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fairyysoup · 3 months ago

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the devil i know

chapter two: look here all you want

(repost)

fic tag | fic playlist | fic masterlist

pairing(s): crossroads demon!eddie munson x fem!reader

summary: Eddie gets your car back. You're trying not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

cw: deal with a demon, inspired by american and european folklore, sacrilegious themes, horror, witch!reader, reader is 21+ in modern day, eddie is immortal, coercion (a bit), sex pact, marking, possessive behavior, animal death, trauma, reader is ostracized by her very religious hometown, depictions of abuse, dark comedy, dead dove: do not eat

please check masterlist and individual parts for content warnings before reading. this fic contains dark themes. your media consumption is your own responsibility.

ALL OF MY WORKS ARE 18+ MINORS DNI

Eddie makes sure that the man feels him before he sees him. It may be cruel, but he’s always had a flair for the dramatic– once a Dungeon Master, always a Dungeon Master– and what’s Hell without a little fun and debauchery?

The man smells Eddie’s sickly sweet, smoky aroma first. It’s the first thing anyone notices about him, of course. The shit follows him everywhere, alerting people of his presence like a fucking cat collar with a bell on it. The wind that he conjures always smells at least like a bonfire– at worst, he’s the grand eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He guesses it’s some sort of infernal practical joke (he formed the hellfire club in life, so now he has to remain in it for the rest of time, or some shit. Don’t ask him. He doesn’t know all the answers, just the dumb ones).

Then the man jolts, his eyes flying all around him as he hears Eddie. Or, at least, what Eddie allows him to hear. It begins in whispers, like leviathans in the mists, murmuring and overlapping each other. It rocks slowly toward a crescendo. And then, Eddie’s voice, soft before the man realizes what’s happening to him.

“Found you.”

There’s a sickening crack, and then the windshield of the car explodes beneath the man’s spine. He barrel rolls to the ground to find Eddie looming over him, staring him down, his eyes dead black and unforgiving.

“Hi, Spencer.” The heel of Eddie’s boot crushes against the man’s chest, holding him down. Eddie’s voice is comically musical, like the crackling of brush just beginning to go up in flames. “Busy tonight, are we?”

The man, Spencer, trembles as he stares up at Eddie. Blood tinges his bottom lip, either from biting it when he hit the windshield, or from coughing up whatever blood exists in his fermented body.

He gestures at the duffel bag that he’d been holding when Eddie grabbed him, now laying on the ground. “Look, man– I dunno who you are, b-but you can have all the fuckin’ money, it’s right there–”

“I don’t want your fucking money.” Eddie squints at him, trying to gauge Spencer’s thoughts. They’re malicious, yes, but not murderous. He robbed the liquor store down the street, and then he pulled into the motel around the corner to try to check in with the money. He’s dangerous and stupid, but he’s not a killer. Yet.

Eddie didn’t have to read the guy’s mind to know that, though.

“Whose car is this?”

“What?”

“Whose–” Eddie digs his boot harder into the guy’s chest– “Car?”

“Some fuckin’ small town whore, how should I know?” Now is not the time to play coy. Spencer learns that when Eddie’s foot shoots forward, and the toe of his book connects ungraciously with his chin. Pain rockets through his jaw. “Fuck!”

“Save it.” Eddie’s temper has grown exponentially with his immortality, he thinks. He wonders sometimes if he’d always been this way, or if Hell has just made him worse. Probably both. “Do you have any idea who you’ve stolen from?”

He’s seen the memory– Spencer, drunk off his ass and running on blind adrenaline from robbing a corner store, stole your car from the parking lot of a diner; the diner where you work.

You had to walk home in the rain. Eddie’s heart practically aches, watching you come home to an empty apartment, dirty and wet and shivering. He never wants to see it happen to you again as long as you live. He’s promised you that it won’t.

He also promised they’ll get as good as they gave. And demon or not, Eddie Munson never ever goes back on a promise.

“Hell, I stole from lotsa people,” Spencer chuckles, his head sliding back and forth across the pavement as he rolls his eyes, gargling on the blood in his mouth. “F’yer here to collect, y’can just take the money and go. I ain’t got nothin’ else.”

“Oh, but you do, Spence.” Eddie grins with sharp teeth when he bends down to pick Spencer up by his throat. The flames in his eyes burst to life, roaring red and demonic. A flash of recognition crosses Spencer’s face when he realizes that Eddie is far more than he seems. “See, you stole from my girl. Now you get to suffer.”

Eddie was always intimidating. He made himself appear like that to push people away, until it started to backfire on him, and then it just got worse when he became a demon. It’s a natural instinct for humans to shrink away. He emanates danger, even when he’s not putting on a show– even when his eyes are dark and he isn’t producing fire from his hands.

That’s one of the things that sealed your fate. You didn’t shrink away from him, even when he tested you. He’s always been a show off, and he’s very egotistical, he won’t lie. He gave you a little taste of his dark side, showed you his hellfire and brimstone, and you called him hot. To his face.

Well, you’re the prettiest girl he’s ever seen. Even if he wasn’t already sold on you, there was absolutely no way he was letting you go after that.

Eddie dumps Spencer on the ground. In Spencer’s head, the haunting voices seem to crash back raucously as magma boiling at the lip of a volcano. A chill sweeps through Spencer’s body as it retreats, as he feels the creeping panic rising in him, the ringing in his ears. Then, as soon as it fades, it’s again overthrown by the chorus, the cacophony of behemoth voices. Overlapping each other, humming along with the slow heartbeat of the drums.

It’s the arc toward the end of the death metal album Eddie wanted to write during his lifetime, but never got the chance to. It has to be good for something, even if Spencer is never going to appreciate Eddie’s musical genius.

Spencer doesn’t need to know that, though.

Spencer lays trembling, his hands clapped tight around his ears. Nothing will stop it, save time– and by then, Spencer will probably be wishing Eddie had just killed him and gotten it over with.

Eddie steps around Spencer’s body, sighing. If Hell has made him cruel, it’s also made him weirdly just. Great power, great responsibility… all that jazz.

Yeah, the powers are pretty fucking cool, he won’t lie about that.

The windshield of the car decompresses itself at Eddie’s touch, the glass creaking and groaning as it fits back into proper shape. From there, it glows bright orange and melts back into one solid pane of glass, back in the way that it had been before Spencer’s back played Happy New Year with it.

Eddie sits in the driver’s seat, his fingers nearly denting the steering wheel where he grips it. He just hopes that you don’t freak out when he gets your car back to you.

You freak out.

Granted, you only made the deal with Eddie yesterday, and you had a long day at work. For you, the afternoon had been painfully slow. Maybe it was a good thing that the diner doesn’t have a major rush every single lunch service, but it just means more of the shit work that your newbie manager, Colin, loves to give to you now that he has the authority to. You don’t know if it’s payback for you making him slice bread during his training, but he’s taking it a little bit too seriously.

You’re technically a waitress, so it’s really not in your fucking job description, but tonight he made you clean the men’s bathroom.

Did you know how many men will just ejaculate onto the wall of the men’s bathroom in a small town diner? No. But now you do, and the answer is too many.

You had to walk home, as per usual since your car was stolen a little less than a week ago. And then you got to your apartment complex, got to the last place on the last row of buildings, and your fucking car was there, in your parking space. Beautiful and gleaming and with fresh license plates.

You’re freaking out. You absolutely are– you didn’t think it was going to happen this quickly. You figured there must be some kind of wait period. Demons aren’t obligated to make shit happen right away, are they?

(They’re not. But this demon could care less.)

When you get inside, all it takes is a single whiff of smoke to deduce that he’s there. In your apartment. With all the lights turned off. You flick one on and find nothing.

“Eddie?” You say his name out loud for the first time, your voice muddled with awe. The faintest of murmurs, but to him you may as well have screamed it.

The lights flicker, and in a flash he’s standing before you. Across the room, leaning against the door to the bedroom like a vision. His eyes crackle with fire, a coy smirk on his face. “I like the way you say my name. It’s pretty.”

You startle, your body suddenly functioning apart from your mind. Your back hits the front door you’ve just stepped through, mirroring him.

“Whoa whoa whoa– hey! It’s okay.” He holds his hands out toward you, palms up, like you’re a frightened animal. In a way, you are. “We’ve been through this before, princess. You don’t have to worry about me, I’m just your friendly neighborhood demon.”

Eddie reminds himself to stop rewatching Spider-Man every time he gets a chance.

It has to be fake, you think. You’re exhausted, he couldn’t be here. And yet the room is filled with his fragrance, suffocating and somehow intoxicating. Like you might die from it but you’ll enjoy it all the same. It’s so magnetic that it nearly pulls you to him, taking a hesitant step forward toward the bedroom and then stopping short.

“How– you’re not– how are you here?” You ask him as softly as you can manage. “I thought you could only show up at a crossroads.”

“Not everything is literal, sweetheart.” He thumps his hand against the door behind him, giving you a dazed smile. “Points of entry and departure. Two paths meeting. Crossroads.”

“Huh.”

Eddie takes in the sight of you steadily, calmly, worried that if he moves too suddenly then you might disappear. You’re wearing a black, retro-style waitress’ dress and running shoes– muddy from your walk home. You clutch your house keys to your chest almost instinctively.

That reminds him of the reason that he’s here– not just to check you out, unfortunately. He brandishes your car keys, dangling them from one crooked finger. “Brought you your car.”

“Yeah, I, uh… I noticed.” After a heavy beat, you look away. Your voice is thick with tears– you’re crying. “Sorry. Thank you. I didn’t, um– I didn’t mean to offend–”

“Hey– You didn’t.” Eddie doesn’t know what to do with your tears– he doesn’t want to see you cry, ever, but he’s spent a little too much time causing tears to know how to effectively stop them anymore. He places the keys on the counter nearest him, leading into the kitchen. “I know, it’s not what you’re used to.”

“It’s not,” you agree. “It’s nice.”

Eddie rocks back against the door, pressing into it. The wood creaks under his weight. “Nice,” he echoes. “Haven’t been called that in a while. It’s… nice.”

You snort, and it’s enough to have him grinning all over again. You turn away slightly, and when you turn back you smile at him sheepishly. Trying to suck back the tears that had sprung forth so quickly. “How did you get the car back?”

He squints. He thinks to remind you that he has magic, something that a normal person wouldn’t be able to use– except, he didn’t just poof it into your parking space. He drove it, like a dumbass.

He clicks his tongue. Be cool. “I had a talk with the guy who stole it. He won’t be bothering anyone anymore.”

“Oh my god– you killed him?”

Not that cool. “No! No, I– I would nev–” you’re a demon– “I would seriously consider the consequences–”

“This is unbelievable.”

“Hey, I got you the car back. Without killing! Even though it took so so so much impulse control, please clap.” He tilts his head and grins at you. He figures he probably looks insane with his glowing eyes and cheshire cat smile.

You nod and take a calculated step forward. You point at the open wine bottle on your kitchen counter. “I’m getting a drink.”

He shrugs. “You own the place.”

“No, I don’t,” you scoff, approaching him. The scent of smoke grows stronger with each step, until you’re engulfed in it. “I pay rent up the ass because I can’t afford any place else.”

Eddie watches you pour a glass of wine with the interest of a collector looking at a piece of fine art. “What would you prefer?”

The air hangs thick with implication. What do you want me to do? Eddie holds the edge of the counter with his ringed fingers, watching your brow screw up in contemplation. He wants to reach forward and smooth it over with his thumb, get rid of any worries you might have.

He’s a sorry son of a bitch, is what he is.

“What I want–” you stop, your eyes falling to his hand. You stare at it for a long time. Hard knuckles that you’re sure have drawn blood, clunky rings like weapons. You wonder why he keeps them there indefinitely, why he chooses those accessories, keeps this form. He’s intimidating, dangerous-looking, and yet you feel a weird sort of comfort around him.

He’s the most dangerous thing in any room, and he’s asking what you want.

You look up into the demon’s smoldering eyes, and take a breath. “What I need is to not take home pocket change, because my shithead manager won’t stop skimming my tips. Y’know I trained the fucker?” Eddie’s eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah. Piece of shit won’t stop giving me crap work just because he can, and I’m– I’m–”

Eddie wordlessly nudges the wine glass towards you with the tip of his finger. You grab it and take a long gulp.

You sort of stutter and cough, trying to catch your breath when your tears of exhaustion keep wanting to spill. You’re furious. You’re so fucking angry that it’s vibrating in your bones, threatening to wither and crack them under its force. You start breathing in heavy, short bursts of air that don’t do much to calm you down at all.

“I’m barely making enough to cover my rent even with my tips,” you continue. “But now he’s stealing them and I’m having to skip breakfast to save food and I can’t find another job because the people in this town fucking hate me–”

A warm hand settles onto your back, heavy between your shoulder blades. A little bit of the tension in your shoulders melts and releases, but along with it comes the tears you were holding back. You shiver, leaning further into his touch as though it’ll ground you. Your sinuses are sore and your eyes sting as hot tears slide down your cheeks, but you let Eddie hold you up.

“Want me to kill that guy for you?” Eddie smirks when you cough out a little laugh that sounds more like a hiccup, but he’ll take it. “What? I’m so fucking serious. I’m not gonna let anything hurt you anymore. What kind of a demon daddy would I be if I did?”

“Shut up.” You bat his chest with the back of your hand. He chuckles, and the sound is as warm and soothing as his hand on your back. Your lip wobbles, your brow screwing up as you try to even out your voice, but you just come out sounding like you’ve got something stuck in your throat. “What are you, a genie with three wishes? I tell you my sorrows and you snap your fingers and fix it?”

“You get a lot more than three with me, sweetheart,” Eddie promises. His eyes are unwavering, his hand stroking lightly back and forth between your shoulders in a way that has you hypnotized, leaning towards him. “And it may take more than just snapping my fingers, but yes. I’ll do it for you.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re married, baby.” He holds your gaze gently, hoping not to upset you any further. “‘Til death do we part,’ right? We’re a team now. Your needs, my needs. That’s why you signed the contract. That’s why I gave you this.” Eddie’s warm hand ghosts over your wrist, and the mark that bears his name seared into your skin. The mark tingles, itching with recognition at his touch. “Just say the word and it’s yours.”

You’re still crying. Big, glossy tears falling down your cheeks, making him falter. He’s floundering. He doesn’t know how to make them stop, and the more he tries to get you to tell him, the harder they’re falling. You aren’t hyperventilating anymore, thank fuck, but you’re still quietly sobbing, and you’re not telling him what he needs to know.

Eddie tries searching for it. Squints at you, tries reaching into your mind to find what you need– sort of the same way that he saw the memory of you and the fucker who stole your car. All he gets is one repetitive thought, spinning around in the forefront of your mind.

Hold me. Hold me. Hold me.

“C’mere,” he tells you softly. Eddie reaches forward, turning you slowly by the shoulder until you’re facing him. He watches your face for any kind of disgust– there’s nothing, save the big tears that keep falling.

He pulls on your shoulder, just barely, and you crumple. You face plant into his chest and take a deep, shuddering breath that rattles in your lungs and tastes like a campfire. Eddie is warm as a space heater and his arms are strong, wrapped around you tightly to keep you from falling.

Eddie holds you until he feels you stop crying. He thinks. Maybe you’re still crying, but it isn’t shaking your entire body anymore, and he feels like that’s a move in the right direction.

“Just say the word,” he speaks into your hair, just loud enough for you to hear. A timid hand comes up to pet the back of your head. He hasn’t held someone like this in ages. “I can try to read your mind, but then I get the wrong idea, and you won’t like what I’ll do. I’m willing to do anything for you, honest. But y’gotta tell me, baby.”

You hesitate, and then you pull back, puckering your lips in a way that distracts him. He fixates on them, tilting his head as he watches the way they move. Remembering how they felt on his own when he kissed you last night. He hasn’t kissed someone in ages, either.

“No killing Colin,” you conclude, knocking him out of his reverie. He groans. “I’m serious! He’s a dick, but I don’t want that on my conscience. Please, Eddie.”

“Not even a little bit?”

“No.”

“Fine,” Eddie grumbles, pouting and stomping his feet. “But you wouldn’t feel that way if you saw the kind of torture we can whip out in ye olde Hell. Make your skin crawl right the fuck off. Ooh! That’s actually a good idea–”

“Maybe, sometime.” You shake your head. “But not now. Just… get him to quit. Or something. Okay?”

Your hand presses into Eddie’s chest. It feels like a blast straight into his infernal heart. His eyes fall to it, taking in the willing touch that you give him and letting it define his entire being for a second.

Oh, he’s in trouble. He’s really, really done for.

“Okay, sweetheart. Anything you want.”

His kiss is a ghost of a touch on your cheek, just barely a whisper of skin on skin. Just enough to make you gasp and nearly turn your head, to lock his lips with yours. You practically fight the urge to do it. Your heartbeat kicks up– not for the reason you think it should, either. You aren’t scared. He doesn’t make you nervous– at least, not in an uncomfortable way.

You want Eddie to press his lips to yours, and you want him to hold you again. You want him to stay indefinitely. Make a home on your couch and hold you in his lap all night. You think that if you asked him, he might do it. Anything you want, right?

But he pushes away from the kitchen counter, and he’s gone as quickly as he appeared, in a rush of air carrying his scent. With a sigh, you sink back on your heels, finding yourself wishing that his arms were still there around you, to catch you before you fall.

You lift your glass of wine to your lips. The imprint of his name still itches on your wrist.

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #stranger things #tdik!fic #stranger things fanfic #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #demon!eddie munson #demon!eddie #roses*

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trashmouth-richie · 1 year ago

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𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚜?

summary: just a summer day with your best friend, his girlfriend and his best friend.

A/n: I think I’ve written shy and awkward Eddie one other time but I just love him. He’s a little shy in this but the other chapters he’ll be very awkward

Eddie x fem! Reader, best friend! Gareth

18+ fluff, sweet + shy Eddie.

part 1/?

pt. 2: my ties are severed clean

pt. 3: so I turn back the time

“C’mon princess, the water isn’t that cold.”

“Wanna play mermaids?”

—

The van skid to a stop in the parking lot of Benny’s. Clouds of dust circling in its wake. Loud, mind splitting music blaring from the speakers, turning heads in the diner to glare out the filthy fog stained windows to see who would cause such a ruckus on this beautiful Sunday afternoon in the cozy sleepy town of Hawkins.

Your bestfriend since kindergarten, had called you earlier today, begging you to go to the pool with him and a friend.

“Aren’t we a little old for that?” You protested, balancing the corded phone between your ear and shoulder as you tie the pink apron strings around your waist, “besides Gare, I gotta work today.”

Even though his pleads and promises to make it worth your while peaked your interest, you still turned him down. Rent was due in the next week and you were short.

So you went to work, waiting tables and slinging pieces of cherry pie to the cheerful families after Sunday service. A smug hint of regret on your customer service smile.

It was 91° outside, making the diner feel like a special secret layer of hell that only existed in Hawkins. The itchy starch of your uniform clung to your skin and, sweat pooled down your back and made your hair limp. You took orders while fanning yourself with a menu.

Rubbing a sweaty glass of tea on your neck to cool yourself down, you had already replaced your usual bubblegum with ice cubes, melting too quick on your tongue to make it worth it.

By 2 o’clock you were tired and uncomfortable from being hot and sweaty. A combination mixed with irritation as one of your regulars yelled at you for forgetting ketchup. And when you slammed down a bottle on his table and cracked a half wit here you are, the bell above the front door dinged to alert you another no tipping customer came in for their dinner.

You stretch your lower back with both hands on your hips slightly, you call out behind the faded white swinging doors welcoming whoever to Benny’s and that you’d be right with them.

Straightening your hair and grabbing a few menus and napkin rolled silverware, you hear a familiar voice.

Not knowing him on a personal level, just from afar. Always with Gareth and the boys, the lead singer of their Hawkins famous band. The long curly haired, mysterious, Eddie Munson stood at the door.

He was leaning against the door frame, an unbuttoned flannel flapping gently with the oscillating steel blades of the old fan. The prettiest grin stretching his face into a sweet smile.

You didn’t have time to address him before his face turned into a makeshift look of worry. Big doe eyes glistening with eyebrows pulled upward into that mess of curls

It’s Gareth, there’s been an accident.

Without thinking, you throw the menus down on the nearest shelf and run to tell Benny you have to leave. Grabbing your purse and keys.

Gareth was always fucking around, taking his skateboard behind Jeff’s car, lighting fireworks off in the barrels behind the mall— it could be anything.

The tears are still fresh in your eyes when the seatbelt clicks into place, followed by a pair of warm hands covering your eyes, the faint familiar smell of camel cigarettes and chips.

Eddie speeds off from the parking lot and you gasp and turn around to hear the giggling boyish laugh of none other than Gareth.

Sitting smug with a cigarette tucked between his lips, his girlfriend Molly sitting next to him, a small smile on her thin lips.

After punching your friend and listening to the two rowdy boys laugh loud at your tears you explain through a pout that you don’t even have a suit.

Of course the shared 5 brain cells left between them already had that covered.

So here you were, ass pinched in the plastic chairs at the Hawkins Community Pool. The mothers of young children flocked to their reserved seats positioned carefully beside the wooden lifeguard perch. Eager for the brainless attention and smug mustache grin from the mullet wearing asshole that was Billy Hargrove.

When arriving to the pool, Eddie and Gareth tore off their shirts and shoes, both wearing cut off jeans into the cool water. Diving into the deep end despite the whistles from the sour faced lifeguards that forbade them from running.

Heels over head back-flips, cannonballs that sprayed the sidewalk, Olympic style dives from the high dive, throwing kids in the pool who came back for

more—they hadn’t stopped since getting here. Eddie’s soft brown curls hung wet—almost straight down his back and floated in the cool water as he climbed the steps up from the deep end.

Molly rubs another layer of baby oil on her legs and lets out a big sigh, her tortoise shell sunglasses sitting perched on her button nose. “It was Eddie’s idea, believe it or not.”

“What was?” You question, trying to adjust the skimpy borrowed red string bikini around your boobs.

“Picking you up,” she answers, a smirk in her lips, “he’s been begging Gareth all summer to give him the okay to ask you out.”

Eddie Munson?

“Nah uh..”

There was no way.

“Swear on the Bible, babe,” Molly grins, and she flicks the lighter against her pall mall.

“Gareth told me he was dating that girl who works at the Hideout, the one with the big tits?”

She rolls her eyes, “Gareth just didn't want his best friend dating his other best friend, he wouldn’t be able to choose sides if you guys broke up.”

“I barely even know him,” you say slowly, suddenly feeling a swarm of butterflies tickle your tummy, “he was older than us in school and I wasn’t in Hellfire.”

Flashes of your high school years blur before you, when he wasn’t making an ass of himself in the lunch room, Eddie was quiet, small laughs with his friends and completely enamored by D&D.

“Well according to Gareth, he’s been wanting your number for years, but was too shy to ask.”

You caught his eye a few times since getting to the pool. A shy glance here or there, dark eyes peeking over from the crest of the water to check if you had seen his cool trick from the high dive.

Eddie Munson had a crush on you.

“Babe!” Gareth calls from the side of the pool, his mop of scraggly curls dripping, “get in the water with us.”

Molly pushes her sunglasses into her thick blonde hair, “absolutely not, I didn’t come here to play.” you both giggle at him as he pouts and you almost jump out of your skin when Eddie looks directly at you.

“What about you?” he asks, splashing a handful of water up at you, the droplets hit you like lightning.

A small squeal leaves your lips as you wipe the water off your warm tanning skin, “fuck! that’s freezing!”

“Oh c’mon princess,” he purred, ignoring Gareth’s eye roll and wiping a hand down his slightly sunburnt face, “the water isn’t that cold.”

His smile warms your insides and sends an ache to your core. Lowering your chair you lay flat on your back, tossing a middle finger to the two boys floating in the deep end, a small victorious smile on your lips as the sun shines on your face.

