#dustin henderson needs a hug

[morganski-19]

Chills Right to the Marrow Part 40

ao3 link| part 1 . . . part 37, part 38, part 39

Steve’s not at work today. Dustin went to Family Video to see if there was anything new, the rest of his friends at the arcade down the block. But Steve isn’t here. Robin is, but he isn’t.

“Where’s Steve,” he asks. Urgency in his voice.

“Called out today, something came up.” There’s only confusion in Robin’s voice. Like Steve not being here is something normal. “Why?”

“Is he ok?”

Steve doesn’t call out for no reason. Dustin’s seen him be here slipping pain killers under his sleeve while he has a migraine. Turn the lights off in between customers and close the blinds. But he was still here.

It’s only been three weeks since “the big one.” Another one couldn’t have happened this soon. Nancy would have told him if he had one. She promised him that she would. Unless she doesn’t know about it either.

How much does Steve hide things when it goes wrong? How many layers does Dustin have to search just to find answers? How long will Steve have to be in pain for him to realize that it hurts other people too?

“Yeah, he’s fine. Like I said, something just came up.”

Dustin doesn’t believe him. Fine means nothing. Fine could mean blood draining out of his face and falling on the floor. Fine could mean trapped in bed because moving seems impossible. Could be stuck in a loop of panic that won’t stop, no matter how hard he tries.

Fine with Steve almost never means fine. Dustin knows that.

He turns on his heel and heads out of the store. He walks down the street to the arcade, to his bike that’s chained up outside.

The wind almost knocks his hat off, but he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care when his walkie crackles in his backpack. A faint voice asking where he went. It doesn’t matter right now.

All that matters is the spiral in his mind. The belief that if he can’t see it, then he can’t know it didn’t happen. Faces of death molding together into one. All warning him of what could happen. Of what did happen. Of what should have happened if the luck ran out.

A tear catches on his lip. The saltiness the only reason he knows that he’s crying. Vision blurring as Steve’s house comes into view. As he drops his bike onto the grass and struggles to find his key. Hand shaking so much, he has to steady it with his other just to get it in the lock.

“Steve,” he yells when the door opens. Running upstairs, not bothering with taking off his shoes. “Steve.”

His bedroom is empty. A made bed with nothing else. He isn’t here. He isn’t stuck there.

“Steve,” he calls out again. Hearing his voice bounce off the walls, echoing. Drawing out his cries for a seconds longer than it should. Emptiness surrounding him.

He runs back down the stairs, calling out again. Nothing again.

A list forms in his mind, and he checks it off. Steve’s car was in the driveway. His shoes are by the door. His keys are on the table. His bed it made. There are dishes in the drying rack.

He has to be fine. He has to be ok. He has to be.

“Dustin?”

There Steve was. The final check off his list. Standing straight, looking like he slept. Put together. Alive. He was alive.

Dustin crumbles. The panicked sob breaking out of his chest. Steve rushes forward. Holds Dustin upright as his knees start to bend. Push the hair out of his face and ask him if everything was alright. If he was hurt. What happened.

“You.” Dustin can’t voice himself properly right now. He means to say, you’re ok. Or maybe something else. Maybe place the blame on him for making Dustin like this. For making him come all this way.

He gets brought to the living room and forced to sit. Until the breath evens out, actually fills his lungs. Until the tears dry on his cheek. Until he’s calm again.

A cold glass gets pressed into his hands. He drinks the water. Returns to normal.

Steve is sitting next to him. Alive. Perfectly fine. Nothing is wrong.

“Your radio was going off like crazy,” Steve fills the silence. “I told them that you were alright, where you were. You scared the shit out of them.”

Bold words coming from him, Dustin would say. If he could. If his mouth would cooperate with him.

“Do you want to tell me why you biked here?”

Dustin takes a deep breath. Feels the stretch in his chest. The relief as he releases it slowly.

“Why weren’t you at work?”

“That’s what this is about?” Steve doesn’t mean for it to come out the way that it does. The apology of his face says that. “I called out. Eddie has his physical therapy appointment today and Wayne has to go to work right after. He can’t move that much after therapy, so I took off to help him.”

“Oh.”

It was so normal. It was so normal, and he blew it out of proportion. He just panicked. Saw something that wasn’t right and immediately went to the worst. Right back into that hospital room. To all those times before.

Steve turns to him. Face full of concern. Full of worry. “Dustin, talk to me. What’s going on?”

“No one tells me anything,” he exclaims. “I have to find out everything from someone else, or days, or weeks later. I never get told anything by the person themselves. I’m always the last to know.”

“Dustin-.”

“No. I’m tired of the excuses. I’m tired of you saying that it’s not my thing to worry about. Because I do. No matter how hard you think you shield me from it, I worry about it. Every day I wake up and wonder if your head is killing you. If when I see you later, you’re going be how you were before, or a ghost of yourself. If I’m going to look at you push yourself for my betterment. When I know that you’re in pain.”

Steve looks at him like he doesn’t know what to say. Even if he did, Dustin wouldn’t give him the chance to. He’s not done.

There’s so much he needed to say.

“You’re like a brother to me, Steve. You’re family. I don’t know why you think you can just get away with hiding this from me, but you can’t. Because I love you and all I’m asking is to know what is going on with you. Is that such a big thing to ask?”

Before Dustin can take a breath, Steve hugs him. Holds him close, sniffling. “I’m sorry.” He takes a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Sucks, right?”

Steve snorts. Pulling back. “I’ll be back in a second.”

He leaves the living room, going up stairs and returning with a small book. A planner. He hands it to Dustin, motions for him to flip through it. Its pages are filled with notes. Some days are blank, some are overflowing. There’s a mix of different hand writings.

“Every time I get a migraine, I write it down. The severity, if I had to take any pills. If I called out from work, if I went home early. On days when it gets really bad, Robin fills it in. She writes down what I eat and when. If I was nauseous, if I left my bed at all. Everything.”

Dustin lands on three weeks ago. To the day after Eddie came home. That day was marked at an eight. The next day a nine. The one after that, also a nine. Then an eight. Then it went down slowly over the next day.

“It started after Starcourt, when I got them more frequently. The doctor suggested I keep a journal for a few months, to make sure nothing else was going on. That it wasn’t getting worse. I’ve kept one ever since.”

“This,” he points at the date. “This was the big one?”

Steve nods. “It’s the most painful, lasts a few days. I get then about once a month. They average at three days, building in the days before and then being really bad, before going down again. The bad days is what we dub ‘the big one.’ I don’t really count the build up to it, because it’s normal. Until it isn’t.”

None of this was normal. To most people, this wasn’t normal. But it was to Steve. He walked through life like this. Where he can’t go a week without a migraine. Or even just a small headache. This was his normal.

“I can’t promise I’ll always tell you when they happen. When it gets bad, I can barely open my eyes, let alone want to speak. But, if you really want to know, I keep this on my desk. You can look at it anytime.”

It’s everything he wanted, right here in his hands. Worse than he was thinking, but he knows.

“Thank you.”

Steve nods. “I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you. I really didn’t want you to worry about it. And I didn’t know how much it was affecting you. I would have told you if I knew sooner.”

The front door opens, Wayne calling out that they were back. There’s shuffling in the hallway. A muffled argument. A slammed door.

Steve sighs. “Give me a minute. Then I can drive you home, ok.”

Dustin nods. Closing the book and running his fingers around the corners. They were all going to be ok, he tells himself. They were all going to be ok.

tag list (closed): @the-they-who-nerded, @insteviewetrust, @croatoan-like-its-hot, @jettestar,

@tinyplanet95, @steddie-as-they-go, @slv-333, @littlecelestialmoth, @thatonebadideapanda,

@fandomsanddeath, @marismorar, @wonderland-girl143-blog, @glass-bottle03, @gutterflower77,

@here4thetrama, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @jaytriesstuff, @cryptid-system, @manda-panda-monium,

@resident-gay-bitch, @anaibis, @xxsutherlandxx, @forevermineliv, @mugloversonly,

@gregre369, @n0-1-important, @different-tale-student, @spectrum-spectre, @tartarusknight,

@devondespresso, @swimmingbirdrunningrock, @cheertain, @anti-ozzie, @autumncrocusandladybug,

@greeniebean911, @cr0w-culture, @stillfullofshit, @connected-dots, @daisynotquake,

@morgannotlefay, @a-little-unsteddie, @dolphincliffs, @maskofmirrors, @me-and-my-sloth,

@papergrenade, @waelkyring, @sweetheartprincess28, @katouasobj, @astercomoasflores

[w3bheadz]

Haunted Part One {Henclair}

https://www.tiktok.com/@swiftiegrimes/video/7143598401001671979?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7143598401001671979&lang=en -Inspired by this tiktok :))

This was the first time Dustin hadn’t gotten partnered with Steve. While he was glad he was with his best friend, his best friend’s sister, and Max, he wasn’t used to being without Steve. 

 Lucas and Max were talking as they walked up the stairs, leaving Dustin behind them and quiet seeing as Erica waited across the street to be a sort of lookout. 

 Dustin kind of stood back as Lucas and Max talked. He hid in the dark, watching what happened as well. He knew Lucas and Max weren’t still in love with each other, Max had El. But the interaction still made him a little jealous when he saw it.

