#eddie and steve don't want to date chrissy and chrissy doesn't want to date them they just want to fuck bc sex is fun and feels good

[youngster-monster]

Im in finals hell currently but stranger things and steddie have their claws in me once again so have this. fic idea thing for a role reversal au between steve and eddie

Season 1, Will Byers disappears and Eddie may be a freak, but shit, missing kid, so he goes on a few of the search parties with his uncle. And he keeps going, even when Wayne's hours mean he can't go anymore: just grabs the lamp torch and walks through the woods for a few hours when he can’t sleep, often on his own. It’s creepy as hell out there, he keeps feeling like something is watching him, but whenever he tries to sleep he ends up spending hours staring at his ceiling instead so whatever. It’s something to do. He keeps doing it even after they fish out Will’s body from the quarry: Hawkins’ nicer when it’s quiet.

He tried to like, talk to Jonathan a few times at school, freaks should stick together etc, but it didn’t exactly. Work. Still, he finds himself wandering past the Byers’ house and when he sees the lights blinking like crazy and hears the noises coming from inside he decides to investigate.

Steve, meanwhile, saw Nancy’s gun and decided shit was already weird enough, running out of the narrative none the wiser. For now. Eddie bursts into the house just in time to see the Demorgogon: his turn at being a protagonist!

The following seasons would go in the same vein. Eddie gets reverse adopted by Dustin on virtue of being a cool older male figure who’s into DnD and probably spends a lot of time grabbing the kids and running instead of getting his ass beat by the villain of the week: THIS protagonist is a runner, and he gets way fewer concussions about it

(Steve, meanwhile, gets dumped without even knowing what made Nancy change so much. No friends, because his previous ones were assholes, and no girlfriend, because he’s bullshit: he’s a pretty lonely guy.)

Nancy won’t let Eddie hang around the kids while dealing, so he picks up a job as Scoops Ahoy instead. Please picture this in your mind. It takes a minute for his, huh. Loud. personality to grow on Robin, but they have that kind of wlw/mlm acerbic friendship, you know the one. When there’s two gays on shift NOTHING gets done. 

Decoding russian cyphers is great fodder for future DnD puzzles and he has a grand ol’ time up until they get kidnapped; he gets a few traumas about it and also a mutual coming out, which is nice because he really thought he’d die the only gay person in Hawkins.

Steve gets a job at some sorts of sports goods store in Starcourt; his parents were NOT happy that he didn’t get into any college. That’s where he meets Chrissy: she needs new shoes for cheer practice, he flirts with her, they actually go on a date, and he’s done enough introspection to realize boy, she is NOT having fun here. He apologizes, SHE apologizes, they’re both cute about it, he drives her home, and somehow they become friends instead. He deserves that.

So in ‘86, when Chrissy needs something to silence the nightmares, she goes to her good pal Steve Harrington at Family Video instead: maybe a movie would help. They chat a bit, he proposes they watch “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” after his shift, and then she starts floating, which isn’t a great moment for anyone involved

In his scramble to climb over the counter to drag her down, Steve walks on the tv remote that controls the display TV, turning the volume up. He had put Grease on when Chrissy walked in: it’s one of her favorite. “Summer Nights” starts blaring, and it’s not her favorite but shit, i’m in charge of the plot here, it works enough that she collapses to the ground, in a bad, bad shape, but alive.

Lucas is pretty much the only one of the kids who’s close-ish to Steve; I figure he reached out to the last best ball boy of hawkins high for tips when he tried out for the basketball team. Don’t ask me how they became actual friends, just know that they are, so the next day he goes looking for Steve to talk about recent My Friends Don’t Like Me Balling teenage angst and finds a crime scene instead. Steve isn’t at the hospital either: he’s at the police station, being questioned because the cops think he’s the one who broke a few of Chrissy’s limbs and put her in a coma (the main theory is that he asked her out, she said no, and he, what, flew in a rage? It’s not like he can tell them the TRUTH. The cameras don’t even work inside the family video.)

Cue the rest of the season. With one long freakout on Steve’s part because his parents are rich enough for him to post bail but jesus christ there isn’t enough money in the world to forget the fact that magic is real and hates you specifically

[ladykailitha]

The Rockstar and the Teacher

Just thinking about a rockstar Eddie and a school teacher Steve who have been together for a decade, but Steve is kept out of the limelight by his choice.

He doesn't want to have his kids harassed because of who he's dating. Plus the whole gay man= pedophile in the minds of most parents.

Things are going great until they aren't.

Steve sees a tabloid with the headline "Eddie Munson photographed outside local bar with boyfriend, hints there may be a spring wedding!" and he's furious. Like seeing red, pissed off.

Because the guy next to Eddie is not Steve.

Whoever he is, he's dressed the same as Eddie. Leather jacket, long hair, chains everywhere.

But he barely has time to get worked up because even though Eddie had been in LA working on the band's next album, he is bursting through their house in Hawkins's door.

Eddie skids to a stop when he sees the tabloid on their kitchen counter and holds up his hands.

"I'm sorry, baby," he mutters and Steve chokes back tears, "I was trying to get home before you saw that."

"Why would you do that to me?" Steve cries.

Eddie slowly pulls out his phone like he's getting it out for a cop and hands it over to Steve, who takes it with a frown.

"It's not me, sweetheart," Eddie says. "I can prove it."

Steve looks at the phone and it instantly opens to Steve's face.

Eddie can see the hope spark in Steve's eyes as he looks through Eddie's phone.

Text message after text message about Eddie planning on getting Steve a necklace with both of their initials on it from Steve's favorite jewelry designer.

Eddie's phone pinging him at a nearby bar, but not the one the photo is showing him coming out of at the time it was taken.

Then the final evidence. A fan photo of Eddie and the girl taking a picture just outside of it the other bar at the time other Eddie was supposedly getting his picture taken with his "boyfriend".

"My management and PR team are on it, Stevie," Eddie tells him. "We think it was a setup from the jewelry guy. He lured me to the bar so that they could stage the pap photo."

Steve frowns at the phone in his hand, his fingers gripping it so tightly that his knuckles go white.

"Why?"

Eddie runs his hands over his face. "Honestly?" Steve nods. "To get you to come out in the public eye."

Steve looks at the phone and then back at the paper on the counter. Eddie can see his heart sink.

"I'm sorry," Steve murmurs. "I've been selfish. If I had just gone to LA with you been your partner all of the time, this wouldn't have happened."

Eddie takes Steve's face in his hands. "You are my partner all of the time. Even when we're apart. You weren't being selfish. You had just gotten your degree when we made it big. You wanted to use what you had paid for, and rightly so. This is on them, not you. Never you!"

Steve lets out a shuddered breath and then nods. "Okay."

He lets out another breath and Eddie smiles as Steve straightens his shoulders and cracks his knuckles.

"Give me two hours and I'll have this sorted."

Eddie doesn't doubt it.

****

Two hours later, Steve comes out in a beautiful cream suit and silver mesh top.

Eddie looks up from his place on the sofa and licks his lips slowly. He had been messaging Chrissy, his manager while Steve was doing whatever it was in his office.

"Wow, baby you look good enough to eat."

Steve grins. "It's a good thing you're hungry because we're going out to dinner."

Eddie stands up quickly and puts a hand on Steve's waist. "Are you sure you want to do this? We don't have to. We're already suing everyone for defamation of character and libel."

Steve grinned. "Oh yeah. I've already spoken to Robin and Chrissy and they're onboard."

"K, baby."

****

They arrive at the restaurant and they sit in Eddie's little two seater.

"Last chance, Stevie," Eddie said, looking out at the waiting reporters. "Just say the word and we'll go somewhere more secluded."

Steve shakes his head. "Let's do this."

Eddie gives his hand a squeeze and gets out first.

"Eddie! Eddie!" one reporter calls out. "What do you have to say about that picture in The Sun?"

"That's not me," he says calmly. "That's not my boyfriend. I would never cheat on him that way."

Then a burst of questions asking about his real boyfriend as he moves around the car to open the other door.

Steve steps out looking like sex on legs. But also like nothing anyone pegged as Eddie's boyfriend.

Eddie kisses his hand and Steve blushes.

Suddenly all the questions are directed at Steve, asking if he's the boyfriend? How long have they been dating? What's his name?

Steve just bats his eyelashes and says quite clearly, "I would ask you to respect our privacy during this trying time."

BOOM!

Mic drop.

The reporters clam up, the cameras stop flashing as they stare at him in open mouthed shock.

Eddie swoops in and gives Steve the biggest kiss. And the only reason it was even caught on camera was because the video camera hadn't stopped rolling.

They go inside and Steve gets two messages on his phone and Eddie asks if he's going to look at them, but he shakes his head.

"It's probably just Robin wanting all the inside scoop."

So they finish their meal and walk back out to the valet, hand in hand. It's then when Steve pulls out his phone. He was right about the first message, the second one was from a private number and merely said:

-Ben fatto, mio caro*

Steve smiles and kisses the the screen before tucking his phone back in his pocket.

As they drive home, Eddie asks about the texts.

"Just my mom telling me she was proud of me in the only way she could."

Mrs. Sophia Harrington was too conceited to send him anything directly, especially since Clint Harrington had cut Steve off years ago due to him being gay. But she could send a single message from a private number that she would never use again, to let her son know that she was proud at how well he had handled the reporters.

Eddie just smiles and they drive home in comfortable silence.

****

Steve goes to work the next morning and stops in at the principal's office. He smiles when he realizes the press hasn't figured out who he is yet. But it will only be a matter of time and he knows it.

The principal holds up a printed copy of his resignation and demands to know the meaning of it.

So Steve tells him.

"Steve..." the principal whines when he's done.

"You know you're going to have parents banging down your door the second it gets out," Steve explains. "It's easier for me to just walk away now and not wait for you to have to fire me."

The principal sighs but agrees. "You'll be missed."

Steve nods and stands up. At least he'll have time to say goodbye to his kids.

By lunch time it's gotten around the school that he's leaving but not why.

Steve had sworn his kids to secrecy so everyone could say goodbye, but a couple of his students come and hang out with him at lunch to talk about it.

"I knew you had to someone cool," the one kid says. "You knew too much about Corroded Coffin to be lame ole Mr. Harrington."

Yeah, Steve isn't going to miss that one kid.

He makes it through the school day and some of the parents have setup an impromptu farewell party on the front lawn of the school.

It's a tearful goodbye, but Steve feels lighter as he makes his way to car with all his things, then he has in years.

****

The news breaks on who he is later that night and Steve doesn't envy the principal's headache tomorrow, but cuddled up with Robin and Eddie on his sofa, he really can't find it in himself to give a fuck.

They'll later go on the Tonight Show and talk about how Steve had been in the closet for years and how he was forced out by this stunt with the photo. He talks about how other celebrities had been forced out too and that apparently it's not just for famous people.

That because he was with a famous person that meant he had no rights either and how that has to start changing.

He's happy he's out now, but it should have been on his own terms and not the media's.

There ends up being a spring wedding, but just the following year as Eddie and Steve tie the knot, two beautiful rings on their hands and a dazzling necklace at Steve's throat with their new initials on it EM and SM.

There is a mysterious gift of two tickets to a private villa in Italy after their honeymoon that has them both grinning like fools.

****

Here's a little gay Italian Steve for you.

*Well done, my dear

Tag List: @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

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@useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95

[ashwhowrites]

Eddie dating Cheerleader! Y/N she has fallen hard for him, until she heard that one cheerleader was with Eddie last night, and Reader is shocked and hurt, and she starts to ignore him, and she doesn't want anything to do with him, she goes to Steve, and he tells her that maybe she should listen to Eddie to know what he wants to say to her, and she takes his advice and she finds out that the girl wanted a date with Eddie or even wanted Eds to date her in secret but Eddie didn't wanted that because he wanted reader, so she starts to cry from the stress and Eddie thinks she's more pissed at him, and she just hugs Eddie and end up watching movies and cuddling, the next day reader and Chrissy make the cheerleader leave the team for being so mean.

I felt like these two kinda were similar so I'm combining it! I hope that's alright <3

Eddie Munson was the forbidden fruit in the school, all the popular girls secretly wanted him. They wanted to see who had the looks to break him down and cave in. He was sworn off because he had a hatred for them. But that all just made them want him even more. To prove they were better than any of the other girls. It was a dog-eat-dog world.

And Eddie had no idea all these cheerleaders secretly wanted him and fantasized about him. His eyes were set on just one, Y/N. The only girl that made him eat his words about hating cheerleaders. It was so hard to hate her when her tongue was in his mouth and her skirt was on his floor. He tried to fight it at first, but he found himself tripping into her.

Y/N already liked him, simply why she went for it. She heard the gossip around the cheerleading squad. How they all wanted him to see what he was like in bed, and just to brag about how they made Eddie Munson change his mind. She didn't care about that. She liked him, and she knew she liked him as a person. She was surprised he agreed to a date, but glad he said yes. Ever since they've been on dates every week, spending every day together, and sleepovers on the weekends. She was rolled up in him and she didn't want anything different....well maybe something different. She wanted to be official.

And the recent rumor she heard, she wished she made it official a long time ago.

~~~

"Do you think he really did it?" Chrissy asked, sitting on the floor across from Y/N as she sobbed in the locker room.

"You heard her! She talked about how they fucked all night long. Eddie never called me last night and he always does. He apologized this morning and said Wayne didn't pay the phone bill. But what if he lied? What if he was busy with her?" Y/N panicked, her eyes wide as she couldn't breathe.

"Okay, let's calm down. And breathe. Eddie is nuts about you and Kathy is a whore. No one likes her and she's a bitch. How could Eddie even think about her when he has you? I think you should talk to him. And for Kathy, I'll deal with her once we find out what happened." Chrissy said, wrapping her arms around Y/N.

"I'll talk to him." Y/N whispered.

But once she made it out of the locker room, and was face to face, she ran.

"Y/N?" Eddie yelled after her, he was worried because it seemed like she was crying.

"HEY! ARE YOU OKAY?" he yelled again, but she made it to her car before he reached her, driving out of the parking lot.

He sighed and got in his van, driving straight to her house. He pulled up slightly seconds behind her, her legs walking fast to get into her house and slamming the door behind her.

Eddie wasn't sure what was wrong, but it almost felt like he was the problem. She refused to open the door for him. He's seen her cry before and he's helped. So he knew she wasn't just hiding because of that. She was hiding because of him.

~~~

The next day Eddie tried again. But she gave him the cold shoulder whenever he got close. She ignored his calls and never opened her door. He was lost in what he did and he hated that he couldn't even ask.

So he asked Chrissy

~~~

"I don't know, I want to believe she was lying. But how can I be so sure?" Y/N stressed, Steve listened as he stocked the shelves.

"As someone who has been cheated on, and sees the signs. Eddie isn't cheating. You said it yourself that the squad is dying to get their claws in him. She probably made it up so she could get to him next. That boy adores you. Talk to him."

