#but robin will never leave him because she's his platonic soulmate forever

[augustjustice]

I am gripped by the idea of Kas!Steve.

But specifically...broken Steve, who’s been tortured and tormented and mind-controlled by Vecna, until he’s been sharpened into a weapon, his old King Steve persona pulled on like reshaped armor but now so much worse than Steve himself had ever been.

Kas!Steve who’s cocky and smug, who spews every cruel thought the gang has ever worried he’s had about them, clawing at each one of their insecurities with piercing accuracy. Because he knows them, from years of being friend and confidante. Their beating hearts, their strengths and weaknesses. So he taunts Robin by spilling every precious secret they’ve shared. Mocks Dustin and all the kids for being pathetic and snot-nosed, following in his footsteps like lost puppies. Needles Eddie about how obvious his crush on him is. Tells Nancy it really is their fault, what happened to Barbara all those years ago.

And it’s all so pointed, feels so specific, so...real, the group can’t help the worry that gnaws at each of them (just like Vecna would want), that this is what Steve really thinks.

Even more so when some of his barbs draw attention to the ways they’ve treated him. When Steve laughs at the thought of them overpowering him when for years they’ve been relying on him to be the tank, to take all the hard licks. Do they really think they can take him down? Like this? It’s as comical as it is pathetic, this new, dark Steve, the betrayer, the bloody, tells them, and Dustin sees the way that Nancy flinches, catches Robin’s pained eyes, guilt gripping each of their throats.

The question lingers, even hours after Steve has slunk back into the shadows, another battle they barely scraped out of alive behind them.

How will they do this without Steve?

[steddieas-shegoes]

Chapter 6

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5

“Oh would you look who decided to acknowledge I exist?”

Steve didn’t hold back his eye roll at Robin’s words since she couldn’t see him. He’d decided to call her on the walk to his car after work, just to update her on things and make sure she was okay if he wasn’t home right after work.

“We just saw each other yesterday.”

“More than 24 hours ago, Steve.”

“We are two separate humans, Robin.”

“But only one brain. Look at you separating a whole brain. This is why I couldn’t concentrate today. You took it with you.”

“Are you done?” Steve sighed. “If you’re done, I need to talk to my best friend.”

“What’s wrong?” Robin’s tone went from slightly annoyed to concerned, which meant she’d never actually been that annoyed to begin with.

“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be home late.”

Please don’t ask, please just accept it, don’t ask, don’t ask.

“Why?”

Fuck.

“Just stopping by Eddie’s for a bit.”

He was met with complete silence. He pulled his phone away to make sure the call hadn’t been dropped. It hadn’t.

“Robs?”

“Steve. I’m saying this because I love you.” Oh boy, here we go. “I’m worried.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m just hanging out for a bit and then coming home.”

“You’ve practically lived with him since Saturday!”

“Okay, just because I slept over…”

“Twice! In a row!”

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Uh huh. It doesn’t mean anything except you have barely been home and you literally went to subspace and dropped and probably subspace again with this stranger who did one nice tattoo and suddenly you’re ready to fly to Vegas and forget me!”

Ah. Steve let himself feel guilty for a moment before he remembered her insistence just a few weeks before that he needed to find other friends besides her, be social, maybe find a boyfriend.

Well, now he was doing some of that and she had a problem?

“I’m just enjoying my time with someone new. This is what you’ve wanted me to do forever, right?”

“Not like this!”

“Oh, I’m sorry I’m not following your rules for my friendships.”

“This isn’t a friendship, this is some weird sexual situation that’s gonna end up messy and you’re gonna end up hurt. It’ll be Nancy all over again.”

That hurt. Robin had been the one to get him through the Nancy heartbreak, always offering whatever support he needed while he worked through his disappointment that turned into an identity crisis that turned into a bit of a change of personality. She never judged him for his response to it. She was the perfect friend.

Having her throw it at him like this left a sour taste in his mouth and a hollowness in his chest.

She’d never spoken to him like this, not even when they got into stupid little arguments about cleaning the common areas of the apartment that sometimes escalated more than they should. This felt like she was jealous and taking it out on him.

Jealous of what though? She never seemed interested in having an actual relationship, and she was out all the time, leaving him to fend for himself in their apartment.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt, Steve.”

“Yeah, well. I appreciate the concern.”

Steve hung up. It wasn’t the mature thing to do, he knew that. But he was hurt, and he didn’t want to make things worse by letting the hurt out on her. He would talk to her when he got back home.

They were best friends, platonic soulmates. They’d get past this.

But for now, Steve turned his notifications off on his phone, got in his car, and drove to Eddie’s house.

– - – – – –

He made it inside with no issues, putting the key back under the mat once the front door was unlocked.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket once he was inside, ignoring the many texts from Robin to send a quick text to Eddie.

Made it home. Gonna make spaghetti. That okay?

He was looking around the kitchen to find all of the things he’d need when his phone started buzzing.

Eddie was calling.

“Hey, thought you’d be with the client.”

��I am, but it’s a friend. She’s taking a break. How was the rest of your day?”

Steve didn’t want him to know about his fight with Robin, not when most of it revolved around how quickly he was becoming attached to him.

“It was fine. Um, spaghetti’s okay? I just figured you probably had stuff for it.”

Eddie didn’t immediately respond, and Steve tried not to let himself worry.

“Spaghetti’s perfect. What happened, sunshine?”

How did he know? Steve was notorious for hiding his feelings from people, he’d been a champion for most of his life out of self-preservation.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” Steve was putting everything into being convincing.

Eddie was at work, he didn’t need to deal with Steve’s problems.

“Stevie, did something upset you? Do you need me to come home?”

God, of course he would offer to hurry back. He was so nice and Steve didn’t deserve it.

“Steve. I will leave right now and come back, just say the word.”

“No, no. I’m okay. Just had an argument with Robin. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sorry, sunshine. What will help?”

He didn’t know. He didn’t think he could really talk about it right now. He didn’t want Eddie to feel like he had to talk him through it when he was with a client.

He started to feel worse.

“I think maybe I should head back early tonight. Make sure I see her before she goes to bed.”

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll be done here in an hour. You don’t have to cook anything, I’ll just grab us something on the way.”

“No. It’ll keep me busy. Can I cook please?”

He didn’t mean to sound so whiny, or practically beg, but it must have worked because Eddie gave in.

“If you really want to, you can cook. But I want you to go change into my clothes first, okay?”

Thank God Eddie couldn’t see the redness of his cheeks spreading down his neck.

“Okay. Can I wear your hoodie?”

He knew it would smell like him, and he knew it was soft, and he knew it would make him feel a million times better.

“Yeah, sweetheart. It’s on the bed. I’ll text you when I leave here, but call me if you need me before that.”

“I will.”

“Good boy. See you soon, sunshine.”

Steve felt warmer, lighter, more like he could handle the feelings Robin brought up. He knew if he could feel like this for a little bit, he could easily handle whatever conversation they’d have when he got home.

— — — — — —

Steve was so focused on the sauce he was making, he didn’t hear the front door open or footsteps come through the living room and into the kitchen or Eddie walking up behind him.

He felt strong arms wrap around his chest from behind, a soft kiss placed on his temple.

He leaned back against the warmth of Eddie, the calm he exuded taking over the whole kitchen.

“Welcome home, Eds.”

“Mm. Could get used to that,” Eddie said as he kissed Steve’s cheek, then his jaw, his neck.

Steve was doing his best to stay focused. He was cooking dinner, right.

He started to lean forward, but Eddie pulled him back again.

“Babe, I have to cook,” Steve giggled.

“Not done,” Eddie said against his neck, teeth barely scraping against Steve’s pulse point and causing him to let out a moan.

“I don’t.” Kiss. “Want this.” Kiss. “To.” Tongue.

Fuck.

“You keep cooking, sunshine. I’m just gonna enjoy my appetizer.”

“But I made garlic bread,” Steve pouted, pulling away as much as Eddie would let him. “For an appetizer.”

Eddie pulled away and looked at Steve, blinking at him as if he were confused.

Then he broke out in a huge smile.

“You’re trouble, sunshine.”

And to Steve, that sounded like he was saying something entirely different.

— — — — — — —

They didn’t talk about Robin.

Steve put their food on plates while Eddie grabbed some beers from the fridge.

It was very domestic. Comfortable. Nice.

Eddie insisted on sitting right next to Steve, one hand on his thigh for the entire dinner. His thumb was rubbing back and forth, his fingers sometimes drew designs on his knee, and he tapped rhythms into his skin until it felt like Steve was part of the song.

It was easy.

They talked about their days. Steve gave him the full play-by-play of his meeting with Will and Eddie kissed his cheek when he was done and told him how happy he was that Will liked it.

Eddie told him about his appointment, Chrissy, who he’d been good friends with since high school. He’d shown her that tattooing was a way to love her body when she’d been diagnosed with an eating disorder. He promised her he’d do any tattoo she wanted for free if she went through the intensive rehab and therapy process, and four months later, she came by his shop and became his favorite client on top of one of his best friends.

Steve leaned his head on Eddie’s shoulder as he spoke, smiling to himself as he realized that Eddie was just a caring person.

He cared about everyone in his life in a way that Steve had not been familiar with before Robin.

He cared the way Steve cared, and he made Steve want to show it more.

He made Steve want to be bright in a way he’d never wanted to be before.

Eddie made him feel like he could shine.

He felt the impending rain cloud of leaving his side, though. Facing Robin would be a storm he didn’t want to weather tonight, feeling a bit overwhelmed already from his day of emotions.

It had started so good. It felt good right now.

“You got quiet on me, sunshine. What’s goin’ on in that pretty head of yours?”

A lot. So much. He didn’t know how to answer without putting everything on the table, and he knew he couldn’t do that right now. He didn’t want to cry either and that was getting more likely the more tired he got.

“Just thinking.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Anywhere you want is fine with me, sweetheart.”

Steve could tell him a little. Maybe talk about how much he wanted to stay by Eddie’s side. Or how he didn’t know how he was already so attached, but the thought of not having Eddie around was already devastating.

How much he could love him if he was given the chance.

“I’m scared that Robin’s right.”

Well, that’ll spark a conversation he didn’t want to have.

Nice job, idiot. You’re gonna end up spilling your secrets.

“Right about what?”

Eddie’s arm was now wrapped around Steve’s shoulder, hand resting against his arm where his fingers were tracing designs that Steve would tattoo on his skin.

“She said this is gonna end bad. I’ll get hurt. She didn’t want me to come tonight.”

Yeah, that’s not giving too much away.

Eddie’s fingers froze against his arm.

“She thinks I’d hurt you?”

“I guess.”

And a part of Steve believed it too. That was part of why he felt so shitty. Eddie already held the power to hurt him and he didn’t even realize it.

“Stevie, look at me for a minute.”

Steve pulled away, letting Eddie’s arm fall, but quickly finding his hand to lace their fingers together for extra comfort.

“I know this is gonna sound crazy, and it’s okay if you don’t wanna stick around after, but,” Eddie’s eyes were shining. Was he going to cry? “I’ve never felt like this with anyone. I’ve never wanted to spend every moment with someone before you. I missed you so much today, it was like I was being torn in half. I know it’s crazy. I know. But you’re important to me. I don’t know what will happen, I don’t know what you want, I just know that I wouldn’t ever intentionally hurt you.”

Steve could feel his lip quivering. He knew he had tears in his eyes.

He was in deep and the only way out was through.

“I don’t know how to explain how much being around you has changed me. Just in the last two days I’ve felt like someone I didn’t even know I could be. Robin’s worried because,” Steve took a deep, steadying breath. He had to be honest. Eddie deserved it. “I jump into things quickly. I’ve always been like that. I commit hard and fast and I end up hurt every time. She was around for the worst one with my ex-girlfriend. She’s worried this will be like that and thinks you’re just using me for the sexual aspect of it. Well, she thinks we’re using each other, I think. And maybe if you were different, I would be. I’m not always a great guy. But it’s just that you’re you. You’re the kind of person who will always get the best me because you deserve someone who makes you feel the way you make other people feel.”

The words just didn’t stop coming.

Steve would’ve been more nervous about it if he wasn’t watching the fondness seep out of Eddie’s pores.

His every movement revolved around Steve’s own, his touches gentle and electric.

His hand was cupping the side of Steve’s neck, his eyes staring into Steve’s soul, even though he’d just laid it out on the table in front of them.

“You deserve to be the best you because it makes you feel good. But if I can help you find that, then I’m all yours, sunshine. As long as you want me.”

Steve leaned forward, resting his forehead against Eddie’s.

He closed his eyes.

His phone started ringing.

He planned to ignore it. He knew it was Robin and he wasn’t quite ready to face her yet.

But he knew if he didn’t answer, she’d worry. Maybe dramatically call 911 to do a wellness check.

He didn’t want to put Eddie through all that.

He grabbed his phone and answered, letting his head rest against Eddie’s chest.

“Yeah?”

“Steve. Listen. I’m sorry about earlier, okay? I didn’t mean that. I’m just worried about you. I want you to have someone who makes you happy, but I want you to be safe and-“

“Robs, I know. I’m sorry I freaked out.”

Eddie’s hands were moving up and down his back slowly, adding pressure to his shoulders where he was most tense.

“Are you gonna be home soon?”

Steve resisted saying that he was home.

He realized he’d said it twice to Eddie; This felt like home. He’d never really had somewhere that felt like home. Even with Robin, he knew they were roommates because neither of them could afford rent on their own.

But here, he felt like he could safely recharge, relax, be himself, float away and find his way back. And he could do it all with Eddie.

“Yeah. I’ll head out soon.”

Robin was silent as Eddie started playing with the hem of Steve’s shirt.

“You could just stay. If you wanted. I mean I have your location and you’ll text me in the morning so I know you’re alive.”

Steve considered that this might be a test, that Robin was seeing if he’d give in easily and not explain anything else.