 Lucas stepped back as Max took off the headphones. Then, her eyes slowly went milky white. Dustin didn’t step out of his corner, but there was a loud pounding on the stairs, signaling someone was coming up. Jason. 

 Jason had a gun, pointed at Lucas. They talked quietly, but not enough for Dustin to hear. That’s when they started moving. Punches were flying, the Walkman was stepped on, thank god Dustin had his on him. They got to the alcove with their fight when Max started floating up. 

 Dustin booked it across the room and grabbed the broken Walkman, taking the tape out of hers and slipping the headphones on “c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, work!-“ he pleaded 

 Max dropped to the ground, gasping for air but otherwise unharmed. Her eyes were back to their diamond blues, but nothing was okay about to right now. Max stood and pointed to the fight going on as Jason wrapped his hands around Lucas’ neck. “Hey, quit it!” Dustin yelled, running to the two. Lucas’ eyes grew distant and Dustin grabbed Jason by the side of his head and bashed it into the glass on the wall, forcing him to drop the other. Dustin caught Lucas and fell to his knees 

 “C’mon, Lucas you gotta wake up okay?! Please, you can’t go out like this-“ he sobbed quietly. Max watched the scene unfold quietly, going to get the canteen of water to see if she could clean up the blood tracks running down Lucas’s forehead.

 Dustin saw the floor start to open up and pulled Lucas to the side so he wouldn’t get hurt. Max ran over to the other two as Erica ran up the stairs.

End of Part 1

[kennahjune]

Allow Me to Propose Something:

How about, instead of his parents forcing him, Steve actually just? Likes? Sports?

No parental forcing or peer pressure just— he like sports. He likes swimming and basketball and maybe soccer and track.

Steve just liking sports because he’s allowed to have his own interests outside of the Party and older kids.

I always see Steve changing how he dresses and changing his music interests and all this other bullshit in Steddie fics and you know what?

Fuck that.

Steve dragging Eddie to every one of Lucas’ basketball games. Steve watching football and soccer and basketball games with Lucas and Wayne and Eddie silently watching with them because Steve is happy and Wayne is happy and hell— Lucas is happy, so why the fuck not?

Dustin and Mike still being skeptical of Lucas joining the basketball team post-Vecna (especially with Jason now dead and what Andy did to Erica and Lucas’ new ties to Eddie and—) but both of them finally realizing that sports brings just as much joy to Lucas as DnD does. And that’s honestly more than enough.

Steve still wearing his polos and blue jeans and clean white sneakers because that’s his style and how he’s comfortable.

Steve still listening to Wham! and Queen and ABBA and all his other musical interests cause that’s what he likes to listen to and that’s what he finds pleasing to his ear.

Steve having his own interests because he’s his own person and he’s allowed to have his own personality.

Because frankly— fics where Steve changes entirely so he can date Eddie make me really sad.

[lunabug2004]

Why the Troy and Angela Situations Should Not Be Compared (+ Why Mike's Reaction Is Valid)

One of the things that gets my blood boiling as a Mike defender is when people try to compare the bullying/El's reaction to said bullying between the Troy and Angela scenes. They are not the same thing, not even close! Yes, they're both cases of bullying, but two very different levels of extreme.

Yes, I understand that words can hurt just as much, if not more, than a physical weapon, and Mike understands this too, that's why he tries to connect with El the morning after. But in the real world, one without monsters or powers, the one they believe they're living in at the time, violence is almost never the answer, it only makes things worse, as it did. Mike also understand this. Now, yes, it took him a minute to figure out that El didn't quite understand this yet, but he works to fix his mistakes as soon as he does.

Now, let's look at season 1's incident. Troy is threatening to cut Dustin with a knife if Mike doesn't jump off the quarry cliff. Two lives are in immediate and direct danger in this situation. El, literally at the last second, saves Mike as he's falling, so that's one problem fixed and one less life at stake. By this time, yes, Troy has moved away from Dustin, but he is still holding the knife! And then he aggressively steps towards El, threatening her with it, so she snaps his arm and makes him drop it. This is self defense, as well as defending her friends from a dangerous situation.

In season 4, Angela publicly humiliates El. Yes, it's awful, and yes, she deserves the smack that she gets for it, but it's nowhere near as bad as what Troy was doing. Angela isn't putting any lives in immediate danger, she's not brandishing a weapon! Legally, El smacking Angela is assault, because at the point of the roller-scate-smack, the ordeal is done with, and there was no physical harm done. I'd like to add that I'm aware of El falling, and that she may have been hurt, but technically no one touched her, so it still isn't technically self-defense (I may be wrong here, pls correct me if so). This is a very unfortunate situation, and I feel terrible for El, as should everyone, but I'm a firm believer that when it comes to bullies, you shouldn't fight fire with fire, and Mike seems to carry this belief as well, as he repeatedly tells the boys to just ignore their bullies in s1. @foodiewithdahoodie has an old post (can't find it irl, but it's stuck in my brain) in which they say El treats Angela, a normal girl who is not a serious threat, with the same extreme hostility she shows the UD monsters, and I completely agree with this. El is flawed, and Mike's not a bad person for reacting to those flaws, that just happen to include unnecessary violence, the way a normal person would.

Anyways, what I'm getting at here is that these two situations are completely different (again, Troy has a literal weapon, two peoples' lives were being actively threatened!) and Mike's reaction in both circumstances were completely valid! In season one, he was seconds away from death, and so when El saved him and made the threat go away, he was eternally grateful for her defense. In season 4, he tries so hard to get to her when he realizes what's going on despite having just found out she'd been lying to him for months, and he was even completely on El's side, trying to find and comfort her, until she hit Angela, then he believed she went too far (she did), so he made that known. He's never been one to sugarcoat when he disagrees with certain behaviors, and he doesn't start here, he tells it like it is: Angela doesn't look fine. It also is just a lot to process, so it doesn't surprise me that it takes an overnight thought-session for him to figure out where he went wrong, and again, he tries to make it up to her! To connect with her, bringing down some of his walls in the process! She just disregards his experiences, then brings up him not saying ILY, so he gets defensive and puts back up his walls, and they never get to continue this conversation! (This is an analysis for another day in and of itself tbh)

To reiterate, it just irks me when people compare these scenes to try and make Mike out to be a bad person, when they are nowhere near the same situation! His reactions being different makes total sense, esp when adding the shock-factor of it all! I'll stop talking now cuz this could go on forever and I lowkey feel like I'm just repeating myself now.

Pls tell me your thoughts on this!

[sabbathbloodysabbeth]

Never Say Die [4]

Part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | you’re here | Part 5

Quick note, the tag list is full. So now the only way that you can get notifications about the next date is if you turn on notifications on my blog. (Which if you are hesitant about this, I don’t spam my board at most I’ll post twice a day so this can be a option for you :) though I’m not sure if there’s any other way or notifying people. If you know a way let me know!

Steve was laying in his bed, blanket pulled off from him as he stares out at the night sky. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, though he made sure to shut his door. The only thing allowed to see him this vulnerable was the full moon outside. As time slowly passes by, he feels like one of those princesses that’s stuck in the castle. He hasn’t been able to do anything yet, Hopper and Joyce were currently in the process of coming up with a backstory as to how he was alive. He misses a lot of things more now that he was home compared to when he was locked in the prison. He misses being able to be seen with Robin. He misses being able to relax in a bed. Though, no matter where he’s been he knows the one consistent thing that’ll always be there for him.

The moon.

The moon that watched him get tortured in his cell, sometimes even left outside in the freezing snow for a night for a punishment. Of course there were nights the moon wasn’t there. Especially the nights when the new moon was taking its turn on the calendar. But even that brought him comfort. In his eyes new beginnings were always over the horizon.

Dink!

It was coming from his window. Before his brain can think he’s already tossed himself on the carpeted floor. Rug burn already catching to his knees as he crawls over. Careful for whatever or whoever to not see him. He was being ridiculous. He was on the second floor. There was no way anyone could see him. His breathing is loud and shaky as he keeps his arms tightly crossed around himself. He knew he could fight, but in that moment he was prepared to hide. Though in reality, if it really was something he couldn’t be getting himself killed right when everyone just got him back. That and if he was laying there bleeding out from whatever was being shot at his window, who was supposed to warn Hopper and Joyce.

Steve really needed to slow his role. Think rationally, right as another small thunk like noise comes from the glass. Closing his eyes he takes the moment to think rationally. He’s heard that noise before. When he used to sneak into girls rooms before everything. The smallest of pebbles he could find would be thrown at their windows to catch their attention. Someone was trying to get his attention. Now he needs to come up with the decision of whether or not this person knows he’s alive or not. If this went wrong the whole town would know he was alive and think he was being kidnapped. After a few more moments, he lets his deductive skills kick in. He felt like Sherlock Holmes.

There was no way someone he didn’t know would be throwing pebbles at his window. It was definitely someone he knows. Why they didn’t just go through the front door was beyond him. Or how they snuck by Hoppers senses.

He moves slowly after the third pebble hits the frame of the window, a bit louder then the others. Carefully placing his hands underneath as he lifts the window open. A silent as possible. He pokes his head out, a small pebble hitting him in the cheek right as he does. Hissing in slight pain as his hand flies up to hold the agitated skin. He glares down, trying to see who it was. But once again his vision wasn’t as good as it used to be. Nor was his hearing. He had taken his hearing aid out, so there was just a slightly muffled blob standing in his lawn.