You didn’t remember ever seeing Eddie with a girlfriend, and from the lies Gareth told you about him being a ladies man, you figured maybe he just didn’t date.

A shadow is casted against your stomach and face and you peek open one eye to see Eddie standing before you, dripping chlorine water down his tattooed chest. His cutoff black jeans hanging heavy on his hips, the black boxer briefs sitting dangerously low on his hip dips. His large hands thread through his hair wringing out the dark curls onto the concrete.

Your thighs clench at the sight and your breath hitches in your throat.

“Don’t make me pick you up and toss you in, sweetheart.” he says all too smooth, shaking his head like a dog. A toothy grin plastered on his ridiculously good looking face.

You put a foot onto his wet chest, stopping him in his tracks and wiggling your painted toes against his tattooed skin, “you wouldn’t dare.”

And what is meant to stop him only drives his want further. Before you can figure out what is happening, Eddie has you scooped up in his arms and is tickling your sides.

“No no no! Eddie, please!”

Your kicking and giggling falls on deaf ears as his cold wet skin seeps into your swimsuit, the ends of his hair bead water onto your chest as you cling to his neck.

Standing on the edge of the pool, his back facing the water, the browns of his eyes lighten in the sun, and his eyelashes kiss together as he squints.

He licks his lips, and you see the flash of what looks like a small metal ball on his tongue, “d’you trust me?”

Scrunching your nose you close your eyes and nod, you hear a laugh erupt from his chest as he falls back into the water with you.

The water was freezing. And Eddie’s hair covered your face like silky seaweed. Opening your eyes under the water, you see Eddie smiling at you, bubbles encasing him. He grabs your hand and you both break the surface of the water.

“Eddie, you jackass!” Molly yells from her chair as Gareth takes comfort in your chair next to hers, “you could have hurt her.”

“She’s in good hands,” Eddie yells, his eyes never leaving yours as he treads water in front of you.

You blush under his stare, the butterflies taking over and fluttering wildly, you feel like a teenager.

And you’re almost embarrassed when you blurt out, “wanna play mermaids?”

And more surprised when Eddie only laughs and says, “teach me?”

Your sides hurt from laughing, legs ached from playing like kids with Eddie. Just when you’d think he would want to stop and sit out, he’d come up with another game.

Sharks and minnows: he volunteered to be the shark each time just to be able to chase you around the pool.

You had repeated diving contests off the high dive: where he waited for you in the water raising up his fingers in numbers to every single dive you performed as if he was a judge at an event, his smile wide and cheery.

He laughed at the way you asked him to do George Washington style hair dos, but dunked his head into the water to proudly show his new hairstyle, trying not to melt at your little giggle and the feel of your fingers in his hair, pushing his bangs back into submission.

When the pool was nearly empty and a sunburnt Molly and Gareth took the van to go get Aloe Vera before Melvald’s closed, Eddie closed you in around the edge of the shallow water during a game of Marco Polo.

His voice low and velvety when he answered. Your eyes pinched shut as you reached for him and he closed his fingers between yours.

“Got ya,” you whisper, opening your eyes and seeing Eddie staring down into your face. Small freckles dot his nose and upper cheeks from the day in the sun, “you lose.”

Eddie’s playfulness is gone, he’s all serious behind the depth of his coal eyes, “you sure about that, babe?”

“Is that a thing of yours? Pet names for all the girls?” you tease.

His eyes soften and his thumb traces your chin, “and if it was?”

The sun is behind his head like a halo, and god he looks like a fallen angel.

Your tongue darts out to wet your lower lip, the astringent taste of chlorine bitter on your tongue. Eddie’s eyes follow, and you see the silver jewelry again in his mouth when he repeats your actions.

The thought of that steel ball hugging and sweeping against your lips make you shiver.

Before you can answer him, all the lifeguards blow their whistles and announce the pool is closing.

But Eddie doesn’t budge and neither do you. His thumb sweeps against your cheek and you buckle under his touch.

“Hey assholes!” A loud booming voice full of too much testosterone and choked balls from the worlds tightest swim trunks echoes across the concrete pool, “we’re closed, get the fuck out!”

Eddie rolls his eyes up at the mullet wearing douche, and plants his hands on the edge of the pool, jumping out. Water splashes around his feet as he extends a grin and a large hand down to you, “c’mon princess, i’ll walk you home.”

#eddie munson #eddie x fem!reader #eddie x you #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fluff

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reallyromealone · 10 months ago

Note

Maybe a part 3 to resilient?

Resilient chapter 3

Eddie Munson x male reader

Stranger things

Warnings: omegaverse, male reader, angst, Omega male reader, implied mpreg, Eddie feels like Dookie

☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️🐟☁️

(sons name) excitedly ate his pancakes, (name) looking fondly at his kid as Hopp drank his coffee while reading the morning paper "so ducky, you are gonna hang out with grandpa today, isn't that fun?" (Name) Gently cleaned the pups face as they moved on to their bacon, extra crispy just like (sons name) liked it.

(Sons name) Looked giddy before glancing at his grandpa "what we doin!?" He asked with an aggressive level of excitement and Hopp chuckled "you gotta see bud" his eyes holding a glimmer of excitement as he finished his coffee "now finish your food"

Eddie stood infront of the apartment door, nerves invading his mind as he hesitated to knock, pulling back when he was about to and pacing slightly in a small circle.

"Stop being a bitch munson... Just knock on the door" he took a deep breath and knocked on the door, waiting anxiously for ten minutes before knocking once more "he's not there" a withered old voice said as Eddie turned to see an elderly woman at the door across the hall "do you know where he went?" Eddie asked anxiously and the woman sighed "moved to his dad's or whatever... Good kid, gonna miss 'em" Eddie thanked the woman and left the building, a shuttered sigh escaping his lips as she toyed with his car keys, thankful that no one really cared about him as he got inside his mustang and just rested his head on the wheel.

"Fuck" he was at Hopps? That was practically a death wish for Eddie... Hopp had zero qualms for shooting people off his property and added bonus of Sheriff... Yeah he wasn't going there.

He drove around town, aimlessly looking for any sign of the Omega as he tried not to let anxiety flood him as well as avoid anyone he may know, especially Robin and Steve... The two were a danger within themselves.

(Name) Was happy as he ended his shift, walking to the local toy store to get his toddler a few gifts as he had a fair more amount to work with now that he didn't pay rent, already having decorations hidden in his closet for the party in just a few weeks.

(Name) Looked at the toys his son would like, large building blocks and paw patrol were big contenders as he looked at his options carefully "I am not getting that... To many parts" parts he and his dad will definitely step on eventually and frankly that's not what they needed.

(Name) Was excited as he left the store with a few bags of toys, giddy he got to splurge on his little sunshine.

He wasn't expecting to lock eyes with Eddie... He always thought of this day... The day he would eventually see him, have something witty to say or maybe be cool and put together and make Eddie regret hurting him like he did...

But all he did was stare, throat tight and body suddenly freezing cold as Eddie looked like a sad puppy "can... Can we talk?" Eddie said softly, (name)s breathing uneven as he felt himself grow dizzy with anxiety... Suddenly he felt like the helpless teen he was almost four years ago.

It was extremely tense as they sat before one another in the back of a small diner, coffees infront of both of them, neither speaking for a solid ten minutes.

"So... You're back" (name) whispered as he fidgeted with his fingers, Eddie wanted so badly to reach out to him but he knew that would be a terrible idea "I am... Wayne showed me the letters... I-I didn't know" (name) just stared at him coldly, anger flooding through him "yet you still did what you did" (name) whispered, voice shaking with anger as he looked Eddie in the eye "never did you think to believe me, to listen to me... But now suddenly I matter? I don't care if you didn't know, I will never forgive you" (name) seethed, a strength rushing through his veins that he didn't know he had and Eddie looked gutted at his words. Good.

"You sent me a cease and desist, I don't understand why you are talking to me since you clearly despsie me" (name) was more confident as he leaned back "after all, I'm just a gold digger and a whore who wants to earn THE Eddie munsons favor again" paraphrasing Eddie and his band mates + parts of the gangs words and Eddie looked like he was killed over and over again "I am so sorry... I'll cancel the cease and desist! I-I just wanted to make amends... Meet my son..."

"You can meet him but know I will never forgive you..." (Name) Said coldly "you can even do a DNA test if you want... Make sure you are actually the father of a whores pup" (name) knew he was the dad, (sons name) was literally a mini Eddie down to his smile but god did he want to rub salt in the wounds.

"I have to go, I have things I need to go do, I'll let you know when he and myself are ready to see you" the Alpha shakily handed (name) his number, he watched as (name) lifted bags up "goodbye, Munson" (name) said coldly and left Eddie in the diner, coffees untouched.

(Name) Rushed to his car, his dad giving him his old truck to drive and drove off, unsure where as he reeled at what just happened, god he was shaking.

He got home, sitting in the driveway as he felt anger and anxiety flow through him, he avoided ANYTHING Eddie related for almost four years and bam! There he was with a shitty apology and god (name) felt like he vindicated his past self for telling off his ex, fuck Eddie Munson frankly.

(Name) Left the toys in the car, unsure if his kid and dad were home, not wanting to risk it as he unlocked the door "YOU HOME!" (sons name) Squealed as he ran towards his dad, (name) smiling as he lifted the pup in his arms "so are you my little firecracker!" (Sons name) Gently bonking his forehead against his dams, having learned cats do it do it was his new favorite thing "how was your day with grandpa?" (Name) Asked as he walked into the kitchen area where he saw cookies and Joyce along with his siblings "what are you two doing here?" He knew Joyce had gone to go see them but... "Mom got us, we can't miss our favorite nephews birth" will said softly and (name) smiled stupidly before looking at his son "they came just to see you!"

When (sons name) went down for his nap, (name) spoke of the meeting with Eddie to his family as he nibbled on a cookie "he apologized to me and all that but god I just wanted to beat him with the mug... How dare he act remorseful when he was so cruel to me" how dare he expect that sympathy and empathy when he denied (name) it all those years ago, (name) crushed the cookie in his hand as he grew more angry, thankfully wearing scent blockers so no one had to smell the death stench of an angry Omega.

"So are you going to let him meet (sons name)?" Joyce would support anything (name) decided as her step son sighed "...I- I will let him meet him but on my terms... I plan on meeting him again and maybe bring Steve when bringing my terms... Everything is about (sons name)s comfort"

(Name) Spent the night putting the terms together, thinking of anything needed.

Then he sent off the text for a meeting to set boundaries with a deep sigh.

He didn't know if he wanted his son to have Eddie in his life but he knew it wasn't fair to his pup... Didn't mean he liked it though.

#stranger things x reader #stranger things x male reader #omega male reader #omegaverse #male reader #stranger things angst #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson #eddie Munson x male reader

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sebuckyverse · 2 years ago

Text

roommates [chapter 1]

modern!eddie munson x fem!reader

series summary: Eddie Munson broke your heart once. Now, you have no choice but to move in with him. warnings: 18+ cussing, angst, sort of enemies to lovers lol; lmk if i missed anything word count: 1,8k a/n: hello i'm back!! happy valentines day to all my besties and my wife of course! i'm celebrating my birthday today so as a gift to you, i give you a new series! i'm nervous about this bc i'm convinced this is trash lmao LET ME KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK babes ps! i originally didn't intend to give this an era, but due to some things that happen in future chapters this turned out modern again lol sorryy

masterlist ↡ askbox ↡ next chapter ↠

chapter one ♫♪♩·.¸¸

''Absolutely not!''

''Come on, he's not that bad.''

''No, Steve. I'd rather sleep on the streets.''

''You'd rather be homeless then live with him?''

''Yes.''

Steve sighed, hands on his hips, striking his signature mom pose. ''What the hell happened between you two, anyway?''

''What, he hasn't told you?''

''He's told me his version of events. You on the other hand, never seem to want to talk about it.''

Sighing, you stared into the glass sat in front of you, filled with clear liquid with a greenish hue underneath, twirling the small paper umbrella Steve added as a joke.

''It doesn't matter. What Eddie Munson and I once had, or didn't have, theoretically, is in the past.''

''Then take the room. You're both working, you'll hardly ever see each other.''

Dragging your words, you nervously played with the ends of your hair. ''I don't know...''

''Look, I gotta open the doors. You can stay in the back office tonight if you want, there's an uncomfortable leather couch with your name on it. I'd let you crash at ours, but Nance has been... emotional.''

''She okay?'' you winced, hopping of the barstool you had been sitting on the last hour.

''She thinks she can feel the baby kicking but then she realizes that it's far too early for that and starts crying.''

''Oh,'' you cooed. ''She's just excited.''

''Yeah, I know. I'm excited, too.''

You closed the door to the office space that would be your bedroom for the night. It was small, but held a small desk with various papers scattered on it, a bookshelf half empty and as promised, a worn out brown leather couch. Dropping your purse on the desk, you retrieved your phone and sat down on the couch. You rested your head on the back of the couch, eyes closed, nearly falling asleep if it weren't for the sudden rock music booming outside. You'd almost forgotten you were at Steve's place of work, a bar downtown called the Black Room.

Staring at the bleak ceiling, you bit the inside of your cheek when you felt your eyes getting watery. For the past year, after graduating high school, you had been working your ass off at a local diner across town. You were saving money for college, and other things, since you didn't receive the scholarship you hoped would change your life. Every time you got a paycheck, you withdrew some of it and kept it aside. In the year since you started working, the saved amount wasn't big, but it was still significant to you and you were proud of yourself for keeping it and not spending the money like that little devil on your shoulder keeps suggesting sometimes.

But all of that was now gone, and all it took was a simple mistake of trusting the wrong person and all of your hopes and dreams came crashing down, taking your money with it. To save some money, you moved in with an old friend from high school, Jennie. What you didn't know, was that Jennie was also a pathological liar, who was in financial debt and to ease those debts, found the money you had kept hidden under your mattress (a dumb place to hide money, you know that) and stole it to pay off some of her debts.

Throwing Jennie out was not an option unfortunately, the apartment lease was under her name, so without much thought, you turned on your heel and marched right back out. Heading down the street, you had no idea where you were going. You made it two blocks from your home and nearly collided with a lamp post, when the sound of a bus horn somewhere behind you brought you back to reality. You hopped on the bus that stopped a few feet away from you and headed straight downtown to the Black Room, where you knew Steve would be working tonight.

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You must have fallen asleep at some point, because the next thing you knew, something was kicking at your feet.

''My, my... Look what the cat dragged in.''

You'd recognize that voice anywhere; deep, sometimes raspy from all the cigarettes he likes to smoke, or at least he used to. It's the voice you used to hear late at night, reading a book out loud when you couldn't sleep due to the thunder outside, or when that same voice used to whisper sweet nothings in your ear when you weren't feeling well. It's also the voice that, one day, in less than 12 hours, turned from sweet and caring to cold and distant.

Right, you forgot he worked here too.

You were laying on your side, feet hanging off the couch. You opened your eyes and the first thing you saw were pair of black jeans, ripped from the right knee and left thigh, one of his Converse clad foot was kicking your heels. A black Henley with the front tucked into his pants, the unforgettable handcuff belt on full display with the black leather more worn out than the last time you saw it, Eddie was looking down at you like a God above, the ceiling lamp above him casting a glow around his hair, still the same as it was in high school - at least some things never change.

''Edward.'' You pushed up from the couch, wincing at the tired muscles of your back. Steve was right, that couch was shit.

The use of his full name always used to irritate him, but if it bothered him now, he didn't show it. Instead, he clicked his tongue and took a few steps to his left and sat on the desk, his hands resting beside him, gripping the edge of the table. ''Whatcha doing here, sweetheart? Haven't seen you in years.''

''First of all, don't call me that,'' you sighed. ''Second, that's none of your business.''

Eddie smirked. ''You're at my place of work, it's kind of my business.''

''What time is it?'' you felt around for your phone, but didn't find it.

''Oh, it's uh...'' Eddie pulled a phone out of his back pocket, your phone. ''02:14 am.''

''Hey! Give me that,'' you held your palm up.

Eddie looked at your hand for a moment, before handing the phone back to you, the back of his knuckles grazing your palm. You swallowed down the spark you felt speed across your arm. The sleeves of his shirt were pulled up to his elbow, exposing tattoos you had never seen before as well as his toned arms. Doing a quick once over, you noticed his physique was fuller... everywhere. Does he work out? He was pretty tall and lanky back in high school, but now he looked like he had grown into his body; the jeans were hugging his thighs and his shoulders seemed more defined.

Clearing your throat, you asked, ''Why did you even have that? Is stealing your side hustle now?''

''It was laying on the floor, pardon me. Didn't want to step on it.''

''Fine. Thanks for not stepping on it, I guess,'' you mumbled, keeping your eyes trained on the bookshelf.

''Aren't you gonna ask me what I'm doing here?''

''Don't you work here?''

''Yeah, but not tonight.''

''Okay, I honestly don't care, so...''

''Oh, don't be like that. After all, I'm here to save you.''

You turned to look at him, and that turned Eddie's small smirk into a big Cheshire cat like grin. ''Save me?''

''Steve called me and told me about your predicament.''

Groaning, you threw your head back against the couch. ''God damn Steve.''

''Look, I know we have... history and everything, but I'm only here as a friend. Consider it an olive branch for how things ended back in high school.''

You gaped at him, your eyes bulging and your mouth hanging open. ''Wow. Okay. No, thank you.''

Eddie rolled his eyes. ''You have nowhere else to go.''

''Yes, I do,'' you lied, and very obviously so. You were never any good at it.

''Then why are you sleeping on this fucked up couch?''

Gritting your teeth, you rolled your eyes and looked away from him. Damn Steve and his loud mouth, you were going to hit him on the head. Eddie sighed and got up from the desk, coming closer and crouching next to the couch.

''The offer stands 'til the end of the week. You need a room and I need a roommate now that Steve's gone. I work here every Wednesday through Saturday and after that I usually sleep for two days to get ready for my next shift. We'll hardly ever see each other.''

''Tonight's Wednesday and you're not working.''

''I needed a personal day,'' he winked.

''You know, I've heard about your gigolo way of life.''

Eddie laughed, his eyes shining in the process. ''Gigolo?''

''You're a manwhore.''

Snorting, Eddie rested his hand on his palm, covering his mouth. ''Is that what Steve told you?''

''Are you denying it?'

''No,'' he mused, his voice muffled behind his fist.

''See, that's why I can't move in. I don't want to hear that every night.''

''You used to like hearing me moan in your ear.''

Eddie must have seen the hurt flash across your eyes, since he suddenly grew quiet himself.

His voice was lower now, more serious. What he said next, made you whip your head around and look at those big, chocolate brown eyes that you used to miss so much. ''I know you hate me, I understand that. Despite what happened back then, I still care about you. As a friend, of course. Yes, I sleep around and I am a man so the place is probably messier than you'd like, but I'm offering you a free place to stay. I know you don't have any money either, I'm good to cover us both for a while. Take it or leave it.''

''Why would you do this?'' you asked, looking deep into his eyes, like you were searching for his soul through them.

Sitting so close to him, your chest constricted at all the memories and what if's that have bombarded you throughout the years. Three years after you fled high school, never looking back, he still had a hold on you and you hated him for it. Hated the way he smelled exactly the same but new at the same time, the way he looked like he used to but more mature, the way you still felt your heart nearly burst out of your throat when he looked at you with those stupid brown eyes. You despised him, because after all this time, you still felt the same. If you do this, you had to keep your heart closed, lock it away and swallow the key. Eddie Munson broke your heart once, you won't let him do it again.

''Fine. I'll take it.''

#eddie munson imagine #eddie munson #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson smut #modern!eddie #modern!eddie munson #roommate!eddie #roommate!eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson angst #eddie munson fanfic #sebuckyverse #roommates

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piratefishmama · 2 years ago

Text

Fake it 'till you make it | Part 2

Steve went on his own. Dustin tried to call shotgun, tried saying he’d back Steve up cause his friend could be ‘jumpy’, but no. Steve had to do this on his own, because Dustin didn’t know. He could have told the little shrimp, he really could have, so far he’d come out to three people, and it’d gone surprisingly well, Robin not so surprising but his parents?

Damn. He’d have put his entire life savings on that going the other way.

The risk with Dustin, however, was his mother. Don’t get him wrong, Claudia was lovely, she always had a spot saved for him at the dinner table when his parents weren’t in town, she always greeted him with warmth and kindness, he didn’t have a single complaint about Claudia Henderson. He also unfortunately had no idea how she’d take a coming out if Dustin let it slip. The kid was talkative.

He couldn’t imagine no longer being able to see Dustin because his mother found out he wasn’t as straight as everyone thought. Couldn’t imagine the truth of life in a small rural ‘god fearing’ town, thrown in his face so cruelly, that people were small minded and based all their opinions on what everyone else was doing.

Especially when everyone else seemed to be following the bullshit the Church spewed.

Dustin would be safe, he trusted Dustin. But he simply couldn’t risk how talkative he was.

So he went on his own. Robin was working, he couldn’t kidnap Robin, Keith would kill them. Or at the very least dock their pay a little and glower. This, unfortunately, created one little problem that quickly presented itself when Steve found himself sat at a visible booth at Benny’s watching for anyone entering that door.

He didn’t know who Dustin’s ‘friend’ was, and Dustin’s friend didn’t know who he was, because Dustin had so wisely decided to not reveal that titbit of information over the phone.

All he knew, was that this friend was a guy and that he’d probably be there soon. So, disaster in the making, basically. He’d been there for five minutes, it’d been ten since the phone call, and so far three men had walked in.

All of them old older, it was early, Benny did early bird specials for the older folks in Hawkins, but he still looked up every time the door opened, looking for someone who might not belong, someone who stood out from the oldies, someone who—

Holy shit. Steve immediately ducked his head. Eddie Goddamn Munson. Eddie Munson in all his leather, chains, and curly haired glory walked in with his head on a swivel, eyes scanning the diner for someone who looked out of place, someone who’s identity he also wasn’t aware of. Steve could ditch.

He could ditch without hesitation, Eddie knew him, Steve could get the hell out of dodge, take the back door, and just run for the hills, suffer the inevitable cringe fest that was going to be the week away, take it like a champ. Maybe get a brief fling with someone he would never want to settle down with, or…

He peeked through his arms, Eddie was still looking, he was checking his watch, a little frown on his brow, what were the odds, honestly, that it was Eddie?

Knowing Dustin and his stupid DnD game? Pretty fuckin high that’s what the odds were. Eddie lived for that shit, it was a direct connection. He was going to kill that little snot. Maybe… if it didn’t work out. Because he wasn’t going to be a coward.

He was going to face his uncertainties like a badass. He was going to rise from his seat, and cross the very short distance, aaaand “Hey Munson, that you?” Be totally cool, completely ignore Benny’s curious eyes from behind his little judgement window, the window where he stood in the safety of his kitchen judging everyone who dared be weird in his diner.

“Not today Buckaroo, I’m busy” oh yeah he looked super busy.

“Cool, cool, super cool, you… come for the early bird specials often then?” Ohhhh he’d perfected the deadpan stare. He had that shit down. How did eyes that pretty so cut so deep? “Heh, sorry, look man I—I don’t mean any trouble, I was just—”

“M’not carrying shit, Harrington, the hell you want with that stuff this early anyway?” Stuff? Steve frowned a little, before visibly realising what Eddie was getting at, it looked like a genuine lightbulb went off behind his eyes. He knew because that little frown was broken by Eddie raising one eyebrow in curiosity.

“That’s not what I—shit, okay. Do over. Do you know Dustin? Dustin Henderson? Lil guy, bout yay high, curly hair, ridiculous meddler, no collar bones?” The frown was back, accompanied by the squinty eyes of suspicion. He knew Dustin, he had to know Dustin, it had to be Eddie, it had to be, nobody else had come in!

