#aware of own bisexuality steve harrington

[gh-0-st-king]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (Here)

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"Oh, Maxie.." Steve breathed, pained, as his eyes landed on the prone teen.

"Steve! You should be resting." El said, not getting up from her spot at Max's bedside. Lucas was on her other side, and they were both holding Max's hands.

"Ellie," Steve said on a sigh. Robin wheeled him over to her, and he took her unoccupied hand. "I'm tired of resting. I needed to see my girls. How have you been, kiddo?"

Ellie's head dropped to his shoulder, and she squeezed his hand, practically sagging against him. "Tired. I missed you. I was not happy when I found out you were hurt. Again."

He winced, apologizing, and looked at Lucas. "Lu." He looked up from Max's hand, and Steve could see the tears gathering in his red eyes. "C'mere." He raised his free arm, and Lucas reluctantly let go of Max to tuck into Steve's side.

"She's going to be okay." And he believed that. Max was a fighter, and she had people to return to. "She's going to be okay. We're going to be okay."

Steve took a moment to look around the room, taking note that only Robin, Hopper, and Erica had joined them. It was then that he noticed the lack of one Susan Mayfield.

"Where’s her mom?" Steve asked, though he was sure he already knew the answer.

"We don't know. No one has been able to get in contact with Ms. Mayfield since the earthquake. We're not even sure if she's alive." His dad's answer was enough confirmation in Steve's mind, though.

Susan wasn't doing good after Billy's death, and when Neil Hargrove up and left, she just got worse. She was drinking, he knew, and working all the time, but she loved Max. He knew she did. He could see it every time he talked to her about Max. If she was alive, she'd be here.

He nods and finally takes her in. Her right arm is wrapped in a cast. Little drawings, as well as The Party's names, are all over it in different colored sharpie. It draws a smile out of him. Both of her legs are also in casts, elevated by pillows, and also decorated. The air punched out of his lungs as he took in her face. She had an oxygen mask on, and her skin was pale. Her fire red hair was in two braids, and she looked– small.

Max was never small. Even when face-to-face with a demodog, she never shrank. Even in the face of Billy Hargrove threatening her friends and beating Steve's face in, she stood her ground.

Steve had to choke back a sob, guilt and despair clawing at his throat. This was his fault. It was his fault she got hurt. It was his fault Erica and Lucas got hurt. It was his fault Dustin got hurt. It was his fault Eddie almost died.

He was their protector. He was the one who took the hits. The kids weren't supposed to get hurt. That was his job. What good was he if he couldn't even do that? What reason would everyone have for sticking around if he was so useless?

Maybe it would be better if he had been taken instead of Barb back in '83. Then Nancy would have her best friend, Robin and Erica never would've been dragged into all of this, and Max and Eddie wouldn't be hospitalized right now.

"I can hear your self-deprication from here, Dingus. It's not your fault." Robin's voice snapped him out of his spiral, and he cut her a glare, without any heat behind it.

"It’s no one's fault but Vecna's. And Jason's." Lucas said into his shoulder, and Steve kissed the top of his head in thanks and acknowledgment.

It would probably take a while for him to genuinely believe them, but for now, he pushed the negative thoughts aside. No matter what, he wasn't letting any of the kids get hurt again on his watch. When Max woke up, and she would wake up, he would be there for her.

"Okay, kiddies. I've gotta go check on Eddie and Mike, but I'll be back in here when Robin next allows it. I love you both." He pressed a kiss to both El and Lucas' heads, squeezed them goodbye, and detangled from them with a not-small amount of reluctance.

Robin wheeled him to Max's head so he could press a kiss to her temple and whisper an, "I love you, Maxie. Get better soon, my little zoomer." With that sentiment, he was wheeled out of the room and towards Eddie's room.

"Where'd everyone else go?" He asked Hopper. Erica stayed with her brother, so it was just Robbie and his dad with him now.

"The Byers left to find a place to stay for the night, the Wheelers went with them, and Henderson said he was going to Munson's room."

"Eddie hasn't woken up yet. The doctor said that it might be a while before that happens because of how much blood he lost and the extent of his wounds. Mike was with him, but he was in your room a bit before you woke up. That's all I know so far, though, because I've mostly been with you." Robin added, and Steve's stomach dropped a bit with the news about Eddie.

Before Steve could comment or question further, they reached the room. He felt the last of the tension in his shoulders unwind at the sound of Eddie's heart monitor, secure in the knowledge that everyone in the party was alive.

"Hey, Dust." Robin parked him next to Dustin, where he was sitting in a chair by the bed. The boy immediately sagged into his side, and Steve wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"I'm going to go talk to your doctor and try to find Joyce." His dad said, ruffling his hair and leaving the room. Robin pulled up a seat on his right and clasped his hand in hers.

"So... Are we gonna talk about how you called Hopper 'Dad'?" Steve suppressed the blush that wanted to spread on his cheeks at Dustin's question, and ruffled his hair.

"What’s there to talk about? We're all aware my parents are shit, and over the last year, Hop's been more of Dad than my actual father. He is my dad. In all the ways that matter. And I refuse to be embarrassed about that."

Dustin gave him an analyzing look before nodding and resting his head back on Steve's shoulder.

Steve took a minute to take in Eddie's state and felt the same strangeness as he had with Max earlier.

Throughout the time that Steve had known him– both in school and over the past week– Eddie was in constant motion. From pacing to walking on tables to a bouncing leg to fidling with his rings to restless hands while talking. But he was never still.

Now he was– save for the rise and fall of his chest– motionless. And the last time Steve had seen him motionless was–

Steve's breath caught in his chest, a lump caught in his throat blocking his airway, and he couldn't breathe. He couldn't–

Steve felt this urgent, all-consuming need to feel Eddie's heartbeat, then. As though his own heart would stop beating if he didn't.

It was irrational, he knew. Steve could hear the drumming of his heart in his ears, and the EKG Eddie was hooked up to was beeping without a hitch to be seen or heard, but–

His fingers wrapped around a pale wrist– and when did he let go of Robin's hand?– thumb pressed to the pulse point there and waiting, waiting, waiting until–

Thump ... Thump ... Thump

The roaring in Steve's ears dissipated as his heart slowed to a matching beat, and he could finally breathe, almost like nothing had ever been wrong in the first place.

It should have been surprising, scary even, the speed at which Steve fell for the other man, but in reality? Well, he had known he liked both for a long while, and Steve had always loved hard and fast. Always gave his heart out as easily as someone handed out candy on Halloween. He always gave more than he received, and it always backfired.

(Well– that's not entirely true. It wasn't that way with Robin, but Robin had always been different. Robin was the first– and only– person where the give-and-take was equal. She was his best friend, his sister, his other half, the platonic love of his life. His soulmate. (With a capital P as they always emphasized) His Robbie.)

But– it wasn't like he could help it. No matter how many times his heart got stomped on, no matter how many people did the stomping, he couldn't stop giving his love. Even if he– and said love– was just bullshit.

This time would be different though, he promised. This time, he'd hold his love close to his chest. He'll feel it, but it won't be given. Steve was barely friends with Eddie, and honestly? If that was all he got? Steve thinks he could live. He thinks he could be content. As long as he has Eddie, even if he isn't his.

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Well, after some sever hiccups in the writing process as well as some writers block and lack of motivation, here is part 3! Don't worry, this is certainly not the last part, I only do Happy endings, nothing sad or hopeful.

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@thespaceantwhowrites @child-of-cthulhu @plantzzsandpencilzzs @thebadasshistorian @stevesbipanic @daeb820 @flocon-tourne-en-rond @melonmochi

[steddieme]

steve: i'm just saying, everyone's gotta be at least a little bit bisexual

robin: i have never in my life been attracted to a man

steve: never ever?

robin: never ever

steve: ... then why did tommy try to make out with me every time he got drunk?

robin: oh my god, steve!?

steve: he was like the straightest guy ever???

robin: i'm sorry i have to be the one to break this to you, but that guy had the biggest gay boner for you

steve: what? but he had carol?

robin: babe, he was coping so hard

steve: oh... i guess that explains why he offered to suck my dick that one time

robin: WHAT

[pandorem]

Ok fiiiine I don’t even really go here but my brain conjured up the idea of Steve Harrington, pre season 4, like after school picking up the kiddos after Hellfire, defending Lucas’s sports playing to his friends and Eddie. Like “wait I thought you liked nonconformity, or does it only count if it’s about the stuff you like? Let the kid do the things he likes, man”. Which is something they all need to hear I think but then it turns into Steve COMPLETELY obliviously and accidentally turning it into “it’s ok to be Bi” subtext.