“Hold on. I can’t see, and I can’t hear you.” Steve whisper yells. Moving and grabbing his hearing aid. Getting it situated before he’s sliding on a shirt, one that used to be to tight on him. Now it was a bit loose, from the slight weight loss from the prison. He was gaining it back with muscle, forcing Hopper to work out with him in their basement. A small corner designated to his small gym and the other side of the basement designated to DnD. “Who is it?” He hisses out. The fuzziness from his ear clearing up. Focusing on the person below instead of the crickets that surrounded them.

“It’s me.” The voice whispers back. Steve can’t help but snort a little, holding back a laugh.

“Well- me. If I could recognize you by voice I would. But I’m not hearing you that well still.”

A small groan is heard before the male, Steve was able to figure that much out. The guys voice was deep and scratchy. As if he spent a lot of time smoking.

“It’s Eddie!” Eddie says a lot louder then before. Steve frowns as he hears the other.

“Oh.” He says dumbly. “What do you want?” Steve asks. Unsure as to why his best friends other best friend was currently outside his window like some secret boyfriend. It was very strange being on the receiving end of this.

“Well- Robin was supposed to be here with me but we were going to kidnap you and take you out for the night. But her parents busted her climbing out the window.” Eddie rambles out quickly. Trying to stay as silent as possible.

Steve raises a eyebrow, something seemed off in the others statement. Though Steve wasn’t going to look to far into it as he puts a finger out telling the other to hold on. He moves to his closet, tossing on a sweater. Moving and sliding on a extra pair of shoes. His regular pair were downstairs. He moves to the window, as silent as possible. Moving to dangle out. Hearing the slight cursing of one Eddie Munson.

“Dude, you could have taken the front door.” Eddie hisses out.

“No I can’t. Hopper is like- superhuman. He can since when the force is off or some shit.” Steve hisses back. Looking down for a second before he’s swing himself over and throwing himself to the shaky pipe that went up the side of the house. Sliding down with ease. Though he wasn’t sure whether or not it would be sturdy enough for his weight to climb back up.

Steve hops down in front of Eddie, wiping his hands off on his pants as he grins jokingly. “Like a ninja.”

Causing the other boy to hold back a snort of laughter. Moving to wave Steve along to follow him. Steve does, creeping next to the house and moving his way down the path. Once or twice, Steve’s hand flies out to catch Eddie from falling on his face. But other then that they eventually make it to the guys van. Where Steve moves hopping up into the passenger side.

Nearly jumping right back out when a group of people yell “surprise!” At him. His hands shake in his lap a bit as he gathers himself. Looking confused as he looks at all of them curiously. No wonder Eddie seemed like he had been lying. Because he was.

“We wanted to surprise you.” El says with a smile. “Know its been a while since you’ve left the house, and we all know you loved swimming so we wanted to take you to the quarry.” She rambles out. Face a bit pink, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that she was the one that arranged this.

Eddies sitting in the drivers side, key in the ignition with a fond smile. Before his face contorts up and he’s turning around and yelling. “Hey shit face, yeah you Henderson. If you’re eating my last can or Pringle’s I’ll make sure to shove your head up your ass so far that no one’s going to be able to reach that far to pull you out.“ Steve’s head turns back looking at the boy who’s hand was currently stuck in the can of Pringles. Making a oopsie face.

***

It doesn’t take long for them to get to the lake. The kids were already in swim suits and throwing themselves in the water. Eddie is a bit hesitant, and so is Steve who doesn’t want to pull his shirt off. Though there seems to be more of a reason to Eddie who looks at the water a bit haunted. Steve recognizes that look. He looks at malls like that now.

“Hey everything okay?” He asks curiously. Moving to dip his toes in the water. Pants rolled up to his ankles.

“Yeah.. it’s just. When everything went down one of the gates was - well under the lake. Dustin called it water gate.” Eddie laughs a little towards the end. “And well… I’m not the best swimmer but I wasn’t going to force Robin or Nancy to go down there. And shit face Henderson decided he was going to force his way onto the boat. And I got tugged down. “ he explains. He doesn’t seem to really be there. His voice is off somewhere else.

Steve hesitates before he presses a hand on the others shoulder. “You don’t have to go in you know. I’m not.” He says softly.Eddies looking at him confused before Steve clarifies. “My- well my wounds haven’t fully healed. And if I let any of my stitches touch the water then I’m fucked.” He laughs.

Eddie grins as he carefully pulls up his shirt revealing a bandage around his middle. Steve could only imagine what it was hiding. Steve grins as he moves and lifts his own up. He was no longer in the bandage state, his side just had a huge gash. Eddies eyes go wide. He’s about to say something but one of the kids yell at them to join. Both declining, showing their wounds at the same time. Steve doesn’t even process that Eddie’s side was bandages heavily on the same spot as his. Just on the opposite side of his body, closer to Steve with the way he stood.

Silence falls over them again. Neither of them knowing what to say. “You know you’re nothing like how I remember you being.” Eddies voice echos through the night. Staying hushed under the kids screaming.

“Oh- yeah. When you nearly die numerous times you kind of figure that it’s time to stop being a douche.” Steve laughs gently. “And there’s more important things then social heirchy.”

“I- I wished I learned that sooner.” Eddie admits as he looks awkward again.

“What do you mean- you were like. All fuck society norms and shit.” Steve laughs gently.

“Well- doesn’t mean I still wasn’t a twat about jocks and shit.” Eddie chuckles bitterly. “You know I was at the mall the night it caught fire or whatever. I was in the movie theaters. And I seen you. Right before you died. Your face looked like it was smashed into bricks, you were laughing at whatever Doc had said. Then when you stumbled out, obviously not okay. I thought you were fine so I didn’t make a fuss out of it. But I know if you weren’t some Jock from the high-school I would have checked to make sure you were okay. ” Eddie rambles out a bit. “And god did I feel guilty when I seen your name on the list of people who died that night.” Tears are rolling down his face. Steve tries to interject but he doesn’t get a chance to as the other starts to talk again.

“You know Henderson worships the ground you walk dude? “ Eddie tilts his head to look at him. Wide eyed, as he doesn’t hide a single emotion. “And god, I just. I got so jealous that this kid. This amazing kid who reminded me of myself when I was his age. Worshiped someone who used to look down on kids like us. And I was just- an entire asshole. The poor guy was still mourning you and confiding in me about how much of a nice guy you were, and I just sat there listened, and didn’t believe a god damn word he said. Here I thought he was just coming up with stories about a dead kid. And instead I was the asshole that I declared war against in high-school. It was no is fucked up.” Eddie eyes are watering more. Hands shaking as he pulls a cig out, lighting it soon after.

Steve just stands there and listens. That’s really all he could do. He takes a shaky breath as he pauses looking out at the kids in the water. “We are all just kids you know. We aren’t… we aren’t made to to handle all of this shit normally. If there even is a normal. Just know I don’t hold it against you, neither does Dustin. If you ever need to rant more about it I’m here.” Steve smiles sincerely. Watching as Eddie nods dumbly.

“You know, you’re the first one to act like this isn’t all normal. The kids.. god the kids were great when everything was happening. Robin was freaking out but she knew what she was doing. Doing things I can’t even imagine doing. I’m sure you know how it is.” Eddie rambles out.

Steve nods his head in understanding, “trust me… none of us are normal.” He laughs gently. “You’re relatively new, you’ll catch signs of things they do when others don’t.”

“Like how you flinch whenever anyone raises their voice?” Eddie asks curiously.

“Yeah.. yeah exactly that.” Steve answers softly. Letting the silence take over the both of them. Unaware that he had been that obvious.

Oh my god, thank you to everyone who has been supporting me throughout this. Especially for the comments. Those I have found are hard to come by and every single one has been making my day. I haven’t gotten a chance to respond yet, but I love every single one. (So don’t be ashamed to freak out in the comments. The long paragraphs are amazing. I just haven’t gotten a chance to respond) I have never gotten this much support for something I’ve written ever.

Next thing, I would put this on ao3 but I kind of wrote them straight to tumblr and it would take me forever to copy and paste each individual paragraph on there. I’m already putting a lot of time writing the tag list and writing it itself so for now this Is a tumblr exclusive. (Though I know in the future I’m probably going to do a rewrite and include everything that I wanted to, but have been to exhausted to write out)

Like I can’t express how thankful I have been for the support. I’ve gained close to a hundred followers in two days and I love that but it’s crazy to me that that many people liked my work.

Though I will be lurking in the comments tonight, ;) so I’ll probably respond the best I can!

Tag list;

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(If you see your user in the tag and it didn’t tag you let me know and we can try figuring it out in the comments)

[oncamelliastreet]

i really hope in season 5 there will be some acknowledgment of mike jumping off of a cliff while he’s presumably finally letting some of the years worth of trauma he’s been keeping bottled up out. i mean, he’s a great friend, but he barely hesitated to sacrifice his own life and he was only 12, and the only people who know about it are dustin and el. i really hope it comes up to will or joyce or even hopper just to see somebody finally acknowledge that the mental illness this boy is dealing with is genuinly serious suicidal ideation since a very young age and somebody will tell him that they’re glad he’s still here and give him a goddamn hug

[lennadanvers]

Dustin's Mom kinda adopted Eddie

You know when Eddie is hiding in S4 E2, and Dustin, Robin, Max and Steve go looking for him? I was just watching that. And when Eddie has Steve cornered, they all swear on Dustin's Mom that they want to help.

