both so long yet so short and you had so much to figure out as a freshman in college, just starting your second semester. but when eddie couldn’t help but smile at you and kiss your forehead, something told you it was all going to be okay. he pulled you onto him as he laid back onto his bed and you snuggled against him as he pressed kisses to your hair and whispered reassuring things to you.

teen pregnancy may have won the battle, but you were going to win the war.

[thevoidstaredback]

Tonight's movie is gonna be Venom.

Mostly because I found something out about Eddie that I can guarantee I could've lived without, but what's done is done.

....I'm never gonna be able to watch any movie with Venom in it the same....

Apparently, Eddie is aroused by Venom.

I could've lived without that knowledge (I've never read the comics)

You all probably could've lived without that knowledge

Anyway, I'll be back to share my thoughts on the movie once I get it up and playing after dinner.

Space. The final frontier. These are the-

Wrong movie.

Spaceship crashed in East Malaysia.

At least it wasn't New York

Let's go inside it!

Venom's so dramatic! I love him.

He's like s husky.

The movie score only adds to this point.

Eddie's a mood.

"Meeting? Oh, shot, yeah. My meeting."

Eddie and Peter would get on like a house on fucking Fire.

Eddie would hate Tony, no matter the fact that he no longer makes weapons.

Oooooo! He snoopin'!

Kitty!🖤🖤

He snoopin'!

Eddie's gone off script. He's revealed info he's not supposed to be privy to.

Oops

There goes his job.

There goes his girl

Poor Annie.

Poor Eddie.

Subtle, Venom. Very subtle.

Eddie's sloched.

Homeless lady is absolutely awesome. What a deal she ran.

The store clerk is also a queen. She doesn't deserve the gun to the face.

Eddie's a good guy.

Poor Eddie. Can't even hear his own scream of frustration at his shitty neighbor.

Also, Drake is giving Supervillain vibes.

"No need to be frightened," my ass.

Starting human trials the minute a single animal trial is successful.

And now he's twisting the Christian Bible to suit his needs. Just like Christans

Poor Issac was not prepared to be possessed by a symbiote.

Ope, now he's dead.

Doris! She's cool.

Eddie won't even give her the time of day.

It's kinda funny. If we ignore the context of why she's approached Eddie.

I love Eddie.

Doris is having none of his shit.

It's funny.

Maria!🙀🙀😿

Hi Venom.

Eddie is suddenly a lot stronger than he remembers and is very confused.

He's also very thirsty and very hungry.

I wonder how much fun Tom Hardy had with this role.

Venom: "Eddie."

Eddie: "Wtf?!!"

Basically their first meeting: Venom: Oogily Boogily Bitch!!

I mistook the other symbiote as Venom. Forgive me. Either way, I maintain that Venom is a dramatic bitch.

Poor Eddie did not sign up for this.

Dan is chill.

Poor Venom does not like the MRI.

Poor Eddie.

I love Venom. He's a little murder puppy.

Don't do it, Doris! Don't trust him!

Damn it.

I told ya not to.

I know Eddie's from NYC, living in LA, but he's such a Midwesterner

Is being restrained to a wall, I foot in the air: "You have a brain tumor, Eddie."

I love him so much.

I also love his bike.

Look at Venom keeping Eddie alive!

Venom!!! Look who's come out to play!

Venom has no lips. Hos smile is literally all teeth

Also, him threatening Eddie to cooperate or die as if they don't become best friends (friends with benefits in the comics.....kinda) is based.

I'm literally Eddie, dude!! 🤣🤣

"Jump." doesn't jump. "Pussy."

Also, Eddie and Venom working in tandem after only knowing each other for two hours at most is amazing. I wish I had a friend like that.

DC reference!!

Venom is an anti hero.

I'm sending a pattern with some of my favorite characters. Deadpool, Red Hood, Venom.... they're all anti heros.

I love Venom and Eddie. They're besties already.

Drake just got a symbiote.

Venom doesn't like Dan. He likes Anne, though.

"What happened to 'we'?" "We're done."

Eddie, you sound like you just broke up with him.

Venom, do nOT-! And he's possessed the dog.

Smh.

Comic Book Eddie is a monster fucker!!🤣🤣

Drake, stfu.

Your symbiote said "I" before you corrected him to "We". You are expendable to him, Drake.

Anne as Venom!!

Venom made Anne and Eddie kiss!

.........I can see how similar comic and movie Eddie are.........whether on purpose or on accident.

"What made you change your mind?"

"You did, Eddie."

They are in love, your honor!

Or they could just be besties to the end. Either way, they have a great relationship and I love them.

Eddie!🙀

Venom, hurry and save him!!

Yay!!!!

I think he's angy...

You can't just save the world and peace out like that, Venom!! That's not how that works.

I can't wait for Along Came A Spider to come out.

Venom's playing wingman for Eddie. He's failing, but he's trying and it's based.

Stan Lee Cameo!!!