Like “you can be more than one thing, you know? It’s ok to like both. They don’t have to cancel each other out.”

And the kids maybe aren’t picking up on anything but maybe one or two of them are subconsciously like “you can??? This is good to know and keep in my mind for future crises” meanwhile Eddie is like “Holy fucking shit is STEVE HARRINGTON bisexual?” and being launched head first into a crisis of his own.

It is so, so important to me that Steve has no idea that he’s doing this, and may not even be aware that he himself is, in fact, bi.

[werepuppy-steve]

i keep thinking about that one bachelor au post so here's my take on it (i've never watched the bachelor or bachelorette so bear with me)

the bachelor au where steve's the bachelor and eddie is a contestant, but not because he actually wants to be, he's just in it for the paycheck. robin is also a contestant but only because her parents sent in her application without her knowing and she isn't out to them yet.

they both think that steve is overrated and definitely over hyped. typical rich kid with enough money to buy people's love, yada yada.

until they both start going on dates with him and then realize that it isn't exactly true. yes, he's rich, but he's also kind and funny and actually genuine once you get past the mask he puts on for everybody. eventually, eddie and robin find themselves looking forward to their dates.

only robin doesn't want to date him. he's slowly moving his way up the ranks to becoming her best friend, sure, but this is still tv. she's still expected to kiss him and confess her feelings for him. and when the time comes for her to do that, she can't.

they're in venice. steve is leaning in and robin is very aware of the cameras filming them. the back of her neck goes cold and her stomach churns and suddenly she's running in the opposite direction. her italian is passable so she ends up getting a taxi back to the hotel production put them in.

she locks herself in her en suite and presses her forehead against the cold porcelain. she doesn't know how long she sits there until her phone buzzes and she checks the notification. the nausea rises up her throat again. she forgot she gave steve her number.

there's a knock on her room door and another text.

r u ok? can i come in?

robin debates it but figures she owes him and explanation. she lets him in and they sit on the bathroom floor. robin tells him why she's on the show in the first place, about how she didn't know her parents signed her up until she got the phone call from the casting director. tells him that even if she gets kicked off, she can still use the money for her student loans.

she stares at the water in the toilet bowl when she comes out to him.

steve is quiet, processing, before he laughs. he's not laughing at her, he promises, but "robin. you're on a show with more than a handful of other queers, you know that, right? i'm bisexual."

and yeah, robin knew that, but it's different when you're not into the guy you're supposed to be romancing at all.

steve reassures her that it's okay, and that he still hopes they can be friends and keep in touch after the show ends.

robin would like that.

she apologizes to the production crew the next day and they're understanding and steve and robin get a re-do of their date. it's much more genuine this time, filled with laughs and digs as they eat gelato along the river and people watch and gossip.

it's the best robin's ever been on.

eddie, on the other hand. he's absolutely head over heels for steve, which is surprising even for him. he's trailer park trash, he's got absolutely nothing on steve harrington. not the name, not the money.

hell, the very first day, he insulted the guy's food choices right to his face without knowing it.

eddie wants the earth to give way underneath him and swallow him whole.

he plays it up on their first date, all fake niceties and empty smiles, until steve tells him point blank, "the guy that said the buffet was shit that first night? i want to get to know him."

eddie's flabbergasted.

steve opens up about all the fake people in his life, the ones who just take advantage of them and use him for their own gains. the ones who don't even bother to get to know the real him. the one that likes to play guitar and hang out with the gaggle of teenagers that follow him around all the time for some unknown reason.

he tells eddie about what he wants to do with his life, not what someone else has planned for him and eddie falls deeper and deeper.

this time, when steve leans in for a kiss, eddie doesn't shy away. their lips press together and it's the best goddamn kiss either one of them have ever had.

the show has a deadline, of course, and steve can't just spend all his time with eddie and robin. there are other contestants. robin knows her rose is strictly platonic and steve has already called her multiple times freaking out about his growing crush on eddie. she knows eddie has this in the bag.

the final night comes and the contestants have dwindled. there's only a small group of them left: eddie, robin, and another guy and girl they didn't bother learning the names of.

when steve chooses eddie after a moment of dramatic silence that kind of puts his own dm dramatics to shame, eddie doesn't hesitate to jump in steve's arms, wrap his legs around his waist, and plant a sloppy one on him right in front of the cameras.

[steviewashere]

What's A Boy in Love Supposed To Do?

Rating: Teen and Up CW: Biphobia, Eddie Being Kind of an Asshole at First, Use of the Word Queer (But not as a Slur) Tags: Post-Canon, Angst, Hopeful Ending, Aware of Own Bisexuality Steve Harrington, Gay Eddie Munson, Angry Steve Harrington, Pre-Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Temporary Unrequited Love/Feeligns, Rejection, (But not completely because Eddie doesn't know how he feels yet), Steve Harrington Loves Eddie Munson, Confident Steve Harrington, Bitchy Steve Harrington, (And he deserves to be here), Eddie Munson Being an Idiot, Eddie Munson Figuring Things Out, Eddie Munson Has a Crush on Steve Harrington, (But He's Not in Love Yet), Mild Resolve, Dialogue Heavy, Author is Bisexual For @steddieangstyaugust Day 24 Prompt: "Go, see if I care." Title from "Oh l'amour" by Erasure

🏳️‍🌈—————🏳️‍🌈 “As flattered as I am, Steve, I don’t want to be somebody’s experiment.”

He blinks at Eddie. Rigid to the cushion he sits on. It’s an instantaneous reaction: the flush of his cheeks, the pull to his lips, the narrowing of his eyes. A rage, he doesn’t think he’s felt since Jonathan Byers and his camera, begins to fill him. Can feel it low in the pit of his stomach and pulsing in the center of his forehead.

The gall of this asshole, Steve thinks, I can’t believe this shit.

Steve clicks his tongue on the back of his teeth. “Excuse me?” he asks thinly, “what the hell are you talking about?” His hands lay on his knees and squeeze harshly, fingernails digging through the denim of his jeans.

Eddie’s mouth twists. A sharp breath shoots through his nose. He looks away from Steve’s face, shrugging. “I mean,” he says slowly, “I mean…you like girls, Steve. This could just be a fluke. Like a…like maybe you should put more thought into this.”

Can’t help himself, Steve scoffs loudly. “Genuinely, Eddie, what the fuck are you talking about? I come out to you, I tell you that I like you, and you—what—turn this around as if I’m stupid about my feelings?”

“I guess?” Eddie answers, honest in a way Steve thinks he shouldn’t be. “You’re just…you’re confused. You’ve got some wires crossed or something. Maybe it’s just because I share some features with Nancy. But you don’t like me, Steve. Not really.”

He’s honestly not sure how to respond to that. Part of him is wilted. Part of him is alive with fury and flames, with tension, and unease. This feeling through him is the thing he doesn’t know. Steve falls back into his seat on the sofa, arms crossed over his chest, and avoiding all of Eddie he’d be able to see.

“Can’t believe this,” Steve mutters, “can’t believe you’re treating me like this, too. Why does everybody think that.”

“What do you”—

“I’ve been to queer bars, y’know,” he explains bitterly, “been in there searching for people who catch my eye. Because, get this if you can, I’m not a picky person.” Steve glares daggers at Eddie. “Because, and if you can believe me on this, I know what I want. Surprising, I know. But you wouldn’t know that because you treat me like everybody does—like I’m some brainless fucking low-life who only knows how to use his dick and bat his eyes.