And Eddie lets Steve go.

When they swear on Dustin's Mom.

All I can think about is that sweet lady, who just worries about Dustin, welcoming his new friend from school. She doesn't see him as dangerous, or a freak, he's just Dustin's new friend who's given him a place at his table at lunch. He makes his son happy. That's all she sees.

When he meets her, Eddie is wary. He always is around parents. But Dustin's Mom just offers him food and worries that he's eating enough, and that he's safe, and is his jacket warm enough? Does he need anything?

Eddie has a soft spot for the lady. Her home is like a little shelter he can escape to. She is like a maternal figure for him, even if he doesn't like to think about her like that -he has feelings about maternal figures. But still. It's like she doesn't see what everyone else in that goddamned town sees. She sees just a boy, like the other boys his son hangs out with. One that gave Dustin a place in highschool. One that he admires. And Eddie is so charming, I bet he bows when he sees her, calls her Queen Henderson or something. She finds it endearing.

So when they all swear on Dustin's Mom, he trusts them.

Dustin swears on his mom, and Eddie remembers her offering them little sandwiches on a yellow plate. Robin and Max swear on Dustin's Mom, and he remembers the first time he crossed the door and she smiled at him, all warm and worried -no one worries about him like that (Wayne loves Eddie, but he doesn't go around asking that many questions, his love is more quiet and calm; she, on the other hand, makes a fuss about him being too skinny or cold. It's kinda nice). If Robin and Max are Dustin's friends, they know her. They know how she is.

If they swear on her, he believes them.

Terrified, traumatized little Eddie puts his safety at risk because of Dustin's Mom. He knows they are telling the truth.

Because the only way Eddie himself would swear on Dustin's Mom is if he was telling the truth.

Idk, just thought it was cute. Even if later on she suspects Eddie, it'd only be more heartbreaking. I'm rewatching, maybe later there is another silly little line that makes this theory crumble. For now, I'll be happy believing this. Thank you for attending my ted talk. You're welcome.

[nicxxx5]

max and mike got close when the byers left for california. they found comfort in each other being the same person, different font. dustin and lucas knew because they'd see them hanging out but never told anyone or intervened because they could see how the two had bonded and that their hang outs were their thing. when the cali crew gets back mike is very distraught about max and will and el are a little confused.

when the group arrived back in hawkins, they knew they were most likely in to receive unfortunate news left and right. they were still unprepared for the news about max. they knew el's fight with henry hadn't gone as smoothly as they had hoped, but the condition max was in was still difficult to comprehend. however, her condition wasn't the most surprising thing the cali group faced upon their return.

after dustin delivered the news mike, el and will quickly made their was to the hospital. although arriving to hawkins and catching up with some of their friends and family incredibly briefly was enough to make anyone's head spin, that didn't mean will and el didn't notice mike's face become sickly pale and look as though he was about to vomit when hearing about max. of course hearing that their friend was left with severe broken bones and in a coma after being possessed by a serial killer in another dimension would be hard on anyone, but from what they recalled of the two's relationship, mike's reaction was a little more than they were expecting.

as they approached the hospital mike appeared to seem more and more anxious. this confused the siblings even more but argued to themselves that hospitals probably made mike anxious after all that they've been through as they did to them. also the situation they were approaching was not one they ever anticipated them having to deal with.

when they finally found the room max was being treated in they entered and were greeted with the sight of lucas and erica sitting by max's bed side while lucas read to her. they embraced each other, relieved to be together again after the past week. while el approached max's bed side the boys hung back to give her space.

mike had begun to look as though he was about to collapse. his skin was white as a sheet and damp, and his hands were shaking as if someone had hooked him up to a live wire.

out of the corner of his eye will caught mike's current state and knit his eyebrows together in concern. "mike? are you okay? you look sick?"

mike didn't even glance his way. his eyes were locked on max's frame. "i-...i-" he looked like he was trying to swallow a rock.

their interaction gaining the attention of the others in the room, el, lucas and erica turned to look at them.

"mike?" although things had appeared tense on the ride down to hawkins, el was still concerned for him. she stood up from her place at max's side.

mike, his mouth opening searching for words and his eyes darting around the room, finally shook his head. "i can't- i can't. i need to go. sorry. i'm sorry." and he turned for the door.

bewildered by his friend's actions will turned to him. "mike what? mike what's wrong? mike wait!" he moved to go after him.

"wait."

will stopped and turned to look at lucas. his friend had a look on his face that clearly meant he knew something will didn't. "give him some space. this is probably really hard for him. i wish we could have warned you guys." lucas sighed.

el and will shared a look, telepathically agreeing that their was something they were missing.

will turned back to his friend. "yeah, i mean this is really hard for all of us. but for mike to run out like that? i don't get why he would..." he trailed off struggling to find the word to sum up mike's actions.

lucas sighed again and his eyes trailed off. "yeah, well, mike and max...while you guys were gone and the rest of us in hawkins were struggling to move on and adjust to high school...mike and max became...surprisingly close."

will raised an eyebrow. "what do you mean?"

lucas sat with his hands folded in his lap. "i mean that they'd hang out together. more often than they'd hang out with dustin and i" he look away "a lot more often than max and i."

el and will looked at each other surprised by what they were hearing but didn't say anything to allow lucas to continue.

he looked back at them and continued "i don't think they knew that we knew. i mean, it's not like it's wrong for them to hang out. it was just a little strange considering how much they'd argue since day one, so i guess we were at least a little surprised. but we never said anything because we didn't want to make things awkward and those two were already dealing with enough shit, more than the rest of us i think looking back on it."

"what do you mean?" el asked this time.

lucas sighed "i mean out of those of us left here in hawkins i think they had lost the most after what happened at starcourt. even though he was a piece of shit, max watched her brother die, then her step dad walked and i don't think she's talked to her mom since that summer because her mom is either at work or passed out from drinking."

he turned and looked at el "i think you leaving took a toll her too." el looked up at him, surprised at this acknowledgment. "i know you two got pretty close last summer and i think she missed you and having a friend she could talk about stuff with that she couldn't with us guys" lucas half joked because he knew there were somethings that were talked about girl-to-girl that couldn't be talked about girl-to-boy, even girlfriend-to-boyfriend.

lucas turned will "and mike lost you." will's head shot straight up and his eyes went wide. lucas continued "i know we're the party but...you and mike were different. you were always close in a way that you weren't with dustin and i. i mean, all he ever did every day since you left was complain about he could never get through when he tried calling your house in california because the line was always busy."

will stared at lucas as if he didn't believe what he was hearing, and honestly he didn't completely believe it either. after third wheeling his sister and mike's relationship, only actually gotten through to him a handful of times on the phone and received no letters, it was shocking to hear that mike apparently tried calling him every day.

lucas continued on "my point is is that i think because they lost so much so close to them and because they're more similar than the two of them would probably ever admit they gravitated towards each other and started hanging out on their own, especially when they were having bad days. i remember on days where max seemed more withdrawn than she already was, or days were mike was quieter but simultaneously more irritable than usual, i'd look over and see max's skateboard outside the wheeler's garage, or sometimes mike's bike outside max's trailer when i'd try to go and see if i could get her to talk to me"

"dustin said he'd sometimes see them together out side at lunch or walking to and from school together. neither one of us said anything because i think as strange as it was i think we were both at least glad" he paused for a second "maybe even relieved, that if they wouldn't talk to us, they at least had each other they could talk to. so yeah i think that's probably why mike ran out. i think this is a little harder for him than he might lead on."

as he finished speaking will and el turned and looked at each other, processing the information they were given but still surprised but what they were just told. neither one of them had realized just how much their friends' dynamics had changed while they were away.

finally will spoke "wow...i never thought i'd hear of the day where mike and max weren't at each other's throats throwing insults" he offered partly as a joke but also as a way to express his disbelief to the situation at hand.

lucas chuckled "yeah, like i said man, we were surprised too but it seems that they're able to help each other out. definitely in a way that i'll never understand and honestly i'm a little nervous to try."

will and el both laughed at lucas's attempt to throw in a joke when suddenly the door opened slowly.

mike peaked his head around the door then walked in, almost timidly, with his arms full of what looked like some snacks.

he cleared his throat and looked around the room "hey," he said "sorry. i- um-...hospitals you know, just, kinda make uneasy, and um, i guess see max- uh-"

"it's alright man" lucas cut him off sensing his struggle

mike glanced at him briefly "right. i- uh, got some snacks before i came back, because i figured we haven't had much since we got back," he looked at will and el. then he turned to lucas and erica "and i figured you guys are probably hungry as well and i don't know how long you've been here without eating, so, uh yeah, here-" and he started passing snacks around.

he passed out some chips and candy. mike got to will and handed him a bag of reese's pieces. "i got you these because i know they were your favorite and uh, i- uh, hope they still are" mike said to him awkwardly as he handed him the bag with a slightly shaky hand, looking to and away from his face.

will took the bag and he smile at mike "they are mike, thanks." and he began opening the bag.

mike let out what seemed almost like a sigh of relief and he went to go sit in an open chair that happened to be by max's bedside. he looked over at her and a look of longing and despair came over his face. it was a look you'd see on someone who just lost something incredibly valuable to them.

no one said anything though. they just let the two of them be, because that's how max and mike worked with each other.

