#eddie is like “hey harrington. have any new years plans? ;)

hellfirenacht · 9 months ago

Text

Meet Me At 4:20

Summary: It’s hard to be the new kid in a small town during senior year, and there’s only one person you actually want to be friends with. So you do the only logical thing, and set up a drug deal.

Tags: Eddie Munson x Reader, SFW, drug deals, meet cute, one shot

Notes: Thank you, @jo-harrington for helping me title this <3 If you read the original version I posted last fall, no you didn't.

Word Count: 2.3k words

Master List

You sat at the old picnic table, far away from the school. It was a quiet and mild autumn day, leaves were clinging to the trees and there was a satisfying crunch to the ground when you made your way through the woods.

You counted each breath in and out in counts of four. It wasn’t the drugs that you were planning on buying that made you nervous, but the man selling them. It felt so stupid, this whole plan was completely ridiculous but at this time you didn’t have any better idea to go off of.

You didn’t even like weed.

Your eyes closed and you played a cassette tape at a low volume, muffled sounds of music pulsating through your ears. If you could focus on this, then you could relax. You could talk to Eddie. You were sure that you could do it this time. You hoped you could do it.

The faint crackling of leaves crunching under footsteps alerted you to his presence. You kept your eyes closed and your breathing steady, not daring to open your eyes yet. The last thing you wanted was for Eddie to see you a shaking mess, anxious and stuttering and probably tweaking.

“Hello?”

You opened your eyes slowly, looking up at the man in front of you. Eddie watched you with a look of mild confusion, his hand dropping to his side as if he had been waving it in an attempt to get your attention. You removed your headphones and gave a small smile.

“Hey, sorry. Long day.” you said, only stumbling over your words a little.

“I get it.” Eddie said, taking a seat across from you on the table. His black lunchbox thumped down in front of him, and he looked at you expectantly.

“So… how does this work here?” you asked. looking between him and the lunchbox. This was the most you had dared look at him since you moved to Hawkins a few weeks ago.. Having his attention, his eyes on yours, almost felt like too much. You couldn’t stop the nervous smile from spreading across your face, and you wished that you could just keep yourself normal for two minutes.

“The same way any normal transaction goes.” Eddie shrugged. “Except cash only, no returns, and for obvious reasons… no receipts.”

“I guess that means no demanding to speak to the manager then?” The words were out of your mouth before you could stop them. To your surprise, Eddie gave a small laugh and seemed to relax just a bit.

“Demand all you want, he’ll tell you all sales are final.” He opened the box and pulled out a bag. “I got a half ounce here. $25. Should last you a while.”

“Yeah, sounds good.” You said, pulling out your wallet and pulling out some cash to hand over.

“Want to smell it first?” Eddie looked at you with a head tilt. Fuck, had you already blown it? Was that something you were supposed to do? You froze, and Eddie let out a snort. “You’ve never done this have you?”

You shook your head. “Nope. Not even once.” You admitted. There was no use in pretending otherwise. The only reason you had even set this meeting up was just an elaborate (and expensive) way to meet the only person in Hawkins you had any interest in talking to.

Ever since moving here, you weren’t a fan of the town or the people around you. You were sure that your new school would be the same and you had planned on fading into the background for the few months that you had to be here for your senior year. Who was going to want to make friends with the new girl during senior year in a small town? Cliques had been formed and no one would be wanting to add to their numbers this late in the game. Not when everyone else was going to be leaving after high school.

But Eddie had captured your attention the very first day when he’d been running around his lunch table and laughing with his friends.

“It’s not a normal thing, it’s a me thing.” Eddie tossed you the bag, not taking the money yet. “Give it a smell.”

You didn’t want to smell the bag. You really did not want to, but Eddie’s was looking at you, and his eyes were so big and round and he ASKED you to do something so…

Your face scrunched up involuntarily and you pulled your head back at the stench. “Ah. Yes. That is certainly weed. Glad to have that established.” you deadpanned.

“It’s not oregano.” Eddie confirmed, looking amused at your reaction.

“The fuck you mean it’s not?” You laughed. “Here I was thinking that I was going to be buying the best Italian seasoning on the market and here I am with a bag of weed. I feel ripped off!”

Satisfied, Eddie took the money that you had left on the table and pocketed it. “Sorry, like I said, no refunds.”

You followed suit and stuffed the bag into another bag, which was then shoved into yet another bag that had your gym clothes. Can’t be too careful.

You assumed that Eddie would turn tail and leave but instead he picked up a lighter and a cigarette from his lunchbox.

“You sit at my table at lunch.” It wasn’t a question, but a truth. Eddie had noticed you sitting there. Then again, after the roach incident…

“It’s easier to sit in the same place every day.” You said as you nervously picked at the wood on the table. “You learn what to expect.”

“And what do you expect from our table?” Eddie took a drag and offered you the cigarette. You hesitated for a moment before shaking your head in a polite no. “A freakshow?”

“More bugs, but less people bugging me.” you shrugged.

Eddie snorted. “We still give Jeff shit about that.”

“Yeah well, I’d still rather sit there than anywhere else.” You swallowed. “This may come as a surprise to you, Eddie, but people here kind of suck and aren’t the most friendly.”

“So, you’d rather be seen near the freaks than associating with any other group? That’s brave.” Eddie looked you over. “I’m surprised someone like you eats in the cafeteria. I’ve never seen you talk to anyone else. Most people find a classroom to eat in if they don’t have friends.”

You stared blankly at him. “Gee. Thanks for the reminder.”

Eddie’s eyes went wide as he realized what he just said. “Wait, shit, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You’re not wrong.” you sighed, now wishing that you could have a drag of his cigarette. Maybe then you’d look interesting and mysterious instead of how you actually felt, which was awkward and annoyed. You knew you didn’t have friends here, but that didn’t mean he needed to point that out.

By a technicality, the Freak was more popular than you, and now you had spent $25 in an attempt to be his friend and he might not even be interested. You were starting to regret this whole stupid plan.

“You know you…. if you wanted to. You don’t have to sit near us.” Eddie looked up, and saw you deflate instantly. Eddie sat up straighter “No, not like that, I mean. You could sit with us instead. We can make room, and I swear we won’t throw anymore bugs at you.”

Eddie took another drag of the cigarette, shifting so that the second hand smoke didn’t hit you in the face. It was appreciated.

“Really? I mean, are you sure? Would the others be alright with that…?” You asked, perking up more excitedly than you meant to.

“They learned to live with Mike and Dustin, they’ll learn to like you.” Eddie gave a grin. “Besides, Hellfire needs more members if they’re gonna beat my campaign.”

“The Cult of Vecna.” You said and Eddie narrowed his eyes at you suspiciously. “Don’t give me that look, Eddie, you guys are loud. It’s not eavesdropping when you’re standing on the table with your shoes right next to my sandwich yelling about your game.”

“So you’ll join us then?” Eddie’s grin widened.

“How much for a shirt?” You shivered as the wind blew around you. “I… I might need help character creating as well. It’s been a while since I’ve played.”

Eddie slammed his hands on the table, laughing. “I knew it! I knew you were one of us. Gareth owes me $5.”

“You made a bet about this??”

“I’ve only known two other girls that play. Sinclair’s sister who’s still in middle school and Ronnie Ecker who graduated 2 years ago.” Eddie said. He was so energized now and his eyes were bright, the late afternoon sun reflecting warm caramel and gold back at you. “I saw you with that D&D book yesterday but they didn’t believe me.”

You looked at him, sighed and reached into your bag and pulled out the book that had given you away. You really had never meant to be seen with it, you’d just needed a refresher. You had played at your old school, but hadn’t had a chance to in about a year.

Eddie reached for the old module and flipped through the adventure. “Tomb of Horrors.” he said approvingly. “We played this one last year with a few tweaks, of course. What’s your level?”

“I… don’t really have much of one.” You admitted. “Back with my old group we would just make characters for whatever suited the campaign. I usually went with some flavor of half-elf bard or ranger though.”

“The others would call that cheating. Most everyone has played with the same character from level 1 for the past few years.” Eddie said. “You’d have to work to keep up with us.”

“So I’d have to start at level 1?” You couldn’t stop yourself from laughing. “Damn, you are a sadistic DM aren’t you?”

“I’m the mean and scary freak of Hawkins High,” Eddie took a final drag of his cigarette. “It’s my job.”

“You’ve been nicer to me than anyone here so far, Eddie.” You admitted

Eddie looked at you for a long moment, his expression unreadable. You swallowed, unable to look away and wondering if you had said something wrong.

“What?” You finally said.

“You’ve never bought drugs before.” Eddie said.

“….Yes. We established this.” You replied.

“Have you ever even smoked before?”

You frowned. “….Hm, no comment. I don’t think I want to answer that.”

“So that’s a no.” Eddie looked at the bag where you had stored your goods. “So why are you buying?”

You had two reasons for buying, the main reason was to give yourself a reason- any reason- to talk to him. There was a second reason though, one that you hadn’t wanted to get into but…

“I… haven’t been doing a great job of adjusting here.” You said picking at the grain of the wood of the table. “I won’t bore you with the details but… I’ve been having trouble sleeping and everything I eat just tastes like sawdust and I can’t get hungry. I was hoping this would help.”

“Do you know how to roll?”

You slumped slightly, looking down. “Eddie, I’ve never even smoked a cigarette.”

“You’re really coming in blind, huh?” there was a laughter in his voice though that made you feel less judged. “You live in Happy Forest Trailer Park. Yeah, I’ve seen you down the street circling your trailer late at night.”

“Ah. Lovely. Nice to know my night walks have been witnessed.” You groaned.

“Don’t worry, you’re still the least sketchy person there.” Eddie waived his hand. “I don’t normally do this, but you clearly need help. If you want, I’ll come over and roll for you and teach you how to smoke.”

“I feel like if you were anyone else I’d tell you to fuck off.” You said. “But, like I said, you’re the only person who’s been actively nice to me and I really can’t afford to say no. I’m… too damn tired.”

“Tonight?” Eddie offered. “We can help you put together a character.”

Your heart was pounding in your chest now. He wanted to come over to your house tonight? This plan was already going wildly off the rails but there was no stopping it.

“Okay.”

Eddie handed over his cigarette to you and you stared at it. “Just take a drag and show me where you’re at.”

You flinched, holding the cigarette in your fingers. You’d seen people smoke your whole life and the smell of it filled your memories with car rides, and heavy talks and… screaming.

“I can’t.” You said after a moment handing it back. “Sorry. I know it’s stupid. Weed is one thing but-”

“Hey, no need to explain.” Eddie said, snuffing it out. “I don’t know what just happened but don’t worry about it.”

You nodded. “Thanks.”

Eddie looked at his watch. “I have to meet up with someone else. Go home, I’ll be there tonight.” He closed his lunchbox and stood up and you followed suit.

“I’ll be home all night.” You said. “Thank you, by the way. For all of this. I hope it helps.”

Eddie chuckled. “Not many people stick around and talk to me after, let alone thank me. They usually take what they bought and run.”

“Sit with us on Monday.” Eddie said. “I’ll come over tonight.” He was sparing you from saying what you wanted to say; that you wanted so badly to be friends with them.

“I wanted to talk to you.” You admitted, and Eddie looked surprised. “I mean, I don’t have anyone here in Hawkins. Like anyone. And, I don’t know, I like hearing you and your friends talk at lunch and you all seem to actually like each other so… I…”

“Tonight.” You nodded.

The two of you parted ways, Eddie taking a separate way out of the woods while you headed towards the parking lot.

Maybe this year wouldn’t be so bad.

#nacht fic #eddie munson x reader

210 notes · View notes

aloneinthehellfire · 5 days ago

Text

Chapter Twenty-Two: Escapism

Gates Of Hell

Word Count: 5.9k

Warnings: swearing, mentions of death, mentions of blood, the usual angst fest

[A/N: omg she's back from the dead! I'm so upset that I never find much time for this fic so please excuse my writing if something seems out of place, and feel free to let me know any concerns! I'm trying to keep things consistent but since I've been disappearing every so often, I may have forgotten something. anyways, I hope everyone is going to have an amazing new year and I hope you're ready for what's in store for reader and steve...]

Escapism

Steve’s dreams were getting worse.

Some days the night slipped by quickly, ending his misery before it began. But most nights, on nights where no threats were looming over him, his mind slipped into a nightmare of his own making. One where you push him to safety, closing yourself into a trap, being mauled by monsters so he didn’t have to watch you turn. If he had just opened his eyes… if he had acknowledged your shaking hands resting on his chest, or your guilty exhale of breath fanning against his neck, he could have saved you. He would have saved you.

He should have saved you.

Steve sucks in a shaky breath, blinking against the harsh hues of the morning sun trying to break through the thick swamp of red clouds. He must have drifted off.

After their failed excursion to find provisions to last them another week, Steve and Billy ended up accepting an offer that honestly left Steve baffled. Eddie and the others had insisted for them to stay at their camp until the storm cleared out; if Steve hadn’t watched the words leave his lips, he wouldn’t have believed it. Especially knowing that none of them had a reason to like him, let alone Billy.

The camp was small, the only other survivor being Eddie’s uncle who had stayed behind to keep watch. But there were tents with makeshift beds Steve presumed to be couch cushions taken from empty homes, a firepit, and, most importantly, rations. He hadn’t really had time to take in the generosity of letting them stay there. Instead, he had immediately found solace on a surprisingly comfortable cushion mattress and closed his eyes with the hope they would be able to find their own rations when dawn broke.

As it turns out, Steve wasn’t the only one sticking with the original plan.

“We need supplies, not your god damn protection.”

He almost groaned, stretching his arm towards the tent’s exit to gently brush the fabric aside. Billy’s gruff voice was the last thing anyone should have to wake up to.

“Do I look like I’m carrying weeks worth of food on me right now?” Eddie responds, his voice clearer now that Steve was pulled out of his sleepy haze. As he leaves the shelter, he can just make out Eddie’s silhouette against the rising sun, arms crossed as he looks to Billy with a scowl of displeasure. Been there, buddy. “Hey, I’m not claiming you guys need protection. I’m just offering for you both to camp here until military come clear us out. I don’t see why you’re so dead set on staying in this hell hole.”

“Because we’re not the only ones left.” Steve interjects, surprising them as he walks over. “There are more of us, including kids, who need supplies right now. And leaving isn’t an option.”

Eddie glances between them, eyes narrowing with uncertainty. It was clear he didn’t believe either of them would be risking their lives for anyone but themselves, and Steve can’t blame him.

Eddie Munson was deemed the worst of the worst in high school. What made him cool and edgy in middle school severely plummeted into ‘weird’ and ‘barbaric’ as the years rolled on. He had tried to keep to himself, stick with a particular crew of friends, but the bullies always found him. He collected bruises like trading cards, developed eyes in the back of his head just so he could use his locker, and he grew a thick skin of resentment to pretty much everyone in this town just to mask his own insecurity. And Steve Harrington had started it all.

One snide comment, a whisper of a cruel word, and King Steve had bestowed a lasting brand.

Freak.

“How long are you planning on staying?” Eddie eventually sighs, eyes flickering over to where Heather and Chrissy were currently waking up, climbing out of their tent with matching yawns.

“However long it takes.” Steve admits, taken aback by Eddie’s unusually kind nature. Why was he being so nice to him?

“Can you help us or not?” Billy was quickly becoming fed up with the arrangement, tightening his jaw. But any intimidation he may have had in high school was quickly forgotten here, the world around them holding much worse and much more dangerous things to fear.

“Look, man, we don’t even have enough for us right now, let alone a whole other group of survivors. We’re lucky we’ve even lasted this long.” Eddie’s shoulders drop. “It’s how we found you two, we… we are in just as much trouble as you guys right now.”

“Doubt it.” Billy scoffs and when Eddie shoots him a suspicious look, he decides to walk away, choosing to lean against a tree instead.

“What’s his problem?” Eddie comments, eyes flickering between them.

“Been trying to figure that out for like a year now.” Steve sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had been up all of 5 minutes and a migraine was already forming behind his eyes. “Okay, so I get you guys are taking the military’s help, believe me it’s definitely the best option, but we don’t have that choice right now. Is there anywhere, anywhere, we might find what we’re looking for?”

Eddie shifts on his feet, eyes unwavering from Steve’s pleading gaze with a soft frown denting the space between his eyebrows. He was studying him, Steve realised, trying to find clues on the surface behind his persistent nature. Steve knew he was being emotional, possibly showing too much urgency considering that staying in Hawkins would feel like a death sentence. But if he leaves, he leaves you. And that is so much scarier to him than flesh-eating monsters.

Eddie tightens his lips, looking to the side in a conflicted manner. “You’re really not leaving, are you?”

“I can’t.” Steve whispers it this time, any energy for an argument severely depleted. He doesn’t care how long it takes, he just wanted to make sure everyone is safe. Everyone.

“Fine.” Eddie finally breathes, a forced smile brightening his face. “I know exactly where you can find everything you’re looking for.”

“Great, that’s- that’s great. Where?”

“Well, uh…” Eddie risks a look over to his uncle Wayne, the man currently sat with his back turned to all of them while sharpening his knives. “About that…”

That little ball of anxiety that sat in the pit of his stomach started to swell again, alerting Steve to yet another precarious situation. And, judging by Eddie’s unnerved expression, he knew the next task wasn’t going to be easy.

Tick.

Time ticked too slowly. It was like the present was drowning you, lungs filled with the grim reminder of the danger you were in. The future didn’t look any less bleak.

The stranger you had blindly trusted for days now was simply that; a stranger. You no longer recognised him for his kind eyes, just for the steady murderous hands that pulled the trigger on his friend’s life.

“I was wondering if you’re feeling up for those tests we talked about yesterday.” Brenner smiles, a sight that curdled your stomach from the sheer audacity of it. “There’s no rush, but we won’t be able to proceed without it.”

“Yeah…” You clear your throat, shifting uncomfortably in the metal chair.

Right now, you were hooked to a machine, small little patches attached to either side of your skull and feeding unreadable lines of brainwaves to Brenner, who seemed especially attentive to the results.

After you witnessed Brenner’s unspeakable crime, you had eventually found your way out of the vents, leading you to the other side of the lab just as Owens had promised. It took a lot for you not to submit to the shock, to not slide down the wall into fits of tears. It took even more to pretend like your erratic heartbeat wasn’t making you queasy, stuffing your shaking hands into the pockets of your hoodie and hoping Brenner wouldn’t be playing close attention.

When you first saw him, maybe as little as an hour later, you weren’t sure if you wanted to run as far away as possible or simply scream at him. You had instead opted for a neutral nature, nodding along to words you didn’t concern yourself to listen to. You didn’t care what he had to say. He killed Owens. And he had kept you down here for weeks feeding you lies that poisoned any chance you had of remembering who you were.

Needless to say, you struggled to restrain yourself from lashing out and busting out of here without so much as a second glance. But you remembered what Owens had said, his desperation of a plan to keep you safe. He used his last moments to ensure you could live many more, and you’d be damned if you’d let him and his efforts die in vain.

“Will Owens be doing it?” You ask, drumming your fingertips against the cool surface of the table between you, using the repetitive method to calm your anxiety. It was a trick Hopper had taught you. “I haven’t seen him since yesterday’s attempt.”

You watch as his eyes flicker something dark, swarming lies between the irises that stared at his colleague’s dead body. He might have been able to hide his nature from you before, but you recognised guilt like a close relative.

“I’m afraid he won’t be joining us.” Brenner sighs, dropping the feed of paper and running a hand down his face.

“Why not?”

“He had to leave.” He lies, offering a small smile. “Unfortunately, we’re not the only ones that need him. His… wife. She sent a signal out for help and of course he had to respond. But I’m sure we’ll see him in the future. For now, we must focus our energy on retrieving your memories. Perhaps something you obtained on the surface could aid in a cause much bigger than your amnesia.”

Before you could muster up a response, he leans over and plucks the patches from your skin, the machine dying with the loss of connection.

“That’s enough of that for today. Perhaps we shall discuss the tests later. I’ve noticed you seemed more tired than usual and I’d much prefer you to have a decent night’s sleep before we continue.”

Maybe it was the reality of his actions that made him end your session early, or maybe it was something else entirely. But the metal legs of his chair scrape against the floor as he collects his recordings, shuffling them into a neat pile and turning towards the door.

“Wait.” You suddenly stand, your voice clearly unexpected. But it wasn’t as unexpected as your sudden embrace of a hug, catching him off guard with a slight ‘hmph’. “Thank you. For helping me.”

After the initial shock subsides, Brenner clears his throat and gently pats you on the back. “It is merely my pleasure. We must look after one another in times like these.”

You finally step away, smiling up at him with a nod and he takes his leave, heading down the hall to the right where you’re sure his bedroom is, meaning you had enough time to do exactly as you had planned.

Juggling the newly retrieved keys in your hand, a hint of a smirk was tugging at the corner of your mouth; even when you’re at your most vulnerable, people always seem to underestimate you.

Eddie plants a large map of Hawkins down on the crate in front of him, pointing to the greener area.

“We’re here,” He looks up to ensure Steve and Billy are following. “And the only place left untouched by survivors… is here.”

Steve watches Eddie drag his finger across the map, towards an area that made him frown. “What’s meant to be there?”

“Remember that whole mall the developers promised would be up in time for summer? That’s the site. No idea if they actually finished it but Wayne was a part of the crew transporting in goods.” He glances between them, tilting his head. “AKA… food.”

“So what’s the catch?” Billy grunts, leaning forward. Steve looks at him. “What? Munson here has known about this gold mine for ages and hasn’t gone out to collect? Something’s obviously wrong with that place.”

“He’s… not wrong.” Eddie sighs, pausing when he notices his uncle shift in his seat.

Steve has watched him avoid Wayne’s stare for a while now, only speaking to them in hushed tones. He was clearly doing this against his uncle’s wishes, and Steve still didn’t understand why Eddie would be risking anything to help two of his high school bullies.

“Rumour has it that this whole apocalypse started at high school.” He explains, not noticing the way Steve starts to shift uncomfortably or, at the very least, choosing to ignore it. “When everyone, uh... when no one was left from that place, it started attacking the rest of the town. Shops, houses, stations, everywhere. The only ones that managed to make it out were the people with cars. And anyone left after the town massacre had to think fast. They couldn’t escape and they were getting blocked in by all these monsters showing up out of nowhere. So they-”

“They fled to the new mall.”

All three boys turn in surprise to a new voice, another teen joining their meeting with a grave expression.

Tommy stood with them for a moment, glaring down at the map. In all of Steve’s life, he has never seen Tommy so serious. So… sober.

“Man, you don’t have to-” Eddie tries but Tommy shakes his head and the boy backs down.

“Everyone left headed there.” He solemnly continues, taking a seat on the open surface of a fallen tree trunk, staring at his hands. “Someone broke through the gates surrounding it and let everyone in. Those… creatures... they followed them. Us.”

Steve plants his hands on the table gently, allowing himself to lean against it, knowing that whatever Tommy would say would make his stomach sick and his body weak.

“I was with Carol in the video store when it all started. Some asshole took my car when I wasn’t looking and we were just stranded in the middle of town. Everything around us was complete chaos, and- and I overheard someone saying the mall had trucks they could use.” Tommy takes a breath, nodding slowly for his own support in telling the tale. “I took her with me and we managed to get past the gates pretty easy. But there weren’t any trucks. At least, not when we got there. More monsters showed up and people started running into the mall. I- I would’ve followed but Carol spotted a school bus back out on the street trying to get people on it, said it was our only way out. It felt like our only way out.”

“So we abandoned the mall and we ran to the bus…” Steve spots Tommy’s hands shake before he hides them between his knees, tightening his lips. “Some nasty looking dog jumped out at us at the last moment. I… I didn’t know what to do so I just told Carol to get on the bus, said I’d deal with it. She didn’t- she didn’t wanna leave me. But I pushed her. I distracted the thing long enough and I made sure she got on the bus.”

A glimmer of a tear drips down his cheek, and he simply lets it fall, squeezing his eyes shut.