~~~

Y/N pulled up to her spot with Eddie, a hill that overlooked the town. He already sat on a blanket and had a couple of beers next to him. She took a deep breath and sat next to him. This was their spot and the thought comforted her.

"Chrissy told me what happened," Eddie said, his voice sad as he looked at her. But she was too embarrassed to look at him.

"And I'm not mad at you for believing her, I want you to know that."

"But you should! I ignored you and treated you like crap all because I thought you were with her. I didn't let you explain. I painted you a bad guy without a second thought." She cried, she hated that she believed he was evil so easily.

"Hey stop," Eddie cooed, wrapping his arm around her as she tucked into his chest. "You were hurt and sometimes we can't think clearly when that happens. But I want you to know there's no one else I want." His voice was soft as he kissed her head.

"I was so scared that I lost you before I could even fully have you." She confessed, her eyes looking at the stars as he stayed on her.

"Not going to lose me. And definitely not going to lose me to someone else. She flirted with me and I blew her off. She probably wanted to hurt you because she was mad. But what we have is strong and no cheer bitch will ruin it." Eddie joked, feeling the relief in his chest as she laughed.

"I think I love you, Munson." She whispered, looking up at him as she rubbed his cheek.

"I know that I love you." He smiled, leaning down as he connected his lips with hers.

After that night, everything was fixed. Eddie and Y/N were official. Always hand in hand. And for Kathy, Chrissy kicked her off the team.

Because as Eddie said, no cheer bitch would ruin what they had.

Tags!

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @manyfandomsfanvergentreblogs @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @ahsrulez420 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37

[jadeylovesmarvelxo]

Part 4 to the fwb series.

Takes place three weeks after the last update, Eddie is finally coming to terms with what you meant to him, he and Chrissy are over for good and Eddie is sure he will never get a chance with you again...

18+, minors shoo!! A lot of angst, pining.

🖤

It has been a long three weeks since Eddie had seen you. He had a lot of chance to reflect in those three weeks, all that kept playing in his mind is you shutting the door in his face.

He had lost you. Been so sure, so stupid and unbelievably arrogant that you'd be back that he didn't fight for you, ignored any feelings that tried to break through to the surface when you were with him.

You were right he did dangle hope, he felt like a complete asshole for how he treated you. It wasn't always like that though, most of the time you and Eddie laughed a lot.

Sometimes you'd even talk for a long time... it was a world away from what it was like with Chrissy, easy and felt good, not the on and off shit and arguments that him and Chrissy had.

What a fucking idiot he was. Dustin and Steve had went through him when they found out about the two of you, berated him for being a dick to you.

He deserved every bit of their ire. Fuck, how could he ever thought you'd take him back, when all he did was hurt you every time.

Chrissy glares at him as she removes the last of the stuff from the trailer, there's not much but she's took a long time to come and collect it. Not that he blames her for that, but they've both been stupid to think this could work between them.

It felt cathartic to finally be free of the notion of him and Chrissy, if he could really be honest they both moved on a while ago, clung on to long to something attainable.

"Are you in love with that girl or something because you're frankly quite depressing Eddie" Chrissy huffs at him and gestures to the forlorn way he's been acting.

"Yeah but I fucked it all up though so it doesn't matter anymore" he sighs as he lights a cigarette.

"Wow. Sucks to be you that you fucked around and she left you high and dry huh?" Chrissy says all sweetness laced with venom and he shakes his head. Shit why did he ever think that she was sweet?

Knowing he would be subject to more barbs and shit if he stayed, he leaves to get some peace and to just be alone for a while.

...

You're here. Eddie didn't expect to see you anytime soon, thought you'd avoid him like the plague or something. The Hideout is packed and there's a great band playing but all Eddie can notice is you.

You look beautiful, a smile on your face as you chat to the guy beside you. Eddie wonders if this is the guy you went on a date with? Were you dating still? His heart clenches in his chest, like it's in a vice grip.

When you catch his eye he swiftly looks away and clumsily downs his beer. Feels his heart race when you keep looking at him.

Sink or swim Munson, you can run away or you can at least make things right and apologise. He chooses the latter and walks up to you, he's all jumbled thoughts and he's nervous as shit but he has to do this.

"Hey, I won't take up much or your time princess but I just want you to know that I know I'm a fucking idiot, I should have let you in instead of keeping you at arms length and I... I miss you sweetheart" you stare at him for a long few seconds.

"You mean you miss the sex?" you murmur quietly and he shakes his head.

"No. I mean that was mindblowing sweetheart, you know that, but it's not just that. I know I've lost you, don't deserve any less but I just wanted to say this" he feels lighter in himself but the ache in his chest feels like it's multiplied.

Even the fucking bats weren't as painful as this shit feels. He turns to leave but you stop him, gently tug him back as you slip your hand through his.

It feels so fucking right.

"Did I mean anything to you or was it just sex?" your voice shakes a little bit and he wants to assure you that you did mean something, he was just an idiot who realised it too late.

"You were more than just sex. I'm so fucking sorry that it took me so long to realise, to get my head out of my ass" he leans forward and gently kisses your forehead, smiles sadly and then leaves.

...

You still feel the pressure of Eddie's lips on your head, that soft look in his eyes when he told you that you meant something to him, that you meant more than just sex.

It's like you're on autopilot when you drive home, your friend Alex's voice a distant fog as he talks about his date from earlier in the week.

The two of you had went on a date last month but both quickly realised it wasn't going to work.

Head swimming with thoughts you drop Alex of at his flat and continue driving, straight past your house and to Eddie's trailer.

You don't know why you're here, you shouldn't be but your stupid traitor heart is egging you on.

Chrissy would be here wouldn't she? As far as you knew they were still together... At least you hadn't heard otherwise. Dustin had mentioned Chrissy leaving Eddie, but they were always on and off so you didn't really know if they were together or not.

Just as you suspect Chrissy comes out of the trailer and your heart sinks, you're ready to turn away and sigh sadly. Why did you stupidly think anything would be different.

Eddie comes out at that point and he just looks so done. It gives you pause and you watch as Chrissy piles her belongings in the car, glaring at him.

"I mean it Eddie, I'm not coming back this time" you expect Eddie to beg or something but he doesn't, just shrugs softly.

"Chrissy, I'm done. Done with this, when you leave that's it. This isn't what I want, not anymore" you feel yourself gasp and Eddie's head turns in your direction.

"Princess. What are you doing here?" flustered you walk over feeling awkward as hell. Chrissy rolls her eyes, slams the trunk of her car down hard and gets in the drivers seat.

"Congratulations' she says cooly. Gotta say I'm surprised anyone got that freak to fall in love" despite what's gone on between you and Eddie you feel ire build up inside you at her comment to him.

"Don't call him that and he's not in love with me" you shake your head at the very thought, there was no way. He would have told you.

Chrissy cocks her head then snorts, drives away and raises a finger in Eddie's direction as she does. Over the roar of the car you don't hear what Eddie is saying, just see his lips move.

"What?" you move closer to him, his expression is tender and he strokes your cheek.

"I said yes I am" he replies to you gently, the confession hangs in the air. You're stunned, definitely didn't expect it.

"Why didn't you say anything? you whimper. Fuck, all of this heartache and shit. Thinking you meant nothing to him, then he tells you this.

"I'm an idiot. Realised at the last minute, realised I was too late, you said I'd lost you sweetheart and I realised after you said it that I was in love with you"

You're shivering and it's so cold but you're desperate to hear more of what Eddie says. He notices you shaking and motions you to come inside, retrieves a thick blanket and wraps it around you.

"I don't deserve another chance, I acted like such an asshole and I'm so fucking sorry sweetheart... If you ever did by some miracle want to give me one more shot at this then I promise you I'll do better, I'll love you so fucking much, I will never be so stupid to let you go again"

His hands slip into yours and you're rife with indecision. Your heart telling you one thing while your head is saying different.

"I can't promise that I'll never be an idiot but I won't ever hurt you ever, I mean that princess" he gazes at you with such sincerity that it takes your breath away.

"What if I suggested a coffee date or even just seeing a movie? Stopping over for some of Wayne's amazing mac and cheese?" you suggest, thinking of small ideas, something slow and easy at first.

Eddie's eyes light up. "Anything, anything you want. We could have hot chocolate and camp out, watch the stars like you wanted too that one time?" it sounds so nice, it would be so easy to say yes.

"I'm scared Eddie" you admit. Scared you'll get your heart broken again. He softens and sits beside you, squeezing your hands.

"I'm scared too sweetheart. I've never felt this way about anyone, certainly not Chrissy. If you decide to give me a chance, give me your heart then I'll swear I'll protect it and cherish it, never ever break it again"

Tears run down your cheeks and you nod, just a tiny bit and the smile that breaks out on Eddie's face is beautiful.

"You mean it?" he asks hopeful, big brown eyes full of happiness. Yes. Yes. You do mean it and grin back at him

Tentatively Eddie kisses you, smiling when you're arms wrap around him. He pulls away and takes your hand, kissing it softly.

"Hope you're ready to be wooed?" he teases and warmness sweeps over you. Hope that this time things will be different, know deep in your bones that this time Eddie isn't going to fuck up.

You cuddle into his chest and for the first time in a while, you feel content.

❤️

And that's it :) thank you to everyone who supported this series. I loved hearing all of your thoughts. Hope you like the final part 🖤

[strangersteddierthings]

Steve, Gareth and Chrissy are cousins AU (sad edition) [prologue] [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Final Part]

"So," Robin says after they clink their molotov cocktails together, "do we also get to talk about the whole cousin situation now?"

Steve looks across the field, where Eddie and Dustin are defending themselves from invisible enemies. Gareth and Lucas are swinging the finished spears at each other while Erica shakes her head at them, working on a third. It looks like Nancy is showing Max the proper way to hold a shotgun, which isn't nearly as bizarre as it probably should be.

"What's there to talk about?"

"Are you doing okay?" Robin asks.

Steve doesn't mean to making a scoffing noise. It just leaves his body involuntarily. "No. But I'm not the only one not doing okay. Now that we know Vecna doesn't have to do the whole weeklong build up to murder town, that he could get any of us, as any time and he's just being a sadistic bastard-"

"Steve. He'll take the bait. If nothing else, we have to believe that."

Steve looks from Max to Gareth, then back to Robin. "Yeah. Right."

Robin is quiet for a moment, before her eyes flick away and back to him again. "Do you want to talk to Gareth? He was... God, Steve, it was awful, hearing him scream for you. While Vecna was... Anyway, I know you two are like avoiding each other for whatever reason, but I think you can let go of whatever it was."

"I just wanted to keep them safe, Robbie," Steve swallows down the sob that wants to break free. "I never wanted them involved in this. I was so scared that I'd somehow infect them with the Upside Down that I just kept them away and it took Chrissy anyway. It-it-"

"It hasn't taken Gareth, though," Robin says softly, cutting Steve's spiral off. "It hasn't taken him. But he needs you. I think you need him, too. You should talk. Before we drop him at the Creel house. Because."

She doesn't finish, but that's fine. Steve knows what she's saying. They could die today. Any one of them. Chrissy died without Steve making it right. He'd started to work on hanging out with Chrissy again, but it was all surface level. He didn't even apologize. With Gareth he could justify, however shitty that was to do, that he was staying away because Gareth asked him to.

Chrissy hadn't asked for Steve to step out of her life. He'd done that himself in '83.

He can't do right by Chrissy anymore, but he can try with Gareth.

He stands and Robin gives his knee two solid pats before he walks away.

"Dustin, you piss off Steve somehow?" Eddie asks.

Gareth, in the middle of facing off with Lucas, pauses to look around, which gains him a light tap to his side by Lucas' spear. Sure enough, Steve is stalking their direction with a grim determination on his face.

"What, why am I the one getting the blame?" Dustin says, offended.

"It is usually you," Lucas adds, which earns him a squawk of indignation from Dustin, who shoots back, "he could be coming to lecture you for making Erica do all the spear making!"

Steve doesn't approach either boy, though.

"Hey, can we talk?" Steve asks once he comes to a stop in front of him.

"Got some end of the world regrets, Harrington?" Gareth says, trying to keep his voice lighter than he feels. He wants to tease Steve, not bully him.

He must succeed because Steve gives a chuckle and says, "I don't think we have time for all the end of the world regrets, so, uhh, just the one for now."

"We're cool, dude," Gareth says, eyes flicking from Steve to Eddie. The kids know, Gareth told them himself, but Eddie doesn't. "I started it."

"Yeah, but I graduated and still pretended you didn't exist. Which isn't what you asked for."

Gareth shrugs, because he doesn't know everything but he knows enough. Learned this isn't anyone else's (besides Eddie and his) first rodeo or whatever. That there have been other times, dating back to the year Will Byers was lost for a week. "Dude. Seriously. We're cool. You've been dealing with... whatever the fuck this is. So, just, like promise to be around more once we all survive this."

Steve looks pained but before he can reply, Eddie cuts in, "I'm sorry. How do you know each other?"

Gareth looks to Steve, who just shrugs as if to say your friend, you responsibility and honestly? Fuck Steve Harrington. Keeps traumatizing secrets and pushes Gareth away and also throws him to the wolves. Except, this is the secret Gareth has been keeping from Eddie. He sighs and turns to Eddie. "Well, uh, Steve's my cousin. We used to be super close before I started high school. Actually, Steve here is the reason I joined Hellfire!"

Eddie seems to go through all 7 stages of grief before settling into a confused. "I'm sorry. Steve talked you into joining Hellfire?"

"That is not what I did!" Steve defends himself.

"God no. He just went into great detail about how loud and obnoxious and attention-grabbing the current president was, as if that would make me want to not meet you for some reason."

"It was a warning!" Steve yelps at the same time Eddie sing-songs, "You think I'm attention-grabbing, Harrington?"

Dustin, Lucas, and Erica are all laughing at Steve has he tries to sputter through what he meant by attention-grabbing ("It's hard to not pay attention when he's shouting from the top of a lunch table!"), and Gareth just watches on, amused.

After they fight an... evil wizard? Vecna or whatever his name is. Once this is over, Gareth is going to sit Steve down and make him tell him everything, but that can wait.

He wants to watch Steve flounder trying to defend himself from the accusations of watching Eddie just a bit too much back in high school.

Later, as they all pack up and load up in the RV, Nancy stops Steve from entering the RV, ushering everyone past until Gareth and Steve are the only ones left outside.

"Are we acknowledging that you're cousins, now?" she asks.

"You knew!?" Steve sounds surprised. Gareth's surprised, too.

Nancy just rolls her eyes. "Steve, I've been to your house." When that just makes Steve look confused, she rolls her eyes and says, "there are family pictures covering almost every inch of your living room."

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Robin pipes in, appearing in the doorway with an angry expression.

"It wasn't really my thing to talk about, was it?"