[beth--b]

Take Care

Steve and El

In the aftermath of Starcourt when everyone was reuniting with loved ones, El lost her father.

Steve watched the moment she found out.

He had been wrapped in a blanket as a paramedic tried to convince him to be seen to when El had stumbled past him, looking so lost and alone that he had wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in her own warm blanket and take care of the poor girl.

He had watched as she saw Joyce with Will clutching onto one another in the middle of the parking lot, no Hopper in sight. Steve’s own heart had clenched at the realisation of what that meant but his own horror was quickly surpassed by his concern for their resident supergirl who had now lost the man who had taken her in as his own.

He had shrugged the paramedic off and made his way on unsteady legs over to her. He had taken his first thought of wrapping her up and made it reality when he had shrugged his blanket off his shoulders and wrapped it around the trembling girl.

“I’ve got you. You won’t be alone,” he had whispered to her as she had collapsed into his arms. He continued to whisper soothing words into her hair while he held her until her sobs tapered off.

He was hurting and wanted nothing more than to go sit down but this was more important. So he stayed with her until her sobs turned into the occasional stifled cry and held her even then.

Once she was finally ready to pull away, she looked up at him with red rimmed eyes and asked softly, “Promise?”

Steve just nodded and she buried her head into his chest, holding onto him until they both sank to the ground, too hurt, too exhausted to stand there any longer.

Eventually Robin and Mike came and found them, hugging them and helping the pair to their feet. Mike led El over to one of the ambulances and Steve remembered the horror of witnessing the girl remove part of the mind flayer from her injured leg. Once he was sure she was being looked after he allowed Robin to drag him back to the paramedic who had originally been trying to get him in the back of an ambulance, letting them take over so he didn’t have to think anymore.

read it on ao3 here

Steve and Max

It’s no secret that Steve’s family isn’t around much.

It’s also pretty well known that Steve’s dad is an asshole.

Maybe that’s why Max calls him in the middle of the night when her mom is drunk and shouting at Max about how their lives have been ruined, how her husband left her because Billy died and now they can’t even afford to live in a real house anymore. That she hates her shitty job and hates this town but they can’t afford to leave either.

When Steve gets a call on his walkie at 12:30 in the morning he’s mostly asleep. Mostly because he never sleeps well and spends a good chunk of his nights in a semi-doze or half awake. At the first crackle of the walkie coming to life he’s sitting up in bed and fumbling for a light so he can see what he’s doing.

Max's voice comes through small and shaky. She asks if he can come get her and how could he possibly refuse.

On the drive over he thinks about how when he was six his father shoved him into a wall so hard he thought he’d broken his cheek bone. The bruising had been awful and it had swollen up so much he could hardly move his jaw.

Later that same night he had been pulled from his bed and dragged outside by his arm. His mother wasn’t around, she might have been asleep or perhaps she was out, he wasn’t sure, but he knew there was nobody to help him so he stayed quiet.

Once they were outside in the freezing cold night his father had sat him down beside the pool and told him that if he ever told anyone that he was the one to cause the bruising on his face that he would regret it.

Even at the tender age of six Steve knew that his father was deadly serious. He knew his father was important and had lots of money and travelled a lot. People respected him, or so he said. Steve was pretty sure that people were scared of him.

So he nodded his head and sat in the cold until his father nodded and dragged him back inside.

He stayed home from school for a few days until the bruises faded and the swelling went down, went to school with a note from his mother saying he’d been ill and had fallen down the stairs when he woke during the night feverish and upset.

His teacher had looked at him with sympathy, said she hoped he was feeling better and offered to help him catch up on his missed school work. Steve had smiled politely and thanked her, said he was feeling much better and his parents had been taking good care of him.

Steve might have been young, but he knew enough to keep his mouth shut and stay out of his fathers way.

The drive passed by quickly, lost in thought as he was. When he arrives at the trailer park he sees there are still lights on at Max’s trailer, he gets out of the car but before he can knock Max climbs out her window and runs to him.

Steve wraps his arms around her before guiding her towards the passenger door. With Max safely in the car he walks back around to his door and catches a glimpse of movement in the corner of his eye. He turns to see what it was, thoughts of demogorgons and Russian soldiers running through his tired mind, only to see Eddie Munson looking out of his window.

He hadn’t had much reason to interact with Eddie at school, they ran in very different circles after all. Regardless they locked eyes for a brief moment before Eddie nodded at him and closed his curtains, drawing away from the window.

Steve shrugged it off and got in his car, turning the engine back on and blasting the heater to warm a shivering Max up.

“You want to talk about it?” Steve asked her once they were back on the road.

Max shrugged, “Not really. Mom was just drunk, yelled a lot. I just needed to get out.”

Steve nods, glancing over at her briefly before turning his eyes back to the road. He reaches out a hand and grabs hold of hers, squeezing it tightly.

“Well I’ll come and get you anytime you need alright Mad Max. Parents aren’t always perfect, sometimes they can be downright shitty, but just remember that none of this is your fault. Promise me that, ok?”

Max takes a long moment before she reacts, finally just as Steve is about to repeat himself he sees her nod and she squeezes his hand back. “Ok,” she finally whispers.

Steve and Dustin

If someone had asked Steve the moment that he had practically adopted Dustin Henderson as the little brother he’d never had he wouldn’t be able to tell them. Apart from the fact that nobody would ever believe that he had helped the kids deal with fucking interdimensional monsters, one of which he’s taken as a pet, he honestly wasn’t sure when it had happened himself. Somewhere between fighting Demogorgons, defending the kids from Bill Hargrove, and dealing with Dustin and his well meaning but honestly awful pet Dart.

He loved all the kids of course but if he was honest Dustin was probably his favourite. Kid needed a damn attitude check but nevertheless Steve wasn’t sure what he’d do without him.

Even after the kid had befriended Eddie Munson of all people, and then after Vecna…Steve knew Dustin loved him like a brother as well.

So of course when Dustin was sick and his mom needed to work Steve was happy to be the babysitter once again, which is how he found himself at Dustin’s house at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday.

Steve went to knock on the door only to find Claudia Henderson opening it already to his raised fist. She ushered him inside, thanking him and letting him know she'd be home by mid afternoon. The thermometer was in the bathroom and there was food in the fridge that he was welcome to.

Despite the frankly overwhelming amount of information being thrown at him he nodded alone and waved goodbye as she walked out the door.

Dustin was still asleep so Steve sat on the couch and made himself comfortable, television on in the background playing whatever cartoon the kids were into these days.

It was about an hour later that Dustin came stumbling out bleary eyed and sniffling. Steve hopped to his feet and ushered the kid to the couch he had just vacated.

“Morning kiddo, how’re you feeling?”

Dustin shrugged and leaned over to grab a tissue from the coffee table.

“Been better,” he croaked, voice hoarse.

“Yeah ouch, sure sounds that way. Want some tea with honey? Should help your throat.”

Dustin nodded before closing his eyes and laying back on the lounge. Steve ruffled his curly hair and headed into the kitchen to make tea.

Ten minutes later he was back with a steaming mug of black tea with lots of honey for Dustin and a cup of tea with a splash of milk for himself.

He set both mugs on the table before sitting down beside Dustin.

They sat in silence, watching an episode of Thundercats that had come on. By the end of the show Dustin had finished his tea and was dozing on Steve’s shoulder.

The day passed by easily enough. Dustin was a bit of a grouch when his fever spiked later that morning but after some tylenol and some more sleep he was much more amiable. Steve warmed up some soup that Dustin’s mom had left for lunch and by the time they had eaten Dustin was a little more awake so they spent the afternoon playing board games.

Dustin had beaten Steve at Guess Who, Scrabble and they were half way through a game of Monopoly that Steve was sure he would also lose when Dustin’s mom arrived home.

“Oh sorry I’m late boys! Dusty you’re looking a little better honey. Steve, I hope I wasn’t keeping you from anything?” Steve gave her the smile he always used on parents and shook his head, “Oh of course not! I’m sure you’re tired from work, go and sit, rest. Dustin and I are good here, right buddy?”

“Yeah we’re fine Mom. Stop worrying!” he turned away to smother a cough in his sleeve before focusing back on Steve and the game.

Dustin’s mom watched them fondly for a long moment before she took her own seat, patting Tews when he came to sit on her lap.

“I really appreciate your help today Steve,” she said when they took a break from the game.

“It’s honestly no trouble, happy to help out,” he shrugged.

“You probably have plans alright seeing as it’s a Saturday night, but would you like to stay for dinner?”

Steve glanced at Dustin, the kid looked so much better but still too pale. Despite that he looked at Steve hopefully, and how could he say no to that?

“Yeah sure thing, as long as it’s no bother?”

“None at all dear! I’ll get dinner started shortly.”

It was almost 8 o’clock by the time Steve got back into his car and drove home. Despite the full day of Henderon’s company he still dreaded going back to that empty house. There was nothing for it though. Robin was busy tonight and Eddie was at a concert with his band mates.

He pulled in the driveway and with a sigh, got out of the car and headed inside. Turning the radio on for background noise as he walked past.

He hated the quiet.

Steve and Eddie

Before Vecna, Steve had not known Eddie Munson well. That's not to say he hadn't known him at all. It was a small town after all, Steve had thrown a lot of parties and Eddie was a drug dealer. They could have had a great partnership if they'd ever thought about it. Nevertheless, they had not been friends.

