#it only dawns on them that maybe Steve actually likes Eddie when they each in on them smooching a few days ever

[artiststarme]

From Alibi to Reality

A little something different, I hope you guys like it! Title brought to you by @nburkhardt. Please leave your thoughts in the comments!

~*~*~*~

Steve knew he was going to act as Eddie’s beard for the cops and the town. That was a no-brainer, it was the only way to clear Eddie’s name. He discussed it with Hopper, the kids, and Robin. Everyone determined that the shock factor of Steve “The Hair” Harrington dating the town freak was the only thing that was going to change Powell’s mind and make him drop the charges. The thing no one could agree on was how to broach the subject. 

Dustin thought that telling the police directly would be the best way, Robin thought they should build up to the declaration, and Nancy thought it was a stupid idea because no one would believe that lady-killer Steve Harrington was into a guy (little did she know). Regardless, all of his friends thought talking was the best course to take. 

But Steve was a man of action, not words. All of the Party’s plans involved discussing their “relationship” like civilized adults. The problem was though, they weren’t talking to civilized adults. They were talking to his brother, a known dumbass, and the new Chief of Police that wanted to hunt down a bunch of kids because Jason fucking Carver told him to. 

So he was going to handle this the way he handled every shitty situation thrown his way. He was going to wing it. It had worked for him thus far and it hadn’t failed him yet. So, for the rest of the Party’s meeting, Steve zoned out. He thought about how fucked he was going to be when his parents found out about this, how much shit he’d have to take from the rest of the town, and how ostracised he’d be. But it was the only way to clear Eddie’s name. 

Eddie had jumped into the lake after him and saved his life before protecting Dustin from demobats. He was a part of the Party now and Steve would do anything to protect the Party. So, he was fine with ruining his reputation and probably being disowned by his parents for  tainting the Harrington name. As long as Eddie was okay in the end, nothing else mattered. 

~*~*~*~

They neglected to tell Eddie the plan. He hadn’t seen any of the Party members since the police realized he was being treated at the hospital and barred anyone from seeing him until they questioned him. He was just minding his own business, ignoring the two doofus cops trying to question him, and looking forward to whatever the Party came up with to clear his name. Eddie wasn’t sure if whatever their plan was was going to work or even if they meant what they’d said. However, he had hope. Mostly because the only other option would be joining his dad in a cell for murders he didn’t even commit. 

That’s when it happened. Steve stormed into his hospital room with a flourish, slamming the door against the wall and scaring the two cops. 

Eddie watched as the tall one’s eyes narrowed, “Steve, you better have a good explanation for this one-“

He didn’t pay attention to what else was said. One minute, he was looking at an angry Harrington walking into his room and the next, said Harrington was kissing him. On the lips! 

Mother of fuck, Eddie had died and gone to heaven because all of his dreams were coming true. He didn’t know what Steve was playing at but Eddie wasn’t complaining. He just slipped his eyes closed and kissed him back with equal fervor.

He was pulled from their passionate kissing by a loud, “Son of a bitch, Steve! The murderer?! What the fuck? I thought your taste was bad when you were dating the priss but now this? Jesus Fuck, bro!”

“Officer Callahan, please maintain your composure.”

“My composure?!” His voice was shrill as he shrieked in his own defense. “Powell, my brother is macking on fucking Munson! What the fuck? How am I supposed to maintain my composure?!”

Eddie pulled away from Steve, “your brother is Officer Callahan?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did that not come up when you were defiling my baby brother?!” Callahan yelled at him, waving his hands in the air maniacally. 

“No, actually. It didn’t,” Eddie told him. 

Callahan let out a sound of frustration before pointing at Steve, letting out another frustrated noise, and stalking out. Steve and Eddie turned to Powell who just looked tired. 

“I assume this is why you wouldn’t tell us your alibi for the night of the murder, Munson?” He sighed. 

“That’s right, there was no way in hell I was going to out my boyfriend. Apparently he does it himself though,” Eddie gave Steve the side eye. Why had he chosen to do this? He’d known the guy for like two weeks and he was just throwing his life away to protect Eddie. What the hell?

Powell turned to Steve, “is that true? Mr. Munson was with you the night that Chrissy Cunningham was murdered?”

“That’s right. We were watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Alien before going to bed. He stayed the whole night laying in bed next to me, there’s no way he could’ve murdered anybody,” Steve nodded. 

Powell just shook his head at them, “fine, Munson. I’m clearing you but don’t leave town.” 

“I won’t sir, thank you for doing your due diligence. It was at my expense but still, thanks,” Eddie said sarcastically. 

He shot them one last disbelieving look before following his partner. Then all that was left was Eddie and Steve. 

Eddie whipped his head around to Steve. “Now what the hell was that?!”