"Yeah, but did you even check in with Steve? If you knew, and knew what happened to Chrissy- you didn't even ask if he wanted to go to the funeral!"

"Robin!" Steve hisses.

Nancy doesn't look upset by whatever accusation Robin seems to be trying to make. "If Steve wanted to go, he could have said something. We aren't his keepers. But, also," her gaze goes from Robin to Steve, "I didn't want to pry or seem pushy. I figured you'd tell us when you were ready."

Robin frowns but doesn't say anything else, disappearing back into the RV. Gareth gestures for Steve and Nancy to go first, and then he's closing and locking the door behind him before heading to sit by Eddie along the back bench seat. A bunch of shit has been piled there, so Gareth shoves it off the seat and to the floor. The pile of things ends up being a hazard and he almost brains himself while turning to sit down; something under his foot slides and Eddie saves him, yanking him to fall onto Eddie. After some fussing and laughter from those around, Gareth gets seated and looks down to see what almost killed him.

It's a phone book.

Eddie leans in close once they're back on the road to town to whisper, "so, you just let me go on all those rants about King Steve and never once thought to tell me you were related?"

Gareth just gives him his best impression of a King Steve smirk and says, "I would have hate to have deterred you from talking about your favorite school subject."

It's worth seeing the scandalized look on Eddie's face, even as the man socks him in the leg for the comment. "I hate you, man."

Gareth rubs his leg and says, "you don't mean that."

There's a long silence from Eddie after that before he says, "you're right. I don't mean that. And. Uh. In case I don't- in case it goes south down there but ends up fine up here, I just-"

"No," Gareth growls. "Fuck you, Eddie. We're going to be fine. All you gotta do is shred on your guitar and get the hell out. You're going to be fine."

"You didn't see the bats."

"Eddie."

"Fine. It's gonna be fine," Eddie agrees and falls silent.

Gareth frowns at that. Eddie must really be worried, to not argue back like he usually does. Gareth's worried, too, but what can he do?

He thinks about his mom. When did he last tell her he loves her? If they don't succeed tonight, will he get a chance to say it again? Will anyone get a chance to say it again?

Gareth looks down at the phone book at his feet.

"Wait, does anyone have change for a payphone?" Gareth asks from somewhere behind him. Steve turns in his seat to look into the back of the RV.

"Uh, yeah," Robin digs into her pockets, but then narrows her eyes at Gareth and asks, "wait. Who are you calling?"

"I have to let my mom know I'm alive. Just... hear my voice," Gareth says. "She needs to know I'm okay. It's already been too long since last we talked and... after Chrissy she was..."

Robin's face drops into the guiltiest look Steve's ever seen on her face and she produces her wallet, dropping the whole thing into Gareth's open hand. "Yeah, no. Sorry. There's still plenty of time for a phone call before the end of the world. You better return my wallet, Cunningham."

"I'm not going to rob you, Buckley," Gareth says before ducking out the RV with Max, Lucas, and Erica.

Steve tries not to let the guilt well up in him as they drive away. Gareth had wanted to come with Team Kill Vecna but Steve had quickly argued against that. He wasn't going to let Gareth anywhere near the Upside Down.

So it was decided. Max, Lucas, Erica, and Gareth at the Creel house, Dustin and Eddie on distraction, and Nancy, Robin, and Steve were going to face down Vecna.

There was still hours to go before they'd try, with a time set for 9:20ish, since that's the time Vecna's been enacting his curse according to Eddie's broken watch. Plenty of time to fortify Eddie's house in the Upside Down, plus the almost 40 minute walk to the Creel house from Forest Hills.

This was going to work. It had to.

Max and Lucas opt for hiding around the back of the house, waiting for time to pass until it's closer to dark, and Erica said she was going to snoop around the abandoned playground, so Gareth decided to head to the payphone a couple of blocks down the street.

He makes it halfway there before Erica scares the shit out of him by saying, "why do you need a phone book?"

Gareth yelps and spins, stupidly trying to hid the book behind his back even though he knows she already saw it. "I- uh, no. No reason."

Erica eyes him and he's suddenly very aware of whatever Eddie saw in her that night at Hellfire, that let her join the club. She's pretty scary for a middle schooler. "Do I look stupid? Who are you calling." It's not a question. It's a demand.

"I'm going to try and get a hold of Eddie's uncle," Gareth answers, trying to sound like an authority figure. "Tell him he'll find Eddie at his home at eight tonight. I know you all are so used to not telling people but this is- we need a real adult and Wayne's an army vet. He'll know how to help. He'll want to help."

She purses her lips, stays quiet for a moment before she nods. "I'm usually surrounded by stupid people, but you're kind of not one. I've got more change if you need it."

Gareth calls the plant and asks to speak to Wayne Munson. It's a bit of back and forth before the secretary agrees, but only if Wayne agrees to speak to a Gareth Cunningham. The plant must be getting calls from angry locals.

"Are ya really Gareth, or are ya just wantin' ta yell at me for helpin' raise the devil incarnate?" Wayne sounds tired and Gareth feels bad for him.

"Eddie would love for you to call him that to his face when you see him again."

"Thank God, son," Wayne sounds relieved. He must recognize Gareth's voice. "Ya okay? No one's harrassin' ya, are they?"

"No. Listen Wayne, I'm going to say something crazy but please just listen and do your best to be casual. I know where Eddie is. Or, where he will be at eight tonight. He's.... not physically hurt but he's going to need you. He might hate me for telling you this but I had to."

There is a pause where all he hears through the phone is a long inhale followed by a slow exhale. "Mmm hmm. I appreciate yer concern and glad ta hear no one's botherin' ya just for knowin' Eddie."

Gareth is only confused for a moment before he realizes Wayne is trying to make this conversation sound routine from his end. "Just. He's going home. But please don't show up until after eight. If you... if you beat him home he might run. Try to keep you out of this, y'know?" Gareth is just lying now, but he's a teenage boy in a garage band that plays in a dingy bar at the edge of town. That is to say, he knows how to lie off the cuff.

"I read ya loud and clear. I'll let ya know as soon as Eddie's been found safe so ya can quit worryin'. I gotta get back to it, but thanks for reachin' out."

Gareth hangs up and looks to Erica. "Well. Let's hope I haven't ruined everything."

"Let's hope that you know Wayne as well as you think you do."

[italiansteebie]

also on ao3

Gareth has been watching Steve Harrington. 

It was almost surreal the way he fell from the hierarchy everyone put so much importance on. It was like he ruled the school, and as soon as someone stepped up to challenge it, he gave it up like he didn’t want it in the first place. Gareth begins to wonder if he chose it, or if it was thrust upon him.

He finds out how right he was when Eddie gets accused of murder. 

He’d been at home watching the news with his mom when Eddie’s face popped up on the screen. “Oh shit,” “Gareth!” His mother scolded. “Oh- Sorry mom, that’s Eddie!” He said, exasperated and a little nervous. He knew Eddie was strange, but what the hell did he do to get accused of murdering a cheerleader? “Your friend Eddie? He’s a sweet boy, he couldn't do that.” His mother soothed. And she was right, but for the next five days Eddie was radio silent while the earth split apart and ash rained from the sky. 

He paced every day by the phone waiting for Eddie to call and tell him something. Anything. Waiting for Wayne to call him and tell him the funeral date, or the court date to testify against the charges but it never came. Instead, he got a call from a guy sounding right around his age, and when he listened closer the voice identified itself as one Steve Harrington, who’d gotten his number off Dustin Henderson, one of Eddie’s “Sheep.” 

Eddie was in the hospital, he wasn’t okay, but he was alive, and as much as Gareth wanted to see Eddie, ask him what the hell happened, and slap him silly, he couldn’t help the morbid curiosity that came with Steve Harrington being mixed up in all of this. Was he the one who killed Chrissy? No. No way. Steve can’t even throw a punch, he’s seen him try. 

He got to the hospital, seeing Steve sitting in the lobby, head in his hands and a bright red ring around his neck. There was a girl next to him, rubbing his back, and when Gareth looked closer, he discovered that it was Robin from band. He snorted, he didn’t think Steve was anywhere near Robin’s type but… Well, he’s been wrong before. 

Dustin was sitting across from them, looking a bit more put together, and he wondered how long they’d been sitting in the lobby, and if Steve had gone home. Dustin’s eyes meet his, and he waves him over. “Hey, Gareth. Uh. I had Steve call you. I figured you’d want to see Eddie?” He posed it as if he was unsure, the more kid looked exhausted and wondered what possibly could have happened between the murder acquisition and the earthquake that got this odd group of people strung together. The three here seemed comfortable with each other, and the morbid curiosity returned. What was King Steve doing with these people? Not that there was anything wrong with them, it was just so… Different. Gareth realizes he’d been just kind of idling, so he shook himself from his thoughts, “Uhm, yeah. Is he okay? What happened?” He stuttered out nervously. The two boys made eye contact from their adjacent  plastic chairs, seemingly having a silent conversation. 

Steve gave him a sharp nod before standing, “Dust, stay here with Robs. Wayne should be here soon and you can bring him back to Eddie’s room, kay? Rob, feel free to go to Max or Eddie’s room.” He looked at Gareth, studying him, before waving a hand as to say “follow me.” 

Gareth followed hesitantly, looking over his shoulder at Robin and Dustin who were watching them right back. Steve led them silently to a room before stopping at the door. “Look, Gareth. We don't…  We don’t know each other and what I’m about to tell you is going to be hard to swallow, but per the request of Eddie, I will explain, please.” Steve’s voice wavered and broke before he continued. “Please, don’t ask any questions until I’m done and I am begging you, don’t share this with anyone who doesn't enter this room, okay?” Gareth swallowed thickly, no matter what, Steve was intimidating, so he nodded, and listened as the other boy launched into the story. Starting with little Will Byers, who came back from the dead.

By the end of it, Gareth was a little more than shell shocked, and the exhausted look on Steve’s face told him that he didn’t really have a choice except to believe him, somehow it made sense. He uttered a simple, “Okay.” And that was that. 

“Eddie’s in rough shape but he is okay, just so you know. I’ll… Wait out here til you guys are done…” Steve said before pushing the door open for him. “Gareth, my main man. Thanks for briefing him, Stevie.” Eddie’s voice came out croaking and dry, and out of the corner of his eye he could see a faint blush spreading across Steve’s face at the nickname. Huh. The door shut, “Stevie?” 

“Oh, shut up Gareth. That’s what you’re focused on? I'm in a hospital bed.”

Gareth rolled his eyes, “You’re sitting up and calling King Steve ‘Stevie.” He scoffed, to which Eddie rolled his eyes. “He’s… Not that bad anymore, in fact he might be… Really, really good.” The soft voice and the fond look on Eddie’s face made Gareth squeal. But y’know, a manly squeal. “EDDIE OH  MY GOD.” Eddie ducked his head, they both flinched at the door swinging open. “What’s wrong? I heard screaming. Is everything okay?” Steve rambled out, softening when he realized everything was still in order. “S-sorry, I’ll” He stuttered out, shoving his thumb back towards the door. “Stevie, c’mere sweetheart.” Eddie said, patting the side of his bed, scooching over to make room for him. 

Steve sat, grabbing Eddie’s hand, eyes flicking over to Gareths occasionally. “It’s okay, Stevie. He’s my best friend, he knows. Well, not about… He knows I like boys, kay?” Eddie raises their clasped hands, planting a soft kiss on Steve’s knuckles. He turns to Gareth, “It’s new. But… It’s good. Really good.” Gareth smiled at this, before fake gagging at the cuteness, they were going to be insufferable weren’t they? 

It wasn’t until a few months later that Gareth really found out the backstory behind King Steve. It was a more depressing story than he’d thought it would be. 

They’d been playing DnD in Steve’s basement, after he’d allowed them to set up shop there every week for their campaigns claiming “No one ever uses it anyways,” with a shrug. There was a twinkle of something sad in Steve’s eye but he didn’t pay much attention to it. It wasn’t until later in the game that it all came to a front.

Eddie introduced a new NPC, quite obviously based on Steve, and most of them took it well. They were happy for the two and their new found love, but Eric, apparently, had a grudge stronger than a demogorgon. 

“Knight Steviengton? Seriously? That lumps not a Knight. What’s he ever done?” Eric scoffed, Eddie began to reply before Eric cut him off, voice coming out sharp. “More like ‘Useless King Steve who’s only worth his parents money.’” Eddie’s head whipped around at the sound of the basement door closing, Steve disappearing from his spot on the couch where he watches the story unfold and takes notes so they remember where they left off. 

Eddie might as well have cast Eric out with the look in his eyes, everyone watched as the guy sunk back into his seat as Eddie sauntered over to him, a dark look in his eyes. “Tell me, Eric. Do you like having me as a DM?” Eric spluttered, a weak “yeah,” coming out eventually. “Okay. Good, good. Now tell me. If you like me so much, why would you curse the most important person in my life? The person who saved my life?” 

“He’s- He’s just… King Steve…” Was the meak answer that left Eric's lips. “Did he ever do anything to you?” It was silent. Eddie slammed his hands on the table, “No. He didn’t. Because he would NEVER stoop so low as to put his hands on another person. In fact, I explicitly remember him telling Tommy H. to back off, don’t you?” His voice was loud and aggressive. 

“You know, he tries so hard, to make up for the asshole he was in high school, and you fucking… TURDS, won’t accept anything! It’s not his fault he was basically bred specifically to be a reincarnation of his god awful father. And now that he’s finally out of their control, because they basically disowned him after the earthquake, leaving nothing but this god forsaken house!” Eddie paused, breathing heavily, “You can’t forgive him? He saved my life.” His voice was soft at that moment, before his eyes returned to their fiery state. “And I am in love with him, and if that’s not good enough for you? You can get the fuck out of HIS house, and find yourself a new goddamn DM.” 

There was no response from Eric, “Whatever, session over. Goodbye.” Eddie waved a hand before going upstairs, likely to check on Steve. 

Gareth looked at Eric, “Not cool, man. Steve’s a pretty good guy when you get to know him.” He shook his head before standing up, moving to grab his stuff and leave. Jeff nodded in agreement, “I mean, he lets us use his basement, and eat his food, and he keeps it clean for us…  Dick move, Eric.” 

“Well. Fine. I’ll just leave then! Since you guys are all up King Steve’s ass for NO REASON.” Gareth watched the outburst with his arms crossed, unimpressed, “Well. Go on then.” He said, motioning to the door. 

“This is ridiculous!” Eric threw his arms up and stormed out of the house. 

The rest of the group trickled out after that, leaving Gareth alone in the house. He crept up the stairs, finding Steve’s room before knocking gently. “Come in,” He heard Eddie say from the other side. Seeing Steve Harrington cry was something he’d never expected to see, and honestly it was kind of heart breaking. “Hey, Gare.” Eddie said, combing a hand through Steve’s hair. 