But Robin isn’t the type of friend to test him like that. She was never anything but honest and straightforward, never would expect him to make a choice like that to win her love. That’s just not who she was.

“I could stay tonight.”

Steve looked up at Eddie, who was smiling and nodding down at him, hands never stopping their comforting movements on his back.

“I’m gonna stay tonight.” Steve smiled into the phone as if Robin was able to see. “But tomorrow, I’m coming home after work and we’re having a long talk. We’re gonna order pizza and we’re gonna drink enough cheap wine to have the worst hangover ever on Wednesday morning. Okay?”

Robin let out a quiet chuckle. Good. Laughter is good.

“Okay, dingus. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You got it, Robs.”

When Steve hung up the phone, Eddie pulled him tight against his chest, letting Steve find his place with his nose against his collarbone.

He breathed in his scent, smiling to himself at how quickly he relaxed into it.

“Sounds like things went well.”

“Mhm. Things’ll be good.”

Eddie kissed the top of his head.

“Let me clean up the dishes and then we can go to bed.”

“No, wanna stay here.”

“Here, in this chair?” Eddie snorted. “I don’t think either of us actually want that, sunshine.”

“Don’t wanna move.”

“How about I carry you?”

“Yes, please.”

For some reason, Steve didn’t exactly expect him to actually lift him in his arms and carry him. But he did.

He had him in his arms like he was a new bride being carried over the threshold, and Steve was blushing from his head to his toes.

Steve looked up at his face, taking in the way Eddie had a near-constant smirk when he was doing things like this. Like he was having fun and liked doing it.

Eddie dropped him in bed, laughing at the ‘oof’ Steve let out from the impact of hitting the mattress and pillows.

He stared down at Steve with that soft look he gave him before. Like Steve was actually making his life brighter, like it was a beautiful thing to have and know Steve.

No one has ever looked at him like that.

“Stevie.”

“Hm?”

“I really want to kiss you.”

Steve gulped.

“I really want you to kiss me.”

Eddie didn’t question it or wait, and his wet lips were against his with a passion Steve had never experienced in his life.

He forgot about everything except the way Eddie’s lips fit perfectly against his, slowly opening his own up so he could lick into his mouth.

He ran his tongue along Steve’s bottom lip, smiling into the kiss when Steve let out a loud moan.

Eddie’s hand was in his hair, tugging on the ends just enough to keep Steve present as his other hand ghosted down his side and squeezed his hip.

Steve could stay just like this forever and it wouldn’t be long enough.

He’d never have enough of Eddie touching him, kissing him, caring for him.

He wanted it always.

He let out another moan when Eddie’s teeth bit down on his bottom lip, sucking it between his teeth and lips like he was trying to eat him.

Steve would let him.

But just when he thought he was going to stay like this all night, Eddie pulled away, nipping at his bottom lip one more time before he separated from him completely and stood up.

“Gonna go clean up. Be a good boy for me and stay right here. No touching yourself.”

Steve hadn’t really thought about doing so until he watched Eddie walk away and glanced down to see that he was hard. Incredibly so.

Suddenly, his only focus was on getting relief from how hard he was. How had he gotten there from a kiss?

It was like every touch from Eddie was equal to 1000 touches from anyone else. If Eddie touched his cock, he was done for. He’d embarrass himself beyond belief.

Maybe if Steve didn’t think about it, it would go away and it’d be fine.

Maybe he could just give himself a little touch. Eddie wouldn’t know. It’s not like he was watching.

But Eddie said not to.

Steve had to listen to Eddie.

He could distantly hear Eddie washing dishes in the kitchen, dishes clanking around while the water ran from the faucet.

He could feel the heat of the sweatpants and hoodie he was wearing, causing him to break out in a sweat.

Eddie didn’t say he couldn’t take his clothes off. He just said he couldn’t touch himself.

So Steve removed the hoodie and sweatpants in record time, unable to focus on anything except the cool sheets under him and the hard length nearly poking out of his boxers.

He hoped Eddie would touch him when he got back. He couldn’t sleep like this.

Too on edge, too close to falling the wrong way off the cliff.

He didn’t even register when Eddie entered the room again, his thoughts stuck on how good it would feel to have Eddie’s hands on him again.

Then Eddie’s hands were on him again. They were cupping his cheeks and forcing him to make eye contact with him.

Eddie was shirtless already, straddling his lap.

Steve didn’t care how he got there, just that he was.

He couldn’t help the whine he let out when Eddie’s cock brushed against his.

Oh, he wasn’t wearing pants either.

Steve hoped this was going where he wanted it to.

“You look so beautiful like this, sweet thing. Like I could eat you right up,” Eddie said before leaning in to leave a trail of kisses down his neck.

He paused right where Steve knew his freckles were and let out a small laugh against his skin.

“These are the cutest things I’ve ever seen.”

Steve whined. He needed Eddie to kiss them, kiss him, kiss anywhere. He needed his lips on him every second of every day.

As if he could read his mind, Eddie gently kissed his freckles. Steve could feel his smile against his skin.

“Please kiss me,” he let out, needy whimper following his words.

“Am kissing you, sweet thing.”

And he was. Technically. But Steve needed to taste him again, needed their mouths connected so he could feel his breath in his own lungs, taking and giving oxygen Steve so desperately wanted to give and receive.

“Need you, please,” Steve added, as if that would make Eddie do anything else. “Please, please.”

Begging was not what he thought would happen tonight, but his mouth no longer had a filter as he felt Eddie’s hips roll against him.

The friction was almost too much.

Steve was going to cum. Right there in his boxers after barely making out and like, two barely there touches against his cock.

“Love hearing you beg,” Eddie said as he trailed his lips and tongue and teeth down Steve’s chest. He licked at one of his nipples, blowing cold air on it after. Steve shivered, but not from the cold.

“Feels so good,” Steve managed to get out.

He could tell he was becoming more incoherent, his moans getting louder despite Eddie hardly doing anything at all to him. He’d be embarrassed if he didn’t know how hard Eddie was above him.

Suddenly, Eddie’s lips were back on his own. He sighed into it, relief at being given what he wanted letting him relax further into the bed.

The relief only lasted for a moment, though.

Eddie was pulling away and laying down next to Steve.

No.

“No,” Steve said, turning his head to pout at him. “More.”

Eddie raised his eyebrows at him.

“That doesn’t sound very polite, Stevie. I can’t give you what you want if you don’t ask nicely,” Eddie sounded bored. Was he bored?

No, he wouldn’t have gone from interest to bored that quickly. Would he?

“Here’s what’s gonna happen. You listening?”

“Mhm.”

“Good boy. You’re gonna get on my lap and you’re gonna get yourself off. No hands.” Steve was already moving, but Eddie put his hand on his chest to hold him still. “No boxers. You use your safe word if it gets too much.”

Steve didn’t know how this could be too much, but he was too far gone to do anything but agree.

“Okay.”

Eddie removed his hand and didn’t stop Steve this time when he got up and straddled Eddie’s thighs, the reverse position they’d been in before giving Steve a head rush. He helped push Steve’s boxers off, holding him steady when his legs nearly gave out when he kicked them off.

Eddie didn’t touch him at first, letting Steve find the position that worked best for him and watching as he tried to find the perfect level of contact.

He couldn’t though.

“Oh, sweet thing, you can’t get it right can you?”

Steve whined and shook his head, feeling tears of frustration building behind his eyes.

“You want me to help you?”

“Please, yes, help,” Steve got out between pants.

Eddie’s hands were on his hips, warmth spreading from the place they touched Steve’s skin throughout his body. His grip was strong, nearly leaving fingerprint bruises in his skin. Steve wished he would.

“More.”

“More what?”

“Fingers. Harder.”

Finding the right words was hard. Steve was doing all he could to keep his eyes locked on Eddie’s face, vision going a bit blurry from the cloudiness in his head.

Eddie understood though.

His fingers gripped harder, and Steve knew he’d be done for soon regardless of the friction on his cock.

“You want help getting started, sweet thing?”

“Mhm. Mmm,” Steve was incoherent. He knew it, but he couldn’t do anything but let Eddie have full control.

Eddie used his strong grip to move Steve’s hips back and forth a few times, the feeling of Steve’s bare cock against Eddie’s clothed one nearly enough to send him over the edge right away.

He was moaning uncontrollably.

“I’m not doing it all for you,” Eddie said, letting go of Steve’s hips and watching as Steve stuttered in his movements. “C’mon. You were so desperate for it before.”

Steve didn’t think about how he was naked and Eddie wasn’t, how his dripping cock was getting Eddie’s boxers messy, how Eddie was smirking at him as he struggled to keep up the pace Eddie had started.

He only thought about how he had to get relief and make Eddie proud of him for doing what he asked.

Steve’s hips moved back and forth, rolling down every time he pushed forward so he could feel Eddie’s length against his own.

It was too much and not enough and Steve didn’t know how long he could keep this up.

Eddie was watching him, talking him through it, but not touching him.

“That’s it, sweet thing. Doing so good for me,” Eddie let out a moan when he started moving faster. “That’s it, sweetheart. Making me feel so fucking good.”

Steve wasn’t even registering his own pleasure anymore, only able to hear the way Eddie’s words were getting breathier, moans louder.

“Gonna cum for me? Want you to make me messy, sunshine. C’mon,” Eddie started tilting his hips up to meet Steve every time he rolled his hips down.

It was so much.

There was nothing but Eddie. His voice wrapped around him like a warm blanket as Steve felt the pull in his stomach letting him know he was close.

“Mm, Eddie, Eddie-“ Steve was babbling and he couldn’t stop. He didn’t care. He didn’t think Eddie did either. “Gonna. Gonna be good.”

Eddie let out a loud moan and sat up enough to kiss Steve’s lips.

Steve was done for.

He came so hard he almost couldn’t even feel it, the pleasure making his vision go black and his body go numb.

He could feel Eddie rut against him a few more times before he let out a groan.

He couldn’t open his eyes to see, but he knew Eddie must’ve finished too.

“So good, sunshine. Did so good for me, can’t believe I’m so lucky,” Eddie was whispering into his ear, soft breaths making Steve shiver against him.

Steve felt Eddie moving him so he was laying down in bed.

Then cold air shocked him into opening his eyes and letting out a pained whimper.

“Shhh, sweet thing. Just grabbing a washcloth. Gotta clean you up and take care of you, yeah? You did so good for me,” Eddie said as he pecked a kiss to his forehead.

Steve wasn’t quite floating now, but he recognized that he’d been on the cusp of it before Eddie walked away. He still wasn’t aware of most of what was going on, just that he’d never felt so good in his life and he hadn’t even had hands on him.

Whatever Eddie had done to take Steve apart was incredible.

When Eddie came back with the washcloth and gently wiped his stomach and chest, Steve tried to speak.

“Love that,” was all he was capable of, but it was a start. Eddie would get the gist of it.

“I’m glad. Loved doing that with you,” Eddie said softly as he got into bed next to Steve. He immediately pulled Steve on top of him, and Steve nearly gasped at Eddie being naked under him. “Feeling okay?”

Steve nodded against his chest.

He’d never felt better.

As he drifted to sleep to Eddie’s soft whispers, Steve thought about how he could possibly love someone so much so quickly.

Chapter 7

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[hairstevington]

flowers and ink (part 1)

Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Summary: Steve and Robin work at a flower shop together. One day, the pair decides to get matching tattoos at the place across the street. You can probably guess who their artist turns out to be. (requested by @thereindeerlady)

part two, part three, part four part five part six part seven part eight final part link to Ao3

Word Count: 2.6K

Warnings: This is just cute fluff, nothing too serious, modern day AU, Tattoo Artist!Eddie, platonic soulmates Steve and Robin, also I threw Bob Newby into the mix because I love him

A/N: I'm wrapping up the semester and am finally tackling my request list! Thank you for reading! :)

Robin applied to Flowers for All because a really pretty girl worked there and Robin needed a reason to go in and talk to her. 

She was hired, then the pretty girl promptly quit. Also, she was straight and engaged to a man. That was a huge bummer.

Still, the job stuck, and since they were down an employee…

“No,” Steve said when she brought it up.

“Please?” Robin begged. “Come on, you hate your job and it’s been forever since we worked together. It would be just like old times and -”

“Robin, we never used to get anything done when we worked together. We were terrible employees.”

That was true, but it did not deter Robin from her master plan. 

“Okay, well so far the only other applicant is the seventeen year old son of the owner who thinks the shop is actually a marijuana dispensary, and there’s no way I’m gonna work with that little twerp -”

“He didn’t take himself from the running when he found out you just sell literal flowers?” Steve asked, amused.

“I think he’s going to set up his own business in the back, honestly,” Robin sighed. “Please, I promise I’ll do everything and you can just hang out and -”

“Okay,” Steve said. 

“Wait, what?” 

Robin wasn’t anticipating he’d agree to it so quickly.

“I said okay. Sure. Fine. Where’s the application?” Steve took his phone from his pocket to find the Flowers for All website. He clicked on the “apply now” button and scrolled through the questions. 

There were basically no requirements. He just had to put in his name (Steve), education (high school), and any experience he’d had with flowers (none), and then boom, submitted. 

He got an email the next day to come in for an interview. Robin was assigned to be the interviewer.

He got the job. 

-

Eddie started as an apprentice for Ink About It when he was fresh out of high school. It was run by this dorky middle-aged man named Bob, who didn’t have any tattoos and initially seemed mismatched for the profession. Still, Bob was supportive and kind, and he let Eddie grow and thrive in the tattoo shop. He also happened to be amazing at working with clients and was a decent artist. Go figure. 

“Hey, Eds?” Bob asked as he tapped his knuckles on the door. Eddie was on his break, snacking on some chips while watching YouTube on his phone. 

“Yeah?”

“I was thinking of inviting Joyce’s son here sometime so he could see the place. He’s this great artist, and I think he’d love to meet you and see how we work here.”