“Hey! Don’t talk to your boyfriend that way!”

“Seriously Steve-”

“Eddie, I swear to god if you don’t kiss me again in the next twenty seconds, I’ll go get Powell and tell him I changed my mind,” Steve threatened him with narrowed eyes. 

How was Eddie supposed to refuse him after that?

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[dragonmama76]

Beginnings Part 3

Sorry for the wait. A combo of writers block and life happening kept me from working on this. Hope you enjoy!

Catch up here: Part One, Interlude, Part 2

The jagged glass bottle dropped to the floor and Steve was free. He wasn’t dead.  Eddie hadn’t killed him after all.  As his senses returned he registered that there was shouting.  So much shouting.  “How dare you lay even one single finger on him!” Steve had never seen Robin so furious in their time together, not even when confronted with the Russians.  “After what you did to him…put him through!”  she was half screaming and half crying now and Steve gathered her in his arms, “Robbie, Rob, Bobbin it’s okay. Shhhhh.  Listen.  We’ve gotta get through what’s happening now.  It’s more important than anything that happened to me in high school.”  She gradually  stopped fighting and allowed herself to be held and only then did Steve manage to glance over at Dustin.  He was white as a sheet frantically looking between Steve and Eddie.  “Eddie?”  his voice cracked, “Eddie…what did you do?”  

**********************************

Steve and Robin stared transfixed at the screen as the reporter gave few details concerning the murder of a Hawkins High student.  Steve’s stomach clenched and his first thought was for Max but the trailer on the screen wasn’t familiar to him.  It wasn’t her trailer.  Lost in his racing thoughts, he jumped as the bell over the door rang out and Dustin and Max both rushed in.  His relief was short-lived, though, as it became clear that they were looking for help to find Eddie Munson.  Of course the Freak was at the center of all this, and now his kids were getting involved.  “Maybe let the police handle this one?” Steve suggested, although he knew it was futile.  As far as Dustin went, Eddie could do no wrong.  He exchanged meaningful glances with Robin.  Her eyes were wide as she tried to sort out if it was better to help the kids or convince them to stay far away from the situation.  Steve grabbed her sleeve and pulled her aside so they could talk.  She was babbling before he had a chance to get a word in.

“Oh my God, Steve, you always said he was dangerous and I didn’t believe you.  I’m such an idiot.  Did he actually do it?  Did he actually, you know, hurt someone?  Like that?  What are we going to do?”  

“Shit, Robin," Steve shook his head, "I don’t know.  But we can’t let Dustin and Max do this alone and you know they will, so we’re going to help them and you and I are going along to keep them out of trouble.  I don’t think Munson would actually hurt Dustin, so let’s just find him and get his side of the story.  From what Max said, it sounds like this could be upside down related and if it is…well, better that we know.”

********

There was silence in the boathouse and Dustin asked again, “Eddie…what did you do?” Eddie watched in horror as Dustin’s enormous brain made those lightning speed connections.  It was like he could see the wheels turning and the horror dawning as Dustin’s worldview was rocked by Eddie’s former crimes. His dirty truth.  His eternal shame.  He was about to turn and run, where he didn’t know, maybe just straight into the lake when Steve broke in.  “Dustin, whatever you think you know right now, put it aside.  We need to know what happened to Chrissy.”  Eddie felt, rather than saw Steve shift his attention back to him even as Dustin continued to glower.  “Okay, Eddie, it's time.  Tell us what happened and don’t leave anything out.”  Something loosened in Eddie’s chest and it all came tumbling out.  Chrissy coming to his trailer looking for help.  Chrissy floating.  Her bones snapping.  Her eyes.  He knew it all sounded insane, each detail worse than the one before but the more he spoke, the more knowing the glances around him became.  

********

After dropping Dustin and Max off for the night with promises to meet up in the morning for a strategy session, he and Robin headed back to his place to crash.  Steve didn’t feel at all bad leaving Eddie in the boathouse overnight to stew in his own juices.  He could see the man was terrified, but maybe that was simply payback for all the terror he had inspired in Steve.  It felt good.  Really good.  Steve finally had the upper hand over Eddie and wondered if this was his opportunity to enact some revenge.  Saving the world notwithstanding.  That would come first.  He sat with that feeling for a minute while Robin got settled on the couch.  And then he paused.  Well, shit.  Wasn't this exactly what Eddie had done back in high school?  Was this how he felt every time he saw Steve cringe or duck into a classroom to avoid him?  That's not who Steve wanted to be.  He had flirted with the concept of bullying back when he was friends with Tommy H. and decided it wasn't for him and he had worked too hard to shed his King Steve persona to turn it back on now.  Sometimes growing older and gaining perspective sucked.  Steve thought about Eddie watching him these last few months and wondered if he had gained perspective as well.  No one should be blamed for stupid things they did at fifteen, he really believed that, so maybe he would have to forgo the opportunity for revenge until he truly saw Eddie in action.  Ultimately Steve didn’t know how to feel about the fact that he was now technically helping Eddie, but he was willing to put his feelings aside until this current crisis was resolved.  Robin, it seemed, was not.  