“I just… Wanted to say that what Eric said wasn’t cool… And the rest of us don’t agree with him at all, we all think you’re like super cool, and good for Eddie. I mean, you’re the only one who can get him to eat vegetables!” Gareth said, voice lifting at the end. This rendered a tearful laugh from Steve. “Thanks Gareth. I really try to be… better than I was.”

“You are,” The assure came from both Eddie and Gareth with such finality that it didn’t give him any room to argue. This rendered another soft laugh from Steve. Wiping his eyes “Feel free to crash here, we’ve got enough rooms, and food, o-or whatever.” It came out awkward, and hopeful. Gareth nodded, letting a smile spread across his face, “Thanks, Steve. I’ll take you up on that. Good night, guys.”

He shut the door softly behind him, venturing to one of the guest rooms that lined the halls.

Steve Harrington could use some more friends, Gareth decided at that moment, he was going to be one of them. 

[steventhusiast]

STWG daily prompt 3/10/23

prompt: rehab

pairing/character(s): steddie

-

Steve walks toward his two o'clock appointment with a slightly curious expression on his face. It's a new patient, which already usually has him quite curious and slightly nervous, but this particular new patient is one who could afford to pay the clinic to keep the physical therapy room empty for his session.

And Steve had been required to sign an NDA before being allowed to pick up the patient. Which had honestly offended him. The NDA just went over not telling the press any details about his client, which, hello? HIPAA? But he's also confused about why his patient would need him to sign an NDA like this. The name Eddie Munson doesn't ring any bells for him.

So, yes. He's very curious.

Before opening the door, he puts the effort into making his expression friendlier and more open, and straightens his back before pushing the door open. There, sat on one of the cushioned benches, is a very attractive man. One that he still doesn't recognise? Even though he must be famous? Or something?

He's got long, wavy hair, with a fringe hanging down in his face a bit- just enough to slightly cover his grumpy eyes and add to his generally unhappy expression. The t-shirt he's wearing looks artfully ripped to reveal tattoos underneath across his ribcage and stomach, and it contrasts the grey sweatpants he's wearing. Steve remembers that a knee injury is why Eddie's here in the first place, and figures that's what's causing the slightly odd outfit. He spies a pair of crutches leaning against the bench Eddie's sat on, and then his eyes trail over a little further to see a woman stood beside them.

Her expression is a lot more serious than Eddie's, and she's wearing an outfit that can only be described as business casual. Her blonde hair is up in a perfect ponytail, and once Steve's closed the door behind him she gives him a pinched smile. When Steve expects Eddie to introduce himself, the woman speaks instead.

"Hi there, you must be Steve. I'm Chrissy, Eddie's manager. He did not want to come today, so I'm just here to make sure he's behaving."

Steve raises an eyebrow at her words, and her speech seems to finally prompt Eddie to stop glaring daggers into the floor and look up at his new physical therapist.

But when Eddie's eyes snap up to Steve's, the glare leaves them immediately as his eyes widen a little. Steve's very confused by that, even more so when the wide eyed look transforms into a pout.

"Hi Eddie, I'm Steve." He greets with a lopsided smile, hoping that would make Eddie drop whatever his face is doing right now. But instead Eddie literally lets out a huff and his pout intensifies.

"Dammit. Why do you have to be hot? Chrissy dragged me to this stupid rehab centre and I don't want to be here because I'm supposed to be on tour, so I was supposed to be broody and moody all session to defy Chris's demands. But here you are. Real prince charming with a nice smile and hot voice to match." Eddie complains, and Steve opens and closes his mouth a few times at that.

Eventually, he takes a deep breath and tilts his head, eyes slightly squinted.

"I'm.. Sorry? About that?" He tries, and Eddie laughs a little.

"Can I get a different therapist for this? Preferably an uglier one?" Eddie tries, and that actually shocks a laugh out of Steve as Chrissy (somewhat violently) shoves his shoulder and hisses out his name.

"Unfortunately you're stuck with me. And I can't date patients." Steve says bluntly, and Eddie's pout is back.

"But," He starts, and quirks a smile at how Eddie's back straightens at his words, "You're very pretty. So how about you actually try at what I have planned for you, and when you're done with the outpatient programme, I can take you out for dinner?"

Chrissy sighs next to Eddie at the words (looking quite done with the entire situation and the fact that she has to be there), but Eddie's eyes have glazed over into something determined, and he nods once.

"Eight weeks is a long time, but you're like Adonis level hot. That works for me. Show me what you got, Stevie."

Steve finds himself quite excited to find more out about Eddie. The next eight weeks will fly by, and hopefully after that... They can see how it goes.

[formosusiniquis]

A Steddie / Buckingham comedy of errors of sorts. It goes like this.

Robin thinks Chrissy Cunningham might be her non platonic soulmate. She's smart, a little goofy, observant, seems like a great listener, and after what the rumor mill is saying was a pretty intense summer has really come into her own. It's a shame she went straight from dating Jason to Eddie Munson.

"She said she's working on herself," Steve claims, more in tune with the gossip than she is, "pretty hypocritical of you to say guys and girls can't be friends."

Which is pretty hypocritical of him when she knows he only cares cause he's already planning his wedding to Chrissy's new boyfriend; he needs Eddie to be single otherwise he's pining away for his perfect co-babysitter for nothing.

But it doesn't matter if they are dating or if they aren't or if Chrissy Cunningham with her perfect strawberry blonde ponytail is her soulmate, because her parents keep trying to set her up with some friend of a friend. She needs to do something quick before disaster strikes.

Melissa and Richard Buckley still know how to tie one on, when the occasion strikes. They're parents now, they've settled down some. Given in to the picket fence life, keep their yard mowed so Gayle Collins down the way stops glaring. They haven't done anything really crazy since that weekend they left Robin with Minerva and went to see what that whole Woodstock thing was about. Now they mostly just stick to getting as high as they can and stargazing on the weekends that Robin is off with Steve, a sweet boy kind of a square but the brownie recipe he gave them makes the best edibles.

Melissa can tell her daughter is lonely, she notices a lot of things about Robin that she won't tell them. Richard has noticed that their dealer Eddie has started bringing a friend along with him. Eddie is a sweet boy too, raised well respects his elders something they care about now that they've become them, he is also obviously and fantastically gay. Like all the parents in Hawkins, Richard and Melissa have heard how Wayne Munson has taken in that Cunningham girl after she came back from her trip out of state. Melissa remembers being a vaguely out of control youth and knows that a trip out of state is code for one of two things, and Chrissy doesn't look like she's ever been pregnant. Chrissy seems like a girl who might like their daughter.

Steve would die before he denies Robin just about anything. She is the platonic love of his life, they nearly died together, they've come out together. He's pretty sure as long as he has Robin and his kids he'd be content for the rest of his life, romance be damned.

A sentiment Robin seems to agree with since she wants him to fake being her boyfriend. Obviously, he says yes. Steve is a good boyfriend, he's always been a good boyfriend. He's attentive, great with parents, knows when to keep the pda to a minimum but also knows when to put on a show. He used to be pretty sure that Mr. and Mrs. Buckley liked him. So he's not really sure why they pulled him aside before movie night.

"Your parents hate me."

"There isn't a parent in Hawkins who hates you."

"You mom just asked me if I didn't think it might be better if I found someone more suited to me."

"What does that even mean?"

"It's basically mom code for I think your the worst person my daughter could have brought home. If I had the choice I'd kill you so why don't you do us both a favor and fuck off."

"I don't think that's right."

"Rob, I love you but conversational nuance isn't exactly your thing."

Eddie likes his job. Sure it's technically not honest work, but who knows maybe down the line they'll legalize it. He's getting in on the ground floor, an entrepreneur. Hawkins is surprisingly pro-weed and Eddie is just fine sticking to that after this summer. His favorite customers are the old folks. Like Miss Brenda at the library or the Buckleys. He always brings Chrissy along when he goes out these days, she feels weird staying in the trailer by herself and he likes having her nearby. She puts people at ease.

Except the Buckleys, who seem strangely obsessed with her. They ask her pointed questions about Dorothy, and surely they mean an actual Dorothy, surely the nice middle aged couple aren't trying to figure out if Chrissy is queer. Sure he got some vibes off of Buckley the younger, but that was before she started dating the love of his life. Now he's starting to think his whole gaydar has gone to shit.

Chrissy, a baby gay who has just broken free of the nastiest case of comp het Eddie has ever seen, answer honestly. She doesn't know a Dorothy, is that one of Robin's band friends? How is Robin, she is so sweet. Chrissy just wishes she had more time in the day so they could see each other more. She's dating Steve right, they make just the cutest couple, don't they think?

Eddie can tell Melissa doesn't. A surprise when even Wayne likes Steve Harrington, thinks he's the bees knees. Loaned him a screwdriver or some shit when the guy was over fixing something at the Mayfield place. She smiles though and agrees that Steve is quite sweet, in a tone that Eddie is far more used to hearing used when people are talking about him than about Steve Harrington. He blinks and the next thing he knows Chrissy is agreeing for them both that dinner on Friday sounds lovely; she'll bring a dessert.

Like she's ever baked in her life.

Chrissy Cunningham has had a rough couple of months, but she's settled now. Sure, she had a breakdown so bad in Eddie's trailer that she ended up having to get professional help; but she got that help and a new support system for herself. Really, the only way life could be much better is if she were dating Robin Buckley.

Eddie likes to tease her, calls her a baby gay like she's a wobbly legged deer still figuring things out. She's had eyes on Robin since the fifth grade, when she got her hair cut short to her shoulders the first time and her teeth still had a gap before her braces went on. Steve is a great guy, she's seen him with the group of freshmen that follow him around like ducklings; she's also watching him now and he's spent most of dinner making moon eyes at Eddie instead of his girlfriend.

She doesn't understand how, Robin is a vision. Full of spit and vinegar, she is firecracker mad glaring at her parents across the table. "You really brought him here? I'm dating Steve, can you not accept that?"

A lot happens at once, Chrissy isn't entirely sure what is going on but it feels a lot like a pot boiling over, something left too long unattended.

"We aren't trying to set you up with our dealer," Mr. Buckley said. "You're not exactly his type."

"Chrissy is such a nice girl." Mrs. Buckley tries.

"You said you stopped that," Steve to Eddie, a lethal pout on his lips and downturned eyes.

"Well, I stopped with the kids," Eddie tries, "I gotta pay the bills somehow, sweetheart."

"Chrissy?" If Robin was a vision in her sharp eyed rage, she's radiant in her pink cheeked surprise.

Once the shock, surprise, and comedy wear off Chrissy thinks there will be tears. Robin's parents seem nice. They seem like the kind of parents you confide in and who hold you tight. She thinks about her mom doing something thoughtful, thinks of her quietly accepting who she is and who she loves; and when she can't do that she thinks of Wayne and Eddie and knows she'd cry once they were alone and the theater of it all was over. So she thinks she might need to make the most of her moment while it's there. "I don't want to be a homewrecker," she jokes, something she's picked up from Eddie, "but I think your boyfriend has his eyes other places."

"Boyfriend, what boyfriend?"

"They're showing Clue at The Hawk this weekend, if you want to go with me?"

Robin can't nod her head fast enough.

"Stevie, I noticed you find yourself newly single," Eddie says, sorrow so fake he should rethink his decision to go within 10 feet of the drama department. "If you could bear it, would you want to crash their date make it a double?"

Steve agrees so fast a bit of hair escapes his coif, it falls in a curl at his forehead.

Robin's parents both seem pleased, pleasant smiles that chrissy is becoming more accustomed to seeing on adults now that she resides in the Munson place. "They'll be smug about this forever," Robin confides. Her smile betrays her lack of real dismay.

Chrissy got her girl and her best friend got his boy, so she thinks it's all's well that ends well.

[werepuppy-steve]

taylor (@steddie-island) and i have been in the trenches for the past week creating the most beautiful (and smutty) steddissy au and i'm very 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 about it. it's still mostly headcanons right now with inklings of plot sprinkled in, so i thought i should make a worldbuilding post about it since it's officially being added to my wip pile <3

tagging some people i think would be interested in this: @dangerous-disposition @tboybuck @patchworkgargoyle @thefreakandthehair @starryeyedjanai

@corrodedbisexual @sidekick-hero @spectrum-spectre @munsondickprint @augustjustice

@worstsequence @rozzieroos

it doesn't get real graphic under the cut but putting it under one bc it's a lil long

the beginnings of it are touched on here, but it's expanded a little bit.

it's a modern au. steddissy are still in that platonic/friends with benefits stage: steve and eddie are dating but chrissy is very happy and content being single. she likes that it gives her more freedom to do things without having a controlling partner breathing down her neck every time she turns around.

they're streamers. i don't have their niche's fleshed out yet but they do collabs with each other a lot.

we went into dirty details in dms about the three of them sexting constantly, which turns into them rolling out their onlyfans accounts. they already have so many things filmed just from their texts alone, so why not make money off of it?

some more headcanons and ideas were thrown around (along with taylor giving me snippets of her own steddissy wips that you should def ask her about if she's willing to share them 👀) that i'll probably make a separate post for.

it's been established that chrissy is a squirter

but between all the filthy smut, there's love. so much of it that i get choked up just thinking about it.

i started thinking of people who are in mostly online spaces and have probably never interacted with the queer community in real life, and how they wouldn't have the kindest opinions.

so eddie would get all of these tweets that are like "you're gay but you enjoy having sex with a woman??? [confused math lady] make it make sense." he ignores them at first because randos on the internet aren't entitled to his relationships, but it becomes frequent enough that he starts getting accused of "calling himself gay for clout" and dragging steve and chrissy into it, and then he has to address it.

he does it in a video because he's still dramatic.