“I think the monsters figured out where all the people were because hundreds of them started appearing. The driver started the bus, he- he was just trying to get everyone out. I tried to run after it… I remember seeing Carol’s face in the window. And then…” When Tommy pauses, Steve doesn’t expect him to continue. Even his own heart was aching. “The biggest, ugliest thing I’ve ever seen showed up. Something like an older version of those dogs with the weird faces. It had these- these massive claws and it… it got the bus. Slashed the tires. There were too many things between me and them for me to get there in time. All I heard was their screams. I tried to get Carol out. I- I ran to the back of the bus when I could, tried to get the emergency release open. I didn’t get to save her. Instead, I just watched her die.”

Nobody spoke. Not even Billy, cementing the severity of whole situation. Steve felt a horrible twist of guilt settle in his chest. Guilt for having such hostile feelings towards Tommy and Carol merely hours before Tommy watched Carol ripped to pieces in front of him. He had hated them, but he never wanted either of them dead.

Tommy clears his throat after a moment, clapping his hands with a bitter laugh. “Well, now that’s all out in the open…”

“Wayne and I found Tommy near the mall about a day after it all started.” Eddie continues for him, sending a sympathetic glance his way. “We were lucky we all made it back out. The place was crawling with those things. If there’s anywhere in Hawkins that is a no-go zone, it’s the mall.”

“Which is why all that food is gonna be untouched. Am I right?” Billy raises an eyebrow, but all and any satirical urges had been retired completely. This wasn’t a joke anymore.

“Yep.” Eddie nods. “You should stay the hell away from there if you want to survive another day. But something tells me you’re just that desperate.”

“If we don’t go, we still won’t survive anyway.” Billy bites back, crossing his arms. “And no way are we letting the military drag us out of here.”

“Why?” Eddie exasperates, shaking his head. “What the hell is so important that you can’t just get the hell out of Hawkins while you still can? And don’t give me the whole ‘we need food’ bullshit or tell me ‘it’s not an option’ because getting out of here is literally the only way you or those kids you keep talking about are gonna stay alive.”

“We’re perfectly capable on our own, you fre-” Billy bites and Steve nudges him away from Eddie before he could say anything that would alienate the help completely.

“Just calm down.” Steve warns him, seeing the same look in his eye he had been the victim of last year when he beat him bloody. But, to his relief, Billy shakes his head and walks away calmly, mumbling an apology.

Steve had to admit, he wasn’t expecting that conversation to end without a couple bruises.

“Thank you for letting us stay here.” He turns back to Eddie, making sure his voice properly captivated the gratitude he felt for kindness he didn’t deserve. “If we can do anything in return, just let us know.”

With a brief nod to Eddie’s silence, Steve trudged back to his tent and grabbed his bag and bat, signalling to Billy that they were ready to leave. Considering how long it had been since they left the others, they needed to find the supplies and return fast before any of them had the terrible idea of following them out here. He knew if he let the military get to them before he did, you’d be lost forever.

Or maybe he could save everyone else and still look for you. It wasn’t as if the thought hadn’t crossed his mind before; to send out a signal to the soldiers’ camp and tell them where they were, to evacuate them immediately, while Steve was far away from being caught. But he couldn’t do that to Hopper, or any of them really. You weren’t always aware of it, but they all cared about you. Family doesn’t leave eachother behind.

“I’m coming with you.”

Steve stops in his tracks and whips his head back to where Eddie was strapping his own back to his back, testing the weight of his spear before sliding it through it’s holder on the backpack.

“What?” Steve gawks, unsure of how to properly respond.

“I’ve been there before.” Eddie shrugs, folding his arms and setting a look on his face that read he wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise. “I used to sneak in there whenever the builders took days off. I know exactly where we can find the supplies you’re looking for and I’m pretty damn sure you’re not gonna be able to navigate that place in time before anything finds you.”

“Why the hell would you want to do that?” Steve lowers his voice to a whisper, coming closer.

“You’re not the only one who has their reasons to stay here.” Eddie vaguely replies, his hard stare softening. “You said if you could do anything in return, you would. And I need something in that mall.”

“You’re the one who told us it’s dangerous.” Steve doesn’t have time to debate, already noticing Billy’s impatient gestures from the corner of his eye.

“Guess that means you’re gonna need all the help you can get.” Eddie shrugs.

Before Steve can insist he stay, Heather interrupts the conversation with a small apology, whispering something in Eddie’s ear. Whatever it was, it caused the boy’s expression to fall into a frown.

“I’m heading out.” He says to her, looking behind him. “I’ll be back in the morning, just… don’t let anyone leave. It’s not worth it.”

“I’ll try and get the radio working again.” She bites her lip, nodding. “Send us a call if you go past the shack. I’m not gonna be able to keep this from your uncle, you know.”

“I know.” He sighs, smiling. “Thanks for this.”

“You saved my life.” She playfully punches his shoulder, looking at Steve. “Don’t let him die or I’ll kill you myself.”

“Noted.” Steve blinks, throwing his hands up in desperation. I guess Eddie is coming with us.

Billy walks over with a frown, looking between the three of them. “We going, or what?”

“Eddie’s joining us.” Steve admits in defeat, the boy in question grinning.

“Yay.” Billy rolls his eyes, catching Heather’s inquisitive stare. “What?”

“Nothing.” She smirks, tilting her head. “You’re just… different. To how I remember.”

Both Steve and Eddie watch the other two share a gaze that made them feel… unwanted, to say the least.

Billy clears his throat and adjusts the strap of his shotgun, letting out a breath. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

Heather bids a small farewell, patting Eddie’s shoulder before re-joining Chrissy to surely discuss what was happening. In turn, Billy starts marching away from the camp, leaving before anything else could interrupt.

“Well, I feel weird.” Eddie comments and Steve absent-mindedly nods in agreement. “Better follow him before he ends up going in the wrong direction.”

Steve hums in response, taking one last look at the camp. It was relieving to know other people had been out here surviving the entire time, even without the knowledge of these monsters and the gates that brought them here. It gave him hope. Maybe there were more survivors out there. Maybe, just maybe, an apocalypse wouldn’t be the end of Hawkins.

It had barely been 24 hours since you stopped taking Brenner’s ‘medication’ and you were already piecing together your memories from the past few months.

Many people still remained faceless, meaning you had to work harder to remember the specifics. But you know Hopper, all the fights and the emotional conversations. Sara, your little sister, and a girl that reminded you of her.

You remember the high school, watching your teacher die, getting attacked…

And you remember the monsters. Long, lanky and grey creatures with faces that opened like flower petals. Dark, shadowy figures that could become anything they wanted. Small, vicious dogs that would tear you apart if they were given the chance. Something big in the water, rows and rows of sharp teeth.

Each creature appeared in thought with a shiver down your spine. Maybe some things would be better forgotten.

Your sneakers scuff loudly on the pristine conditions of the floor, making you wince at the noise. You needed to be silent if you wanted to escape. Luckily for you, you were one step closer to freedom.

Room 237. It didn’t appear any different from the other rows of doors you’ve walked past a million times. But this one felt different.

There was no lock on the door, making you question Owens’ desperation for you to find it. If it was meant to be a secret, why wasn’t there any security? But you know why. You weren’t exactly a threat in Brenner’s mind. You were used to that behaviour.

You grab the handle and gently tug it down, holding your breath as the door quietly creaks open.

The first thing you noticed was how dark it was. You try and fumble around for a light switch but you can’t really find it, squinting into the room and trying to adjust your eyes instead.

It seemed empty, merely a chair in the corner of the room with a shadow of a lamp beside it. Everything else was just the same bleak white walls you’ve grown accustomed to, nothing out of the ordinary at all…

The smell hit you first, flooding your senses. It was the same thing you smelt that first night at the school, invading your mind and body with paralysing fear.

Blood.

The room stretched further than you thought, a protruding wall concealing the reality of what lay inside of Room 237. There was no light behind it either, and you blindly followed your own instincts to find where the divide ended, hand gently brushing along the wall until it fell into air.

This section was a lot more furnished. Chairs, small tables, equipment. But you didn’t acknowledge any of it.

In the middle of the room was a chair, inhabited by the pale face of a boy you think you should recognise. And he wasn’t moving.

"Oh my god." You whisper, running over and immediately pulling the gag from his mouth, your hands trembling as you gently tap his face, hoping he was just tired and not something much, much worse. "Hey, hey. Wake up. Please wake up."

When you hear no response, you start working on the rope binds around his wrists, sending fearful glances to his face. No, no, no. A persistent tug inside your chest knew this boy, even if you couldn’t quite place him in that hazy mind of yours. And you were scared to lose him. You couldn’t lose him.

As you pull apart the last knot, your heart settles into relief, watching his hands instinctively flex from the freedom.

"Hey." You dip your head to meet his eyes, "Are you okay? Why are you here? Can you hear me?"

A small groan rumbles in his throat, shaking off the obvious fatigue from whatever the hell it was Brenner did to him. “Please… I don’t know where he is...”

“Where who is?” You frown, searching his face for clues. Up close, you could see his lip was swollen. “Do you know where you are? How long have you been here?”

“I don’t… remember.” He coughs, blinking up at the dark ceiling. “I don’t remember anything…”

Your eyes flicker to the table you hadn’t yet observed beside him, various needles scattered about, seemingly unused thank goodness. But you did spot a similar little bottle that you had clutched in your own hands for weeks now; those cursed little white pills.

“Oh no.” You lean back on your heels, observing the way he starts rubbing at the rope burns on his wrists. He looks at you with a confused expression, searching your face like he was trying to remember something.

“I know you.” He says like it was involuntary, surprised at his own words. But he trusts himself, squinting his eyes, face falling into realisation. “Oh my god.”

“What?” You blink, anticipation startling you with his sudden resolve.

“Y/n.”

Relief mends the painful tear in your heart you never noticed before. When you had been utterly alone down here, you were so afraid there would be no one waiting for you on the surface. It wasn’t until you remembered Hopper that you were hopeful you would have someone looking for you. But now, hearing someone say your name like it held importance, that felt like a cure to all your misery.

And then the dread sets in again as you look up at this boy. Why didn’t you remember him?

“How do you know my name?” You frown, but he barely registers your words.

“He told us you were alive… I’m glad I believed him...” He doesn’t make much sense, muttering and mumbling under his breath. His voice is a little hazy and you notice his eyelids start to droop. You quickly tilt his head with your hand, noticing the spot of red blended into his hair that you had missed on your earlier inspection.

Fear was your best friend at this point, becoming utterly fixated on the fact that his head wound could be a lot worse than you can see on the surface. You couldn’t leave this place alone, not now you know you aren’t the only one trapped here. You have to save him, save eachother.

No more deaths.

His head starts to loll and you catch his face with both hands, heart wrenching. You knew him, you felt it. And he was already slipping away before you could find the answers your soul yearned for.

"Woah, don't- Keep your eyes open. Don’t close your eyes." You plead and he manages to blink himself awake again, nodding slowly. You exhale a breath, holding his gaze. “How do you know my name?”

The boy seems so much more alert now, your words finally settling into his swarming mind. His eyebrows furrow, a mix of panic and confusion flooding his face.

“We- we’re… friends.” He blinks, noting the utter lack of recognition in your features. “You don’t remember me?”

“I don’t remember anything.” You admit, reaching over to the table and holding the pill bottle up to him, shaking it lightly. “The man keeping us here, he’s been feeding us these pills. Anti- antipsychotics, I think he said. They’ve been blocking my memory for weeks.”

“Shit.” He leans back into his chair, struggling to keep his eyes open. “That’s not… that’s not good…”

He was starting to look worse again, and you knew you were running out of time. Any longer and Brenner could find you. You weren’t letting yourself spend another day locked away with a murderer.

"Listen to me, we have to leave right now. I'll explain everything, I promise, but if he finds us here, we're screwed."

You help him stand. His legs wobble slightly so you slip an arm around him, resting his weight on yours.

"He..." He frowns, only single words hitting the air before his eyes start to close again.

"Hey- Stay with me, okay? I need you." You plead and he manages to blink himself awake again, nodding slowly. "We need to find the exit, but first we need to contact someone. Do you know how to use a radio?"

"Um..." He frowns once again, face twisting with confusion. Your heart sinks. Please, god, don’t die. "I… Yes. Yeah, I do. Of course I do."

“Good.” You offer a smile, relaxing when you feel him relieve some of his weight from your body, finding his footing. “We’re one step closer to getting the hell out of here.”

“I think I can,” He winces as you start to walk to the door, sending a reassuring nod your way when you pause. This wasn’t going to be easy. “I, uh, I might be able to remember the frequency for the party- and your dad. Hopper.”

As he leans forward to brace himself on the wall, your mind starts to wander. Hearing him say your dad’s name…

“Where’s Hopper?” You get straight to the point, studying them both as they look surprised yet again. “I assume you came here with him.”

“Yeah.” A girl answers, the boy in the bunker nodding with her. “Yeah, he picked us up like an hour after everything happened. We’ve kind of been at the lab since.”

“Hm.” You sound, trying to ignore how that stung. He went and collected the kids he wanted and left you to fend for yourself. Lovely.

“So he’s here?” The faceless boy in your dreams questions and the girl nods again.

“He’s with the gate.” She relays.

“They’ve been trying to get it shut for ages.” The boy in the bunker says, but his eyes are still on you, barely hanging onto his own words. “Where were you guys?”

“Uh… surviving the apocalypse. Which, by the way, not as easy as it looks in movies.”

“Why are you both looking at us like that?” You finally ask, the shocked eyes of people you barely knew staring at you and the boy like you weren’t even real.

“Sorry.” The girl rushes, blinking. She pockets her gun into her belt and steps forward, sharing looks with the boy in the bunker. “It’s not you. It’s just…”

“We thought you were dead.”

You snap out of it when you hear him take a deep breath. Another memory unlocked, more questions unanswered. Why was that other boy in every memory? And why couldn’t the one in front of you be the same face you were so desperate to find?

“Are you gonna be okay?” You ask, only earning a silent nod in return. “I’m gonna do a quick check outside and make sure we’re not gonna get caught. Wait here.”

When you were sure he could support himself, you carefully open the door without so much as a creak, poking your head around the corner. Your eyes travel to the camera situated at the end of the hall, facing the opposite direction. You were going to have to walk into view of it some time, and once you did there was no going back. No more pretending, one more step to freedom.

“Okay.” You drop your voice to a whisper, propping the door open with your foot and meeting his eyes. He looked tired, but he was fighting. “We’ll be in the clear for about 2 minutes before the cameras catch us. I’ll lead us straight to the radio and we’ll send out an SOS to my dad. If we move quick enough, we might be able to escape before anyone can come looking. You ready for that?”

“Ready as ever.” He nods, and you offer your arm again, sliding his over your shoulders and preparing for what will be the most excruciatingly tense moment of your lives.

As you both creep out into the hallway, he mumbles something to you, so quiet you missed it.

“Sorry?” You whisper back, keeping up a steady rhythm between your footsteps.

“My name.” He repeats, a little louder. A small and select smile rests on his lips. “Jonathan. In case you couldn’t remember.”

His name hits the air with more value than he’ll know, one more blurred face now clear as day. But you couldn’t relish in the relief, or exchange stories of whatever horrors landed you two of all people in a bunker with a psychopath. Now wasn't the time for either of you to reflect on the hell you were both dragged through.

If anything, it was just luck you were both still alive.

taglist:

@sheisjoeschateau . @kthomps914 . @curled-hair-red-lips . @nix-rose .

@palmtreesx3 . @kryztalglear . @sattlersquarry . @hey-barnes-stole-a-jeep . @sadslasher13 .

@iliveonteaandbooks . @innercreationflower . @newyorkangelbaby . @totally-bogus-timelady . @pansexualhoor .

@kitdjarin1 . @chiliwhore . @carolineesnell . @lxon-kxnnedy .

#stranger things x reader #stranger things #fanfic #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #stranger things reader insert #stranger things fanfiction #gates of hell #st2 #steve x reader #apocalypse au #goh

29 notes · View notes

mrsjellymunson · 3 months ago

Text

Hey, Boss

A prequel to Hello, Stranger

Characters: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, Jim Hopper, Raymond ‘Red’ Reddington, Mr Kaplan, Dembe Zuma

Pairing: None until the next part (where it becomes Eddie Munson x gn!reader)

AU: Stranger Things AU with elements of The Blacklist

Summary: Eddie falls into a new line of work…

WC: ~3.9k

CW: 18+ MDNI. This miniseries is SFW, depending on your tolerance for dark/violent themes, but most of my blog is 18+ so minors please be aware of this and DNI. Dark humour, black comedy. Allusions to drug use, alcohol consumption, violence, crime and murder. Weapons, bodies and death are discussed. No smut, no reader in this part. This is a Stranger Things AU, the upside down is very briefly alluded to but Eddie doesn’t know about it. No time period mentioned, so if events or technology don’t track that’s why that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. The characters don’t know each other like they do in ST.

A/N: This is the prequel to ‘Hello, Stranger’. The two parts can be read in either order. As in the original part, there are some Easter eggs in here, this time from The Blacklist (obvs), Stargate, and a deliciously niche one from John Wick. Let me know if you spot any!

A/N additional: I would never have believed that I’d be revisiting this story a year after publishing it to add a fun little prologue, but here we are! 😃 The original part was written for a Halloween prompt event last year and was the first lengthy thing I’d shared; I was SO ridiculously nervous about posting it, you have no idea 🫣 Reading it again now, would I change things in the original? Yes. But mainly things like punctuation and formatting, because I think over the last year my writing has become clearer, so I’m kinda pleased that I’d leave the story exactly how it is. For anyone discovering this for the first time, I hope you enjoy!! Please let me know with a comment/reblog/feral spewings in my inbox, I’d love it, srsly 😉🖤

I have an Easter egg reveal post planned for this miniseries, if you’d like to hear about it just ask to be added to my general taglist where you can get notified about all my writing posts ☺️🖤

My masterlist

It’s a chilly October night, close to Halloween, and Eddie’s blasted out of his mind. Gareth got hold of some super strong skunk from a cousin who was visiting from out of state, and that combined with a few cool beers has left him even more buzzed than usual.

Forgoing his van on the insistence of his friends, and wanting to get home to the relative warmth of the trailer sooner rather than later, he’s decided to take a shortcut across Merrill Wright’s fields.

High as all hell, he's staggering as he navigates the pumpkins, managing to avoid most of the obvious orange orbs but forgetting that their tendrils need looking out for too.

He’s already tripped a couple of times, and curses out the vines for both being invisible at night and clearly conspiring with each other to sabotage his journey home. He swears that at least twice he’s seen them move...

Pushing through a thin layer of trees separating one field from the next, he stumbles forwards as an impeding branch snaps and gives way. Moving too quickly to stop himself, he totters forwards, hoping to regain his balance once he’s free of the spindly foliage.

But surprisingly, his feet fail to connect with anything at all, the ground disappears, and Eddie falls face first into… nothing.

Though it doesn’t remain nothing for long, swiftly becoming the harsh smack of hard, and very cold, dirt against his knees, torso and face.

Shocked, confused and more than a little winded, Eddie grunts and rolls onto his side, groaning.

“Oooooohhhhhh fuuuuuuuckk…. What the hell—?”

He spits out a few clods of mud, and possibly part of a worm (sorry, dude), and tries to work out what just happened.

His hair has fallen over his face, and he pushes the waves, now bedecked with a sprinkling of leaves and soil, out of his eyes and looks upwards.

Instead of the expected expanse of the clear night sky, perhaps even a few constellations if he cared to look carefully, his vision seems to have tunnelled, a significant proportion of it now a deep black.

Sitting upright, he briefly wonders whether he’s concussed, or worse, but then the sound of someone speaking garners his undivided attention.

A light, high voice cuts through the night.

“Hey, do you hear something?”

Eddie freezes, eyes wide. He’s not sure whether he’s comforted or more freaked out to discover he’s not the only one in this field at this time of night. This dark, isolated, middle-of-nowhere, nobody-within-screaming-distance field.

Another voice, deeper than the first, replies,

“Like what?”

“I dunno, a grunt maybe?”

“A grunt? Uhh, no.”

“Why am I asking you anyway? Your ears are shot after one too many sportsball encounters…”

“Hey, shut up.”

Eddie hears some shuffling and a chortle, like two people jostling each other, before the deeper voice speaks again, but it’s in no way comforting.

“Uh, this guy’s definitely dead, right?”

There’s a noise that sounds like thick plastic being prodded with something.

“Yeah, yeah, this guy definitely. But I’m sure I heard something from over there.”

“Are you trying to spook me? You know how much I hate Halloween.”

Eddie hears an overly dramatic brrr and the rustling of clothing, and he imagines the guy shivering, like he’s shaking off a covering of non-existent snow.

Eddie, terrified but with a new sense of urgency, and eyes adjusting to the new level of darkness, glances more fully around his environment, figuring out that he’s definitely below ground level and in some kind of a hole. He spreads his arms wide, moving them around, and notices he can feel the edges on two sides, but not all four, meaning it’s a long hole. Long enough for him to lay down in. A hole, long enough to fit a human being in, but not much else. Okay, so…

Wait, this is a fucking grave! Fuck, he’s in a goddamn motherfucking grave!!

Eddie stands, wobbling a little, and notices his eyeline is still below ground level. He reaches up, grabbing at the soil at the edge of the hole, but it’s dry and loose and crumbles in his hands. He tries to jump, grabbing at anything he can find on the ground, but to no avail. It’s tilled earth and there are no branches or roots, not even grass, that he can grab to pull himself out. He mentally takes back everything he said about pumpkin vines…

Suddenly he hears a dull thud, the sound of dragging, muttering, and two people grunting.

Shit, they’re getting closer. And now there’s a large package wrapped in blue plastic at the edge of the hole, and they’ve just dropped two shovels, and—

Feigning nonchalance, Eddie leans a muddy shoulder against the raw earth, one hand on his hip and the other swiping through his hair as two faces, backlit by moonlight, hove into view. His voice cracks with,

“Hee-eeey guys, how’s it goin’?”

What the hell?? He’s literally standing in an open grave, that these two have probably just dug, and that’s the best he can come up with?

The figures regard Eddie, then turn to each other, then look back at Eddie. They both frown and in unison cock their heads sideways in the same direction, and Eddie, stoned and in shock as he is, has to suppress a giggle.

Fuck, that weed really was strong… Damn you, Gareth’s cousin!

One of the figures, the slighter of the two, gestures into the hole with a muddy, gloved hand, asking,

“Is he one of yours?”

The other guy looks both startled and mildly offended.

“What? No! Of course not!”

“Well, there was that one time where you, y’know, missed the mark, and we had to spend an hour chasing the guy before we put him down.”

The taller of the two flaps his arms exasperatedly, trying to point an index finger in the air but failing, the heavy duty gloves he’s wearing making him look more like he’s holding up a fist.

“One time! The one time I miss a goddamn artery and you’ve never let me live it down. Jeez man, gimme a goddamn break!”

“Okay, okay, I’m just sayin’”

“Well don’t! I don’t appreciate it when you criticise my abilities and undermine my self esteem.”

The slimmer figure speaks again, resting the knuckles of one gloved hand against their waist.

“Did your therapist tell you to say that?”

“Hey, don’t knock it. She’s helping me process my intergenerational trauma and internalised lack of self-worth.”

The tall figure says the words like he’s reciting from a book, but he says them with conviction. Eddie briefly wonders whether he should ask the guy for the title. He finishes with,

“Anyway, I don’t know who the fuck this asshole is.”

Hands now on his hips, he turns his attention back to Eddie, who, whilst they’d been talking, had been surreptitiously clawing at the back edge of the hole, trying desperately to lever himself out.

The figure with the higher voice turns to their compatriot, and with a somewhat sardonic tone to their voice remarks,

“Well, I suppose we’d better try and find out who this asshole is, and where he came from, huh?”

They lean forwards into the hole and brace themselves with their hands against their knees.

The skinnier figure begins the interrogation with,

“Did Andrea send you? Was it Annie?”

The taller guy continues,

“Wait, was it Red? Cuz if it was Red you can tell him it’s not fuckin’ funny…”

Eddie stammers,

“N-n-o, man, no. I don’t know who any of those people are. I’m, uh, I’m nobody, literally! I was just stoned, and walkin’ home and I, uh, just kinda, fell into this… whatever this delightful arrangement is.”