“Steve, you know don’t have to be a part of this.  And maybe we shouldn’t be anyway.  It’s okay if you want to leave Eddie to figure this out on his own, you know.  You don’t have to help him, especially not after everything he did to you.  When I saw him grab you…and the look on your face…I hate him, Steve.  I hate what he did to you and I don’t get why you’re being so calm about this!” Robin’s voice was verging on hysteria and Steve sighed.  He was so tired.  “Robin, I love you and I understand that you think you’re helping, but every time I tried to talk to you about this you dismissed it and I’m gonna be honest, it made me feel like shit.  So you don’t get to have an opinion on how I’m handling this right now.  I’ve been dealing with Eddie on my own for years and you’re going to have to trust me when I say that I know what I’m doing.”  

Robin’s face fell and she looked absolutely devastated.  “Steve,” she gasped, “I didn’t..I’m sorry…I…”  

“Forget it.”  Steve’s face was hard, but his voice was kind, kinder than she thought she deserved.  “Look, Robs, whatever happened, it was in the past and if I choose to move on or ignore it that’s for me to decide.  You didn’t take it seriously before and that really sucked and I guess seeing it up close and personal changed that for you and that’s great, but this is and always has been my problem to solve.”  

“Okay.”  Robin’s voice was weak, “Okay, Steve I trust you.  Of course I do.   Just….I want you to know that I get now that I wasn’t there for you in the past and that I was too wrapped up in my own assumptions and drama and I need you to know that I’m really here for you and I’m on your side whatever that means.” 

“I know, Robbie, and that means a lot.  Really.  Let’s get some sleep and we’ll figure it all out in the morning.”

********

The last couple of days had been a real mindfuck, and now Eddie watched in horror as Steve slipped beneath the surface of Lover’s Lake for the second time.  He couldn’t let Steve just die, not with everything between them so unresolved.  It was less than a minute before he was diving in after him.  Eddie was sure he wasn’t thinking straight.  What exactly was he going to do?  Maybe he could grab him and bring him back up?  But then it didn’t matter because there was no time to think and he was sucked through a hole, a gate they called it? And the lake bed was dry and then there were birds, no, not birds. Bats. Bats with no faces diving and attacking from every direction.  Steve was on the ground fighting them off and suddenly Eddie was charging in as if he had any idea how to help.  Whatever he was doing must have worked because there was a moment when the onslaught stopped and Eddie gaped as Steve bit clear through the creature wrapped around his neck.  Metal.  

Back at Skull Rock Eddie watched as Nancy carefully wrapped Steve’s wounds with makeshift bandages.  He paced back and forth knowing his mind should be on the current danger but in reality worrying over the fact that Steve could have died and Eddie would have never had the chance to clear the air.  He needed to apologize like he needed to breathe.  This was such bullshit.  Before Chrissy had floated and died he had felt so close to being able to approach Steve once and for all and beg for forgiveness and now it felt like he was starting from square one.  Maybe he needed to make a plan?  He was so good at plans, but fuck it, there was no time for a plan.  Not here, not now.  The ground shook under his feet.  Goddammit.

“Steve,” Eddie panted, trying to keep up while also avoiding the vines littering the path ahead, “Can we talk for just a second.”

“Not right now, man.” Steve avoided the man’s gaze and continued to follow the girls.

“Please, Steve, just let me say one thing and then I’ll shut up, I swear.”  Eddie pleaded, stopping for a minute to catch his breath.

“Fine.” Steve waved his hand, “One thing.  Go.”

“I…” the words caught in Eddie’s throat and he floundered as Steve rolled his eyes and turned to go and then everything bubbled to the surface and came tumbling out in a vomit of emotion.  “FUCK!  I’m sorry, Steve.  I’m sorry for everything.  The name calling, the pushing, the knife.  It wasn’t right and I was stupid and I’m just…sorry.”

Steve stood and looked at him long and hard and Eddie cringed, waiting and knowing he deserved whatever came next. 

Steve’s face gave nothing away as he sighed out, “Eddie, man, I want to believe that you are serious about being sorry, but this isn’t the time.  I don’t know what it will take to forgive you or move past this and I really can’t do this right now.  I can’t fight monsters and my own personal demons at the same time.  Truce for right now, okay?” 