“I know the little shrimp, yeah, one of my little lost sheep, how do you know Dustin?” Holy shit it had to be him. Why else would the notoriously tardy Eddie Munson be up that early on a Sunday?

“Babysitting.” Eddie’s ever so expressive face seemed to slacken in surprise, Steve didn’t give him a chance to ask further as to why a rich guy like him had to babysit. He did it for free, he liked the little fuckers, explanation unnecessary. “You uh… wouldn’t happen to have uhm… gotten a call from him… about twenty minutes ago, would you?”

It took Eddie a minute. A little frown here, a squint there, a slight tilt of his body as he looked Steve up and down, not in a ‘you’re so hot oh my god’ way more in a ‘what the actual fuck’ kind of way.

Steve felt seen in the worst possible way, wanted to abort mission, just run away, that was a judgy bitch stare and he knew it, he’d COINED that stare, he was the master of it, and suddenly it was on him and he felt smaller than Dustin back in ‘83 with his baby squishy cheeks, and then— “Nope.” Eddie turned on his heel, ringed fingers waving in refusal, “nope, nope, nope—"

Steve should have let him go. Should have just chalked it up to Dustin having the worst friends ever outside of himself, Lucas, Will, Max, Jane, and maybe Mike. Maybe. On a semi-good day cause full good days didn’t exist with Mike.

But instead he was grabbing Eddie’s elbow and babbling “Wait-wait-wait, oh my god Eddie, please just wait, please” like some kind of moron. “You did right? It’s you?”

Eddie looked back and down at his own elbow, brows drawn tight in a frown, Steve let him go. Not out of fear just… slight intimidation. Eddie was scrappy! He was a biter and Steve didn’t wanna have to get a rabies shot.

“Fine, yeah I got a call, would have told him to shove his job up his ass if he’d have told me who it was for though, Steve.” Oof.

“Fair, that’s fair, can you just… maybe sit down and let me explain though? I’ll buy you breakfast!” Benny’s eyes hadn’t moved from them for the entire interaction, and he was feeling rightfully judged by it. Rich boy causing all that fuss and not one order of food. The audacity.

“Hmph, fine, but only because I haven’t had breakfast yet.” He pushed past Steve just to walk to the counter “Hey Benny! Can I get a full stack of pancakes and a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows? On his tab.” Eddie motioned to Steve over his shoulder with his thumb

“Sure thing, kid. An what do you want, Harrington?”

“Uh… breakfast bagel, eggs sunny side up with a uh… another coffee please.” He’d already had breakfast, but he was a big dude! And Dustin always claimed Second Breakfast was like… an acceptable thing. “Thanks Benny” the tank of a man nodded his head and got to cooking without further word. “I was uh, sat over here” Steve motioned to the booth he’d been in, which Eddie seemed to mull over for a moment, before deciding he was going to sit in a completely different booth. “Alright.”

Power move. Steve could respect that. He sat down opposite him. “Talk, Harrington.”

“You… don’t wanna eat first?”

“I’m not sittin here in awkward silence with the King of Hawkins High, waiting for food when I could be hearing the details, eating, then bailing. The longer I’m here with you the more chance some asshole has of seeing me here with you. Now speak.” Ouch… but again, fair.

He’d been a shit in high school, older students had not gotten a free pass from it either. He was trying now though! Trying to be better. Robin helped, but she also fuelled his bitchy side way more than Carol and Tommy ever did. The kids helped the most, they humbled him. Brainy little fuckers.

“Right… okay. So. My parents have gotten it into their minds that I should be in some kind of long term relationship by now, so they’ve been throwing people at me, constantly, people I wouldn’t date even if you paid me to date them. There’s this thing coming up, a week away with them in a chalet, an I’m positive they’re going to bring someone to try and set me up with them, I’m certain of it, an I’d be stuck with this person for a whole damn week suffering.” It was an actual real fear, he couldn’t handle that, he’d simply evaporate, he’d perish, he’d spontaneously pop out of existence, poof, bye. “So… the job is basically to come with and pretend like we’re dating so they get off my back.”

“I think you’re missing a very important detail here, Steve.” Eddie tilted his head to the left, his smile almost cruel, Steve chose to ignore it. Eddie had his right to be defensive. “I’m a guy”

“Not important at all. They’ve been throwing men at me too.” Thank god Eddie wasn’t drinking anything because it’d have been all over the table.

He damn near choked on his own saliva, choking out a shocked “W-What?”

“I’m… I’m—” He looked around him, at the old people enjoying their meals, at Benny inconspicuously cooking behind his judgement window, risking glances through the open space every now and then to make sure his patrons weren’t causing shit or trying to dine and ditch. Old people were slow, but they could be crafty. Only when he was certain that nobody was listening, did he take a breath and let out “I’m… bi. Bisexual. And they know. But instead of being all ‘aaaaah get out of my hooouse’ they’re just… throwing guys at me instead, it’s torture. Painfully awkward torture I feel like I’m going to cringe myself to death.”

“You’re…”

“I know, I know, haha King Steve, secretly a freak of nature, a queer hiding in plain sight.” He’d heard the hatred spat at people like him, he’d been one of the people spitting hate once upon a time, before he’d grown, before he’d learned. Before he’d understood himself. It was terrifying, knowing how awful it could be if it got out “please don’t tell anyone okay? I’m… I’m putting a lot of faith in you here and that’s terrifying… I just… Dustin vouches for you… an I know you have every right to get back at me for Highschool but—”

“N-no… no I—I wouldn’t… I’d never. That’s… shit, Harrington, no… highschool shit? That shit is in a whole different category, I’ll get you back for that in some way but… not like that… never like that." He could breathe easily, even if Eddie vowed to get him back some other way, it wouldnt be that way. "So… what do you want me to do, freak em out? Go nuts? Sacrifice a chicken in the lounge? Shout a hail Satan prayer in the attic? Usually that does the trick to get parents to stop trying to set their kids up, more often than not gets em banned from dating entirely, give you a break—”

“W-What? No… no I—listen, my parents don’t stick around for long after these holidays, they’re usually gone within a couple of weeks on some business trip, dads off trying to restructure the company values or some shit to include people like me, which is cool cause he didn’t even know about me when he started that I—I didn’t know he was doing that… but that takes time, an mom’s going with him cause she doesn’t trust him to work out the legal shit on his own.” Benny chose that moment to venture to their table to place two mugs down on the surface, then silently returned to his task of plating food “I need to convince them that we’re dating… for real, and have them go off on their own believing that we’re still dating so they leave me alone… at least until they come back in god only knows how many months’ time and I can tell them we split up. Is… is that something you can do?”

Eddie took a long sip of his hot chocolate, a little splodge of cream lingering on the tip of his nose when he put the mug down that Steve almost reached over to wipe away, almost, so close. “…Usually I’m more of a freak em out kind of date, a one night done send em running for the hills kind of thing, you’re saying this is a week?” Eddie wiped his own nose clean, stuck the finger in his mouth. Steve chose to focus on his own mug.

“Mmhm, in a chalet in Canada for a week, all paid for, it’s basically a free holiday… that I’ll pay you for, whatever your usual rate is for this kind of thing, I’ll even double it… I just… I’m really hoping you say yes.”

Plates were finally delivered to the table by Benny with a friendly “eat up, boys” said in passing. Eddie drizzled syrup on his stack, then cut into it and shoved a whole layered chunk into his mouth in silence, clearly processing everything.

He chewed in silent thought, weighing the pros, the cons, the potential cash haul from such a job… the shit he might have to do… the lines they might have to cross, the revelations Steve might have about him… then remembered Steve claiming to be Bisexual and realising that part might not be all that scary.

What a wild Sunday.

“Alright…” he finally answered after swallowing his bite. “It’s fifty bucks a date though, Harrington, if I’m generous an switch that to a night to accomodate such a batshit scheme, doubled like you said is a hundred bucks per night, that’s—”

“Money’s not an issue.” Not for a Harrington. Even if he worked minimum wage, he’d get that money somehow.

“Well shit… Alright then, big guy. I guess i’m hired.”

Part 4

#PirateWrites #FakeItTillYouMakeItFiclet #Steddie #No Upside Down AU #FAKE DATE AQUIRED

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ladykailitha · 1 year ago

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Grief (A Friend Indeed) Part 9

Hello, everyone! We are almost to the end. I have all twelve parts completed and will be posting them every Thursday until the story is fully published.

So what's next? With Royal Pain being done as well, I'm going to try and finish Well Met By Moonlight and Find Your Shade By the Moonlight. I will be back working on the soulmate AU Batshit Soulmate and the next book in the Boy with a Bat series called Never Hold Back Your Step for a Moment. I'm also starting that omegaverse story I thought up here.

We meet Steve's family and find out more about why Steve's parents didn't like that side of the family much.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

****

Eddie and Steve wandered around town for a couple of hours, doing a little sightseeing, a little shopping, and a lot just being themselves for a moment or two.

Soon it was getting close to time and they headed to the diner. They pulled up and got a booth.

Eddie and Steve slid into one side and told the waitress that they were waiting for someone and to just grab them a couple of waters.

The waitress nodded and quickly came back with the waters.

They didn’t have to wait long before Percy came through the door, the little bell announcing his arrival.

Steve waved him over and he smiled in return, hurrying over to the table. Once he was settled he told the waitress they were waiting on one more but if they could get a pot of coffee and two cups please. Eddie and Steve both got sodas.

“Who are we waiting for?” Steve asked nervously.

Percy twisted the ring on his ring hand, looking down at the table. “A friend.”

Eddie and Steve shared a glance, wide-eyed.

Eddie wrote something down on a paper napkin and slid it over to Percy.

Percy took the napkin with frown and then he gasped. “Both of you?”

“Both for me,” Steve murmured.

“Just men for me,” Eddie added.

Percy glanced around the diner nervously, but no one was paying any attention to them at all.

“Oh.” He let out a shuddering breath. “Just him.” He pointed to someone walking up to the diner through the window.

He was a tall man, thin. Long black hair, braided to the small of his back. He wore a suit just as nice as Max’s in a beautiful silver color.

He came over when Percy waved at him. He slid next to Percy and looked Steve and Eddie over.

“Who are these boys, Percy?” he asked gravely.

“This my nephew, Steven and his friend...” Percy began.

Eddie stuck out his hand. “Eddie. Eddie Munson. We’re actually in Kentucky because of my own grandma’s funeral. Steve wanted to come visit his grandma’s grave so we took a drive.”

“Where you from?” Percy asked. “I catch a bit of twang to your voice.”

Eddie grinned. “Indiana mostly, but my family’s from Ashland.”

Percy smiled. “Nice town.”

Steve smiled. “It has been so far.”

“This is David Estevez,” Percy said, shyly. “The reason you’re parents haven’t spoken to me in over a decade.”

“Ah,” Steve said. “Yup, Clint Harrington is a lot of things, but tolerant isn’t one of them and of course my mom just went along with it. Even though it’s her money and her family.”

Eddie clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth. “Let’s see, not white, not from here, judging from the accent, and not straight... anything I missed?”

David burst out laughing. “Not the right kind of rich. I’m a self-made man. I worked hard to be where I am today and they hate that. I grew up poor in New Mexico and made my money building computers in my mom’s basement. Now, I’m a multi-millionaire CEO of a major tech company.”

“Dustin would love you,” Steve and Eddie said together.

“Who?” David asked with a chuckle.

“He’s this kid we know,” Eddie explained. “He built a CB tower just so he could talk to his girlfriend in Utah and not rack up his mom’s phone bill.”

“He sounds like fun,” Percy said, rolling his eyes.

David dug his fingers into Percy’s side, causing him to squirm and squeak. “As if you wouldn’t love it if I did that for you.”

Percy blushed. “Maybe.”

He cleared his throat. “How are your parents, Steven? I saw on the news that there was a horrible earthquake last March.”

Steve gulped and Eddie gave his hand a squeeze.

“I really wouldn’t know,” he mumbled, looking down at the table, tucking his hands between legs. “I haven’t seen them in a while.”

David and Percy shared a glance.

“They did come back after the earthquake, right?” Percy pressed. “To see if you were all right if nothing else.”

Steve shook his head. “They didn’t come home when I was caught in the mall fire, why would they come home for something as inconsequential as an earthquake?”

“Mall fire?” Percy asked.

“You remember, darling,” David said, “the one from last year where there were thirty people who died?”

Percy expression cleared as understanding dawned, and then it turned horrified. “They didn’t come home for that?”

Steve shook his head again. “They didn’t come home when I got a concussion so bad I was out for several hours, or anytime I got hurt.” He rubbed a scratch that was in the surface of the table mournfully.

“Mom follows Dad around to make sure he keeps it in his pants. Not that it deters him,” he explained. “I heard him bragging once about how it’s a game to him now to see what he can get away with.”

The waitress appeared with their drinks. “Are you guys ready to order?”

“I’m not hungry,” Steve murmured.

The rest of them ordered, with Eddie ordering a side of cheese fries in addition to his regular side of fries.

Once the waitress had gone, Percy leaned forward. “How long has this been going on?”

“The trips started when I fourteen or so,” he continued. “But the older I got, the longer the trips were, until they just stopped coming home sometime around Christmas of last year.”

“Stevie...” Eddie whined. “Why didn’t you say something?”

Steve shrugged. “I’m an adult. It’s not as though I’m a kid anymore.”

Percy took his hand in his. “No, Steven. That’s not how parenting works. Ever. They’re supposed to care about you enough to at least tell you were they’re going and when they’ll be home.”

Steve looked up and into his uncle’s eyes. “The money changed them. They haven’t been my parents in over a decade. I’ve just been this trophy they pulled out whenever it suited them. Had to be first in everything. I’m surprised they only let me get away three sports instead of making me try everything.”

Eddie looked stricken. “The sports weren’t your idea?”

Steve shook his head. “It was a way that they could legally pawn me off to other adults. Probably the reason for all the piano lessons and the tutoring. How I met Nancy by the way. Gotta have the best grades, until someone puts a plate through my head, then I was just as disappointing as they feared I would be.”

Everyone else at the table let out noises of distress.

“You never should have had to go through that,” David whispered fiercely. “Ever. I’m sorry your parents were awful.”

Steve shrugged. “It wasn’t all bad. I have had adults in my life that cared about me. The Chief of Police always kept an eye on me. Dad stopped hitting me after the second time Hop, Chief Hopper, I mean brought me home after...” he trailed off and looked anywhere but at the people in the booth with him.

He cleared his throat.

Their food arrived and that last sentence was left to dangling in the air like the sword of Damocles over their heads.

Percy watched as Eddie pushed the side of cheese fries between him and Steve, taking a bite periodically, but mostly focusing on the rest of his food.

Steve reached out and took one of the fries, chewing mindlessly. And then another and then another.

David smirked when Percy indicated to what Steve was doing.

Eddie pushed them in front of Steve and he just dug into them like a starving man. He took half of his burger and handed it to Steve, too.

Steve took the half with a blush. “Thanks, Eds,” he said softly.

Eddie just smiled fondly and finished his half of the burger.

David started talking to Percy to help fill the silence and soon the sense of dread dissipated as they fell into easy conversation.

Soon they were done and their plates taken away.

David lifted his chin to indicate to Steve. “Where did you learn that if you got cheese fries Steve would eat?”

Eddie and Steve glanced at each other and Steve blushed.

“Is that what he did?” he muttered.

Eddie laughed. “It’s trick I learned from his best friend. When he’s upset he won’t eat, even when he needs to, but if you put something like cheese fries or onion rings near him, he’ll graze until it kick starts his appetite again.”

Steve looked over at him in shock. “Holy shit, I never realized. Who else does that?”

Eddie smiled at him, that closed mouth, fond smile that he was got around Steve. “Dustin and Max mostly. But El and Will have been known to do it once or twice.”

Steve blinked.

“Sounds like you’ve got a lot of people that care about you, Steven,” Percy said with a grin.

Steve nodded, blushing. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

He looked at his watch and sighed. “How’s this,” he said, “why don’t you use that business card I gave you when you get home and David and me will come out to visit you for a few days?”

Steve lit up. “Yeah? You’d do that?”

Eddie grinned. Steve had just gotten his boyhood wish of having an uncle that cared and he could feel the joy and surprise radiating off his friend.

“I’d love to,” Percy said. “I would love to meet your family.”

Steve grinned. “You’ll love them.”

David smiled, too. “I’m sure we will.”

They got up and hugs were passed around everyone and they said their goodbyes.

“Goodbye Uncle Percy,” Steve said, his voice a little rough with emotion. “Bye, Uncle David. I’ll see you both soon.”

David looked happy and shocked at being called Uncle. Jasper’s daughter would never. But here was this nineteen year old boy whom his partner hadn’t spoken to in literal years being more caring and decent after a single afternoon with him, then Beatrice had her whole life.

So he did the only thing he could, he hugged Steve again, more fiercely this time. “Thank you.”

Steve nodded. He wasn’t sure exactly why David was so grateful, but he understood enough.

As Steve and Eddie walked away, Percy and David watched them get into their car.

“How long do you think it’ll take before those boys realize they’re in love with each other?” David asked.

“I don’t know Eddie very well,” Percy said, thoughtfully, “but I imagine they’ll figure it out before we come visit Hawkins.”

David hummed. If he was a betting man, he would have said the end of the week.

But he just had to wait and see.

****

Pt 10|Pt 11|Pt 12

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @chaoticlovingdreamer @messrs-weasley @goodolefashionedloverboi @maya-custodios-dionach @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @emly03 @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @bookworm0690 @itsall-taken @bookbinderbitch @redfreckledwolf @vecnuthy @littlewildflowerkitten @scheodingers-muppet @mira-jadeamethyst @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @gutterflower77 @genderless-spoon @hel-spawn @ellietheasexylibrarian @anne-bennett-cosplayer @mamafaithful @yikes-a-bee @dragonmama76 @flaming-reauxster

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #minor character death #dealing with grief

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thefreakandthehair · 5 months ago

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✨ first line tag game ✨

tagged by @fastcardotmp3 @fragilecapric0rnn @withacapitalp and @stevethehairington!! thanks besties! <33

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions

1) just an only child of the universe.

Contrary to popular belief, life hasn’t always been the kindest to Steve Harrington.

2) goin' to california.

All Steve wants to do is see the ocean.

3) sugar, we're goin' down.

When Eddie was a little kid, Uncle Wayne used to tell him: be careful what you wish for, because it might come true.

4) blue hour.

Some wounds just don’t heal.

5) butter, sugar, and northern mockingbirds.

The scent of warm chocolate and brown sugar wafts through the tiny kitchen of the Munson’s new government-issued two-bedroom house, coating its peach walls and formica countertops with familiar, homey sweetness.

6) cassette tapes and ticket stubs.

He doesn’t even know the other guy’s name.

7) been on fire, dreaming of you.

No one tells Eddie Munson anything.

8) what's mine is yours (to leave or take)

In the center of a small town only a few thousand people call home sits an even smaller diner with aluminum siding and checkered floors.

9) rounding third, sliding home.

Hawkins, Indiana. Population: 10,013.

10) never been afraid of any deviation.

It’s 1985 and the boys bathroom smells like weed.

conclusions: I have no idea, other than I never start a fic with dialogue apparently? (also, maybe it's cheating but I skipped my ficlets/drabbles because they aren't on ao3 and I'm not gonna cross-reference dates with my tag here and ao3 works to see my last ten across both platforms lmao 💀)

no pressure tags (I only know who was tagged along with me and even that, I didn't keep great track of so sorry for repeats!): @starrystevie @hotluncheddie @steveseddie @hbyrde36 @maxinemaxmayfield

@lihhelsing @just-my-latest-hyperfixation @steddieas-shegoes @steddieasitgoes @starryeyedjanai

@stervrucht @cuoredimuschio @eyesofshinigami @sp0o0kylights @shares-a-vest + anyone else who wants to hop in!

#steddie #steddie fanfic #steddie fic #steddie fanfiction #tag game #myfic

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beeehiives · 11 months ago

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And They Were Roommates (´◡`)

Steve Harrington, who, after all the events with his friends dying and the Upside Down and the Russians and Vecna, finally decides he needs to get the hell out of Hawkins.

He wants to spread his wings, find a place where he can make a fresh start without the memories of this place hanging over his head.

Eddie Munson, who, despite his name being "cleared" by the government and the local police, has a shit reputation and a healthy hatred for small town malice.

He can't wait to get away, to a place where nobody knows his name and he can live without the constant threat on his life and psyche -- hopefully somewhere where he can find a community of people like himself.

One night while he's tired and a little hopeless, Steve offhandedly mentions his frustrations with finding enough money working at Family Video to move out of Indiana.

Eddie fully sits up. He's been saving up since he got his first stash to deal, and every time he makes a long weekend trip out to Indianapolis, he picks up a copy of the New York Times to thumb through the apartment listings.

"It was more like wishful thinking," Eddie says, eyes wild and full of promise. "Let's do it, Stevie. You and me."

Steve's been looking for the first chance possible, and with Eddie's charm, how could he refuse?

Robin prods at him, teasing that it'll be torture for Steve, who is definitely not developing a crush.

So, they stay for three more months, saving every penny possible and spending every minute they can with the kids, their friends and Wayne. They promise to call all the time, and Steve sternly tells Will that they expect to see him at NYU as soon as he graduates.

When the leaves green and the weather warms, Steve and Eddie pack all their shit into Eddie's van and leave at the break of dawn for New York City, everyone waving them off. Eddie's eyes get a little glassy, but Steve puts a warm hand on his shoulder and he's excited for the future all over again.

It's an eleven hour drive, but the two have grown so used to each other's presence that it flies by. They take turns driving, and whoever isn't driving gets to play the tapes they brought.

Eddie feigns disgust when Steve puts on Tears For Fears, but smiles to himself when Head Over Heels plays.

With the savings they have and the call they'd placed to the agent before leaving Hawkins, they sign a lease on a tiny apartment in uptown Manhattan.

They walk around, exploring the neighborhood and pointing out landmarks.

"We've got to eat breakfast there. Like, all the time. God, those pancakes smell great." (Eddie.)

"Does that convenience store have a cat in the window?" (Steve.)

They eat their takeout dinner on the floor of their new apartment, sitting closer than strictly necessary in the completely empty space. Their keys are between them, and they can't stop smiling.

The next day, they go out in search of jobs. Eddie finds work at a mechanic's shop in their neighborhood, Wayne having taught him his way around a car. He'll come home greasy and sweaty, but he'll also be coming home to Steve, so he couldn't really find it in himself to care.

Steve gets a job waiting tables at a diner in Hell's Kitchen, meaning he'll have to get up early, but that also means he gets to see Eddie's wild bedhead mane before he's taken a shower that morning, so he can manage.

They come back to each other at the end of their days, sharing the household chores and each other's time.

They miss the people back home, but they're also falling into the rhythm of a future they can't wait to see.

Part 2? ヽ(•‿•)ノ You said getting together part 2?