“I go out and tell these people at the bars that I’m bisexual. That I’m into guys, that I’m into girls. Tell ‘em that, yeah, I only have experience getting in bed with a girl. But it’s not like I’m not interested in that aspect with guys, too—I just haven’t had the chance, you understand me on that, I’m sure.” And that maybe hits a little too hard; knowing that Eddie’s gay and that his experience with sex is very limited. He continues, though, “Yet, as soon as I try and explain myself, I get pushed away. I get looked at all weird. One time, a guy told me I wasn’t queer enough to be with him. Like…what the fuck does that even mean?”

“Steve, I”—

He points a finger in Eddie’s face, hand shaking and palm sweating. “Don’t interrupt me. You came out to me and I listened all the way through; you get to hear me out, too.” Steve huffs. Draws his hand back towards his lap, immediately going to his habit of picking at his fingers. Trying to allocate the nerves he has, the ones that were so intense a few moments ago. “How queer do I have to be to want to kiss a guy?” he speaks rhetorically and quietly, “how queer do I have to be to appreciate the way they smile at me? Or…or how queer do I have to be to want to hold your hand, Eddie? Seriously. What’s it gonna take? Is it ‘experimenting’ if I know that I want it? Is it ‘experimenting’ if I know how much I already love you?

“Because I do, if you can believe that. I fell in love with you before I really had the words. And I fell in love with you before I came to the realization that I like guys, too. But I know my own feelings. I’ve been in love before, I think I can understand that part of me.” He looks down at his hands in his lap, eyes burning, throat stinging, and face flushing hot. “I wish I didn’t have to explain something I already know. But I guess I will for however long people question the authenticity of my sexuality. Including you, I guess.”

The room fills with tense silence after that. Air so hot and so thick, he can feel it heavy on his shoulders, weighing him further and further, and making him sink deep into the cushion underneath him.

Sure, this isn’t the first time he’s been rejected. Nancy did. Robin did. Now Eddie is. He’s been rejected by guys at the bars and clubs. Maybe he doesn’t have the whole knowledge or ‘etiquette’ to this yet, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to learn. He wants to call a guy his baby, hook his finger into their belt loop, drag them into a dark corner and kiss them soundly and breathlessly. Wants to take a guy home at the end of the night and hold his hand as they figure out each other’s bodies. Kiss him in the morning, if the guy sticks around. Wants to relish in the scratch of facial hair on his sensitive skin.

He could see himself with men, that’s the thing. He knows that in his fantasies—whether it be imagining himself with the men in the centerfolds of gay magazines, or the daydreams of being in love with Freddie Mercury—that he’s completely comfortable with the thought of being with a man. Loves the thought of it so much, that he finally realized he wanted that with Eddie especially. Because a night-in with Eddie, watching a movie, arm around his back, cushioning his cheek on Eddie’s shoulder, kissing each other slow and soft—all of that sounds like heaven, a dream that could animate and he could make real.

On the couch, distance between them, Steve’s never felt so far away from a dream of his. Even that initial daydream with Nancy sounds more probable than falling in love with Eddie slowly and surely. He sort of, really, hates that.

“Steve,” Eddie breathes. “I don’t know what to say.”

An apology might be nice, Steve sourly thinks. He just shrugs, though. “I don’t know what I want you to say, so,” he states quietly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Eddie give one sharp nod. “This is…a lot to take in. I should just leave.”

Of course. Run away, Eds. Run away like you always do. “Go. See if I care,” Steve murmurs. Face at his lap still, tears ready to spill down his cheeks. A part of him thinks that he’ll never see Eddie again. He doesn’t want that. But maybe…maybe it’s for the best? It’s the one thing he doesn’t know.

Eddie stands up, walks towards the door, but stops in the doorway to the living room. He raps his knuckles on the doorframe. Steve can’t help but look up. “I accept you,” Eddie says quietly, “even if it’s too easy to say or too easy to hear, but I do. Just let me have a little bit of time to think about your confession, Steve. I think I feel the same, but I want to be confident like you. I don’t want to hurt you again.”

He inhales slowly and lets out a soft breath through his mouth. Steve wants a better apology, but one thing at a time, he supposes. It was hard when he figured things out for himself; it’s harder to hold a grudge against somebody doing the exact same thing. “If you find out you feel the same,” Steve says hopefully, “can we hold hands?”

“Stevie, when I’m confident about how I feel, we can do whatever you want. I’ll be back, I promise. I’ll have better words and a better apology, too.” He lets go of the doorframe, where he rested his hand after knocking on it. But before he can leave, he looks Steve directly in the eyes. Says, “And there’s no such thing as ‘queer enough’. You’re perfect as-is, Steve. I’m just stupid. And those other guys are complete assholes for not even attempting to get their heads out of their asses and go out with you.

“You deserve the world. And I want to give that to you.”

“Let’s cool off first.”

Eddie nods again, smiles small, and Steve returns it. “Yeah, we should do that,” he whispers. Lets out a deep sigh. Softly, “Take care of yourself tonight, okay? I’m sorry for…I’m sorry for being an ignorant pile of shit. I’m gonna do better, no matter how long it takes to prove myself to you.”

After that, Eddie lets himself out. And Steve lets him leave, doesn’t chase after him, even when every part of him panics about letting Eddie get away. But this is for the better, he thinks. Knows that not everything works itself better overnight. It’s a start, though. Not a satisfying one, but it’s the beginning of something.

🏳️‍🌈—————🏳️‍🌈

[steddiebang2024]

I was a teenage dirtbag  |  Mature  |  75k

Author: @hellfireloserclub

Artist: @academic-clown

Beta Reader: @kaypie91

[Link to fic]  |  [Link to art]

Pairings: Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington

Characters: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington , Erica Sinclair, Dustim Henderson, Nancy Wheeler. 

Tags: Slowburn, Future Fic, Year 2000, Post-season Four, Bisexual Steve, Bisexual Eddie, Comedy /angst, Long distance friendship to lovers, Radio Host Eddie, Hairdresser Steve, Wedding fic.

Trigger Warnings: Sex, Alcohol, and Recreational drugs

↳ Keep reading below for a summary!

“So…” Dustin started.

“So what?” Eddie asked, fixing his eyes on the side of Dustin’s face, trying to work out what way this interrogation was going to go.  

“I don’t have my own ringtone, Wayne and Mom don’t, but Steve does?” Dustin avoided looking at him, staring at the overhead signs pointing to the short stay parking, acting like they weren’t at the airport at least twice a month with the family coming and going. 

“I thought it was funny,” he said in his own defense. 

“And I totally believe you.” It sounded like a question. 

“But?”

“But are you sure there's not more?” someone shouldn’t look so smug as they reverse in a multi story, yet here was Dustin excelling at it. When Eddie didn’t answer he cut off the engine turning to look at him, all signs pointed to the next few minutes being incredibly uncomfortable.  

“Spit it out, I have to get to the gate,” Eddie grumbled, he felt like he was under a microscope, his little brother's eyes boring into him.

“Are you sure there's nothing going on between you and Steve?”  Eddie wanted to yell- yes, I just don’t know what? But he bit it down, this wasn’t the time to trigger a Dustin intervention. 

“Just because you can't procreate outside of the close knit circles you were dragged up in, doesn’t mean we all have to hook up within our little friend group.  You gotta stop trying to pair us all off dude, it's not cool. Remember when you used to keep trying to pair off Steve and Robin? How did that work out for you?” Eddie questioned. 

“In my defense-”

“No. Say less. Stop. I broke up with Yumi two weeks ago, I don’t need you to help, I don’t need your psychoanalyzing me with Max over the phone. I don’t need you to try and set me up with a rebound. I’m a big boy alright. I’m going to Boston to get stupidly drunk with Steve, talk shit about you all lovingly, and lament the fact that both me and him are probably gonna die old and alone.” He reached over the back of the seat and grabbed his duffle bag, before reaching over and tapping Dustin on the cheek. “But look at the plus side, if me and Stevie don’t bring a plus one to the wedding that will save you two meals and a headache with seating plans.”

“You make my resolve to not meddle in both of your love lives impossible, you know that right?” Dustin asked, leaning over the center console. 