 “Yeah, yeah okay.”  Eddie wanted to stop there, but he needed more, “ I just…I just don’t get why you would help me after everything I did to you.”

Eddie watched Steve grow frustrated and felt even shittier for being such a needy bastard.  “It’s not about you, Eddie, okay?  This is so much bigger than you and your problems and whatever fucked up shit you did in high school.  So yeah, I’m helping you because helping you means protecting my family.  The people I love.  And that also means protecting  everyone else in this godforsaken town.  Even you.  So for the sake of the whole fucking world, can we just pause and pretend that you never hated me and that I don’t hate you back for like 24 hours?”  

Eddie nodded and whispered, “Yes. Let’s do that. Sorry.”  As he resumed following Steve and the girls every step was punctuated by the nagging thought, Steve hates me.  Steve hates me.  Steve hates me.  He had never felt so despondent and if he didn’t owe it to Steve to help them all out of this situation he would be tempted to go ahead and disappear here in the Upside Down.  Find a place to hide and curl up and die.  A monster in a monstrous place.

*********

When Dustin cornered Steve outside Max’s trailer he wasn’t ready.  So much was happening so fast.  They needed to figure out what had happened back there with Nancy.  They needed to figure out how exactly they could keep Max safe.  They did not have to figure out Steve’s past trauma and how it affected them.  

“I cannot believe you, Steve, how could you let me just let me get involved with Eddie knowing what he did to you?  You picked me up from Hellfire, you listened to me go on and on about him and even suggest you two should be friends!”  Dustin was so angry and Steve didn’t have anything to say.  What excuse did he honestly have for keeping Dustin in the dark this whole time?

“Look Dustin, it wasn’t like that.  I mean maybe it was, I don’t know.  I didn’t want to get in the way of you having a good freshman year.  It seemed like you were okay, so I figured why mess with that?”

“No. That’s not it.  You tell me what was so important you couldn't warn me about Eddie!" Dustin pushed until Steve cracked.

All at once, Steve felt the weight of all his relationships crashing down upon him and let the words fall out, “I don’t know, all right?  I don’t know why I didn’t tell you.  I don’t know why I let you all hang around him.  It just didn’t feel right.  Everyone around me was constantly telling me what a good guy he was and I’m nothing.  I’m nobody. I'm not a nerd, I’m not cool, I’m just the goddamn babysitter and I thought if it came down to him or me that you wouldn’t choose me.”  Steve sat heavily on the ground and put his head in his hands.

“Woah.”  Dustin sat next to Steve.  “Dude.  You are not the babysitter, Steve.  You are my brother and no matter what happens that’s who you’ll always be.  Eddie might have seemed cool, but at the end of the day he’s just some guy.  You on the other hand are Steve Harrington, the most badass guy I know and nothing will ever change that.”

Steve sniffled and knocked Dustin’s hat off to tousle his hair.  “Hey man, not cool!  I’m baring my soul here so don’t mess with the hair.”  Steve laughed and pulled Dustin into a hug.  

“I’m sorry for not telling you.”  

“You want me to kick his ass for you?” Dustin looked up at Steve so earnestly that Steve thought his heart couldn’t bear it.  

“Nah, man.  Look.  It does honestly seem like he’s changed since I knew him and he’s always been good to you, right?”

“Yeah…” Dustin acknowledged.

“It’s okay.  I promise.  I don’t know if we’ll ever be friends, but I don’t want to be his enemy and I don’t think he wants to be mine, at least not anymore.  Let us work it out, okay?”  Steve steeled himself to follow his own advice.  It was time to find Eddie and end this.

********

Sitting in Max’s trailer wasn’t working for Eddie.  He needed to get out.  He needed to move.  It was the middle of the night, so if he slipped out the back it wasn’t like there would be a hoard of townsfolk with torches and pitchforks ready to grab him.  Probably.  He figured it was worth the risk.  “Uh, I’m taking a smoke break,” he muttered as he slipped out the door into the inky black night.  He heard footsteps crunch in the gravel behind him and spun around ready to run but stopped when he realized it was Steve.  

“Munson, we’ve got some downtime here so I think it’s time we talk.” 

 “Yeah.  Okay.” Eddie began, “I don’t know how many ways I can apologize without it sounding hollow, but I’m willing to grovel…”  

Steve cut in, “I honestly just want to know one thing.” 

“Oh, um, yeah, okay?”  Eddie paced nervously in front of him and waited for him to ask.  

“Why me?  What did I do to you?  I wish I could remember, but it was like you hated me on sight and I don’t even understand why.” Eddie expected Steve to be angry, but instead he looked so sad it made Eddie want to cry.

It was the question Eddie had been dreading.  But he had to fess up and he had to be totally honest.  He knew it was the only way he could ever make amends with the boy he had hurt so many times before.  