During the Spring break from Hell, as Steve had dubbed it, he had grown to like Eddie. Had grown to care for him. Somehow amongst all the crazy they had become friends. If Steve was honest, he'd like to perhaps become more, but that was not something he could worry about right now.

For now he just needed to help the guy out.

Eddie had spent the last two weeks in hospital, recovering from his near fatal injuries. During that time his name had been cleared and it had been made abundantly clear to the people of Hawkins that Eddie was also a victim, that anyone who went after him would find themselves behind bars. Hopper's return had certainly helped in that respect.

Today Eddie was finally going home.

With all the time Eddie's Uncle Wayne had taken off work the older man wasn't going to be able to pick Eddie up himself, having worked the night shift and taking on a day shift as well for the extra money. Steve had readily volunteered for the job instead. He had also offered to stay with Eddie at the government appointed housing the Munson's had been set up with now that their trailer was destroyed until Wayne returned home.

Steve made his way to the room Eddie had spent the last week in, after being moved out from the ICU, with ease. Between Eddie and Max, he had been visiting every other day at the very least so he knew his way well enough.

"Ready to bust me outta here?" Eddie said in lieu of a greeting.

Steve laughed and moved to sit in the chair beside the bed. "Sure thing, at least once the doctor clears you."

"C'mon Stevie. I am sooo tired of these four walls!"

"I know, I know. But I'm not going to risk the Party's wrath if you leave without everything you need. I know we haven't been friends long but I'd hate to see you wind up back here with… I don't know man, infected stitches or some shit. So stay put for a little longer yeah?"

With the most over dramatic sigh Steve has ever heard, Eddie throws himself, gently, back against his pillows.

"Ugh, fiiine," he whines.

Steve has gotten to know Eddie well enough by now that he knows he's just covering up his own nerves with his theatrics. With this in mind, he moves to sit beside the older boy on the bed. "Hey, I'm going to wait right here with you, alright," Steve reaches out a hand and Eddie grasps hold, squeezing Steve's hand tightly.

"Yeah, ok. Thanks Stevie," Eddie mumbles.

The nickname makes Steve’s insides feel like they are full of butterflies but he swallows it down and smiles instead.

Steve waits at Eddie's side for the next hour, until finally the doctor comes to confirm the details of his discharge. Instructions on when to come back to have sutures removed, medications to take to prevent infection and others for pain in hand, Steve wheels Eddie out of his room and eventually out of the hospital. Having parked near the door it's easy enough getting Eddie into the car.

The drive is fairly quiet, Eddie makes a few sarcastic comments about Steve's taste in music but then they drive in silence. When they arrive at Wayne's new place Steve gets out first before rounding the car and helping Eddie out and up to the house.

Steve unlocks the door and helps support Eddie until they reach the couch.

"Alright Eddie, you hungry?"

"For something that's not grody hospital food? Hell yes!"

Steve chuckled and nodded, "Yes,for some non-hospital food. What do you feel like?"

"A burger and fries if you don't mind?"

"Of course. I'll go get lunch and be back soon. Need anything before I go?"

"No, no, food is fine. Thanks man."

Despite Eddie's reassurances, Steve gets him a glass of water and turns on the small TV before he leaves to get their food.

He returns half an hour later to find Eddie passed out on the couch. He can't help but wish he had a camera to capture the moment. After spending a minute or two just watching the boy he was steadily falling for sleep, he puts the food down and wakes Eddie.

"Rise and shine Eds, lunch is here."

Eddie wakes slowly, a soft smile on his face when he sees Steve and the paper bag filled with cheeseburgers and fries.

"Ah thank you Stevie. Good ol' fashioned American burgers! How I have missed thee!"

Steve rolls his eyes and helps Eddie up, passing him his food.

They spend the afternoon together until Wayne gets back from work. While the two catch up, Steve makes his exit.

Steve and Robin

It was too early for the doorbell to be ringing on a Sunday and yet he was woken up by the persistent chiming of it.

With a groan Steve hauled himself out of bed, threw on a shirt and half ran, half stumbled down the stairs.

He opened the door only to have Robin practically throw herself at him.

“Steve!” she yelled, wrapping her arms around his neck, “What am I going to do?”

“Robs what the fuck? It’s like 6am. How did you even get here?”

“Bike dingus keep up! Help me Steve, you were like the king of dating once upon a time, I need your help!”

“Slow down, what do you need help with?”

He pulled her off him and grabbed her hand instead tugging her towards the kitchen with him while he put a pot of coffee on.

“Steve. I need your help. With a girl.”

Steve burst out laughing before taking in the serious expression on her face.

“Robin, you are a girl. Surely you know what girls like better than I ever could!”

“Nooo I know what I like, not other girls. Not this girl. I ah…may have ended up hanging out with Nancy last night.”

Steve’s eyebrows shot up, “Nancy? As in Nancy Wheeler? That Nancy?”

“I’m sorry, I’m a horrible platonic soulmate, the worst best friend-”

“Stop. I don’t care if you like Nancy, we were over a long time ago. Besides things are going pretty well for me in the dating department so don’t sweat it yeah? I’m not sure how you think I can help you with dating advice for Nancy though,” he took a long sip of his coffee and Robin sat down at the breakfast bar, dropping her head to the counter top.

“Because you already managed to get her to date you Steve!”

Steve burst out laughing only to have Robin punch him lightly in the bicep.

“Robin, Nancy and I were not great together. If you think there is something there though you should talk to her. Maybe start by coming out to her though?”

Robin just groaned and dropped her head down once more.

“Why do you have to say logical things like that huh?”

“I thought you wanted my help? I’m helping,” he moved away from her and leaned back against the kitchen cabinets, arms crossed over his chest.

“Fine. Thanks then I guess. Hey, since I’m here and we’re both awake, any chance you can make some bacon? Or pancakes? Pancakes would be really great.”

With a long suffering sigh Steve silently turns away and starts pulling ingredients out of the pantry to make pancakes. He might not be able to help much with her love life but he could feed his best friend when she needed him.

Eddie and Steve

Steve has spent a lot of the last few years trying to be a better person.

He looked after his friends as much as he could in whatever way he could because they were good people and they deserved all the love and kindness he could give them.

It was hard at first, he hadn’t exactly had the best role models in how to show kindness. His dad was an abusive asshole and his mother just didn’t seem to care either way.

But he had fumbled his way through, giving the kids rides when they needed them, talking girls with Robin, fighting fucking monsters with them all. Despite that he didn’t really expect anyone to show him the same kindness in return. Nobody took care of Steve, other than Steve. He didn’t always do the greatest job.

Luckily he had Eddie.

He had finished his shift at Family Video and he was tired, his head was pounding and he knew he needed to take his migraine meds and sleep it off, but he had plans to see Eddie and didn’t want to cancel.

Their relationship was still so new, he didn’t want to tarnish it with cancelled dates. Even if said date was just hanging out at Eddie’s place and watching movies.

So he put on a pair of sunglasses despite the fact that the sun was more down than up, and took off towards the new Munson home.

By the time he made it to Eddie’s he wanted nothing more than to go to bed. He probably shouldn’t have been driving, and there was no way he was driving home now. He grabbed his meds from the glovebox and shoved them in his pocket. He’d take them if things got worse but he knew he would hold out as long as possible.

He felt queasy and almost dizzy as he made his way to the front door, and with a cursory knock he let himself inside.

“Eds?” he called, wincing at the sound of his own voice.

“Stevie!” Eddie crowed, coming out of the kitchen, I missed you baby.” Eddie stopped and looked at Steve, taking in his too pale face and shaking hands and immediately changed his demeanour. “Shit Stevie, migraine?” he asked, voice full of concern.

Steve wanted to deny it, but as the pain in his head only intensified he knew there was no use. So instead of trying to brush it off he just nodded slowly, features tight with pain.

“Oh honey, got your meds?” Eddie moved in closer, wrapping his arms around Steve in a gentle hug.

Steve buried his face in Eddie’s neck and gave another slight nod. Pulling the pills out of his pocket.

Eddie pulled away enough to steer him towards the couch, and once Steve was seated he headed to the kitchen, reappearing a few moments later with a glass of water.

Steve took the water gratefully and took a sip before taking one of his pills, chasing it down with more water.

Eddie sat beside him, pulling Steve into his side. With a sigh Steve let himself be held and stayed there for a long moment until Eddie quietly asked if he wanted to stay on the couch or go to bed.

“Bed,” Steve eventually replied, knowing that although he may not want to, he should listen to his body for once.

Eddie silently helped Steve up and steered him to the bedroom, pulling the covers back and helping Steve remove his shoes. He grabbed him a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and let Steve change before helping him onto the bed. With Steve situated, Eddie turned the light out and then climbed onto the bed beside him.

“You don’t have to,” Steve started.

Eddie shushed him and pressed a kiss to his forehead and another to the top of his head.

“I know sweetheart, but I want to.”

Steve knew he should argue, Eddie would be bored, it was too early to sleep. But the part of him that craved affection and just wanted to be held made him still his tongue.

Eddie settled down further on the bed, pulling Steve into his arms until Steve’s head was on the older boy's chest.

“Now, time to get some rest Stevie. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Steve could do nothing but obey, letting the steady sound of Eddie’s heartbeat lull him to sleep.