“How old is he?” Eddie asked, his eyes still fixed to the screen. 

“He’s seventeen. Just about to graduate high school, can you believe it?”

Eddie didn’t really pay attention when Bob talked about his family. He probably should have listened more, but the man was just so dorky. 

“Okay,” Eddie agreed. He didn’t really want some kid in the shop snooping around, but it wasn’t really his decision. 

“Okay, great,” Bob replied with a smile. When he didn’t leave the room, Eddie knew he had more to say. He shut his phone off and turned to face his boss. “You see, uh. Will’s been having some trouble lately. Bullies and all that. He just came out, you know? And he’s a great kid. He’s so great, and some people at school are just - well, they’re bullies.”

Eddie didn’t really know where Bob was going with this. 

“That sucks,” Eddie acknowledged. “I remember when I came out, people said all kinds of shit - I mean, uh, stuff. Sorry.”

“That’s kinda why I’m telling you about it,” Bob said, shifting his weight on his feet nervously. “I think Will could really use someone on his side right now. Someone who really understands, you know?”

Ah. Eddie got it now. 

“Someone who’s gay,” he deduced. Bob knew that Eddie was gay, and he never cared or said anything about it, which was great. While he didn’t really want to be some motivational story about overcoming adversity in a hetero-normative society, he knew that Bob didn’t ask for much, and talking to a struggling kid seemed easy enough. “Okay, yeah. I’ll talk to him, if you want.”

“Great,” Bob said, breaking out into a smile. “You’re gonna love him. He’s a huge fan of that Dungeons and Dragons game, just like you.”

“Shit, really?” Eddie replied. “I mean - shoot. Sorry.”

“I never told you to stop cursing in front of me, Eddie,” Bob chuckled. “I know I may seem naïve and innocent, but I got into all kinds of trouble in my youth. You’re free to be whoever you want to be here, as long as you’re nice.”

He was just so wholesome it hurt. Eddie imagined the trouble Bob was referring to being something along the lines of sneaking a beer into a movie theater. It would probably break his heart to know some of the things Eddie had gotten into before he’d started working at this place. Maybe Wayne already told him, and he had just never said anything. Eddie certainly wasn’t gonna bring it up. 

“Hey Bob,” Eddie said. “Why did you start this job in the first place? Aren’t you this huge tech wizard?” Bob smiled warmly.

“Sure was. Bob the Brain, they used to call me. I still love a good puzzle, but life takes you to all kinds of places you don’t expect to go.”

“Yeah, but that seems like a pretty big career change,” Eddie continued. 

“Well, did you know this building used to be a RadioShack?” Bob asked. Eddie shook his head. “It was, and I used to work there. After it closed down, some artists tried to make it a tattoo parlor, but had no idea where to start. I stepped in as manager and they did the tattooing. I rebranded it, changed the name, and have been running it ever since. The rest of the story you’ve been around for.”

Bob was a great guy and a wonderful manager. He motivated Eddie to get his life together, and things had really leveled out for him just by having a stable job he enjoyed.

After their conversation, Eddie’s break was over, so he went back to work. He continued a design for a client who’d come in wanting a quarter sleeve, and then at 4pm he was scheduled to tattoo a bird on a guy’s shoulder blade. 

Overall, it was a normal day.

-

Robin knew every single plant and flower in the shop. She knew their names, their seasons, how to take care of them, and what they meant. 

She just happened to be really bad at keeping track of watering schedules, and tended to kill anything she touched. 

“Maybe I should work at a pet store,” Robin sighed, discouraged that the gardenias that had just come in had already wilted.

“What? Robin, why would you do that to the poor animals?” Steve replied, horrified. 

“Shut up, Harrington,” she snapped back. “Animals can tell me when they’re hungry.”

She looked sad, and Steve hated when she looked sad. 

“Aww, Robbie,” he said, jumping off the counter to put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. I can help. If you tell me what to do, I can do it.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asked. 

“Nope,” he responded confidently. “But they’re already dying, so it’s worth a shot, right?”

Steve actually turned out to be a natural at taking care of plants. He tended to be very good at looking after people, so it shouldn’t have been that surprising, but what was most shocking was how much he enjoyed it. Robin caught him talking to the flowers quite a bit. It was adorable. 

Ink About It was right across the street from Flowers for All. Steve and Robin stared at it every single shift through the front window. Neither of them remember who started the bit where they’d come up with weird matching tattoos they’d get with each other, but it became a staple every time they worked together. 

“Salt and pepper,” Robin greeted him as he walked in one day. 

“You’re pepper?”

“Obviously,” she responded with a smirk. They continued working, but it was a slow day. The ideas got progressively unhinged as the hours went by. 

“What about…” Robin wondered, her chin resting on her hand as she sat at the register. “You get my face and I get yours.” Steve chuckled. 

“Or we both get Harry Styles’ face.”

“Yes!” Robin’s face lit up as she laughed. “What about something flower themed?”

“Like what? A flower and a pot?” Steve proposed.

“Sure, you can be the pot,” she remarked. 

“What? Why am I the pot?”

“Because you smoke pot and I don’t,” she explained. Steve shook his head and scoffed. 

“Weak reason, Buckley, but fine. You’re the flower.” She smirked, pleased with herself, but then Steve added - “The flower is dead, though. For obvious reasons.”

“Steve!” She yelled, laughing. “Harsh, but fair.”

Their shift ended, but instead of going home, they went to the bar next door. They continued the bit until they were tipsy, and ended up arguing over who would be Bert and who would be Ernie. It got kind of heated. 

“Whatever!” Robin huffed, throwing her arms up. “It doesn’t matter, because you know I hate puppets. We’re not getting Bert and Ernie tattoos.”

“You’re acting like we’re actually going to do this,” Steve said as he sipped his beer. 

“I mean, if we find something we like, why not?”

“Why not?” Steve echoed. At first, he was going to give her all the reasons he could think of why they shouldn’t get tattoos together, but then he realized he didn’t have any reasons. “Uh, I guess you’re right. Okay, so no Bert and Ernie. What about Frog and Toad?”

“Are you just going through all the queer-coded best friends in children’s media, Steve?”

“Basically, yeah,” he replied, smirking. “Fuck, I’m Toad aren’t I?”

“I’m glad you said it and not me,” Robin replied. They sat in silence for a moment, coming to the same conclusion. 

“Uhh, so maybe that’s - Like, maybe that’s not such a bad idea,” Steve said. “Am I just buzzed, or -”

“No, I’m right there with you,” Robin responded. Of course she was, she always was. 

Before they knew it, they were stumbling towards Ink About It.

-

Eddie had just wrapped up his final appointment and was quietly working on other designs. Bob had left for the day, and sometimes Eddie stayed late just because it was a quiet place to be. 

It became less of a quiet place to work when two tipsy idiots stumbled in. 

“Hello!” The man greeted Eddie. “We would like tattoos, please!”

“Okay?” Eddie replied, confused. 

“He wants Toad and I want Frog. You know, from Frog and Toad are Friends?” The woman said. “Can you do that?” Eddie eyed them both and did his best to refrain from rolling his eyes.

“I can do whatever, pretty much,” Eddie replied. “Except, uh - I mean, do either of you have tattoos?” The pair shook their heads. “Do you know where you want them?”

“We didn’t get that far,” the man responded, prompting both of them to giggle.

“Right, okay,” Eddie said. “So, since you’ve clearly been drinking and this is your first tattoo, I’m gonna say it’s a no-go. Think about it, and come back tomorrow if you’re still interested.”

This kind of thing happened every so often, so Eddie was used to it. People never came back. They always came to their senses once they sobered up, and Eddie would never see them again. He figured it would be the same for these two. 

It wasn’t. They showed up again the next day. 

-

“We’ve thought about it!” The woman said as she walked into the shop. She dug into her bag and pulled out a picture. “This is what we want. Inside of the ankle.”

“Wow,” Eddie said as he looked at what they’d chosen, impressed. “I really didn’t expect you’d wanna go through with this.”

“Why wouldn’t we?” the man argued. “It’s an amazing idea.”

“Yeah,” the woman agreed. “And work’s been slow, and we’re bored, and this is not even close to the wildest thing we’ve done together.”

Eddie didn’t find spontaneous tattoos to be that wild in the first place. He was covered in them, and most of them were on-the-fly. Once you have a few, it gets easier and easier to add more. 

“Right,” Eddie said, wondering what the other wild things they’d done together were. He wondered if it was some sort of innuendo, like they were the kind of couple that secretly went to BDSM clubs or something like that. “Well, lucky for you, it's slow here today, too. Shall we?"

Eddie had them fill out paperwork while he got the stencil ready. He had adjusted their reference picture a little bit just to add his own flair, and after they approved it they were basically ready to go. It turned out their names were Steve and Robin. 

Eddie thought that Steve was kind of a stupid name, and didn’t match the pretty boy associated with it whatsoever. 

They didn’t even seem that nervous, which was baffling. Eddie figured there must be more to them than he had originally assumed. They were also a lot less annoying when they were sober. 

“So, who’s first?” Eddie asked, gesturing to the chair. 

“I’ll go,” Steve answered, raising his hand. Eddie put the stencil on his ankle and got final approval before they got started. 

“You ready?” Eddie asked, holding the tattoo needle in his hand. He waited for Steve to back out, but he nodded instead. “Okay. It’s gonna sting a little.”

“I have a pretty high pain tolerance,” Steve replied. Eddie tried to hide the smirk on his face. He’d heard that line before, many times. 

Eddie put the needle to the skin, and Steve didn’t so much as blink. Huh. Well, okay then.

Tattooing someone naturally involves a lack of personal space. It never bothered Eddie, because he tended to not think about personal space at any given moment, but some clients were a bit more hesitant than others. Ankle tats were thankfully not as intense as a rib or hip placements, but it did mean Eddie had to have a stranger’s foot close to his face, which wasn’t amazing. 

He wasn’t a foot guy. The man attached to the foot, however…

Eddie couldn’t help it. Steve was gorgeous. He also was charismatic, which was a quality that Eddie always appreciated and was attracted to. Steve chatted with Eddie during the whole 45 minutes he was being tattooed, and even made Eddie laugh a couple times.

Robin started to show her anxiety the moment it was her turn. 

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Steve reminded her. 

“Uh, of course I do!” she retorted. “This was my idea. You think I’m just going to let you have a loan toad on your ankle?” Steve and Eddie laughed. 

“I don’t mind. It came out pretty badass, thanks to Eddie.” Eddie smirked at the compliment. 

“If you can do it, I can do it. Come on, Eddie, let’s do this.”

She was shaking a little at first, so Steve pulled up a chair and held her hand. He asked her to start naming all the flowers they sold, and she did so rapidly. Eddie hadn’t heard of a lot of the plants she’d listed, and the list was unending. Ten minutes in, she eased into the process, and the rest went by without a hitch. 

Steve and Robin were really cute together. Eddie wasn't sure how long they'd been dating, but he wished them the best.

Steve left a sizable tip - like, an absurdly high tip - and then they were off. 

This time, Eddie was sure that would be the last he’d see of them. 

It wasn’t. 

(part 2)

__________________________

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[runninriot]

written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles

Day 17

prompt: Platonic Stobin | words: 930 | rated: t | no cw | tags: best friends Steve & Robin, established Steddie, Steve's in crisis mode but Robin is there to help

Escape Plan

   „What if we’re not gonna make it?“

Steve is pacing up and down the corridor, nervous hands tugging at his own hair, messing up the carefully styled mop. He’s been doing that for at least 15 minutes now. Steve is stressed.

Robin has tried everything to calm him down, to reassure him everything will be fine. But it’s like he’s not listening, or maybe he doesn’t hear her over his own anxious rambling.

She’s never seen him like that. On edge, yeah. Sometimes overly dramatic, too. But this, the way he’s freaking out right now? That’s new.

And see, she gets it. Today is the day. It all comes down to this one moment. Today they’ll define the rest of their lives. She knows everything will turn out right in the end. They’re destined to make it. There is absolutely no doubt about it but all of Steve’s worry is beginning to rub off on her.

   “Steeeeve, please! You need to relax. You’re starting to freak me out. It’s alright. You’re alright! Jeez, babe, stop the- STEVE! STOP!”

Steve freezes when she yells at him, turns to look at her with teary eyes. It breaks her heart a little to see him like this.

   “I don’t know if I can do this. What if- what if I fuck it up? What if it doesn’t work and one of us gets hurt? What if- hey! Why’re you smiling like that?”

Robin closes the distance between them, takes his hand in hers.

   “Babe. I want you to take a deep breath and listen to me. You won’t fuck this up. There is no way in hell this won’t work out. You two have been through so much already, I don’t think there’s anything you couldn’t work through together.”

Steve huffs out a breath.

   “But-“

Robin shushes him immediately. She’s not gonna give his doubts any more room, won’t let him spiral more than he already has.

   “You are the best thing that could’ve ever happened to him and he knows that. He loves you more than anything in this world.”

Steve’s eyes light up just a little bit at her words, lips forming a tentative smile. But Robin can literally see the cogs in his brain turning. He’s not quite there yet.

   “You know, if you don’t want to do this, just say the word and I’ll get you out of here. I’ll get the car ready and wait for you outside this window. We can run away together and start a new life somewhere like, Mexico, maybe. Or Canada.”

It’s meant as a joke, mostly. But truth is, she would do exactly that if he asked her to. She’d do just about anything for her favourite dingus.

Because Steve is her soulmate, her best friend, her family. Robin will forever be thankful for crossing paths with Steve all those years ago. Even after everything she got dragged into – going through literal hell, fighting monsters from another dimension, getting kidnapped and drugged by Russians, nearly dying more than once. She’d do all of it again if it meant to have Steve in her life. So wherever it’ll take him, she’ll follow. She’d leave everyone and everything behind if that’s what it took. They’re a package deal. You can’t get one without the other.