As always, feel free to submit a fic request via my profile :3

#steddie #steddie ficlet #stranger things #steve harrington x eddie munson

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sabbathbloodysabbeth · 2 years ago

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I have this image in my head, its making my heart melt and I kind of just really want to try and use my words to paint it out for everyone here (: BUT MORE WAYNE CONTENT

The diner is small, nothing much compared to the numerous ones that kept popping up around Hawkins with fancy tables and new, sparkling everything. Munson’s diner has gone through a lot over the years, everything but bankruptcy. Which had been the shark to every other place in town. How Wayne Munson kept everything a float was a secret amongst the town. Some rumored that he took money out from under the table, which has happened before with a restaurant that used to be on the corner of Main Street and South Ave. When Wayne suddenly started to carry a toddler around on his hip, seemingly appearing out of no where with the hugest brown eyes known to man everyone in the area knew that the clock was starting to tick down to the inevitable. When the closed sign wouldn’t flip to the open side ever again. So, like the crazed people they were they started to show up in crowds. Feeling as if they had limited time to get Wayne Munson’s famous pancakes. What they didn’t expect, was for the place to stay a float for another a decade. Once the realization dawned on them that Wayne Munson wasn’t going to give into anything, everyone relaxed a bit. Though crowds still came in for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast, on most days it was normally just Wayne and his nephew running the floor. Only for Eddie to leave after eight knowing he couldn’t push being any more late for school away. Thing was, everyone loved the boy. Pretty much watched him grow up in the small beat up place. You didn’t get the true Munson Diner experience without Eddie Munson’s bright beaming smile coming towards your table to drop off a plate full of French fries. Playfully whispering to some of the regulars that he gave them a little extra. Tips had always came in for Wayne, a shy older man who would much rather stay in the grill area. Normally hiring a waitress or waiter to handle the people. But the second Eddie learned how to walk, talk and better yet carry five plates at once the tip jar was normally over flowing by the end of the day. Not counting what some customers snuck into Eddie’s pocket while running around. Wayne spent almost all day at the diner working, but it was something he enjoyed. On his days off he would still make sure to drop in and make sure that his employees didn’t need help.

With all of this knowledge, Wayne Munson is hurt. Devastated even when the whole town turns on his boy. Eggs his diner, destroys his property, and makes everything unrecognizable. His dream job and favorite human in the entire world was crushed all in one night. Later on he would have to sit on the side of a hospital bed, gripping onto Eddie’s hand to make sure that he knew that it wasn’t his fault that his business went under. Accepting that things weren’t going to be the same ever again, wayne starts to pack up the mugs that were on dozens of shelf’s wrapping around the small diner. Firing everyone that worked there, cleaning the tables, mopping, dusting, pretty much anything he could think of to make sure the place was sold. It had only been forty eight hours since Chrissy Cunningham died in his trailer, he had been the one to call the police when he walked in and found the poor girl. He had expected some trouble, what he didn’t expect was for everyone to turn against the Munson name. Thankfully he had enough money saved up to hold him over a bit before he had to get a new job and he took what he considers the most horrible vacation he’s ever had.

When his boy is finally found, barely alive he was almost the first person to see him out from surgery. Possibly a close tenth with the amount of people in the room checking in on him. Some of them weren’t even in the state when everything went down, nor did they ever actually talk to his boy. But Wayne recognized each face behind their orders. Doesn’t know any name, only associates them with their regular dish of food. Eleven was waffles, Robin was strawberries, Dustin was toothless and so on and on. Even though Wayne didn’t have much hope with this town ever accepting them again, shockingly it happens fast. When the whole town started to crave their favorite dishes. The diner hadn’t been sold yet, there were no workers to help out and there was no way Wayne was going to be able to pull this off. What the town was afraid of happening, was currently happening and it was all of their fault. For the numerous time that year he is shocked when Eddies friends start to show up to help.

Argyle, a boy who moved from California to stay with Jonathan and the Byers was one of the easiest hires of his life. He walked in with no resume, just himself. Answered every question easily, explained that he did smoke but that didn’t stop him from being a good worker. If Wayne truly thought he couldn’t do it then he could cut back if needed. Which strangely, isn’t ever needed. The kid was hard working and Wayne quickly makes note to force Eddie to make friends with him. Though the problem was getting everything situated. Which everyone did help do, getting the place looking better then what it had in years. It drained his bank account but it was worth buying more stock and getting the place situated. Then there was Robin Buckley. Who came connected at the hip with Steve Harrington. Both of them wide eyed and willing to do anything. Which meant they ended up not only just as waiters but janitors as well. Neither of them complained all that much and with their past experiences with scoops ahoy they lightened the place up. So far, the Munson diner has added pizza and even more ice cream to the menu which strangely brought more of a following to the place. The next couple of hires didn’t even happen properly, they just started to come in and started to work without even caring about being paid. Just wanting to be with their friends and hanging out with out being nuance’s.

El and her brother Will weren’t necessarily workers there, but they helped decorate the spaces on the walls. Will making a huge painting of the whole group standing in front of the diner together. When closing came around El would clean the whole place with out much thought. Moving the broom around in the back as she helped wiped tables down. It was strange watching things floating around but Wayne didn’t mind. Another easy choice to add to the growing group of employees was Nancy Wheeler. Who helped get the ads into the newspapers and on occasion helped Wayne with finances. She kept doing it for free which bothered the man a bit but she refused to take a dime for it. Lucas and Max were also two that came connected at the hip. When Steve and Robin weren’t working they took their place. Both equally hard workers, with a few health problems from Max. With all of these employees Wayne wasn’t sure if he was able to pay all of them. Which didn’t seem to become a issue with the amount of guilt money coming in from the town, and the way the younger kids were happy with just getting free meals if he couldn’t afford it some weeks.

All of this happened within a span of a month, so when Eddie was finally able to come back he was greeted by a very different diner. He came back a little scared up and very different, a little sassy with some of the customers who had made it their mission to destroy his life. Though if Wayne didn’t see it with his own eyes he would have never believed it. Most shifts were made by everyone together, and without failure Steve was somehow always there on Eddie’s shifts. Smiling and cleaning up a mess a younger kid made, or helping run the floor when to many customers started to come in at once. At first, Wayne noticed how tense Eddie was around Steve. There was some level of trust between the two, that he could see. Though after a late night working, Eddie had slipped up around Wayne and admitted that he sort of shamelessly flirted with the other while on the run because he didn’t think he was going to make it out alive. That information broke Wayne in a way that he can’t even describe. After that he kept a closer eye on Steve, but the kid didn’t even care all that much about who the fuck Eddie dated. Robin Buckley was living proof of that. Though it was hidden very well to anyone who didn’t have a open eye or had no experience with a gay individual, to Wayne there were some signs.

The way Robin would constantly be at Eddie’s hip when he was around. Playing with the pins on her vest as she rambled on about something only his boy could understand. Steve was typically off to the corner washing a table or taking care of a customer. A few of the conversations that he would hear buzzing closer to his ears were the same ones he had with Eddie before he found friends with Robin. The ones talking about current events happening with the community. That and one night, when the two went to take garbage out forgetting all but one bag which Wayne had grabbed to help out he ran into a moment. With Robin freaking out about some girl with her hands flying, freezing mid frame while Eddie doesn’t react to his uncle. Thanking him and tossing it in the bin as Wayne snorts. “Sounds like you might have to woo the girl with one of those milkshakes of yours.” He says calmly as he leans against the door. Wanting to keep a closer eye on the two when they were out in the dark. Not trusting the people of the town.

“See! I told you Wayne would be more helpful then me, or Steve!” Eddie says throwing his hands up in the air. Rings glistening from the lights as he moves to pull out a cigarette. Earning a punch in his shoulder and a grumble of, “just because you want to die from lung cancer doesn’t mean I want to die from second hand smoke, that is a thing you know. My voice is already raspy enough Eddie, see what friend you are.” Earning a cackle from Wayne who shakes his head pulling out a stick of gum as he chews gently, letting the flavor melt into his mouth as he listens to the conversation. Not bothering either of them until Eddie steers the conversation back to Wayne for girl advice. Who only listens to the girls ramblings with a soft smile, watching her wave her hands in a similar way to Eddie’s. Who was currently standing a ridiculously far length from the two of them, so smoke doesn’t get anywhere near poor Robins lungs. Now, Wayne wasn’t much of a love expert but it seemed like his advice was being memorized and written into a book of things to do and not to do. The conversation would have gone on longer, but the alarm on his watch starts to go off and he signals both of them to come in and finish up.

Closing up he prepares to drive Robin and Eddie home but there Steve Harrington sat in his car waiting patiently, windows down and cigarette in is left hand out the window. Watching with amusement, Robins nose scrunches up as she starts to throw another fit. Everything starts to align more after that as Eddie tugs playfully on Wayne’s jacket as he moves walking backwards with a huge grin on his face to Steve’s car. “I’m going to Steve’s tonight, forgot to tell you.” He hums gently as Robin backs away from the car. Waving the smoke away as Steve laughs gently at something she says. Before he’s putting the stick out. Moving and hopping out of the car to give her a hug, in which she refuses because he stinks. Eddies laughing as he moves taking in the moment to steal a hug. Moving and nearly tackling the other from behind with one of his Munson hugs. Steve’s bending forward in response as the others nearly on his back. Whispering something in his ear as Steve grows shy. Wayne shakes his head as he unlocks his truck door, hearing Robin gagging and quickly running towards him for safe haven.

“If you don’t mind, Mr. Munson I would much rather drive with you.” She shudders as she looks at the two with fake disgust. Wayne shakes his head amused letting her in as he waves at his boy. Watching the way he beams from Harrington’s passenger. Catching all of the tell tales of a blooming romance.

“Do you think If I borrow a shot gun from a friend, that would scare the shit out of Steve?” Wayne mumbles over to Robin. Who laughs, throwing her head back a little clapping her hands a bit.

“Can I borrow it after you to scare the shit out of Eddie?” She giggles as Wayne laughs gently turning the engine on. Letting the boys leave first, following shortly after as he leaves the parking space.

“I’ll do you one better, I’ll teach you how to use it.” Wayne jokes playfully as he playfully winks at her, “might impress that gal you’re talking to.” He teases watching the way Robins face grows pink. Eyes flickering from her face to the Munson diner. That once again has gone through everything. And if he had his way, it will be standing there many years after he is gone. With the kids he’s got around, he’s sure it will be there for much longer then what he had hoped for. Now unlike other places, Munson Diner was a home to all.

#Wayne munson #heavy focus on Wayne Munson #diner life #Munson diner #headcannon time #steddie #stranger things #eddie munson #steve x eddie #steve harrington #bxb #steveharrington #steveddie #eddie stranger things #steve and eddie #platonic Stobin #robin has a bit of a friendship with Wayne #idk if I made this as clear as what I wanted it to be

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steviewashere · 1 month ago

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Rating: Explicit | Genres/Tropes: Drama & Romance, Angst & Hurt/Comfort, Slowburn, Future Fic, Canon Divergence | WC: 56, 917 | Chapters: 11/11 | Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings————————————————————————————————————————Relationships: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Eddie Munson & Wayne Munson, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Past Steve Harrington/Original Female Character(s), Steve Harrington & Original Child Character(s) Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Wayne Munson, Steve Harrington's Mother, Robin Buckley, Original Female Character(s), Original Child Character(s) Tags: Cancer Diagnosis in a Secondary Character, Mentions of Past Spouse Death, Implied/Referenced Past Alcohol Abuse/Addiction, Implied/Referenced Past Drug Addiction, Parent Steve Harrington, mailman!Steve Harrington, retired rockstar!Eddie Munson, Second Chances, Getting Back Together, Middle Aged Steddie, Tender Sex, POV Alternating, Eventual Happy Ending

You are at Chapter Two! Chapter One

———————————————————————————————————————— Ding. Ding. Ding…Ding…ding, went the bell above his head. The diner is a ghost town, despite it being around dinner time. Though, part of Steve appreciated how slow and small everything seemed. Despite his world expanding, recoloring, lighting gently.

Benny’s was never a particularly big place, even under the new ownership, there was no plan to expand it. All the tables were freed from the walls, chairs able to scrape against the floor. Yet, instead of the drab metallic grey the chairs were back in the ‘80s, the seating was race car red. A jukebox still sat across from the front entrance. Majorly overused fan by the door, dome trash cans, white lace curtains. Grease popped in the kitchen. Cooked potatoes filtering through the air, lightly salted, probably deliciously crispy.

Before he came in, he’d replaced the mail van with his own car. He also removed his jacket and hat, stored loose on the backseat, so it could be seen clearly if anybody walked by his windows. It’s not terribly unusual that he’s seen around town without his work uniform on, but tonight he feels especially bare. He would’ve dressed himself up a bit, though he supposes he doesn’t need the whole horse and carriage for rekindling whatever scraps of his friendship with Eddie remains. Just wished he appeared a little more presentable. Maybe a bit more colorful, if anything.

Still, the new owner, Cheryl—a first name was all he was given some years ago—greets him with surprise. She pops out from the kitchen and meets him at the counter. “Well if it isn’t our trusty mailman, Steve! And in his natural state, who’s the lucky lady?” she gently teases. He chuckles nervously, trying to not show the pulse of hurt that surges through him. And he must be too readable because she adds, not even a second later, “Oh, I’m just teasing you, kiddo. What can I do you for?”

“I’m ordering for here tonight, Cher,” he says in turn. “Got a friend that’s meeting me here.”

“Oooo, that’s exciting! Do I know this friend?”

Steve shrugs. “You might’a heard of him. Eddie Munson? Guess he used to be a nuisance to everybody back in the day,” he explains, smirking with it. She laughs brightly, bouncing. He sighs. “Anyway. I’ll just order some shakes first. Wait until he gets here for the food. Can I just do a strawberry shake with extra whip and a plain vanilla? Maybe throw an extra cherry on the vanilla one—only if you got it.” He reaches for his wallet, digging around in his back pocket, but she speaks before he can bring out the cash to pay.

“Sure thing, kiddo. I’ll put that on a tab for you, have you pay after you eat. Could even wave it off, since you do so much around here.”

“Don’t wanna put you out, Cher. The tab will be just fine.” Tucks his wallet back down in his pocket. And turns his head to the jukebox. She disappears to the blender, already working on the shakes. “Hey, Cher?” She just hums. “This old jukebox…does it still work?”

“You betcha! It’s not all that updated, though. But have at it!”

He steps away from the counter and busies himself with looking at the music selections. Sure enough, there’s nothing new past 1989. Which, even if Steve wanted to listen to something more recent, he wouldn’t know what to pick. He can only hope that whatever he picks is fine with Eddie.

Just as he shuffles through the songs for a second time, the bell above the door jingles again. Heavier footsteps behind him. As he goes to look over his shoulder, a waft of cigarette smoke and musky aftershave fills his nostrils. “Anything good in here?” Eddie asks behind him. His arm reaches over Steve’s right shoulder, index finger tapping on the glass window of the jukebox.

Steve gives a half-hearted shrug. “Nothing that you’d like, I’m sure,” he mutters. “Unless you don’t mind my go-to pick.“

“You invited me out here,” Eddie murmurs. He’s close to Steve’s ear. Pressed in against his back. “You’d know your way around here better than me, yeah? Whatever you want is fine with me.” His voice echoes inside of Steve’s head. Soft and raspy and something he’s ached for for way too long. Steve wants to melt into him, but forces himself to pick a song instead.

“The Promise” by When in Rome filters through the tinny speakers.

Maybe it’s a bit…on the nose, but the other handful of artists he does enjoy on this old thing are Taylor Dayne and Madonna. Not exactly Eddie’s forte, if Steve is remembering correctly. Though—How would I know about his music taste, he asks himself. They haven’t spoken to each other in nearly three decades. And he may have an inkling, but they’re off to a good enough start. He wouldn’t want to push his luck.

Steve forces himself away from the jukebox at the sound of glasses clinking on the diner’s counter. Grabs the nearly overflowing cups and guides Eddie wordlessly to a table in the back. Away from where prying eyes could spot them if someone were to walk through the front door. He sorts them out as they take their seats—Eddie on the far side, facing the entrance and Steve opposite—doling out napkins and straws.

When Eddie sidles into his seat, he makes a small surprised noise in the back of his throat. Right hand gripping the milkshake glass tight. Steve settles further, taking a mindless sip of his own shake. Strawberry sweetness exploding on his tongue, but he chokes as soon as Eddie asks, “How’d you remember this shit? Vanilla? Even the extra cherry on top?”

He slams a hand on his chest, wheezing around the swallow. With a strained voice, “I don’t know, man. It’s just something my brain latched onto, I guess.” His line of sight inches up to Eddie’s face, unaware he was even looking down at the plasticky tabletop. Met with copious bewilderment.

“You are something else,” Eddie mutters. He takes his own sip. Goes quiet and thoughtful. But nudges Steve’s shin with his foot, their eyes meeting once more. “Y’know, honestly, I’ve been trying to figure out that damn perfect oatmeal recipe you’ve got.”

“Perfect?” Steve scoffs. “You used to whine to me every time I gave you a bowl. All, ‘Ew, Stevie. I’m not a horse.’ Which, granted, you scarfed it down anyway. But still. You hated oatmeal, even if it was mine.”

Eddie rolls his eyes. Shrugs a little and looks down at his hands still wrapped around his glass. But he glances back up, a scorching softness behind his eyes. Every part of his face relaxed and open. Drinking Steve in as if they’re seeing each other for the first time. His left ankle hooks around Steve’s right. “It just…I don’t know. Maybe I just miss it,” he murmurs.

Steve hums. Runs his thumbs over the bottom of his own glass, over the textured edges, and sighs—trying adamantly to not think about the warmth radiating from Eddie’s leg. He sobers with a steadying breath. “Every morning I have a cup of coffee with way too much vanilla creamer,” he admits quietly, “I don’t even like it. It’s just straight up disgusting. Too much sugar in the morning, but it gets me awake enough for work. So I do it anyway. Maybe because I missed it, too, after you…You know.”

“Well, I’ll be back in town a while. Y’know, if you’d like to catch up.”

Something in Steve pulsed painfully raw at that. He knew, of course he knew, that Eddie wasn’t going to be here forever. But something in him hoped, even the slightest bit, that they’d have all the time in the world. Like their days could freeze over and they’d still be in this diner—sipping on infinite shakes and shooting the shit like they were still barely in their twenties.

But they’re well onto their fifties now.

Time doesn’t wait for them anymore.

“Sure,” he agrees, albeit a little hesitant while staring at his hands, “sure, Eds.” The nickname slides off his tongue easy enough, though. “Let’s get some food first and then…You can ask me anything? I’ve already ran my errands for the day. I have until”—he stops to check his watch again. It’s sluggish and behind by two whole minutes.—“I’ve got fifty minutes to entertain you. Jeopardy! is on right now and I have it recorded, but if I don’t get back home by eight, my mom will watch it without me.”

Eddie nods slowly, a small smile gracing his features. “I can do that, easy. Let me get the food, though? If I remember…” He stops to think. A dramatic hand gripping his chin, eyes squinting off into the distance, eyebrows furrowing deep down his face. Steve barely contains his snort. “…You get double fried french fries. And a cheeseburger with pickles on the side, extra mustard?”

“Ding-ding-ding!” Steve exclaims softly. “Looks like we remember more about each other than we thought.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe what I’ve got stored in my spacious brain, Stevie,” Eddie teases. Or…it almost sounds like flirting, if Steve zeroes more closely on it. He doesn’t, but it’s the thought that counts. “I’ll be right back,” Eddie states. And slips out of his chair before Steve can tell him about his running tab.

He watches Eddie’s back move away from him, as he rounds the corner back to the register. It’s hard to rip his eyes away from where he just moved, but Steve knows that if he doesn’t look away sooner, he’ll get himself trapped worse. He has to remind himself that Eddie is not here for dating, for romance, for second chances. There’s something else drawing him back in, making him drive through backroads, making him smoke out by his car in front of Wayne’s trailer—though, Steve swears that’s something Wayne and Eddie would’ve done together. And the very little he saw of Wayne’s face earlier, there was something familiarly terrible about it.

A reminiscent ghost from his past that Steve dares not make eye contact with longer than needed. Though, something in him stirs miserably alive—nauseous and unwelcome—the more he stews.

Steve rests his palms on the sticky tabletop, lukewarm in comparison to the ice cold outside of his milkshake glass. It grounds a part of him. Makes him draw back into reality. Eddie isn’t yours, he’s not here for you, he’s here for something else, he has to repeat. The feeling of Eddie’s fingers on his face, his weight pressed on his back, the ankle under the table…it’s all hard to ignore. Reminds him, all too much and all too well, of a time where they saw each other everyday, holding each other close on the couch, breaths mingling when they’d whisper to the other late at night—promises towards a future together, a life that they both wanted; promises that were nothing. They were just nothing; though not to Steve. Never to him.

The sound of a chain jingling makes him look back up from the table.

“We, Stevie, are set for a hot dinner of the world’s best cheeseburgers,” Eddie says boisterously, sitting back down. He’s smiling wide and shiny. An arm over the back of the chair, his body leaning to the right, an elbow on the table. There’s a certain suaveness that Steve vaguely remembers; it’s weird, yet comforting, to see it back now. To have that smile on him. Those wide, gleaming, Bambi brown eyes, too.

Fire prickles underneath him. Ready to engulf him. To damn him.

In Eddie’s orbit, he’s warm for the first time in a long while. In Eddie’s orbit, he is merely a planet circling the sun.

———————————————————————————————————————— “Can’t believe you enjoy talking to people around here,” Eddie says. There’s a little spot of ketchup in the corner of his mouth, something Steve’s getting antsy over—his fingers tingle, wanting to reach out, wanting to swipe the mess away; like he would’ve years ago, in another life. It’s endearing, though. Has been endearing the entire time he’s been rambling and raving over Steve’s little life here. “I feel like I’d get all clammed up, keep my head down and just slot the mail in, y’know?”

Steve snorts. “Oh, really? Feel like that’s a wrong observation.”

Another really endearing part of Eddie’s face has always been his eyes. How they just…light up. At anything. One point, it’d been when he realized he could bother Steve and Robin at Family Video. There was when he got a rather large crowd at the bar when he still played in town. When he received the information for a recording studio, when he began making connections, when he realized he was actually getting somewhere. Now, they light up at Steve with the faintest bit of tease, with mirth that he’s missed.

That he has missed.

“I’ve found it easier to talk to my walls over the years, man. Lost all that charisma I had.”

“Don’t think I’d call it charisma, Eds. Maybe something like…luck and coincidence?”

“Hey! You liked listening to me talk.”

That raw pulse of hurt surges back through him all over again. The same kind of rawness that’s left him gaping and lost over the last several decades. Why does so much of life have to be past tense? Why do him and Eddie have to be something to never happen again?

“I like listening to you talk right now,” Steve murmurs a moment later; a moment after he’s stuffed his mouth full of fries, trying to give his tongue something to do before he lets his hurt show. And, yet, even the distractions can’t save him from Eddie’s flash of surprise. He looks away from Eddie’s too open face, down to the face of his watch; sluggish, two minutes behind as always—“Jeopardy!’s on,” he states, “might miss it.”

“Oh,” Eddie breathes. If Steve weren’t right in front of him, he’d think it was just a nothing sound. This, though, sounded like disappointment. “Well…” he hums. “We can go, if you need to. I’ll still be at the trailer, if you ever want to”—

“Tell me about Los Angeles,” Steve interrupts, slapping his right hand down on the watch’s face. “Is it as glitz and glam that the magazines make it out to be?”

Taken aback briefly, Eddie just blinks at Steve. His head jerks, neck going frozen with the movement. Fingers rubbing against each other, sprinkling crumbs and salt back onto his plate. Those eyes curious. Those eyes…those eyes. After a confused pause, Eddie answers slowly, “I mean…it’s just a city, I guess.” He shrugs, looks away towards his food, fingers picking at the stale bun of his half-eaten burger. There’s still ketchup in the corner of his mouth. “It, uh, it’s big. Orange because the sun is almost always out. There’s these big, ugly billboards on the side of every road; no matter how major of a roadway it is. I’ve never seen the same faces twice, unless they’re my friends, but…I don’t even see”—Eddie shakes his head, silencing with a shallow breath.

Tension holds tight to Eddie’s shoulders, Steve notices. The way they hike to his ears, his head hanging low. There isn’t enough hair to cover his face, though. So Steve can see him contemplate, get all…distanced and something close to mournful.