[edvinssmedvin]

Choking Part 3

Read more here: 1 2

Summary: Dustin thinks Eddie and Steve are acting a little strange. Just a small baby snippet with Dustin’s pov

CW: Dustin being nosy, as usual, Forcing oneself to talk while nonverbal (not said but implied)

It had taken Dustin a whole week of chores to convince his mom to let him go with Steve and Eddie, even then she just thinks they are going to some dinosaur museum.

How old does she think he is? Dinosaurs are such a middle school thing to be excited about.

Plus, after fighting freaky mind creatures, he has yet to be surprised by a new discovery.

So here he is, waiting on the porch for them to pick him up.

He pushes up his sleeve slightly, checking the time, 8:20.

So twenty minutes late.

He isn’t usually surprised when Eddie is late but this? This is the performance of the lifetime. He’d expect him to be early! Dustin was so excited he almost worked himself into a panic attack! And for what?!

Goddamnit they better get here.

Wait- what if they’re hurt? He just sitting here! He should go see-

Steve’s Beemer pulls around the corner of his street, calming his mind.

He can make out Eddie in the driver's seat just by his messy hair. Weird, Steve never lets anyone else drive it.

He lifted his hand in a wave to Eddie in the window.

He grabs his bag and rushes down the front steps. Mentally cursing himself when he notices his shoes are untied and he almost trips.

But slick as always, he saves himself just before eating dirt.

He opens up the back door, “What took so long?” He rushes out just as he shoves himself inside. Trying to ignore the fact that Steve and Eddie most definitely saw him frail around.

He looked toward Steve in the passenger for an answer but when noticing his sullen expression, it was like the air got thick, the atmosphere tense. He gaped for a moment before his eyes were darting to Eddie and then back to Steve. He goes to close the car door, slowly like he was trying not to scare off a stray cat.

“What? No hello?” Eddie joked, he could clearly tell he was trying to cover up what was going on. Eddie put his hand on Steve’s thigh, smiling. A reflection that seemed foreign on Eddies face, the smile missing his eyes.

He narrowed his eyes at Eddie before turning to Steve but when he looked at him, he yelled- “What the fuck!” Why isn’t he saying anything? “What happened?” He yelled once more, for good measure, obviously.

“Nothing Dustin, Just tired.” Steve answered him, his sentence choppy. It reminds him of El when he first met her. Huh.

And when Steve’s eyes truly met his, just by a look Dustin could tell some kind of enteral battle was going on in that noggin of his.

He looked back at Eddie who has been glaring at Steve like Dustin couldn’t tell.

Ah,

So a lovers quarrel. That he could fix.

Easier said then done.

Next part here —>

[morganski-19]

Chills Right to the Marrow Part 24

part 1, prev part

“Oh, come on, Maria,” Eddie yells at the TV. Having fallen victim to the soap operas that run nonstop. “If you stopped sleeping with your sister’s husband, maybe she wouldn’t hate you anymore.”

Dustin snorts, finishing up his math homework. Struggling to balance his notebook over his knee. But it was worth it to spend time with Eddie. Eddie who is awake and making progress. So fast that he might actually get out of the hospital in a week or two. Have physical therapy for a while and then be back to himself.

Then everything can really start to feel like normal again.

Steve finally gets there after work. Looking alive and awake instead of drained.

He laughs when he realizes what Eddie’s watching. “Maria still sleeping with Logan?”

“Yes,” Eddie exclaims. “Like what is she thinking?”

“I’m not sure any of these people have actual brain cells,” Steve snorts when he sits next to Dustin. Eddie starting to fill in the storyline Steve has missed in the past few days.

Dustin laughs while trying to get some of his biology homework done. The test is next week and he wants to do well. Wants to prove that he’s still able to get an A after everything. That the one thing he’s prided on isn’t permanently ruined.

There’s a slight rustle as Eddie flips the blankets off of him. And again as he starts to move, slipping one leg after the other off the side of the bed. He isn’t trying to stand. He couldn’t possibly think that’s a good idea.

“What’re you doing?” Steve asks, beating Dustin to the punch. Trying to hide the concern in his voice.

“Going to the bathroom.” Eddie braces his hands on the edge of the bed, ready to try and stand.

Steve shifts to the edge of his seat. “Do you need help? I can call a nurse or something.”

“I think I can use the bathroom by myself, Harrington,” Eddie snaps. Tension rising in his voice.

He pushes himself up, arms shaking as they take on his full weight. His legs extend to a standing position. Causing his full body to shake like his arms. Struggling to keep himself upright. To hold any weight at all.

“See,” he says, voice laced with pain. One hand gripping the handrail, shaking more than the rest of his limbs. Holding most of his weight. “Perfectly capable.”

Dustin can’t help but stare helplessly as Eddie takes his hand off the rail. Tries to step forward, but his legs succumb to the weight. As he falls forward, right into Steve. Steve who stood as soon as the fall started and put himself between Eddie and the floor. Creating a much softer collision.

Steve’s hands grip under Eddie’s armpits, holding him upright. While Eddie’s knees give out and he slides to the floor. Soft and controlled by Steve. A choked sob erupts from Eddie’s throat as he swears.

“Hey,” Steve tries to soothe, “hey, it’s ok. We can get you to the bathroom.”

“Nothing is fucking ok,” Eddie says defeated. Sitting on the floor with his legs splayed behind him. Hands coming up to bat Steve’s hands away. Eyes mirroring the lost, fearful look he had back at the boat house. Glossing over with tears too tired to be shed, but waiting just in case.

Steve looks to Dustin for help, not sure where to go from here. He doesn’t know Eddie like Dustin does.

Dustin shoves his homework off to the side. Sliding off his chair and onto the floor. Filling the space that Steve leaves when he slides over. Still keeping a stabilizing hand on Eddie’s shoulder, but letting Dustin take lead.

“It might not be,” Dustin starts, not sure if it’s in the right spot. “Things might not be ok. And they might not be ok for a little while. But what matters is that you’re awake. You’re getting better, and it takes time and that sucks.”

“I can’t even lift a fucking spoon without getting exhausted,” Eddie interrupts. “I can barely sit up by myself. I used to be able to do so much, and now I’m stuck in this body that I don’t even know how to control anymore.” Eddie takes a shaky breath through his teeth. Exhaling it sharply before taking another. Chest heaving. “And everything, everything, hurts. So much. All of the time and it never stops. I wake up and it hurts, I can’t sleep because it hurts. I’m so tired of it all.”

His head hits the side of the bed as he lets out a breath. Hands shaking as they come to press at his eyes. The tremble traveling down all the way back to his shoulder. Dustin never noticed the severity of it before.

“I know you are, I can’t imagine that you’re not. And if I were in your place, I’d be just as frustrated. But there’s going to be a day where the pain gets better. As your body heals and you learn how to control it again.”

Dustin takes a deep breath, trying to find a way to verbalize the thoughts in his head. To find any way to make Eddie feel better. Coming to the conclusion that there isn’t one answer to this. No one thing that will make the pain subside, or to completely take Eddie’s mind off of it.

But his friend is near tears on the floor of a hospital shaking in pain. Muscles so weak that they can barely hold their own weight. Time spent recovering that he will never get back. Leaving him with unimaginable pain, and memories that are only adding to it all. Maybe things he can’t even remember.

All Dustin can do is try. The same way that Eddie wakes up and tries to get better. The way Steve finds way to make his migraines more manageable. The way that Wayne can step into the hospital day after day before going to work. And the way that Max is learning how to navigate life again.

The way they have all adapted to circumstances thrust upon them than none ever believed could happen. All they all can do is try to make tomorrow better than yesterday. Understanding that there will be times it becomes a little bit worse, and then has to get better all over again. This merry-go-round of healing that none of them have perfected. But try to.

“You will get better, Eddie.”

Eddie huffs. “And if I don’t.”

“You will,” Steve cuts in. “I know cause I did. The bites healed, my head got better. Not without leaving their own unique scars. But you get used to it after a while. The pain, it’s still there, just sometimes isn’t as loud.”

“Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and feel like they’re still biting me.”

Steve scoffs. “Yeah, phantom pains are a bitch. Wait until they start itching like crazy. They’ll give you a cream for it, it doesn’t help.”

Eddie lets out a sarcastic victorious sound. “Help me get back on the bed, please.”

His voice sounds so defeated it hurts. Dustin doesn’t say anything about it though. Knowing what it took just to ask for help. Not needing to make this more difficult that it actually was.

They get Eddie back into the bed. Watching as he falls into the mattres, seeing almost immediate relief. They call a nurse in, see a glimpse into Eddie’s life while they’re not there. What life has been like for him.

What it will be like for him. For who knows how long.

“Your head,” Eddie says after a long break of silence. The question directed at Steve. “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with it.”

Steve nods, gently. “I’ve had about four concussions in my life. Two really severe ones and then two other’s that did not compare. But I get migraines, real bad ones. And there’s this ringing in my right ear that just won’t quit sometimes.”

“Shit, that sucks.”

“Yeah, it does. The migraines get so bad I can barely get out of bed. Barely eat anything. Robin has to come over at feed me smoothies or water so I don’t dehydrate.”

Dustin just sits there and watches as they talk about it. Their pain. Not understanding the full depths of it. The complexities that come only with experience. But he watches as Eddie calms down, knowing that he’s not alone in this. That someone else can understand even a crumb of what he’s going through. Steve looking relieved to finally tell someone else what he’s been going through. To have another person understand.