“Look, the thing is, Steve, and there’s no way to make this sound less stupid and awful, but I never really cared about who you were back then.  I had this idiotic idea that if I could make a preppy jock afraid of me that I wouldn’t get bullied at school anymore.  I picked you pretty much at random, decided you fit my profile and then executed the plan.  And the worst part was that it worked, you know?  No one bothered me ever again and it kept me and my friends safe for years.  It’s not an excuse.  There is no excuse for what I did to you and I will bear that guilt until I go to my grave.  But you should know, it was never really about you.  You were good looking and confident and rich and looked like you had it all. I didn’t hate you because I didn’t know you.  I hated what I thought you stood for.  And now that I do know you, I could never hate you.”

“When exactly was it that you flipped and decided I was someone worth knowing?” Steve asked warily, like he was pretty sure of the answer.

Eddie shrugged resigned to his fate.  “It was when Dustin and the other kids started talking you up.  They never had a bad word to say about you and…”  Eddie trailed off but Steve motioned him to continue, “They told me all about your freshman year and the problems you had…with me…which, they apparently didn’t know it was me and I can’t believe you never told them or tried to keep them away…but I had to take a good hard look at myself and I promise you I did not like what I saw.  So…for a while I tried to justify it by watching you whenever I could so I could catch you being an asshole or whatever,”  

Steve jumped in, “I KNEW you were stalking me!  Goddammit!  Robin kept trying to tell me it was a coincidence or whatever, but you were fucking everywhere!” 

Eddie groaned rocking back on his heels, “Fuck fuck fuck.  I’m sorry.  Again.  I swear to God I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable.  I just…needed to see for myself and then…okay, this sounds worse and maybe it is….I got kind of invested?”  

Steve’s eyes widened, “Invested?  What does that even mean?”  

“Mmmmmm,” Eddie groaned again and tried to hide under his hair, “….you just…you’re a good guy, you know?  It was hard to look away when you were so kind and happy and bitchy, like in a good way, and just completely not what I expected.  I’m sorry.  I promise when this is all over I’ll leave you alone forever. I’ll fucking disappear if that’s what you need.  I should have left this god awful town a long time ago anyway.”  

“Okay, well, no need to banish yourself quite so soon.”  Steve sighed.  “I’m not like Mother Teresa or anything here.  I lived up to a lot of your expectations, so maybe I deserved it.”

“You didn’t.”  Eddie broke in quickly, “You didn’t deserve any of the things I did.  I mean, no one would, but especially not you.  I have a feeling if it wasn’t for me, King Steve wouldn’t have even existed.  Dustin always says he wishes you and I had been friends and if I wasn’t such a creep, maybe we would have been?”  

“I dunno, Eddie, you can say whatever you want, but I was pretty fucked up all on my own in high school in ways that I can safely say had nothing to do with you.”

“Steve, can we maybe start over?  I know I'm not worthy of a second chance, but….what the hell…”  Eddie slowly reached out with one hand, “Hi, I’m Eddie Munson.  I play the guitar and do a lot of nerd shit. I’m also currently living in a nightmare world”

Steve looked at his hand and made a split second decision, reaching out to shake, “Hi Eddie, I’m Steve Harrington.  I’m a babysitter, carry a nail bat and am very familiar with your current nightmare.”  Eddie let out a slow breath as they shook hands.  It wasn’t everything he wanted or needed, he knew Steve hadn't forgiven him and that was probably as it should be, but it was a start.

***********************************************************************

Part 4 coming soon (ish?) Comments and reblogs are my lifeblood so....do it?

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[starkstruck27]

My first fill for @metalsandwichbingo Bingo!! I decided to go in depth and do almost a character study for this one. There is some dialogue so it feels more like an actual fic at the end, but I thought it would be interesting to see how this goes. I hope everyone enjoys, and the title comes from the song My Fairy King by Queen.

Title: Teeth Don't Shine Like Pearls for Poor Men's Eyes

Square + Prompt: Feeling Left Out, A1

Rating: General

Word Count: 1408 Words

Major Tags: None

Additional Tags: Idiots in love, Third wheels, Character study, Alternate universe - College/university, Friends to lovers

Summary: Everyone knows that Billy and Steve have been together since they were first introduced to each other at a party in freshman year. They also know that wherever the two go, their best friend Eddie is not far behind. But with their one year anniversary coming up, Eddie starts to feel a little self-conscious about always being around, and he decides to leave them to themselves for once, even though he feels left out.

Also on: Ao3

As Eddie sat on the couch in his apartment, plucking lightly at the strings of his guitar, he couldn’t help but feel a little distracted listening to his roommates. They were getting ready for a date they’d planned a while ago, and while he heard Steve throwing every piece of clothing he owned on the floor trying to pick something to wear and Billy fussing over his hair in the bathroom, he couldn’t help but feel a little out of place. 