He gestures around him, attempting to convey that he neither knows, nor cares, exactly what this is.

Tall guy regards him down his nose.

“So, if nobody sent you, then nobody knows you’re here. But now you know we’re here. And I’m guessing that you’re guessing what we’re about to do here. So, I’m guessing the best thing all the way around is if you, y’know, stay here…”

Eddie, in his inebriated state, didn’t completely follow what this guy just said, but when the guy reaches behind him into his belt, and Eddie hears the unmistakable metallic clink of a gun being retrieved, he gets the message pretty damn quickly.

The shovels, the ‘package’, the gun… oh god!

“Nonononono! Waitwaitwait!!”

He extends his arms and frantically waves his filthy hands in front of him in supplication.

Think, Eddie, think!! What would you encourage the sheep to do in such an impossible campaign situation? Thiiiiiiink!

The guy levels the gun at Eddie’s head. He still can’t see their faces clearly, but he can most certainly make out the end of the barrel as it glints in the moonlight.

Eddie scrunches his eyes up tight, grimacing, every muscle in his body tensing in expectation of the horror to come.

Abruptly, his mind fills with the most bizarre and inspired creative idea that he thinks he’s ever had.

Fuck, that weed really was strong… Thank you, Gareth’s cousin!

“What if I told you I could help make your job easier? Maybe more enjoyable? Or, at the very least, more interesting?”

He sees the barrel of the gun lower ever so slightly.

Oh good, now it’s not aimed at his head. Just at his chest. Progress?

He presses on.

“Your bosses want you to make people disappear, right? Boring, efficient, sure. But not that interesting. Probably doesn’t pay all that well either, huh?”

The two figures look at each other again, frowning, and Eddie’s pretty sure they're deciding whether they should let the guy in the hole keep talking, or just shut him up for good, drop the other package in and cover them both over.

“How about we give ‘em a little something extra first? Like a show? A demonstration. An exhibition, if you will.”

Eddie’s got into his stride now, and is walking up and down the length of the six foot hole waving his arms in wide arcs, as if he’s delivering one of his lunchtime diatribes on a canteen table.

“Say there’s some guy who’s been messin’ with your patch. Goods are goin’ missing, or his funds are coming up short. Sure, you could just pop a cap in him and stick him in the ground,”

He glances nervously at the tarp-wrapped bundle,

“But wouldn’t it be more satisfying to really teach him a lesson. Bury him at the four corners of the state? Spray him all over this field? Dissolve him ‘til there’s nothing left? Now that really sends a message, don’tcha think? Plus, it’d sure be entertaining for your bosses to watch. Must get pretty boring for them. Y’know, pop a guy, wrap a guy, pop a guy, wrap a guy…”

He regards the two heavies carefully, trying to judge whether he’s made any impression on them whatsoever. They’re looking at each other and then back at Eddie.

Eventually the bigger figure speaks.

“Whaddaya think, Rob? Shall we take him back to talk to—“

“Fuckssake Steve, don’t tell him my name! Ah, fuck, Jeez…”

Sighing, the figure turns back towards Eddie.

“Yeah, okay, if this is as revelatory as you say it is, then fine. But it better be. Don’t make us come back out here for a second time tonight.”

Eddie takes this threat very, very seriously.

“Okay, okay, whatever you say. I’ll do whatever you need me to do, I swear.”

The figure pauses for a moment, contemplative, before puffing out a long breath from between their lips.

“Well, for a start you can help us finish up with this guy. Steve, get him out of that hole and pass him my shovel...”

Eddie’s only thought is, great, I’m not gonna die! At least, not right now…

———

An hour later, freezing, muddy, exhausted, still terrified and, incongruously, still a little stoned, Eddie walks between Rob and Steve back to their vehicle, an SUV that he notices has “Buckley & Harrington, Landscaping Services & Specialised Waste Disposal” emblazoned on the side.

‘Specialised waste disposal’ indeed…

They bundle Eddie into the back, Rob grousing the whole way, and make him lie under yet another blue tarp so he can’t see where they’re going. He doesn’t much like being on this side of the plastic, and dearly hopes it’s the only time he has to experience it.

After some time, and a number of bruises acquired from sliding around the truck bed, the truck stops and the two figures start to bundle Eddie out of the back.

Still partially under the tarp, Eddie sees the lower half of a large, heavy set man in military fatigues and combat boots join them outside. Still shaken from the evening’s events and disoriented from the uncomfortable journey, Eddie can’t quite make out their entire conversation. He does hear what the hell and let me explain, plus a lot of grumbling in what could be a West African accent.

Finally freed from the tarp, Eddie is grabbed by the shoulders from behind by a pair of very strong hands, dragged off the truck bed and shoved, stumbling, forwards.

The three figures walk him into an old warehouse, the huge shutters open to the night and the entire place brightly lit and remarkably active given the hour. It’s crammed with pallets, shelves, crates, people and machinery. There are forklifts lifting things in and out of trucks and people carrying paperwork and speaking on phones. Many seem to have ominous-looking bulges in their waistbands and jackets that Eddie really doesn’t want to become any more closely acquainted with.

A large man is barking orders and holding a mug that says coffee and contemplation on the side, but judging by the subtle wince that happens each time he takes a swig, Eddie suspects it contains something stronger than his favourite Java. His voice is gruff, and to his great surprise, Eddie recognises it.

“Uh, Hopper, is that you?”

The man turns, frowning at first, but as he clocks Eddie his free hand flaps dejectedly at his side and his eyes roll up into his skull.

“Oh Jeez. What the hell is he doing here? What have you two idiots done now?”

Eddie's new acquaintances look sheepishly at each other. The one named Rob ventures,

“Uh, he has a proposal for Red, something about a novel business idea?”

“Goddamnit, I know this guy! And now, thanks to you two bozos, he knows me too!”

Steve interjects this time,

“Just give him five minutes with Mr Kaplan, boss! Honestly, I think Red’s gonna love this.”

Hopper doesn’t look convinced, but he grabs a guy with a clipboard as he scurries past and asks him to find whoever Mr Kaplan is. Eddie doesn’t like the sound of this. The dude sounds pretty scary.

After no more than a minute, a small, tweed-clad lady appears. She’s older than everyone here, and her face is pinched, but somehow also looks kind. Eddie imagines she’d look far more at home in a library than… whateverthisis. He wonders if she’s Mr Kaplan’s secretary, or something.

“Come on then you two, spit it out. I don’t have all day.”

The two stammer and splutter their way through an explanation, trying to justify why they not only spared this guy, but also brought him back to their base of operations. Eddie finally comprehends that this is Mr Kaplan. He doesn’t know whether to be relieved, or even more terrified.

At various points Mr Kaplan sucks in her cheeks, tilts her head and folds her arms, reminding Eddie of every disapproving teacher he ever had, and more than once he considers how far he might get if he hightailed it through those large doors and made off into the night. But then he remembers how he got here, who he’s with, the amount of hardware everyone appears to be carrying, how often he skipped PT at school, how much he’s smoked this evening (not to mention over the last however many years), and, not least, the fact that he has less than no clue about where he actually is.

Finally, the two cronies stop talking, and Mr Kaplan’s focus turns entirely to Eddie. Despite being significantly taller than she is, he feels about two feet high under her gaze, and that this moment could be about to define his future, his fate.

“Well, dearie, it’s certainly a unique proposition. And one I’m intrigued to see if you can pull off. But ultimately, it’s not my decision. All I can do is get you a meeting with Red, and then you’re on your own.”

Steve seems thrilled by this outcome, his eyes wide and a grin on his lips. He shifts in place excitedly and jovially taps his elbow against Eddie’s upper arm. Eddie side-eyes him, guessing the guy is pleased that he isn’t going to suffer any repercussions for going ‘off script’ by bringing Eddie here like this, but he does wonder what on earth makes him think they’re ever going to be friends.

Mr Kaplan nods to Hopper, who takes this as his cue and disappears out of sight. Mr Kaplan doesn’t see it, but Eddie notices his weary-looking eye roll.

Eddie finally gets a good look at the guy who ‘helped’ him off the truck and brought him inside. He’s tall, huge, shaven-headed and intimidating. Eddie doesn’t look for long.

After a few minutes, the shaven-headed heavy motions for Eddie to step into a somewhat more private area of the warehouse, sectioned off by some disturbing-looking medical curtains on rusting rails that offer visual, if not much auditory, privacy. Eddie figures the noise of vehicles and machinery elsewhere likely drown out any talking that goes on in here anyway.

There’s a screen set up that’s displaying a fuzzy, low quality image of a man sitting in what appears to be a lavish sitting room. There’s a picture of a landscape, or maybe sky, hanging to his left, and the audio quality is marred by a low rumble. Eventually, Eddie’s brain catches up and he realises it’s not a picture at all but a window, and what Eddie can see is clouds and what he can hear is the roar of an engine - the guy’s on a plane. All he can think is, Jeezus, this guy must be loaded.

As the image comes into better focus the figure looks oddly familiar. Eddie’s vaguely reminded of a sci-fi film he saw that had Kirt Russell in it and something about pyramids, but he brushes it aside, more important things on his mind.

The man is clad in a fedora and an exquisitely tailored suit, and as Eddie is positioned in front of what he presumes is a camera the figure removes his hat and lifts a crystal tumbler containing a deep brown liquid to his lips.

Hopper fills Eddie in.

“This is Mr Reddington. You can speak when he says you can.”

The well-dressed man speaks first, in a voice that’s even more imposing than that of the tall heavy who brought Eddie in here.

“I understand you have a business proposition for me, young man. I’d like to hear it directly from you, if I may?”

Eddie thinks quickly, describing possible scenarios that he’s come up with. He reiterates the ideas he had earlier, and adds a few more, getting inspiration from horror movies, comics, and even some of his D&D campaigns.

“That does all sound very interesting. And heaven knows we need some levity in this business. But I do need to confer with my colleagues. Chief, what do you think? Does this kid’s idea have legs?”

Hopper and Red have a moment of eye contact, before Hopper sighs loudly and admits, reluctantly,

“It is kinda novel. And he’s basically a good kid, don’t kill him yet, huh? He can be annoying as fuck, but goddamnit if he goes missing we’d have to do at least some kind of an investigation. The amount of people I’d have to interview, the press… The paperwork alone would be hell…”

He pinches the top of his nose, and Red purses his lips, apparently conceding that Hopper’s time would be much better spent doing whatever it is that he does for him rather than wasting it on unimportant matters such as police work. His expression suddenly brightens, and the formerly imposing figure on the screen turns disconcertingly jovial.

“Well, I think it sounds like fun. I’ll tell you what, we’ll try him out for a couple of months and see how he does.”

Hopper turns to look at Eddie.

“Okay, Munson, we’re gonna give you a try. You’d better keep it interesting though, or so help me…”

He makes a small but unsubtle slicing motion across his neck with his thumb. Eddie takes it at face value, knowing he means it.

Red addresses the whole group now.

“You know, this reminds me of the time I was playing miniature golf in Andalucia with the Sultan of Brunei and Jimmy Hoffer. Richard Pryor walked up and asked if any of us knew anything about llama farming. We all looked at him askance, I mean, do any of us look like we did? But then, to my great surprise and delight, the Sultan said…”

The burly dude holds Eddie around the shoulders again, but more gently than before. At least, Eddie assumes it’s gentle. The guy’s stature suggests significantly more physical ‘prowess’, which Eddie’s grateful he's not been on the receiving end of. He’s steered away from the screen and back towards the main area of the warehouse.

Nervously, just before they leave the curtained off area and afraid this might be seen as an offense, Eddie stammers,

“Where’re we- Shouldn’t I…?”

The man’s deep, caramel voice carries easily to Eddie’s ears, as he remarks,

“Trust me, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of any more of Raymond’s epic tales than you absolutely have to be. You can thank me later.”

Eddie looks back over his shoulder, just in time to see Chief Hopper’s brow crinkle and raise in what looks to be a poor facsimile of engagement, and he takes another, deep, swig from his coffee mug. He, apparently, knew he was in it for the duration.

They reach the area where Steve and Rob are still standing, apparently playing some kind of thumb war game. The big guy extends a powerful-looking hand towards Eddie, clasping his own in an iron grip. There’s a soft smile on his face as he looks down and says,

“Welcome to the team. I’m Dembe, by the way.”

Mr Kaplan finishes up a conversation she’s having nearby with another pair of guys with clipboards and conspicuous gun holsters, and as she’s making her way out, she remarks to Eddie,

“You’re in luck, you can start tonight. We’re expecting another package, so you can help these two clowns. God knows they need it.”

Steve frowns, and Rob emits a quiet,

“Hey—”

Mr Kaplan continues,

“No need for anything elaborate right now dearie, save that for next time. But we do need some supplies. Dembe, get him some cash from the office.”

Eddie’s conflicted. He’s confused, excited, relieved, and, yep, still a little wasted.

He does have his typical nervousness about how well he’s actually gonna be able to “perform”, and how long he can keep up the interest in what he’s suggested. Following a brief discussion with Steve and Rob, a few crumpled bills are shoved into his overly-sweaty palm.

Of course, his main thought is, great, I’m not gonna die! At least, not tonight…

But his overriding concern soon becomes:

Where the hell is he going to find rope, duct tape and a shovel at this time of night??

Next part, ‘Hello, Stranger’

My masterlist

I really hope you enjoyed this little prologue! Please reblog and leave comments, your support means everything to writers 🖤🙏

Tagging my ‘everything’ list, ILY @joejoequinnquinn @jamdoughnutmagician @guiltyasquinn @madaboutmunson @airen256 @sunshinepeachx @the-unforgivenn @skrzydlak @comeonatmebruh @jamiecb66 @80s-addict @abellmunsonmovie @definitionwanderlust @sheneedsrocknroll92 @munson-blurbs @wonderlanddreamer @daisy-munson @maedesculpaeusoubi @kurdtbean @mediocredreams @in2tswft @micheledawn1975 @littlebebebunny @12thatsanumber @alastorssimp @the-baby-angel @eddie-is-a-god @wolfqueenxxx @sassidykassidy @richter-raccoon @1deverland

Also tagging those who commented on/reblogged the first one, just lemme know if you’d rather not be! @bakusquadobsessed @mewchiili @bettyfrommars @pedroschka @transparent-enemy @ali-r3n @fracturedarkness @tinytyphooncloud @alverdekote @elegantkoalapaper @ddaydreamdelusionss @ramona-thorns @vitzi9 @lurkingprincess @cherrysabbath @pullingattheroots

52 notes · View notes

is-emily-real · 1 year ago

Text

Five Minutes

Eddie anticipated his last day of summer break to pass peacefully and quietly. The plan was to stay home, meditate on the awful realities of Hawkins to hopefully give a shit about the upcoming school year (at least enough of a shit to graduate), and prepare himself to save the new sheepies he’d add to the current roster of the Hellfire Club.

There he was, deep into his meditation, accompanied by the wonderful melodies of Black Sabbath, when a frenzied knocking sounded upon his front door.

He paused his music begrudgingly and opened the door. Steve Harrington stood on his porch in all his sweaty, shirtless, unadulterated glory.

Well.

He pushed past Eddie and slammed the door. “You gotta hide me.”

“What the hell? No.”

“Please.” The panic was written all over his face. “Just long enough so she leaves and I can get to my car.”

Eddie opened his poor, abused front door with a frown. “Get out of my house.”

Steve flinched at the sound of a girl’s hollering and ducked behind the couch. “Five minutes. Five minutes and I’m out of your hair. Deal?” he panted.

He considered his options. He could kick him to the wolves and have an odd anecdote to share the next day, or he could let him stay and have an odd anecdote to share the next day. Only one of those options let him ogle his middle school crush for longer than a few seconds.

He was a simple man.

“Fine,” he sighed and closed the door with the respect it deserved. “You owe me.”

Steve stood up. “Thanks, man, I mean it. She was about to kick my ass.”

“Who?”

“Max. We were helping her move in and I pissed her off.”

“Max Mayfield? Billy’s sister?”

He gave Eddie a stern glare. “Don’t bring him up. Yes, that Max.”

Two screams told him things were going to shit outside. Steve scrambled into the hallway with Eddie hot on his tail. “What did you even do?”

He winced. “I may have told her she didn’t get any more help if she was going to be a bitch.”

Eddie stopped in his tracks. “You didn’t.”

“Listen, she was being a bitch!”

“Keep your voice down. I know King Steve’s never been in a trailer before, but the walls are thin, okay?”

“Sorry, sorry,” he whispered, “but she was giving Lucas shit for wanting to try out for the basketball team and it wasn’t helping anything.”

He shrugged. “I don’t see what’s wrong with making fun of that.”

“Hey, I happen to like basketball.”

“I remember.” Any tint of pink in his cheeks was purely due to the heat. Eddie opened the door to his bedroom and waved the boy inside.

This was not how he’d planned to get Steve in here. He cringed at the thought.

“Anyways, he’s good at it, and if it makes him happy, he should go for it, you know?”

“I’m not getting invested in the social lives of children.”

“But you’d like them! They play that castle game you’re into.”

“The castle game?!” Eddie couldn’t help himself. It came out louder than he expected. “Dungeons and Dragons—”

Steve clapped a hand over his mouth.

Something twisted in his stomach. This was… too close for anyone’s safety. He swallowed, trying to control the racing of his heart when they heard a pounding on the front door.

“I know he’s in there!” a girl called.

Steve’s eyes went wide. He left a chill when he drew away.

Eddie tried to wipe the longing off his face as he shot him a glare. “My blood’s on your hands.” Slowly he left the room, throwing on the aloof air he’d spent so long practicing before he opened the door.

Max Mayfield stood on his porch, fire red hair matching the color of her face as she stared at him. “Give him here.”

He rolled his eyes. “Nice to meet you too, neighbor. I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“You have Steve.”

“Hmm.” He tapped his chin as if he were trying to think. “About my height, pretty face, huge jerk? Haven’t seen him.” She huffed. “Listen, check the woods, if he’s not back there, come back and I’ll upend my whole day to help you look, okay?”

“You suck,” she spat before she turned on her heel and stomped away.

“Love you too!” he called with a grin.

He peered out the blinds, waiting until she was several lots down before he turned away. “You owe me big time, Stevie,” he called. “I think I’m on her shit list for life.”

He entered the bedroom to the sight of a muscled back, its owner leaned close to his sweetheart. Steve brushed his fingers down its neck.

The whole situation was doing unfortunate things to him. He cleared his throat.

Steve whirled to face him. “I was just— You play guitar?”

He gave a wary look. “Yes.”

“That’s— uh, that’s… hot.” He shut his eyes tight. “I should— Is she gone? I should go.”

“Um, yeah, she’s gone.”

“Oh, good. Well, I guess I’ll see you around?” Steve hit him with a sheepish grin. It was the most dazzling thing he’d ever seen.

“Sure,” he stammered. “See you around.”

Eddie stayed rooted to the spot as he left. The picture of Steve’s fingers running down the neck of his guitar played on repeat in his head. That’s… hot. He listened to the crunch of gravel under tires.

He was such a dweeb.

He’d tell Jeff tomorrow. Jeff would know what to do.

(No one would believe him. Not even a little bit.)

“Steve, that’s the lamest thing you’ve ever said.” Robin continued to walk around the empty store, straightening tapes as she went with no particular fervor.

He rolled his eyes. “If it was cool, I wouldn’t be here commiserating about it, would I?”

“Still. I know I have no game, but that was bad . Criminally bad. He should press charges.”

“Listen, some of us found out we maybe liked boys a month ago.” He started to rewind another tape. “ That’s hot . Who even says that? Also, when did I start thinking Eddie Munson was hot?”

She shot him a look over the counter. “He’s your type.”

He sputtered with indignation. “I don’t have a type!”

“Curly hair, brunette, snarky? Is none of this ringing a bell?”

“Twice doesn’t make a type. If that were the case, you’d have a thing for redheads.”

“At least I know when to admit my flaws.”

“I have flaws. I hear about them all the time from my mom.”

Robin laughed. “She’d be so upset if she knew how totally not smooth you are.”

He glanced at the clock. “Don’t you have somewhere to be? It’s a school night. You have a bedtime.”

Headlights flashed in the parking lot. “One, it’s a curfew, and two, there’s my ride.” She slung her bag over her shoulder and sauntered to the door. “Seven a.m. sharp, dingus!” she called as she left.

“Loser!” he yelled after her. Steve shook his head. He’d be there, obviously.

The rest of his shift dragged. He was certain the store was losing money staying open this late on a Wednesday, but he got paid to be there, so it was whatever.

Thirty minutes left on the clock. Then twenty-nine.

After what seemed like days, a quarter to ten rolled around, and he started to close up the store. He was sweeping when the door chimed. “Welcome to Family Video,” he said without looking up, “let me know if you need anything.”

“A place to hide would be wonderful.” He looked up to find Eddie Munson approaching the counter, curls mussed and breathing hard.

Damn it, Robin was right.

“Okay, but we close in five minutes.”

“Something’s better than nothing,” he replied, hopping over the counter.

Steve abandoned his broom. Keith could whine at him tomorrow if he really cared about three whole crumbs on the floor. He walked back to find Eddie curled into a ball, tucked tightly in the corner between the overstock candy and the safe. “Who are you running from, anyway?”

“The cops.”

He blinked. “The cops?”

“Fine, one cop. But this new deputy’s a huge dick. He’s been trying to bust me over nothing all summer, and I really, really don’t want to get arrested tonight.”

“I highly doubt it’s nothing.”

“He saw me talking to Rick one time!”

“The drug dealer?”

Eddie shushed him, one long finger over his lips. “Grandma says it’s not polite to call him that.” That got a laugh out of Steve. “I met your children yesterday. They’re assholes.”

He sighed. “They’re my assholes, though. Are they adjusting alright?”

“About as well as any freshmen.”

“So, terribly.”

“Pretty much.” He attempted a dramatic flourish, only managing to knock over a box of Twix. “I’ll be a gracious super-senior and radicalize them before I hand over custody for the weekend.”

“Oh, good. I’d hate for them to learn nothing at school.”

He was basking in Eddie’s chuckle, a warm, pretty sound, when a car came to a stop outside. His face fell. “Stay here,” he ordered and spared a glance at the clock.

9:58. Close enough.

He stepped out from behind the counter and met the officer at the door. “I’m sorry, sir, but we’re closed.”

“I’m looking for someone, actually. Eddie Munson. Do you know him?”

“Only in passing. He’s not here. We actually haven't had a customer in the last hour.”

The officer fixed him with a harsh look. “You’re sure?”

“I’d pull the report, but I’ve already shut down the terminals, and they take forever to boot back up.”

He huffed. “How much longer are you here for?”

“Maybe fifteen minutes? I’ve just got to finish rewinding this tape.”

“If you see him, give us a call.”

“Absolutely. Have a good night.” The officer nodded sharply and turned on his heel. Steve locked the door behind him.

The air hung tense as he returned to the counter. Eddie sat as still as stone until the car finally pulled out and started down the road. “You’re okay now.”

He unfolded himself and stood. “You’re beautiful.”

Steve stopped dead in his tracks. “What?”

He flushed bright red. “You do that well!” he said quickly. “You know, lie.”

“Oh! Thanks. Lots of practice, I suppose.” He could feel his heart fluttering. Eddie called him beautiful? What the hell was happening?

“Well, I guess I should get going.”

“We can leave through the back.” He gave the store a last glance before leading Eddie out.

Eddie paused once they were in the cool night air. “Seriously, thank you. My knight in shining armor.”

“No problem. Just paying you back.” The silence hung for a beat too long. “I can walk you to your car?”

“I’ve just gotta cut through the fence row and I’ll be good. Thanks, though.”

Steve could barely make it out in the shadows, but he could see Eddie debating something with himself. He locked the door behind them, giving him time to come to a decision.

When he turned back, Eddie pressed a soft, chaste kiss to his lips.

Every semblance of a thought left his brain. Steve decided, there and then, that he liked kissing boys. He especially liked kissing Eddie. He’d never had the whole fireworks experience before, but he got it now. It felt like his head was swimming, mesmerized by chapped lips and tobacco.