“Cause you were doing an absolutely stellar job of it before this conversation?” Eddie closed the door behind him. “Dusty, I love you like you’re my own flesh and blood. But please, let this one go?” 

Dustin looked poised to say something else but Eddie didn’t have time for it. “If the words curiosity journey come out of your mouth, I’m not speaking to you for a month.”  Dustin snapped his mouth shut. “That’s it, save it for Applejack, I don’t want to know.”

Eddie gave the car a courtesy wave as he went through the doors of the airport, but he didn’t look back. He was pretty sure Dustin had hit the nail on the head with his observations, but as far as anyone was aware Steve was just his friend, and letting go of any control on that narrative was like letting a fox off in a hen house. It would be chaos. Although Eddie was starting to think it was a lost cause. This was so much easier when he and Steve hated each other, enemies to fuck buddies was a much easier story arch, with a lot less emotional baggage.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

I do love clueless Eddie, but he probably is aware that he's not exactly straight. Like, he's probably made out with Jeff a few times. He's just not aware that there's a word for it. He likes men, and he likes women. He's always called himself a little bit gay though which is what he told Robin and Steve when he came out to them.

"Eddie, babe, you know there's a word for that. . .," Robin said.

"Yeah, I'm bisexual," Steve said.

"I think you mean bilingual. I didn't know you spoke more than one language," Eddie said.

"I mean, yeah, but also, no!" Steve exclaimed. "I speak more than one language, so yes, I'm bilingual. I like more than one gender so I'm bisexual."

"Oh! Oh, I am an idiot," Eddie said.

"You said it, not me," Robin said as she continued to paint Eddie's toenails neon pink.

"Robin!" Steve exclaimed.

"What? He literally said it," Robin said.

"I did say it, Steve," Eddie said.

"Oh, is Jeff alright with you telling us that you two used to make out?" Robin asked.

"Oh, yeah, he doesn't care," Eddie said, shrugging. "He's very proud of his kissing prowess."

"Yeah, I'm sure he's very good," Steve said rolling his eyes.

"He is. It's ridiculous the things that man can do with his mouth," Eddie said. "You won't find a better kisser than him."

Steve growled, grabbed a fistful of Eddie's hair, yanked his head back, and slammed his lips to Eddie's. Eddie moaned against his mouth, lifting his hand to curl his fingers into Steve’s hair as he deepened the kiss. Steve broke the kiss, breathing heavily.

"I stand corrected," Eddie said, gasping for breath.

"Steve! This was supposed to be girls' night!" Robin shrieked. "This is where we're supposed to talk about our crushes! Like, I talk about my crush on Vickie!"

"Oh, by the way, I have a crush on Eddie,' Steve said.

"And you didn't tell me this before. . .why?" Robin asked.

"We were all becoming friends, I didn't want to make things awkward," Steve shrugged.

Robin and Steve looked at Eddie expectantly, waiting for him to say something.

"Oh! Yeah! I've been crushing on Steve too," Eddie said, grinning wickedly. "Who, by the way, was totally jealous of how good a kisser I think Jeff is."

"Yeah, keep talking about that, and I might have to find out for myself," Steve said.

"Don't you dare!" Eddie scowled and squeezed his knee. "My boyfriend!"

"Excuse me, that is not how you ask my platonic soulmate to be your boyfriend, Munson," Robin said, waving her brush at him.

"Steve Harrington," Eddie said, taking his hand. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my boyfriend?"

"Yeah, you dork," Steve said, slapping his chest and kissing him.

"Better," Robin said, capping the nail polish.

"Okay, I said you could paint my nails whatever color you wanted as long as I could paint your nails whatever color I wanted," Eddie said, grinning as he grabbed the black nail polish. "Now, tell mummy and daddy all about your crush."

"Ew, never call yourself that," Robin laughed before launching into details about Vickie.

Steve smiled at the both of them, happy that they got along so well and that everything was sliding into place perfectly. Everyone figured out things at their own pace. As long as they got there, it didn't really matter how long it took as long as there was time left to spare. It all works out in the end.

[puppy-steve]

i keep thinking about that one bachelor au post so here's my take on it (i've never watched the bachelor or bachelorette so bear with me)

the bachelor au where steve's the bachelor and eddie is a contestant, but not because he actually wants to be, he's just in it for the paycheck. robin is also a contestant but only because her parents sent in her application without her knowing and she isn't out to them yet.

they both think that steve is overrated and definitely over hyped. typical rich kid with enough money to buy people's love, yada yada.

until they both start going on dates with them and then realize that it isn't exactly true. yes, he's rich, but he's also kind and funny and actually genuine once you get past the mask he puts on for everybody. eventually, eddie and robin find themselves looking forward to their dates.

only robin doesn't want to date him. he's slowly moving his way up the ranks to becoming her best friend, sure, but this is still tv. she's still expected to kiss him and confess her feelings for him. and when the time comes for her to do that, she can't.

they're in venice. steve is leaning in and robin is very aware of the cameras filming them. the back of her neck goes cold and her stomach churns and suddenly she's running in the opposite direction. her italian is passable so she ends up getting a taxi back to the hotel production put them in.

she locks herself in her en suite and presses her forehead against the cold porcelain. she doesn't know how long she sits there until her phone buzzes and she checks the notification. the nausea rises up her throat again. she forgot she gave steve her number.

there's a knock on her room door and another text.

r u ok? can i come in?

robin debates it but figures she owes him and explanation. she lets him in and they sit on the bathroom floor. robin tells him why she's on the show in the first place, about how she didn't know her parents signed her up until she got the phone call from the casting director. tells him that even if she gets kicked off, she can still use the money for her student loans.

she stares at the water in the toilet bowl when she comes out to him.

steve is quiet, processing, before he laughs. he's not laughing at her, he promises, but "robin. you're on a show with more than a handful of other queers, you know that, right? i'm bisexual."

and yeah, robin knew that, but it's different when you're not into the guy you're supposed to be romancing at all.

steve reassures her that it's okay, and that he still hopes they can be friends and keep in touch after the show ends.

robin would like that.

she apologizes to the production crew the next day and they're understanding and steve and robin get a re-do of their date. it's much more genuine this time, filled with laughs and digs as they eat gelato along the river and people watch and gossip.

it's the best robin's ever been on.

eddie, on the other hand. he's absolutely head over heels for steve, which is surprising even for him. he's trailer park trash, he's got absolutely nothing on steve harrington. not the name, not the money.

hell, the very first day, he insulted the guy's food choices right to his face without knowing it.

eddie wants the earth to give way underneath him and swallow him whole.

he plays it up on their first date, all fake niceties and empty smiles, until steve tells him point blank, "the guy that said the buffet was shit that first night? i want to get to know him."

eddie's flabbergasted.

steve opens up about all the fake people in his life, the ones who just take advantage of them and use him for their own gains. the ones who don't even bother to get to know the real him. the one that likes to play guitar and hang out with the gaggle of teenagers that follow him around all the time for some unknown reason.

he tells eddie about what he wants to do with his life, not what someone else has planned for him and eddie falls deeper and deeper.

this time, when steve leans in for a kiss, eddie doesn't shy away. their lips press together and it's the best goddamn kiss either one of them have ever had.

the show has a deadline, of course, and steve can't just spend all his time with eddie and robin. there are other contestants. robin knows her rose is strictly platonic and steve has already called her multiple times freaking out about his growing crush on eddie. she knows eddie has this in the bag.

the final night comes and the contestants have dwindled. there's only a small group of them left: eddie, robin, and another guy and girl they didn't bother learning the names of.

when steve chooses eddie after a moment of dramatic silence that kind of puts his own dm dramatics to shame, eddie doesn't hesitate to jump in steve's arms, wrap his legs around his waist, and plant a sloppy one on him right in front of the cameras.