Eddie knows that, accepted it right from the start. He even came to her first, before proposing to Steve. Robin remembers how nervous he was.

    “I love him so much, Robs. And I- I know it doesn’t necessarily need rings or- some stupid certificate as proof for anything but- I know he always dreamed about getting married. He gave that up by choosing me, accepted that he couldn’t have this as a man in love with another man. But now we can and- he deserves everything. I want to marry him. I’ll even take his name, I don’t care. I just- if things were different I’d ask his parents but since they’re out of the picture... Robin, can I ask Steve to marry me?”

She remembers their shared tears of joy. Remembers the secret plotting. Remembers Steve’s face when Eddie dropped to one knee and revealed the black velvet covered box holding the ring. Remembers how happy Steve was.

Robin knows that hasn’t changed. He’s just-

   “I get that you’re scared, Steve. This is a huge step. But you’ve been together for so long now; you know exactly what you’re getting yourselves into. He wouldn’t have asked you to marry him if he wasn’t sure about this. He wants to spend the rest of his life with you. To love and to hold and to fuck nasty on the kitchen floor.”

Robin grins, wiggles her eyebrows teasingly, and finally she can see the tension in his shoulders ease. Steve barks out a laugh, loud and unrestrained, and it fills Robin with all the happiness of the world.

   “Just remember, today changes nothing about your relationship. It’s just a little bonus, the cherry on top.”

   “Thank you, Robs.”

Robin pulls Steve into a tight hug, holds him for a minute or two until there’s a knock on the door.

   “Ready?” she asks.

Steve takes another deep breath.

   “Ready.”

   “Let’s go make Eddie a honest man, then. Shall we, Mr Munson?”

Robin knows that everything will be fine. That Steve and Eddie will get their happy ever after because they're in love and nothing can tear them apart. But just in case, just to be sure, she checks for the passport in her purse and the car keys in her blazer pocket.

[auwuli]

What happened, is that they switched teams and it had consequences.

Steve teamed up with Dustin to distract the demobats and Eddie went with Robin and Nancy to fry Vecna for good.

My inspiration : Don't go by BMTH ft. Lights

Steve asked to switch position last minute with Eddie because of a strange feeling in his guts. It wasn't fear. He knew what fear felt like. It's something he got to come across a lot in the last four years of fighting monsters and babysitting so many problem magnets. It was more of an intuition than anything, something that told him Eddie shouldn't be here. Over those years Steve learned to trust his guts to keep them alive, alongside swinging nailed baseball bats and throwing (mostly taking) punches. So, since this almost stranger that made him feel all sorts of confusing things was one of his people now, he got him to go elsewhere. Steve would do anything to protect his own. And awkwardly squeezed between Robin and Nancy, armed to the teeth, was the safest place he could think of for Eddie. He felt immediately more at ease. Yes, it was the right thing to do, undoubtedly.

“Don't try to be cute- be a hero or something.”

If Steve hadn't insisted they switched teams, if he could have listened to his own damned words... Eddie should have stayed strong against his worried puppy eyes and sweet tone, “look after the girls for me. Eds, Please.” He should have said “no Big Boy, we stick to the plan.” It was as simple as that. Eddie would have run. He would have. He knew he would have because that's what he did best. But no. “I'll make him pay” is what he boldly said in response before following the girls in the woods.

And then, Steve died in Dustin's arms.

Dustin refused to leave his body, asking him to wake up between strangled sobs.

Robin froze in place, silent, her eyes locked on the blood slowly soaking the ground.

Eddie chocked on a scream, his shaky legs giving out under the crushing weight of guilt.

And Nancy did what she knew Steve would have done. She swallowed down her own tears and screams to drag them out of there, to keep everyone alive.

Unfortunately, Vecna was a roach. Almost impossible to kill and disgusting. He survived. And they had to fight him again.

They erased him from the surface of every dimension eventually. Doesn't matter how. They made sure he paid double for what he did. However, it didn't bring back Steve. This, this is what mattered in the end.

Max woke up a few days after the final battle, blind and filled with so much rage after losing a second brother. A rage they all shared and fiercely kept close to their hearts even after Vecna's death.

The grey of the Upside Down still bled from wounds that may never fully close.

At least, they finally had the time and space to grieve and to attempt to heal those wounds. Mourning this death wasn't like anything they had suffered together until now, but they did their best.

Steve was their protector, a big brother, a hell of a babysitter, a bestfriend, a platonic soulmate, a first love, a something that will never have the chance to grow.

Loss and grief may drive people away from each other. Not them, or at least not forever.

The party split up for a while. Now that the world didn't end and they had a future to look forward to, everyone tried to get their life back. They all did great things and tried to not let the past slow them down too much. Steve would have been proud of his kids, his family.

He would have also understood their struggles.

Eddie and Robin were the ones that had the most troubles dealing with his death. Years have passed, yet, a part of them, and they couldn't really grasp how big it was, was still locked on slow spreading red and kneeling in grey dust.

They couldn't bear to be separated from one another since that day. They clung to each other with everything they had left of strength and love, trying to fight together the storm they were trapped in. Eddie was like the other half of her missing soulmate. And for Eddie, living with Robin was sometimes like experiencing a distorted echo of what could have been. They were platonic with a capital P, but they did everything together. Their bond was beautiful and thrived naturally outside their shared sorrow.

As for Nancy, she did what she knew Steve would have done. She stuck around the ones that needed her the most. She gave Eddie and Robin food when they forgot to eat. She reminded them to take their medications when they were being stubborn. She took everyone to his empty grave as much as they wanted. She tried her best to be there for them because they were her people. And if Steve taught her anything, it's that we take care of our own, no question asked.

Time passed again, Eddie and Robin craved to speak, to be heard. So they poured their fears, their pain, their happiness, and everything in between, in songs that seemed to resonate loudly around them. And when making music together started to become too serious for the duo to handle, Nancy became their manager.

The three of them had really fun days, as much as they had really bad days.

It was life. And it was more than Steve had.

So they made the most of it.

The kids and grown-ups always tried to show up at their shows as often as they could. Slowly, the band grew bigger and bigger, reaching more and more people everyday. People heard them. They listened. They cared. And it helped them heal, gave them a purpose.

Tonight, Eddie stands in front of a black sea of screams and hands thrown in the air. Older, longer hair, more piercings, even more tattoos. He didn't change that much. He lets himself take in this moment, his favorite, when they are blinded by spotlights, covered in sweat and quietly smiling at each other. Robin next to him is older too, hair buzzed, blue, bold make-up, a few piercings, tattoos Eddie himself put under her skin. She changed a lot more compared to him. She had always been beautiful, but she only glowed like that on stage.

The entire family is somewhere in the audience. It has been a year since they were all in the same place together. Even if it was hard to achieve, they always tried to meet once a year for this special day. It meant a lot for them.

It was extra special for Eddie because he was the only one that never got to celebrate Steve's birthday with him.

He is shaking from nervousness about the last song of the night, while Robin is crushing his hand in hers.

They never released it nor played it live until now. It's the song they wrote in spite of every progress they made against their torments and their intent to stay strong for their family. Their music is always deeply personal, but this one is different. This one is an unsung secret. It's something dark, disgraceful, raw and hungry that kept trashing relentlessly inside them.

Eddie was always shameful of the things he felt for a man he would only get to know through the memories of someone else, for a man that wasn't there to witness his love for him blossomed, for a man he would never be able to confess to. Those selfish feelings that he knew he didn't deserve to hoard were not something he was willing to let anyone hear about. Not even Nancy. Only Robin knew about the true colors of his shame and his guilt. But, well, Robin doesn't really count. She's not anyone. She is him. She is him.

Eddie takes a deep breath. They talked about it. He could be selfish and ugly and messy tonight, for the sake of both of them. Robin deserved as much as him to be truly heard.

All of them bare on the strings of his guitar and her violin. All of them bare for those who cared to listen.

“Hi again, we are Sacrificial Hero and we'll close the night with a special song. It's called Don't Go.

Sometimes we can't let go of things we never had.

Can you hear us?”

They hope their love can still reach him.

Until next time, until a second chance in another life.

[whomst-the-hell]

i might write this out one day but like. probably not so in the meantime: a somewhat steve centric stranger things pirate au that gets less and less canon as it goes, because its me:

steve is the son of someone wealthy (merchant? governor? king? doesn’t matter!) and courting the lady nancy wheeler

nancy’s handmaiden barbara goes missing from a party at steve’s estate, where she was taken from the dock

nancy and jonathan team up to find her and will, who’s missing too

theyve been taken by a cursed ship (a la potc flying dutchman) captained by the legendary no-longer-human henry creel, who’s supposed to ferry the dead but abused his position as immortal psychopomp to rule the seas with an iron fist

(logically the ship would be called the upside down but that sounds fucking dumb so. im leaning towards The Black Widow but idk im taking suggestions ig)

meanwhile el has escaped from this ship, and meets up with a gang of kids

in this au, instead of the canon interest in fantasy, i think the kids are super into like. romanticised pirate legends

instead of “the party” they call themselves “The Crew”

steve follows nancy and jonathan, fearing for nancy’s safety with “that byers creep” and comes in just in time to help nancy and jonathan as they battle aboard The Black Widow

nancy and jon manage to negotiate steve and will’s release (rip barb) in return for their souls, and are trapped on the ship ~forever oOoOO~

except that steve and the kids are not satisfied with this at all, and with the help of merchant’s step-daughter Maxine Mayfield they steal a boat (but not before some weirdly homoerotic (in a rancid way) conflict between steve and billy) and set sail in pursuit of The Black Widow

along the way they pick up navigator Robin Buckley, who initially clashes with steve but bonds with him when they are captured and tortured by The Soviet, another ship chasing The Black Widow for their power

also at this time el is sailing with her sister kali upon The Children’s Revenge, who are hunting Creel bc their family/friends/crewmates have been taken by him in the past

they eventually all reunite upon the deck of the black widow

along with eddie and chrissy, who were captured after eddie helped chrissy flee an arranged marriage to (barf) jason carver, and have been working w nancy and jon to try to mutiny. the issue: the new captain would be forced to Actually stay on the widow ~forever oOoOOo~

with the combined forces of platonic stobin&The Crew, el&kali, and jancy&platonic hellcheer, they are able to carry out the mutiny plan, and steve (coughMartyrcough) makes himself captain so that the others can leave

they refuse to leave

they dismiss all creel’s crewmen/prisoners (the demo-creatures, i think. also, the mind flayer is the kraken, it never came up but its true)

The Crew lives their dream of romantic piracy, ferrying souls instead of pillaging innocents (though they also bust slave ships, and occasionally sink other, crueler ships, be they pirates or navy officers), nancy and jonathan can serve justice (see above) and also be together, which wasnt an option bc jon was poor, and steve&robin and eddie&chrissy are living their platonic soulmate lives, + steddie and buckingham

[somethingwittyandsarcastic]

Okay, but imagine platonic soulmate AU for Steve and Robin. Soulmates exist, but there's no way to tell platonic ones from romantic ones just based on the way the soulmate bond manifests. So, Robin and Steve meet before season one. Maybe even before King Steve. Maybe they share a class and hear each other's name during attendance. Maybe they bump shoulders in the hall and can suddenly see in color. And Steve is so excited because he found his person! The girl he's supposed to be with. His parents are soulmates and he's always loved the idea of finding his soulmate too. He has those plans for a big family and he's finally found the person who will be there, helping him raise his six little nuggets.

So, he latches onto Robin and doesn't want to let her go, even when it turns out that she's very different from who his friends usually are. He sticks by her side like glue and, yeah, sometimes he wishes his soulmate was someone else--someone cooler and less weird--but over the years, he really grows to love Robin.

Meanwhile, Robin realizes Steve is her soulmate maybe before she realizes she likes girls. Or maybe around the time when she's coming to know that she wants the girls at school to look at her the way they look at Steve. At first, she's reluctant to befriend Steve. It doesn't fit her plan of getting the hell out of Hawkins to have a soulmate whose whole destiny seems to be to stay there forever. She also knows or comes to know that she doesn't want what Steve wants out of their relationship. His advances make her uncomfortable. She can't put her finger on why for a while and then one day she suddenly can.

Despite that, though, they become friends. Their parents encourage it. They constantly are having dinner at each other's house, spending a lot of time together. They get to know each other and Robin realizes that she likes, then loves Steve, just not the way he wants. She doesn't know what to do with these not-feelings that she has. He's the best and weirdest friendship she's ever had. She doesn't want to lose him over some silly feelings.

Plus, by this point, it's been a while. Robin knows what will happen if she comes out to Steve and ruins his plans of a big family and beach vacations. Maybe she and Steve have been awkwadly dating. Maybe Steve recently officially asked her out and she doesn't know what to do. Either way, Robin knows she's screwed. She thinks maybe she can just pretend until graduation and then run away and never have to see Steve again. Would a couple more years really be that bad if it meant not risking him finding out?

And then something happens. Maybe Steve's been waiting patiently this whole time. Maybe he asks on a bad day when they're going to officially start dating. Maybe he tries to kiss Robin. Maybe he asks when they're going to have sex. Whatever happens, it happens and Robin breaks down. She cries, all messy ugly sobs. She runs away as soon as she can and hides at her house for a few days. When Steve comes over, she pretends to be sick so her parents won't make them talk. But she can't hide forever.

Steve finally gets to see her. And he's so worried. He's worried he did something wrong. He's terrified of losing Robin. They've become close--best friends. She's the best thing that's ever happened to him. He just knows he ruined everything, but doesn't know why or how. And Robin is so tired. She just wants her soulmate to know her. The real her.

Robin cries when she tells Steve that she loves him, but she's not in love with him, that she doesn't like any boys at all, that she's a lesbian.