Too soon, Eddie pulled back. “Was… was that okay?”

All he could do was nod.

“Good.” He started for the trees.

“See you later?” Steve called feebly. God, he wanted to.

Bathed in the orange of the streetlight, Eddie gave him a salute. “You know where to find me.” Before he could think again, he was alone.

Robin was going to be pissed.

#steddie #isemilyreal on ao3 #steve harrington #eddie munson #they're stupid they're gay and i love them

179 notes · View notes

angie-likes-to-art · 2 years ago

Text

Fic Recs (Stranger Things Edition)

Hey babesss!! Turns out I’m alivee and I’m slowly but surely working on chapter 4 of Teaching to Love Again (previously currently untitled single dad! bucky series) as well as some other one shots but if anyone has any requests, id love to see them!! I wanted to share my favorite series/ one shots while I work on my own, please show some love to these amazing writers! These are in order of how recently I read them, not in favorite order. Did I watch the most resent seasons of Stranger Things? No Do I have severe brain rot? Yes. Definitely. Absolutely.

Marvel Fic Recs One Two Three Harry Potter Fic Recs One Two

Never Kissed by @forourmoons

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “eddies first date with you doesn't go how he'd planned and he hadn't even expected a kiss. still, you kiss him because you want to. ”

Where in the Hell Did You Find That by @laheymaze

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “you and eddie have secretly been hooking up and of course, dustin and steve get suspicious that you are hiding something and completely invade your privacy to reveal your secret <3”

The Price of a Kiss by @spiderrrling

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “You start threading Eddie little nick knacks for kisses”

Hot for Teacher by @handful0fteeth (18+ Only)

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader Summary: “you’re going on your first date with steve harrington, and hours before he’s due to pick you up your best friend gives you some rather unsavory information.”

What Do You Recommend? by @faeology

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader Summary: “after weeks of visiting the video store in the hopes of catching steve’s attention, it turns out that your efforts aren’t entirely in vain”

Something Extra by @luveline (18+ Only)

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “You're having trouble sleeping and pot seems like the only solution. Good thing your dealer, Eddie Munson, knows of another method that he's willing to to teach you. You get more than you bargained for when he tells you what he gets off to every night - you.”

Sex, Drugs, Etc by @wwinterwitch (18+ Only)

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “just steve, eddie and reader having a threesome after smoking together. that's it”

Luck by @tiannasfanfic

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader x Steve Harrington Summary: “After a wild night out at The Hideout, Eddie Munson wakes up in bed with some unexpected company and no memory of what happened.”

i'll put us back together at heart by @sanguineterrain

Pairing: ex-best friend!Steve Harrington x Reader Summary: “It's 1987. You haven't spoken to Steve Harrington in nearly five years. Then Dustin Henderson tells you about a sweet deal he has at Family Video, where he can rent any video he wants.”

Set It Up by @folkloreslovechild

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader Summary: “Steve’s totally cool with setting Robin up with his ex-girlfriend, Nance. Robin feels guilty — he has to still have some feelings for her, she insists; she doesn’t want to jeopardise this. That’s where you come in.”

Don’t Stand So Close To Me (Series, On Going) by @word-wytch (18+ Only)

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Teacher!Reader Summary: “Forced to move back home to Hawkins after your fiancé cheats on you, you begin to fall in love again with an audacious 20 year old metalhead, only there’s one problem — he’s still in high school and you’re his English teacher. As you explore the complexity of forbidden love, what will your desire teach you?”

Tying Your Heart to Mine by @msgorillagripcoochie

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Cheerleader!Reader Summary: “eddie is tired of hiding your relationship so he does the only gentleman thing and ties your shoes…in front of everyone.”

“I think I’m in love.” by @rainylana

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “you’re new at hawkins high, and the hellfire club practically kneel at your feet. ”

if you'd taken an arrow (and run it right through me) by @iliaclwrites

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Cheerleader!Reader Summary: “five times you and Eddie pretended not to know each other + one time you didn’t.”

Out Loud by @iheartyouyou

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Summary: “When you and Robin pass notes in class about Eddie Munson, the teacher calls you both out for it, confiscating the notes. To make matters worse, she reads the notes out loud catching the attention of the very special freak. ”

289 notes · View notes

ladykailitha · 2 years ago

Text

We Love Steve Part 3

Holy shit. Since putting up this story I have gotten 21 new followers and only two were porn blogs. I woke up this morning to 7 new followers and 86 new notes. It really means a lot to me. So thank you. Thank you soo much. Here we go, the last part. Part 1 Part 2

“Halloween?” Max asked, incredulous. “No way.”

Dustin shook his head. “I guess it makes sense. I always assumed him being down was because of the Upside Down ruining the day for a lot of us. Kinda hard to want spooky when you’ve been fucking terrified.”

Everyone nodded.

“Halloween is on a Saturday this year,” Mike said. “So it’s perfect.”

“With it being Halloween how hard do we want to lean into the theme?” Erica asked.

“I say we go hard,” Jeff suggested and everyone turned to look at him in shock. He shrugged. “If your parents wouldn’t celebrate your birthday because it’s ‘inappropriate’ then if that were me I’d lean into as hard as I could. Costumes, punch, spooky decorations, themed food, the whole kit and caboodle.”

Eddie nodded. “And if he wants to lean hard in the opposite direction next year, we can do it that way.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s get started on planning the biggest birthday bash Steve Harrington has ever seen.”

And suddenly they were talking over top of each other.

Eddie sat back and grinned.

Steve knocked on the door and was surprised when Mrs Wheeler opened the door. “Hey, I’m just here to pick up Dustin and Mike.”

“I think they’re still wrapping up,” she said kindly. “Eddie told me to tell you to go on downstairs to wait.”

“I can wait in the car,” he said, thumbing at the beemer behind him.

“Eddie said you’d say that,” she said with a smile. “He said and I quote ‘if he puts up any resistance to you use force if necessary’. Do I have to use force, Steve?”

Steve blushed and shook his head. “No, Mrs Wheeler.”

The stairs that led to the basement were covered in black and red crape paper streamers and Steve had to push them out of the way to walk down the steps.

There was spooky sounds coming from a boombox nearby, presumably for whatever Halloween related campaign stuff Eddie had planned for them tonight.

But the lights shouldn’t still be off if they were wrapping up.

And then the lights came on and he was being shouted at. It took him a moment to realize that they were saying Happy Birthday.

And everyone there. Joyce and Hopper, Claudia Henderson, all his friends, his kids, and Eddie beaming up at him from the corner.

He didn’t even heard Mrs Wheeler come down behind him.

“Happy birthday Steve,” she said patting his shoulder.

He could only nod.

Eddie took pity on him and took his hand to lead him to Eddie’s usual chair. The throne. He pushed Steve onto it and set and black and red skull crown on his head.

“For the birthday boy,” he said and Steve laughed.

“Finally a King Steve everyone can like,” Mike said from the back.

Steve blushed.

Everyone was dressed in costumes and had presents in their hands. All for him.

“But I’m not dressed up,” he murmured to Eddie who was dressed as a dark-haired Goblin King from Labyrinth.

“Don’t worry I have just the thing,” Eddie whispered back. He handed him a bag. “It’s my present to you.”

Steve opened the bag and inside was a bomber jacket with a white scarf and aviator sunglasses.

“Maverick from Top Gun?” he guessed, wide-eyed. Eddie nodded. He leaped up and kissed Eddie firmly on the mouth.

Everyone cheered.

Eddie shoved his hair in his mouth like he always does and instantly regretted it, with all the hair spray Nancy had put in it to make it stay.

Steve put on the things Eddie gave him and Argyle immediately put a slice of pizza in his hand. And Robin gave him a drink. It was green and bubbling and it had what looked like a floating eyeball in it.

“It’s just a hard candy painted to look like an eyeball,” she whispered.

Steve laughed and downed it with one gulp. It was good.

He chomped on the pizza knowing that if Argyle made it was going to be good and it was.

He just was having so much fun. He couldn’t remember the last time he got to be himself and let go.

He could count on everyone else to look out for him for a change. And he knew exactly who to thank for all of this.

So about halfway through the night, Steve sidled up to his boyfriend and whispered, “Thank you, baby.”

Eddie blushed. “I just wanted to show you that these people love you, Stevie. I brought it to Hellfire and suddenly everyone wanted to be involved. You’ve done so much for everyone here, they just wanted to give back.”

“So why the surprise party?” Steve asked.

Eddie took his face in his hands. “Because you would have tried to help and it would have hurt you if we told no. Because for some messed up reason I can’t fathom, you think you have to be useful to be loved. But look around you, sweetheart, they did all this for you.”

Steve nodded, grateful for the sunglasses so no one would see his teary eyes.

The cake was amazing and the presents were heartfelt and as everyone slowly trickled out to go home, they all stopped by to tell Steve how much they cared, how he meant to them, how much they loved him.

When everyone was gone and even the Wheelers had gone to bed, Steve was standing in the driveway leaning against the driver’s side of his car, his fists full of Eddie’s jacket, keeping his boyfriend flush against him.

“You are amazing,” he murmured, brushing his nose along Eddie’s.

“No, darlin’,” Eddie said after kissing him senseless, “you are. That was the entire point of tonight.”

“I’ve never had a fan club before,” Steve giggled.

“Well you do now,” Eddie teased back. “The ‘We Love Steve’ fan club and I’m its president.”

Steve smiled. “Good. Because there is no one better for the job.”

Eddie just smiled. Because yeah, it might be a joke, but the truth was, everyone loved Steve because he loved first, loved hardest, and loved longest.

And that was one hell of a thing. Even more so for the boy who thought he was a freak and an outcast. That no one outside of his uncle could love.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too, baby.”

Tagging as requested @thequeenrainacorn @darkwitchoferie @bejeweledbaby

Part 1 Part 2

#My writing #stranger things #steddie #steve harrington appreciation #steve's birthday #ladykailtiha writes

332 notes · View notes

hairstevington · 2 years ago

Text

mysterious ways (Steddie Week 2023)

Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Hello all! I am participating in Steddie week this year, and I am doing a seven part series reflecting each of the seven prompts. Thank you @steddie-week for the challenge! I will only have this first part on Tumblr, but will post the next six chapters each day on Ao3, so follow along over there if you're into it! :)

Summary: Steve feels lonely after the earthquake. Somewhere deep in the Upside Down, new life is born. (Prompts: Hunger - Pining - Somebody to Love by Queen)

WC: 1.4K (each part is going to be pretty short I think)

Warnings: Kas!Eddie/Steve, canon universe post-season 4, pining, angst, a bit darker than my usual fare but not by much, PS this fic will have a happy ending because all my fics do lol

A/N: I wasn't planning on doing Steddie week because I'm going through a bit of a tough time right now but I randomly felt inspired today, so I'm giving it a go. Shout out to @skjachukson for requesting Kas Eddie, I have a feeling I'll be writing him more after this lmao

Sometimes, when things are at their worst, Steve can shrug and say, “hey - it’s not the end of the world.”

Of course, in Hawkins, it often is the end of the world. So now, Steve has no idea what to tell himself.

His hometown, which - let’s be real - was never that glamorous, is now in shambles. After the “earthquake,” almost everyone fled, which was valid. The ones who stayed were mainly those who’d been directly involved, or those who have nowhere else to go. Many people lost everything, and Steve tries to give back where he can - they all do - but a lot of the time he’s just sad.

His hometown was split in four, and all of his friends are in love.

Steve feels so dumb for even caring, but he does. All he ever wanted was to be loved, really, and he’s gotten the short end of the stick the last few years. He used to feel on top of the world, and now he’s - well, he had been in the Upside Down, which was probably as close as he could get to the literal opposite of the top of the world.

His friends found happiness where they could - mostly through crushes and girlfriends and boyfriends. Steve doesn’t have any of that right now. He doesn’t even know where to look. Everything around him is sad.

Robin and Vickie had bonded over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, of all things. Since then, she’s been volunteering every chance she can with Vickie. Steve joins too, sometimes, but he feels very much like a third wheel.

Some random dude with incredible hair and an even more incredible name (seriously, who names their kid Argyle?) showed up with Mike, Will, El, and Jonathan in a pizza van. A day later, the guy decided to drive back to Utah to visit his one true love or something. A woman with an equally badass name - Eden.

Steve wasn’t surprised when Dustin wanted to join, because apparently Eden lives with Suzie. Still, Steve was baffled by the whole thing. Usually, some sort of alarm would go off in his head about his surrogate little brother going on a road trip with a stoner, but Argyle seemed nice enough.

Although, he did unironically use the word “brochacho,” and Steve didn’t really know how he felt about that.

Steve knew Dustin was taking - uh, things - super hard, and so Steve encouraged any sort of break for the guy. Visiting Suzie seemed like the perfect way for Dustin to decompress, especially after what happened.

So, Dustin took off. Robin’s busy. Steve is too mortified to even look at Nancy after he’d basically professed his love for her and she brutally rejected him and stayed with Jonathan. Lucas spends all of his time with Max. El and Mike are inseparable.

That leaves Will. Steve doesn’t know Will that well, but he’s so lonely he doesn’t care if he comes off desperate or weird or whatever.

Steve shows up at the Byers’ residence one Saturday morning, looking like a total dork. Hopper answers the door, even though Steve would have far preferred Joyce. She’s less, uhhh -

“Steve?” Hopper asks, gruffly. “What are you doing here?”

“I, um - I’m looking for -”

“Is that Steve?” a familiar voice calls from the living room.

Ah, shit.

“Hey, uh, Nancy,” Steve says, giving a small wave.

“Is something wrong?” she asks, joining Hopper at the door.

“No, I -” Steve sighs. He’s mortified to even be in this situation. It was such a stupid plan in the first place. “I’m looking for Will. Is Will here?”

“Umm, yeah,” Nancy responds, retreating back into the house to presumably get her boyfriend’s little brother.

“What do you need Will for?” Hopper asks, suspiciously.

“Jeez, relax, Sheriff,” Steve replies. “I just wanted to talk to him. I’m the babysitter, remember?”

This explanation seems good enough for Hopper, even though Steve hasn’t really interacted with Will much prior to this. Not directly, anyway. He’d let the kids in to see movies for free back when he worked at Scoops, but that was it.

After a full thirty seconds of awkward, painful silence, Will comes to the door.

“Hey, kid,” Steve says. Hopper and the others had thankfully walked away to give them some privacy. “Do you - do you want to go to the music store with me?”

Will stares at him blankly for a moment, then shouts to the others behind him.

“Mom! I’ll be back later!”

Steve smiles, triumphantly.

“Okay, have fun!” Joyce’s voice rings from somewhere in the house. “Be home by 5 for dinner!”

“You got it, Mrs. Byers!” Steve yells into the void. “Okay, let’s go.”

Will hurriedly walks out of the house and shuts the door behind him, then sighs in relief.

“Thank god you’re here,” he says. “All the couples are driving me crazy.” Steve chuckles.

“You and me both.”

Will turns out to be excellent company. He has good taste in music, and he’s funny. A little nerdy, like Dustin, but much quieter about it. They get along great, and end up spending a few hours together.

“My brother said he’d be there for me, and now he’s back to spending all his time with Nancy,” Will complains.

“Yeah, well Nancy broke my heart into a million pieces, so,” Steve replies.

Then, they riff on how annoying Jonathan and Nancy’s relationship is for a while. They aren’t saying anything out of genuine dislike for either party, but it’s still some much needed venting. Steve listens to Will talk about Mike and El, and that’s when he picks up on some things in between the lines.

Maybe having a gay best friend makes him better at detecting that sort of thing.

They pick out a bunch of music and listen to it as they drive around for a while. They both are big fans of Queen, so they blast that first. They get a little too into singing along to Somebody to Love, but neither of them poke fun at the other for it. As much as Steve and Dustin tease each other, and as much as he complains about being the babysitter, Steve loves these kids with all his heart. All of them, even the ones he doesn’t know as well, like Will. He would do anything to protect them. He’d done quite a bit already.

He drops Will off before dinner as promised, then heads home. It’s only after he passes by Forest Hills that he starts to think about Things again. The Things that he tries to suppress. The Things that bubble beneath the surface at any given moment.

The Things that led up to the Earthquake. He isn’t ready to think about them. Not yet, maybe not ever.

So yes, it’s far easier to reach out to other people who understand, and to cling to them as long as he can. And then he goes home, and instead of letting his mind drift to those dark places, he starts singing Queen under his breath.

It’s stupid. It won't fix anything. But still, the need is there.

All he wants is somebody to love.

Hawkins has begun to crack open, and soon what lay beneath will rise.

It’s a dark place - somewhere that’s always on the verge of a storm. The energy in the air is thick with dread and impending doom. The creatures that live there are something that people may cast off as fictional, because their eyes aren’t open yet to how terrifying and big the world really is.

Monsters, of all kinds. Some who had once been human, some who prey on humanity. Evil forces that keep kids awake at night. Forces that their parents insist are in their imagination.

How foolish to think an imagination could be so vivid. Then again, perhaps imagination is what created this place to begin with. It could also be what sustains it.

A flash of lightning. Bats scattering.

There’s a body somewhere in the fog, going through a transformation. Wings, teeth, and hunger. It takes several days for the body to resemble its altered form - one of strength, intimidation, and a deeply-rooted instinct for evil.

Once complete, the body gasps in its new life. The soul of a tortured boy once occupied this space, but now there’s something else within him too - something ancient.

Eddie Munson’s glowing eyes snap open.

He’s starving.

----------------------------

@paintballkid711 @abraca-fxckyou @allbimyself26 @jellybabiesforall @allbymyselfexceptformycactus @justaloadofgarbage-blog @alliemunsonsstuff @undreamingnscatworld @hobbitnarwhal @calivanus @wreckmyplans-thatsmyman @antheia @goodolefashionedloverboi @lillemilly @missmagillicuddy @steviesbicrisis @gamerdano @menamesniall eyeslikewildflowers111 @callmesirkay @stringischeese @eds-trashmouth @mnl-enuh @redfreckledwolf @itsanarrum @soulsofstarsliveinyourveins @gregre369 @stevesbipanic @momotonescreaming @aryakanojiaa @wrenisflying @comicmadlover @lilacrobin @itch-my-b0nez @anonymousbandgirl @disastardly @dangdirtydemons @daisyellsong @val-from-lawrence @starryeyedpoet17 @taikawaiteatea @clumsiluni @hollysimone @swimmingbirdrunningrock @witchofhawkins @steddiegarbage @suddenlyinlove @ricekristytreaty @eddielives1986

#steddieweek2023 #steddie #steddie fic #kas!eddie #writing #eddie munson #steve harrington

95 notes · View notes

bigfootsboytoy · 2 years ago

Text

Eddie and Steve didn't know each other well before the upside down threw them together. They didn't interact at school, and they wouldn't have considered each other friends in any real capacity. But there was one night. One night where Eddie found Steve curled up in the bathroom at a party, drunk and miserable, mumbling about how he wishes somebody could love him just a little bit.

Eddie had taken him home, not willing to let Steve try and walk or, God forbid, drive when he was so wasted. He talked, joked, anything he could do to lift the sad former kings spirits even a little bit. It seemed to work a little bit. Steve didn't look like he was on the verge of tears anymore, at least. He got Steve to his room, helped get him out of his jeans, and his shirt. He rummaged through the other boys' drawers and closet until he found a nice soft sweater, and he pulled it over Steve's head. He didn't say much. Just gave Eddie a nod as he got tucked into bed. Eddie was about to leave, to go home and shake off the bizarre turn his night had taken, when Steve actually spoke up for the first time since he had stepped into his house.

"Hey Munson...you're in a band, right?"

"Yeah, sure am Steve."

"Can you sing?"

"A little bit."

"Sing me something? It's hard to fall asleep when it's so quiet here. Doesn't have to be good, just something nice."

And if Eddie was smart, he would have hummed some Metallica and high-tailed it out of there. But he isn't smart, and he's suddenly reminded of when he first left home and came to live with his Uncle Wayne. How he had nightmares the first few weeks because he was somewhere new and he was scared. Wayne would curl up next to him and hum that dumb little song from the Muppet movie because it was Eddie's favorite.

And Steve just looks so goddamn sad, so Eddie sings.

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side..."

And maybe it's stupid, but Steve gets this sweet smile on his face as he falls asleep, and Eddie can't bring himself to regret it.

Over a year later, Eddie is bleeding in the upside down, doing his best to hang on as Steve Harrington holds him in his arms. He had changed the plan at the last minute, opting to come with Eddie and Dustin, and now here he was cradling Eddie, blood covering his hands. Eddie knows he doesn't have very long left, and it's a shame, really. He would have liked to get to know Steve better. He would have liked to spend more time with Dustin, to hug his uncle one last time, to celebrate saving the world.

"Hey Steve?"

"Don't talk man, you're gonna- fuck you're bleeding so much Eddie."

"It's okay, it's okay-"

"It's not okay! I told you not to do this shit, I told you not to be a hero."

It's quiet for a moment. Eddie swears he feels a tear land on his cheek.

"Remember that time I sang to you?"

Steve sniffles, and Eddie thinks maybe he forgot. He was really drunk. But then-

"Yeah, yeah I remember Eddie."

"Can you-" He coughs and there's blood on his lips now. "Can you sing for me now?"

"Come on don't so this- you're gonna be okay, we're gonna get you out of here, you've gotta hang on man."

"Just wanna hear one more song, please Stevie?"

A choked sob breaks through the quiet of the upside down, and then Steve starts to sing. His voice is shaking, and he has to choke out the lines when the tears come too strong. Eddie wishes he wasn't crying, wishes he could comfort Steve somehow, but he doesn't have the strength for words anymore.

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows..."

He sings softly, and his voice is choked with tears, but Eddie is sure it's the prettiest sing he's ever heard. He lets it fill his ears as thinks about all the people he's going to miss, the things he won't get the chance to do. It's a little easier with Steve's voice in his ears.

"The lovers, the dreamers and me..."

And Eddie let's his eyes slip shut.

#eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie #stranger things #stranger things 4 #ficlet #angst #hurt no comfort #saddest shit ive ever written #before you yell at me #just know Im mad too #i didnt want to think about this #but i was listening to rainbow connection and it just kind of happened #tw: character death

68 notes · View notes

sabbathbloodysabbeth · 1 year ago

Text

Bark At The Moon

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | you are here | coming soon

Tw; brief mentions of blood but nothing in detail (also contains Billy, but he is a asshole in this but only plays a minor role, I just really really wanted Steve to put him in his place)

Words of this part: 10k

Words total with fic: 40k

Tags; #wolf! Steve Harrington #EddieMunson has a great relationship with his uncle #MonsterAu #Steve goes disappearing like Will does in season one but instead he turns into a wolf

Part: 4/9 (5 and 6 will be up soon)

Summary; Hawkins, Indiana is thrown into a panic when High-school prince, Steve Harrington goes missing. With no trace of what happened to him and no hope that he'll ever be found, he suddenly reappears naked in a snow bank. One Eddie Munson may or may not be curious as to what happened all while trying to figure out what is wrong with the white female wolf near his trailer, who by the way saved his life. Now Eddie wasn't much for gossip, nor was he a fan of trains. What he was very into though was conspiracies. Was JFK really assassinated? Or was the CIA trying to cover up their asses for the Bay of Pigs situation? Questions like those intrigued him in ways that thousand-piece puzzles didn't. As conspiracies could be interpreted in any way you wanted them to, unlike puzzles that were made to create only one understanding and one understanding only. The process of getting to the finished product always the same for each puzzle. Which is how he found himself infatuated with the disappearance of one senior high king, who now would be a super senior high king. Forced to repeat the year that he had missed, along with Eddie who had been there the entire year but just flunked all of his classes.

Note; Hey, so with everything happening with ao3 I decided to make sure that my fic would be easier to read on here instead of being lost in all of my posts. So if you are looking for a steddie fanfic in these dire times I have part 1-3 linked to this post. This part is part 4 which I never posted because I didn’t think of doing it. I was also planning on doing a surprise double update with 5 and 6 but as ao3 is down I’m going to finish them and post them on here as well. Most likely before ao3. The parts are not short, 10k words each. They were made for Ao3 specifically but with the circumstances I didn’t think anyone would really mind. As a writer I’m currently very anxious about receiving the small list of comments that were left on this fic over on Ao3 so as a writer to a reader (you don’t have to for me) go and leave long ass comments on everything a author gives you. It would mean the world to them.