[steddieunderdogfics]

For Monsterfucking weekend:

Translucent Hearts by merry_magpie

Rating: Explicit

Words: 43,504

Chapters: 9/9

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Tags:

STMonsterMay Monster Steve Harrington Human/Monster Romance Monsterfucker Eddie Munson Minor Original Character(s) Original Character Death(s) POV Steve Harrington Major Character Undeath Mildly Dubious Consent Porn With Plot The Upside Down (Stranger Things) Steve Harrington in the Upside Down Post-Vecna (Stranger Things) Post-Season/Series 04 Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Hurt/Comfort Soft Dom Steve Harrington Sub Eddie Munson Angst with a Happy Ending Angst and Fluff and Smut Queer Themes Bisexual Eddie Munson Bisexual Steve Harrington Aware of Own Bisexuality Steve Harrington aware of his own bisexuality and still has an existential sexuality crisis Steve Harrington Steve Harrington is Eddie Munson's Bisexual Awakening Body Horror Masturbation Tentacles Sexual Fantasy Light Bondage Fantasy Disability Disabled Character Chronic Illness Minor Violence Making Out Blow Jobs First Time Blow Jobs Telepathic Sex Bottom Steve Harrington Top Steve Harrington Bottom Eddie Munson Top Eddie Munson Anal Sex Tentacle Sex Oral Sex

Summary:

He looked down. He was naked. Everything seemed the same as he scanned down. The same hairy chest. Arms and hands were the same. His sides looked like they hadn’t been bitten by Demobats at all. There was no pain. He looked further down. His dick and balls were still intact, thank God. His legs were fine, and his feet- Well, shit. One foot looked normal, while the other was purply-pink and slightly see-through. It was the right shape, and it moved with him as he thought about curling the toes and then flexing them, but he could clearly see through it, too. As he looked at it, it filled in and became as solid-looking as his other foot. Okay. So that was new. --- Steve is turned into something a little weird in the Upside Down, saves Eddie's life, falls in love, and then fucks him. All while dealing with being whatever the hell he's turned into. Written for the Stranger Things Monsterfucking May Challenge. For something that should be a pwp, it has a surprising amount of plot, romance, and world-building.

Why I'm reccing: This is such a well-executed, clever premise. I love the way Steve and Eddie's respective crises are handled, as well as Steve's struggle to come to terms with what's happened to him. Author "chose not to warn" for the archive warnings, but this is one of the gentlest uses of that I've ever seen.

Translucent Hearts by merry_magpie

Rating: Explicit

43,504 words, 9/9 chapters

Archive Warning: Creator chose not to use

Tags: STMonsterMay, Monster Steve Harrington, Human/Monster Romance, Monsterfucker Eddie Munson, Minor Original Character(s), Original Character Death(s), POV Steve Harrington, Major Character Undeath, Mildly Dubious Consent, Porn With Plot, The Upside Down (Stranger Things), Steve Harrington in the Upside Down, Post-Vecna (Stranger Things), Post-Season/Series 04, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Hurt/Comfort, Soft Dom Steve Harrington, Sub Eddie Munson, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Queer Themes, Bisexual Eddie Munson, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Aware of Own Bisexuality Steve Harrington, aware of his own bisexuality and still has an existential sexuality crisis Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington is Eddie Munson's Bisexual Awakening, Body Horror, Masturbation, Tentacles, Sexual Fantasy, Light Bondage, Fantasy Disability, Disabled Character, Chronic Illness, Minor Violence, Making Out, Blow Jobs, First Time Blow Jobs, Telepathic Sex, Bottom Steve Harrington, Top Steve Harrington, Bottom Eddie Munson, Top Eddie Munson, Anal Sex, Tentacle Sex, Oral Sex

Summary:

He looked down. He was naked. Everything seemed the same as he scanned down. The same hairy chest. Arms and hands were the same. His sides looked like they hadn’t been bitten by Demobats at all. There was no pain. He looked further down. His dick and balls were still intact, thank God. His legs were fine, and his feet- Well, shit. One foot looked normal, while the other was purply-pink and slightly see-through. It was the right shape, and it moved with him as he thought about curling the toes and then flexing them, but he could clearly see through it, too. As he looked at it, it filled in and became as solid-looking as his other foot. Okay. So that was new. --- Steve is turned into something a little weird in the Upside Down, saves Eddie's life, falls in love, and then fucks him. All while dealing with being whatever the hell he's turned into. Written for the Stranger Things Monsterfucking May Challenge. For something that should be a pwp, it has a surprising amount of plot, romance, and world-building.

Thanks for the rec!

This rec is a part of Theme Weekend. The theme this weekend is Monster Fucking.

Know a fic that deserves extra love? Submit through our asks or the submission box!

[miraculousmultifan]

Steddie Bigbang - The Baby Project

hi everyone!! im so happy to post my submission for the @steddiebang!! i’ve worked really hard on this one, and i’m so proud of how it turned out <3

(also, this fic has art by @danadaria. its linked in the authors notes on ao3, but i’ll also be reblogging it here on tumblr!)

Title: The Baby Project

Author: miraculousmultifan

Rating: Teen and Up

Fandom: Stranger Things

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington & the Party, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, the Party, Corroded Coffin, Robin Buckley, Wayne Munson

Tags: Fluff and Humor, Fake/Pretend Relationship, kind of?, Accidental Baby Acquisition, also kind of?, School Project Partners, Aware of Own Bisexuality Steve Harrington, Post-Season 2, Pre-Season 3, Idiots in Love, Getting Together, Slight Angst, Slight Miscommunication

Summary:

Steve turned around with a grin and propped his elbows up on Munson's desk. Then, before he could really think about the words coming out of his mouth, he said, “Guess that makes us married then, huh darling?”

Munson, of course, stared back at him blankly, but instead of backtracking or something, Steve batted his eyelashes for good measure, really hamming it up.

Munson blinked at him once. Then twice. Then he raised an eyebrow and said, deadpan, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

***

In the last month and a half of Steve's senior year, he gets paired up with Eddie Munson for the final project in Mrs. O'Donnell's Home Economics class. The assignment? To take care of a fake baby for four weeks. For some reason, Steve finds himself surprisingly excited. Eddie, not so much.

Word Count: 33,968

[steddie-fanfic-recs]

you look at me and I just melt

by unkreativstermensch

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson Character: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson Additional Tags: Gay Eddie Munson, Bisexual Steve Harrington, And He Knows It, he's very aware of it actually, Eddie's not, of his own sexuality yes, but not of Steve's, a lot of wham! references, or well quotes actually, george michael is a lyrical genius and i stand by that, and Steve does too, saying stop flirting with me is peak flirting i dont make the rules, Argue with the wall, really excessive use of italics, i'm not kidding i think i actually overdid it this time, i just can't stop, Eddie Munson's Black Handkerchief, First Kiss, Getting to Know Each Other, the homoeroticism of touching a bro's forearm, implied past stommy, If You Squint - Freeform, Implied Sexual Content, it's a fade to black sort of moment, Steve Harrington Has Bad Parents, What's new, the intimacy of laundromats, that one friends episode would agree, no beta we die like eddie's chill, Post-Stranger Things 3 Words: 6,524 Chapters: 1/1

Summary

“What in the world are you doing here?” he then asks, when he got his voice back and Steve, now kneeling on the ground sorting through the dirty laundry he brought, just shoots him a look. “Uhh…laundry?” He looks a little lost, as if he doesn’t really understand the question. “Um, yes, I can see that,” Eddie replies, shutting his book, “but why is Steve Harrington doing laundry…here? At a laundromat?” Steve frowns and turns completely around, giving Eddie his full attention now. “Well, Eddie Munson” he says, putting emphasis on it, as if to prove Eddie’s not the only one who knows full names around here. “There’s a very simple answer to that. I don’t have a washing machine…but I like to wear clean clothes. You know?” or: It’s laundry day. Eddie runs into Steve Harrington. Something’s not adding up.

[skepsiss]

Chapter 4 is up now! (3,864 words)

Read it here on AO3: The Last Strange Thing

Rate: Explicit (violence, gore, and s*x) Read tags under the cut for warnings, and details.

Chapter summary: Steve is in a deadlock with a stranger who is threatening his life. Will they come to a truce and escape the city together as a larger threat looms in the distance? Or will this encounter end in Steve having to make quick work of this odd man? Steve has never enjoyed being violent, but he knows he can hold his own in a fight if it comes to that.