“Los Angeles isn’t for everybody, let’s just say that. And, if I’m being honest, I kinda hate it out there. It’s pretty miserable. It gets lonely, people get wild, you end up in places you never thought you would,” Eddie says; bitterly, if Steve lingers on it. “Things just got crazy out there. I…I don’t even want to go back. Just one day here has really made me miss peace and quiet.” He clears his throat, lets out a deep breath, and then glows all over again. As if his part of the conversation never happened. “So, what’s been going on with you outside of work? That apartment still treating you well?”

“Apartment?” Steve repeats, confused.

Eddie squints his eyes and cocks his head just a little to the left. “Yeah,” he says slowly, “the apartment. Few streets behind Melvald’s?”

His mouth drops open into a silent “Oh.” He gives a brief, nervous chuckle. “I—uh—I actually live in a house now. Couple streets away from the house in Loch Nora. Been there since…since, I think, ’91? Or was it early ’92?” Steve sets his chin in his right palm, elbow on the table, deep in thought. Muttering absently to himself, dates cross-wired in his head. Shrugs, lets his other hand fidget with the last remaining burnt crumbs of fries on his plate, and gives a glance back to Eddie. “Doesn’t matter,” Steve says, “I don’t live in that shithole apartment anymore. Not since the toilet rat of ’89.”

Owlishly, Eddie blinks at him. Wide eyes, pursed lips, sprung forth eyebrows. “Toilet Rat.” A snort. “Guess I didn’t…I never heard that you moved. Makes sense you never responded to”—Eddie clears his throat awkwardly, gives a half-hearted huff, and scoots his chair back—“You’re right, doesn’t matter. How about I walk you out to your car?”

Floored, Steve can only muster an, “Oh, um.”

“C’mon, Stevie. Should probably get you back home so you don’t miss your show, right?” And Eddie’s already out of his seat before Steve can even get a full breath out. He startles and stands, too.

If he had the courage to call Eddie out on it, he’d probably point out how offensive it is that he’s so eager to get rid of their night. To call it good when the good has just begun. But, Steve—always the protector, whether it be of his own heart or the nervous prospect of a revisited relationship—won’t say a damn thing.

Instead, still awkward in Eddie’s presence—unsure of what to say, what to do, where to put his hands—Steve tries, “I was actually going to see if you wanted to…to come over?” That makes Eddie freeze in his maneuver to get away. Steve nearly collides with his back. Nearly falls flat on his ass, heart regurgitated into his palms, when Eddie turns back around with that confused puppy look. “Unless you’re busy,” Steve rushes to add, “which is totally fine. Just means I’ll see you around, probably the next time I’m delivering mail. You…you probably have things you need to do. Stuff to catch up on with Wayne. This can…” he trails.

We can wait, Steve faintly thinks.

A hesitant, light hand squeezes Steve’s right bicep. He inhales sharply at it.

There was a time when something like that didn’t feel so…sudden and scorching. A time in which he could be touched, held, cared for without the possibility of it fading away from him. He’d had that with Eddie, the first few months. Had it with his late wife, before she was sick—well and truly and unmistakably sick; when it seemed like a flu, not the sediments of an ending. A brush of fingers to his fresh, aching scars or the hard, yet careful edges of fingernails to his tender scalp trying to rid of a migraine. It was heavy heads on his shoulder as movies played out, breaths growing deep, the lights dimmed low or off completely. An elbow to a rib. The hug of a lover, unexpected, yet warm. An all encompassing thing; set fire to his lungs, burnt him inside then out, made him grow big when he was fed, made him fizzle once he learned to be starved.

Starve he did.

The morning after Eddie up and left. The three years before he met his wife. The seventeen years he’s somehow survived with nobody by his side; sans his mom, his daughter, and the here-and-there visits from Robin and Dustin and Nancy. But for the most part, it was just him. Him and a gaping maw and a hole in his chest the size of his heart—still pulsing, still searching, still hungry.

Eddie’s thumb tickles over the stitch at Steve’s shoulder. Just a little brush, absentminded and going just to do something. A fidget, that’s all it is. “If you want me there,” Eddie says low—hot and orange and autumnal like the embers catching inside Steve—“I can be there. Told Wayne I’d be out for a little while anyway. It’ll be good to be with you for a while.”

Steve sniffs and gives one, sure nod. “Cool,” he mutters, “let me—uh—I gotta pay the tab and then you can follow”—

“Already covered,” Eddie interjects. And his hand pats once over Steve’s bicep, falling away as fast as it landed. “Just lead the way, big boy.”

The nickname stirs those embers, even as there was still ketchup in the corner of Eddie’s mouth. Sticky, red, staining. A part of him wonders if that’s the condiment at all. Or maybe he let Eddie get away with a piece of his heart, chewy and beating, and he’s just now seeing what happened to it—maybe Eddie’s just as hungry as he is.

“My car’s the Subaru Outback in the lot. I drive a little under the speed limit, I’m hard to miss.”

“Y’always were.”

Maybe Eddie’s just as hungry.

———————————————————————————————————————— Eddie didn’t really know what to expect when it came to letting Steve back into his life.

Honestly, if he really thought about it, he figured it’d be that quick conversation in front of Wayne’s and then maybe a breath of eagerness to get to know one another, an eagerness that washes away—a saving face kind of thing. He never would have thought it to be remembrance, like the trees know to undress as soon as the autumn solstice hits. Just as he knows to order a cheeseburger meal for Steve, or how to clean his glasses (counterclockwise circles with the hem of a worn cotton t-shirt, left lens first then the right), or to keep his distance behind Steve’s car because he kept slow when not in danger. This morning, when he was driving into Hawkins, Eddie didn’t think he could rekindle a flame just by talking to it. Didn’t think he’d be excited, of all things, to learn about another person. Or—to learn about another person all over again.

Steve’s gone grey and worn. He’s soft the way the sun is right before it gives way to dark expanding night, decorated by little stars soft as the sun, soft as the morning. And he’s thoughtful. Like he takes his time to figure things out now, no longer head first and ready to strike.

Because they’ve matured. Whether by chance or by need, Eddie’s uncertain in Steve’s case. Though, driving behind this green Subaru Outback with a whip-wild streak of hope in his chest, Eddie’s certain that in the case of himself, he’s never matured. Maybe not as much as the rest of the world. Maybe not as much as others would’ve liked for him to.

He turns down a side road, Steve near tight to the right curb, high hedges coloring by in splashes of crisp yellows and muted greens. There are potholes and small cracks in the road. Family cars parked in driveways, in front of houses that are much, much smaller than his current…mausoleum of a house. He wonders, currently dwarfed by the sheer homeliness of the neighborhood, if Steve ever felt this way in Loch Nora. Resigned and shallow, yet heavy and infinite with a want he could not fulfill—for a home; a place to be safe; to remain.

The home they park in front of is one story, not terribly wide, brown and a little drab. There’s a few spots of moss growing on the gutters, a patch of replaced roofing that’s black in comparison to the reddish-brown tiling, an overgrown rose bush flush to the street-facing wall, and a crooked three next to the front door. 3019. He kills the ignition, keys sharp in hand, and hefts himself from the driver’s side. Steve does the same, lifting himself out with a gruff grunt. There’s a massive blue coat slung over his left arm, a hat scrunched tight in that same side’s fist, and a velvety navy messenger bag across his torso. He walks up the driveway to the front door, sure of himself and familiar, leaving Eddie to straggle after him.

When the door juts open, awkward under its heavy weight, Steve tells him, “Shoes off at the door, but make yourself at home. Feel free to…look around, I guess. ‘M gonna check-in with my mom, make sure she’s ready for bed.”

Eddie just nods and steps inside behind Steve. He follows instructions, toeing out of his Reeboks—carefully, though, he doesn’t want to crease them. And then he stands in the center of a warm, dimly lit, yet unfamiliar living room. It connects to another room, carpet meshing terribly with the cheap looking cream tiles of, what Eddie assumes, is a kitchen. There’s a dining table on the far right, or Eddie’s right, wall. Only two chairs, a third one just off to the side, unused.

He steps a little more into the actual living space as Steve comes from the hallway to Eddie’s left, just off of the living room. And he disappears into the kitchen wordlessly, scouring around a full sink, it sounds like. At the tap turning on, Eddie focuses elsewhere.

Finally, he took the chance to absorb Steve’s little living room. There was the sofa, dusty pink and well-loved—a middle cushion that’s long since dilapidated and still had the imprint of a well-held body. And the tabletop flat screen, sitting atop a low entertainment center made of black wood, pressed near flush with the wall, cords around it that were knotted and ill organized, a DVD player that’s dinged up and has faded buttons from oiled fingertips. There’s a framed puzzle of a sunset just above the television. A coffee table that’s just slightly lower than the entertainment center (definitely shorter than the couch), cluttered with magazines and the most recent copy of the newspaper. Bookshelf next to the TV that’s brimming to the edges; some titles he recognizes: The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit, The Scarlet Letter, A Separate Peace, The Outsiders; and some he doesn’t: Speak, White Noise, Warrior Cats, The Fault in Our Stars. There’s a few textbooks scattered among the other books; anatomy, algebra, and medicine.

Something important, that he notices, is a shelf dedicated to a jewelry box and a framed photograph. The picture intrigues him, so he grabs for it.

It’s three people: Steve, a little girl, and a woman. The background is plain grey, saturated and marbled with faint glints of white. Almost like a school picture. Steve is standing in the background; most likely in his twenties, though gently graced with the beginnings of aging, his smile is wide yet soft, crinkled hazel eyes, hair shaved down yet spiky like a kiwi, a polo with thick horizontal pink and white stripes, and what looks like the edge of a pair of khaki chinos. The woman is sitting in the foreground, Steve’s hands on her shoulders; she’s gaunt and pale, hair cut close to her scalp (too close to garner a good color), large and wide brown eyes that are fitted with faint black eyeliner and brown mascara, heart shaped face, nose similar in shape to Steve’s though narrower, sparse eyebrows, long sleeve white blouse with a heart neckline, plenty freckles on her chest and face, and pink lips stretching over yet another beautiful smile. This little girl is probably three years old, thick curly dirty blonde hair that falls to just under her little ears, pale pink overalls over a white t-shirt, fingers in her mouth, round hazel eyes, flushed cheeks, yet her skin is just as pale white as the woman’s. She’s a splitting image of Steve and the woman.

He’s a dad, Eddie realizes, and this must be his wife. And he cradles the photo more carefully in his hands. They make a good family. A very, very beautiful family. He can’t help but wonder about Steve…about his wife, too.

As if sensing he’s being thought about, Steve comes wandering back out from his kitchen, a tea towel thrown over his shoulder. “Hey, do you want some tea or should I—What do you have there?” He’s standing between entryways, to the living room, to the kitchen. Like an apparition, glowing from behind, soft though hard to miss. And his eyes go from tired to curious to…sadly thoughtful behind those shiny glasses of his. He spotted the photo almost immediately, of course he did. “Mmm,” he lowly hums. “It’s a cute picture, isn’t it? One of a few that I can display that has all of us.”

“It really is,” Eddie can easily agree. “Your wife, she must be really proud of you.”

“I hope she is,” Steve murmurs, “wherever she may be.” His tone is too somber for Eddie’s liking.

So, Eddie looks back at the photograph. Something like an 8x6. Sharp cheekbones, shaved hair, a slight dullness to her eyes. It’s what he sees in Wayne now. His stomach hurts. He looks back to Steve, words lost.

“I can tell you a bit about them,” Steve offers softly, “make you some tea, too. You still like English breakfast?”

He nods wordlessly. Of course. Of-fucking-course he still remembers after all this time.

When the tea is up and piping hot, Steve leads them towards the sofa. He places the mugs—pottery things, light brown with blue on the rim—on the coffee table, coasters underneath each one. The photo is still in Eddie’s hands, which he relinquishes when Steve holds his hands out for it. And just as he’s getting ready to take his seat on the middle cushion, Steve tells him firmly, “Don’t sit there.”

Another silent nod, sitting slow onto the far right cushion, space between them. And then the photograph is held up.

“Which one do you want to know about first?” Steve asks. “I know you’re curious.”

Eddie cranes his head just enough to see the edges of softly smiling faces. Arm thrown onto the back of the sofa, fingers tracing lumpy divots. “The little girl? Is she yours?”

“Yeah,” Steve murmurs, “her name’s Joanna. Sometimes, to annoy her, I’ll call her Josie. Drives her up a damn wall.” He chuckles under his breath. “She’s bright. Funny. Very charismatic, but don’t tell her that I said that. She’ll use it as an upper hand in every argument we get into from here on out. Stubborn, I guess I should add.”

“Sounds like you, Stevie.”

Steve barks out a single “Hah!” He gives a side glance to Eddie, something he wouldn’t pick up usually, but he’s right here, looking on at Steve’s gentle pride. The glow that parents seem to get when talking about their kids, he’s seen the same damn thing on Wayne’s face at conferences in the past and when he came home today. “That’s what Cathy always said,” Steve says, “never believed her. Josie always seemed right, guess we know why. But…she’s also my complete opposite. She’s in school, y’know, twenty-one and off in Boston. She’ll call me every once in a while, talkin’ damn near a mile a minute, rambling about some lecture a professor gave.

“Half the words she uses I barely have the time to remember, let alone ask what the hell they mean. Her friends are sweet, sarcastic, nice. So different from my childhood friends, it’s hard to believe her judgment came from my tree. I swear, Eds, if Nancy didn’t slap me in the face and knock my brain loose, I’d see a donkey’s behind and equate it to God or something.” Steve reverently swipes his thumbs on either side of the frame. Sniffles, a light thing barely here. He looks up to Eddie with half-lidded, wet eyes. A smile, shiny and wide. The tip of his nose is crinkled. He looks so…elated. “Josie…she’s more than anything I could’ve ever imagined. A freaking miracle child or something. I don’t know how I ended up with a kiddo like her; she’s where my luck begins and ends, swear on it.”

There’s a tear hanging for dear life in the corner of Steve’s right eye, one that Eddie wants so badly to reach out and swipe away. But he restrains. It’s hard, but he does it.

“And…and the woman?” Eddie asks gently.

Steve takes a snotty, deep breath, and swallows hard. “Catherine, she was my wife. I called her Cathy,” he whispers. The words barely make it out of his mouth, more letters than coherent sounds. His hands shake lightly, thumbs still reverent on the sides of the frame. “We met in 1989. I was on-duty, delivering mail. One of my first drives, I think. She was new in town, in this shabby apartment. It’s honestly not all that romantic. There was this package she needed hefted inside, so I did it. Sweated my ass off, she offered me a glass of lemonade”—

“Classic move,” Eddie murmurs.

Playfully, Steve swats his chest and scoffs. “I declined it,” he says, “gave a goodbye, went on the rest of my delivery route, and went back to my shitty apartment. Bumped into her a few days later at Benny’s. So, we sat and ate together. She asked me all kinds of questions about Hawkins; What happened here? Shit that I can’t describe, is what I told her. Do you think it’s safe to be here now, did I make a mistake? I just gave her a shrug and said, I don’t think you did. Do you maybe want to get drinks some time? I couldn’t believe my damn ears, she was so fucking forward. It’s just who she was, honestly.

“She was…god, she was beautiful, Eds. So fucking intelligent—like, she was studying to be a psychologist at the time, she was that smart. And she was funny, indescribably so. Just one look from her sometimes melted me into a puddle of giggles, could never reign myself back in. She and I shared an interest with cooking, always was pushing food at one another; Oh, try this soup I made, try this pie and tell me what you think, try the fish. It’s good, right? That’s what she always asked afterwards. And…I gotta be honest, she could’a charred all my damn food and I’d think God was feeding me straight from his palms.”

“Oh…oh, she had you tied around her finger, Stevie.”

“Yeah,” Steve breathily chuckles, “yeah, guess she did.” He lets out a quiet, sad sigh. “I fell for her hard and fast, as I always do. But she was…she was different. Something about her, I can’t really tell you what, felt like a forever kind of thing. Or…or maybe something like a while. And so, I took initiative on my gut this time; like…whatever that thing is you do in Dungeons & Dragons—the roll for initiative thing. I took my chances, is what I’m saying. Proposed to her by dressing up our apartment—at this time it was January, 1991 and I had been living with her for a little over a year, after that dreaded toilet rat thing; a story for a different time—but I put bouquets of bluebells everywhere that I could, granted they were out of season, but I put ‘em in vases and by her pillow and even in a few pairs of her shoes. I had made the lights dim and all amber. Put a record on, she was big into Jim Croce, so I kept nailing the needle to play out ‘Time in a Bottle’ and got on one knee in the small walkable space of our living room—it was heavily cluttered with furniture and knick knacks, surprised we even could walk around that place—and just waited.

“I almost threw up from nerves. But she…she came around the corner, her hair was wild and up. Just a big, bee’s nest of curls sitting lumpy at the back of her head. There was a slight sheen of sweat all over her face, grocery bags with thinning straps gripped tight in her fists, some sort of ink splotched all over this beige, cashmere sweater I bought her for Christmas. And I broke into tears, couldn’t believe my eyes that she—despite having what seemed like a rough go around with her day—she was this supermodel in our home. For the first time in my life, I was certain that I was doing something right.

“And of course she said yes. We worked day-in, day-out over our wedding plans. Just tirelessly. We wanted to get married as soon as possible, so it was set for mid-March. It was a small thing, here in town. I had actually…I asked her if it was okay to send you an invite—she already knew all about you and”—

Eddie stops Steve with a gentle hand on his bicep. It takes a sluggish moment, but soon Steve’s looking at him; wide eyes and perplexed eyebrows. Disbelieving and incredulous, Eddie flounders, “Hold on. She knew about me?”

A little shrug. “Yeah…yeah, of course she did. She probably would’ve found out about you at some point, I’m sure. Not sure how exactly, but she’s smart, she would’ve. And, y’know, it’s hard to keep something like how I’m bisexual away from somebody I love. She just took it in stride. She wasn’t like upset or anything.

“In fact, she encouraged me to invite you after some time. Thought that it’d be nice to meet you, for the two of us to reconnect. But I…” Steve blinks down at the hand still on his arm. A moment passes in stilted silence, contemplative and charged. He pats the back of Eddie’s hand. “…I wasn’t sure if you’d want to be there. And I also wasn’t sure if you had the same address. And I didn’t want to make Robin play middle-man, so I just…I guess I made the decision.” Eddie’s met with Steve eyes again, something deeply regretful and sorrowful in them. “Sorry,” Steve then whispers.

“It’s alright, Stevie,” Eddie assures, “really, it is. I probably would’ve let you down anyway. Wasn’t even at home, wouldn’t be even when the invitation arrived. Y’know, concerts and shit.”

“Oh, I forgot to ask you about all that. How’s music working out”—

“We can get to that a different time,” he gently interjects, “I want to hear more about Cathy.” Another emotion washes over Steve’s face. A bit of shock, a lot of disbelief. Eddie rubs his palm down Steve’s bicep, soothing him away from that surprise. “Keep going,” he murmurs, “I’m listening.”

“Oh—Okay,” Steve chokes out. His head whips back down to the picture, gripped tight now in his hands. Puzzled, he asks, “What more do I say?” Another silent pause. Then, “I didn’t have long with her,” he settles on, “we moved in here and took our time really getting accustomed to living with one another, but this time on a much, much bigger scale. She gave birth to Josie in August, 1995; Cathy and I were freshly twenty-eight. Then, Josie turned two and the months kinda tumbled after that.

“We were alright for a while. The house was warm and full and spilling with laughter. Our food was hot and fresh and delicious. Cathy would do her puzzles, like the one above the TV. Josie would toddle around and try and put anything and everything in her mouth. I went on with delivering mail. It was the same kind of routine. But then…then, Cathy got sick—sicker than I think I’d ever seen her, and that’s saying something because in the bit of time I really got to know her, she had food poisoning at least three separate times.

“This was…none of it was normal. I urged her to go to a doctor. And by the time she did, it was already too late.”

Eddie, absentmindedly, rubs his palm down Steve’s arm again. Sensing more than really seeing the seizing trembles of Steve’s whole body. He squeezes gently at the soft bicep under his hand. This is how he used to talk about his mom for a long time. All this gushing, red love; tainted so slowly, so obscenely, so invasively by illness; by death. And, sure, he saw this pale gauntness in Wayne this morning, but that doesn’t mean knowing the hurt and hearing the hurt makes any of this easier.

“You don’t have to continue if you aren’t ready, Steve,” Eddie says, trying to give him that out. The thing he never received as a kid. But, Steve’s hand is wrapping on the back of Eddie’s, heavy and warm and shaking. It just holds on. Bracing.

He steadies himself with a breath and keeps on, “The tumors were widespread in her lungs. On their way to her brain. She was on chemotherapy for a while. Then radiation when the chemo couldn’t work the way it did. And then it was…we were doing it just to grasp straws, trying to collect our bearings; she needed all the time in the world at the end, just to say goodbye of all things.” Another hard swallow. One that regurgitates with his spit, with tears ready to fall fast. Steve keeps going (never one to quit), voice low and trapped, “I knew that the cancer was invasive. We were at a loss cause. But…but you would not believe how many people were in the know. So many fucking strangers. Lawyers and—and funeral directors and doctors and hospice nurses. God, there were so many people in this house near the end, I’ve almost fallen in love with the quiet loneliness after her.

“And that’s terrible to admit, I know it is. But it’s true. When it came to her final day, it was just her and I. Josie had been picked up by Robin a couple days prior, taken out of town under the guise of a fun roadtrip with her aunty—but I just didn’t want her last memory of her mom to be a…a dark bedroom with a couple candles and a bunch of beeping that was just slowing and not to mention the…the discomfort. Cathy wanted to be completely in the moment. She wanted to be able to hold a conversation with me without having to slip away because of her morphine drip.

“So, at the end, it was me holding her hand, hiding winces behind the other palm. It was singing to her. It was sitting as close as I possibly could, telling her anything she wanted to know. Told her about how much fun Josie was having with Robs, about the flowers for the funeral because I didn’t know what she wanted—bluebells, she told me; it was always bluebells—and I told her that I loved her. Because, at the end of it all, that’s all a person really wants, isn’t it? To be cherished? To be loved?”

Steve sets the photograph down in his lap with barely a sound, leans forward for his mug—dislodging Eddie’s hand completely—and takes a slow, barely savoring sip of his tea. It’s probably cold, if Eddie had to guess, but if it was, Steve didn’t show it. He just resettled in his cushion, photograph left alone, and wiped the tip of his nose on the back of his left hand. Where, if Eddie had been looking hard enough to begin with, a gold band sits unpolished on his ring finger.

“Anyway,” Steve sighs. “This is one of a few photos I have with the girls. I keep it up on that shelf, just so I have…god, this is going to sound so depressing…just so I have something to say goodnight to before I try and sleep. Don’t know if you could tell, Eds, but I live a pretty boring, unfruitful, lonely life now.” A here-and-gone half-laugh, almost humorless, but the sound is too full to be hollow. “It’s why I wanted to know about Los Angeles. Maybe I’m missing something by staying here. But…but if somebody as wild as you isn’t enjoying it, maybe being a flour sack on my couch isn’t too bad.”

Eddie doesn’t want to leave this loose-ended and sprawling, but his comforting hasn’t always been that—comforting. “It’s a really nice picture, Steve,” is all he can muster. If he were better at organizing the feelings and words in his head, he’s sure he could say something at least a little nicer. Maybe make some connection to his mom, but even that feels just a little too…sour for all the love that Steve poured out. He pats at Steve’s arm again and reaches for his own tea; sure enough, the drink has gone cold over the course of their conversation. They’ll have to reheat them, if Steve still wants him here.

Just as he sets his cup back down, he spots Steve wipe his face with both of his hands, glasses knocked to the top of his head, coming back down awkwardly onto his nose. He readjusts them and groans. “Sorry,” he sighs. “Christ, I didn’t think I’d still be such a mess after all this time. Didn’t think I could still be all…mopey after it all. But it’s just”—he shrugs—“nobody’s asked about her in a long time. And you were interested and I just…guess I couldn’t help myself.”