Also the other parts are not organized in the same set up as this one. So you will probably have to come back to this one to get to the other parts. Sorry.

Plant your feet; November 2022

Steve's feet slip from underneath him, the loud squeak of the rubber part of his shoe sliding on the gym floor catching everyone's attention. His footing is lost as his right foot slips further ahead than the other causing him to lose balance. He proceeds to then fall on his ass, he's not embarrassed. It happens. Not like there weren't accidents in basketball. Quite the opposite really. The number of times a kid took a basketball to the face was far more than what Steve could count on one hand.

What was embarrassing was the fact that he fell because of a new kid. Hawkins Highs star athlete fell on his ass over a new kid, who could barely dribble the ball between two hands. The same guy whose greasy curls fell past his shoulders and stuck to his forehead as he held the most obnoxious grin known to man. Licking his lips in a way that was way too much, and maybe a tad suggestive. Steve's heart was racing, anxiety going through him. His representation would be absolutely fucked if he let Billy Hargrove one-up him in basketball as well. Already beating his record at the keg during a party the other night. That he didn't care about, he wasn't getting a scholarship for being able to drink so much beer in one sitting.

He's still frozen to the ground, sweat pooling through his shirt as his breathing stays heavy. He was a bit lightheaded, but he assumes that was from dehydration. Sometimes he couldn't keep up with the amount of water his body needed. Though he isn't completely sure he could rack up all of his symptoms under being dehydrated. It was that time of year again which meant he was going to be coming down with something any day now. Normally the flu hit him a couple of days after Thanksgiving, but this year it didn't seem to be all that forgiving.

There was a dull sore ache in his body, a slight pinch of pain whenever he tried moving his joints. That was probably one of the reasons why he didn't plant his feet well enough when Hargrove came out of nowhere jabbing his ribcage with a dirty hook from his elbow, nearly knocking the wind out of Steve and causing him to lose balance. Making the dirty play more obvious as Billy nearly fell on top of him in the process.

Steve moves sitting up a little with a wince, fighting back the urge to stand back up and start swinging at the culprit who did this. The small ache that had been dull, was now blooming into something far worst. The reason behind the permanent scowl aimed towards Billy, who was currently taking it upon himself to bend down to take his hand and pull him to his feet. "Think you need to learn how to plant your feet, King Steve." He hisses in the most obnoxious tone ever. God, Steve really should have started to swing right then and there. It would bite him in the ass later but at least he would feel better knowing he wiped that cocky smirk off his face.

Steve rolls his eyes in response. Gaining balance as he hears the school bell ringing. His eyes never move away from the other guy as he taunts him, afraid that if he even flickered his eyes from the other, he would only shove him back down on the ground. This is why he stays frozen in his spot watching the other take a step back, still looking Steve up and down like he was the unpredictable one in this situation. The guy was confusing the hell out of Steve. He's never dealt with a guy who's acted like Billy Hargrove. Who constantly held a condescending tone, a flirtatious look, and judging eyes all at once. It was a very confusing combo, normally Steve could read people but that was not the case here.

Steve runs a hand through his hair, feeling his shoulders more tense than normal. He was probably going to have to spend longer in the shower in hopes of the hot water to loosen up some of the knots that stuck themselves to his muscles. Similar to Billy, who has decided to stick himself on Steve's ass like a leech for everything. He wonders if the stress that he has been feeling so much more lately was causing him to feel like shit. With schoolwork, his job, and the anxiety about what Billy Hargrove was going to do he just couldn't catch a break.

Billy was everywhere he went, not giving him a moment's peace. Not even in the showers, where Steve finds himself now. Feeling as if a daze washed itself over him in the gym turning his brain into autopilot and walking him into the locker room and all the way into the next room. Where only a select few were allowed in. He really should be on high alert instead he is naked, sweaty, and focused on not passing out.

The wave of dizziness came out of nowhere. Which was odd. Steve has randomly come down with many things, but not once has he ever felt like this. His stomach was acting like a Ferris wheel, constantly going around and around on repeat. He even drank almost an entire bottle of water before stepping into the shower room, he doesn't understand why he's feeling this way. This was not dehydration.

He has a slight sway to his walk, moving his way to the back of the room to the furthest shower that was hidden mostly. Doing this as he knew the other guys would avoid him, not wanting to piss off their captain. Sighing, he lets his body relax a bit as he realizes that he is finally alone for the first time that day. Rubbing his face, trying to wipe the stress away as he moves forward turning the nozzle on cold, unsure if more heat would help the light headiness.

He doesn't even realize how warm his skin was until he compares it to the cold water, one hand on his shoulder as he tilts his head back in relief. His skin was scolding hot, he wonders if he was running a fever. He would have to check and see when he went home. Not wanting to stay any longer than he had to in this stupid school.

His breathing picks up again, moving his hands onto the wall in front of him to get a better balance. Little stalls next to him on both sides, only covering the bottom half of his body. Shaking his head, a little, and wiping his face he hears footsteps coming in his direction. Then the shower to his right turned on. Glancing over annoyed Steve isn't shocked that Billy Hargrove is staring right back at him with a taunting smirk. "What? Can a guy not shower Harrington?" He tries to sound sarcastic but only comes off as mildly amused. He really doesn't understand what the other was trying to get at, or even what his goal was.

Steve shakes his head with a grumble, "Whatever man." He huffs not wanting to start a fight that he was unable to win. Moving his hands up he begins to play with his hair a bit. Rubbing against the back of his neck as he focuses on cooling down and gaining some control over his body temperature. Proceeding to then reach over to where he had sat his soap. Grabbing his bottle of shampoo and pouring it into his hair. Beginning to scratch at his scalp, determined in getting the sweat out of his hair along with getting the hell out of there as fast as possible.

He was going to take his time in the shower, but his plans had obviously fallen short with the presence of another boy. Who was constantly making some form of noise, whistling a tune loudly, making some form of a comment here and there, and even at some point the guy decides to be an ass a reach over when Steve had soap in his hair unable to see, and shuts his shower off.

Steve's normally a levelheaded person. He really is. But this was pissing him off. He doesn't mean to let it show, but he was starting to feel off, and caring about how he was coming off was his last concern. His hand fly's out and he's turning the nozzle back on, nearly snapping the handle off in the process with brute strength he didn't even know he had.

He could feel how looser it was now, as his agitation starts to Rince from his body, teeth unclenching as he quickly rinses soap from his eyes so he could inspect the damage. He opens his eyes quickly only to close them again when he sees that his vision was spinning causing him to press his palm against the shower wall. His ears were starting to ring a bit, breathing picking up as he focuses on not falling. His heart was racing as he was overwhelmed with nausea.

"Knew you had it in you Harrington. Seems like the king isn't as perfect as he seems." Steve doesn't look over at him. Afraid that if he turned his head he was going to throw up. It was only his luck to get sick on Thanksgiving break. The shower next to him stops, and he can hear Hargrove moving around. Grabbing a towel, and laughing a little as he does. Before he's walking out of the area. Most likely with no towel wrapped around his waist, only in his hair. The guy seemed like one of those guys who wants everyone in the locker room to know he has a big dick.

Steve's heart is racing, and he can feel his hands starting to shake as he finally feels how cold the water really was. Must have been some weird heat flash. He turns his own shower head off, moving and drying off as he moves off to one of the benches. Where he set his bag of clothes. Most of the guys did this, but others also left their stuff in the locker room. Not trusting the other teammates not to steal their clothes. But everyone knew better than to steal Steve's clothes. Only one who didn't have just walked out of the room, and thankfully didn't decide to be a huger dick and steal his clothes.

Twenty minutes later as Steve's parked outside of his big house. It was ugly as fuck, but he had no say. Even though he lived in it more than his parents, who decided how the house was to look. He's a bit light-headed and has to take a moment in his seat to catch his breath. Even though all he did was drive, which possibly might have been a mistake with the way his vision kept blurring randomly, head pounding as he could feel sweat forming above his brow. He was overheated, must be another hot flash. He's never had many of them, except that one time he had food poisoning. Which was why he was confused as to why he was getting them now. This didn't feel like food poisoning. It was worst.

He glances out of his side window, catching sight of his neighbor who was currently watering plants. It felt like something from a movie. But then again no one around this neighborhood was original when it came to being nosey. Grunting, he feels that wave of agitation goes through him again. Like earlier. He grips his steering wheel, for a second wishing that he didn't have eyes on him constantly. His body relaxes after a second, his hands loosen around the wheel. He puts his best smile on and lifts his left hand up and awkwardly waves at Debra. (Of course, it's a fucking Debra, like their decorating skills no one in this neighborhood had original names)

He moves stepping out of the car, legs feeling shaky as he turns shutting his door and locking it behind him. Glancing at the driver's wheel for a second and mumbling a few curse words under his breath when he notices he clawed up the fabric cover. That was definitely going to be a problem for another day as he starts walking up the pathway, to his door. Debra, of course, decides she wants to get his attention when he's one step in the house and one step out. He felt like shit and just wanted to go in and curl up in a ball in his bed.

"Hey Steve, everything okay?" Her tone is sweet, but her voice is way too high as if she was talking to a five-year-old. It felt patronizing and if Steve didn't know he would get his ass chewed out he would snap at her. Tell her to shove the tiny shovel in her hand up her ass. No one was gardening in November, she had only decided to gather up that ruse after Steve had spent longer than five minutes in his car. Which wasn't normal for him in the slightest. Steve tenses up a bit, putting on his best fake smile. Flashing his teeth, knowing that normally did the trick. It was the same trick he learned from his Dad growing up.

"Yeah, just not feeling well." He yells back. The amount of energy it took just to do that nearly knocked him over. Causing him to lean against the doorframe as he could feel his heart beginning to race more in his chest. Vision tunneling a little, going black around the edges. He felt as if the blood was draining from his face, when in reality there was not one cold part of his body. The heat was leaving him in waves, and he was going to have to pull out his AC just for tonight. Something he had put in the box and carried into the basement just at the end of last month.

"Oh? Do you need anything dear? Me and the girls can bring some soup over? It's that time of year again." She smiles tightly. Though Steve was seeing through her. She would set the dish of soup on his porch, ring the doorbell and spring back to the safety of her yard. Not wanting to catch anything with it being so close to Thanksgiving. Which was only a few days away now.

Sure he didn't blame her, but her condescending smile was what really pissed him off. He shakes his head no, hiding his irritation the best he can as he puts the same smile on. Copying the expression of the other on purpose. Watching the same flicker of irritation flash through her eyes. "No, I'm fine. I can make myself something to eat, thank you." Steve says a little too tightly. Quickly walking in the rest of the way before she could keep him any longer, he's confident that if he had stood on that doorstep any longer he genuinely would have passed out. He nearly falls on his face, stumbling forward as he drops his keys in the small bowl on an equally small desk. Leaning his weight against the wall as he quickly starts to pull his shirt up and above his head. Along with sliding his pants off, groaning as a cold draft hits his skin.

It doesn't last for long, as he quickly bends over and grabs the small pile of clothes off the floor and moves them to toss them down in the basement, where the washer and dryer were. He normally wasn't that lazy, but due to the circumstances, he was unsure whether or not he physically could walk down those stairs without falling down them and breaking his neck. That would be all he needed for his sports career. Then again he would most likely wouldn't be alive to enjoy much of a career.

He closes the door with a click, pausing in his steps as he tries to figure out his next plan of action. Either climb in the freezer, curl up, and hope for the best. Or go upstairs, not push his body any more than what it could take, and sleep it off with a fan blowing on him. This was just a heat flash. That's all it was. Moving and walking up the steps, he gives up on using the railing and pretty much crawls up the stairs. Regaining some balance at the top and walking to his room. Face flipping down on his bed, not even bothering with the fans. All energy was wiped out of him, along with any ounce of motivation he had to keep himself cool.

The panting of his breath never silences down as he quickly drifts to sleep only to sit up with a loud cry a few hours later as his body starts to burn from the inside out. Similar to that of growing pains in a sense. His breathing is still heavy as he turns his head to the left, seeing the moon staring back at him. He rubs his face as he feels tears forming in his eyes. The worst form of pain blossoming and spreading through his veins. Causing him to lurch forward again with a soft sob. Rolling off the bed, slamming into the floor. Trying to grip onto anything as something inside of him takes over.

His limbs are moving without his say so, he felt like he was having a out of body experience as he crawls to his door. Groaning gently, before fighting to stand up. Moving back to the staircase that he had walked up just a few hours prior. Tripping over his feet and landing on his ass halfway down, gritting his teeth even in more pain. His body seemed to be on autopilot, however, it was controlling itself and didn't seem to understand the concept of walking on two feet that well.

Steve blinks as he felt so lightheaded, feeling a little better when the faint light of the night sky dims on his skin. It satisfies whatever itch he's had, as he stumbles dumbly to his back door that leads to the pool. Which has a pool cover over it, to leave it protected from the season that was slowly coming closer and closer. That and the leaves, that were slowly starting to die in piles surrounding the pool.

His hands shakily move on the plastic of the door, opening it with a soft creak, before pulling it shut behind him with a clicking noise. He blinks, eyes adjusting to how dark his surroundings were. Breathing heavily still as his muscles relax, feeling the cold night air hitting him. He tilts his head up, still on autopilot, looking up at the stars with glazed-over eyes. Standing just a few inches away from his house, glancing over at his neighbors instead quickly catching onto the fact that there were no lights on. He doesn't even know what time it was. He moves to check his watch when he feels something snap. Which was strange, and he barely even moved from his spot. His mouth opens up, trying to yell out for help as he falls to his knees.

No sound comes out, as he lands on the palms of his hands. His back burned as he whimpers, the only sound his throat was physically capable of handling. His heart is racing as he feels his jaw locking into place as if something was keeping him silent. The pain is so excruciating that he doesn't notice anything else that happens with his body until a sense of relief hits him. He's exhausted as he comes to. Still feeling off as he pushes himself off the ground. A blissful feeling hits him and once again he's no longer in control.

There was no way to explain what he was feeling. All he knew what that he wasn't alone, and instead of being afraid a calm wave hits him stronger than before. What shocks him more was the fact that he was more excited about not being alone, not afraid that he had little to no control over his body anymore. The only description that could be used for what he was feeling was dissociative. He felt disconnected from himself but knew he was there all the same. He's sure there were better descriptions but for now, he watches through the eyes of the being that he was tagging along with.

Turning his head to the right slightly, he catches his reflection. Wanting to gasp when he sees the most beautiful wolf in front of him. White fur, brown eyes, and a small frame. The creature walks forward, looking at itself curiously. Moved a little too close to the glass and bumped its snout against the glass, causing a soft sneeze-like sound to come out of it. Eyes never break from the glass. It takes longer than it probably should have to realize that the wolf was Steve. And Steve was the Wolf. When the discovery finally dawns on him, he feels more like himself than he's ever been. It was all a strange and crazy feeling, and if the creature would allow him to panic about being a wolf, he would be doing so at that very moment.

Instead, he turns, facing the woods. Silently trying to chant no over and over again at whoever or whatever and fully reign over his body. That same being not listening as they start to run, sprinting into the woods. The wind hits their fur as they race into the woods, the freedom of it all hitting Steve as he relaxes once more. Quickly giving in, he moves into the woods with such happiness he never wants it to end. His emotions were all over the place but that was as expected.

The woods were gorgeous at night Steve quickly discovers. He should come out more when he - if he shifts back to being human. He's never felt like he's given up so much control before in his life and it was addicting, very addicting. He lets whatever that's controlling him keep on doing whatever they wanted, they both seemed more content that way. Even if that choice lands him sniffing in the garbage next to a beat-up trailer. It was disgusting, but he wasn't going to tell his wolf no (who was currently wagging her tail like crazy). He thankfully could drift off and zone out as she digs her snout into the numerous bags searching for something.

A door slams open, and both Steve and the wolf jump frightened. Steve knows he would have still been there, frozen in his place if he currently held the reigns to his body. But thankfully the animals' first instinct was to run, paws kicking up dirt as she does. Entering the safety of the woods within a few seconds. Proceeding to lurk in the shadows, curious as to what scared them Hearing a soft, "Damn Raccoons." Grumbled in their general direction soon after. It was only one of the trailer park residents. (Not shocking, considering the fact that they were indeed in a trailer park at the moment.)

They move to the outskirts of the trees, not wanting to be too far in the opening. Hoping that whoever came out to yell at them would go back inside. They were hungry and Steve's pretty sure that there was a half-eaten pizza in one of those trash cans. He doesn't know how he can smell it from all the way over here, but he wasn't going to let it go to waste. Not with his stomach growling the way it was.

They wait for a bit; Steve is unsure how long he can't really tell the time right now. Mentally cursing when he realizes that he had been wearing his favorite watch when he shifted? Whatever he did to turn into this thing, he tore his watch apart. A fact that he was very not pleased with.

When the wolf thinks they are in the clear, they start to sniff out for that pizza. Nose stuck to the grass like a hound dog as they move to every trash can that they could find. Taking one sniff and quickly moving on to the next when they didn't smell what they were looking for. Steve inwardly groans when he realizes that the pizza was coming from the trash can that the older man had come out from. Well- who he assumed was older. But this fact doesn't stop the wolf from getting back into the can. Hopping up on its back legs and clumsily flipping the trash can lid up and bend halfway into the can.

Teeth biting into cardboard as they pull the pizza out. Getting into it within seconds and having most of the pizza wolved down in half the time. (Steve snorts a little as the pun was very much intended.) He was still hungry, stomach growling to eat something when they both heard something moving to their right. And yes, Steve knew that Wolves ate animals, but he still wasn't fully prepared for the animal to move with lightning speed to clench its jaws tightly around a raccoon's neck. Stifling its screams before it could alert the neighborhood. The taste of blood filled his mouth.

Distractions, September 2023

Steve knew the risks of coming to the trailer park during this time of day. The residents were starting to grow more protective of their park, afraid that if they let a wolf run around more would soon follow. Their thought process wasn't wrong, if Steve wasn't whatever he was he wouldn't want a random Wolf lurking around his home. Afraid that it would eat a pet or be feral to the point of attacking at random. This was why he had stopped coming around nearly as much as he used to. As much as his Wolf needed to check and see if Eddie was okay.

Today though, he finally gave in. That was a lie, he couldn't gain control nearly as fast as he normally could. It was like he was a new shifter all over again. Unable to control anything he was doing, letting the animal take complete control. Which was very risky as the wolf was intelligent, but not people smart. Steve wasn't sure he could fully explain it.

His normally white paws were a light grey, and dark brown from running around the woods for so long. Moving a bit too close to a trailer on his way to see his boy. No, Eddie was not his boy. That was just his Wolf's thoughts leaking into his. The line between their consciousness always blurring. Even when he was in his human form. The animal was so excited to see the other boy that she doesn't pay nearly enough attention to the other people around her. Accidentally bumping into a can, knocking it over.

It was like the guy was waiting for her to show up. Flinging out of his door, as if the trashcan was some form of trap to let him know when she had gotten there. Rifle in his hand, shooting before he could fully process that what was in front of him was not a raccoon. Steve processes the loud bang first, before the excruciating pain in his side that was beginning to grow damp from blood. Dying his fur red.

The switch from the wolf to him happens fast, his first instinct is to run. Like he had done months before when he first encountered the Munson family. Paws moving his body as fast as he could with his injury, Wolf gets excited in the worst moment when she sees Eddie stumbling from his steps. As if he was coming down to check on her. She can't stay as they sprint right by him, brushing against his leg gently. More concerned about not hurting him when she was currently in so much pain.

Steve is in full control when they make it a few inches from the tree line. He nearly pisses himself when he hears another gunshot, the loud snap of the bullet hitting the tree bark close to his body. He wants to stay and make sure that Eddie was okay, but he has to worry about himself. Even if that means running through the woods with blood dripping down his fur, anxiety higher than it has ever been. Knowing that the guy had taken the shot even though Eddie had been so close to the firing range. The thought that the other took a bullet for him was nerve-wracking.

He stumbles into his backyard careful to sneak his way to the back door that leads to the pool. No one should see him, but with the blood lost he isn't thinking clearly. Normally he would stay hidden in the trees, find the bag of clothes that he left out there and change quickly before walking out of the woods as if he only went on a short run. Which was not a complete lie, he did technically go running in the woods.

Instead of doing his normal ritual, he pushes himself through the doggy door that he had installed just the other week. Blood smearing over the side of the doggy door, his paws meet the hardwood floor and start to slip as he falls hard onto the side that was injured. A loud cry leaves him as he does. He hopes that none of his neighbors heard him, or else he was going to have a lot of explaining to do. Something he would much rather avoid when he felt so dizzy and like he was going to throw up.

The shift back was far more difficult than what he would have thought it to be. The mental toll of demanding it to happen causes his brain to go fuzzy from exhaustion. The shift isn't as painful as it once was but the changing of fur to skin was extremely excruciating around the area that was skimmed. His joints were snapping into place as his human hand grip to his side, trying to stop the bleeding. Blood was all over the place, the floor, his hands, and somehow smearing more across his naked body. He blinks, still in the slight daze of transitioning like that as he tries to come back down to earth. To force himself up and to help himself before he bled to death.

He knows that Billy saw him, and watched the whole situation unfold in front of him. It was only a matter of time before he came over to check on him. Not because he wanted to, but because it was a part of being in a pack. Something that Steve was still trying to wrap his head around. They weren't really a pack, just a duo who so happened to be able to shift into wolves. Steves is the Alpha in a way.

He whines in pain as he sits up, tossing his head back as he fights to breathe like a normal person. His chest heaves out and in as he forces himself to stand. Stumbling and nearly falling on his face. He looks down at the floor, knowing he would have to clean the blood up later. For now, he would have to focus on patching himself up.

Steve proceeds to the kitchen, grabbing his first aid kid off the fridge. Placing himself down in a chair before he starts to improv everything that he was doing. He knew that he would heal a lot faster than most humans did but he needed something to clean it up with so that his side didn't grow infected. Ten minutes later he looks a bit paler but at least his side was cleaned and wrapped up with a medical wrap.

He fights to stand up, his head spinning as he tries to keep his balance. Moving his way to his basket of clothes that sat unfolded in front of the basement door. He had no strength in walking up the steps to his room. His hands were shaking just trying to keep a good grip on his shirt as he pulled it over his head. Fighting to step into his boxer shorts without falling, quickly decided he didn't need pants on.

That thought is quickly thrown out the door when he hears his doorbell continuously going off. As if the person was pressing the button nonstop, which was very much the case. He groans as he waddles his way to the front door, his right hand holding onto his side as he hides behind his door so that whoever it was didn't see that he was only in a shirt and no pants.

His shoulders sag in relief when it was only Dustin. His eyes move out a bit paranoid as he pulls the boy in. Who was rambling out a lot of things that were not yet sticking to Steve's brain? The slight buzz in ears was too loud to really catch what the other was saying. The sudden lightheadedness strikes again as the buzzing turns to ring and he nearly falls face-first into the ground. A soft whimper leaves the back of his throat and he can hear his wolf starting to panic as he nearly loses consciousness. But forces himself to stay awake as he blinks confused as he watches Dustin move closer to him.

Hands gripping onto his shoulders in an attempt to push him back against the wall, to give him more balance. His mouth is still running a mile per minute and Steve wasn't processing anything as his mind and body started to melt from exhaustion. The adrenaline rushes no longer there as if his body knew that he was finally in a safe place.

He slouches a bit forward, nearly tumbling and taking Henderson out with him. He's fighting to take back control over his body again, but this was different compared to sharing with his wolf. This he wasn't sure he could fight dominance over. His body needed rest and he was fighting against what his body wanted. His eyes glossed over as he feels more like shit watching Dustin's eyes widen and look like he was on the verge of tears. Obviously begging for something and close to a panic attack. The kid was barely fourteen and he was having to deal with Steve's bullshit.

Bullshit.

God, only if Nancy was here. She would know what to do.