The journey is full of romance, death, action, and suspense. This is a "The Last of Us" alternate universe. This work is 100% completed, and I will be posting each chapter between now and April 7. Prepare yourself for approximately 52k of action, horror, romance, supernatural happenings, and love.

Eternally fucking grateful to @knormalizeknitting for being my beta reader and the world's best cheerleader! I cannot express how helpful it was to have someone gushing about the story I was writing while I was writing it and bogged down by 30,000 words. I DID IT! And I owe a big thanks to K for just being energetic and into the story.

Read the full series description, additional tags, the monster reference guide, and more under the cut!

Welcome to the apocalypse. The demo-infection has taken hold of the world, and humans are a rare thing these days. Still, people hang on to civilization in pockets across North America and beyond. Hawkins is one such place.  Steve Harrington is a scout who runs missions for Hawkins, and on one of those missions, he becomes separated from his scouting partner, Robin. He has to find his way across Indianapolis in an infected world, meeting one very important individual on the way, Eddie. The two of them must trust one another in order to journey across Indiana, while perhaps finding something softer to nurture with one another along the way.

@llamalpaca will be posting some VERY COOL accompanying art that inspired this WHOLE PIECE! So be sure to give them a follow and check out that art piece when it drops in April.

Link to the Monster Reference Guide, here.

Censoring the word s*x so tumblr doesn't get mad at me. Please don't tag with NSFW or other such tags. The post itself is not inappropriate, but I want people who are going to read the fic to be aware of what is there.

Additional Tags: action, romance, hurt/comfort, alternate universe, The Last of Us AU, canon divergence, apocalypse, apocalypse au, body horror, gore, blood, animal and human death, excessive force (weapons), level of violence and graphic nature of imagery that aligns with Stranger Things, dead dove don’t read, dead dove don’t eat, smut, nsfw, frotting, handjob, happy ending, zombies, zombie apocalypse, steddie, stobin, platonic stobin, Steve and Robin are best friends, Steve and Robin are platonic soulmates, slow burn, emotional hurt/comfort, angst, miscommunication, misunderstanding, Steve Harrington loves Eddie Munson, Eddie Munson loves Steve Harrington, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Bisexual Eddie Munson, betrayal.

[slavicviking]

the best gift of all (is you)

For: @maryofdoom

Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington & Robin Buckley, Eddie Munson & Dustin Henderson

Rating: G

Wordcount: 9,764

Warnings: No Warnings Apply

Tags: idiots to lovers, Alternative Universe - Canon Divergence, Post Season 4, Punk Steve Harrington, Mutual Pining, First Kiss, Aware of his own bisexuality Steve Harrington, HoH Steve Harrington

Summary:

This Christmas Eddie Munson has a goal set firmly in his mind – he’s going to sink his teeth into this mystery and he’s going to figure out who exactly Steve is, at the core. What makes him tick, what makes him laugh and cry. Eddie wants to know it all. aka the seven days of Christmas of 1986.

This fic is a part of the @steddieholidayexchange

[ladykailitha]

Star Child Meta: The Kings

First off, I need to say that this fandom is completely sleeping on Steve being in a boy band. Like come on! Do you not see how pretty he is? He such boy band material it isn’t even funny.

Secondly, the idea to do this was based off a tag on a reblog by @anything-thats-rock-and-roll I saw that made me laugh. Yep! You read that right, Jonathan Byers in a boy band. And hey, I added him originally for the Nancy drama and then got watching music videos from the 90s and realized that every boy band had a guy that wasn’t as conventionally attractive as the rest but still had a lot of fans and went “See? Jonathan TOTALLY fits!”

So I wanted to do a little background for you so you get a better idea of the time line. Some of this will be revealed in the story, but it’s not a spoiler per se.

The Kings were originally just Billy Hargrove, Tommy Hagen, and Steve Harrington. Despite their manager (the one that sided with Steve’s parents when he was revealed to be bisexual that it should be ‘removed’) pushing Billy as the leader, Steve was just naturally more charismatic and Billy was more of bad boy, so it was usually Steve front and center.

They formed when they were 15 and had been touring the talent circuit for a couple of years when Mrs Hagen had the idea to add a fourth member to set them apart from other boy bands.

Auditions were held nationwide but they found the perfect person in their own hometown.

Joyce had gotten Jonathan into singing and dance when he was little because he had confidence issues and he could be himself. He had done the audition on a bet with Will and was surprised when they picked him. He was the shy one, but he was a better singer and dancer than Tommy and Billy combined. So Jonathan and Steve were often upfront when doing their numbers. 

Almost immediately they started getting recognized more and more and suddenly after just four months after Jonathan joined, they had a record deal.

Which pissed Billy off. He started acting out. Behaving more and more irrationally. Heavy drinking that turned into heavy drugs. Tommy had only ever been in for the ladies and slept around.

But the media codified everything. Billy was the bad boy partier. Watch out ladies, you better be able to keep up ;). Tommy was the lady’s man. Out to break hearts. Steve was the hometown golden boy, have your daughters home by nine. Jonathan was the shy nerd. You’ll have to work to get his attention, ladies, but once you have he will shower you with looooovve.

Steve was caught kissing a roadie about five years into their career and got sent off to a conversion therapy camp, the press was told that it was just a retreat for Steve to rest up after such a long tour in Europe. But that started the decent that ultimately broke up the band. Billy got sent to rehab, which he ran away from multiple times. Tommy met Carol and started dating heavily. Something the manager and label was against because they wanted to keep the lady’s man image up. Well, okay the decent into breaking up happened before that.

Nancy was part of girl band that often toured with Kings. Steve and Nancy got together when they were both just starting out. And were together for a year. Before she cheated on him with Jonathan. The official story was that Nancy and Steve had broken up the week before and Jonathan was consoling her and that’s how they got together.

But that’s what started Steve becoming riskier with who he got around with. What fans don’t know because the label spent a SHIT TON of money covering it up was that Steve was sleeping through half of LA and whoever he could find on the road. Steve’s parents and manager only knew of the one roadie, but the label was aware of other men Steve had been with. A fact they held over him when he went solo. Robin managed to get them to agree to five albums instead of for life like they wanted.

Billy’s last escape from rehab resulted in his death. He had bought from an unreliable dealer and it wasn’t as cut as what Billy was used to and it killed him. Tommy and Carol got married immediately and Tommy regretted it almost right after. He started sleeping around, getting drunk, beating his wife. Then just before the Grammy’s (Tommy’s own solo album had been nominated) Carol announced she was divorcing him and he beat her with in an inch of her life and left her for dead to go to the award show.

She was found by a neighbor who’s dog wouldn’t stop barking at Carol and Tommy’s door. And Tommy went to jail for attempted murder.

Jonathan and Nancy have been dating steadily for years with very little hiccups. There was a time that everyone thought they were going to break up because Nancy was still on tour with her band and Jonathan was in LA writing the memoirs of the Kings and the long distance strained their relationship. But once they got back together, they’ve been solid ever since. 

*

I’m going to tag the people that wanted to be tagged in the Star Child story. If you don’t want to be tagged in meta or extras, just main story, let me know.

Tag List: @gleek4twd @gregre369 @whatthemeepever @cutepumpkin4 @spectrum-spectre @livelaughlexa @ohlook-afrog @linkydinky06 @goodolefashionedloverboi @moonshadows-13  @eboyawstenn @avacrebs @bejeweledbaby

[berenwrites]

Freaks - Stranger Things - Steddie

Freaks: What the World Sees - A Stranger Things Future Fic

A/N: For @steddie-week day 5. This is kind of a sequel to yesterday’s fic (So Sorry), but you don’t have to have read that one to get this one. :D

Prompt: Together / Established relationship / Hold the Line by Toto

Summary: The world knows a lot about famous guitarist and singer Eddie Munson, including things about his husband, but there is so much they don’t see as well.

Also on AO3

Everyone knows that Eddie Munson of Corroded Coffin fame is a freak – his own description, not ours. Famous for hard rock and weathering the storm of being outed as bisexual during the band’s rise to fame, Munson is anything but average.