Steve is quiet for a minute. It goes long enough that Robin is worried he's going to storm off and tell her parents. Then, he grabs her in a huge hug and starts crying too. Because maybe this whole time, he felt off, but he didn't know why. And calling Robin his girlfriend felt wrong, but he was so scared she would leave him if they were "just" platonic soulmates. He was so scared and now he knows everything's going to be okay. He hugs Robin tight and tells her that he still loves her. Maybe he tells her that he likes girls and boys too. He definitely apologizes for his assumptions and promises to do better. He declares her his sister and Robin laughs, things finally feeling right between them.

[scoops-aboy86]

I like the idea of Steve showing Robin the first stretch mark he notices and he’s just so excited and proud of himself, and they haven’t really talked about it yet but shes seen how he and Eddie are together. So Robin just sort of rocks back thoughtfully on her heels and says, “I’m really glad you’re happy, Steve.” 

They basically share a brain, so he gets what she’s saying. He looks down and rubs the back of his neck, pleased but not wanting to make a big deal out of it, not wanting to make it weird—he knows that what he and Eddie are into isn’t exactly a common thing, and that’s Robin probably doesn’t want to hear about it any more in detail than she wants to hear about penises. (He’d tried to wax poetic about Eddie’s dick once during a Platonic Soulmates Movie Night and she’d upended the entire bowl of popcorn over his head, then ignored his incredibly manly shrieks that he would totally let her gush about Vickie’s boobies all she wanted without assaulting her with perfectly good food.)

Then Robin slings an arm around his shoulders and says, “Okay dingus, so what are we naming this little guy?”

“I’m sorry, you want to name my stretch mark?”

“Well, he’s going to have lots of little friends soon, right?” Robin grins. “We’ve gotta start naming them now or we’ll lose track of who’s who.”

Steve ducks his head again, because this is so dumb. But he has never loved her more and maybe his eyes are a little wet. “How do you even name… Like what, name it what?”

She pretends to think for a moment, pursing her lips and tapping a finger to them. “Mmm… Herman.”

“Herman?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know, it’s just a dumb name!”

“Okay smart guy, then what’s a not dumb name?”

“I don’t know—Otis!”

Robin snorts. “Herman is dumb, but Otis is fine?”

“Hey, that was my grandpa’s name!” Steve pouts.

“You are such a dingus—“

And so on and so forth, until eventually they dissolve into a slap fight where like, they’re both bouncing on the balls of their feet with their hands out like boxers only with open palms, and Eddie walks in on this and stands in the door for a good five minutes until they notice him and stop like caught little kids—he was just so captivated by the way Steve’s muffin top was bouncing over the waistband of his jeans. 

… Other way around… 

Maybe Robin has been watching Eddie make heart eyes at Steve for a while, before they all get a place together. Noticing that Steve always offers to share his food with Eddie and Eddie always smiles and accepts, and how Eddie lights up whenever Steve brings him snacks… and just how often that happens. And she wants her soulmate to be happy, but these two are taking forever to talk about their feelings so she decides to give things a little nudge.

“He cooks, you know,” she tells Eddie one day when he’s hanging around their place of work, and Eddie nearly faceplants in surprise on the counter he was leaning on. 

“W-what?”

“Steve,” she clarifies with a roll of her eyes. “He’s good in the kitchen. You know he took Home Ec in high school, right?”

Eddie, who had stuck to shop classes, did not know that. 

“Yeah, he was home alone a lot and got tired of fast food. It’s not something he gets a chance to do for other people a lot, so I’m sure he’d make you something if you asked him to.”

“I’ll, uh. Yeah. Cool.” Eddie clears his throat, round cheeks starting to flush a little. “Maybe I’ll do that.”

Less than a week later Robin comes home to her and Steve’s apartment smelling like baked goods and Steve shoots out of his bedroom wearing his favorite apron, grabs her, and spins her around in a hug with a rushed, “Thank you thank you thank you!”

She yelps but hugs back. Or possibly clings on for dear life. “Did it finally happen? With Eddie?”

“With Eddie,” Steve confirms as he sets her down, his grin huge.

“Oh my god, congratulations!”

“Thanks Rob. … He’s still here though, so you’re going to want to leave.”

“… Yeah I think that’s would be best. I do not want to know what that apron is hiding right now.”

“Robin, jeez!”

“Whatever dingus, you owe me. Call me at Vickie’s if you need me, Chef Casanova, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Do you think there would be a difference in how much Robin knows about Steve's kinks, depending on whether it's Steve or Eddie growing a belly?

oh man, i think there would be and i dunno if he'd ever go into detail with her as in like, actually what goes down in like super detail. but i think she would definitely know enough, he would tell her if she ever asked questions and she definitely definitely knows they're obsessed with each other.

i guess with steve it might start with like, pointing out that he looks a little different, that he looks good, the weight suits him. and it does but more importantly she can see how happy he is. maybe she sees how eddies hand rests on his stomach when they cuddle on the couch, or how he likes to offer steve bites of his food if they're having different things for dinner. likes to get steve something sweet when they watch a movie, refilling whatever snack it is if he gets up to got to the bathroom. robin notices, she notices steves soft eyes and pleased smile. so she points out his weight gently, kindly, says 'you like it don't you.' just to see him nod, 'its weird isn't it?' but again she remembers his smile, the ease of his laugh these days. 'nah.'... but he's still her best friend and that gives her the right to poke him and smile, sharp and teasing, 'and eddie likes it too, really likes it.' just to see him blush, cover his face, maybe pace around or wriggle where they're laid out on her bed. say 'yeah', answer if she asks for details, says how good it all feels, the kissing, the food, how eddie fucks him so dee- 'yep okay! i don't want details actually.' and they'll both laugh, and she'll look at him, her best friend, her soulmate, body a little different but she loves him so much. loves how happiness looks on him.

with eddie it'd be a little different, but she's notice, eddie is her friend too. she see him soften, eat a little more, that kind of thing. but more so, mainly, she'd notice the way steve notices eddie. watch him follow eddie with his eyes, sometimes a little dark, sometimes achingly soft. she'd see them sneak off, eddie pulling steve by the hand, steve slipping his hand into eddies back pocket. she once caught them mid makeout, eddie pushing steve agains the wall with his bulk, in a way that made so much sense, she knew what he liked in bed, this was just another piece of the puzzle that was steve harrington. (she noticed all that before squawking and covering her eyes, telling them to knock it off. all of them ending up with the giggles.) she points it out one day, steve with his head rested in his palm, watching eddie move around and then fall heavily onto the couch, right after finishing the meal steve cooked him. 'eddies getting bigger.' she'd say, no judgment, no care, he looks good. and steve, he just sights, loved up and dopey, 'yeah.' he'd said, all dreamy and she smiles, loves them so much, so happy for her best friend... but she still shares an apartment with them, can't have them get too comfortable. 'im gonna head to bed, sex on the couch is still banned.' and steve balks at her, but then he smiles, because he knows she'll love him no matter what. no matter what him and his freaky boyfriend get up to. it'll never change them.

<3

[ilovebeing-weird]

Have a Coffee

Chapter-3

Chapter-1 Chapter-2

So, people who like angst. There won't be much angst here. I hate it! There would be hurt/comfort at best. This is going to be a fluffy story. And if I get anything wrong in the airport scenes, it's because idk how they work. Never been to an airport.

"Flight 204, to New York, from Air France will leave soon. Passengers please board the plane. Flight 204....." The voice was heard from the speakers

"Queenie, it's our flight. Let's go." Marinette called Chloe, who was busy fighting with a person, because he didn't recognise her and it's 'ridiculous, utterly ridiculous'

"Hmph, you better keep up with the celebrities. I am the Chloe Bourgeois. The only daughter of Style Queen, Audrey Bourgeois. The person who has her own amazing business. The best friend of cocci-"

"Chlo!" Mari put her hand to prevent her from speaking more than necessary. "Our flight, let's go."

"Oh"

"Je suis désolée Monsieur." (I am sorry sir)

"C'est bon." (It's okay)

"Let's go Chloe."

"I can't wait to go to New York! It's gonna be sooo much fun! I am so excited" Adrien squealed heading towards his seat

"When are you not excited?" Kagami asked rolling her eyes at her boyfriend's behavior

"Don't put your cloudy shade over my sunlight." Adrien said dramatically, in response Kagami again rolled her eyes.

"If you think I am such a rain cloud, why are you dating me?"

"Because I love you, Duh!"

Kagami's face went as red as a tomato.

"Aww, you're blushing!"

"No, I am not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I am not."

"Yes-"

"Guys as cute as you are, can we just please move." Luka said moving to his seat

"Sorry Lukes."

"Luka-bear, window seat is mine."

"I know Bee."

"Mari, you get the aisle seat. And Lu you'll have to sit in the middle." Chloe pointed to everyone's seat

"Yes Queenie!" Marinette saluted

"Perfect, now I will sleep for hours, I need my beauty sleep after all. If I will get dark circles it will be ridi-"

"RIDICULOUS, UTTERLY RIDICULOUS" All of them yelled

"Melody, your soul mark is in English, right. Maybe you'll find your soulmate here."

"Oooooh"

"Yeah, probably. My luck is not that good though."

"Don't lose hope yet Marinette, who knows maybe something good will happen."

"Maybe"

"The flight is ready to take off, passengers please wear their seatbelts. The flight is ready to…"

"I think we should get seated." Kagami took her seat "And Mars, don't worry, you will find your soulmate soon. It's destiny."

"You're right. It's destiny."

They all got seated, and Marinette was dying from lack of her coffee.

"I need my coooooffeeeee."

"No, sleep."

"Coffeeeee."

"Mel, for the last time, Sleeeeep!! Please."

"But I don't wanna. I have work-"

"That can wait. I am sure your clients will understand. And even if they won't I am sure you're ahead of your schedule." Marinette opened her mouth to say something but closed it again, it happened for a good three minutes before she gave in.

"......fine."

"Good"

"but you are working as my mannequin later."

"If it gets you to sleep."

"Why are you obsessed with making me sleep?"

"Because I care." Came his soft reply.

~After 5 hours~

"Marinette~ Where are you?~" A maniacal voice was heard

"Marinette! Answer me before I come there! Guess I will have to teach you another lesson!"

"Why don't you just die, you stupid piece of shit?" A punch

"Why are you even alive?" A kick

"You're nothing more than a waste of space." A push and marinette fell to the ground

"Nobody ever loved you, and nobody ever will! You don't even have a soulmate!" Marinette tried to say something, deny it, tell them that she had one, but she couldn't "And your "friends" they just hang out with you for pity!"

"I can't even believe I was friends with you!"

"You're nothing more than a jealous bully!"

She tried to do something, anything! But she wasn't able to, it was almost like she was bound by an invisible force.

"I hate you! I can't believe I was besties with you! You are just a liar and a bully!" Another kick, it didn't hurt. Not more than their betrayal.

"Asshole!"

"Bitch!"

"Slut"

"Waste of time!"

She sat there, listening to them. All of their insults, she didn't care. Not anymore.

"Guess I will have to put an end to it all, huh? I feel sad, you were a good playtoy." Her da-, no Mr.Dupain said, and the knife came down, she was screaming but no sound came out

"Marinette!" Huh? She didn't die?

"Marinette!" Adrien, she recognized the voice

"Marinette!" Marinette woke up with a shock

"What happened?"

"You were screaming and thrashing in your sleep."

"Oh, I had a nightmare." Adrien wiped her tears, she'd been crying? She didn't know.

"Wanna talk about it?" No she didn't, it will make it all real. It would bring flashbacks and she would have a panic attack.

"Not really." It was good that Adrien respected her wishes and didn't push it. "How long till we reach?"

"Uh, it's been five hours, so I am guessing three hours more. You wanna eat something?"

"N-" Adrien cut her off

"You know what? You do want to. You will obviously deny it, but I am not gonna let you starve."

"Why are you all like this?"

"Like what? So caring and such good friends? You deserve it."

"I hate you, each one of you."

"Aww, you know you love us! You looove us"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Mari rolled her eyes. She knew she loved them, they knew she loved them. They all loved each other, platonically obviously. But, there was a part of her which always wondered if they hung out with her just because they pitied her. They wouldn't do that, right?

Would they?

Finally almost eight hours passed, she had eaten and now she was working on some new designs while her friends slept peacefully.

"There has been a technical issue, the flight would land right here, in Gotham. Passengers are required to please wear their seatbelts and not panic."

WHAT!? The flight had to make an abrupt stop at Gotham at all of places, the fucking CRIME CAPITAL!! Oh no, oh no, OH HELL NO! This is a disaster, this is a disaster, a disaster. Wasn't luck supposed to be on her side? Did the miraculous mean nothing?

She quickly wore her seatbelt and checked all of her friends' too before waking them up.

"Umm, guys, there has been a technical issue, the flight's gonna land now, so you may wanna wake up." It didn't work, the formal and polite option didn't work "GUYS WAKE UP! THE FLIGHT'S GONNA LAND RIGHT NOW IN GOTHAM!" That worked! It jolted awake all of them.

"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!!"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"In the fucking crime capital?!"

"Maybe it is destiny." Marinette gave Luka a weird look that said 'are you crazy or something?'

"Maybe you will find your soulmate here."

"Of fucking course. In the crime capital. Maybe my soulmate is a criminal too, huh?"

"Don't be such a pessimist Mari, there are good people too in Gotham."

"So any idea what we wanna do?" Marinette asked once they were out of the plane.

"Let's order a cab to New York?"

"Yeah, let's do that. Let me check the cabs… There's no cab available for where you wanna go….. " Blood drained from Adrien's face as he read that.

"So, we are forced to stay in Gotham?"

"Kinda"

"Well what should we do now?" Luka gained their attention

"Let's go shopping!!" Chloe, obviously, cheered "Before either of you deny, Kags, you need new clothes, no offense, but you really have a bad fashion sense. Luka-bae, I need you to carry my bags. Adri-kins, Kags need you. And Mari-bear, you have a good fashion choice." Luka and Adrien sighed, guess they have to carry their bags forever.