“We all want to be remembered, Steve. I’m not going to wave you off as you do that. It was nice to hear about her, though. I’m glad you had somebody so…so lovely to share a portion of your life with, even if it wasn’t as long as you would’ve wanted. It always sucks when that happens,” he tries to amend. Eddie spots a breath in the conversation, where it lulls, where they’re beginning to really wrap up their evening. So, he takes a courageous breath and confesses, “I’m back in Hawkins because of Wayne.”

“Oh, yeah?” Steve questions, nasally and wheezy.

“Yeah,” Eddie answers, a nod and a sigh tied in one. “Yeah…he—uh—he’s got lung cancer. Just a single tumor, so it was caught early, but I mean…fuck, y’know? It’s hard to get news like that over the phone. Couldn’t just leave him by himself. Had to come home.”

A sniffle as Steve clears up his nostrils. And a breathed, “Eddie…”

“Nah, no, don’t—I don’t want you to feel bad. Please, please don’t feel bad. Shit, I just”—helplessly, probably the same way Steve’s been feeling the last few minutes, he gives a half-hearted shrug of his own—“I just needed to be here. In case, I suppose. But it’s nice—it’s really nice—to have a familiar face around. Not that I’m—I’m not asking you to be my emotional support rock, but I”—

“I’ll be here, Eds. I will even if you don’t always need me,” Steve rushes in, headfirst, chest strong. “I know what it was like to go through a lot of this alone. And…in my case, not saying it’ll be yours, being alone in it all is the worst. Sure, I had Robin on the phone and all, but my support system was small. God, it was so small. If I can do anything, you let me know. I make a good soup, I—I might have a few orthopedic pillows from Cathy, hell, I’ll come over with a beer if you need it.”

Eddie chuckles. “Don’t drink anymore, Stevie. A story for a different time, right? Toilet Rat, me not drinking—they’re one in the same. But I’ll accept a crisp Coke if you ever want to hang out.”

Steve responds with his own snort. “Toilet rat,” he echoes. “Yeah, okay. Another time, that’s okay.” He gestures off-handedly to their mugs on the table. “Want me to reheat your tea? I could get you a slice of toast to go with it or something?”

“No, that’s okay,” Eddie whispers, being careful to not break this peace they’ve now shared, “I should actually head back now. Make sure Wayne’s doing alright. He starts chemotherapy in the morning and I need to be ready for it.”

“Right,” Steve murmurs, “right, yeah, of course. Let me lead you to the door.”

The photo is set carefully on the bookshelf as they make their way back to the front door. Eddie clumsily worms his feet back into his laced sneakers, hand braced on the wall, the other tight on Steve’s shoulder. And then Steve opens the door, Eddie on the porch, staring at one another.

“It was nice catching up with you, Steve. I’m…I’m glad that you found something you like to do. That you still look good after all these years.”

“Oh, please,” Steve scoffs. “My whole head is basically silver. Stress will do that to a guy, y’know. I’d hardly say that it looks good.”

“You kidding, man? Makes you look like a…a silver fox or something. Trust me, you look good.” Eddie rocks back on his heels, face warm with the admittance. He’d been thinking it, didn’t know he’d actually follow through with saying it out loud. “Well, thank you for a nice evening, it really means a lot in the chaos that is my life right now. I’ll see you around?”

Steve nods softly. “Of course, Eds. Anytime, I mean it. Come hell or high water, I’ll be there if you need the support.”

This would be the part where they’d hug or something, Eddie figures. But for now, he gives an awkward wave of his fingers, a nod in return. And a final, “Good night, Steve. Sleep well.”

“You, too,” is whispered at his back.

And he can’t place it, why after so much softness, so much love, so much warmth, his chest goes tight with those words.

———————————————————————————————————————— End of Chapter Two! Read the Next Chapter Here —>

#stranger things #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #drama #romance #angst and hurt/comfort #slow burn #eventual happy ending #read all tags above in the post #steddiebang24

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munsonsgirl71 · 2 years ago

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Let's Risk It - Eddie Munson Fanfic

Warnings: 18+ ONLY as always. There is a teeny tiny mention of self harm, like blink and you'll miss it. That's it. Some fluff, some agnst, Eddie being... Eddie. This is an older rockstar!eddie and even though age isnt mentioned I did write this with the reader being younger in mind. I also tried my absolute hardest to keep this neutral and I think I did but if I didn't please let me know and I will remove the tag. Use of pet names: sweetheart, angel, baby.

You heard his whistle echo off the cinderblock walls of the venue before you heard the steady thump of his boots on the tile. He was getting closer to the wardrobe room and you knew he was coming for you. To give you that cheeky smirk and a wink as he passed by on his way to own clothes. Your eyes stayed focused on the shirt you were steaming the wrinkles out of when the door opened and clicked shut with a loud thud.

“Maverick.” Eddie greeted your boss with a nod as he made his way over to where you stood with your back to him. “Sweetheart.”

“Mr. Munson.” You greeted as professionally as possible as his ringed hand grabbed a handful of your hip on his way past you. “I was able to fix that rip in your shirt, it’s in your case.”

“You’re an angel.” He drawled as he flashed you his dimples over his shoulder and threw you a wink. “Thank you.”

“Just doing my job.” You shook your head at him before turning back to the shirt in front of you. “Would you like me to steam it for you?”

“Nah… I’m not as prissy as Jeff.” He chuckled as he pulled open his case and riffled through the clothes hanging on the racks. “I like my shirts to have a few wrinkles. Makes me look metal.”

“Makes you look messy.” You giggled as you threw him a glance and both of his eyebrows shot up behind his curly bangs.

“Did you just call me messy?” His eyes narrowed into a glare as he turned on his heels and stalked back over to you. His hand came up and wiped a bead of sweat off your forehead before pushing a strand of hair behind your ear, “I can show you messy, baby. Don't tempt me.”

“That’s enough, Eddie.” Maverick hollered from behind you two and you jumped at the volume of his voice. “She has work to do and you need to get ready. You can flirt with her after the show.”

“Mav, you’ve been busting my balls for nearly ten years.” Eddie barked a laugh as he looked over at the plump man positioned behind his sewing machine. “You never let me have any fun!”

“Like I said…” Maverick gave him a pointed look over the top of his glasses as he lifted his foot and let the machine stop. “You can have your fun after she’s done working. Leave her be.”

“Fine, fine.” Eddie held up both of his hands in defense as he backed away from you slowly, a small smirk pulling up the corner of his lips. “Have it your way, boss man.”

“Thank you.” Maverick pushed his foot down on the pedal and let the machine whir back to life as Eddie kept his eyes trained on you. You turned back to your work but could feel his eyes burning a hole into the side of your head.

You started working for Corroded Coffin about a year ago when you were desperate for a job and an escape from the shitty small town life you had been living. Working paycheck to paycheck at the diner, killing roaches in your studio apartment as you tried to cook another dinner of fifty cent ramen noodles, hooking up with randoms who were passing through just to feel something. You hated it. You were lonely, you were sad and truth be told you were on the verge of ending it all. But then you got a call from an old friend saying she was engaged and would be quitting her job and they were looking for her replacement. She helped you fly out to LA where you met Maverick in some swanky bar where the drinks cost more than your rent. He offered you the job on the spot, paying five times what you had previously made in a month and the next day you were on the bus to Cincinnati where the band was kicking off their world tour.

It took about a month before you officially met Eddie at an after party. You’d seen him backstage and had passed him in hotel lobbies but you had never spoken to him. Maverick had pulled you off the bus that night, saying you needed to let loose, and drug you to the bar the band had decided to hole up in. He walked you right over and introduced you to the guys and their ladies of the night, muttering about groupies after he pulled you away for shots.

The next night Eddie sauntered into the wardrobe room hours before lights up, which you were told was not normal. He perched himself up on Maverick’s sewing table and shot the shit with him until he needed to get dressed. The zipper on his leather pants broke and you were forced to sew him into them since Maverick was busy helping Gareth fix his boots. It was all soft, brown eyes and beaming smiles, pet names and soft brushes of his hands after that. There was a very fine like the two of you were toeing and you knew it. You wanted him and he wanted you but it would never come to be. Flirting was fine, stolen glances and grabbing touches when no one was looking was okay too, even the nights you two found yourselves alone in a bar was great but he was the talent and you were a lowly seamstress that worked for his record label. You needed the job and you wouldn’t risk it. Not for anything.

“I think that shirt is wrinkle free.” Eddie chuckled from next to you, shaking you out of your thoughts as he reached over and took the steamer out of your hand. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, Mr. Munson.” You nodded as you fiddled with the hanger in front of you trying to avoid his gaze. “Thank you.”

“Wanna go for a smoke?”

“Can’t.” You shook your head as you chewed into your bottom lip and let your eyes flit across the room to Maverick. “Gotta work.”

“Seeing as you almost melted that shirt I’m sure Mav won’t mind if you take a quick break.” He gave your wrist a reassuring shake as he started to pull you towards the door. “I’m taking her for a smoke, boss man. We’ll be right back!”

The door clicked shut behind you but you still heard Maverick’s shout of ‘god damn it, Eddie’ as you scampered off down the hall. It was a crisp Autumn night in Seattle and the sky was clear enough to see the stars. You leaned back against the brick facade of the building and let Eddie light a cigarette for you before taking it from him with a small smile.

“You sure you're okay?” He spoke around his own cigarette as the end burned cherry red and you nodded as you took a long drag of your own. “You do that a lot? Zone out like that?”

“I was just thinking.” You whispered as you blew the smoke out of your lungs.

“Sweetheart, I was calling your name for a good five minutes.” He gave you a look that you couldn't quite decipher as he blew out his own smoke. “If you were thinking that hard it must be something big on your mind. You wanna talk about it?”

“I uh… I just…” You looked down at where you were kicking a small rock with the toe of your dirty chucks. “I need you to stop being nice to me.”

“I’m sorry?” He jerked back like you had just slapped him in the face and his eyes were full of shock as he looked over at you. “You need me to stop being nice to you?”

“I need this job, Eddie.” You stressed as you took another drag of your cigarette and let your words sink in as you blew it out. “I have nothing to go back to; no home, no job prospects. I can’t risk losing this. And the flirting and the touching and the quiet talks tucked away in bar booths is putting this at risk.”

“Sweetheart, it’s not risking…”

“But it is!” You spoke a little louder than you intended as you turned your whole body to face him. “I know Maverick makes his jokes but he is watching me. He sees everything and I know with just one slip up I’m gone. You’re the talent, Eddie! This thing between us, whatever it is, has got to stop. I cannot lose my job!”

“Baby,” he whispered as he threw down his half smoked cigarette and took your face in his hands. “You are not going to lose your job. I promise. I will never let that happen.”

“It’s not up to you.”

“Like hell it isn't!” He scoffed as his grip on your cheeks tightened. “This is my band, my tour. I’m the fucking boss and if I say you’re safe then you’re safe. You really think those boardroom assholes want to piss off their money maker? Think again, baby.”

“Eddie…I can’t… we can’t…” He cut you off with his lips crashing into yours as hot tears rolled down your cheeks. Calloused thumbs swiped over your cheeks as your lips moved with his. Soft but chapped, warm and honey sweet tasting like smoke and bourbon and Eddie. Your hands gripped the lapels of his shirt and pulled him in as close as he could get. Hips pushing yours back into the wall as the bricks scraped against your bare shoulders and a soft whine escaped your throat. It was all teeth and tongues, hands in hair and his knee wedging between your own. It was hot. Messy. Too much. Far too much and you both pulled away, panting as he leaned his forehead against yours.

“You’re safe.” He breathed out as he placed a few more chaste kisses to your lips, your cheeks, your forehead. “You’re safe with me.”

“Promise?”

“Baby, I swear on my life.” His eyes sparkled as he pulled back to look at you fully. “Nothing is ever going to happen to you. Not with me.”

“I gotta get back to work.” You sniffled as a few more rouge tears rolled down your cheeks. “You gotta let go, Eddie.”

“Never.” He laughed as he pulled you into a tight hug and kissed the top of your head. “But I will let you get back to it. I need your help with my pants.”

“Jesus Christ!” You groaned as you pushed him off and gave him a playful glare. “Did you break the zipper again?”

“It’s not my fault, sweetheart!” He threw his hands up and let them fall to slap against his leather clad thighs. “The fucking zipper just can’t contain The Beast!”

“Did you just…” You clicked your tongue as his eyes sparkled and you rolled your eyes. “Get inside and take your pants off.”

“Easy, tiger!” He giggled as you shoved him towards the doors leading back into the venue which he held open for you so he could slap your ass as you slipped back inside. “I’ll report you for harassment if you keep talking to me like that.”

“Well lucky for me the fucking boss is into me so I think I’ll be okay.” You smiled sweetly at him as he threw his arm around your shoulder and tucked you into his side. “What do you think of a lace up fly? For your pants?”

“A lace up?” He cocked his head to the side as he looked down at you and you nodded. “Would you help me tie them every night?”

“Oh I don’t know, Mr. Munson.” You feigned innocence as he pulled open the door to the wardrobe room for you. “I might need a raise if that’s added to my job duties.”

“I’ll talk to the fucking boss and see what he can do for you.” He smirked as he followed you and kicked off his shoes, shimming out of his pants and handing them over to you. “Thank you for taking care of me, angel.”

“Thank you for keeping me safe.” You whispered as you took the pants from him and gave him a sweet smile. “No get outta my work space so I can fix The Beast tamer!”

His hearty laugh echoed all the way down the hallway and you couldn’t help the face splitting smile that spread across your lips.

Maybe he was worth the risk after all.

#eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson angst #eddie munson #eddie munson x you #older!eddie #rockstar!eddie #eddie munson x gn!reader

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saltmannequin · 2 years ago

Text

Midnight

Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

wc: 1.7k

summary: you cant sleep due to recently being broken up with by your boyfriend so you decide to sit by the sea when eddie joins you and tries his best to cheer you up. spoiler alert! it works

warnings: light angst, mentions of cigarettes. no use of y/n!

————

The summer breeze was cool against your exposed skin as you sat rigidly on the warm sand. Despite the late hour, it was still a comfortable temperature outside. The sea moved to and fro as you shut your eyes and inhaled a deep breath.

Earlier that week, Steve had invited you, your best friend Eddie, Nancy, and Robin to spend a few days with him at his parents' beach house. Steve had practically forced you to come along, you were much less enthusiastic due to the recent fact that your boyfriend of seven months had dumped you. Steve insisted that the trip would take your mind off of the situation, so you begrudgingly agreed to tag along.

The journey to the beach house was only thirty minutes, and you had all spent the day playing like children in the sea, laying in the sand, and listening to music. You had all ended the night sharing stories and jokes around a campfire that you had worked together to set up on the part of the sand that sat opposite the house.

The group of you decided to call it a night at around twenty minutes past eleven, everyone falling asleep not even ten minutes later except for you. You tossed and turned, trying to shut your brain off, but of course the events of the breakup kept creeping back in.

It was a simple breakup; he was more than respectful, but you couldn’t help but shake the feeling that he had dumped you for someone else. Sure enough, you were right. A few days after he broke it off, you saw them both sat together in the town’s local diner, holding hands over the table.

It hurt you a lot. You couldn’t comprehend what you did wrong, and it made you start questioning everything about yourself, from the way you looked to the way you acted. It was truly draining.

You had gotten up with a sigh and shoved a pair of jean shorts over your pyjama shorts and a thin cardigan over the top of your black tank top. You made sure to be as quiet as possible on your way downstairs, leaving through the front door and making your way out onto the beach.

It was completely empty when you sat down a little ways away from the abandoned bonfire that was now a small circle of embers and ash. The porch lights of the house were switched on; now a dim light in the distance that was slightly illuminating the space in which you sat.

You let your brain drift as you watched the waves of the sea dance and overlap, and before you knew it, tears were streaming down your cheeks.

Eddie couldn’t sleep. All day, you seemed slightly more deflated than usual, and he knew exactly why. He would be lying to himself if he said he wasn’t a little happy when he found out you and your boyfriend broke up, due to the very complicated fact that he was in love with you, but he could see how much it was affecting you, and it broke his heart to know that someone didn’t appreciate you the way they should have.

He moved out of bed with a sigh, grabbing his pack of cigarettes and lighter before making his way to the front porch of the large house.

When he opened the front door, he realised that the porch lights were switched on and knew immediately that you were out on the beach somewhere. His eyes darted across the mass of sand and water in front of him before you came into view.

The breeze was making the loose strands that had fallen out of your messy bun float around, framing the side of your face. You were sitting with your knees to your chest, hunched over.

Eddie pocketed his cigarettes and lighter before making his way over to you and seating himself in the space next to you. You looked over at him, offering the boy a tight-lipped smile.

He stared at you for a moment with those big button eyes of his; you could see it in your peripheral vision. He knew something was wrong.

"Couldn’t sleep either, huh?" He turned his head now and looked out onto the waves, mirroring you.

"Despite all the shenanigans of the day, I couldn’t fall asleep." You followed your response with a dry chuckle.

Silence passed over the two of you for a moment before Eddie decided to address the situation.

"You okay?"

Your body tensed as he said the two words you dreaded most. You hated talking about your feelings. From a young age, your parents never really listened to you when you had any problem. When they did, they would never take it seriously, and so as you grew older, you found it harder and harder to talk about your feelings without feeling like a burden.

"Yeah."

Eddie let out a sigh and ran a hand over his hair, flicking his bangs up for a moment before they fell back onto his forehead.

"Don’t lie."

"I’m not lying."

"We’ve been best friends for years; I can tell when something's up." He didn’t want to get frustrated with you. He knew better than anyone how your brain worked, but he wanted to put a smile on your face; he wanted you to be okay, and you weren’t letting him.

You didn’t speak for a moment, pondering the best way to say what you wanted to say without saying everything.

" ‘M just thinking."

"About?"

You looked up at the sky and back down again.

"Why I wasn’t good enough for him, I guess." Eddie scoffed, and you turned your head toward him for a moment. "What?"

He turned to face you now. "You seriously think that you’re in the wrong?"

You shrugged. " ‘Wouldn’t have left me for someone else if I was good enough for him. I’ve been thinking about it a lot." You paused for a moment before proceeding to speak your mind. "I think I was too much for him, y’know. I think I wore him down a little; probably got annoyed with me, and that girl in the diner was so much prettier than me, y’know." You tried to laugh so as not to seem hurt, but it came out more like a strangled cry.

You could see the frown form on his face. "You seriously believe that?"

You nodded in response.

"Bullshit." He rolled his eyes and looked away from you.

"What’s your problem, Eddie? If you came out here to tell me to stop moping, I swear to god, I’m really trying my best, okay?"

" ‘M just sick of you putting yourself down so much." He looked back over at you now.

"Huh?"

"You do it a lot, and it’s so fuckin’ frustrating that you don’t see how amazing you are. He was an asshole because he couldn’t see how great of a person you are." He moved his hands as he spoke, something you had noticed he did when he spoke about a topic he was passionate about.

Your heart thumped in your chest, and you felt a lump in your throat form. Yours and Eddie’s friendship was always banterous. Most of your time together you spent joking around, never really getting too complimentary towards one another, and so his words meant a lot to you.

They meant even more because you had been in love with Eddie since middle school, something you had failed to tell him due to not wanting to complicate your friendship. He was never really affectionate towards you, and so you figured he didn’t feel the same as you did, so you mirrored his behaviour, praying that he would never realise how much you loved him.

You dated other people in that time and tried your best to get over him; it worked over time and allowed you to eventually love other people, but Eddie was always in the back of your mind.

What you didn’t know, however, was that Eddie was doing the exact same thing as you. However, he was growing tired of having to act like he wasn’t head over heels for you, even more so when you would put yourself down like you were.

He sighed and put his head in his hands before looking out onto the sea. "Y’know, I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, right?"

"What?" You almost didn’t believe what he had said, your head snapping to his.

"I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I mean it—not only that, but you’re so goddamn funny, you’re the only person that’s ever made me laugh to the point beer came out of my nose. You’re smart too, I mean, that’s pretty obvious. You’re pretty much the only reason I managed to graduate this year. You’re caring and kind, and there’s no one else I’d rather spend my time with. I only came on this trip ‘cause Steve said you were coming, too."

You were frozen in shock, not having a single idea of what to say. Luckily for you, he was about to make it real easy.

"I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m in love with you. Have been for a long, long time. I never said anything ‘cause I figured you didn’t feel the same, but right now, I don’t care; I just need you to know that you’re enough. You are and always have been."

He looked at you from the corner of his eye for a split second, in disbelief that those words even came out of his mouth.

Your heart was an oven, making your whole chest burn. "I love you too, Eddie."

He snapped his head toward you.

" ‘S funny ‘cause I figured you didn’t feel the same about me, turns out we’re just fucking idiots."

He laughed at this, and you laughed along with him. Limbs both aching in anxiety and adrenaline from the painfully easy confession. Eddie silently celebrated as he saw the smile that he had grown far too fond of appear on your face. That smile.

"Can I kiss you?"

"Of course you can."

thank you for reading!! <33 literally cant sleep so i threw this together: emotions were definitely felt!

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff x reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson oneshot #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fluff #eddie stranger things

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agirlwholovesrockstars · 2 years ago

Text

she's my collar

☆AGATHA'S MASTERLIST☆

summary : you and your aunt moved in to Hawkins, Indiana, you got your last year of senior high and got a job at Family Video, you finally made friends and this place feels like home until you met Eddie, you never know what love feels like unbeknownst to you he is not truly human what you thought he is

word count : the is the most longest one part fic that I ever written I'm sorry 😭

warnings : (18+) Vampire!Eddie Munson x FEM! reader, Eddie & reader are virgins, language, use of (y/n) losing a loved one, Eddie is (19), reader is (18), protected sex, Eddie being the most adorable and caring vampire ever, natural disaster (earthquake), reader is oblivious to Eddie's true nature, I added the KAS THEORY a little bit in this, idk if this is considered a spoiler but reader will sacrifice her mortality 👀

what to expect : angst, fluff, eventual smut, but I promise this has a good ending

note to reader : I've been wanting to write a fic about Eddie being a vampire and I hope you'll enjoy this! 🫶🏻

author note : I love Gorillaz so much, they're like my favorite band ever, if you haven't listen to this song yet and yes this is where I got the idea hahaha you should listen to it first! 👇🏻

It's April 16 1988

You and your Aunt Katherine moved to another town again called Hawkins, Indiana

Ever since in your early teens, you got used to it, moved here and there

Your aunt took care for you, when your parents both passed at a very young age of 7

She's the only one you've ever had in your life and you couldn't be more grateful

She did the best that she can to give you what you needed, she treated you well, she thought you the how to deal things with life

You loved her very dearly, it just saddens you to move on again to another town- she wants to have a partner again in her life, on every slight inconveniences the next thing you know is packing up all of your stuff and leave immediately

All the memory of Uncle Charlie is a bit hazy and you couldn't quite remember everything of it but you know, he is an amazing husband whenever your Aunt talks about him, you can see the way her eyes glow

You struggle to adjust into the new environment and make new friends, Perhaps?.... as if you ever made one

But this time, you wanted to stay for real this time, you wanna settle down and have a real life

Thankfully, is the last year of your senior high school and you're just going to need a job after you graduated

Even though your aunt insist not to take any jobs she wants you to go in college as soon after you graduated

But you really wanted to have a job not because of your own needs but you also wanted to help out your aunt

She sadly smiles at you and she sighs in defeat and she saids "Alright, we will look for a perfect job for you"

While your aunt is asking for inquires at a local diner in front of the Family Video

You eye out the store and you don't understand why the sudden pulling inside of you telling you that's the place that you want to work

You cleared your throat "Can I check that out, if you don't mind?"

Your aunt looked around "Yeah, sure, my dear but be back here? alright?"