"having sex with a woman doesn't make me not gay. i've been gay since i was 15 and a boy gave me my first hickey. chrissy is my platonic partner. yes, she's very cute and adorable and it makes me want to scream sometimes, but i'm not attracted to her because she's a woman. i'm attracted to her because she's my best friend and my feelings for her run so much deeper than romantic love. chrissy doesn't even label herself with a sexuality. she just likes people.

steve is my boyfriend. i'm romantically involved with him and physically attracted to him because he's a man. steve, however, is bi, so he does find chrissy attractive as a woman, and there's nothing wrong with that. they're also not interested in dating each other. the three of us fool around with each other because it's fun and we like making each other feel good and we trust each other. it's nobody else's business what we do."

and because he's a petty little shit (a trait he learned from steve) he posts a video of him and chrissy having the most tendernasty missionary sex, complete with kissing and hand holding.

then it turned into the three of them being roommates. and then somewhere along the line it turned into chrissy being steve and eddie's surrogate and the three of them coparenting (a big win for steve "breeding kink" harrington), because at this stage in their relationship, they're pretty secure in knowing that chrissy is their life partner. they're not Together together, but they know she's not going anywhere.

i think that for them to get to this point, something would've had to happen between chrissy and someone outside of their relationship. someone she's had frequent collabs on onlyfans with, who maybe wanted something more and called her a hypocrite when she said she wasn't looking for anything serious, because of steve and eddie, and wouldn't listen when she insisted that it was different with them.

she tells the boys this and it turns into her coming with sobs of "i'm yours" as she rides steve while eddie fucks him. taylor mentioned they dp her and i said that that would be the moment it kind of clicks for them that this is how they were always meant to be.

and it gave me thoughts about possibly arospec chrissy. she loves her boys with her entire being, but she knows it's not romantic love. like eddie says, it feels deeper than that. to call it "romantic" almost feels like it cheapens their relationship (she knows it doesn't, she knows that eddie and steve's romantic feelings for each other are real and just as important). she's not sure if she's ever felt romantic love for anyone.

and that's all we have for now, outside of the smut alkgjldkfgj. none of them actually care about who the kid belongs to. they've got chrissy's light hair and dark eyes.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie was pretty sure that he was being watched. He looked up from his doodles. Steve and Chrissy were watching the TV rather intently. Too intently and seriously for a sitcom. Eddie narrowed his eyes at them for a minute before returning to his sketches. He stuck his tongue out as he drew, getting back into it. The only sound was the TV until suddenly he heard the sounds of a whisper and a giggle. Then Eddie felt like he was being watched again. He looked up, and they were still watching the TV intently. Eddie slammed his pencil down.

"Okay! What - ,"

"Me and Chrissy are going to get something from the kitchen," Steve said suddenly.

"What are you getting from the kitchen?" Eddie asked with narrowed eyes.

"We'll decide when we get there," Chrissy grinned.

Eddie watched in confusion as they walked out of the room. Did he say something? Did he do something? Oh, man, did he smell? Eddie tentatively sniffed his armpit. Nope, he smelled pretty good, actually. Eddie slapped his knees and decided to follow them into the kitchen, but they weren't there. Eddie placed his hands on his hips. Where the fuck did they go? He started towards the back of the house when he heard their collective voices coming from the room that led out onto Steve’s patio. He peaked around the door frame and saw them standing rather close to each other, talking heatedly.

"We are NOT playing paper, rock, scissors to see who asks him out first," Steve said.

"Why?" Chrissy asked, and then her eyes lit up. "We could share him! We both like him, and I think our friendship could handle him dating both of him. We could make a schedule. You can have him on the weekends, and I can have him during the week."

"Okay, why do you get more days with him?" Steve scoffed. "No! No! We are not doing that. We are not sharing like we're divorced parents, Chrissy. Besides, he clearly likes me more."

"Please, we don't even know if he likes guys!" Chrissy exclaimed.

"We both know that it's possibility that he could like both," Steve said.

"Yeah, okay," Chrissy scowled. "Still, we have history."

"You mean that one day where you saw each other perform in a talent show once? Please," Steve said.

"He flirts with me all of the time!" Chrissy said, moving closer to him.

"You know, he could just be a very flirty person. Maybe he flirts with everyone," Steve said.

"He doesn't flirt with Nancy or Robin or Vickie or Jonathan," Chrissy said and then frowned. "He does flirt with Argyle a little, but I think that has to do with Argyle's personality than anything else."

Steve moved closer to her, looking down at her. They were both breathing heavily. Eddie watched as their eyes flicked to their lips. Yes, kiss! He gripped the doorframe as the air crackled with invisible electricity between the two. Wait! No! They needed to know. . . Eddie took a few steps back.

"Stevie? Chrissy?" Eddie asked in fake confusion.

"In here!" They called out quickly.

Eddie walked into the room and smiled when they had moved further away from each other.

"Hey, I wanted to ask you guys a question," Eddie said, leaning against the doorway.

"Shoot," Steve grinned.

"You can ask me anything, Eddie," Chrissy said, and to Eddie's amusement, Steve cut eyes at her.

"I wanted to know if you guys wanted to go with me," Eddie said casually.

"Both of us?!" They asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I mean, I would prefer if all three of us were together, but I would understand if - "

"No! We want to be together!" Chrissy said quickly.

"So, how long were listening outside of the room?" Steve asked with a grin.

"Long enough to hear you guys fight over me. By the way. . .hot! And to watch you two almost kiss," Eddie said and plopped down on the couch, stretching out completely with his arm under his head. "Nothing stopping you now."

Steve and Chrissy shared a grin before colliding with each other. Steve cupped the back of her head as he slammed his lips to hers, wrapping his other around her waist. Chrissy was almost climbing him, her hands gripping his shoulders as she kissed him eagerly. They broke the kiss, grinning.

"There was no reason for us to fight at all," Chrissy giggled.

"Hmm, I don't know. You don't have to give it up completely. Maybe next time we can add some mud," Eddie winked. "Now, get over here and give Big Daddy a kiss."

"We are NOT calling you that!" They exclaimed.

"Why do we like you?" Chrissy asked with a grin.

"Because you're both freaks," Eddie said affectionately.

They shared a look with each other before throwing themselves at him, attacking his neck with their lips while their fingers tickled his sides. Eddie laughed as he tried to dodge their fingers.

[ymaohoh]

Okay so I've got this idea for an AU Chrissy/Eddie fic where...

Chrissy dumps Jason (this takes place post-Vecna) But before Eddie can make a move or figure out what the pounding in his chest means, she tells him some guy from her English class asked her out on a date. Nancy knows him from the school newspaper and thinks she should put herself out there because she's been with Jason since forever and he's a nice guy. Chrissy asks Eddie what he thinks (while looking down at her feet) and he kind of short circuits before spluttering 'you should do it'. What else can he say? Chrissy's out of his league and off to college soon and he'll only hold her back. He thought that maybe there was something between them but obviously just misread the stolen looks and hand holding. She clearly just thinks of him as a friend. (And Chrissy kind of deserves some fun after the shit few months of Vecna and dying and saving the world.) Chrissy kind of deflates at this but he doesn't notice. He's looking over her shoulder where Robin's waiting and swears she mouths the word idiot. Eddie doesn't want to hear how the date went (though he obsesses about it all weekend) but Nancy tells him Chrissy wasn't really into it. The boy took himself far too seriously and it felt like Jason all over again. Before Eddie can process what this means, Chrissy finds herself another date. This time with a guy from Jonathan's photography club. Again he gets the inside scoop from Jonathan who says they didn't hit it off. Chrissy found him too quiet and struggled to fill in the empty spaces. This happens a few more times - with Robin's friend from band (completely different interests), with a guy Steve works with at Family Video (zero humor), with another athlete Lucas knows of (too handsy) - and each time Eddie gets the downlow. He thinks his friends are maybe doing it for his benefit like they know something he hasn't pieced together just yet. (Chrissy's really popular and cute and it's no surprise she keeps getting asked out.) Chrissy doesn't have a bad time during these dates (some are fun) but they just don't click. She learns what she likes and what she doesn't though. It's seems like her confidence is blooming. Eddie's kind of proud she's having fun and owning shit but it weighs on him. He becomes grumpy and eventually Robin calls him out on it after Chrissy asks the last guy for DATE 2. It motivates him to step the fuck up and ask her out himself...but before he can open his mouth (surprise surprise) Chrissy asks HIM out. Needless to say, there is clicking.

[kittythelitter]

CW: Chrissy's mom. Specifically being body shamey and ableist. Also characters being pressured into a relationship they don't want to be in.

Okay but ST season 4 AU where everyone lives, including Chrissy and Jason. Like, Vecna breaks his victims and traps his victims in their own minds instead of killing them so he can feed off their life forces or whatever and Chrissy is found in the trailer broken and covered in upsidedown goop but still alive so everyone's like. This is some weird supernatural bullshit. And Jason still leads a witch-hunt.

After it all, Chrissy is awake and recovering and she breaks up with Jason for being the worst. And her mom is like. You're legally an adult, you chased away a good man, because you're bed bound for now you lost your cheerleading scholarship and the only thing that makes you worth anything. You can't even get a job in your current state. You need a man. If you let me set you up with a rich eligible bachelor and don't fuck it up, we will pay your hospital bills, maybe even college.

Meanwhile Steve is a hero, and is a publicity asset for the Harringtons, and for the first time since he graduated high school has some kind of value to his parents. He's being celebrated, and if they set him up with one of their business partner's kids they can curry favor. More so if it's the poor injured Cunningham girl who is beloved and lauded by the town for being victims of the bizarre serial killer, Henry Creel.

(Ignore the goo and the vines and the crack in the ground that used to be main street there was a serial killer and an earthquake and they were totally unrelated.)

So Steve and Chrissy are both being pressured by their parents into a relationship that even conceptually makes them uncomfortable. But she can't back out without starting adulthood in a wheelchair in crippling debt. And while Steve could probably survive being disowned and his parents' ire his abandonment issues and desperate people pleaser tendencies make him not want to piss off his parents, disappoint the Cunninghams, or hurt Chrissy's feelings.

So they go on a lot of very uncomfortable dates. And they kind of get along. And Steve breaks down and full on Robin word vomits that she's great and he's sure she'll find a great guy but he really doesn't want to upset their parents or hurt her feelings- but he really really doesn't feel that way about her- and it's not because she's in a wheelchair or anything- one of his kids is in a wheelchair- well not his kid- there's these kids he babysits- that's not the point- he's really really sorry, but he kind has a crush on someone else, and he can't keep pretending to date her to make other people happy, and he's really sorry. And she's like. Holy shit.

And he just broke down so she feels comfortable explaining her situation and he, overwhelmed by his protector instincts, agrees to keep up the appearance of dating until her hospital bills are paid and she can make her own choices about what she wants.

So they keep doing public dates and stuff. But outside of that, he invites her to meet his friends, cause she lost a lot of hers in everything. She's been really lonely, and she's very sweet and kind of dorky so she gets along with everyone.

And Steve told Robin everything because she's Robin, but not everyone else because he didn't want to get into his parents bullshit or expose Chrissy's baggage so they're all nice to her and get along but they're a little weird about it because that's Chrissy Cunningham. And Steve's dating her???

Also Robin is weird around her because hot girl, but everyone thinks she's jealous which is a weird dynamic. Chrissy thinks Robin is Steve's crush and keeps talking Steve up to Robin and talking about how Robin's great and how close she and Steve are and how nice that is. And it's very awkward.

Eddie is insanely jealous and he knows that Robin's a lesbian so he's like. Oh she has a crush on her best friend's straight girlfriend. That sucks. And he also hates that he can't hate Chrissy, because she's so fucking nice and sweet to him.

(Nancy, Jon and Argyle are all on varying levels of knowing something is up but are staying out of it because they are too stoned to parse what specifically is happening or too stubborn to admit that they made some wrong assumptions.)

(the kids don't care much beyond being glad that Steve wasn't flirting with every age appropriate girl he crossed paths with anymore)

And then Chrissy figures out that a) whoops she has a crush on her fake boyfriend's best friend (Robin). b) Steve and Eddie are in love. And c) Eddie thinks she and Steve are for real. So Chrissy tries to explain to Eddie that their relationship is fake without spilling Steve's baggage, and mentions that she doesn't even like Steve like that she actually likes Robin.

Through some miscommunication Eddie now thinks Steve is unknowingly Chrissy's beard. And he doesn't want to out Chrissy but he's a little upset that she's using his crush totally platonic guy friend this way.

Meanwhile Chrissy tries to team up with Robin to get Steve and Eddie together. Because Robin clearly loves Steve and Eddie and wants them to be happy even if she hates Chrissy for some reason. (Again Robin doesn't hate Chrissy she's just super awkward).

Boundless shenanigans ensue.

[sidekick-hero]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers! Spread the self-love ❤️

Emmerson, my dearest dear, thank you so so much for the lovely ask! A bit of self-love and self-hype is always a good idea 😊💜

Because I got several lovely self-rec asks I'm giving you my favorite AUs I've written 😘

Would you fall for me? (explicit | 8.8k) - my try at enemies to lovers

Dustin hugged him again and when he pulled away he patted Eddie on the back and said, "Great. Maybe you and Steve will finally bury the hatchet, now that you both have to help me plan the wedding.” "Sorry, I think I heard wrong. It almost sounded like —" Eddie started, praying that he had indeed misheard Dustin, because no way in hell... Dustin let out an exasperated sigh. "You didn't. Steve is also my best man." At Eddie's horrified look, Dustin added, "I really don't understand why you two hate each other so much. I think you could be great friends if you both just stopped acting like kids, man." "He started it," Eddie grumbled like the very mature adult he was. This was going to end in disaster, he fucking knew it.

Suitcase of Memories (explicit | 55.7k) - my first and only big bang, written with the amazing @legitcookie 💜

In a bygone era, two men overcome all societal norms and find an instant, powerful connection that defies all odds. Their secret love blossoms in the shadows, forming an unbreakable bond. However, fate eventually intervenes, cruelly tearing them apart. Fast forward to the present day, Steve awakens from a startling dream that feels surprisingly real, like he was really there. The memory of it haunts his every waking moment, making him question if he somehow recognizes the mysterious, curly-haired stranger playing his guitar at a street-corner, although they have never met before. Steve continues to cross paths with this enigmatic figure, Eddie, until they surrender to fate and their instant attraction. As their relationship deepens, Steve's dreams become increasingly vivid, detailed, and intense, leaving him with an uncanny sense of familiarity. They also strangely reflect the growing romance and struggles of his newfound relationship. Is it all just a coincidence, or is there a deeper connection that defies the boundaries of time and fate?

we were meant to be (we live happily in my fantasy) (explicit | 5.6k) - my try at rockstar!Eddie

Eddie Munson has it all. The big mansion with more bathrooms than anyone could ever need, five platinum albums in as many years, countless awards to show the world that the trailer trash from a shithole town in Indiana had made it, and enough money to buy said shithole town if he ever wanted to. Which he certainly didn't, thank you very much. The only good thing about this hellhole is his uncle, who still refuses to live anywhere else. Eddie Munson also has the most gorgeous date of all the Grammy attendees on his arm, smiling charmingly at the flashing cameras and winning the hearts of everyone he so much as looks at. Or: Eddie is a Big-Shot-Rockstar and Steve is the escort he hired to get people off his back. Too bad he fell in love with him.

I’ll keep you like an oath (may nothing but death do us part) (mature | 20k) - finally, I tried my hand at the fake dating trope!

When Steve's grandmother dies, he finds out that he can only get his inheritance - half a million dollars - if he marries someone. It's her way of forcing Steve to live a heterosexual life. Sucks for her that gay marriage has been legalized since she wrote her will. Sucks for Steve that he doesn't have a man or woman in his life to marry. Cue Eddie Munson, roommate and best friend of Robin's girlfriend Chrissy and the guy Steve has had a crush on for years. What could possibly go wrong?