Everyone on campus knew about Billy and Steve being together. They’d started as friends last year, and after a couple of months they’d started to date. Eddie had been friends with them since the beginning, and he’d been with them every step of the way. He had actually been the one to introduce the two at a party that year, and he guessed that that was why they felt they needed to keep him around after they’d gotten serious. 

They’d asked him to move in with them when they got the apartment off campus, they let him tag along wherever they went, and sometimes they’d even let him join in on more intimate activities. If they went to the movies, Eddie was there. If they went out to eat, Eddie was there. If they got drunk together after midterms, Eddie was there. And frankly, it baffled him as to why. They had a good thing going, why did they keep him around to crash the party?

Eddie hated feeling like a third wheel, but he had figured, if they didn’t mind him being around, why should he? It wasn’t like it was illegal to hang out with your friends who just so happen to be dating each other. And if they wanted him to join them when they were making out on the couch or getting frisky in their bedroom, well, Eddie was only human, who was he to refuse?

But lately he’d started to wonder, why did they always want him around? It wasn’t like he was bad company, but he wasn’t great company either, so he just couldn’t understand it. And then it dawned on him a few weeks ago, maybe it was something completely different. Maybe they felt sorry for him, since he was kind of a loner, and they only let him tag along with them because they didn’t want to leave him on his own. It kinda made sense, since most of Eddie’s good friends either went to different colleges or hadn’t gone to college at all, so none of them were really around. Steve and Billy were all he really had, and maybe they knew that, which is why they let him follow them like a duckling. 

And now they were running around the apartment, trying to get ready for their big anniversary dinner. They’d been planning this for weeks, asking Eddie’s opinion on what they should do and where they should go. He gave them the best input he could, but it kind of started to eat him up inside after a while. He knew it was a mix of jealousy and guilt, but he had no idea how to process that. All he knew was that he shouldn’t be jealous of his two friend’s relationship, and that just made him feel bad about it. He felt like a terrible person for always infringing on their time together and still feeling like he didn’t get to spend enough time with either of them. 

He knew he was mostly jealous that they were in a relationship with each other and that neither of them were with him, but he supposed that it was just his silly little brain and heart making him feel left out. If he’d had the opportunity to be with one of them, he was sure he wouldn’t be feeling like this, but it was the fact that he couldn’t be with either of them that was making him feel this way. At least, that’s what he tried to tell himself. 

Deep down, he knew he’d be jealous either way. He really cared about both of them, and whether they were with each other or with completely different people, Eddie would’ve felt the same. That was why he let this go on for so long, because he wanted to feel like he was a part of something special, but now he just felt like a weirdo. He shouldn’t have let it go on for this long. 

And that’s why, as the other two bustled about to get ready, he hadn’t moved from his spot on the couch, trying to take his mind off of things as he prepared himself to send them off on their own and stay behind. Even if they said it was okay, he wasn’t going to go. He had to break this off before he let himself get too comfortable and end up with his heart broken once the novelty of his presence wore off. 

When they finally walked into the living room, both primped and polished and ready to head out into the crisp fall air, Eddie had to hold his breath. They both looked so handsome, and he wished they didn’t have to go, but he reminded himself to stay strong and let them. He wasn’t a part of it, he had to let them go.

“Hey, Eddie,” Steve asked as they saw him, “Why aren’t you dressed? You knew we were going out tonight, right?”

“Yeah, uh, I knew you guys had plans,” Eddie said, looking down at his strings to avoid their eyes, “I’m not going.”

“Why not?” Steve asked, “Aren’t you feeling well?”

“No, no, I feel fine,” Eddie said, sighing as he geared up to say his piece, “I just don’t want to impose on your special night, y’know?”

“What do you mean you don’t want to impose?” Billy asked, genuinely looking like he had no clue what Eddie was talking about. He looked at Steve, but he too looked confused, shrugging his shoulders before they both looked back at Eddie.

“I mean it’s your anniversary and I don’t wanna make things awkward. I’ve been third-wheeling for months and I’m sure you guys wanna spend some time without me, so I’m just gonna stay here,” he said, putting down his guitar and getting ready to make a quick exit. But before he could go anywhere, the other two stopped him, each of them grabbing one of his arms and keeping him there with looks of concern on their faces. 

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Steve asked, attempting to put a hand on Eddie’s forehead, but Eddie shook him off. 

“Yeah, are you?” He asked. 

“We’re both fine, but we’re worried about you now,” Billy said, “Did you hit your head? Do you have amnesia?”

“What the hell, no? Why are you asking that?”