"Okay" You nod

You crossed down the road and your eyes roam around the small building

You loved movies, you always loved watching movies

You opened the door and the bell chimes, a signal, that a customer enter the premises

"Hi! Welcome to Family Video!" A short dusty blonde hair girl- greeted you with a smile on her face

You like the enthusiastic tone coming out of her voice "uh- thank you" you shrug shyly

You didn't noticed the man coming in a load of big boxes on the side and you bumped to each other and the box fall back down on the ground scattering all of the VHS tapes on the floor

He grunts and sighs warily not until he looked up at you "Oh- I'm sorry I didn't see you there"

"It's my fault, let me help you pick up those"

Before he can protest, he already saw you piling all of the VHS all at once

"My guess this is for the horror section, right?" You held up one "Rosemary's Baby" VHS

"Yes" he responds feeling bad while he watches you picking all of the tapes and placing all of them one by one on the shelf

"Look, you don't have to do this" he says while grabbing all of the VHS at once putting them on the front desk he even doesn't bother to organized them all he just goes straight back to you

"Hey, it's okay, don't sweat it" You say before you crouch down to put the last horror VHS in place

"Actually, I think I might get a job around here" you stand up straight and look at him

He's very attractive, his hazel eyes are pretty and the hair is perfectly styled

He must've been very popular at his school where he studied

"Oh, you are?"

"Yeah"

"I think we have one more available slot for you- he pauses "Shoot- I'm sorry, My name is Steve, Steve Harrington"

He hold out his hand for you and you shake them "it's Y/N"

"Steve, have you-"

You looked around and it's the girl who greeted you earlier

She smirked and you looked back at Steve in confusion

He shakes his head at her "Before you go think of something else, I'm almost finished to organize everything that is delivered right now"

"Ooh, really?" She answers sarcastically

"It's because we have a new assistant now!"

"Wait-woah- Does that mean I'm hired?"

"Yes!" Steve replies fast and you can hear the excitement in his tone

She rolled her eyes at him "Anyways, I'm Robin, Robin Buckley" she reached out for hand and she shakes it aggressively

"You better get used to her over the top energy" Steve chuckles

You giggled "Okay, it's nice to meet you, Robin, I'm Y/N"

"Hey, Robin could you get the papers to sign her up?"

She annoyingly smiles at Steve and goes back to the office

"That was fast?" You furrow your brows in confusion

"What do you mean?"

"That I got the job?" You raise your eyebrow at him

"Ah"

He goes back to the desk organizing every VHS tape in order on the shelf

Not looking at you he replies "It's because you knew the film that you're holding earlier"

"Huh? Is that it?"

"Uh yeah- that's what we needed in here, top 1 most important thing is that you must know or like familiar with films and everything" he says while opening a second box putting out the other new delivered VHS

"Oh"

"and you even place them not just in the horror section" he gestures the last phrase with quotation marks "you also placed them by year!" he breathlessly laughs

"What?"

He motions you to look back at the horror section

"Oh, yeah right" you chuckled

He crouch down to look at it and shaking his head "I can't believe that you know all about this stuff!" he exclaims

"What stuff" Robin says without looking at you both while she's double checking the paper before she gives it to you

"This girl right here" he points to you "is very cultured"

"Say what now?" Robin grins at you as she crouch down next to Steve

She gasps and looks right back at you "You literally organized all of these by year?"

You nod at her and smile

"Wow"

"Exactly"

"Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931)-" Robin cups her face in awe as she reads all the labels again

"Psycho (1960) to Rosemary's Baby (1968)"

"I just place them on the shelf but not like this" Steve is still unbelievable of what you just did

"She freaking place them not just by year but also by decade!"

You watch them as they lose their minds and you can't supress the smile growing widely because you've never had like this before

Maybe.... You finally made friends

Robin stands up straight she walks towards to you "Like how could you know all about this?"

You shrugged "I just love movies that's all"

Steve straighten up as well "Did you go to film class or something?"

"I guess you could say that" you snorted while you put your hands on your pocket

"Wait? Are you in college?" Robin says

"Not yet, I'm going to finish my last year of senior first but yeah Steve's right that's what I want to pursue someday"

Robin nods while Steve listens continuing to put all of the VHS at place

"I-I was supposed to go to college after I graduated that's what my aunt really wanted but I just- you paused

"I want to have a job and uh- I wanna experience it while saving up some money for college" you added

"Well, you found the perfect place" Steve smiles

"Yeah, it's gonna be fun!" Robin agrees

You look in their eyes and you can tell they're very genuine and you smile at them

You heard the car from outside beeping and it's your aunt calling out from you

"Oh, that's my aunt, I- uh I'm gonna go" you say while you're rushing out towards the exit

Steve follows you while your hand rest on the door handle "Before you go, can you start tomorrow? We open at 9am?"

"Yes, I can"

"Good"

"What am I going to wear by the way?"

"You can wear anything you want- we don't have spare uniform around here yet" Robin says while she carries the 2 boxes bringing it outside

"Oh okay, I'll see you guys tomorrow then!"

"Sure thing!" Robin smiles at you

"Bye, Take care" Steve says while waving to you

You look at them for the last time and you push the door forward

"She's really cute and pretty!" Robin says with a eat shiting-grin on her face

Robin feels Steve's eyes rolling "I like her but, very funny, Robs" as he glares at her

She laughs "ooh I wonder what else she likes, maybe she loves rock music" she says as she taps her finger at her chin while thinking deeply

"What makes you say that?"

"I saw her leather bracelet and she wears like black & white colored outfits"

"Just because someone is wearing one doesn't mean they listen to rock music, Robin"

"But what if, she is!"

Steve chuckles "Only way to found out tomorrow"

6:30am in the morning, you woke up

You stretch out your body before getting out of the bed and move the curtains on the side of the window

You're never a morning person as a kid but now you're growing more to like it

You still haven't done unpacking everything yet since you're exhausted yesterday just recently moving in the tow

You sigh as you looked over the baggages in your room instead you showered to freshen up and start rummaging through your luggage

you grab the black bra top, black cardigan and khaki pants

Your aunt made your favorite chicken noodle soup and you smile to yourself as you walk across the kitchen, smelling the aroma more

"Goodmorning, pumpkin" she greets

"Morning!" you smile

Your aunt caught your keen voice as she squints her eyes at you but a smile grows on her lips before she continues to what she was doing

You want to help out your aunt for cooking but she always insists that you sat down on the table

she places the bowl in front of you "What's with you so smiley today?"

"I'm just looking forward for the job that I got yesterday"

"Wait, what- really?" she stopped while holding the serving spoon

"Yeah"

"At the Family Video?"

"Yes!"

"And you're excited about that?"

You smile even wider you can't help but wonder why "Yes I do! I think I made friends as well!"

"You did?"

"Yes!"

"What are their names?"

"Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley"

Your aunt can see the lively vibe into your eyes and she hopes that you will never lose it

She smiles down at you as she fills up your bowl with chicken noodle soup

You sigh at the comfortness around the area and you've never felt this before ever since.... well.... you moved in a lot

You felt happy at those times before but not like this, this is different

Maybe, just maybe..... This is the place that you want to stay

"I'm happy for you, love, but if things go wrong-

"I will always be here whenever you need me" you cut her off by finishing her sentence that she always reminds you

She chuckles as she places a glass of red iced tea

"Eat up, we got a big day ahead of us"

Your aunt drop you off at the Family Video, she decides to take the diner instead, she works as a waitress in there

Steve & Robin are already inside opening all of the windows inside

They seem to focus on what they're doing that they didn't even noticed that you arrived on time

You cleared your throat and they raise their heads in unison

You shyly wave at them

Robin smiles "Perfect timing!"

"Hey there!" Steve greets you

You sheepishly nod at him

Robin walks towards to you and grab your hand as she pull over the desk and she reveals your uniform and your name tag

You gasped as you look over to your uniform

Other people might found this funny because of your reaction looked like you just won the lottery

But this is very new to you and it's a great experience to let yourself feel it, enjoy it and embrace it

"W-Wow, I'm official now?"

"You sure are!" Robin says as she watches you unfold your uniform and couldn't help but smile even more

"You can wear it now, if you want to" Steve says

"Are you kidding? I've been dying to have one of these!"

Steve chuckles and shakes his head at you

"You can go ahead and change in the restroom is just around the corner" Robin says as she directs you to where the bathroom is

"Okay, be right back!" You say as you pick up your stuff and headed towards the restroom

"Isn't she the most lovely human being ever!" Robin admires your kind personality

"I gotta admit, I do" Steve shrugs as he flips the sign on the glass door that says "OPEN"

"We had a bet right?"

"What?"

"A bet that we did, last night"

"Oh- that"

"And I just have the perfect person to talk about it" Robin looks over to Steve shoulder and she grins

Someone enters the store with heavy boots on

Steve already knows who is the person behind him and he sighs in exhaustion

He turns around and he says "Dude, what the hell are you doing in here?"

He's wearing Ray-Bans black sunglasses

"I'll be quick, man, don't worry"

"I'll be quick" Steve mocks him making the man rolls his eyes even though his wearing sunglasses, Steve can see it

"You know it's dangerous for you to go outside, in broad daylight!" Steve exclaims

He sighs "yeah, man, I know, goddamn it just be chill, Harrington" he walked over the Mystery/Thriller section as he halts his tracks

His sensing something..... else

"Don't tell me you're going outside like this often" Steve says sternly

Robin ignoring Steve "Uh- I'm going to say something about-"

The man just hushes them both

They both went silent and Steve looked over to Robin and she just shrugs

He can smell you, he can even hear the beat of your heart

He takes a deep breath and he narrows his piercing red glowing eyes to his friends

But before they can say anything, he heard the restroom door open as he swiftly snaps his head looking at you

you unbeknownst to what's going around at the store and the strange man that came in

You're wearing a walkman and you're listening to "Deep Purple - Child In Time" with your head down and you swing your bag over your shoulder fixing your uniform more properly

He removed his sunglasses with his lips apart

The man could've sworn to himself that he is dead, he felt alive again just seeing your presence, even though his heart isn't the same anymore since.... the disaster happened

It's been 2 years and yet here you are, he thought he would've never feel anything that is human but now.... he is feeling something again and that intrigues him

You feel eyes on you

Your raise your head and you have locked eyes at the peculiar man standing not too far from you

He can feel and read your mind, emotions towards him, you're curious and somehow.... intimidated?

That's what he is afraid of.... but that changes when you started walking towards him with a smile on your face

You remove your walkman headset and pause the cassette

Steve and Robin shared a knowing look with each other as they smirk behind the man

"Oh, hello, I'm Y/N" you offer your hand to shake hands with him

You asking him? to shake hands with you?

He blinked and swallowed he becomes nervous as he couldn't said a word

You furrow your brows while you reach out for his hand and he shakes it "and you are?"

"I-I'm Edward Munson- b-but you can call me, Eddie" he stutters and he winces at the awkward answer but you find it cute

The one thing that you noticed, it's not even winter yet but his hand feels.... cold... not that it's weird is just it's summer but you don't pay attention to it...maybe....it's because he's nervous

"Hi, Eddie is a pleasure to meet you, I just recently moved here."

"You do?"

"Yeah, just yesterday"

He looked back at his friends raising his eyebrows

"And that what I've been meaning to tell you" Robin sighs

"She's on her first day of the job!" Steve says while putting his hands over his waist

"Are you picking up a movie?" You asked

"Uh- yeah- I was"

You nod "What kind?"

He got confused by your question and you chuckled "What I mean what kind of movie genre"

"Oh, I get it" he admires your features carefully your eyes, lips, smile, nose, even your voice.... is making him melt

You move yourself beside him and that shocks him, he's never been close to a human girl in his life.... except for his friends though

"You're looking for a Mystery/Thriller film?"

"Yeah, I am"

You look over the VHS section, you found that catches your eye but before you put it out from the shelf, you ask him first

"Are you looking for something that is uh- spooky?"

He tears his eyes away from you while you lean down bending beside him

You didn't even noticed that he is watching you, my god- you're so beautiful- it hurts

He clears his throat "I-I'm kinda into some kind of action"

Steve scrunches up his brows "Since when?"

Robin elbows him with Steve saying "OW!"

"Don't mess up with the moment" she whispers

You picked it up and give it to him

He take it out your grasps and he reads the title "Die Hard"

"You gotta love it" you told him

He smiles to you "Okay"

Robin presses her lips together as she can't control her excitement

"Say- uh- Eddie- I think Y/N is also into rock music" Robin says as she throw her arm around your shoulder with a grin

"How- did you?-" you say as you turn your head on Robin

"You are?"

"Oh- yeah I am"

"What kind?" he echoes the question that you asked him earlier

"Heavy metal, speed metal, glam rock, hard rock, blues, psychedelic rock and so much more" you say as you motion your hands for far more wide

Eddie's eyes almost bulge out of his head "Really? No way!" he jumps out of exhilaration

"Yes, I do!"

You mirrored his enthusiasm as you jump at the same time- you didn't even realized you both holding each other's hands

Robin face turn into such a satisfaction as she turn into Steve mouthing to him "Pay me"

Steve rolls his eyes at her with a smile as he digs out of his pocket a dollar and gives it to Robin

You share each other's interests as you both looked down

you rip your hands from him immediately while smiling sheepishly at him

Eddie scratches the back of his neck

"Are you going to pay for that, Munson?" Steve asks

"Right" he responds as he holds up the VHS you gave to him

Before he can leave the store he turn around and say "Can we hang out sometime?" he shyly asks

"Sure, Eddie, I would love to"

"Oh, okay good, what day are you available?"

"I could hang out with you tomorrow if you want"

"T-That's perfect!" his voice raises a bit much that gives two of his friends shared giggles and he shakes his head at the sight of them

You laugh "See ya, tomorrow, Eddie"

"You too, sweet thing" he gives you a smile before he exits

and that's where all it began....

Everytime you bond with each other, you two became close, literally inseparable

You even met his amazing friends that you very liked in the first place that you met them

Dustin, Max, Lucas, El, Mike, Nancy, Will, Jonathan, Chief Hopper (but he prefers to be called Jim) Joyce, Murray, Karen, Ted, Enzo

You notice something again in their eyes, you can't even read it what it means but you never really mind it about anyways

The first thought comes to your mind, maybe.... they're observing you- they feel like they should get to know you first before trusting you

Are they hiding something from you? or maybe they're just being careful or it's just their instinct

But at the same time it doesn't add up, if they won't trust you they shouldn't be inviting you to hang out during weekends or inviting you and your aunt on dinner

You have done it, countless amount of times already.... and it's overwhelming to you because.... this never happen to you before

One time though, you made garlic buttered shrimp that Eddie almost runaway at the smell of it, you thought he didn't like the food and you can see he is scared.... like you can't even explain it- it looks like you're going to hate him?

Eddie on the other hand can read your mind and he wishes if anything happens, if ever you found out about him, he hopes that you will never change towards him

"Oh, are you allergic to seafood?"

"U-uh- yeah I am" he quietly sighs of relief

You gasped "My deepest apologies, I am so sorry I didn't mean any harm" you say as you moved away the food from him

You met Eddie's uncle, Wayne, that's your first impression again

You got intimidated, but that got off as well as soon as he acts so friendly to you

He has the exact same qualities with his nephew

He is so sweet and kind like Eddie

Sometimes you caught them looking at each other with a look that again.... you couldn't understand

There's also no mirrors in their trailer

There's mirrors in some of his friend's house but all of them are covered with a fabric

You find it odd but you can't stop yourself from being curious though

Also....

One night, you came home late from work since you insist to take the night shift from Robin- you couldn't quite understand the reason why the sudden she has to leave

It's about a "Code Red?"

Steve didn't want to leave you behind but you heard Dustin's voice coming out from the walkie-talkie shouting

"Bring Steve with you, y-you guys better come in here right now! It's urgent!"

Judging by the tone of his voice, it is very serious and you hate yourself for thinking this is kind of a sick joke but it really is not

You drag your brows together but you don't wanna pry and it's really none of your business but you wanted to know what's going on though

Robin almost dragging Steve out of the store

He really didn't wanna go and you can't understand why, the more you try to convince Steve that you'll be okay and you can see in his eyes that it's highly unlikely that you'll be fine,

alone.

It's closer to 12:00am, you packed up your stuff and you make sure all of doors from the back door and the office are locked and you switch off the lights and close the store

The cold wind made you shudder a little

Your aunt take the bus ride home she leaves you with the car, while on your way to it- you didn't know that there's a man holding out a knife to harm you

Before he can attack you, there's a wind swoosh behind your back, you turn around and you notice there's nothing in there- you roam your eyes everywhere

There's no one

You felt nervous and you grip on your car keys as you quickly unlock the door

There's 'clang' of a trashcan that flew into the air and that made you shrieked and you drop your keys on the ground

You take a deep breath and you shout

"Whoever you are! Show yourself!"

Eddie can feel your fear and he feels bad he's the one that caused it but he doesn't want anyone to hurt you, he won't let anyone to do that to you

His eyes are red, his hands are bloody, and his fangs were out.... good thing that he can go back to normal after a while to calm down

When no one respond, you huffed and shake your head, you pick up the keys on the ground

The moment you look back again, you screamed "AHH" you put your hand over your chest and you're heavily breathing

It's Eddie fucking appeared out of nowhere in front of you and you didn't even heard him coming

"You fucking scared me half to life! Eddie! What the hell?!?"

You clasps his hands together saying "I'm sorry" repeatedly

You wave dismissively at him and he says "A-are you good?"

You laugh in disbelief- you scratch your forehead "What are you doing in here anyways?"

Oh shit

He needs a valid reason

"Uh- Steve asked me to guard on you"

"Guard on me?" You raise your eyebrows while you squint your eyes on him

"Y-yeah since, it's late"

before you can reply, Dustin runs around you and he put his hands over his knees as he tries to catch up his breath

Steve leans over to your car with a ragged breathing

Robin puts her hand over her chest as she gives a small wave

"Oh- good, you're okay" Dustin hugs you and you hugged back looking at Eddie in confusion

He pulled out a forced smile as he doesn't know what to say

Hopper's car arrived and he came out of the vehicle and he gives a glare to Eddie

Eddie gulped and put his head down

"There's a suspect that runs into this area that's why we came as fast as we could" Hopper explained

You nod and that lessens your suspicions but- you want answers

You're still confused by the whole situation going on but they watched you as they saw you're inside of the car and drove away

Eddie watches you closely as he can read your thoughts and he feels so guilty for not telling you the truth about....

Himself

"What have we told you?" Hopper says sternly

"I know-"

"Listen, kid, you know I like you alright?" Hopper says

He just nods

"I can't help but feel infuriated by your stubbornness"

"Look- I just- wanna help! I caught the bad guy! didn't I?!?" He looks over to Dustin, Steve and Robin

The three of them give unsure looks

"Oh, come on, you guys"

"Yeah, you caught the bad guy but what about you?" Steve says

"I agree with Steve" Dustin can't even look at Eddie in the eyes as he can remembers how he almost lost him before

"What if, someone saw you? Do you think they won't think twice of killing you instantly?" Robin added

"We know that you wanted to help but we can't risk anyone by finding out that you're- Eddie cuts Hopper off before finishing his sentence

"A what?!? A fucking vampire?!?" Eddie exclaims

He lets out a exasperated sigh "I know guys are concerned about me and I promise this is the last time that I will violated what we talked about" he starts

"If there's a bad situation, I will never do anything without your permission"

Hopper, Steve, Dustin, Robin glance at each other as they all know no matter what they do- Eddie will always be there to save someone from harm

"He-" his angry tears welled up behind his eyes

Hopper blinks at his vulnerability, He knows that he is strong but he truly does care for his loved ones

But this is the first time that they saw him like this..... again.... after the incident....

"He almost killed her, Hopper"

"If- if I wasn't there on time, he would've killed her"

"I would've have lost her" he sniffled

Steve gives Eddie a sympathetic smile, Robin softly gasps at his subtle confession about his true feelings to you and Dustin widen his eyes

"I'm sorry, if I was on a rush for making risky decisions again" he says plainly as he flew off

All of them watch him as he flies away

Dustin smiles sadly "What happens if she finds out?" He says as he still looking up in the sky

"What?" Steve asked

"What if she finds out the truth about him?"

"Oh" Steve can't help but feel so sorry for Eddie, he knows that he never loved someone in his life ever since, he never knew this could happen

"What should we do if ever that might happen?" Robin says as she presses her lips together

"She won't" Hopper says while he's walking towards to this car

"She won't" what? Dustin raises his eyebrows as he waits for Hopper to continue

"She won't be scared of him"

"What makes you say that?" Steve added

"Because they've been together a lot, it's over a year since they moved here and Y/N told us that they frequently leave even though she doesn't tell it to me, I feel like she wants to stay here because of him.... and that says a lot." Hopper says as he goes inside of his car and turns on the engine

"You know what, he's right" Robin says

Steve and Dustin looked at her

"She wouldn't be with us, if she doesn't trust us."

"Well, I just hope she won't change after anything if she finds out" Steve sighs

"I believe in Y/N too" Dustin while he crosses his arms

"Remember the time when Y/N defended Eddie from those douchebags at The Hideout?"

Steve chuckles and Robin "Oh yeah, she got heated when they're calling him "monster" and a "freak"- she literally splashes him with a beer and my god she punches the guy after he tries to hurt her"

Eddie rambles the whole situation over and over to Dustin, from what his dear old friend doesn't know even he is just a kid, he can see his eyes shine whenever he talks about you

Dustin is very happy for him, he hasn't seen his friend this joyful ever since

"Just be there for her, if ever, okay?" Hopper says

All of them nod at him, they watch as he droves away

Eddie on the other hand

Thoughts going wildly on his mind while he's flying around the town

He doesn't know what to do, is it a right decision to tell you or to keep it a secret?

but he knows deep down, if he still keeps this as a secret, you would be furious that it makes him look like he doesn't trust you

He angrily shouts as he lands on a forest

He screams "Why?!"

"I know this would've happen, but I never thought it will really happen" he's heavily breathing as he continues to shout

"Why do I have to suffer like this?!" He says as he owns tears getting choked up in his throat

"I really wanted to stay with my friends but right now?!?" He laughs incredulously "I would rather die than seeing my love getting afraid because of me!"

Memories flashes before his eyes as he remembers the one who gave this to him

"You'll live"

Eddie is gasping for air but he feels different

He woken up he is still laying in the upside down

He sits up, the demobats that tear off half of his skin and limbs are all healed

"W-What have you done to me?" He says as he backs away from him

"Shh" he shushes "Don't be frightened"

"I need you to work for me"

"What?"

"I gave you life and powers"

Eddie runs his tongue over his teeth and he shouts "No" his fuelling anger is becoming tears in his eyes

"You can't do this to me!"

"You're my slave, I need you to do something for me"

"I won't work for you!"

He slams him behind the trailer as he threatens him and choking him in the process

"You wanted to graduate is that it?"

"Y-yes, I do"

"Then follow me what I need you to do"

In fact he did follow him, but he had other plans

Everyone was shocked that he is still alive, he showed up first to Dustin, he thought he saw a ghost the first time he saw him again

"I knew it! You're alive!" He hugs Eddie with happy tears

"It's really good to see you, bud" he says as he rubs his back

"But- how did you manage to-" Dustin pulls away but he got cut off by Eddie saying

"I will explain to you everything, we have a problem"

"Copy that" Dustin says as he walks over to grab his walkie-talkie saying "Code Red"

To be completely honest everyone felt weird when they saw Eddie alive and well as if he wasn't got eaten off by demobats

Eddie can understand why and that he is truly himself, just undead that's all

"Steve, Robin, Jonathan and I, will take cover for you" Nancy says

"El and Eddie will corner Vecna to finish this once for all" Mike tightens the grip on El's hand as she flashes out a small smile

"We will be at the gates and guard on it if ever nasty monsters will get out" Erica says as she nods over to Lucas and Max

"Me and Argyle will warn Hopper and Enzo to the townspeople to stay alert and be ready" Will added

Eddie sighs "Do you think this could work?"