Emotional Motion Sickness (explicit | 16.5k) - emotional porn, pure and simple

"This is actually my first time in a gay bar and I had no idea it was a theme night, that people would be here looking for... for... leather and chains and whatnot. If I knew that, I wouldn't have come." It comes out in a rush, the words stumbling over each other in his haste to get them out as quickly as possible. Steve fights the urge to bury his head in his hands again, but part of him is glad he got it all out. Now he can only hope that Eddie still wants to talk to him, because he likes Eddie, and he may not be into the same things as him, but maybe... Steve doesn't know what he's hoping for, only that he doesn't want his night to end without at least getting Eddie's number. Maybe they can at least be friends. Steve really needs more gay friends, ones who don't send him to a bar without telling him they have theme nights.

[puppy-steve]

a piece from the roadtrip fic that just hit me while i was buttering my toast

Chrissy rolls over to face him. Eddie can't tell if she's still drunk or not.

She giggles when he reaches over and swipes a thumb under her eye where the eyeliner is smudged and the corners of Eddie's lips tick up in amusement. He lets his hand fall back to the bed and tucks it underneath his pillow.

Chrissy's eyes are starting to droop and just when Eddie thinks she's out, she takes in a sharp breath and shifts under the covers, pulling them under her chin. She looks at Eddie with an unreadable expression.

"Do you think..." Her voice is barely above a whisper, like she doesn't want to disrupt the comfortable silence that's settled between them. It's a stark contrast to how loud she was at the bar and when Eddie dragged her through the door of their hotel room, still drunkenly slurring that Cyndi Lauper song from karaoke.

"And you've taken all you can bare, you call me up because you know I'll be there."

"Alright, superstar," Eddie chuckles fondly as he sits her on the edge of the bed. "I think it's time you hit the hay. You're gonna have a bitch of a hangover in the morning."

He kneels down in front of her and starts unlacing her boots. Her singing stops and Chrissy sits up from where she'd flopped onto her back and gives Eddie a look that he equates to a pouting bunny. "I am not a bitch in the mornings, Edward Munson."

It startles a laugh out of Eddie so hard that he almost chokes on it. "That's not even remotely close to what I said, but," he gives her an apologetic look, "you kind of are, babe."

It earns him a deserved smack on the head but Chrissy quickly goes back to humming her songs and Eddie is able to get her out of her party clothes and into her pajamas without much fuss.

"You can always call me," she says before he turns the lights out. Her back is turned but her voice is clear. "You know that right? Just like I can always call you."

Eddie blinks, hand froze under the lamp shade. "Of course I know that, Chris," he says after a blip of silence. She doesn't say anything else so Eddie turns the light off and slips under he blankets beside her.

Eddie nudges her socked foot with his own bare one. "Do I think what?"

Chrissy bites her lip like she does when she's nervous. "If we both weren't gay and you weren't dating Steve, do you think we would've worked out?"

The question catches Eddie off guard. "Oh."

Chrissy shakes her head and quickly sits up. "It's a stupid question, I know. I shouldn't have asked–"

"Hey." Eddie grabs her hand before she can get out of bed. "It isn't stupid. Nothing you ever say is stupid, don't say mean things about my best friend."

That gets a watery laugh out of her. Eddie gently gives her hand a pull and Chrissy easily lays back down. The lights stay off because this feels like a lights off conversation.

"I don't know," Eddie says honestly, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. "Maybe. But I think that deep down we would have known we aren't right for each other that way."

Chrissy looks at their hands and nods. "Yeah... Even if it meant figuring this stuff out later, I think I would have liked to try."

A sadness makes a home in Eddie's core. Deep down he knows he never would have been able to give her the kind of love she deserves, but he also knows that Chrissy thinks she doesn't deserve any type of love at all.

So he scoots closer until he's got her pulled into his chest, their arms around each other. "What I do know is that you're my best friend in the whole world. And I know that there isn't a single universe in which I wouldn't find you and make sure you know how much I love you."

He feels Chrissy hug him tighter and he kisses the top of her head.

"You're loved by so many people, Chrissy Cunningham."

[jadeylovesmarvelxo]

Hey There Jealousy.

You're part of Hellfire with a big crush on Eddie, he doesn't feel the same and you deal with unrequited feelings until a date with someone else triggers unexpected reactions. ✨

Warnings; Angst, jealousy, fighting, fluffy goodness. Not S4 compliant.

Please like or reblog, etc if you enjoyed this ❤️🌸

I don't give anyone permission to copy my work.

❤️❤️

You had been in Hellfire for the last two years, it was your senior year and things were going pretty great.

When you first joined the group you didn't know what to expect, Gareth was the one who had found out that you were a huge dnd fan and always played with the kids you were babysitting at the time.

One of them happened to be his younger cousin Dave who raved about you to Gareth, it was then decided you would tag along to Hellfire.

None of your friends could understand why you wanted to join but you ignored their doom-filled predictions of it being a cult or whatever bullshit they heard from Jason.

Eddie was hesitant at first until you played your first campaign and knocked everyone's expectations out of the water.

Now you were one of Eddie's valued teammates and the tiny itty bitty crush you had on Eddie when you first met? Now it was full-blown feelings and you were screwed.

Because he didn't think of you like that, he had crushes on Chrissy Cunningham, other cheerleaders, hookups with girls in bands and at The Hideout where he would play with his band Corroded Coffin.

It hurt, seeing him with those girls hurt, it was expected though. You were just his friend, he was older and in a cool band and despite what Jason and his Neanderthal friends thought and called him- "the freak" garnered a lot of intrigue.

He was also gorgeous, with beautiful brown doe eyes, shaggy brown hair, tattoos and dimples. Eddie was fucking hot.

So yeah, you were screwed.

❤️❤️

Dustin never thought he would be speaking one and one with Chrissy Cunningham. He knew you were friends with her and Eddie a little bit too but it still felt surreal.

You and Eddie. That was the reason the two of them were conspiring together in the first place.

"Look, I like Eddie, he's a sweet guy but the fact that he doesn't notice how gone my girl is for him is frustrating" Dustin nods.

"What do you want to do about it? If he's not interested then you can't force him to be Chrissy" she nods.

"I know. Eddie Munson despite what yn seems to think isn't the only guy in the whole universe, others have noticed how cute she is"

This intrigues Dustin. Was it Steve? He knew Steve thought you were hot.

"You know Matt? He's on the basketball team? One of Jason's friends. He's one of them" Dustins eyes widen.

"So what do you suggest we do?" Chrissy smiles.

"We don't have to do anything. Matt is going to ask her out. Either Eddie feels something or he doesn't, either way..."

Either way, you would either get your dream guy or a chance to move on for good. Dustin liked you a lot and wanted you to find happiness, whether it was with Eddie, Matt or whoever you wanted to be with.

He was nervous but ready to see what happened.

❤️❤️

"Hey" You're shocked into silence as Matt comes over, he's like one of the most popular guys in school besides Jason and yeah you're meant to be tutoring him tonight but you didn't expect him to want to hang out beyond that.

Did he want to hang out with Hellfire? Immediately you notice Eddie tense, defences up and you don't blame him, the basketball team has a few jerks in it.

Besides Lucas of course. You adored Lucas as well as Mike and Dustin.

Matt has never been hostile though so you smile encouragingly while Eddie glares at the newcomer.

"Hey, I know we were meant to be studying tonight but I saw on your bag that you like horror movies, there's a showing of some classic horror movies tonight. You wanna go?"

Okay, this you weren't expecting. He rests his hand on your arm and his thumb strokes over your shoulder, it tingles and you feel flustered and also acutely aware of Eddie's raised eyebrow as he watches you both.

Chrissy is watching too giving you a thumbs-up gesture and you make a decision.

"I'd love to" you find yourself saying and Matt grins.

"Cool, I'll see you after class" You watch him go feeling like you're in some strange dream.

"Did that really just happen?" you ask the others who look between you and then Eddie.

"You've been swayed to the dark side. Yeah, it did" Eddie huffs and you roll your eyes.

"I have not. He is cute though" You sigh dreamily, it's nice having someone notice you.

"He was all over you in Ms O'Donnell's class. Someone's got a crush" Jeff teases and the others join in on the light hearted teasing.

Except for Eddie, who's quiet and munching on a bag of pretzels while he glares in the direction of the Jock table.

"We were just talking, he was asking me for help studying. I help Eddie so why not?" Gareth grins.

"Mmm and now you're off to the movies, a horror movie. That you'll not be watching because of all the... He makes a kissy face and you giggle.

"Dingus" would that happen though? Your belly flutters.

"Shut up! " Eddie snaps and the others quieten and your heart rate spikes because he looks so annoyed and you wonder if it's about you and Matt.

"We were discussing the campaign" he points out and your heart sinks, right Hellfire. It was silly of you to think he might be jealous. Why would he be?

After school, you meet up with Matt to head to the cinema.

Maybe this will be a good thing and you will be able to finally move on from Eddie?

❤️❤️

Eddie was invited to tag along with Robin and Steve to see The Blob.

How was he supposed to know that you would be at this movie with Matt? He felt like an idiot for staying and semi-spying on your date.

He tried to leave but the harsh twist of his heart when you laughed at Matt's jokes kept him rooted to the spot as well as Steve and Robin who wanted to see the movie.

Eddie didn't know why the sight of you and Matt together made his stomach bottom out but he was beginning to get a good idea.

He couldn't concentrate on the movie. It felt like that time that you were crushing on Steve for weeks and that kick started Eddie's dislike of the dude.

Until he got to know him and realized he was a pretty cool guy, Dustin's hero-worshipping of Steve too had stuck in his brain.

"Dude you didn't tell me that yn was looking to date someone. Could have asked her myself" Steve nudges him and nods to you and Matt.

Wait so Steve liked you as well? The urge to dislike Steve comes racing back. He kinda wants to hit something.

"You like her?" he asks Steve who shrugs.

"Dude, she's hot. You've never noticed?" he thinks about this and he's always known that you're beautiful, he's never liked anyone noticing you but assumed it was just him being protective.

Eddie doesn't think the pain in his chest could get any worse until Matt kisses you and he finally understands what it feels like to get his heart ripped out.

Stumbling out of the cinema he's joined by Robin and Steve, he feels like he can't breathe and the image of Matt kissing you won't go away.

"What's wrong with him?" Robin panics and Steve pats his back.

"Think he just realised he's in love Robin"

Love? he was in love with you? At first, he's like when the fuck did that happen.

Then be thought about it and maybe it was every time you smiled or you laughed or when you would fall asleep on his bed after helping him study and look so beautiful he was mesmerized.

Maybe it was your kindness, the way you played a kickass game of Hellfire or the way you looked at him on nights when it was just the two of you in his bedroom while he strummed on the guitar and taught you how to play.

Jesus Christ, he was an idiot.

❤️❤️

Eddie had been weird for the whole week and that was all you could think about tonight.

Your date with Matt had turned into a second and now this third date.

It was nice you kept telling yourself along with the fact that Matt was a lovely guy.

That's why you were at this party instead of at Hellfire, though you'd rather be with the boys and Erica in the middle of a campaign.

Despite Chrissy being here which made you feel more relaxed you knew this wasn't your thing at all.

It didn't help that after half an hour Matt was already drunk and he kept trying to feel you up even you told him no.

Your good opinion of him was rapidly fading with him acting more and more like a douche bag.

You had said no three times now and you were pissed.

"Come on babe" you shake your head and when he almost knocks you over and you hit your side on the table creating a rip in your dress you decide you've had enough of the party.

And of Matt.

"I said no! God, we are so done" You snap and tug out of his arms, you ignore him and stalk away, you're so upset that you don't realise how far you've walked into the woods until you can't hear anything from the party.

Shit.

❤️❤️

You hadn't shown up for Hellfire and that was Eddie's first distraction of the night, many more were to come but this was the first and all he could think about was you with Matt.

Jealousy coils around his gut and once again he curses his stupidity for not realizing his feelings sooner. It made him pissed off, it was hard to concentrate and he wasn't happy.

Eddie startles out of his DM mode as Lucas comes running into the drama room, he's just about to unload on him for missing half an hour of Hellfire but the look on his face stops him.

"Sinclair what's wrong?'' that's when Lucas tells him you were at a party with Matt, he's drunk and you're missing.

Then Chrissy comes in and rushes over to Dustin, it's like he's in some episode of the Twilight Zone.

"Dustin! Big mistake with Matt, he's an asshole he kept trying to grope yn at the party and she left and I can't find her" Chrissy was panicking and Dustin looks to Eddie freaked out.

Trying to tamper down the thoughts of beating the shit out of Matt he assures Chrissy, Dustin and Lucas that he will find you.

"Jordan said that she ran into the woods, Eddie" Lucas tells him and Eddie high-tails it to his van.

He had to find you. It was starting to rain and you could get sick or anything. What if you got lost? What if you tripped and injured yourself or you... He freezes.

What if the monster that stalked Hawkins Woods got to you? Normally he would have said that it was a load of rumours and shit but everyone knew Hawkins was one strange little town.

All the deaths. He couldn't risk you being hurt and he drove even faster. Desperate to get to you.

❤️❤️

You're shivering and chilled to the bone but you manage to find a clearing in the woods that leads back to the party.

It feels like you've been lost for hours but it probably hasn't been that long and you're relieved when you see a bunch of parties goers

That's when you also see Eddie, flashlight in hand and he shouts your name in relief.

He runs to you and you stumble into his arms sobbing in relief. The feeling of familiarity of Eddie's arms around you immediately makes you feel safe.

"It's okay princess. I've got you, you're safe" he checks you over and you assure him you're fine.

"You're soaked and look at all the rips on your clothes," he says worriedly and shrugs off his jacket placing it around you. The rain is fiercer now, a storm is brewing and you look anxiously at him.

He will catch a cold just standing in his Hellfire shirt and jeans, you try to tell him that but he stubbornely refuses to take his jacket back.

"Chrissy and Lucas explained everything. If I see that douchebag Matt he better run the other way" Eddie seethes, you've never seen him this angry before. It's not like him.

Well, that's a lie you tell yourself as you know how protective he is of you. How many scrapes he's gotten himself in for you, even if he had no chance in winning, he would defend you.

Even when he knew you could take care of yourself he still protected you.

At that point, possibly in the worst timing ever Matt stumbles over to you.

Eddie stiffens and Matt glares at you.

"You finally decided to have a go after all huh? Instead of acting like a frigid bit... He didn't get a chance to finish that sentence as Eddie socked him in the mouth.

He wines flexing his hand which is now bruised and sore.

"Fucking worth it" he announces, puts his arm around you and leads you to the van.

❤️❤️

You had never been so glad to see Eddie's Uncle Wayne in your life. He takes in the rips on your outfit and the bruise on your arm and scowls.

"What boy is my nephew beating up this time honey?" you would smile if you weren't so cold.

Eddie comes in and you immediately take his hands in yours and inspect his bruised knuckles.