He's barely conscious when he feels an arm wrapping itself around his waist. His surroundings were nonexistent to him as he starts to mumble random things under his breath as he finally laid carefully on his back. Laying as comfortable as he could on his mother's couch.

"Can't get blood on the couch..." he mumbles starting to drift to sleep, a hand carefully starting to slap the side of his face in an attempt to wake him up more. It wasn't working, but his eyes do open a bit more, focusing a bit more as they land on Billy Hargrove's face. "My moms going to kill me if I get blood on the couch." He groans trying to sit back up and get off the couch. Only to be lightly shoved backward again.

Billy's face pinches up in irritation as he shakes his head no. Steve catches sight of Dustin behind his shoulder faintly freaking out. Cursing as he walks back and forth across the living room, with his hand close to his mouth. Hargrove must have caught onto his distraction, turning his head to look over his shoulder. Obviously snapping at Dustin to knock it off. The boy listens, stops in his tracks but proceeds to sass the other back. None of the words are comprehensible for Steve to understand as he lets his head lull back. Giving into sleeping on the couch, deciding just a few minutes wouldn't hurt.

And that is the last thing he remembers before he is sleeping.

When he comes back to, Dustin is curled up in one of his mother's side chairs with a blanket tightly wrapped around him as he sleeps. Steve can't help but smile a bit at the image before he moves to sit up. Whining a bit as he does. His side still ached but not nearly as badly as earlier. He keeps his noises down the best he can as he sits up, letting his feet touch the carpet. Lifting the arm that wasn't affected by the wound up to sweep his hair out of his face. Not bothering to use any product anymore. Not because he didn't want to but because it bothered his wolf when they shifted.

Standing up, with a slight sway to his feet he works his way to the kitchen. In hopes to get something to eat and drink. His throat was extremely dry, and he really wanted to change that. When he reaches the doorway to the kitchen he freezes. The wrinkles on his forehead pinch together as he looks at the sleeping figure for a moment. Billy Hargrove was not nearly as endearing as Dustin Henderson when he slept. His curls fell over his face growing matted the longer he slept. His face was relaxed, something that was a rare sight, and his mouth was open a bit. In the process of drooling a small puddle onto his table.

Steve creeps forward as silently as possible. Making a face as he touches the other's shoulder lightly, not missing the way the other jolts up in a flinch. Eyes glossed over with sleep slowly growing more alert as time went on. His back and shoulders grew stiff as his body prepares to defend itself from any harm. Steve didn't like Billy Hargrove and thought the guy was a royal douchebag. But he had to admit the other came through for him today and he can't help but feel bad for waking him up. Normally he didn't care, the guy was too much of an asshole to earn his empathy but today was an acceptance. The guy looked like a walking zombie. Obviously not getting enough sleep at home. For what reason, that was unknown.

"I have guest rooms if you want to just stay?" Steve comments. Looking at the other a bit wary. Unsure if his invitation would be considered by the other. "Don't really think it's a good idea that you drive like this, you look like a fucked-up Zombie dude." Steve tries to joke as he moves to his sink. Reaching up to one of the cabinets carefully as he pulls out two glass cups for water.

"No," Billy says a bit short. Standing up as he starts to stretch his back out, little popping noises are heard throughout the kitchen. He then moves to leave the room in an attempt to leave but before he passes a threshold a look flashes over his face. Before it fills with agitation. Steve simply glances at the other, not wanting to be caught staring. Recognizing the way, the other try's to push his body forward to only be forced to a stop.

"Wolf causing problems again?" Steve asks carefully. Not wanting to hit a trip wire or something with the other. The topic of their wolves scarcely coming up together. Seemingly sensitive with the other still. He moves his eyes away from the other quickly when the other turns to look at him, trying to act nonchalant about the whole situation.

He turns the faucet on, filling both glasses up with water before setting one on the sink and turning his body to lean on the counter. His free hand moved and held onto the edge, careful not to strain his side too much. Allowing his eyes to land on Billy after a moment of silence. Watching the other's face contort into frustration before he gives in to his wolf. Walking over, his presence was a bit anxious inducing as Steve never knew what the other was going to do. Billy was his own personal wild card if you will.

Billy gets a little too into his personal space, blue eyes skimming Steve's face for any sign of weakness. This was an intimidation tactic, both Steve and his wolf could recognize that from a mile away. Before whatever the hell happened to him and Billy he would have stepped back, would have let the other think he was In control if that meant there was no conflict. Now, his wolf refused to give in. Some hidden meaning to it. Steve assumes that it would be a bit more harmful to give in now than when they were humans.

He watches in real-time as the other's eyes soften along with his tense shoulders and back. As if he had been testing to see if Steve was strong enough to handle him a few moments ago. Lifting the glass from the counter, his eyes never leave Steve as he takes a slow sip from his water. Before setting the glass back down on the counter with a soft dinking noise. Some weird interaction was happening between the two, which seems to be the first positive one since they were forced to hang around each other by the whole weird wolf thing.

Billy steps back, turning around as he helps himself to the refrigerator not answering Steves's answer. The whole exchange seemed to be the answer. Billy takes out the hamburger Steve and pulled from the freezer from the night before. Enough there to feed the two of them and Dustin.

Shit, Steve was going to have to call Claudia before he was arrested for kidnapping. Better yet, he was going to wake Dustin up and force him to call Claudia to either let her know that he was spending the night or on his way home. Most likely the rather as it was growing closer to eight o'clock and the sun was almost down entirely. Soon to be replaced with the moon.

"What is it and your weird obsession with the freak?" Billy asks. Pulling out a pan, seemingly knowing where everything was in Steve's kitchen. That was a bit concerning, but Steve did give the other permission to come here after a night of shifting. So it was no shock the other would actually follow through.

Steve raises his eyebrow as he moves to go sit down at the table. Felt the already familiar dizziness begin to hit him. "You mean Eddie?" he comments.

"Yeah, Munson," Billy says in a sarcastic tone, refusing to call him by his first name. "Now answer the damn question, your stupid obsession nearly got you killed. " He says annoyed as he forms one patty. Placing it on the pan. Starting to make two more but leaves them separate from the other one. Not bothering to season any of it. Probably did not care to do so.

"Why didn't you walk out the door like you wanted to?" Steve asks with a raised eyebrow. There was a point to be made here, and he wanted to make sure the other caught it. Even if that meant agitating him a bit. Watching the way Billy's jaw clenches a bit from irritation only amuses him a bit as he knew he was right about earlier.

"So it's your wolf?" Billy asks tightly. Being a bit snippy as well but Steve chooses to ignore that. Not wanting to put fuel on the already smokey fire.

"Yeah," Steve answers gently. "Don't really have control over it," He admits. His arms stay crossed over his chest as he talks. Letting the silence fall over the both of them with the accepting of the light sizzling of the meat cooking. Cooking the meat all the way through so that Dustin could eat it, while Billy leaves theirs slightly pink in the middle but cooked enough to pass them as normal.

"I'm going to go wake the kid up," Steve grunts a little as he moves standing up from his chair. Feeling his knees popping a bit. Making a few more questionable noises before walking his way out to the living room.

Obsession; September 2023 (two days after being shot)

Steve knew that the people knocking on his door had their hearts in the right place, but he was growing annoyed by the number of people randomly dropping by to check that he was okay. Even Chief Hopper had dropped in, admitting that he had received numerous wellness checks from concerned neighbors and or fellow people in town who had noticed he missed a day of school.

Steve had decided that with his wound the way it was that he wasn't going to school. Too afraid that If he did go that he would accidentally pass out or something. Or he would reopen the wound up. Which was already starting to heal faster than Steve thought. He can't even imagine what it would have been If the bullet actually hit him. He would not have been capable enough to pull a bullet out of his body. Nor would he have been able to run through the woods back to safety.

The reality that he could have died had started to set in when the first of many knocks started against his door. Now, over thirty knocks later he was ready to shoot himself if it meant getting these people to leave him alone. Constantly forcing him to get up and off his couch to answer the door, interrupting whatever he was watching so many times that he has been stuck on the same movie for nearly six hours. (The movie was only a two-hour film) Not only was that a problem but he could barely walk outside without feeling someone's eyes on him, or getting called to.

He had only missed one day of school and this was the reaction of the town. It was overbearing and he wished there was something he could do about it but there was nothing. He had finally gotten them mostly off his back and now here they were again, worst than when he had first come back home. Sometimes he wishes that he wasn't found. Then he would still get away with running around the woods as a wolf twenty-four-seven. Now he had responsibilities, like Billy and friends that would miss him too much. He's sure Robin would personally pick up hunting and kill him for trying to leave her behind. God only knows how Dustin would react. (Hint; it would not be good)

So when the next morning finally rolls around he forces himself to get out of bed, to slide on clothes. His side was still not in tip-top shape and his skin was itching to shift but with all of the attention on him the day before he didn't dare risk it. His hair was a mess and he couldn't bring it in himself to really care. The day before had been so miserable and exhausting that he didn't even feel like trying too hard for today. Which meant his grey sweatpants and yellow sweater would have to do.

There had been another reason why he had been so interested in going to school. Eddie Munson was its name. He was so worried about him being injured that his wolf was beginning to stress out with the fact they were unable to just strip naked and shift into the woods and find themselves in the trailer park. Where they would only lurk on the edge of the woods for hours, watching Eddie do whatever mundane task. But Steve quickly learned that there was no mundane task with the Munson boy. Everything was done with such craziness that watching him simply bend over and tie his shoe was hilarious. It was hard to explain and Steve didn't have the energy to do so. He did feel like a stalker, but he didn't have much control over his wolf when it came to this area.

Billy had made it very clear to him that Eddie was fine the night before. Said Munson was a little shaken up but no mark was left on him. Though the guy that pulled the trigger had a broken nose from Wayne Munson who immediately punched him the second Steve was gone. Something that brought a bit more enjoyment to Steves's evening.

Going to school in the condition he was in was probably not a good idea, but staying inside all day answering numerous phone calls and knocking at the door sounded more painful. That and his wolf just needed to have one glimpse at Eddie to feel better, after that if he was still not feeling great then he would leave school early. That was the deal he makes with himself as he gets into his car. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes before turning the key in the ignition.

Looking out of his passenger side window catching sight of his nosey neighbor, once again holding a small shovel. This time though she was actually gardening, even though her eyes were trained on his car. She puts on that cheery smile that Steve hates so much and lifts one of her gloved hands up and waves at him. He's tempted to ignore it, instead, he bitterly raises his own hand and waves gently at her with a tight-lipped smile as he begins to pull out of his driveway.

Turning the radio to the same station that had been set in the tow truck that Eddie had driven him in. He doesn't even know whos playing, but he does know that this was one of those songs that Eddie had on repeat in the privacy of his own room. The familiarity of it eases his wolf to a more relaxed state as he drives, more carefully than he typically would. Parking in his normal spot he unbuckled, grabbed his bag from the back of the vehicle, and tosses it over his shoulder carefully. Ignoring all of the eyes that were still more interested in him than the conversations that they were having or the teacher's words, who most times would get irritated with the lack of attention and assign more homework. All because everyone wanted to look at the boy that was supposed to be dead. (A lot of kids were going to get held back at this rate)

Walking through the halls of the school that he shouldn't even be in right now, he heads toward his locker. Taking a long way round so that he could pass Eddie's locker in hopes of seeing him. His eyes skim the crowds as well, stomach doing flips of excitement whenever he sees a head of curls. Only to be disappointed when it's just some girl. When he gets closer to the other locker, he slows down on purpose. In hopes that the other would just come in out of nowhere. His eyes land on the locker that had stickers all over it, wolf keening in disappointment as he heads to his locker to drop off some books to lighten his load, but to also pick up some of his folders of work.

Ten minutes later and he finds himself doing loops around the area trying to see Eddie. He hopes he isn't being too obvious, but the look he receives from Billy says that he was as he meets the other boy near the doors to figure out a plan with getting Steve the ability to go and shift after school. Which was apparently swapping clothes, both of them deciding to wear a hoodie to cover their faces. It would be a bit risky for Steve to shift so close to school but if he didn't do it then he was definitely going to accidentally shift at home. And with the number of eyes on his house he didn't want to risk somebody getting suspicious of the white "dog" running into the woods and trying to drop in to let Steve know his dog escaped only to find Billy there and Steve nowhere in sight.

"You look like a fucking creep," Billy grumbles under his breath for only him to hear. Steve rolls his eyes as he takes the sweater from the other hand. A black zip-up that was going to be baggy on him but should work. He drops his bag to the ground slipping it into the bag before putting it back on his shoulder with an eye roll. Trying to ignore the other's comments.

"How many times are you going to circle his locker before the first bell rings?" Billy scoffs, arms crossed over his chest. Glaring holes into whoever dared look at them longer than a few moments. The guy was back to being a dick full-time as his eyes kept shifting back from Steve to the other kids.

"I don't know, now will you shut up," Steve growls a bit. Wolf grew agitated with the other. Billy's posture goes rigid as something flashes through his eyes. It wasn't fear but it was something that Steve has never seen the other hold in his expression before. It was a bit unsettling knowing that he got Billy of all people to listen to him.

Both of them snap out of whatever heated moment they have as Steve asks, "Did I just-?" He asks unable to finish his sentence before Billy grumbles and starts to turn around to leave.

"Shut up, your stupid boyfriend is on his way. Was just hopping in his van when I left." Billy snaps. Not bothering to be soft with his words. Agitated with whatever just happened between the two of them. Saying it loud enough in an attempt to embarrass Steve. In response, Steve just rolls his eyes and turns his back on him, and starts to walk forward going over the scene that had just taken place.

Steve was slowly starting to realize that he had a bit more control over the other than when they first met. As if their dynamics suddenly shifted and all because of their wolves. His shoulders relax when the other is finally gone and he turns to do one final lap around the hall. Lost in thought trying to figure out how he was going to control his wolf from just snapping Billy's head off like he has done before. Even though he did kind of deserve it.

They were still coming up with theories as to why they suddenly started to shift into wolves, but even that was hard to pinpoint down let alone why Steve was the "Alpha" of the"pack" when Billy probably fit into that role way better than him. Steve had always been more of a follower throughout high school, with the image saying he was the leader of most of the bullying when in reality that had been Tommy. Who was still pissed at him for dropping him the second he came back home.

His wolf forces him to snap out of his thoughts when they smell the familiar scent of weed and horribly cheap knock-off Axe. His lips pull up in a relieved smile when he finishes his last lap of the hallway. Eyes looking at the frantic figure of the boy, not stopping to check if he was okay. No matter how much he wanted to.

The bell finally rings a few seconds later giving everyone their first warning to head to class. This time instead of taking a turn to the right like he had numerous times before he takes a left heading to his first-period class. Wolf was somewhat pleased and his tense shoulders sagging with relief

After School, September 2023

Steve was really nervous about this plan. If Billy somehow messed this up they were both so screwed. It would only take one person seeing Billy's face to know something was off. It would also take one person to see Steve shifting for everything to go wrong. He would have to do this quickly or else it was all over. Grunting he holds the plastic bag, wearing the hoody Billy gave him. It smelt like cigarettes and booze. Though when he pressed his chin against his chest in an attempt to hide his face better he could smell that familiar Billy scent. That overwhelming scent of old spice makes him want to gag but smell more because he just couldn't stop sniffing at it out of curiosity.

It was like spoiled milk, you would smell it to check if it was bad and nearly throw up in the process. Getting your answer. But still going in for a second sniff just in case you were smelling wrong. It was kind of like that for Steve, who knows that after all of this, he was going to have to scrub the scent off his skin. He honestly didn't mind the smell it was just the thought that he was sharing a smell with Billy Hargrove that made his nose scrunch up in disgust.

He's in the process of walking down the small trail that leads through the woods behind the school, trying to get far enough that no one would be able to find his bag of clothes or see him doing something unnatural that would leave to a witch hunt. Or some poor innocent person being locked up in an asylum. He passes the picnic table, stopping when he catches the familiar scent that he had spent twenty minutes that morning searching for.

He stops in his tracks, listening for anything that seemed off. Catching some commotion happening to the farthest left hidden in the trees. If his instincts were correct there were at least three people gaining up on Eddie. It concerns him that he could know all of that just from his ears. When it should be physically incapable to hear something that was so far away. Before his brain can think logically about being seen in the woods, breaking his plan of not being caught

Cramming the plastic bag into a nearby tree he jogs over to the place he knows Eddie is. His wolf was seeing red when he catches sight of Eddie hunched up on the ground holding his stomach with Jason Carver standing over him rambling about something that Steve really didn't give a shit about. He only cared about getting the group of jackasses off the scrunched-up boy.

His side was burning from the extra strain but he doesn't let that stop him as he runs tackling Jason into the ground before he could get another kick in. Steve wasn't too worried about losing, a monster wolf thing against three human teenagers? The fight was pathetic as he holds back. Letting the two guys pull him from Jason before he is elbowing one in the stomach and tossing the other into a tree with a little too much ease. Regretting his decision on doing that as he moves a hand down to hold onto his side. Wincing a bit, showing a sign of weakness. But the boys were way too slow to even get a hit against him.

It takes giving Jason a bloody nose and injuring one of the other's wrists for them to back off. Cursing him out calling him a spew of nicknames that didn't bother him that much. Steve would give some sass back but he was too busy catching his breath. Panting like a dog as he feels his skin doing that telltale itch, where he knows he's close to shifting any second. Clenching his jaw as he bends over a bit, curling into himself with a soft pained wheeze. Nearly losing balance as he grows a bit pale again.

"Shit dude, are you alright?" Eddie's voice rings through his head for a few seconds as he nods his head with a groan. Billy was so going to kill him. The one thing he had to do he failed. How typical of him. He tilts his head to the side to look up at the other a little as he nods his head. Not ready to use any more oxygen than he had to. Wincing a bit when he feels the other hand reaching over to his left shoulder to carefully lead him to sit down against the tree.

Steve was already making a mental note to allow his wolf to piss on Jason Carver's porch. Something that was very disgusting but so going to be worth it. He's in a bit of a daze, fighting back from shifting. He was there but not fully. His wolf slowly grabbed more control over his body and mind. This whole situation was similar to that of Dustin the other night. He could see Eddie's mouth moving but couldn't hear what he was saying.

He allows his eyes to skim the other, catching the way he similarly grips his side. He takes back allowing his wolf to piss on porches, he's going to allow her to drag a dead animal on the porch. That would get his point across. His ears are ringing as he blinks, trying to come back to earth when he catches sight of it. Well, he shouldn't say it, but her.

His anxiety raises, not liking how close the wolf was getting to Eddie. Her fur was a dirty blonde almost. It wasn't white but it wasn't a dark brown either. His eyes meet her and there seems to be a bit of familiarity in her eyes as they move from him to Eddie. As if she was there for the same reason as Steve. He scrunched his face up a bit still looking at her and not Eddie, who finally turns around to see what he was looking at. Still looking a bit stressed out about the entire situation that was happening right now. When Eddies back faces him Steve hopes the other wolf could understand him.

"Go, he's okay." he mouths. Watching in real-time as the creature freezes like a deer in headlights in front of Eddie. There must be something about him that got reactions like this from wolves. It wasn't natural. A second later and the wolf is sprinting away disappearing into the woods.

Now that was going to be added to a mental list of things to do. What the hell was going on with Hawkins and why was wolf skin becoming the new fad?

27 notes · View notes

trashcanniballecter · 2 years ago

Text

an au idea has been beamed into my brain and I Have to write it

Eddie will always be grateful for his Uncle Wayne. The man is practically a saint. He took Eddie in, adopted him, gave him his last name. He didn't have to. His aunt could have raised him but she needed to focus on his mom and Wayne taking him in was the best way to help all of them. Uncle Wayne would even regularly take him to visit mom even though it was hard for both of them. It was always hard to see her like that but Wayne always said that he should be able to see his Mama. He's the best parent a kid could ask for but Eddie still sometimes thinks back to before, Back when his mom could still be a mom.

She had been a great mom when he was little. Caring, fun, smart as a whip. things started to change after his dad was drafted. Obviously she worried about dad and she was heartbroken when he died but she was still mostly herself then. Finding out she was pregnant was the first time Eddie could remember his mom seeming truly happy after dad died. She was so excited to be having a little girl. She let Eddie help pick out decorations for the nursery, when she was further along she would let Eddie press his little hands to her tummy to feel his baby sister kick and would laugh at the look of awe on his face every time. But then his baby sister died before he even got to meet her and mom was never the same. She could never accept it. For years she insisted that his baby sister was out there and she was going to get her back. Then one day she was just kind of gone? Physically she was there still but mentally she was far far away. So Wayne took him in.

He wonders what his life would have been like if she had been able to handle it all differently. Been able to stay herself through her losses or better yet, if his baby sister had lived. He's always imagined what his baby sister would have been like. Would she have been a sweet little angel? A tiny teror like him? Would they have been close? Would she have deep brown eyes like him or hazel like their mom? His same riot of curls? He knows for sure he would have loved her. He does Love her.

Despite his deep love for Wayne his mom and baby sister were always in the back of his head. But he couldn't think of any of them right now because the world is fucking ending and monsters are real. He's being blamed for murder of all things! Nancy Wheeler has guns, plural. Steve Harrington is actually a decent dude. And kids, His Kids, His Little Sheep have been dealing with Hell for years. None of it makes sense. The people around him are putting a lot of faith into some supergirl that they can't even get ahold of and everything is just insanity.

But by some miracle they make it through. Steve dragged him out of Hell with just barely enough time to save his life. Little Red has lost most of her vision and will be wheelchair bound for the foreseeable future but she's Alive and that's all that really maters. Apparently supergirl was able to come through, restart Little Red's heart and save the day like everyone believed she would. Chief Hopper is alive and on their side, he managed to clear Eddie's name. Eddie has no idea how any of that worked but he's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. And now he's just allowed to go home. Well, Steve's home. The trailer was pretty wrecked in the "earthquake" and Steve had offered up some spare rooms for Him and Wayne to stay in until they could get a new place. God why was Steve so fucking Nice?

Steve and the kids have set up a barbeque as a sort of welcome home/Meet the Party/Yay the World didn't End/Debrief thing. It was probably a good idea to meet all his allies and they were planning to tell Wayne everything at the party. And hey, he was finally going to meet this supergirl everyone had been talking up.

The barbeque was in full swing by the time they got there. Hopper was manning the grill while a woman Eddie vaguely recognizes as Joyce Byers is setting food out on the table. There's some weird bald guy with a beard demonstrating karate moves to them? most of the kids are running around the backyard. Little Red is even threatening to run Mike over with her wheelchair. He probably deserves it and it's nice to see her in such high spirits. Jonathan is lounging around on some pool chairs with a guy who must be a friend from California because he's never seen him in his life and a guy with hair that long and clothes that different would stand out in Hawkins as Eddie knows from experience. Eddie's eyes keep scanning around the backyard. Robin and Nancy seem to be gossiping about something. Steve is doing his classic mom pose at Dustin. Eddie continues looking around and then hos heart stops in his chest. There staring back at him, younger than he has ever seen it is his mothers face. His mothers face but with the same deep brown eyes he sees every time he looks in the mirror and the familiar begins of curls growing out of a buzz cut.

"Janey?"

#stranger things #ficlets #eddie munson #jane hopper #Eddie is El's big brother #AU #might write more but idk

14 notes · View notes

ellesgreenaway · 2 years ago

Text

say that you miss me | eddie munson

summary: a birthday party brings eddie reluctantly back together with an old high school flame he hasn’t seen in two years.

word count: 7.7k

warnings: minors dni, smut, oral sex (f receiving), p in v sex, unprotected sex, creampie (?), swearing, afab reader, slight angst, hurt/comfort, reader initially doesn’t come off very well, use of drink and mention of drugs

a/n: i’m actually a little nervous about this one as it’s really the longest fic i’ve ever written and i haven’t really written like much in this way so please be kind to me! any feedback is really appreciated :)

“Du-ude!” Steve cries out in despair when he opens his front door, both voice and face riddled in disappointment. “I told you to comb your damn hair when it’s wet! What is this shit?”