“Because if you’re not amnesiac, you’re an idiot,” Billy said, crossing his arms with a smirk, “You’re not a third wheel, numbnuts, you’re a third partner. We thought you knew that.”

Eddie was kinda stunned into silence after hearing that. What did he mean ‘third partner’? Was he dreaming? That had to be it, because he couldn’t think of any other explanation for why they were acting so confused right now. 

“Wait, what?” He finally asked when the words sank in.

“Yeah, Eddie, why do you think we’ve been bringing you along every time we go for a date? You’re part of this relationship too, dude,” Steve chuckled a little bit, shaking his head.

“Wait wait wait, lemme get this straight,” Eddie said, trying to wrap his head around all of this, “You’re dating him, he’s dating you, and you’re both dating me?”

“Yes,” the other two said at the same time.

“So why didn’t you tell me that?!”

“We assumed you knew, shit head! Why else did you think we let you do literally everything with us?” Billy laughed.

“I kinda just assumed you felt sorry for me?” Eddie smiled, feeling kinda sheepish now that they had to tell him to his face that they were dating him, too.

“Well, I didn’t before, but now that I know you have zero perception when it comes to these things, I kinda do,” Steve grinned as he watched Eddie’s face turn red. “I’m just kidding. But now that you do know, you better hurry up and get dressed! Our dinner reservation is in twenty minutes.”

[apomaro-mellow]

Part 6

When Nancy and Robin returned to his house, he told them that Jonathan had found Eddie. The two of them, along with Argyle, spent the night in case the two returned.

Neither of them showed their face.

The next day, Steve was alone in his house, waiting for one of them to come by or to call and explain what happened with Eddie. When it got past noon, Steve called Eddie's home. No answer. He held it together long enough for an hour to pass before calling the Byers-Hopper place. Joyce answered but said she hadn't seen Jonathan at all today.

Honestly what was worse than the not knowing was being confused on who he was more worried about, Jonathan, who had just kissed him for the first time, or Eddie, who had seen them kiss.

Steve busied himself with cleaning and exercising mostly. He thought about talking to Robin, waaay too much to have not called her at this point. But he didn't know where to start.

The day after Jon and Eddie went MIA, Steve officially out of things to clean and he was contemplating getting some kind of gym membership when the doorbell rang.

He answered it and Jonathan was there, asked if he wanted to go on a drive and Steve accepted.

It was rare that he was a passenger. He got to watch the town go by. It was five minutes into the ride that he realized he didn't even ask where they were going.

"We're doing this whole thing, because you don't wanna date anyone, right?", Jonathan asked.

"It's not because of that. I just didn't want Dustin hounding me about not dating Robin. And then it was about getting him to stop setting me up with anyone."

"So why did you choose me? Was it just because I walked through the door? It could have been anyone, right?"

Steve thought of who else could have walked through the door that he would claim to date on the spot just to trick Dustin. The list was short. Not Robin or Nancy. None of the kids. Argyle he had just met.

......Maybe Eddie?

"Whoever you just thought of, you probably should have picked him", Jonathan said.

"I don't regret choosing you", Steve said. "Or kissing you", he added quickly.

Jonathan bit his lip. Eddie and driven them back to his place the other night and they had talked until dawn. It was just before the sun rose, when the sky was its darkest that Eddie confessed.

"I've got the hots for your boyfriend, man."

A guy in a normal situation might show offense, or possessiveness, or something. But Steve wasn't his boyfriend. He shouldn't feel that way. Like he actually wanted Steve. Because that would be crazy, wouldn't it?

"I think you and Eddie should talk."

"Did he tell you why he ran off?", Steve asked.

"Yeah. But that's not for me to say."

Steve slouched a little in his seat. "Where are you taking us anyway?"

"I have no idea. I just couldn't talk in your house, man."

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

Nancy knew something was up. But she was also quite sure it was none of her business. Her two ex-boyfriends coming out as gay and dating each other was a shock to her system. But only because it had appeared to her that Steve and Eddie were the ones getting closer.

It was none of her business though. But whatever was going on was making things tense. It had been a couple of weeks since Eddie ran off in the night and he was acting like he hadn't.

It was probably no harm, no foul. He was safe and this wasn't a symptom of the Upside Down. But Nancy was never one to let things go.

And the New Year's party she was throwing was the perfect opportunity. Nancy had the house to herself. Mike was at his friend's party, her parents had gone to an office party and Holly was at a sleepover. She bulked up the guest list with some of her old girl scout buddies and some of then teens from her church (that lot could drink you under the table).

She enlisted the help of Argyle and Robin. It wasn't a complicated plan at all. She just needed Robin in on it so that she didn't release Steve at the slightest protest.

"Are we ready for this?", Nancy asked at around 11:15.

"As I'll ever be, shit", Argyle sighed.