Eddie setting ground rules?

Venom following them?

Eddie allowing Venom to eat bad people?

Amazing.

"Bad guy?"

"Yep."

Venom threatening Bad Guy™ by calling him a turd and then eating him is so funny.

"We are Venom."

I love it.

[hitsuzenhusbands]

ohhh i havent posted properly in forever. heres a ~2k fic as an apology

aod has rlly grabbed me by the throat for the past few days, so. that resulted in. this!

yknow when ray is on eddie’s floor and she finds all of the victims files and one is a woman who was hanged on dannys floor. do you think about that because i think about that.

tw/cw for death, blood, gore, hanging, etc. etc. etc. pretty canon typical.

-

The grating shudders as she falls back against it, a sharp inhale of surprise and pain filling her lungs with shards of air. She groans, digging her hand into her opposite arm, grinding her teeth in a desperate attempt to ignore the pain reverberating through her arteries and the thick, wet blood gushing through her fingers. The scythe, she imagines, had made quite the gash, but how deep she wasn’t sure. She can’t bear to look at it—to face what might be nothing but ragged flesh dripping from the bone of her forearm, held only in place by her other hand. Bile bubbles in the back of her throat at the thought of having to peel her dismembered limb off the grimy floor of this rickety elevator, but she swallows it down. 

She doesn’t care where it leads to at this point, as long as it’s away from that thing.

She almost couldn’t tell what it was at first—all she could see was a flash of black, white, and red before enough light filtered through the cracks of the rundown buildings to catch the metal of its weapon. By then, it was too late. She was too busy running and tending to her cut arm to picture a face to match the ear splitting laugh that followed her all the way to the elevator.

An exit awaits her, she hopes. She sees, through a blur composed of tears and agony, a wide, open door with a promise of freedom. Dirty concrete replaced by lush green grass, buzzing lights giving way to blue sky—

A man at a desk, glasses crooked on his nose as he peers intently at the computer in front of him. 

The blood loss must be getting to her.

Nevertheless, she steps forward, linoleum tiles immediately clicking beneath her. The man, still, seems unbothered, mindlessly tapping his mouse as she approaches his desk. Eyes straining beneath the dim lights, she figures she’s in something akin to a doctor’s office, but no matter how harshly her heart pounds against her ribcage in a plea to get out of here and her distrust rises with the hair along the back of her neck, she’ll take what she can get—even if that only amounts to a frightening lobby and a man too engrossed in Solitaire to acknowledge her.

“Excuse me?” Her voice is hoarse, words catching in her throat and tearing at her larynx. 

It’s only now that he sees her, eyes darting quickly between her and the screen before he hastily switches to another tab—a chart, maybe, or a form. The brightness of it compared to the rest of the room is making it difficult to tell. “My apologies! How can I help you?” He says, proper and practiced. Perfect customer service, as though he’s done it a thousand times over. As if to prove this point, he begins typing halfway through his sentence, keyboard clacking incessantly, the sound ricocheting against her skull.

“I…Need to see a doctor.”

“For what, may I—?” He’s turned to look at her, finally. Pressed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with the tip of his finger and swiveled in his chair, only to catch sight of her wound. How he didn’t hear her blood dripping steadily against his bleach-scented floor, she doesn’t know. “Oh. Oh dear.” Concern only crosses his expression for a moment before he’s offering her a warm smile and standing from his chair. Without a second of delay, he guides her past the desk and down a hallway, hand gently placed on her unharmed shoulder until he gets her into something of an operating room and convinces her with a soft gesture of his hands to sit on the center table.

She does so, as if she had any other choice, and watches intently as he rifles through his drawers. Lightheaded as she is, she still catches sight of the jars lined up across the countertops, contents she can’t quite identify bobbing within them.

“Here we are.” He’s back, with his sterile smile and gleaming eyes. He sets his supplies on the table before he gets to work. She looks away when he wipes the wound clean, willing herself not to vomit. “So, what’s the story?”

God, if only she knew.

“I…A man, I think, chased me.”

He hums knowingly. The sound is just enough to draw her attention away from the stinging of the needle piercing her skin. She feels his fingers delicately wave her back together, pressing her flesh back into place. “Must have been a serial killer.”

The way he says it—so simply. Yes, of course, it must have been.

The string snaps cleanly. He wraps her with bandages so that she can stand to look at it without heaving, which she does as soon as he steps back, carefully flexing her arm and testing her limits. It’s stiff, naturally, and spikes of pain still flood her nerves, but at the very least the man before her isn’t trying to kill her this time.

“Would you mind if I performed a proper check-up?” He asks once he’s done. “Just to make sure you’re all set.”

She hesitates, drawing her arm into herself and resting it on her legs. There is something about him, something she can’t place. The way he holds himself stark upright, hands neatly folded in front of him, nothing short of a smile across his face. He tilts his head ever-so slightly when he speaks, his sentences carefully chosen and never anything but comforting.