Eddie eventually falls asleep. Listening to some story Steve thought of to change the subject. To help get Eddie’s mind in a place outside of the hospital. It’s so peaceful when the hospital quiets down as the hours go by. Dustin used to find it excruciating. Now he knows that it means people are at some sort of peace.

Something everyone could use, even for a short period of time.

“You did good in there,” Steve says as they finally leave. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I think you calmed him down a bit.”

“I just hate seeing him like that.”

“I do too.” Steve puts his hand on Dustin’s shoulder. “But he’ll get better, just like you said. It will take a long time, and he might never get back to the place he was before. But he will get better. You’re helping to remind him of that.”

Better isn’t perfect. But it’s good. And good is better than bad. Dustin can take the better this time. Knowing that it will never be perfect, but it will be enough.

next part

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[orangesunsets12]

Steve Harrington, who, despite the rich parents that he had, never unwrapped a Christmas gift, and didn't have any gifts waiting for him under the tree on Christmas day. Steve thought, was told, that only those deserving of gifts actually received them, and that believed that he would never deserve any. He wasn't good enough, was he? He didn't deserve any sort of gift, he didn't deserve to take part in this holiday that everyone loved so much. Why else wouldn't he get a gift? Why else would he be the only kid not coming to school with a brand new toy? Who wasn't buzzing with excitement over the candy and gifts, even days after?

But he tried. He tried so, so hard to deserve a gift, even a small one. He tried to get good grades, to be the perfect son his parents wanted so desperately, even sent letters to Santa in his messy handwriting, every year without fail, hoping that that jolly man actually cared.

Yet, every year, he was met with the same sight. A bare Christmas Tree, with no perfectly wrapped gifts under it. No stocking by the fireplace. Not even a smile from his parents.

As time went on, all of his efforts to be better failing, no matter how hard he tried, Steve decides that he could never deserve something like a Christmas gift. He would never be good enough. So, he stopped trying. He let his grades slip, he put on a mask of popularity and pride, he stopped writing letters to Santa, who he was now convinced was completely made up (or, just another person who didn't think that he was good enough, he wasn't sure which one he preferred) and stopped trying to impress his parents.

But, if he didn't deserve any gift, it didn't mean that no one else did.

It was after the second time the Upside Down had threatened to kill everyone, and the Party, as Dustin called it, were going to celebrate Christmas early, together as a group. The way Steve understood it was that there would be gifts for those who deserved it, food, a Christmas tree, and Christmas movies galore. It sounded nice, but Steve knew that he had a lot of work to do.

Everyone in their group deserved gifts, Steve was sure of it. They had fought literal monsters, went though countless struggles, yet stayed strong though it all....they deserved all of the gifts that he could give them. So, he went on a shopping spree, vaguely wondering if he deserved a gift this year. He shook the thought away. He never deserved one, this year would be no different.

When the day came, everyone was overjoyed to receive the gifts from him, even Hopper ruffling Steve's hair with a "thanks, kid", and Steve couldn't stop smiling, glad that he made them happy. They deserved it. They deserved the gifts that he got them.

The music in the room was full of joy, and the gift giving slowly came to a close, leaving one present under the tree. Steve frowned as he noticed it, hadn't everyone who deserved a gift gotten one? He did a quick scan of the room and found that everyone had a gift in their hands. Everyone but him.

Tears burned in his eyes as Dustin passed him the gift from under the tree, smiling eagerly as Steve took it, shaking slightly.

"It's for you, Steve! We all got one for you!"

Steve studied the gift in his hand, perfectly wrapped with a bow on top, holding something heavy inside that made his breath hitch in his throat.

No. No, this wasn't right. Something wasn't right. None of this was right.

"I...I don't deserve this." He whispered, and the whole room fell silent.

Part 2

Link on A03

[blenderenvy]

The party bonding over daddy issues

Max and Will bonding over physically abusive dads'

And El joining in about a father figure who physically tortured and exploited her, and then dealing with Hop's presumed death for a year

And Dustin adds in 'i never really knew my dad' to which Mike responds ' i live in a house with the guy and i still don't know anything about mine'

Lucas just being like 'hah hah rip to y'all but can't relate"

Everyone kinda just shares the good parents and adult parental figures available

[augustweary]

Bonus hugs that I missed the first time.

The triple hug appreciation post!

A hug between two characters is amazing, but a hug between three is spectacular.

[ikarakie]

after eddie introduces a demogorgon to one of his hellfire campaigns, the kids get a little squirmy. they're nervously looking at each other and aren't engaging as excitedly as they usually do. when he calls time, he watches dustin rummage through his backpack and produce a walkie talkie.

he watches, a bit dumbfounded, as the kid demands a 'check-in'. all at once, multiple different voices come over the channel. stating a name and then saying 'safe.' ("nancy, safe." "robin, safe." "max, safe.")

"steve?" dustin demands. there's only static. "steve!" a little more frantic this time.

"he left to pick you up." a female voice replies, "he's probably fine. you'll see him soon."

none of the kids look particularly pleased, and pack up hastily. eddie and the other hellfire members all share confused glances. he, more morbidly curious than anything else, follows the little sheep as they hurry out of the school.

dustin is fucking restless as they all stand in the empty parking lot. he won't stay still and none of them are answering any of eddie's questions. and he only gets more confused when a brown beemer pulls in, windows down and playing depeche mode through the speakers. dustin goes to sprint towards it, and he has to hold him by the collar to stop him getting run over.

the beemer pulls up and steve harrington, in all his glory, steps out, frowning. dustin wrenches out of eddie's grip and all but bodies the guy, wrapping arms tightly around his midsection. steve, still looking puzzled, hugs back. lucas and mike trail after dustin.

"we called a check-in." dustin says, a bit muffled from where his face is smushed into steve's shirt. steve goes sort of pale, and- and presses a goddamn kiss to the top of henderson's head before tightening the hug.

"shit, i'm sorry." and eddie believes him. he sounds so guilty. "i meant to replace the batteries before i left. sorry, i'm okay." dustin pulls back and scrubs at his eyes. lucas takes his place, though the hug he gives is more like one of those bro-hugs jocks seem to love. steve smiles regardless. he just ruffles mike's hair, who pouts in response but looks relieved nonetheless.

"asshole." he mutters. "rule four, walkies on at all times." steve nods as the kid half-heartedly waves goodbye to eddie and hops in the backseat of the beemer. lucas follows. dustin seems reluctant to walk around the car, to take his eyes off steve for even a second.

"you wanna stay over tonight?" steve asks, warm and gentle. he folds his arms and in that moment eddie thinks they look sort of like brothers. "robin and me were gonna watch some films. we can call your mom from mine."

the kid nods, looking a bit happier. steve slaps him on the back and motions him to get in the car. dustin swivels to hug and say goodbye to eddie (who sort of forgot he was physically present in this moment) before doing as he was told.

steve turns to eddie. which- whew! hi pretty eyes.

"sorry." he smiles and eddie can't for the life of him figure out what he's apologising for. "they, uh- yeah. them." he gestures vaguely at the car and eddie just chuckles.

"hey, man, no worries." he says, a little breathless that he's having a conversation with the steve harrington. "they okay? never seen henderson look so rattled." steve nods, then seems to think better of it and just shrugs. cocks his hip to the side (stop fucking staring at his hips, munson, lord!)

"they will be." he glances back at the beemer, which is now full of childish bickering. pauses to think and then asks, "you using demogorgons in your campaign right now?"

eddie blinks at him. "yes? yeah. what the fuck- how do you know what that is? what-" steve just laughs.

"long story." there's a haunted look in his eyes before he continues, "just, uh- that's probably what upset them. demogorgons and us- them, i mean-" he waves his hand. "bad memories. hard to explain, but... if you could..." he doesn't need to ask, seems like he doesn't know how or even if he's allowed.

"got it, ill tweak the campaign." harrington smiles at him, something small and genuine, and murmurs a thanks. offers him a fucking lift, which eddie declines, motioning to his van. harrington just nods, tells him to get home safe and then clambers back into the car, yells at the kids to put seatbelts on with all the exasperation of a single dad, and pulls away.

eddie watches them go, having seen a side of harrington he'd thought dustin had been lying about. steve harrington, the caring babysitter, everyone's older brother, a changed man.

he starts escorting the kids to the parking lot more often.

[on-coming-dusk]

so when i started this blog it was to just reblog all the stranger things posts that were appearing in my wild star trek blog feed, because i really liked a lot of the stranger things posts i was seeing but i want to actually keep my star trek blog...you know, a star trek blog. i might not be able to control the chaos of the world but i can control what is on my blog and you bet your sweet ass i'm gonna do it.

i kind of didn't actually use this space for a while but that was mostly because i just kind of ghosted tumblr for a minute, between holidays and the new year and seasonal depression having me by the throat.

couple days ago i started sharing more of my stranger things headcanons here and this little blog is starting to actually feel alive now. i have another blog, but account that i've had forever where i usually post all my fics that i upload to ao3 and promote my writing. but i wanna share my stranger things fics here - on my stranger things blog that i am finally making into something more than just a space to throw things that give me that sweet, sweet dopamine.

so here's my first fanfiction in the stranger things universe (second that I've ever published at all!)

it's meant to be short and sweet and if it leaves you wishing for more you can check out this silly little after thought i had on it here