"Are you okay?" you ask him and he nods still looking pissed off. He softens as you clean and bandage up the knuckles.

"Never mind me, sweetheart. Are you okay?" he asks you and you nod still a bit shivery. Uncle Wayne gets you a blanket and you cuddle into it.

"I'm better now. Should have never gone to that party. The whole time I was there I just wanted to be at Hellfire but I thought Matt was a nice guy and wanted to stick around for a bit, then he got drunk and acted like a dick"

Tears fall down your cheeks, frustration and just total exhaustion from the night's events.

Eddie deftly leads you to his room and shuts the door. Once you are inside he holds you close to him.

"I thought I had found a great guy and that he liked me when all he wanted to do was get in my pants. He didn't want to get to know me, not really" Eddie rubs your arm soothingly

"Maybe the next guy will be better huh?" you say hopefully and Eddie goes still which confused you.

"Eddie?" he swallows as he stares at you and you clasp his hand in yours.

"I don't want there to be another guy sweetheart. I want there to be just one guy. I want to be that guy"

What? He continues speaking and you can't believe what's happening.

"I know it took forever for me to realise and I've been so fucking jealous all week of Matt because he doesn't get how special and kind and beautiful you are and how lucky he was to be with you and the dude messed it up? What a douchebag"

"Eddie," you say again and he looks at you with those pretty brown eyes all wide and nervous.

"You don't feel the same right? Shit, forget I said anything and.." you call his name again and this time he quietens.

"Kiss me" He doesn't need to be told twice his lips are on yours and he grins as you kiss him back, he pulls away briefly.

"I'm sorry I didn't realise sooner princess" You rest your head on his chest as he pulls you into a hug, arms wrapped tightly around you as you sit on his knee.

"Hey less apologizing and more kisses" He laughs and kisses you again, his thumb stroking your cheek as he presses tender kisses to your lips.

"I'm an idiot. Should have been kissing you like this for weeks, feels so good sweetheart, it's never felt like this, just so right"

You smile on cloud nine knowing what he means, kissing Matt while nice and all never felt like this. However all thoughts are wiped from your mind when you straddle Eddie and his breathy moans cause the ache in your core to deepen.

"I love you and I'm gonna be kissing you forever sweetheart, hope you know that," he tells you and the thought of forever with the man you love sounds heavenly.

"I love you Eds, and that sounds perfect to me"

❤️

[munsons-hellfire]

A Curse | Eddie Munson

SUMMARY: Y/N is Steve's younger sister, by a year. Steve doesn't know that Y/N is dating Eddie Munson. But they all don't know that something is coming, they don't know the truth about what happened to Y/N when she was in the tunnels. When Y/N goes with the gang to find Eddie, knowing very well that he did not kill Chrissy, like the cops suspected. Y/N discovers the existence of Vecna and things take a turn for the worse when the truth comes forth under stressing circumstances.

PAIRINGS: Eddie Munson x Fem!Harrington!Reader

CONTENT WARNING: Kinda SFW, Some Fluff, Angst, Eddie is on the run after Chrissy died, does follow season 4

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, I wasn't going to post this even though it's posted on in my Multi-Fandoms book on my Wattpad account, and I decided to turn it into a book as well on my backup Wattpad account. But I decided to go ahead and post it on here since for the most part everything that's been written in my multi-fandom book has been posted here. If you wish to read more with this, and go back to the beginning (sort of, it still takes place in season 4), then you can find the link to Echoes Of Darkness down below.

WORD COUNT: 5.8K Words

ECHOES OF DARKNESS (EDDIE MUNSON)

Y/N stood at the door of her house, staring the red head down in front of her. Something was off but Max Mayfield wasn't speaking. Even though Y/N relationship with Max's step-brother had been short lived Y/N had bonded closely with Max and saw the red head as a little sister that she never had. Finally Y/N sighed, and stepped out of the house moving closer to Max.

"What's wrong, Max?" Y/N questioned, she was trying to get the answer out of the young teenager but Max wasn't budging.

Max wanted to tell her and Dustin at the same time. The two were the only ones who really seemed to be close to Eddie Munson. Though Max had no idea why Y/N Harrington would even put herself with Eddie, especially considering that Y/N and Eddie came from different food chains in the school.

She had seen the two hanging out after school, Y/N would wait until everyone was out of the parking lot and would climb into Eddie's van. Once Y/N was in, Eddie would pull out of the parking lot. Sometimes she saw the two hanging outside of Eddie's trailer home. Max had no idea why they were spending so much time with each other.

Finally Max gathered the courage to speak to Y/N. "I need you to take me over to Dustin's so we can talk."

It was all she said and enough to get Y/N moving back into the house to gather her things. Y/N grabbed her car keys, and skipped out the front door, locking it in the process. Max followed behind Y/N who was quick to get into her car and turn it on. Max shoved herself into the car and Y/N took off to Dustin Henderson's house.

───── ❝ ◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸ ❞ ─────

Y/N pulled the car into the driveway of the Henderson residence and turned off the car. Climbing out she quickly followed behind Max. She still didn't know why she was even at Dustin's house in the first place. Y/N was supposed to be getting ready to go hang out with Eddie, she would have to explain to him why she had been running late. Max rang the doorbell and the two patiently waited for Dustin or Claudia to open the front door.

Dustin walked over to the door and pulled it open, seeing Max Mayfield with Y/N Harrington. A sight he never imagined seeing on his friends on his front doorsteps. The expression on Max's face was different from the one that Y/N had on hers. The three moved into Dustin's room, eventually Max was finally able to tell them what she had witnessed over at the trailer park where she lived. Y/N had no time to check the morning news so this was a complete shock.

Not to mention there is no way that Eddie would commit murder. She had known him long enough and knew who he was outside that facade he put up. He was just a big goofball and treated her like a Queen when they were together. Eddie Munson made everything better after the things that Billy had done to her, some of which Max didn't know about nor would she ever know.

"Chrissy Cunningham?" Dustin questioned, pacing around his room. Y/N stood near Max still taking in this new information. "You're sure it was Chrissy?"

"Yes, she was in her cheerleader outfit. It was the same thing she was in when I saw her with Eddie." Max answered, switching eye contact between Dustin and Y/N.

"Did you tell all this to the cops?" Y/N questioned looking at the red head.

"No. No, but I... I can't be the only one who saw them together. I mean they stood out." Max moved around the room while Y/N sat down on Dustin's bed. She knew exactly why Chrissy had been with Eddie, but she was almost afraid to tell the two teenagers. Y/N knew that Chrissy had come to him asking for drugs, but then wanting something stronger, than had been why she had been at his trailer. But now she was dead, and Eddie was on the run. Dustin briefly looked at Y/N before he chose to say his next words.

"Eddie the freak with Chrissy the cheerleader?" Y/N looked down at her hands, she needed to understand what happened, she needed to be there for Eddie to comfort him.

"Exactly. You know, his name's not in the news yet or anything, but I guarantee you Eddie is suspect one now."

"That's crazy." Dustin stopped in front of Max, which prompted Y/N to stand up from the bed.

"No." Was all Y/N could say as she looked at the red head. Max stared back at Y/N confusion written so clearly on her face.

"Eddie didn't do this. No way." Max adjusted her face slightly, which Dustin and Y/N picked up on. "No way."

"Well we can't rule it out." Max argued back.

"Yes, we can, Max." Y/N stated, if this was a dream she wanted to wake up from it now.

"Y/N! Dustin!" Max switched her eyes between Y/N and Dustin.

"You don't know him like we do, Max." Dustin said, pointing to himself and then at Y/N. "Okay? When we got to high school, Lucas made all his sports friends. Mike and me? I mean, no one was nice to us. No one except Eddie."

"Okay. Well, I mean they said the same shit about Ted Bundy." Y/N lowered her head in disgust at the comment. Max was comparing the love of her life to a sick twisted individual. "Yeah, he's a super nice guy, but then he's murdering women on the weekend."

"So you're saying Eddie is like Ted Bundy?" Dustin asked for clarification.

"No, I'm not saying-- I'm saying that we can't presume anything, okay? But it doesn't look good for Eddie." Dustin sat down on his bed with a huff. Y/N couldn't believe what she was hearing, she knew that this was going to lead down a very bad hole. Everyone in this town didn't know the truth about Hawkins and they would find a way to pin something on an outcast like Eddie. Dustin turned his head towards Y/N, he then tore his eyes away from her and looked at Max.

"Why haven't you told the cops this?"

Max crossed her arms over her chest as she stared between Dustin and Y/N. "I... I don't know."

"You don't know?" Y/N questioned, her eyes were on the red head. None of it made sense. Max wouldn't have rode her bike all the way to her house if it weren't for something like this.

"After I saw Eddie and Chrissy go in the trailer..." Max switched eye contact between Dustin and Y/N as they both stared back at her. "...something else happened. Nothing that weird or anything. I mean.... Eddie always drives like a maniac," Y/N snorted, knowing very well that it was true. Dustin and Max looked at her for a moment. "And the power goes off at my place all the time. It's a piece of shit. But... This morning, I started to think back, and... I don't know. The look on his face. He was scared, Dustin, Y/N. Really scared. Maybe he was scared because, you know, he... he just killed someone, or... maybe, um... maybe be... because... I don't... I don't know, maybe..."

"Something else killed her." Dustin responded, taking the words from her mouth. Max moved her eyes back and forth between Dustin and Y/N. Suddenly the panic and fear was etched onto Y/N's face. There was no way, it couldn't be possible. They had stopped the Upside Down last summer.

"But that's impossible. Right?"

"I don't know. It should be." Dustin paused, he then looked at Y/N who had started to pace around. "Only one person knows what actually happened."

"Eddie."

Y/N stopped in her tracks, she looked at the two teenagers as they looked up at her. "We have to find Eddie." Y/N was starting to over think everything, what if he was in danger? What if whoever killed Chrissy was after him too? The list piled up and up until Dustin stood up and walked over to her. Dustin grabbed a hold of Y/N's hand pulling her from her deep thoughts. Max looked at the two, questioning what was happening.

"We're going to find Eddie, Y/N. I promise." Dustin really seemed to like the fact that Y/N and Eddie were together. Dustin had always adored Y/N after meeting her. He adored her the way that he adored Steve. So when he watched Eddie kiss Y/N before a Hellfire meeting he wouldn't shut up about it until they confirmed their relationship to him. He had promised that he wouldn't tell anyone including Steve, because Y/N and Dustin both knew how Steve had acted when she talked about boys and relationships.

"I don't want to lose him Dustin." Y/N whispered, trying to stay as calm as possible and not break down.

"You won't Y/N/N."

Max stood up and walked over to them. "Is there something going on that I don't know about?" Max pressed, staring at the two. Y/N sighed, she knew that it was going to come out eventually that she was dating Eddie, she just hoped that it would happen after they graduated that way they could book it out of Hawkins before anyone could hardcore judge them.

"Eddie is my boyfriend." Y/N said, looking down at her fingers. She started to fidget with a ring from Eddie's collection, one that he had given to her to keep until he could get her an actual ring but she didn't know about that part. "We got together back at the beginning of the school year after I went to buy some weed. Though I never left with weed. Steve doesn't know so please don't tell him, you know how he's been since everything happened between Billy and I." The girl whispered that last part.

"I knew it!" Max seemed to be excited, though the shock on Y/N's face was priceless and under better circumstances she would've laughed.

"H-How did you know?" Y/N hesitated to ask that burning question after Max had said those three words.

"I saw you and Eddie kissing a while back in his van, after I watched you get into his van." Y/N only nodded her head, a small blush running to her cheeks at the memory of that day, a fun one. Dustin grabbed his things and he walked out of the room, the two following behind him.

"Have you talked to anyone else?" Dustin asked the red head.

"No. I can't find Lucas or Nancy, and Mike's in--"

"California. Shit, shit, shit." Dustin groaned.

"Dusty, where are you going?" Claudia called out to her son, eyes on him.

"To see a friend." Dustin opened the door allowing Max and Y/N to walk ahead of him.

"You heard the news. It's not safe."

"Good point. We'll be extra careful. Thanks, mom. I love you. Bye."

Y/N ran to her car, pulling her keys out and unlocking it. Then she opened the door and unlocked the rest of the doors so the children could get in. Once they were in she pulled out of the driveway and headed to Family Video as Dustin requested.

───── ❝ ◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸ ❞ ─────

Y/N, pulled the car to a stop turning it off. The three exited out and ran to the doors of Family Video. Y/N pulled it open allowing Dustin and Max to go in first. She turned on her heels and walked into the store, eyes falling on to her brother and her best friend.

"Hey, Steve." Dustin called out to them. Robin and Steve turned slightly to look at the three.

"You guys see this?" Steve questioned them.

"How many phones do you have?"

"Someone was murdered." Steve's eyes landed on his sister, he saw a serious but concerned look on her face. One he hadn't seen since last summer.

"How many phones do you have?" Dustin and Y/N questioned him trying to get an answer to the question.

"Uh. Two. Why?"

"Uh. Technically three, if you count Keith's in the back." Robin added. Dustin and Y/N turned to look at Max as she looked at them.

"Yeah, three works." Max said, softly. Dustin pulled his backpack off while Y/N started to walk away from them.

"What are you doing?" She heard her brother ask. Y/N could hear the commotion but she wasn't paying attention to it anymore. They needed to find Eddie before the police did. Y/N needed him to be alive and okay. She didn't know what she would do if something had happened to him. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she didn't get the chance to tell him that he's the love of her life.

"Setting up base of operations here." Dustin said, pulling Y/N out of her thoughts as she made it behind the counter.

"Base of operations?" Steve questioned, his eyes falling onto his sister who only released a shrug of her shoulders. Y/N rolled her eyes, as Max came up behind her. Dustin and Steve were arguing with each other, it was always amusing to her but right now she couldn't deal with it. "For what?"

"Eddie's friends' phone numbers."

"Oh, Eddie. Your new best friend who you think is cooler because he plays your nerdy game?" Y/N could hear the jealousy coming from Steve's question.

"Eddie. Yes." Dustin turned slightly looking at Y/N then at Steve. "I never said that."

"Seriously, you guys, maybe on a Monday you can play around here like toddlers, but it's Saturday. It's our busiest day."

"All right, look, Robin, I empathize, but this cannot wait until Monday."

"It really can't." Y/N whispered.

"What 'cause calling all of Eddie's friends is an emergency?"

"Correct!" Y/N placed her eyes on Robin and Steve, the two had their backs turned to them.

"You want me to strangle him or you want to?" Y/N heard her brother question his best friend.

"We could take turns." Robin answered.

"We need to find him." Y/N cried out, not bothering to look at her brother or Robin. Dustin turned in his chair and looked at Max.

"Can you just fill them in while I do this?" Dustin questioned Max, stopping what he was doing to look at the redhead.