"I don't know Chlo, I really need some coffee and have to do some work. I guess I will go to a café instead." Marinette said sheepishly

"Hmm, if you say so." Marinette was genuinely surprised that she let her off the hook. Usually she would be dragged with them. "You can send us your location and we'll meet you there in two hours?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Okay, bye, don't have a overdose~"

"Bye queenie!"

"Now let's find a café with an internet connection and quiet environment." She quickly searched all the café near her, fortunately the nearest café was within walking distance.

She walked for ten minutes before she reached the café "coffee and joy" apparently this café has amazing coffee and the batfam, mostly Red Robin, always comes here. The atmosphere was good, not too crowded but enough for it to be good.

She walked inside, it was good. As soon as she walked in she was greeted by the fragrance of coffee. The circular tables had plants on the side, couples were talking and chattering. There were families enjoying themselves, and a person who was typing away on his computer, huh, he almost looks dead. Well, who was she to judge, she was sure she looked the same while she was working.

She went to order. The workers there were happy and cheery. Weird, this is Gotham. Aren't people supposed to be gloomy and annoyed here? Well, Paris, the supposedly city of love, the people there are--the ones she knows the rest she is sure are good--are evil. She is not even exaggerating.

"Hi! How can I help you today?" The worker, she learnt the name was Sam, asked her.

"Hey can I get a black coffee with…..eight espresso shots? thank you!" The worker looked shocked, obviously anyone would be shocked if someone ordered this much caffeine. She muttered something that she couldn't quite make out but it sounded like 'there's three of them' . What did she mean by three of them? Eh, whatever.

"What name should I write on the cup?"

"Marinette." Marinette, the only reminder of her fam- the people she lived with. The name that was given to her by her grandma that she loves dearly. At Least her grandparents are good people.

"Okay, why don't you wait and I will call you?"

"Sure" She went to the table in the corner. So she would not grab any attention but will be able to go to the counter easily when called.

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

Tim was having a sucky day. Firstly, he was almost late to the meeting because Bruce thought it was good to let him sleep in. Fuck you Bruce! I don't need to sleep. Then Alfred banned coffee. Why? Because apparently he had a little too much coffee. Thirdly, his brothers were still obsessed with making him sleep, he already slept last night!

"Ughhh" Tim groaned, luckily his favourite café was just around the corner. He would go and grab some coffee there and work in peace.

Upon entering the café he was greeted by the sweet fragrance of coffee. Oh, how much he loved it. If he didn't find his soulmate he would marry coffee. Bruce wouldn't have a problem, right?

"Hey Sam!" Tim greeted the always cheerful barista

"Hey Mr. Drake. Your usual?"

"Yep."

"It will be ready soon!"

Thanking her Tim made his way to his usual table and took out his laptop to go over the meeting details. After a minute or so grabbing his coffee and feeling alive again Tim started working on the documents. He was so lost in his world that he didn't realise someone coming in. Only when her name was called did he realise that.

Out of curiosity, Tim looked at her, and what he saw was something he would remember forever. That woman was beautiful. He knew that it was wrong, he knew that he had a soulmate, he knew he should wait for them wherever they are, but he also knew that he felt a connection with her, he also knew that he had to take his chance. So that's what he'll do.

Waiting for a while to gather some courage and thinking about what to say. He started to make his way to her. Only to be stopped by her sad expression, she was angry, mostly sad looking at her laptop. Huh, looks like she's not having a great day. He decided that he will go to her with coffee, after all what was something that coffee couldn't solve. He ordered two coffees for them, he knew that her order was the same as his.

He took a deep breath and made his way across the café to her and offered her the beverage in his hand. "Having a rough day?"

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

Marinette was relieved that she got her coffee. She hasn't had any since morning. Why does the world have to be sooo unfair to her!? Opening her laptop she found some new commissions…..and some emails from her old class. Can they just suck it and move on? How childish can anyone be.

She knows that she shouldn't be but she was sad looking at it. She was just about to delete them when a voice startled her.

"Having a rough day? Have a coffee, It will make it better." Marinette being Marinette jumped at the voice.

"Ahh! You scared me! Wait a second….. You are my soulmate! Thanks for the coffee by the way." As soon as their hands touched there was a golden glow around them, a welcoming glow.

"Hey, soulmate. I am Timothy Drake-Wayne please call me Tim."

"Hey Tim, I am Marinette. Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Marinette." Tim kissed her knuckles to which she responded by blushing.

@legodetectivemalsblog

[alexiessan]

Never alone - Chapter Thirteen - Soulmate AU

AO3

Previous - Here - Next

Master List

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all your reaction! I love it when you guys tell me what you liked in the latest chapter. I love interacting with you too :) 

It was nearing the end of the school year — and the beginning of exams, French and Sciences for the Economics classes — and Marinette couldn’t help for the year to end.

Robin was coming to Paris in June.

The thought always brought a smile to her lips. Finally, she would get to spend more time with her boyfriend. Maybe she would get to know his identity and they would get to act like a couple and go on dates…

Marinette sighed at the thought. Their first year anniversary was coming and they have never gone on a date. They wouldn’t be able to do anything on that day either, it’s not like she could go to Gotham and she didn’t want to make Robin come all the way to Paris either.

She envied Alya and Nino, who were always together and going on dates.

The fashion designer would never say it aloud, especially not to her best friend, but she missed her friends. This year, they were going on more dates than ever and Marinette found herself alone more than not. Adrien was busy and his father didn’t allow him to go out ofter, and while she was still in contact with her former classmates, they weren’t as close as they were before.

So she found herself getting closer to some of her new classmates. She was spending more time with Claude, Allan, and Allegra than with Alya and Nino.

Alya and she were still best friends, of course, but it wasn’t the same anymore.

Those kinds of things happened. Ever since the reporter started dating the DJ, Alya spent a little less time with Marinette. And she didn’t mind, at first. She understood that she wanted to spend time with her boyfriend and she accepted it.

But now, she hardly saw the journalist out of school.

She was happy that she still got her weekly meeting with Kim and Nino. Ever since they rekindled their friendship back in middle school, they decided to pick Friday night as their night to watch movies, play games, or whatever.

This meant that at this point in time, she saw more Nino and Kim that she saw Alya.

Maybe she should talk to the bespectacled girl about it. She probably wouldn’t take it to heart and would try to spend more time with her friend if Marinette brought it up to her.

But she didn’t want to be that kind of friend. The one complaining about being left behind.

And, as she said, she got to form new friendships so it’s not like she was entirely alone. Alya became really good friends with Aurore too. Instead of seeing her as a rival in journalism, she bonded with her thanks to their shared interest.

She should probably call her after she got home, so they could have a nice chat about anything and everything.

Right now, the Eurasian girl was going to a dance course with Claude, Allan, and Allegra. Claude has been ranting for weeks about this course and had managed to convince her and the other to join him.

She was actually looking forward to it and even left her house extra early so he didn’t miss it.

She was about to cross the road, already seeing Claud and Allan waiting for her and Allegra and something caught her attention.

Lila Rossi was standing a few feet from her, a man talking to her and invading her personal space.

The Italian was clearly uncomfortable. She was trying to take a step back, but the man always followed her.

Looking around, she saw that almost no one paid them attention, and the ones who did look as uncomfortable as Lila and clearly, weren’t planning to intervene.

It made Marinette sick. She knew what it was like to be harassed by unknown men in the street and she wouldn’t wish that to anyone.

She may not like Lila at all, but there was still a girl code. If Lila bled through her pants, she would discreetly tell her, give her her cardigan to hide it, and give her a pad or a tampon.

If she got harassed, she would pretend to be her friend and get her away from a creepy man.

Seriously, the man was in his late thirties, early forties, what the hell was he doing seducing an underage girl?

Without any other thought, the black-haired girl made her way to the green-eyed girl.

“Hey, Lila! I’m sorry for making you wait! We can go!”

She took her arm in hers like she did with Alya and smiled at the taller girl.

“You ready to go?”

She could see the look of relief in the brunette’s eyes and didn’t wait for the guy to react before taking Lila away and crossing the road after making sure it was safe.

She let Lila go once they were out of the guy’s sight.

“Thank you.”

Lila looked directly into her eyes, confident as ever.

“You didn’t have to do this, especially after everything I’ve done to you.”

The blue-eyed girl shrugged.

“I don’t care anymore about all that, you know? I hate street harassment, and no girl deserves that. You were uncomfortable and I wasn’t just going to let that guy harass you like that. Girl code, you know?”

Lila smiled at that.

“Yeah. Girl code. Thank you, Dupain-Cheng.”

Marinette waved a hand. “Don’t mention it. Do you want me to accompany you somewhere.”

The Italian girl scoffed.

“No need, Dupain-Cheng. I’m good now.”

Without another word, Lila left, her hair almost hitting Marinette in the face.

The baker’s daughter watched her leave until she was out of her sight and left too, joining Claude and Allan.

“Hey, Mari! We’re still waiting for Allegra! We were thinking that we should go to our coffee shop after the course, what do you think?”

She smiled.

“Great! I’ve been thinking about their opera cake all week!”

The end of the year came pretty quickly after that. The exams came and went and she got to go to a party with her class at the end of the exams. Alya and Nino were there and she finally got to spend some time with her friend. The reporter had noticed during this night when Marinette told her a few months’ worths of stories that she had neglected her best friend a little in favor of her boyfriend and apologized for a good five minutes.

The French-Chinese girl forgave her on the spot, happy to get a bit of time with her best friend. She told her that it was ok for Alya to go on dates with her boyfriend and that she would never throw a fit over it, but she wanted at least an hour or two per week only for the both of them.

Alya had laughed and agreed, telling her that it should have stayed that way.

After that, Alya had confided in Marinette that if she went out more with Nino was because she was scared. She had a feeling that one of them would find their soulmate soon and that it would be the end for them. She wanted to get the most out of their relationship since she knew it wouldn’t last.

She could not not forgive her after that. She didn’t know how Alya and Nino lived with the fact that they loved each other and yet, knew that they probably wouldn’t stay together for their whole life.

Marinette hoped that their soulmates were platonic ones. Nino and Alya loved each other so much, it seemed cruel if their soulmates were not platonic ones.

She had kissed Alya’s cheek then, no words coming to reassure her about her relationship and told her that if she was scared about that, that she didn’t have to agree with her demand.

Alya had laughed.

“I want to spend time with you as much as I want to spend time with Nino, Mari. And you know, if I want to keep you as a friend, I have to put as much effort into our friendship as you do. It’s not a one-way friendship. So, no, I will make time for you at least once a week. You’re my best friend, and I failed in that role this year. Just like I did back with Lila. Never again.”

Marinette smiled. She had never thought that Alya failed in her role, but it was a bit lonely without her best friend so she didn’t say anything.

“Anyway,” said Alya, “I was thinking about reuniting our old class for a picnic or something, what do you say?”

“That would be great. I’ll send a message to our old group chat and see what date would work out for everyone. It would be great if Adrien could come, I feel like it’s been forever since we hung out.”

“Yeah, I know. His father has been even more strict than before.”

It was true. Gabriel Agreste made sure that Adrien had no time at all to spend time with his friends. He scheduled more photoshoots, more Chinese lessons… Adrien didn’t have time anymore for his friends.

“We should really call child protection service.” Marinette whispered.

“Nino tried that, you know.”

The bluenette raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah. But it didn’t go anywhere. I mean, it’s Gabriel Agreste. They didn’t even send anyone to investigate.”

“I’ve talked to Adrien about getting away, about emancipation, but he flat out refused.”

“Yeah, the guy loves his father despite everything. We want to help him, but we can’t force him to do anything either.”

Marinette thought about it. Was there really nothing they could do to help Adrien? Especially since he didn’t want to be helped?

“When are they coming again?”

Ladybug and Chat Noir were on a roof after patrol, discussing their collaboration with the Bat Family.

“In a week, now.”

“Wow, I can’t believe we’re going to work with Batman! That’s so cool!”

Ladybug laughed.

“Well, we’re not going to work with Batman but with Robin and Nightwing.”

She had discussed it over the phone with the whole team. Robin was an obvious choice, with their soulbond and because apparently, in his civilian life, he made sure to get into an exchange program for his last year of High School and would be coming to Paris anyway.

Batman couldn’t possibly come, his absence would give a chance to the criminals of Gotham to cause chaos and as an adult with a job, he couldn’t possibly leave that behind.

Nightwing had a job too, but there was a branch of the firm he worked at in Paris and he managed to get transferred there for at least a year.

She didn’t know why the others couldn’t but she wasn’t going to ask, it was too personal and she didn’t know their identities yet, so she swallowed her questions.

Nightwing was a great detective, almost as good as Batman, and she didn’t doubt that he would be of great help. Plus, he was a funny guy from what she gathered from her video calls with Robin.

“They will be meeting us at the top of the Eiffel Tower next Wednesday at 11 pm.”

“Roger that!”

The picnic with their former classmates was wild. Everyone was so happy to see each other again, it has been so long since they have all been together like that.

For once, Gabriel agreed to let Adrien go to this outing with his friends. The Gorilla — Simon, if Marinette recalled — was there to look after them and it made them want to roll their eyes. They were sixteen-years-old on a picnic, not wild teenagers at a party with alcohol.

Even Luka, Juleka’s brother was here. He was a very good friend to Marinette and even more after he confessed. He took it very well when she had to reject him and there were no hard feelings between them.

She was happy to hear about their year. Rose loved her literature classes, which wasn’t a surprise for the fashion designer. She could very well see Rose writing children’s books in the future. It would be a good fit for her.

And she told her just that.

“You know,” she began, eyes shining with something Marinette couldn’t describe, “I’ve never thought about it before. But I think you’re right. I love Fairy Tales and I could see myself creating some.”