"It has to- and I believe you can beat his ass off" Dustin reassures Eddie

The plan is going on so nicely, everything is coming to an order

El uses her telekinetic powers to hold off Vecna and while Eddie pins him down on the ground

"Your time is running out" Eddie grunts

"You're making a big mistake"

"Am I?"

Vecna tries to fight back but El groans and screams harder as she pushes him back down and Eddie stabs him with a sword and punches him

That caused a lot pain to him "Traitor" he says while wincing at the wound

"If you kill me, you won't be able to go back to normal"

El glances over to Eddie and he looks back at her

He gave her a small nod and mouthing to her "it's okay"

"Someday, you'll see, if someone tries to love you, they won't love you back because you're a monster"

Eddie clenches his jaw as he deepens the wound

"They won't accept you, everywhere you go- they'll hate you"

"A freak but also a monster?" He laughs darkly

"Don't listen to him, Eddie!" El yells as she uses both of her hands to hold him back down

"Now, don't you worry, supergirl, I am not" he says sternly to Vecna

His eyes widen as he watches him raises the sword to chop his head off

"I would rather live like this than to knowing that you're still alive killing innocent people" he says in his last blow of his sword

Both of them shout in anger and exhaustion

They both fell back down and the upside down is now crumbling

Eddie, El, Steve, Robin, Nancy, and Jonathan running for their lives as they try to leave the upside down

Erica, Lucas and Max watches the gates closed on its own and it faded like it wasn't ever existed

The cracks are all gone and the wind and the red glow in the area is nowhere to be seen

"He made it" Enzo chuckled

"The kid got guts" Hopper smiled as he closes his eyes finally at peace for this town

Mike speaks over the walkie-talkie asking "Hey, guys? I see the town is going back to normal is everything alright?" Dustin can't reply as he's watching the last gate where Eddie is

He kept saying "Come on guys, Eddie, come on, man"

The 6 of them jump on the ground back into the real world as the watch the last gate finally closed and goes back to where it was before

Dustin sighs of relief "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, we're okay" Steve says as he looks over to his friends

Eddie is the only one who is silent as everyone is catching up their breath

He is disappointed of what he has become for all eternity but also the same time, he is glad, that the war is finally over

"Are you good?" Jonathan asks Nancy as she gives him a nod

"Eddie?" Robin asks

El glances over to Eddie and he looks at her giving him a hopeful smile

He finally turns around "I am stuck like this, you guys, forever" he scoffed while shaking his head

Everyone gave him a sympathetic smile

"You're a hero, Eddie and nothing ever changes that" El says as she puts over her hand in his shoulder

"Thank you" he says softly

"You'll be okay and we will always here for you, Eddie" Dustin says

"Yeah, man" Steve agrees

"It never felt any different ever since you came back, Eddie, it's still going to be the same" Jonathan says with a small smile

"We should celebrate, you know" Nancy shrugs

"Oh, I hear you, Wheeler" Eddie chuckles and all of them laughed

"We should cover up those wounds first, Munson" Robin says

His eyes became misty as he is so grateful to have friends like them

Eddie proved Vecna wrong about people not accepting for who he really was....

but... what about you?

Joyce, Murray, Karen all of them decided to keep Eddie's true nature a secret and kept it quiet

Hopper and Enzo agreed with this

So the townspeople won't snoop their noses around him, they'll still believe he's the one that caused it

Fucking close-minded people

"She's deserves to know" he says as he calms down a little bit

"She has to know" he says it himself

No more lies, no more secrets, he doesn't like to see you get betrayed and hurt

But he hopes that you'll won't be disappointed

He's going to admit it all at your first date together

You showed up in Family Video, you went to do all of the tasks as if nothing ever happened last night

Steve and Robin give looks at each other and then back to you

"You know that I can feel your eyes on me, right?" You say while opening the window blinds

"Sorry" Steve says softly

"Y/N, we just wanna know, if you're okay?" Robin says

You bring yourself around to face them "I am totally fine, guys"

You both gave them a reassuring smile

There's still a piece inside of you wanted answers to your questions but you don't want to make things worse, so you kept it to yourself

While you're bringing the storage boxes outside, Eddie approached you while clearing his throat

"Hey, Y/N" he says softly

"Hi" you say sheepishly

"I know what happened last night was so weird, please, forgive me" Eddie says with his doe eyes

His eyes are making you say "aww" on how adorable they are

Wait- you found my eyes appealing? He thinks to himself while he reads your mind

But he stops doing it right away as he feels like he's invading your own thoughts

"You don't have to explain and you don't have to apologize to it anymore, Eddie" you sigh

"Look, just hear me out" he says as he looks deeply into your eyes

You swallowed nervously and you blinked rapidly

Woah- why is your heart beating so fast? Do- do you like me?

He can feel emotions rushing and the energy of it.....is growing wild

You nod for him to continue

"I know this is like way too early but I'm asking you out for a dat-"

"Yes" you cut him off

"I'm not even finished yet" he throws his hand up

"Yes, I would like to go out with you"

"Really?"

"Yeah" you smile at him

He looks straight into your eyes and he might felt come alive again as he doesn't see anything else that is untrue

You're his dream come true

"Are you serious?" He says as he can't believe that you're willing to go with him

You roll your eyes playfully and giggled

Your smile and laughter brings soothing to his heart, even it's not the same anymore

He felt like a normal human being again

You step closer to him and he's taken a back

"You're amazing gentleman, Ed's, that's why I wanted to go out with you, I hope you know that." You say as you place your hand over his cheek and caresses it

He melts into your touch and closes his eyes for a moment and he smile down at you

"Is 7pm alright?" He whispered

"Yes" you replied while you pat his cheek

You walked away leaving a breathless Eddie behind

"Goddamn" he smiles to himself, his smile though slowly fades a little as he remembers what he's going to do tomorrow

You wore a black corset and black ripped jeans

You checked your outfit while looking at yourself in the mirror

"Hmm, it might be too cold outside" so you picked out your sheer white jacket

"You look absolutely divine, honey" your aunt says while she leans over to your doorframe

"Oh, hi, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I have a date"

"Is it Eddie?"

You gasped and you take a double look at your aunt "How could you know?"

She chortled as she sits down on your bed motioning for you to come sit beside her

You smiled at her and she starts "I see the way you looked at him and the way he looked at you"

"Auntie-" you groaned but she laughs "Just listen to me for a moment"

"Never be afraid just to get out there and explore and have a new adventure at your life"

"When I was your age, me and your uncle just go literally everywhere, and it was the surreal experience of my life" she paused as she snifffles a little

You rub her back and she holds your hand "this thing you have with Eddie? Is very special, I see myself through the both of you"

"You both have the same interest and filled with just pure happiness and imaginary at the things you loved the most"

"Never lose yourself and I love that you kept being yourself, honey"

Your tears are threatening to spill "of course, that's what you always told me when I was a kid"

"Hush now" she presses a kiss to your forehead "don't ruin your makeup and I might be the caused of that" she snickers and you laughed

"See you later, auntie!"

"I love you"

"I love you forever, auntie"

You came in the diner that Eddie asked you to come and for moment there you thought you got stand up but you saw him and sigh of relief

"For a minute, I thought you're not going to show up" you say

"I-I'm sorry, I got nervous"

"You're nervous?" You watch him as he sits down across from you

Eddie has always been so handsome to you but you've never seen this close and you're used to see him wearing bandshirts, denims, leather jackets

He is now wearing a decent attire, a little bit formal but still has the touch of his own style

He's wearing a white polo, black pants with his Reebok

His chains and his rings making you feel hot sensation all over your body

"Am I late? Do I look okay?"

"No- you're not I just arrived 2 minutes early and you look exquisite"

"Exquisite?" He smirks

"Fine" you huffed "you look extremely so handsome tonight, Eddie" you bat your eyes at him

Eddie laughs as he admires your pretty face as he looks at you

You corset goes so finely with you, it hugs your breasts so tightly and he grunts softly at the sight of it, every hairstyle is perfect on you but he loves to see you wearing it down

He loves everything about you

The date is going on smoothly, you both shared laughs and funny stories about each other

Like come on, it's like you're fooling both of yourselves, you've been friends for like over a year now, so this feels so natural for you and so does he

Eddie droves you to over his trailer for a movie date

He put VHS Beetlejuice (1988) as he settles down with a popcorn bowl on his hand and places 2 canned sodas on the table

He froze when you remove your white sheer jacket off and you remove your high-heeled shoes

Good thing, he knows how to control his powers, he can't stand not to see your pulsing veins on your neck as he tries not to take a bite of it

You caught him watching you and he shyly ducks his head down and he moves sideward to give you open space to sit down on the couch

You smirk and sat down beside him

You grab a pillow and you put it in front of you to hug it while you're eating popcorn

He can smell your sweet scent as he exhales slowly, he feels so comfortable whenever you're around

You're paying attention in the movie while he doesn't- he watches you

Your eyelashes are so pretty, he just wants to smushes his own face on you and showers you a lot of kisses

But he doesn't want to do anything rash right now, you're being nice ever since you met him and he hates it he's getting thoughts like this

You looked over to him while chewing on the popcorn on your mouth and you chuckled a little when he looked back at the television screen and he grabs his soda immediately and takes a sip of it

"Whatchu, lookin' at- Ed's?"

"What?"

"I'm not blind, Eddie, I saw you looking at me!"

Oh- his cheeks is on fire

He steals the popcorn bowl from your hands and you gasped "You're making it all up" he says as he throws a popcorn onto his mouth

"Sure, whatever you say, handsome" you roll your eyes as you looked back at the TV

"Handsome? that's the twice she said that to me?!" He thinks to himself

He watches you again

You feel his eyes on you as you quickly turn yourself on him

Once again, you caught him

"Aha!" You point at him "I caught you red-handed!"

You throw popcorn at him and he laughs "Okay, fine!"

"Aww, you feel defeated, Ed's?" You pout at him

God, how can you be so cute and hot at the same time? He thinks to himself

"I am guilty, sweetheart" he says as he smiles down at you

You giggled at him and while you reaching out the pillow that fell down from your lap

"You're beautiful"

"Pardon?"

"I said, you're beautiful" he repeated with a grin on his face

Now, it's your turn to be flustered and you smile at him sheepishly

At this point, you don't even care if you got rejected, you have this crush for him carrying it for a over year now

You gotta take the risk or live with regret

So, fuck it

He loves to see you getting blushed because of him as he takes another sip from his soda while he places it from the table

"Eddie?" You called out for him

"Yeah?"

You and him both stare at each other and he gulped of what you're about to do

You cupped his cheeks and presses your lips into his

You kissed him and his eyes were wide as hell

You pulled back and you furrow your brows at his expression, you can't even read it

You chuckled nervously "oh wow- okay, that was stupid, you know what I'm gonna go-" you get up but he grab your hand

His eyes softens and you look back at him and you slowly sat down again beside him

He tucked your hair behind your ear and he slams his lips onto yours

The kiss was so passionate and it was steaming hot, he tilted his head as he deepens the kiss even more, you moaned

You runs your hands over his chest as you throw your arms around him and one hand over the back of his head as you hold him and pulled him even closer

You both flushed at each other's bodies automatically

His cold hands run over your shoulders and to your thighs

You're both making it out like it was for centuries and he doesn't mind it all

He loves to kiss you forever

You don't even noticed that you both floating up in the air

You pulled away and gasped as you put your hand to cover your mouth

And you look back at Eddie and his eyes are red and you look down at his mouth, you saw his fangs

You're in a state of shock as you felt coming back down on the couch

You breathe heavily of what you just witnessed but you quickly collected yourself

All of the missing pieces are coming together

Now, you understand everything

Eddie is a vampire and you're completely clueless about it

You stare at him and he looks away from you ashamedly but you stopped him from doing it while you place your hand on his cheek to make him face you again

He knits his brows together at your action

You peck a kiss onto his lips and he kisses back "Talk to me"

"I wanna know everything, Eddie" you say to him as you flash a sweet smile

He searches uncertainty on your eyes but he doesn't find anything, he saw compassion and love?

You love him?

He just burst into tears as he goes back to normal again

"Oh, Eddie" you hug him while you rest your head over his chest

He hugs you even tighter and you embrace him even more

You both stayed like this in comfortable silence

Locked into each other's arms

He runs his fingers through your hair and you sigh in comfort

You broke the silence first "Before you can think of anything that I don't want you anymore after this, I won't do it, Eddie, I really mean it"

His eyes are still blurry from the tears as he looks down on you and kisses the top of your head

You hum in agreement with a smile on your face

"I- I adored you ever since, Eddie, I love you" you confessed

You felt him get tensed up and he looks at you in shock

You pulled away from him and you cup his cheeks

"I am willingly to spend my whole life with you, Eddie"

He never felt this much happiness in his life but he smiles sadly at the thought-

He's immortal and you're not, his lifetime will be different in the world and yours will be end up fast unfortunately

At least he got the taste of true love but he really wants to make that happen

Loving each other endearingly

But he also doesn't want to cross over the line, you might want to live your life normally

"Oh, sweetheart" his eyes are brimmed with tears and yours too

He got confused "What is it, darling?"

"I- I thought I will be rejected" you laugh "but I see nothing but the truth in your eyes, Ed's" you say

"Even you don't say it-" he cuts you off by saying

"I love you too, Y/N" he kisses your cheek

"Ever since the first time we met" he added

Your lips clashes onto each other as you make out again

Eddie carried you into his room not wanting to break the kiss

He closes the door and locks it and he places you slowly on his bed

You helped him unbotton his polo and you quickly rushed to unclasp your corset

"No, let me" he stopped you and you nod at him

"Are you sure about this?" He asks before he continues to undresses you

You just nod at him and he sighs as he doesn't want to make this go any further if you're aren't up to this truly

He does not want to make you regret it, it's fine for him, if you're not ready

"Hey" he lifts your chin up to make you look at him in the eyes

"I need verbal answers, sweets" he says as he narrows his eyes on you

"I-I've longed for this, Eddie and I only want you"

"Okay" he says softly as he kisses on your knuckles

You make love for the first time and you're so sure of yourself that he is your person

You're going to settle the life that you want with Eddie

You're naked, laying on his bed, your hair is a beautiful mess

You blushed when you noticed his eyes are roaming around your body from top to bottom

You got shy, you tried to cover yourself by wrapping your arms around you

He licks his lips and his eyes filled with hunger, he chuckles darkly

"Damn- that's so hot, why does he have to do that" you think to yourself

"My love, I was just admiring you" he says as he places both of his hands on your hips

"My love?" your knees are now wobbling at his words

"I can't take my eyes off you, you're a goddess!"

"Oh- stop it! Eddie, I-" he cuts you off with a fervid kiss

You squealed and you can feel his smirk while kissing you

You grab a fistful of his hair and he groaned on top of you and as his hands roam over around your body earning a whimper from you

He deepens the kiss even more as he unbuckled his belt

You're already got so worked up by the simplest touches that he did

The effect he has on you, is freaking unreal

He breaks the kiss and you frown, he laughed while he grabs something on the drawer

"I want to be safe"

Your heart melts as he cares about your pleasure first

He pulled his boxers all the way down and you squirmed

Oh, he is huge, you don't even know if you can take it

"You can take it, don't worry, hunny" he winks at you as if he can read your mind (you didn't know that he can truly do that)

He places himself back on top of you and grab his dick directing to your hole

"You ready?"

"Yes, I am, Eddie"

"I applaud your attentiveness, sweetheart"

He takes himself in slowly and you scrunched up in pain

"Just tell me to stop and I will stop" eying you in concern

"No- no, I'm adjusting, keep going"

The moment his all the way in, you look down and you saw that he filled you up real good

"Oh" you breathe heavily

"Told you can take it"

"E-Eddie- you can move now"

He thrust and he grunts as at your pussy already clenching

"Wow, my darling- you impressed me"

You want to keep your eyes open but can't help by the overwhelming sensation burns through your system

"It feels so good, go harder, please" you beg and he doesn't want to keep you begging for more as his thrusts grows harder and harder

You kept your lustful eyes on him

"Don't you dare look at me like that or I will tore you apart" he thinks to himself

"Ah- Eddie! Oh my fucking god!" You moaned

He grabs your legs and places it over his shoulders

He watches as your chest rises up and down

You got confused ignoring the enrapture that you're feeling at the moment

"Eddie- what are you-" you got cut off as he deepens himself down onto you

You can't suppress your moans any longer as you moaned louder

You grip on the sheets as he fucks you roughly

He even watches your boobs bounce up and down, he smirks at the sight of it, he is enjoying himself

"Holy- shit- oh!" You exclaimed

"Baby, I'm coming, I can't take it anymore"

You arched your back in pleasure as he came undone

He falls down on you even though you felt weak, you still manage to hug him

You can feel him smiling at your action and you run your fingers through his hair

He carefully puts down your shaking legs

Your eyes are heavy lidded, your cheeks are flushed, Eddie slowly pull himself out of you

He wiped you, cleaned you, he pulled a clean bandshirt on you and he chuckles softly on how big it is to you as he dresses you up with his clean boxers

He wore his pajama pants as he cuddles next to you

"How's that?" He asks

"It's astounding" you say while your eyes are closed

He bursted out laughing and you furrow you brows as you slap his arm playfully

"I-I am sorry" he is tearing up from laughter "your choice of words are remarkable" he says with a British accent

You laughed at him "Well, you're not the only one" you snorted

"Oh- how dare you" he says dramatically

You rolled your eyes as you push him back laying down on the bed

You caught him by surprise

You remove his boxers that belonged to him and his

You sat down at him without any warnings and you bite your bottom and you moaned

With his lips apart while looking at you

You place your hands over his shoulders as you begin to ride him, your eyes rolling back as you can feel yourself getting wet because of him

He squeezes his eyes shut on the sweet sensation as you say

"Round 2?" You say menacingly as you smirk down on him

He moans while laughing in the process "where have you been all my life?"

He takes care of you after you both make love again

As soon as he goes back beside you, he's picking up the clothes that he wants to put on you, you're ready to snuggle up with him and yes he will cuddle up with you as soon as he dresses at you up he insists to do that one first but you give him a scowling face

He chortled at how clingy you are

He pulled up the blankets as he lays down and he open his arms out for you

You smiled as you lay your head over his shoulders and hug him and he kisses your forehead

Now at this time, he told you everything about him, about what happened 2 years ago

"I wish I was there for you" you start "they didn't even look hard enough, you're innocent"

"I appreciate that, Y/N, Thank you"

"And I also appreciate your honesty" you pulled back to look down at him and you smile

Your prop your arm up and you say "So there's this other world that you guys called the upside down and this asshole named Vecna did this to you?"

"Yeah, that's sums it all up"

His story sounds like the sci-fic, adventure and action films that you watched before and now knowing that this really happened sends goosebumps into your skin

"Where's Jason now? I would like to punch him in the face"

"Easy there, tiger" he chuckled

"You didn't deserve that! Eddie!" Your eyes are forming with tears

Eddie pulled you into a hug as he rubs your back

He is now sobbing softly with happy tears

You're not afraid, you trust him, you accept him, and you even love him

His eyes flashes with so much gratitude

You suddenly became concerned as you heard him crying

Both of your eyes are stained with tears

"What's wrong, Ed's?"

"Nothing, I just" he sniffles "I didn't know that I got to have you and called you mine"

You smile widely "I'm yours forever"

"I'm yours forever" he keeps replaying it in his head

"I'm so lucky that you exist and you're here with me"

"Because I thought I would never have-

"Someone?"

"Yeah"

"You're my first" you admit

"What?"

"I don't wanna give myself to someone who wasn't true to himself" you paused

"I was never in love with anyone until you, Eddie"

His eyes glint with teary eyes with overjoyed coming into his face

"Me too" he says while you into his eyes and look for dishonest on them but nothing

You fall for him even harder

"I love you, Eddie"

"I love you forever and ever"

You snuggled up together as you slowly close your eyes as you drift away to sleep

Eddie is wide awake somehow gobsmacked at his life right now

He embraces you even tighter as if you might disappeared from him

You hold onto him close as you bury yourself on his chest

His sheets are now covered with your scent and he just loves it, mixed with vanilla and lavender from your shampoo

He can also smell the lotion from your soft skin, flowery and fresh scent

He smiles in content as he fell asleep....

Everything is going so well, why does it have to be like this?

An intense magnitude Earthquake happened all over across the town of Hawkins, Indiana

You and your auntie hold on to each other inside the diner

You both tried to stay calm as you both headed towards the exit

A big rumble on the ground made you both ripped at each others hands

Your eyes widen in fear and you screamed "No! Auntie!"

A big pole that fell back down on her crushes her entirely

The earthquake is becoming more and more stronger as you ran towards her

"Y/N! Stop! Save yourself!" She chokes on her own blood

"No- I won't leave you!" A small wall but heavy enough slams down on the half of your body made you screech in pain

"R-remember what I told you, sunshine"

"I-I love you" she blinks slowly and she dies

"Auntie" you cried out "N-No"

You felt dizzy and you look down wincing in pain, your head bleeds as before you got unconscious the last words you said

"Eddie...."

"I need to find Y/N before it's too late" Eddie says

"Be careful, kid" Enzo says while he and Hopper protect everyone in the open ground area

Eddie gasps as he saw you laying in your own blood, your heart is slowly beating

You're still alive, but losing a lot of blood

"Don't you die on me!" He shouts as he raises the wall that almost crushed you

Eddie saw your lifeless, Aunt, "oh- I am so sorry, sweetheart"

Your mind is hazy but you knew the person who is carrying you

"You came"

"Of course, sweetheart, I'm taking you to the hospital"

"I-I tried to save her" you say weakly your nose starts to bleed

Eddie cries in anger as he quickly finds a hospital

The earthquake is finally over, everyone was wounded, lost a loved a one, lost a home

Emergency vans, were everywhere

The hospital is crowded, every nurse and doctor are running all over the hallways

Eddie's knee kept bopping up and down as he couldn't stay calm at what you're state your in

The doctor finally talked to him and said it's bad news

"She might not make it, I'm sorry"

He cries in agony and this is his greatest fear, losing you.....unless....

There is only one solution to save you

He comes inside your room and he weep even harder as he saw you slowly breathing

It's not your time yet, this isn't fair

"I want to save you, but I don't know if it's also that you want" he says as he holds your hand

You heard him and you slowly opened your eyes and he saw it, his eyes are bloodshot from crying, his clothes are covered with your blood

"Do it, Eddie" you say

"But I don't wanna-"

"Please, Eddie, I don't want you to be alone and I don't wanna leave you behind, I really want this"

"If I do this, you might not be able to do the normal things anymore"

"Let me into your world, Eddie"

"I've got nothing to lose, I only have you" you sob

He can feel you're very certain, he warns this might hurt a little and you'll die for a second

He bites your neck and he cut his wrist to make you drink his blood

You drank a lot and you can feel your heartbeat finally comes to an end

Your eyes, your complexion is now similar to Eddie's, your hair became more wavy, your whole appearance changed

You gasped for air and you didn't feel any pain on you anymore

You looked over to Eddie and you laughed slightly and he hugs you tightly

3 months after the earthquake

Hopper grabs the walkie-talkie and he calls Eddie to come over

When he arrived Dustin and Steve and everyone is in there

He showed him the "WANTED" picture as Hopper explains the criminal that you and Eddie need to capture

Before he continues he exclaims "Where the hell is Y/N?!"

"I'm here, Jim" you say as you entered the room with Eddie's black leather jacket draped over your shoulders

Eddie smirks at your entrance

You take a quick sip of your flask with blood droplet on your chin and you wipe it off using your finger

"So, where to- Chief?" You smile with subtle red glow on your eyes

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