Not least of all because he still looks no more than twenty-five even though he’s in his forties. When asked about his lasting good looks he either responds with something along the lines of ‘It’s all the good sex’ or simply ‘I’m a vampire’. There was even that one story from the early nineties of a groupie sneaking onto the group’s tour bus and finding real blood in the refrigerator.

The band did a whole photoshoot with fake fangs and fake blood after that one to make a point, and their next music video was very gothic.

That Munson once stopped a large and heavy speaker tower from falling on the band’s drummer Gareth Emerson with apparently no effort helped fuel the rumours. He just claimed adrenaline and leverage were on his side before threatening to sue the festival they had been performing at.

What fewer people know is Munson’s long-time partner and now husband, is also on the eccentric side. Steve Harrington is a fixture with the group. Often assumed to be a roadie in the early days of the band, Harrington is never far from Munson’s side, and has several writing credits on the band’s albums. Often hiding behind dark glasses, Harrington remains just as youthful as his husband, and never gives interviews.

There have been a few peculiar stories about him over the years, including that he always travels with a baseball bat studded with nails somewhere close by. One fan even claimed to have taken a picture of it in the trunk of his car.

“It’s for monster fighting, of course,” Munson famously said when asked about it in one interview.

The couple have a rich and close social group, including the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nancy Wheeler and her long term partner, photojournalist Johnathan Byers, physicists & computing pioneers Dustin & Suzie Henderson-Bingham, basketball star Lucas Sinclair and his sister, youngest ever serving congresswoman Erica Sinclair, renown UN negotiator Robin Buckley, fantasy author Mike Wheeler and his long term partner, illustrator and graphic artist Will Byers, actress and director Jane ‘EL’ Hopper, and vocal children’s law advocate Max Mayfield.

Members of ‘The Party’ as they refer to themselves were involved in the tragedies which overtook the small town of Hawkins Indiana in the early to mid-80s. According to several of them, the events that took place there have bonded them together forever no matter how far across the planet they spread.

This can be seen in connections such as Munson’s band Corroded Coffin being contracted to do the soundtrack for two of Hopper’s breakout movies. Or the benefit concert Munson and Harrington organised, calling on friends in the music industry, to raise money and awareness for Mayfield’s children’s charity.

This list goes on. It seems there is little these incredibly successful people will not do for each other.

However, when asked what keeps him going and striving for bigger and better things, Eddie Munson’s answer since the pair came out as a couple has always been ‘Steve’. Unlike some celebrity marriages, this one seems built on very sure foundations.

As Corroded Coffin tour with yet another award-winning album, we wish them continued success bringing their music to the new generation.

~*~

Eddie put down the article after reading it out over the breakfast table.

“Stevie, you’re a freak now too,” Eddie said with a laugh.

“Still not a nerd though,” Steve replied, peering over the top of his dark glasses.

Ever since Eddie had carried him out of the Upside Down, turning him into a vampire to save his life, Steve hadn’t been able to deal with bright light. And their kitchen was definitely bright. It was something Eddie had never suffered from, which Steve was thankful for given Eddie’s career choice, although Eddie had his own idiosyncrasies to deal with.

“Your book collection begs to differ,” Eddie told him with a grin.

“Lots of those are Mike’s,” he defended himself.

“Sweetheart, one of the rooms in this house is a library, I don’t think you can blame that all on Mike,” his husband replied, laughing at him again.

“I don’t know, he’s a creative little shit,” he said, grinning back.

“Big shit these days, he’s taller than both of us. Isn’t his latest book launch party coming up soon?” Eddie asked.

“First Thursday of next month,” he replied.

“That’s next Thursday,” Eddie said, eyes going comically wide.

“I know,” Steve said.

“Shit, I’ve got nothing to wear,” Eddie said, pushing his chair away from the table. “I can’t turn up in anything I’ve worn before, the press would eat me alive.”

Steve watched his ridiculous husband scramble away fondly, slowly counting in his head. He got to thirty before Eddie appeared back in the kitchen doorway.

“It’s a costume party, isn’t it?” Eddie said.

Steve nodded.

“And Mike already allocated us costumes, didn’t he?” Eddie added.

“Yep,” Steve replied. “Now how about you come sit back down and finish breakfast?”

Eddie slunk back in and folded gracefully into his chair.

“How do you keep all this shit straight in your head?” he asked, picking up his glass of juice.

“I’m not writing the next billboard smash in the back of my brain while doing everything else,” Steve said and grinned. “All I have to do is look pretty, it’s easy.”

He blew his husband a kiss.

“You keep telling yourself that, Mr I-know-the-security-systems-of-every-stadium-better-than-the-guys-paid-to,” Eddie shot back. “And keep fluttering your eyelashes at me like that and neither of us are getting to finish breakfast.”

“Maybe I’m not hungry for food,” he said with a tiny, innocent smile.

He began counting in his head again. Eddie only had so much self-control and Steve always enjoyed snapping it.

The End

Find my other steddie fanfic listed here in my pinned post.

[katytheinspiredworkaholic]

WIP Wednesday

Dreamwalker (Eddie’s Story) Summary: Steddie Canon compliant/fix-it fic paired with a corresponding story in Steve’s POV, each chapter happens in tandem with the other. Eddie wakes up alone in the Upside Down, not knowing how he survived, and unable to reach anyone topside in Hawkins. Wounded and alone, he finds shelter at the Harrington’s house (the place is a damn fortress after all), and while hiding out there discovers that he has gained the ability to walk into other people’s dreams.

(unbeta’d snippet from Chapter 02; the second dream that Eddie encounters where it belongs to Steve and not himself. He’s still learning the ropes on the dream-walking, rules tbd. Some more information is revealed on both sides, although Steve still believes Eddie is dead, and Eddie is just glad to be around another human being. Especially one that is comes in the shape of Steve Harrington. There are talks about his death, as well as some characters that appear or are mentioned in the dream that Eddie does not know are alive/hurt/dead, and in this particular fic Eddie is gay instead of bisexual. I personally support all orientations for him. We just love Eddie given the chance to love in this household, no matter what shape or form that comes in.)

—

When Eddie dreams that night, he’s surprised to find himself in a very vivid version of Hawkins.

It’s evening, and the sky is a beautiful watercolor dusk of blues and pinks and purples. It’s not too hot, like summer, but no chill of autumn creeps under his clothes, and if he’s not mistaken – he can hear the sound of laughter and bike wheels clicking just down the road. He blinks himself into awareness, sitting atop the picnic table outside of his trailer like he’s done many a night with his Uncle Wayne. Smoking cigarettes and talking about everything and nothing at all. But Wayne isn’t there, and when he looks over to the road that runs alongside Forest Hills Trailer Park he can see Max booking it around the corner with her skateboard under her feet and the rest of their crew on their bikes waiting for her. Looking up to no good. Eddie’s favorite kind of activity.

He tosses his cigarette to the gravel, and starts making his way over – hoping to catch them – and finds another person walking along the road a few yards ahead of him. A very familiar person, and Eddie (God help him) actually grins at the sight. Ever since the first time he’d dreamed of Steve (or with him, jury’s still out on that one) Eddie had had nothing but nightmares and the deep sleep of blackness that was almost just as scary. Steven Harrington was a sight for sore eyes.

“Harrington!” he calls into the evening air, making Steve pause and look back at him. He’d been keeping an eye on the kids, the group making their way somewhere on this side of town with the kids doing wheelies and trying to hop the curb while Max flipped her skateboard and schooled all the boys with her skills.

“Munson,” Steve greets him, a smile curling at the side of his mouth handsomely and hanging back until Eddie caught up to him. Such a gentleman. “I see you’ve decided to join us.” 

Eddie has no idea what he is talking about, but it’s a dream and Eddie was born to role-play so he just shrugs his shoulders and gives Steve a grin that’s more devil-may-care than mischievous (like he was going for). “Yeah, well, I figured it was time for me to make an appearance in the land of the living.”

Steve frowns at him, hands in his pockets, and the change in expression is so quick it's comical.