The blonde bit her lower lip, looking at the bluenette.

“If… If I wrote a story, would you read it and give me your opinion?”

“Of course! I would love to read anything you write, Rose!”

The pink-clothed girl beamed.

“Thank you Marinette! I’m so happy you and Alya organized this picnic! I’ve really missed you guys.”

She hugged Marinette before joining Mylène, Ivan, Juleka, and Luka, probably talking about Kitty Section.

She had seen Kitty Section during rehearsals and when she designed costumes for them but she didn’t have the opportunity to just hang out with them.

She watched around, seeing that Lila was talking with Nino.

“I can’t believe you invited Lila, girl. You would have done everything to exclude her before.”

The designer winced.

“Yeah, well, you know. Bridge. Water. It’s all in the past now. It’s not like she’s doing everything she can to ruin my life anymore.”

The reporter grinned.

“Look at you, being all mature and grown-up!”

“Hey, I am mature!”

Tag List:

@bigpicklebananatree @animegirlweeb @crazylittlemunchkin​ @northernbluetongue​ @cutechip​ @justafanwarrior​ @iloontjeboontje​ @resignedcatservant​ @maribat-is-lifeblood​ @i-like-fairytail-and-stuff​ @toodaloo-kangaroo​ @mikantsume​ @dast218​ @amayakans​ @zestyzealot​ @lunarwolfspn​ @corabeth11​ @marinettepotterandplagg​ @olynix​ @aestheticnpoetic​

[alphawolfice1989]

These two are clearly made for each other. Shame the showrunners couldn't see it.

Yeah, I think that's the part that frustrates me the most. Because that's just how shows like that work, you show the viewers a pairing, convince them with your writing they should be together and then you make it happen. And since HIMYM was written for a mature audience it isn't quite as simple as X doing big impersonal "romantic" gestures for Y all the time to make us believe it, which is in CB/CT land sadly the pinnacle of romanticism while in reality it simply is not, quite the opposite since those gestures that Ted did were usually very impersonal on top of it. Blue horn, orchestra etc. you could just exchange the woman they're meant for and it wouldn't really matter, especially since the woman in question already made it clear she doesn't even like such things. While the big things that Barney did for said woman were at least very personal, they were specifically tailored towards her. We have to go with reality when selling a relationship because of HIMYM's audience and in reality the most important cornerstones of a good and long lasting relationship look as following 1.) Love. 2.) Can you work together, on a day to day basis? Can you steer around problems? Can you take care of a home together? 3.) Children or life goals in general. 4.) Do you share similar interests, a similar worldview? I'm just going to compare B/R to T/R now regarding these points, I'm not even going to bother with bringing T/T in the mix. 1.) Love. We perfectly understand why B is in love with R, the show has made that clear, he thinks of her as his soulmate, he also sees her as his only hope of escaping that very sad life of his leave it behind forever and have something truly fulfilling with her, he adores her charm her wit and her overall personality, Baby Talk made that very clear. And as a bit of a shallow addition because I don't want to sound too cheesy now, I'm sure he's also very fond of her body. As for R loving B, I think he's the only boyfriend that ever made her feel appreciated for who she really is and not for what she is expected to be, and I think that is a major "love reason" (for the lack of better word, damn you English!) for someone like her, who was never deemed good enough by all the men in her life prior, from her own father, first boyfriend, first serious adult boyfriend T etc. who all did a very good job with making her feel inferior, and then comes B who likes her exactly the way she is which must be a very uplifting feeling for her (as you mentioned, he saw her without being annoyed or unmanned, but actually being impressed by it), so she obviously sees him as her soulmate, that's just logical. As for T loving R. Why exactly? We don't know why, I saw this point being brought up by someone here a few weeks ago and I was thinking about it a bit and my answer too is that I don't know why. The show never tells us, the show just says T loves R and that's it. So we have to look at the way it started and then and I must say T's supposed love is even quite shallow, he sees his friends getting engaged and he goes down to the bar because he wants that too, sees R and decides he's in love with her. So what T loves about R is the possibility of a lifestyle she can give him, a pretty face and a tight body, that's it. And I don't even know why R would love T, I can't even come up with a single reason, he's safe and dependable I guess? Wow, what a grande romance...

If, after nine years, the viewership as a whole doesn't know why the male lead is supposedly crazy in love with his female friend and runs after her the second he's done grieving his wife, then guess what? It was written poorly.  Why did Ted love Robin? Umm, she was there? Would it have been any different if any other woman had walked in at that given moment? Or if Barney swooped in and put a move on Robin instead of playing "haaave you met Ted?" Ted moves on to the next girl?  Young man sees a beautiful young woman, attraction is only natural. But does he love her at first sight? He doesn't even know her. First date, Ted is in love with Robin, but she's only looking to jump that turnstile (her words.) The hook HIMYM had was that the lead didn't spot his dream girl across a crowded room, declare he'll get her and then get her. No, lead sees dream girl across a crowded room, but she's not his dream girl after all, ends up becoming one of his best platonic friends and marrying his perpetual bachelor best friend, now there's something original.  No matter how many Ted Mosby Grand Romantic Gestures (patent pending) Ted hauled out of his bag of tricks, they didn't work on Robin. Not the blue French horn (any of the times) not the whole orchestra, not making it rain, etc. He shot, but he didn't hit the target. Ted's gestures toward Robin were all about Ted. When Barney made a grand gesture, it was all about Robin. For all his derision of Canada, he brought Canada to her, because that's what she wanted. There's a difference.  As for why Robin would love Ted, she doesn't. Said so in her own words, but I guess that's not plain enough, or the woman's wishes and feelings don't matter in this story world? Eh, he's safe and it's better than being alone? Not good enough. :whipcrack:

 They don't, it's all written in the show that they don't. I never found out why Robin even puts up with Ted's antics, his gestures are meaningless to her and she isn't attracted to those gestures or Ted himself so why does she even like Ted. They have zero in common, they couldn't even live together without fighting, they were a terrible couple totally unmatched and had wanted different things. All the things Ted did for her was all about him, it's very true and everything Barney did for her was FOR HER. Barney sees the actual real woman she is, Ted sees what he wants to see because she's hot. What's the real reason behind any romantic feelings between two people who aren't right for each other. There's a difference between real love that's selfless and fake love that's selfish. Robin loves Barney, end of point that is all there because she loves him just like he loves her. For each other, those feelings, that love would never go away ever because they are each other ONE.

 The Ted and Robin relationship that I love is not the implausible romance, but the very plausible platonic friendship. Ted goes all out with his grand romantic gestures, and they fall flat with Robin because those aren't things that impress her. Ted's gestures are for Ted. The mutual spark isn't there, but it is with Barney. Barney's gestures are for Robin.  Ted and Robin don't work as a romantic pair, because they don't want the same things or have the same worldview, but as friends, the rub along quite well. Take the romantic/sexual angle out of the relationship and they do fine. Brother/sister, almost, which fits with both of them having their own respective spouses; the spouses, Tracy and Barney, each make Ted and Robin more themselves, not less.

 I've always saw them as a brother/sister/platonic/friends type relationship it works for them. Romance doesn't, she loves the little things that Barney does for her because she knows those things he does are for her not for something to get from it. Barney loves to make her happy and by doing that it means putting her first and doing things for her because she wants them. IE, getting her a job to stay in the country cause she loves being in NY with her friends who are her family and the rehearsal dinner which was his surprise to her because she's always wanted to get married in her home country. All those things he does is to make her happy everything Ted does is for himself ie winning her back when she's happy with Barney and sees that with his own two eyes.

 Barney has done much to make Robin happy; we find out that he went with her to rehome the dogs Ted insisted she give up because their presence made him uncomfortable. Barney got Robin a job in an extremely competitive industry on extremely short notice to keep her in the country (and would have married her if that would have done the job) brought Canada to her, etc. For a man who had spent several years chasing his own momentary pleasures, investing this much and doing this much for someone else's happiness is huge.

 2.) Can you work together, on a day to day basis, can you steer around problems? Can you take care of a home together? All we saw of B/R ever since they got engaged was them steering around problems, together like mature people, so OFC they can. As for the home, they never said they can't and the fortress looked in pretty good shape at the end Something New, even with flowers and stuff which I'm sure R brought into it, so he let her change stuff which both means they can take care of a home. Remember what happened when Quinn wanted to change stuff? I know that these problems probably shouldn't even come up in CB/CT land, and the very fact they do means the marriage is doomed in their crazy mind, and that notion is OFC rubbish in reality. As for T/R. I haven't quite followed that relationship enough, but all I know is that whenever some problems arose they were being dealt with in the "Ted behaves like a douche, Robin is mad, someone convinces Robin that Ted is right (even though he isn't), Robin goes back to her father boyfriend to apologize, they kiss, I yawn" manner. They couldn't even move in together when paired up, and when not paired up they couldn't even run the apartment together without fighting. 3.) Children and life goals in general. B/R have both been shown that the idea of children entertains them. As long as they aren't their own. As for R's career ambitions, I would say that depends on the R we're talking about, if it's the s3-s9 Robin then there are no issues since she already has a career, doesn't care about travelling and values love and friendship over career and travel anyhow. She's a big city girl who loves NY and doesn't want to live in a suburban hell (her own words not mine.) As for B, I don't think he really has a live goal, the only one I can think of is successfully leaving his womanizing behind for something more fulfilling, which he has with R, I know he loves NY like R does and since the real s3-s9 R doesn't want to travel anyhow and has a high ranking job in NY it should work. As for T/R. T wants his own family, he wants children and he wants to live in his house in Westchester with them, that is all. I don't think R secretly wants children, and I'm sure she would rather set herself on fire than live suburban (again, her own words not mine.) 4.) Do you share similar interests, a similar worldview? I'm not even going to bother with a lengthy passage here since my comment is already getting way longer than I originally planned. I'm just going to say 3 episode names off the top of my head, Zip Zip Zip, Natural History and Something New. I see two cynical people who both also remained a bit of a child at heart. T/R have never been shown to have similar interests, other than drinking alcohol at the bar which OFC can't be seen as a basis for a relationship. As for the worldview, he's a hopeless romantic, and she's the exact opposite of that. Just imagine how she would react to T when he tries the same moves on her like he did with Victoria in the one episode where M/L where trapped inside the bathroom. Carter and Craig had all bases covered when it comes to B/R. And not covered when it comes to T/R, they successfully convinced us with it why whose two should not be together, all they had to do is make both of it happen. But no, they went with stolen decor and some locket instead. And these two clowns have the gall to say what they did was "realistic" and "true to life"? No wonder this exploded so hard in their face as it did.

 Wow. So much good reasoning here. Very true. (And when did I become a Shiba Inu? Blaming cold meds.)  All of these things are essential for a lasting relationship, and it's plain to see, given these criteria, which couple would last, and which one would either go down in flames or simmer in silent resentment for decades, as we did see in one of the potential flashforwards in The Front Porch.  Love the description of Barney and Robin as both being cynical people who are a bit of a child at heart. That's a huge part of what makes them as well suited for each other as they are. They do have similar goals, mindsets and worldviews. They function as a couple even when not a couple, and when they are together, they become more than the sum of their parts.  By the end of the show, we were all perfectly set up to see exactly why Ted and Robin would never work (and how many times did Ted get over Robin for real this time?) that Barney and Robin would, and the reward for Ted for hanging in there was his true perfect match, Tracy, whom he could only meet once he really did give up on the dream of (his idea of) Robin. By 9.22, we had the satisfying ending within reach. You had one job, CB/CT. One job. Bad writers. No spinoff.

https://barneyrobin.livejournal.com/1213594.html

[hairstevington]

flowers and ink (part 2)

Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Summary: Eddie and Steve like each other, but unfortunately Eddie thinks Steve is dating Robin, and they're both generally just gay disasters who don't know how to communicate

(part one found here)

Word Count: 3K

Warnings: Tattoo Artist!Eddie, Florist!Steve, fluff, gay panic, Platonic Soulmates Steve and Robin, Will is here and we love him, everybody is a sweetheart and an idiot, it's just cute and funny

A/N: Ha ha, remember when I said this would be two parts? I'm having so much fun with it that I'm making it three parts. I hope you don't mind??? Also this story is officially cross posted on Ao3 for those interested!

“Steve, did you give Eddie a 50% tip?” Robin asked as they walked out of Ink About It.

“Well, I’ve never been that great at math,” Steve mumbled, blushing. 

“Uh-huh. I’m sure that’s the reason.”

“He did a great job?” Steve offered. He wasn’t even sure why he was denying the obvious. Robin knew Steve way too well to play these games. 

“You like Eddie,” she stated.

“I barely know him,” Steve shrugged.

“Yeah, but his work is permanently on your skin forever,” Robin pointed out. 

“Jesus, why did you have to say that?” Steve whined with a groan. “He’s hot, okay? Will you just leave it?”

He knew she wouldn’t leave it. It was kind of her specialty.

“It was just so cute seeing you be all flirty with him,” Robin said. 

“God, I hope it wasn’t that obvious.”

“Don’t worry, he was too focused on his work to notice,” she assured him. “Come on, we just did something big, let’s celebrate!”

So, they did.

The next time they worked together, the teasing was relentless. Steve couldn’t escape it due to the tattoo shop being right through the glass. He couldn’t help trying to see if Eddie was in there. 

“Oh my god, just go back there and talk to him,” Robin suggested.

“I can’t just go there, Robin,” Steve replied. “I’d have to, like, make another appointment or something.”

“You’re willing to get a new tattoo every time you see this guy, Dingus?” Steve chuckled.

“If I have to, sure.” Robin smacked him playfully on the arm. 

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Oh, and you’re any better?” Steve challenged. “Remind me again why you started working here.” Robin rolled her eyes. 

“Whatever, we’re both gay disasters,” she replied. “I still think you should go over there. I’ll cover for you.”