Eddie blinks deadpan, standing frigid with a large box full of an assortment of black market priced alcohol (it was half spiced rum, clearly not much of a demand for it) with his little box of the good stuff buried deep. “I think you mean to say: Hey Eddie, thanks so much for bringing hundreds of dollars of merchandise to my party.” He replies, thick with sarcasm.

Eddie could barely hear himself speak. He had only arrived a whole twenty minutes after the said start time of the party that Steve had announced to the group (and repeatedly after for the last several days leading up to it), deemed by young person status as way too early, and yet Eddie could barely make out any other sounds apart from the dreaded sound of the popped-up excuse of rock that was overplayed on every radio station booming thickly through every wall of the (quite frankly) colossal hunk of a house Steve lived in. People were bustling in and out of rooms and collecting in rooms like it was New York City, and it immediately put Eddie on edge. He arrived early to make sure he could be scarce, not the centre of attention.

Steve rolls his eyes, taking the box of beverages from Eddie’s hands. He made sure his drug box was taken out before it was no longer in his possession. “I’m just saying man, you complain time and time again about how frizzy and knotty it gets, and when I offer you sound advice, you disregard it.” Eddie is following his friend blindly through the open plan grandeur of a home Steve finds himself lucky enough to live in, half not listening because he thinks he’s never seen a house this big before, let alone been in one. He bumps into person after person, recognising them all from high school, and it’s only a few seconds before the lump in Eddie’s throat grows ever bigger as he realises this was just an excuse to throw an informal high school reunion. It had only been months for Eddie compared to years for everyone else; he wasn’t sure he was mentally prepared for this to be thrust upon him.

“And you still don’t listen!” Steve quips harshly, and the tone gets Eddie’s attention after a long while, making the metalhead roll his eyes with minimal care.

Eddie shrugs lightly, an end destination in sight as Steve sets down the worn cardboard onto a spacious wooden table, placed against the wall where an assortment of other drinks have already been placed in their regiment.

People are looking, and aren’t really making it subtle, either. They were probably just as surprised as Eddie was - what was he doing showing his face in Steve Harrington’s home? - but it seemed that, by some miracle, they were friends, so it was a heckle-free zone. As much as Steve’s reputation had dropped since he left school, he was still much more well-known than anyone else in this house. The shouts of murderer and satan worshipper were hung up at the door for one night only.

It was packed beyond belief, but when Eddie looks around him, he notices the entire bottom floor of the house is rid of personal photos, glass and anything that exceeds the value of ten dollars. Apparently, even at the ripe old age of twenty-one, Steve is still deathly afraid of getting his ass handed to him by his parents. Eddie knows he wouldn’t want that from Wayne, even if he were forty.

“When’s Robin getting here? I rarely see her without you.”

Steve seems to relieve himself of some of the party hosting stress that evidently seems to have piled on top of him throughout the day at the mention of his best friend’s name. “She came from work with me this afternoon, she’s just running an errand for me.”

Eddie’s eyes widen, more in disbelief than shock, it was quite on brand for Harrington to get the whole gang involved for something so trivial as a party that will probably be filled with people he’s been dreading seeing since the day he graduated — everyone he went to high school with. Worse, people who finished high school before he did.

A small snort leaves Eddie’s nose, mindlessly fiddling with a small bowl of gummy bears that sat lonesome at the edge of the drinks table. It lay practically untouched, and he could only imagine that Robin had insisted some sort of food would be provided at the bash. Eddie was growing uncomfortable; he rarely spent time alone with Steve Harrington, and it’s never exceeded the point of awkwardness. It was teetering on the edge of such.

“I dread to think what you got that asswipe Henderson to do for this.” Eddie laughs, and it seems to have avoided the edge of that awkward ledge, as Steve chuckles along just as the door goes.

“He got home from college only last night and is currently hauling ass, borrowing speakers from Family Video to bring them here. Little dude can barely carry one of those things, will probably need Mike or some shit to help him.”

Steve opens the door to Robin, who looks annoyed as per with her friend, holding up several sheets of fax-printed paper. She walks through without even greeting the birthday boy, something that ignites a stifle of laughter from Eddie under his breath. That earned him his own greeting from Robin, throwing him a quick wave as she slams the paper down on the table.

“Did you print it all? That fax machine is crap at the best of times.”

She rolls her eyes, throwing a pointed look at Eddie as if she were asking for help. “Why did I just walk in with three sheets of paper, dingus? To hand in a college essay?”

As Eddie’s smirk gets wider, Steve’s scowl deepens, snatching the paper to his own hands, scanning it momentarily.

“Honestly, I don’t even know why you need a list to this stupid party, anyway. Everyone’s already here, this town hasn’t had a party in years.”

Hold up, now Eddie’s curiosity seems to be piqued. His head whips to where Steve stood on the other side of him, taking the paper for himself and carefully dissecting every name that was typed in several long columns.

His eyes stop tracking on one name, head whipping up to Steve. “You invited Y/N?”

Steve furrows his brows, taking a swig from a beer he had picked up from the table. “You, Eddie Munson, know Y/N Y/L/N?”

Eddie swallows thickly, eyes shifting to the floor, uncharacteristically nervous, the paper being shoved roughly back into Robin’s hands. Seeing that name gave him such an immediate rush of butterflies he thought he was going to barf, and he was sober.

“I need a drink,” Was all Eddie could respond to the question posed to him, taking the nearest liquor and pouring a quick shot. It was unfortunate, he realised as the liquid burns layers off his throat, that it was tequila, but anything to take the edge of what he was feeling right now.

Robin widens her eyes, shifting the tequila bottle away from her friend by a few metres, worried the whole bottle would be demolished before long if Eddie carries on like this. “How about we start slower, hm? Like a beer,” She replaces the shot glass with a can quickly.

Steve narrows his eyes suspiciously at Eddie; he knows his fair share of the feeling a drink could fix instead of facing a past flame, but the pairing of Eddie and Y/N doesn’t fit at all in his head. “When were you two a thing?”

Eddie screws his eyes shut; he knows he can’t really avoid this subject for long. “Senior year. My first one.”

A small but triumphant cheer leaves Steve’s lips, clearly already on the edge between tipsy and slurring, his hand coming down to clap proudly on Eddie’s shoulders.

“Didn’t take you for goody two shoes to be your type man, but then again, how I ever dated the smartest girl in Hawkins beats me.”

Cringing and deciding he was officially too sober to take part in this conversation about his past love life, he takes his belongings, eyes drawn to the garden door.

“Surely someone needs some weed by now right?” He asks rhetorically, but turns to Robin with pleading eyes, who just shrugs bemused.

So much for these new friends.

Thankfully for Eddie, half the people at this party who were already drunk and looking for a little boost to keep the night going had somehow remembered Eddie was the drugs guy, not the accused murderer guy, and a small queue had formed at the bottom of the garden as he got on with what he was used to doing the whole of highschool: living in the darkness dealing the bad stuff to the angels of society.

It was such a monotonous process, asking what was needed, sorting it out into the numerous small translucent bags, opening his hand and waiting as the exchange was made. His head stayed down the entire time, so over the game of which Hawkins sweetheart wanted an experience of the dark side. It also depersonalised it for him, made him feel less guilty for doing what he did. He knew the risks of these things, but he didn’t have a choice. Being working class and only having a minimum wage job at The Hideout meant he was the lowest of the low. Not many options are handed to a young man with no savings and only a highschool diploma to his name.

“I had always hoped that something better for you would come along apart from this, Eddie.” Lulled a sweet tone, almost dripping with it, dancing into Eddie’s ears. His head snapped up. The sweetness was all too familiar to him, something he had occasionally dreamt of in the last few years.

And yet, dreams don’t really amount to the feeling of seeing you again. Except, it wasn’t the exact replica of the young woman he had seen leave Hawkins for college. You were rougher on the edges, a cigarette balancing between your index and middle finger, the smoke of it wafting up into your hair and around your clothes.

Eddie stifles a chortle, and he can’t help the smirk line his lips like he was seventeen again, “And I had never hoped to see someone like you smoking cigarettes when you berated me for doing the same.”

You roll your eyes, flicking the thing out of your delicate fingers, letting it fall into the damp grass. It sits there on the ground for a few seconds, burning into the green until your boot comes to crush it. Now the cigarette lays limp and surrounded by the ash of its former flame.

“It’s social only. I’m not addicted.”

The adjective almost felt like a small jab at Eddie, but he brushes it off, deciding instead with a polite smile. It was all he could manage when the beating of his heart thumped heavy in his ears and throat.

“It’s nice to see you again, Y/N.” Is what he settles with, but the thing is he actually meant it. It was nice to see you, however belated it may have been. And while there was a roughness he seemed to have never seen in you before, he was pleased to see that you had finally grown into your character. You were the woman you had always strived to be in highschool: unapologetically yourself, and it almost made him swoon in admiration.

Your face softens at that second, the first bricks of the wall you had built up around herself removing one by one. It was then that Eddie sees that you hadn’t really changed, no matter how grown up you had become. That same excited and slightly naïve sparkle of your eye appeared, just as you whisper back, “You too, Munson. It’s been a while.”

A wide grin began to line Eddie’s lips, and just as he were to open his mouth again, ready to dive into a nostalgic conversation and settle into memories that he cherishes so dearly to his chest, you get a fierce tap on your shoulder - more of a jab really - causing you to turn around and face whoever was disturbing Eddie’s time with you.

Another girl, someone who looks familiar but not enough for Eddie to care, along with Nancy Wheeler, who flashed Eddie a knowing little smile, eyes shifting to you, bounced up beside Eddie’s ex, grabbing onto your shoulders enthusiastically. The move almost made you fall from the surprising weight added to her back.

The unknown friend speaks first, her jaw constantly moving up and down, a fluorescent pink piece of bubblegum the one to blame for the jarring movement smacking in Eddie’s ears. “Hey, we’re about to play some poker in the basement if you wanna join,” She whines, and Eddie sighs to himself quietly. He had only managed to have forty-five whole seconds of you to himself, and you were already in high demand for your attention. It was something that harkened Eddie back to when he was coupled with her all that time ago. The girl notices Eddie sigh, her sharp gaze shifting to him, scrutinising everything about him in just a split second. “Who’s he?”

Suddenly you grow bashful, your cheeks darkening across your cheeks and the bridge of your nose, averting your eyes down to the patch of grass where your cigarette lay lifeless. Your mouth opened and closed again, the speechlessness overcoming every sense in your body.

Despite the flash of hurt that pangs Eddie’s chest, he speaks up, “I’m just the drugs guy.” He informs her with fake sincerity, one she didn’t notice as her eyes light up slightly at the opportunity struck before her to turn the party up a notch.

You flash Eddie a grateful smile, turning to your friend. “He’s not just the drugs guy,” You begin, and a match of hope lights itself in Eddie. Just say we dated, say we were a thing, a fling, anything, he begs in his mind. “This is Eddie Munson. We…We um- We went to school together. His mom used to clean my house.” You say bluntly, and the match in Eddie dies out quickly.

Suddenly Eddie is reminded why he and you never worked out in the first place; not only did you ever manage to admit to one single person that you and Eddie were together, no, scrap that, in love, with one another, but it reminded him of a time more peaceful than what he’d been through in the years since you. His mother no longer being around was the hardest pill to swallow.

Seeing the disappointment fill Eddie’s eyes, you attempt to reach your arm to Eddie, and he’s letting you, showing no signs of resistance to the attempt of comfort, but you stop yourself just short of his bicep. The hesitation is all too clear all throughout you, body and face and all, and Eddie isn’t sure how much longer he can take this. He doesn’t need to be reminded by the first (and so far only) person he ever loved to tell him through everything but words that he wasn’t good enough.

Eddie lets in a sharp breath of the late autumnal air, the release of it creating a pillow of cold air that wisps around his face. “I best clock in a break, it seems custom has dried up for now.” He announces, as usual with an air of humour laced in with it, but as his eyes shift to avoid yours, he catches Nancy’s instead, who frowns with a level of concern that was equivalent to pity, and Eddie was certainly not in the mood for that.

“Hey Eddie, come play po-” You begin to ask, but Eddie was fast leaving the garden, which has slowly become unbearably stifling despite the chill creating thousands of small goosebumps underneath the leather protection of his jacket.

That drinks table was most certainly going to be raided.

You were glad to see Eddie again, you really were - you felt like after so many years being lost and bewildered, trying to find your footing in this weird world, seeing him again felt like she became grounded slightly again. You were really home now.

“So, that’s the infamous Eddie Munson,” Mused Wendy, a friend from college who’d come home with you for the weekend, sharing with you and Nancy an exciting wide smile, almost dying to hear the words that you wanted Wendy and Nancy to play matchmaker.

Wincing, you push her animated friend off of yourself, traipsing slowly back to the house where Eddie had well by now disappeared into. It would be near impossible to find him again in all this space with so many people in it.

Nancy pulls a puzzled face to the pair of friends, “Wait, you liked Eddie too? I just thought he had a massive crush or something.”

“Huh! Liked? The girl was in love with him, Nance. Spent her entire first semester in freshman year wallowing in our dorm for no reason until I finally got it out of her.”

Nancy was even more confused by the statement, and the journalistic instinct in her begged for more information, linking her arm through yours as they carried on their walk back to the loud wall of sound. “What happened between you guys?”

You sighed, looking down at a small chip that’s appeared in her nail polish since coming to the party. As much as it was nice to see Eddie again, reliving the mistakes of your past, and making them again wasn’t something that screamed 21st birthday to you, even if it wasn’t your birthday.

Still, you knew if you weren't going to say now, Nancy would be bugging you until she gave all the details and more. At least now she had control over how much you could reveal. You hadn’t even told Wendy everything, just the basics. “We dated in senior year. I was…concerned with how we’d look together. To everyone else. I knew it wouldn’t help my social status, basically.” You admit guiltily, and you knew that Nancy was smart enough to put the missing pieces of the jigsaw together, and her eyes widen with shock and a slight disappointment when she eventually does.

It made you sting. Yeah, you weren't proud of what you did either.

“And you just…what, haven’t spoken to him since then? Senior year of highschool?” Nancy exclaims out loud, and you try not to notice the sharp daggers Wendy points at the eldest Wheeler sibling, but you shrug it off, the guilt swimming in your lungs.

It was going to drown you.

Shrugging your two friends off your shoulders, you turn to them, a fierce look in your eyes, switching between them and the sight of the dozens of college students all crammed together dancing to whatever was playing. “Will there be lots and lots of booze at this poker game?”

Wendy smirks slightly, grabbing your hand and yanking you back inside the house, the once barely distant thumps of the music (you swore it was quieter before she came out into the garden) now distinctly deafening, feeling your organs jump with you in your body in time with the beat of the tunes. Nancy wasn’t far behind, more cautious than the impulsive actions of your freshman roommate and much more aware that there were other people attending too, but the busyness of the atmosphere has you not thinking straight.

That and the fact that Eddie Munson was at any given place in this house right now.

Approaching the drinks table where they earlier dropped off a polite bottle of wine (it had already been drunk), Wendy grabs three clean plastic shot glasses, reaching for the half-empty bottle of tequila standing nearest to her.

Nancy screws her face up, waving her hand in near total dismissal.

“Oh my God Wendy, you’re trying to kill me. I need a chaser if I’m gonna be forced to shot that.”

Laughing with an almost cynical undertone, Wendy raises the shot glass right under both Nancy and your noses. Both of you share the same look of dread.

“I know none of these small-town Indiana dorks apart from you two, so if I’m gonna have a good time, you’re gonna get wasted with me and we mess around, ‘kay?”

Well, you couldn’t really disagree with that doctrine.

Flinging back shot after shot, the music went from thumping and slightly unbearable beat of the music to danceable and you were even almost starting to enjoy it. You danced with your friends, well, it was dancing in their eyes, squashed among the dozens of people that amalgamated in Steve Harrington’s living room, and although the three of you were panting as you danced, the back of their necks collecting beads of sweat that eventually dripped down your necks, tickling your spines. It had been nice, for once, you thought as you waved your arms around in the crowd, grinning madly at your two friends, that you were able to fully enjoy yourself without consequence. Usually, you had practice in the morning, or study group, or you wouldn’t even be out, writing an essay until the early hours of the morning instead.

There was a slight sadness in your eyes as you danced, too. You might have been drunk and dancing like no one was watching, but she still felt the trickles of dread as the regret you had felt for the whole of freshman year for Eddie had returned in full force.

You were feeling small tears prick the back of your eyes; it came on suddenly, like a big wave at sea that looked small at first but was actually going to swallow you whole, and the dancing came too to a sudden stop.

You swallow thickly, patting your purse around your shoulder to make sure her cigarettes were packed away. “I’m um— I’m going to go for a quick smoke break, ‘kay?” You shout over the throbbing bass, and luckily your wave of emotion came at the right time, both Nancy and Wendy agreeing they’ll meet you in the basement game of poker Jonathan, Robin and Steve were at.

The lighter came in contact with the cigarette as soon as you had stepped outside, and you had never been so grateful to take a puff from something you tolerated at the best of times, walking over to a step at the side of the house, letting the cool air gently penetrate your burning skin.

When holding the stick of tobacco between your two fingers, your mind once again goes to Eddie. How he brought up the fact you told him off as much as you could whenever he smoked one of his own, and how much it was true. The memory brought a bittersweet chuckle past your lips, slightly curved from the nostalgia.

You heard the sound of feet dragging against the pebbles of the driveway behind you, and you weren’t very surprised to see Eddie approach you, his trademark smirk painting his mouth, but it was more subtle than usual.

You throw him a wobbly smile, suddenly feeling the need to put the cigarette out again, so desperately insecure of doing anything remotely bad around him. Eddie, of all people, but you knew it was because these were all things you never would have done in highschool.

He was going to walk past you, step over her tight-clad legs and carry on his journey to what looks like his van, just a few metres off in the distance, but a thought bubbles up in your mind, and you knew it would bug you forever if you didn't ask there and then.

“Do you have regrets?” You ask, just above a whisper but not quite talking at a normal volume. You were nervous to ask.

Eddie turned around, furrowing his eyebrows in curiosity at you. He likes to think he still knows you well enough to know that this isn’t brought on from random drunk thoughts, but he also knew he couldn’t just ask outright what got you asking questions like this. Not anymore, anyway.

He begins to walk back, standing over her just centimetres away, his eyes studying your face, which was turned down to the ground, your lips pursed desperately around the cigarette that was nearly out, looking at you drain everything you could out of it. He decides to perch next to you, leaving a big enough gap that it was considered appropriate. “Regrets about what? Mine are sorted into categories, you know.”

You smile, puffing out a laugh from your nose. “I dunno, like…Do you ever regret not going to college? For not passing senior year first time? All those little things that you could have changed, could have altered to make that slight little bit of improvement, but you just…didn’t?”

Eddie thought about your question, lighting a cigarette of his own while he pondered. “I could’ve, yeah. I could have done all that shit, got a degree, left this town, maybe studied something I knew I would be good at. But, ah, I don’t know. I don’t think there’s any point in wasting my energy on the what ifs. I have shit I gotta deal with now, today, and that takes up enough as it is,” He inhales deep, getting lost in his thoughts while looking at you. He had never seen you so troubled, not even when you two broke up. “I feel like I could have done better, a lot of times, but do I regret it? Rarely.”

You don’t really respond, just sniff and look away again, your hand drawing through your hair delicately, but it was like it was bothering you. Everything seemed to look like everything was bothersome in a way.

“My turn,” Eddie declares, feeling like this was the only way to find out what was wrong with you. He wasn’t even thinking about the fact that he hadn’t seen you in two years, or that forty-five minutes ago he wanted to be anywhere but around you. The need to act like your support dial had overwhelmed him like an instinct. This was natural. “You have never felt the need to feel regret once in your life, sweetheart.”

“Not a question.” You point out.

Eddie chuckles, holding his finger up to you, “Patience, I’m getting there,” And suddenly you turn to him, your body strong and straight, but eyes are full of worry for whatever he could possibly ask. He hopes you know him well enough to still guess it’s probably to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering you. “So you’re obviously regretting something, what is it?”

You huff heavily, and Eddie could sense your walls were going up, defending yourself from the vulnerability and insecurity you once gave herself willingly to with Eddie. You shuffled away one inch. “I haven’t seen you in two years, Munson. You can’t expect me to tell you all my worries and fears like we’re still together.”

Eddie feels the need to remind himself to be patient, swallowing thickly. He can’t help but trick himself into thinking this, looking at you, the moonlight twinkling in your eyes, making you look so ethereal with your beauty.

“You asked first, sweetheart, don’t pretend you don’t miss talking to me.” He replies, but it just seems to have frustrated you more. Eddie knows it’s not frustration directly at him, your frustrated with herself.

You look at him, eyebrows crossed, a crease diving the two of you. “So what? I— ugh! Everything is so fucking complicated!”

“With me?”

“Yes!” You cry, and you’re stood now, pacing up and down the little alley created at the side of Steve’s house. “But no, too. I…seeing you tonight has just thrown me off, that’s all. I…I can’t think straight.”

“Ah, so that’s why to your friends I’m still Eddie, a friend whose mom cleaned for your mom?” He asks, and it was petty, he knows, but the stings of pain just couldn’t help but trickle their way into the conversation. All he ever wanted from you was to just admit that you were both in love, even if it was once upon a time.

You crumple your fists as if you were containing all your anger in there, but when your head throws up to look at Eddie, who’s also stood up by now, your eyes are full of nothing but apology.

“Come on Eddie, you know I never meant that. And…And you always meant more than that to me. So did your mother. She was like family to us.”

Eddie huffs, and the dread returns to him like a bad sickness. He realises tonight, seeing you for the first time in months and months that really, he never got over you. You matter as much to him now and as you did when you were seniors sneaking around, but the insecurity fills his chest when he explores the thought that you could ever have felt the way he did.

Maybe he was too drunk. God knows you were too.

“I think I’m just gonna conduct business from my van for the rest of the night. Enjoy the party, Y/N.” He says defeatedly, walking to his van and expecting his old flame to walk in the opposite direction.

But you didn’t. You didn’t walk away, not this time.

“Well what do you want me to do, Eddie? Take back the past?! That’s impossible!” You ask as you follow him to his van, your hands flying around your face wildly. There were tears glassing over your eyeballs, and no matter how mad at you he is for hurting him, for making him feel every bit like he didn’t deserve to be loved, Eddie’s chest still tightened when he saw you like this. You run your hands through your hair again, practically ruining it, sniffing roughly. “I loved you, I loved you like I’ve never loved anyone else before…and yeah, I couldn’t say it out loud when I was seventeen, and I’m sorry, I really am,” You’re looking at him dead in the eye now, any hesitation or resistance he had seen earlier in the night now completely gone, and Eddie feels a change in the electricity around the two of you when he looks back, “but you can’t punish me forever. I’m done being punished, Eddie. If you wanna move on so badly, do it.”

He thinks you’ve said this because you know deep down that the daring words that drip from your tongue edge Eddie to stay, do the complete opposite of what you’ve offered him. You’re not dumb, you’ve probably noticed the way that ever since you asked him that question at the side of the house that he’s inched closer to you with every word shared between you, nice or not. You can probably smell the mix of musky wood from his cologne and the ashy taste of cigarettes that permanently linger in his mouth, just as he can smell the sweet floral tones of your perfume, a mix of flowers and soap.

You have seen to finally have given him an out. It should have felt relieving.

Yet Eddie just couldn’t back away. He hesitates a scoff, low and scowling, tired of arguing but he has no other way to talk to you right now without wanting to just take your face in his hands and kiss those plump glossy lips of yours. “You still couldn’t even admit we were even together. We’re twenty now. Hell, almost twenty-one. Three years on and you can’t admit it!”

You’re bashful, looking down to the concrete driveway. “I don’t want them to give any more excuses to constantly pick at you.”

“Them?”

“This batshit crazy town, Munson! What do you think people will do when they find out we dated, huh? They’ll tear you apart, think you corrupted me or put your bullshit claims of satanism onto you, and I can’t help you! I’ll be in Emerson!” You say, the tear falling loose from your eye and trailing down your cheek.

Eddie blinks at you, the act of anger slowly washing away on his features. “You heard about everything then, huh?”