“That’s not funny.”

Eddie cackles, despite himself. “It’s a little funny. I almost died, man, let me own it.”

He doesn’t mean to say it the way he does; but just like that, the tension leaks out of Steve’s stupidly broad shoulders – and the dream makes sense once more. It can continue without bringing up the awkward fact that Eddie did die. Out there. But right here, right now, he’d made it, and they were walking the weirdly vacant streets of Hawkins while the sun set as slow as molasses on the horizon.

But it’s nice, this atmosphere around them. The day laying itself to rest, the kids in the background, he and Steve shooting the shit as they walk at a leisurely pace. Yet, the kids never go too far out of sight, and the sun never sets too low, and the streets seem to go on for miles no matter how many blocks they walk. Eddie eventually pulls out a blunt and lights up, offering it to Steve as they walk. Only about a foot of space between them, shoulders bumping when they meander too close.

“So where are we going, again?” he asks, taking the blunt back from Steve after letting him have the green hit. The guy's lung capacity from being a swimmer all those years really comes in handy, there, the cloud of smoke he lets out is impressive to say the least.

“The Byers place? Family dinner?” Steve says it like questions, although they are very much statements. Eddie had no clue that was their destination. “Joyce and Hopper have them all the time, and you better be glad you decided to come tonight before you got on their bad side. You’ve missed too many already.”

Hopper.

This really was a dream.

Eddie coughs on his exhale, choking on it more like, and spits onto the ground frantically to get the taste of marijuana out of his mouth. “Shit! Jesus Christ.” He immediately puts out the blunt on the bottom of his dirty white high-tops, hopping on one foot to do so while Steve hovers nearby incase he topples over. “You coulda warned me! Fucking Hopper.” But Eddie is all smiles as he says it. Because Hopper, man that had been a blow to the gut when he’d died last year. He missed that man’s hard-ass mug, even more so during the whole ‘hiding from the police’ incident that just occurred. Eddie couldn’t help but think that if Hopper had been around he wouldn’t have been on the run, or hunted down so viciously by all of Hawkins. 

“He’s not a cop, anymore,” Steve informs him, laughing at his scatter to hide his contraband.

“Yeah but he’s busted my ass far too many times for me to show up at his HOUSE reeking of the devil’s lettuce.”

Steve laughs loud and carefree into the night, and Eddie wishes he could bottle up that sound and keep it forever. He doesn’t know if he’s ever heard it from Steve before.

He spends the rest of their walk doing his utmost best to get him to laugh like that over and over again.

Eventually, they make it down the rows of suburban houses and into the wooded outskirts. Where the Byers live. Everyone in town avoided it after the youngest Byers kid died and then came back to life. Eddie never really got to ask the more in-depth questions about that, Henderson and Mayfield had kind of glossed over it. But it definitely had something to do with the Upside Down.

Then, before he could blink, they arrived at the little one-story house hidden beneath towering trees and bracketed by the forest. Eddie has never been here before. He imagined a decrepit place, after it being empty for so long and no one buying the property. But it looks well cared for. The driveway is full of cars and the kids' bikes are tossed in the grass, and there’s laughter coming from the backyard. And Eddie hesitates. This place, this home, it feels so established. There’s so many details. Is this what was actually happening out there, right now?

“So this is your dream, is it?”

Steve stops when Eddie speaks, turning around to find him still standing in the middle of the driveway among fallen leaves and not taking another step towards the house. He looks at Eddie weirdly, confusion creasing into his expression as he squints his eyes.

“What?” It would be a weirdly specific question, if Harrington realizes he’s dreaming. Eddie isn’t sure, so he swallows and kicks at the leaves on the ground. 

“This,” he nods to the house. “This is what we fought for? No one is dead. Everyone is here. Family dinners.” It hurts Eddie’s empathetic little heart more than a bit, that this is what Steve dreams of. This is what makes him look so content, unlike the state of stress and distress he’d seen for days on end over Spring Break.

“Yeah, Munson. This is it. This is everything I’ve ever wanted.” Steve tries to say it sarcastically, it sort of comes out that way, but the real meaning behind the words shines so genuinely in his eyes Eddie feels fondness blossom in his own chest. ((This is everything he’s ever wanted. Family Dinner. Everyone alive and safe.))

God, Eddie was so fucked. And about Steve fucking Harrington, too. How was this his life?

“...are you sure I should come in? I mean,” Eddie kind of gestures to himself. Every inch of his appearance screams he’s someone that doesn’t exactly fit into a ‘family dinner’ scenario. He’d spent a long time cultivating that look, don’t get him wrong. But he’s not exactly the guy you bring home to meet the parents, anyway. Drug dealer, three-time senior, closer to being able to buy beer than getting his diploma or a real job. Eddie has no illusions about his situation.

Steve looks legitimately offended.

“Of course you should come in.”

As if there was no other explanation. No argument whatsoever. Not to him. It makes butterflies the size of those damn demobats start to flutter about in Eddie’s stomach. He covers the sensation the best way he knows how.

“Aww, Harrington,” he coos, twisting a little and swaying like a schoolgirl in pigtails – dragging a strand of hair across his face for good measure. He can pantomime with the best of them. “You’d miss me that much if I wasn’t there?” 

“Yes.” 

Steve doesn’t hesitate, and doesn’t take the bait of Eddie trying to twist this into an unserious scenario. Hell, Eddie isn’t sure Steve pauses to breathe first before he answers. And Eddie’s eyes go a little wider when that about knocks the wind out of him. His charade shattered and broken apart in his hands. 

But Steve doesn’t act any wiser to Eddie’s minor melt down, just shakes his head with no playfulness in sight. He can’t seem to look away from Eddie for anything, either. It’s so quiet his ears ring. Even the slight breeze has stopped blowing against them. 

“It’s not right. If you’re not here. With all of us. With me.”

Eddie feels like he’s having heart palpitations.

“You… you died, Eddie,” Steve presses, earnest, and when did he start walking closer? “You actually died down there. I did CPR on you forever trying to bring you back.”

“You did?” Eddie asks, the words nearly lost by the hum of the evening air around them.

“Yeah. I did.” Steve blinks, a shutter of a thing, and then he smiles at him softly. “Thank God, right?” And then the dream story tries to slide back into place, a little more disjointed than before, and Eddie isn’t quite sure Steve believes it to be true either. Grasping at it desperately, for his own sake. Not knowing that Eddie is aware it’s a dream, too.

But that’s an existential ideal for another day. Eddie still has to recalibrate everything that just transpired for a minute. Holding up a hand to get Steve to stop talking for a moment so he can wrap his head around it.

“You,” he points to Steve, then turns the finger back to himself, “gave me mouth-to-mouth.”

“Yeah,” Steve shrugs. Completely unbothered. “I’m certified. Lifeguard, remember? Co-captain of the Swim Team?”

“How could I forget,” Eddie laughs, a lightly maniacal thing, running his hand through his hair just to ground himself. “Jesus Christ, Steve Harrington gave me the kiss of life and I wasn’t even awake to appreciate it. My poor little gay heart, high school me would be devastated.”

“You’re still in High School,” Steve points out with an incredulous smile, Eddie flipping him off on instinct. But then Steve does a full physical double-take. “Wait – what did you just say?”

Eddie stares at him like a deer in the headlights for all of 2.3 seconds.

Okay, dream-sharing time is over.

“And that’s enough for this round of ‘Eddie Munson Opens His Big Fat Mouth’.” He steps up into Steve’s space, turning him by the shoulders and backing him up against the side panels of his own BMW. Eddie would know that damn sedan anywhere. “Time’s up, big boy. Back to bed.” Steve looks confused, as if Eddie is speaking in tongues, and a spark of alarm grows in his widening brown eyes. Eddie is close enough to watch it dawn on him. Like he remembers. 

Can’t risk that shit.

So Eddie winks at him, all bravado, and taps the other man twice on the cheek. 

“Until next time, Harrington.”

—

tbc

—

Series Snippets:

- Dreamwalker (Eddie’s Story) (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)

- Subconscious (Steve’s Story) (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)