“Wait, you mean now?” Steve asked, confused. 

“Yeah,” Robin confirmed. “It’s been so slow I’m going crazy, Harrington. I need something to spice up the day, and this fits the bill.” She put her hands on his chest and pushed him backwards toward the front door. “Do it. Go.” Steve sighed.

“It’s a good thing I love you, Buckley.”

And with that, he was off to the tattoo parlor.

-

Bob took the morning off to take Will to brunch, leaving Eddie alone in the shop. He didn’t mind holding the fort, because he could plan breaks and moments to relax based on the appointments he had for the day. Tattoo shops were chill.

Most people generally knew not to walk into a tattoo place without notice. Appointments and communication beforehand were necessary so that the artist could design and adjust, plan their day, etc. 

Steve apparently didn’t have that memo. But when he sauntered into Ink About It, Eddie didn’t care about his lack of a heads up. 

He was wearing his work polo - light blue with the name of the flower shop over his heart. He looked a bit nervous, but Eddie figured that was because the man clearly did not fit into a place like this. 

“Back for more already?” Eddie teased. Steve blushed, and it was cute how nervous tattooing made him. He wondered if Steve regretted getting one in the first place. 

“I just have a question,” Steve said. He walked up to the counter and leaned his elbows on it, making the height difference between them drastic enough where Steve had to angle his chin up to make eye contact. 

“Shoot,” Eddie permitted. 

“Is the damn thing supposed to like - peel?” Steve asked. 

Eddie just about lost it. He never wanted to make someone feel bad for not knowing these things, but Steve was just so goddamn cute about it. He pressed his lips together as tightly as he could so he wouldn’t give himself away, then nodded. 

“Yup,” Eddie answered. “The first week or so you’ll see it flake off. Don’t pick at it or scrub it or anything.”

“Would it come off if I do?” Steve asked. 

Okay. Now the guy HAD to be fucking with him. Don’t laugh don’t laugh be professional do what Bob would do.

“I - uh, well no I’m afraid tattoos are permanent, Steve,” Eddie responded. Steve looked at him dumbly for a second, then shifted back up to standing and burst out laughing. 

Eddie watched, confused, until Steve spoke again. 

“I’m just fucking with you Eddie. I may not know a lot about tattoos, but I know they’re permanent, okay?” Eddie seeing Steve goof around like this was charming in a way Eddie hadn’t seen yet. He’d really only known Steve with a brave face on, caring for Robin when she got scared. Eddie had already been crushing on Steve, and hearing him laugh now took the crush to new heights. 

“Oh,” Eddie said, smiling back with a light chuckle. “Alright then. So yeah, if it’s flaking that’s okay, but I can look at it if you want.” Steve nodded, so Eddie gestured for them to go back to the space where Steve got the tattoo in the first place. 

Steve stood there awkwardly, looking at the table he was supposed to sit on, then down at his ankle, then back up. 

“How do you want me?” he asked. 

Eddie really wished he didn’t say that. 

“Uh, you can just sit like you did the other day and pull your pant leg up.” Steve did as told, crossing his left leg over his right so his ankle was in clear view. 

Eddie knew at first glance it was healing just fine, but he lingered on his work for an extra few seconds, just to extend the moment as much as he could. 

“So, what’s the verdict?” Steve asked, nervously. Eddie shook his head to get himself out of his daze. 

“Everything looks good,” he confirmed. “Maybe a bit dry. Are you putting lotion on it?”

Steve nodded, then named a kind of lotion Eddie knew was shit for this sort of thing, but it would do in a pinch. Eddie caught sight of the clock and realized Bob was going to show up with Will any moment. 

“I guess I should head out,” Steve said, noticing Eddie’s focus drifting to the time. 

“Uh, right,” Eddie said. He really did need Steve to go, but he didn’t want him to. “Yeah, I got - the manager is coming in soon with this kid who I guess is into art. I’m supposed to show him the ropes and -” Eddie paused, realizing he was just about to spill his whole guts to Steve without even thinking about it. 

“And?” Steve pressed. Shit. Eddie took a deep breath. 

“I guess the kid just came out and Bob thinks he needs another gay person to talk to or something,” Eddie admitted. 

“Oh,” Steve replied. Eddie couldn’t read his expression. He definitely looked a bit surprised, but most people did. Eddie couldn’t even count the amount of times someone had said something like, I had no idea. You don’t look it. Like, what the fuck does that even mean? He waited for Steve to say something similar, but instead the door opened. 

“Hey, Eds, we’re back!” Bob announced from the waiting area.

“Uh, good luck,” Steve mumbled, fixing his pant leg and standing up. He turned to leave, but froze when he saw the kid. “Will?”

“Steve?!” 

“Wait, you two know each other?” Eddie asked, confused. 

“Uh, yeah. I kinda used to babysit him,” Steve answered. “How have you been, dude? You’re almost as tall as me now!”

Eddie and Bob watched as Will ran to Steve and hugged him, both of them smiling warmly. 

“I’m good! Things are good!” Will said. He separated from Steve and looked to Eddie. “You must be the artist Bob has told me about.”

“That’s me,” Eddie replied with a wave. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Well, I gotta get back to work,” Steve said, knowing that he was no longer supposed to be there. “But you’re in good hands with Eddie. He just gave me my first tattoo and he’s pretty great.”

Eddie had no idea why Steve was complimenting him so much. He could feel himself blushing. 

“You work at the place across the street?” Will asked. Steve nodded. “Yup, with Robin,” he answered. 

“Oh, how’s she doing?” Will asked. 

“She’s good. Same as always. Still the best person I know.”

Aww. That was sweet. But also annoying. For Eddie, anyway. Their goddamn relationship was long term and solid as ever, apparently.

Steve insisted again that he should get going, and then he was off. 

“So,” Eddie said, clapping his hands together. “What do you want to see first?”

They started with a tour of the place. Eddie showed Will his tattooing space first, going over the tools and explaining how it all worked. Then, Will started asking Eddie about his own tattoos, so they went over all of those next. It took a long time, because Eddie had a lot of tattoos to explain, each of them with their own backstory. Some backstories were more involved and coherent than others. Some of them just consisted of, “oh yeah, I was kinda tipsy and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Don’t do that by the way.”

“I don’t want a tattoo, anyway,” Will had responded. Eddie nodded, but had an inkling from the way Will was so fascinated by all this that he’d change his mind someday. 

After that, Eddie showed Will a bunch of designs he’d done in the past, then a few he was currently working on. Will ended up showing Eddie some of the drawings he’d done. 

“Oh, shit,” Eddie said, completely blown away. “You’re really talented, man.”

“Thanks,” Will replied with a smile. “I’ve been doing it my whole life.”

“That’s awesome. So, you think you’re gonna get into tattooing?”

“I dunno, maybe,” he responded with a shrug. “I’m going to college in the fall for art, but I don’t really know what I’m gonna do with it yet.”

“That’s soooo normal,” Eddie replied. He’d heard people say as much often, so he figured he’d pass the knowledge along. “I didn’t go to college, but I found my place here. I wasn’t an artist my whole life like you, but it turned out to kind of be perfect for me.”

“Isn’t it weird to have your designs on people’s bodies forever?”

“It’s kind of awesome, actually,” Eddie said with a grin. “It was a little wild at first to work on skin, but thankfully they had me start on oranges, first.”

“Really?” Will asked, amused. “I had no idea!”

“Yeah!” Eddie responded. “You wanna try?”

“You just have an orange lying around?” 

“I like citrus, what can I tell ya.”

Will practiced a few designs under Eddie’s watch. He caught a glimpse of Bob in the office, smiling at the two of them bonding. 

Will was cool. He was sweet. He was also sarcastic in a sneaky way. Sometimes he’d say something that caught Eddie off guard, just because Will seemed shy and quiet at first. He wasn’t, really. 

“I know why Bob wanted me to meet you,” Will said. They’d peeled the orange and were now splitting it.

“Hm?” Eddie asked. “I mean, so you could check out the shop, right?”

“It’s okay, I know he wants me to talk to other gay people,” Will pointed out, rolling his eyes. “Bob isn’t that slick.”

Eddie chuckled. Smart kid.

“Yeah, well I’ll talk about it if you want me to, but figured I’d let you bring it up first. When I was your age, I didn’t really wanna talk to anyone, but you’re a lot different than I was.”

“What do you mean?” Will asked. 

“Uhhhhhhh….” Eddie looked around nervously. Bob had closed the door to the office. “I was all over the place back then. I was the school freak - that’s literally what they called me.”

Eddie had gotten over the trauma of high school the last few years. His life stabilized, and he realized all the shit people thought about him were irrelevant. He left all of it behind, and he was a lot happier now. 

“People bully me too,” Will confessed quietly. 

“People suck,” Eddie said with a sigh. “I guess that much hasn’t changed since I graduated. Maybe we aren’t so different after all, then.”

Eddie didn’t think Will dealt drugs or got into fights like Eddie used to, but people don’t have to go through the same things to feel the same things. 

-

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT.

Eddie’s gay. This changes everything. 

Steve did his best to exit Ink About It calmly, and it took everything in him not to fully sprint across the street. He still ended up doing a fast walk that was basically a jog. 

He flung himself to the door and opened it, taking a deep breath. 

“Robin!” he shouted. 

His eyes focused on the absolute chaos happening in the shop. People were everywhere, like what the fuck? Robin was manning the register and answering questions as best as she could, but she was clearly in over her head. 

“Help,” she mouthed with terror in her eyes. 

Steve desperately wanted to tell her that this was karma for her saying she was bored and sending Steve away. He also wanted to tell her about his time at Ink About It. But there were other priorities first. 

Steve quickly swooped in to help her cash customers out. She scurried to the back to handle the many customers who wanted to know about the various flowers being sold. 

Steve was able to gather through small talk with the customers that prom was happening at the school down the road, and everyone was getting last minute flowers for their dates.

More accurately, the parents were. Some brave kids showed up, but they looked completely lost. 

They continued working until the rush died down, leaving the two of them on the edge of exhaustion. 

“That was brutal,” Steve muttered as he splayed himself across the counter. 

“So brutal,” Robin agreed. She was lying fully on the ground, starfish style. Bits of stems and flower petals surrounded her. It was kind of pretty, actually. 

“Hold on, stay right there,” Steve said, pulling his phone from his pocket. Before Robin could object, Steve snapped a picture from above. 

“Hey!” she said, sitting up. “I don’t want this moment of my life documented, Steven!” 

“Yes, you do. Look.” Steve bent down and showed her the picture. After a moment, she nodded. 

“Okay, fine. Yes. That’s going on my Instagram, thank you.”

“You should put it on your Hinge profile, too,” Steve suggested. 

“Good idea,” Robin agreed. She jumped to her feet and sighed. “I’m gonna go clean up the back.”

“I’ll be here,” Steve replied. 

Ten minutes went by, and then Steve heard a squealing.

“Shit! Fuck!” Robin didn’t actually curse that often, so Steve knew something must be very wrong. 

“Robs? You okay back there?” He rounded the corner just as Robin squatted behind some bouquets, concealing herself. 

“Don’t!” she yelled. “Okay, well actually I do need your help, but you have to promise not to laugh.”

“I can’t promise that, but I’ll try,” Steve said with a smirk. 

Robin straightened herself back up, and Steve got the full picture of what had happened. Her hair was all kinds of tangled in a watering can. 

He laughed so hard he cried. 

“I hate you, DIngus,” she muttered, not nearly as amused by the situation. 

“This is why you leave the watering to me,” Steve joked. “Come on, let’s get you fixed up.”

-

This is stupid. This is so stupid. Eddie, you are stupid. Get some help.

He was headed to Flowers for All with unscented lotion. For Steve. Because Eddie had no chill and was a simp. 

He didn’t even care if Steve was queer, or if he was taken. Eddie just wanted to talk to him more. 

So stupid.

Eddie walked in, triggering the bell above the door. He quickly heard voices from the back.

“Shit! Someone’s here!”

“It’s ok I got it I got it.”

There were more sounds of shuffling for a few seconds before Steve tumbled out of a doorway, blushing. 

Oh my god. Did I just interrupt them hooking up?

Eddie somehow felt even more like a dumbass. He wasn’t fazed by them getting it on at work - it’s not like he hadn’t done that before - it’s that he brought goddamn unscented lotion to his client’s place of work, unannounced and unprompted. 

“I - shit, sorry,” Eddie said, just about ready to turn and bolt. 

“It’s okay!” Steve assured him. “What’s going on Eddie?”

Robin ran out of the room so fast she almost fell over. 

“Eddie! What a wonderful surprise!” 

There was a teasing quality to her voice that Eddie mistook for her trying to cover up how flustered she was. This was all but confirmed when Steve gently elbowed her in the rib. 

“I brought this for you,” Eddie said. He raised the stupid fucking lotion so it was in plain view, then forced himself to walk to the counter and leave it there. “It’s what I use. Your tattoo will heal better. Uh - both of them. For both of you, I mean.”

“Hey, thanks, man.” Steve smiled and grabbed the lotion, inspecting it. 

“Do all tattoo artists care this much about their clients?” Robin asked. There was that teasing sound again. Is she jealous or something? 

“Well, I - Bob always tells me to be nice so I do my best. Sorry if I interrupted anything.”

Steve and Robin shared a knowing look. 

“You didn’t,” Steve said casually. “We’re finally dead again, which is the way we like it.”

“Yeah,” Robin agreed. “It was rough earlier, but we survived.”

“We always do,” Steve added. 

They were so friendly and kind, and they clearly loved each other very much. Eddie knew he needed to go. He had to go. He just needs to say goodbye, turn around, and -

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys about something,” Eddie blurted out. 

Shit.

He didn’t actually have anything to talk about. But luckily, one of his special skills included the ability to never shut the fuck up. 

He took a deep breath and decided to do a little improv.

(part three)

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