"Fill us in on what?" Robin pushed, turning towards the three. Max turned away from Y/N and looked between Robin and Steve, soon explaining to them what she had explained to Y/N and Dustin.

───── ❝ ◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸ ❞ ─────

Y/N looked around waiting for someone to come out with something from the phone calls. Steve was over helping a customer, she knew that Steve would try to flirt with her and it probably wouldn't end well. She rolled her eyes at him. Y/N looked at Max when she slammed the phone down. The red head was the first to look at her, and suddenly relief washed over Y/N. They were going to find Eddie.

"Hey, guys, I might have a lead." Dustin turned around in the chair with a smile making its way to his lips. Robin placed the phone down and looked at her.

"Seriously?" Dustin questioned her.

"Yeah. Apparently, Eddie gets drugs from some guy named Reefer Rick, and sometimes Eddie crashes there."

"That sounds promising." Robin, Dustin and Max looked at Y/N.

She gave them a small nod. "Yeah, Eds has mentioned him a few times." Y/N spoke softly. She made sure to whisper it as she still didn't want Steve to know.

"Where does Reefer Rick live?" Robin questioned. Y/N shrugged her shoulders.

"I never went with him, wanted to keep me safe in a sense."

"Exactly, that's the thing. No one knows. He's more of a... a legend than someone that people actually know."

"He really is, but I've met Rick before I just don't know where he lives."

"Well, what about a last name?" Dustin questioned her.

"I don't know that either." Max answered, their eyes soon fell onto Y/N. Once again she shrugged her shoulders.

"Bet the cops know the last name." Steve said, butting into the conversation. The four turned their gaze to Steve who was moving some tapes around.

"What?" Max and Y/N asked.

"Cops. I mean, listen, if this Reefer Rick is actually a drug dealer, I guarantee you he's been busted at some point. Means he's in the system." Steve explained to them.

"The cops?" Dustin stood up and moved in front of Y/N and Max. "Really, Steve? That's your suggestion."

"I mean I just think they should be filled in on what we know, what's going on." Max moved her hand slightly and grabbed a hold of Y/N hand to give her some comfort. Y/N sent a glare to her older brother. She wasn't too thrilled that he was acting this way, but she had to keep it together because he didn't know.

"You think Eddie's guilty, don't you?"

"Whoa. I believe in innocent until proven guilty, all that constitutional shit. I just, you know, don't think that we can rule it out."

"I can't believe you." Y/N whispered quietly.

"That's precisely what we're trying to do here, Steve." Max mentioned, while Dustin pointed back at her.

"And maybe we'd have a little bit more luck if you spent less time trying to find a girlfriend and more time trying to find Eddie." Y/N snickered at Dustin's comment, while Steve tried to defend himself.

"Oh, well somebody has to attend to the customers." Steve argued.

"Especially if they're babes, right?" Robin winked at Steve as he pointed at her.

"Hey, not fair. Okay? I attend to all the customers equally, babes and non-babes alike." They all nodded their hands. "We've got a very big selection in here. It can be super overwhelming for people.

"Yeah, it can be." Robin turned around and moved back over to the computer. Max and Y/N walked over to her and stood behind her.

"What are you doing?" Max questioned.

"Maybe we don't need a last name." Y/N placed her eyes on the screen as the 12 Rick's popped up onto the screen. Y/N briefly looked at her brother as he came up behind Robin, his hand resting on the counter.

"Twelve Ricks have accounts here." Robin informed them.

"That's a lot of Ricks."

"You're telling me." Y/N whispered softly.

"So, let's narrow it down." Robin proceeded to hit the keyboard pressing down on the first Rick at the top. "Rick Alderman's latest rentals are Annie and Dumbo." Robin looked back at Y/N, Max, and Dustin. "What are the chances our drug dealer has a family?"

"Not likely." Max said, while Dustin and Y/N shook their heads. Robin went back and moved onto the next Rick on the list.

"All right. Rick Conroy. Sixteen Candles, Teen Wolf, and Romancing the Stone."

"No." The four spoke, still staring at the computer screen with the movie titles.

"Okay. Rick Joiner. Mask, Footloose, and Grease." Once again they all agreed that was not the Rick they were looking for. So Robin moved onto the next Rick on the list. "Rick Kimbrough. The Blue Lagoon and Splash." They all laughed.

"Definitely not."

"No way."

"Okay. Rick Lipton. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Cheech & Chong's Next Movie. Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams. Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke." Y/N placed a smile on her lips, they located where Eddie would hopefully be now it was time to find him.

"Bingo." Y/N heard Dustin say with laughter in his voice.

"Lipton?" Max questioned.

"Spelled like the tea. 2121 Holland Road."

"That's out by Lovers Lake." Y/N shook her head, she now knew why they went to Lover's Lake every few weeks. She always stayed in his van but afterwards they would do something at the lake and then head back to his trailer if she could spend the night.

"Middle of nowhere."

"It's a perfect place to hide." They ran out of the store, Y/N ran to her car Max followed behind her while Robin and Dustin went to Steve's car. Y/N turned her car on and pulled out of the parking lot heading towards Lovers Lake with Steve following behind him. Y/N pressed her hands down to the steering wheel, Max took notice of it.

"You all right, Y/N?" Max questioned the girl.

She gave her a soft nod. "Yeah, I... I just need to find Eds." She paused for a moment, briefly taking her eyes off the road and looking at Max who was already looking at her. "What if something... what if something happened to Eddie? What if he's dead like Chrissy? What if we're too late?" Y/N was going over all the worst case seniors in her head and they weren't good. Max could see it on her face.

"Y/N, Eddie, he's okay. We're gonna find him, and we're gonna help him." Y/N gave a nod, her eyes back on the road. "He's okay, Y/N."

───── ❝ ◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸ ❞ ─────

Nightfall had fallen and they had finally arrived at Lovers Lake. Y/N pulled her car to a stop and turned it off, she climbed out and moved to the back grabbing a flashlight from the trunk, she pulled one out for Max handing it over to her. Eventually they regrouped with Dustin, Steve and Robin. All five walked to the front door where Dustin rang the doorbell. Then he started to do it again, getting annoyed that no one was answering.

"Okay. Well, that's settled. I guess he's not here." Steve commented, while Dustin started banging on the front door.

"Eddie! It's Dustin!" Dustin shouted.

"Great."

"Look, we just wanna talk, okay?" Y/N turned around and walked away from the others shining her flashlight wherever she could. Max caught up to Y/N and started to walk next to her. Max didn't entirely think that it was a good idea to split up. Y/N could hear Dustin and Steve talking to each other but she was ignoring them. Max and Y/N came to a stop seeing a shed not far from them, a lighting turned on where the door was.

"Hey, guys." Max called out. The three came up behind Max and Y/N to look at what the two were looking at. Y/N was the first to move forward walking down the dirt to get to the shed. The others followed closely behind her. Y/N eventually made it to the door, holding her flashlight in front of herself and taking a deep breath she opened the door and popped her head in.

"Hello?" She questioned, looking around.

"Is anyone home?" Robin asked shortly after Y/N. They all moved into the shed and investigated what they could.

"What a dump." Steve said. Y/N walked next to Dustin while Max went with Robin. Y/N noticed that Steve turned his flashlight off and grabbed an ore from the wall. He turned around and walked towards the boat and started to poke at the tarp, causing Dustin and Y/N to flinch slightly.

"What the hell are you doing, Steve?" Y/N questioned her brother, a serious stern look rested on her face though it could barely be seen. He continued to poke at the tarp some more.

"What are you doing?" Dustin whisper-asked Steve.

"He might be in here." Steve answered.

"So take the tarp off."

"If you're so brave, you take the tarp off."

"I'll do it." Y/N said, looking between her brother and Dustin.

"By all means be my guest." Steve motioned towards the tarp moving back. Y/N walked towards the tarp and placed her hands down on it. She exhaled, waiting to lean forward and pull the tarp off. However Steve started to poke the tarp again.

"Don't worry. Steve will get him with his oar." Dustin said, sarcastically.

"Will you stop so I can pull the tarp off?" Y/N stared at Steve.

"I know you think you're being funny, but considering everyone in this room has nearly died a hundred times, personally, I don't find it funny in the slight--" Steve couldn't finish his sentence. Y/N moved forward and pulled the tarp off, only she wished she hadn't. Someone grabbed a hold of her and next thing she knew she was pushed up against the wall of the shed with a broken glass bottle sticking to her neck.

It took her a second to even catch up to what was happening. She could hear Steve calling out her name, and Dustin calling out a familiar name as well.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Steve shouted, trying to run to his sister. Dustin pulled him back, Y/N had her eyes closed and when she finally opened them her eyes found the brown eyes she had missed so much.

"Eddie! Eddie! Stop!" Y/N could see that Eddie needed a second to even process who he was holding onto.

"Eddie! Baby, it's me. It's Y/N." She spoke softly, gently lifting her hands towards Eddie's so he could feel her warmth. Steve tried to run forward again but Dustin pushed him back. "Steve, stay there, please. I got this." Eddie looked at the five, seeing them not far from him. Y/N could feel the angry radiating from Steve. "Eds, hey, look at me." She called out, finally connecting her warm hand to his. Eddie looked at her, but he didn't pull the glass back.

"What are you doing here, Y/N?" Eddie questioned her.

"We're looking for you, babe. We're here to help you." She whispered out softly, trying to hold back from crying. Eddie looked back at the others, they all nodded their heads in agreement to what Y/N had said.

"She's telling the truth, Eddie. These are our friends. You know Robin, from band. This is my friend Max. The one who never wants to play D&D. That's Steve, Y/N's brother. Eddie. We're on your side." Y/N gripped her hand tighter on Eddie's hoping that her warmth would make him realize that they truly were there to help him. Dustin talked some more, but the entire time Eddie had looked back at Y/N. As she looked at him she could see the sudden regret running into his eyes.

Eddie let go of Y/N allowing her to slide to the floor. Steve and Max were quick to run over to her. Steve immediately checked to make sure that Y/N hadn't been hurt. She however wasn't hurt but she couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She pushed away from Max and Steve moving over to Eddie as he slid down to the floor. When she finally made it over to him she placed her soft hand on his knee however that resulted in him flinching at her touch.

"What happened, baby?" Y/N questioned, looking at Eddie. Dustin came up behind her and kneeled down next to her. "Come on, love, you can tell me." Steve looked between Max and Robin as she called out to Eddie. He was confused why she was calling him "baby" and "love".

"Eddie." Dustin called out. "We just want to talk." Dustin tried to reach for the glass and got the same reaction from him. "Okay?" Robin then kneeled down next to Y/N, grabbing a hold of her hand and squeezing it while looking at Eddie.

"We want to know what happened." Robin added. Y/N could see the tears that stained his face. He sniffled as he turned his head to look at them. His eyes falling onto Y/N who had thrown her scared look out, she now had concern etched onto her face as she waited for her boyfriend to speak to them.

"You won't believe me." Eddie told them.

Max tilted her head slightly. "Try us." His eyes were suddenly on Max as she looked down at him.

Y/N moved forward slightly, wanting to hold onto Eddie for comfort but she knew he would ask for it when he wanted it. He had started to explain to them why Chrissy was at his place, and this next part took them all by surprise.

"Her body just, like, lifted up into the air and uh... and she just, like, hung there. In the air. And her bones... Uh, she..."

Eddie closed his eyes as he whimpered, remembering back to what had happened to Chrissy. Y/N closed her eyes and lowered her head. This was not something she wanted Eddie to be stuck in and now it was looking like he was right in the middle of their war against the Upside Down. Y/N always had a feeling that their battle wasn't over and it looks like she was right.

"Her bones started to snap. Her eyes, man. It... It was like there was something, like, inside her head, pulling. I... I didn't know what to do, so I... I ran away. I left her there." He looked at each of them, his eyes lingering on Y/N. He scoffed, "you all think I'm crazy, right?" Y/N watched as he placed his hand to his head.

"No. We don't think you're crazy." Dustin said.

"Not in the least. Eds." Y/N whispered.

"Don't bullshit me, man! I know how this sounds." Y/N could hear the crack in Eddie's voice.

"We're not bullshitting you." Max told him.

"We believe you." Robin said, leaning forward slightly. Eddie exhaled, but still kept his head down low.

"Look, what I'm about to tell you might be a little... difficult to take." Dustin informed his friend.

"Okay." Eddie finally looked at Y/N again, she gave a nod of her head.

"You know how people say Hawkins is... cursed? They're not way off. There's another world." Eddie watched Y/N look away as Dustin started talking about the thing that she never wanted him to know about. "A world hidden beneath Hawkins. Sometimes it bleeds into ours."

"Like ghosts and shit?" Eddie questioned.

"There are some things worse than ghosts."

"These monsters from this other world... we thought they were gone."

"No, you did. I didn't, I told you it wasn't over." Y/N said, causing everyone to look at her. In truth she had been having nightmares about a war, something was coming and now it was almost here.

"But they've come back before." Dustin said, ignoring what Y/N had just said. "And that's why we needed to find you."

"If they're back again, we need to know." Max added.

"That night, did you see anything?" Robin asked.

"Dark particles, maybe?" Y/N went on to ask. Eddie only shook his head no.

"It would almost look like dust, swirling dust."

"No, man, there was nothing you could see or, uh... or touch. You know, I tried to wake her, man. She couldn't move. It was like she... she was in a trance or something."

"Or under a spell." Y/N looked down, she felt uncomfortable all of sudden. Almost like she did last night. Y/N didn't think anything of it, but now she was starting to wonder. She was feeling pain, and a lot of it. Y/N was feeling fear and panic, and it wasn't because of what they were talking about. It was because someone had killed Chrissy, and now it seemed like they were going after someone else. Everyone seemed to pick up on the sudden change, minus Dustin and Eddie.

"A curse."

"Vecna's curse." More panic started to rise in Y/N chest.

"Who's Vecna?" Steve asked.

"An undead creature of great power." Dustin explained.

"A spell caster."

"A dark wizard."

"Y/N, it's almost time. Almost time for you to help me." Vecna's voice went off in her mind.

"No." She exhaled, to which the others looked at her. She stumbled backwards and ran out of the shed leaving the others in confusion. It was making sense, all those years ago he had come to her and now the pieces were finally settling into place.

"Y/N/N, what's wrong?" Steve questioned, after coming to a stop outside the shed. Dustin, Eddie, Robin and Max had caught up to him.

Y/N looked at her brother. "Remember when we were in the tunnels and I got separated from you guys?" Y/N asked, her eyes on her brother not bothering to look at Eddie or Robin because they had no idea what she was talking about.

"Of course, I thought I lost you. I thought you died." Steve reminded her.

"Vecna, he... he wants me to fight by his side. He wants me in command of his army." The words came out quicker than Y/N had intended for them to come out. She looked at the four as the shock fell onto their faces. "And I don't think I can avoid him for much longer."

"Y/N!" Vecna's voice ran through her mind again.