“I think I spent my whole summer telling people to go fuck themselves for thinking someone who likes metal and plays a kids fantasy game was capable of murder.” You says with a nervous chuckle, and Eddie’s heart rises to a flutter, staring at you with contentment, and a reminiscent reminder of the way he used to look at you when you were together; with total infatuation.

Suddenly Eddie was stuck.

He was stuck because he had finally been given an opportunity to move on from you, try and forget your face as he lived your life and you carried on with yours in Boston, but he doesn’t think he had ever imagined a more beautiful thought than thinking about you telling a stranger making comments about Eddie the murderer to do one.

He stays stuck while looking at you, leaning against the back door of his van, head staring at the cold night sky, exposing your neck, your chest heaving up and down from the exhaustion of their argument. Eddie couldn’t stop staring, momentarily parting his lips and wetting them with his tongue.

He steps closer to you. It was only one small step, barely stretching his legs before your thighs touched his. You look down again to look him in the eye once more, but differently than before, you’ve noticed the change in air, too. You noticed the way Eddie has his lips slightly parted, his chocolate doe eyes are blown open, pupil swallowing the colour almost entirely. His hand is inching closer to your cheeks, and when his palm eventually comes into contact, you feel singes of his burning hot touch, almost like fire, and it alights a small gasp from your lips, a sound that roars Eddie’s determination to life.

His thumb lowers, tracing delicately down your cheek until it reached the corner of your lips, slightly chapped and the gloss drying in odd places, all the while keeping the fierce hold of your eyes that made you soften and pant harder in anticipation.

A small smirk quirks one side of Eddie’s mouth. He has you right where he wants you, ready for him to launch onto you and get back to what you used to do in highschool, but he wasn’t going to give it to you just yet. “I would kiss you,” He begins, voice low and grumbling a little with the whisper, “But you might not want everyone else to know your pretty little mouth likes kissing the freak of Hawkins.”

Immediately you roll your eyes, your own hand cupping Eddie’s cheek. You take the majority of the leap, their lips in contact but not kissing when you ever so slightly take your back off the van door.

“You kiss me right this second, Munson, or I tell everyone that you cried watching Grease.”

He stifles a snort, smirk only growing wider. “We can't be having that, can we? I have a reputation to think about.”

When their lips finally connect, Eddie feels like he’s truly on fire everywhere, the touch of your lips igniting a burn that’s travelled through every vein in his body. It’s like his body has woken up again after years of being asleep, a jolt of energy surging through his nerves, and he wasn’t going to waste it.

Eddie’s hands instinctively slide onto your waist as the kiss deepens, your mouths open, tongues playing with one another desperately. It was messier than Eddie had ever imagined, and definitely less romantic, but when you settle your arms around his neck, pulling on the hairs at the nape, any coherent thought about his dream reunion with you goes out of the window.

It’s possibly minutes before you finally disconnect, silently making out at the edge of a party like the teenagers they once were when you were together, but you never lose contact, your lips peppering kisses constantly on his lips and around them. Eddie is distracting himself putting his hands under your top, the cold of his hands against the warmth of your belly eliciting a high-pitched whine from you, and it’s a noise Eddie is familiar with.

It had been too long since he heard that heavenly sound.

You seemed to have kicked your thinking brain in, taking Eddie’s face between your hands and taking his lips off your neck. “Do we really wanna do this again? I…I don’t want you to beat yourself up for this.”

Eddie throws her a lust-filled smile, but the question of concern has his heart fluttering. “What did I tell you about me and regrets, darling?”

You throw him a grateful smile, but you still hold him with hesitancy. Oddly though, it’s a different kind of hesitancy than what he’s used to. He throws you a questioning look, and you sift his chocolate waves through your hands when you give in. “I want you to know that I always regretted the way I handled things with you. Because the love I felt for you…the love I feel for you, I never went about it the right way.”

Now the insecurity and fear has left Eddie, because as he looks at you, his hands enveloped in yours and flush against your sternum, trying not to think about those tits he’d missed so much swallowing half the conjoined hands as they squeezed together, he’d finally felt like he understood her side after all this time. You were just as insecure.

“Let me show you then, sweetheart,” He pleads quietly, pressing kisses to each corner of your mouth, “Let me show you how much I missed you.”

Happily relenting, you flush your lips against his, connecting once more, but this time it felt more comforting to the both of them, like coming home at long last. It wasn’t long before your mouths opened for one another, Eddie’s tongue in your mouth and sucking your bottom lip as you mewled in response. His cock twitches when he hears you make those noises, thinking he’d never hear them again yet here he was, against the back door of his van with his lips attacking yours, and your hips pressing into his crotch, making him grunt in response.

“Fuck Eddie,” You pant, already breathless when your lips aren’t on Eddie’s for three long seconds, and Eddie wants to throw his head back if it weren’t for your hands tangled in his hair. “As much as I’m happy to show everyone how much I love me a bit of Eddie Munson, this is a bit public for me.”

Eddie feels himself smirk into your neck, travelling down and he feels his chin touch the top of your tits, and he tilts his head down to kiss them gently. The traces of fingers and fiddling of clothes that so desperately want to be taken off but can’t in the open driveway with random people walking in and out of the house. Your touch feels like feathers along Eddie’s skin, and it makes him just want you more with every growing second.

He accidentally bumps your temple as he grabs onto the back door handle that stood beside you, opening it roughly. “Get in the back sweetheart,” He says lowly, taking his hands and putting them on your waist as he gently hoists you into the back. It was a place of small haven for the both of you, and the reason why Eddie always kept his van so clean compared to everything else he owned.

When you’re in you hold your hand out for Eddie to get in himself, giggling when he shuts it and takes hold of your waist again, finding it impossible to stay away from it, his fingers dancing delicately up your top, slowly making its way up your ribs and to the underwire of your bra. Your small gasp of surprise only encourages Eddie further, his hand reaching to the top of your bra and pulling your tits out, taking your nipple between his fingers and rubbing slowly, your head throwing back to the side of the van as you moan with more vigour, mouth open agape as you breathe heavily.

“Fuck sweetheart, you’re always so noisy for me,” He groans, pinching your nipple for a high-pitched cry, which you gave him with no resistance. His cock lays stiff in his jeans, and he’s not sure how much longer he’s able to wait before he cums in his pants, so his other hand snakes down to where your tights and knickers scantily cover your pussy, rubbing over your clit and hearing you cry out into the crook of his ear.

He does that for a few seconds, switching between making sure each breast sat peaked and awake for him while running your clit, the wetness of your pussy quickly bleeding through the thin layers that protected you, his hips rutting against your thigh as he groans in every rhythmic motion of his hips. Your lips are always on him somehow, and just as Eddie feels like he’s going to burst, feeling his orgasm starting to bloom, his hands travel to your ass, cupping your cheeks in his hands and squeezing before he huskily asks you to jump, your legs wrapped around his waist while you work on getting your tights off, leaving them stretch just below your knees.

Eddie drags his lip between his teeth when he looks down to your panties, the large spot of wet ever so distinct to him, even in the pitch black darkness of the night.

Finally deciding to relieve himself, Eddie uses the one hand he’s not using holding onto you to take his belt off and undo his zipper, moaning with volume as he takes his cock between his hands, squeezing at his base lightly, all the while staring at you, your eyes filled with intense arousal.

“Fuck me, Eddie, please,” You whisper, your forehead resting against his in a sweet manner of intimacy in the heat and sweat of the activity you were both partaking in.

He drags his cock slowly against the thin layer of panties, your moan making him twitch even in his hand.

“I— shit, I’ll fuck you, sweetheart, if you say that you miss me,” He says thickly, his fingers toying with the edge of your knickers.

Forehead still on his, you kiss his cheek gently, then his nose, then the corner of his mouth and then to his lips when you reply, that twinkle in your eyes returned and brighter than ever in the darkness of the back of Eddie’s van. “I miss you Eddie. Jesus fuck, I’ve missed you every day. Not one day I didn’t think about you.”

He seems satisfied with the answer, kissing gently on your lips while he puts your panties to one side, delicately prodding your hole with his finger, and you clenched around him perfectly, dripping wet and waiting for his cock to fill you up all the way.

You both moan loudly when Eddie ruts his hips up, thrusting all the way. He swore he’d never forget how perfect you feel, how you managed to always fit him just perfectly, the right fit for him, but with him inside you once again for the first time in a few tears, it’s like a memory that had come to life once more.

He thrusts with a consistent confident pace, your mouths conjoined to silence the sounds of panting and morning as the van rocked back and forth as he fucked you against the sound of the van, your hands occasionally pulling on his hair when he ruts deeply to your sweet spot.

When you throw your head to the side, your moans getting more pant-like and heavy, and Eddie remembers your queue that you were close, and he was determined not to cum until he had satisfied you entirely.

“Come on baby, I know you wanna come for me. Miss me—fuck, miss me so much you’ll be such a good girl and cum just for me, yeah?” He grunts, his speech coming in time with his thrusts, and your loud moan in response tells him you’re close, really close, his thumb coming to massage circles onto your clit once more.

You moan again, tugging on Eddie’s hair, “I’m gonna cum Eddie.”

He presses a sweet kiss to your cheek, “Cum then, sweetheart. Make me proud,” And it undoes your knot, your orgasm washing over you like a tsunami wave, Eddie feeling himself come undone just when he feels your juices drip down his cock and onto the thighs of his jeans, riding out his high with you by rocking gently, slowly coming to a stop when your moans run out and you tiredly hang your head into Eddie’s neck.

Kissing you once again when he pulls out, a whine of sensitivity leaving your mouth, he pulls your knickers and tights back up, stuffing himself back into his jeans before taking your hand and sitting you down on the small black loveseat he had bought for the band whenever they had practice.

Your head rest against his shoulder, hands mindlessly playing with the zip of his leather jacket while he strokes the top of your hair, pressing occasional kisses into it.

“I meant what I said, you know.” You whisper into the silent air, the van thick and muggy and smelling of sweat and sex that should have been enough to get Eddie out, but he was too tired to care. “I miss you everyday. And I-I fucked up, I know, but I wanna try again, with you,” You sat up now, looking at Eddie straight in the eye. “If you’d let me.”

Eddie smiles, full of love and adoration, taking your hand and kissing your knuckles as if they were made of gold. “I’d be stupid if I let the love of my fucking life get away from me like this again.”

tagging some people i love!

@will-on-the-internet @prettyboyeddiemunson, @benedictscanvas @indouloureux @lilacletter

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson smut #eddie munson x you #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson ansgt #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x afab reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson one shot #eddie munson x fem!reader #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #eddie munson x gn!reader #stranger things fic #ruby writes

4K notes · View notes

worksby-gabriella · 3 years ago

Text

Overbearing, Protective, Dick Head Older Brothers

Pairin: Eddie Munson x Harrington!reader

Summary: Y/N is Steve's younger sister, and dating Eddie Munson. She believes to have been hiding her and Eddie's relationship well but that's obviously not true. It seems to her all her close friends know besides her older brother... until he eventually does.

Warning: cursing, talk of religion, terrible title, bad summarizing 😬 I think that's it.

fem!reader

Request for: @floralentry

“Okay, so I was thinking.” I start to say as I walk next to Eddie on our way to the cafeteria.

“Oh, well that’s never good.”

I laugh with non-existent humor, “Very funny, asshole.”

As the cafeteria starts to come into view, I feel Eddie rest his hand on my lower back and nuzzle his face into my neck, or at least try to before I gently push him off.

“Eddie, not here.” I say giggling.

“Why? I don’t know about you, Y/N, but I don't see any over-bearing, protective, dick head, older brothers around.” He pretends to glance around as he starts to open the cafeteria door for me.

“Hey, don’t say that! He just cares, is all, maybe a little too much but it’s still something. And you’re right, Steve isn’t around but someone might tell him.”

“Oh yeah? Like who?” We’re entering the lunch line, when I start to get cautious of who’s around.

“I feel like you’ve forgotten no one knows about us, Eds. And even if they did Mike, Lucas, Dusty, Max, and Robin could still snitch. Remember he used to be King Steve? You’d be surprised whose loyalty still stands.” I lower my voice just slightly, and add dramatic air quotes to the words, “King Steve.”

“Come 'on do you honestly think they don’t already know? If there’s one thing, I’ve learned this past year it’s that those kids aren’t stupid. I mean, it’s not like they would rat us out even if they did know.”

I grab my lunch tray and look behind me to see Eddie following me as I walk over to a lunch table that Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Max are occupying. Robin is usually also at the table; some people might find it a little weird that seniors sit with some dorky freshmen at lunch but after about a month we got used to the stares.

“Why is it that you don’t want Steve to know again?” Eddie starts to walk a step ahead of me, and turns toward me, walking backwards.

“First of all, you’re going to trip. Second of all, he’s been through a lot, he’s got a ton on his mind, and lastly, you guys aren't exactly two peas in a pod.”

“Bullshit! You’ve been through a lot too. Listen, Harrington’s a big boy I’m sure he can handle some surprising news.”

I pull out a chair next to Max with my foot and Eddie sits next to me, “We’ll talk about it later.” I tell him.

I see Eddie glance around the table, which causes me to also glance at our friends around us. I find myself turning to see them already looking at me, and well, Eddie.

I smile awkwardly and try to search for something to say to distract them from me and Eddie, when I catch a glimpse of Robin walking with her lunch tray. I wave my hand at her so she can see where we are sitting.

They all break their focus from me and Eddie when Robin, she plops down across from me, “You guys won't believe the day I’ve had!”

Robin starts ranting, and I try to open my can of coke, but I find myself struggling a bit.

“Fuck.” I’m getting frustrated when Eddie pulls the can from my hand and pops it open the first try.

“Language, sweetheart.” He says, handing me my soda and winking at me.

I push my tray a little bit forward since I have no plans on eating any of it and open my backpack.

“So, you never told me what you were thinking about.” Eddie’s voice is hushed and his mouth is slightly tilted to my ear.

“hmph, yeah. I was thinking we should go see a drive-in movie for our date tonight. I never would’ve thought about it but Nancy was telling me about when she went with Johnathan before he moved.”

“Ah, I like that idea, Y/N. What movie would we be seeing?”

I finally found what I was looking for in my backpack, when I start explaining, “I was pretty set on watching Pretty in Pink, it came out a couple months ago but I never got the chance to see it-”

I pause mid-sentence and waver a sandwich bag with two chocolate chip cookies in front of Eddies face, “want one?”

He nods so I hand him one and continue on, “But they also have The Nightmare on Elm Street if you don't want to watch some girly chick flic.”

I watch as Eddie takes a glance over at everyone in the corner of his eye and smugly places his hand on my thigh. I freeze in place, still eating my cookie however, when Eddie says, "No, no, it’s all good. I’m fine with seeing Pretty in Pink.”

“Are you sure? I know how much you like Nightmare on Elm Street.” I tell him, raising my brows.

“I’m positive. Besides, as long as I’m with you, I don't care what we do.”

“You’re too sweet, Eds.”

In a matter of milliseconds, Eddie sweeps both of my legs over his lap, and uses his arm to pull me closer, putting his nose in my neck and pretending to smell me. I’m still sitting in my chair but Eddie’s hair is tickling me so I start to squeal and laugh, trying to push him away from my neck. I throw my head back giggling when Eddie finally stops and tells me, “Nope. That’s all you, Y/N.”

I’m catching my breath when I can practically feel eyes burning into my soul so I look up to see Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Robin staring at us. I straighten faster than I ever had, smoothing down my hair and dusting of my shirt. Eddie is looking down, with a shy smile on his face, pink is blooming all over his cheeks. I clear my throat when Robin starts, “Were you guys even listening?”

“Of cour-” I try to cover up our mess.

“Jesus!” Max is looking away, rubbing her temples with her hand.

“For Christ sakes! Get a room!”

“Could you be any more obvious!”

“Just friends, my ass.”

“It’s not what it looks like. We’re seriously, just friends.” I try to explain, desperately looking at Eddie.

“Uh yeah... Like we didn’t just hear you guys plan out your stupid cheesy date night.” Dustin states, giving us both an incredulous look.

And then I hear Mike burst out laughing, holding onto Lucas's shoulder for support, "As long as I'm with you my sweet baby." His voice is dropping a couple octaves as he mocks Eddie, pretending to coo in Lucas's ear.

I crumple up my napkin and hurdle it at Mikes head, as Eddie comes back at Mike and Dustin, "hey, hey, Mikey Man and Dusty Bun, don't be jealous just ‘cus your little Scarlet Witch and your Amish homesteader live states away from you."

As soon as I realize that Eddie has practically admitted our secret ardor, my eyes widen as big as saucers, “Eddie!”

The table starts to chuckle as Mike and Dustin look away rolling their eyes and Dustin says, “She’s Mormon you idiot.”

"Aw, you guys. I actually think they're really cute. It’s adorable really.” Robin is smiling from ear to ear.

“Ha well, you have to hand it to us, we’ve been doing a pretty great job at hiding it.” I point out proudly.

Everyone besides Eddie goes into a fit of laughter, “Uh- What?” I’m completely oblivious to whatever it is that I said to make them laugh.

Max stops, trying to catch her breath, “Ha, you can’t honestly think that we didn’t know about you guys.”

Eddie raises his brows at me as if to say, “I told you so,” My jaw falls open as I ask, “How long have you guys known?”

Mike rolls his eyes, “Please we’ve all known since the week after spring break.”

“Uh- you’ve got to be kidding me. That’s what when we started dating.” I say, finding this unbelievable.

Dustin and Lucas scoffs, “yeah, we know.”

Eddie rubs his hand up and down my thigh, in a much more innocent manner than before, trying to give me a piece of solace. I didn’t think to mention Steve because no one else did. I mean they’re not stupid, it isn’t like they would’ve told Steve either way, right?

“Have fun on your date tonight though.” Lucas says right when the bell rings.

Me and Eddie are the first to get up, and as we’re turning our back to them, we hear Mike, Dustin, and Max start moaning in a high-pitched manner, “oh ah oh, Eddie. Oh my god, Eddie!”

I whip my head around so fast, in time to see Robin chuck her soda can at them, “Hey! Shut up you little pervs!”

I hide my face in Eddies, neck groaning in embarrassment, and he seems to find this amusing because he just chuckles.

“It isn’t funny, Eds.” I give him a light shove on the chest.

“Sure, it isn’t, sweetheart.” Eddie tells me, pressing his lips to my forehead.

I give Eddie a quick goodbye kiss on the lips and open the passenger side door to his van, as we had just gotten back from our date, and he was dropping me off at my house. I was fulling expecting Eddie to stay in his van and watch me walk to the front door and then drive away, so when he also gets out of the van, I give him a questioning look, “What’re you doing?”

“Can I come in?” He asks me, I figured he’s asking because it’s quite late and my parents are home. Steve was probably asleep or out anyway.

I grab his wrist to look at his watch, to see it’s about to be eleven, so I nod and say, “Yeah, Steve is most likely sleeping or out with Robin. We’ll have to be quiet though.”

I’m jumbling with my keys at the front door, and finally open it only to see that the kitchen and living room light is on. I thought that maybe I felt the lights on so I continue leading Eddie to the living room. As we’re nearing the room, I hear laughter and snorting. The realization hits me that Steve is home and apparently has friends over.

“Fuck!” I whisper yell, pushing me and Eddie against the wall, where we can’t be seen.

“You’re really starting to take a liking to that word, Y/N.” Eddie tells me, smirking.

I roll my eyes at him, “Steve’s home.”

“Oh really? I thought it was the boogeyman. Who is he even with? It’s not like he has friends.”

I elbow him when I hear a familiar voice, “Man! You should’ve seen their faces when we told them that we knew!”

My eyes widen with horror as I turn to Eddie, still against the wall in the hall, “Shut up. It’s Dustin.”

I hear more familiar voices. Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Max and Robin are laughing while sixteen candles plays on the T.V.

“Who’s faces?” Steve asks them.

“Y/N’s and Eddie’s.” Max answers.

I can only imagine Steve’s confused, crooked smile as he asks, “W-Wait... What is it that you knew?”

“That they’re dating, dingus.” Robin answers.

“What?!? What do you mean that they’re dating, Robin?” Steve asks scoffing.

“I’m taking it that you didn't know...”

I grab ahold of Eddie’s hand and tug him after me as I try to silently walk back to the foyer and tip toe up the stairs but I see Steve round the corner, and stand there with his arms crossed. I swear he looks just like our dad that one night he caught me and Steve sneaking back into the house.

“Y/N get your ass down here right now! It’s too late, I already saw you.”

My shoulder’s slump in defeat and I’m practically pouting like a child as I walk back down the stairs, leaving Eddie on the steps.

I walk past Steve and into the living room as he stands, taking the stillness of a statue.

“You too Eddie.” He says in a stern voice.

I can see from the corner of my eye that he looks hesitant to do as Steve tells him but I just roll my eyes and motion with my head for him to follow me.

I do a once over at the little traitors in my living room and tilt my head so they know I was irritated with them.

“So.” Steve starts.

“What Steve?” I ask, my tone harsh and short.

“Hey. Don’t take that tone up with me young lady.” His finger is pointing down at me like a father scolding his angsty teen. I hear Lucas and Mike try to hold in their laughs behind me, I bet this is funny too them, seeing an eighteen-year-old get a stern talking too by her nineteen-year-old brother.

“God Steve, you’re not dad, you’re barely a year older than me. You act I’m seeing some forty-year-old, it’s just Eddie.” I say scoffing, motioning my hand to Eddie at that last part.

“Just Eddie? You've been lying to my face, to mom’s, to dad’s for almost two months now. You stay out late; I hardly see you on the weekends anymore. Don’t you see what he's doing to you? At first, I didn't understand, fuck, I didn’t even notice but now it’s perfectly clear. He’s not good for you, Y/N.” Steve says, his voice raising. I could almost swear I heard a crack in his voice.

I see Robin get up from the corner of my eye, motioning for the rest of them to follow her, they exit the room, and go to the kitchen. Eddie stays but tries to make it look like he's picking at his clothes. I feel bad because obviously he's in an awkward position right now.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. This is why I lied to you, because I knew you’d react badly. I knew you didn’t like Eddie, still, even after all he's done for Dustin and during Vecna. I have a boyfriend, Steve. So what? Am I not allowed to spend time with him? Why is it that I have to be at arm's length at all times? The only thing Eddie has ever done for me was be there. I’ve changed, for the better. Weren't you the one always telling me I should get out more, interact with people, experience things?” My voice matches Steve’s, going up multiple octaves.

“Why?” He asks.

“What do you mean?” I sound frustrated and it’s because I am.

“Why didn't you tell me? We tell each other everything, Y/N.” He’s rubbing his temples and I’m having a hard time deciphering what he’s making out of all of this.

“Steve... for one, I know you and Eddie had never been the best of friends, and I didn’t want you to worry. You’ve been through so much.” I tell him, grabbing at his hand.

Steve pulls me into a sudden hug, “Y/N, you’re my sister. My baby sister. I’m always gonna worry about you. You’re right, me and Eddie tolerate each other, but I don't hate him. All I want is for you to be safe and happy, you’ve been through so much too. If Eddie’s making you happy then I can deal.” He says into my hair.

I sniffle and blink away tears, “He does make me happy, Steve.”

Me and Steve jolt up when we hear a deep voice clear his throat, “Eddie.” Steve says, his voice and manner returning to normal.

“Ha. Steve...” Eddie says cautiously, a nervous smile on his face.

Steve reaches his hand out to Eddie and Eddie takes it, they pull closer together as Steve pats his back and says, “hurt my sister Munson, and it’ll be the last things you do.”

“Steve.” I say laughing, shaking my head as Eddie walks over to me, “I wouldn't dream of it.”

We all start to walk over to the kitchen with everyone else.

“Oh, and by the way Steve, I’m not a baby, I’m eighteen.”

“Yeah? Well, you sure act like one.” Steve answers.

“Says the one getting all sappy back there.”

I feel Eddie’s hand slide off my shoulder and go to my lower back, resting right above my butt, he must have forgotten that my brother was behind us because he gets startled when Steve sternly says, “Hands, Munson.”

I laugh as Steve furrows his brows and Eddie laughs nervously once again when we enter the kitchen.

2K notes · View notes