It’s almost disarming. “I really should be going—”

“Please, I insist!” He raises his hands slightly. “I would hate to find out a patient of mine walked out of my office possibly injured.”

He could be right. In truth, the only thing she can feel is the pulsing of her arm—who knows how many bruises and cuts sprawl across the rest of her,  bleeding and infected. “Alright.”

The delight he finds in this is unreserved, as he clasps his hands together and carefully begins his examination. It’s nothing out of the ordinary—he looks into her ears, puts a stick on her tongue—and as expected, she’s perfectly fine.

“I didn’t happen to introduce myself, did I?” He announces suddenly, hammer hovering over her knee. She shakes her head. “Must have gotten lost in the whole arm-almost-got-cut-off business.” He chuckles to himself at his own joke. The hammer lightly knocks against her leg. This is extremely unnecessary, she finds, but a moment wasted resting in safety is better than a moment wasted with a murderer on your trail. “I’m Dr. Danny.” 

She goes to tell him hers, only to stop the moment he rises to his feet and places the hammer on the table with a sharp metal click. He leans forward towards her, lightly dragging her hair away from her face before he jabs his fingers into her cheek and forehead and pulls her eyelids apart. “Hey—”

“I wanted to be an ophthalmologist, you know.”  Her attempts to pull away are futile, stalled by the iron grip he has on her head. Still, she pulls—nearly knocking her skull against the slab when he lets go and gives her the opportunity to scramble backwards, cursing her injury for the flaring pain that crawls across her skin and buries itself in her veins. “So that I could gaze into as many eyes as I wanted. But that didn’t work out.” He taps under his right eye, a faint smile fluttering across his lips. “Besides, it’s so difficult to find the eyes I’m looking for, anyway.”

“What are you talking about—?”

“But you—” He continues, like he didn’t hear her. He’s taken a stance at the edge of the table now, hands pressed into the corners while he stares directly at her. “They’d be perfect, if only…”

She has to get out of here. It doesn’t matter anymore, how much kindness he has shown her, how many stitches are in her arm, how many will snap—she’s got a will to live, goddammit, and whatever is wrong with this man won’t stop her. She pulls her legs up onto the table in a burst of adrenaline and kicks back until she can slide off of it. He startles, apparently confused by her sudden fighting spirit, but she doesn’t let that stop her from bolting towards the door, dashing just past him, wrapping her fingers around the frame, and—

-

Daniel Dickens is a scientist at heart.

That is to say, he takes great pleasure in experimenting. 

His collection certainly has benefited from it. Not just in his method of preservation (a whole month was spent once, researching formaldehyde exclusively) but in his method of collection. 

He prefers something simple. He goes right for the eyes, mostly, and whatever happens after that is left up to fate—or rather, the person themself, whether they spend their time applying pressure to the wounds or flailing aimlessly around his room, destroying as much of it as they can before collapsing.

Stabbing is effective. Messy, though. Then again, not as messy as immediate eye removal, but he’s never been one for dish washing, and visible knives tend to disturb his patients before he can begin the procedure.

Guns, chainsaws, scythes—he can’t stand the thought. To think he might miss and hit his trophies makes him sick.

But this.

This is worth experimenting with.

The newest sacrifice isn’t exactly any more interesting than the rest. Her eyes are blue, yes, but dull. They reek of stagnation, contentedness with a normal life, of days and nights that repeat over and over so much so that this sudden change in routine has only awoken in her a desire to go back. Still, he admires that flare—that flicker of a survivor's instinct that burns deep within her and sends ripples into her otherwise unbecoming eyes.

And he thinks, perhaps, with this, he can make them exactly how he wants them.

She runs from him, as most tend to do, but she barely gets a foot out of the door. He grabs the rope tucked into his lab coat and pulls it tight around her neck, dragging her back into the operating room enough so he can push her against the floor, fraying threads cutting deep lines into her throat already. She’s drowned out by the force, instead mindlessly grabbing at him.

But this isn’t it. This isn’t how she will die—with eyes that barely spark at the prospect of escape.

He releases it enough for her to gasp, a wheeze that pierces her lungs and stuns her long enough for him to tie the noose. As a precaution, he shuts the door before he hangs it just above a desk chair tucked against the side of the room, his own breath catching in his throat at the prospect of what he’s about to do.

She struggles beneath him as he picks her up, half-dragging her kicking and screaming until he can pull her onto the chair and situate her head within the neck hole. “My mother,” He says somberly, tightening it in spite of her cries. “She did this to herself. I only wonder…If the despair she felt may be shared by you.”

Her neck doesn’t snap. Instead, she claws helplessly at the knot, kicking and gurgling. 

Her eyes don’t change.

Once she goes limp, they’re just as they were—dull. Ordinary. Unremarkable.

Hypothesis disproved, he sighs to himself before delving his fingers into her sockets and removing his prize, some sort of nostalgia stirring within him.