"Nancy, you're sure this is going to work? Because it sounds like torture instead", Robin said.

Nancy looked at their quarry. Eddie, practically guarding the punch bowl, then across the room to where Steve and Eddie were sitting a respectful distance on the couch.

"This right now is torture."

So in a process that was quite surgical and precise, the three of them managed to get Steve, Jonathan, and Eddie into a closet and kept them locked in. The sounds of the party in the living room were a distant muffle.

Hopefully they could all ring in the new year as a group of friends refreshed. Instead of the stagnant air that had been around them.

Part 8 FINAL

Tag Team

@freddykicksasses @itsfreakingbats @thatrandombatgurl @loguine-linguine @cecinestpasunblog @aliea82

[flowerfan2]

Bound To Be Together - Chapter 14 (9.14)

McDanno, M, A03 A continuous story of Season 9 codas exploring the bond between Steve and Danny as they grow even closer.

Chapter 14 - 9.14

Danny’s standing in front of the open refrigerator, debating whether he has the energy to make something or if he should just eat store-bought rotisserie chicken for the third night in a row, when he hears his front door open.

He turns to see Steve bounding towards him, a big smile on his face as he looks around the house.

“Grace isn’t here,” Danny informs him.  “She’s at Rachel’s tonight, remember?”

Steve comes to a stop in front of Danny, still smiling.  “I know, you told me like three times.”  He holds up a bag.  “I brought dinner.”

Danny’s a little taken aback.  Not upset, of course, just a little thrown off by all the enthusiasm directed his way. Although of course it’s true that Steve doesn’t reserve his affection only for Grace, he definitely has been showering her with love lately.  Danny shouldn’t be jealous of his daughter – she deserves all the love in the world, no question.  Anyway, whatever else is going on, Steve is clearly eager to see Danny right now, so he needs to get with the program and enjoy it.  

“Okay, thanks.”

“Steak burritos, medium salsa, extra sour cream and guac, just like you like ‘em.”  Steve says proudly.  He grabs Danny by the arm and drags him towards the table.  “Come on, I’m starved.  It’s not as if you have any other food in the house.”

“This is all too true.” Danny detours to get them each a beer, and they settle down to eat.  “What’s the occasion?”  He almost kicks himself for asking.  Danny’s never been good at just accepting happy moments when they come along.

Steve isn’t deterred, however.  He cheekily wipes a bit of sour cream off the side of Danny’s mouth with the tip of his finger and grins.  “Don’t act so surprised.  Can’t I do something nice for my, uh, friend?”

Steve’s cheeks pink as he stutters on the last word, and Danny relaxes.  This, he can deal with.  Giving Steve shit is familiar territory, even if this topic is new to them.

 “Your friend, huh?”

 Steve pokes around in the bag the food came in, apparently very curious now about whether there are any paper napkins left in there.  “Yeah, my friend.”

 Danny sits calmly as Steve fully explores the bag, finding two plastic forks but no napkins, and then another long minute goes by as Steve realizes that Danny is still waiting for Steve to give him a better answer.

 “What, you want me to call you something else?”  Steve asks, defiance battling with a hint of shyness.

 “I dunno, what do you think you should call me?”

 Steve smirks.  “How about a pain in my ass?”

 “That can be arranged.”

 Steve’s mouth drops open, and he’s momentarily at a loss for words.  Danny grins, and turns back to his burrito.  But before he can take a bite, Steve’s in his space, pushing him back in his chair for a hard kiss.

 “You’re feisty tonight.” Danny breathes hard when Steve lets him go, one hand still holding his burrito.  “Not that I’m complaining.”

 Steve shrugs and sits back down, as if nothing had happened.  “Just felt like kissing you.”

 “Because I’m your friend.”  Danny drags the word out.  Steve looks annoyed now, though, apparently disappointed that his actions can’t actually substitute for words.  “Honestly, Steve, what are we doing?”

 Danny hadn’t meant to turn the conversation in such a serious direction, but it’s what he’s been thinking for weeks now, and at some point he’d appreciate actually knowing the answer.  He isn’t particularly proud of the fact that he got drunk and threw himself at Steve last week, and would like to assume that Steve’s response means that they’re back together, but drunken orgasms do not a relationship make.

 Steve turns in his chair to face Danny head on.  “Do you think I’m screwing around with you, Danny, is that what is it?”

 It actually hadn’t occurred to him that there could be any malice in Steve’s cluelessness.  “No, are you?”

 “No, of course not,” Steve says, affronted.  “Do we need to put a label on it?  You really want me to call you my boyfriend?”

 Danny is about to give in, to say it doesn’t matter, that labels are dumb and unnecessary and he doesn’t care, when he realizes that he does.  He does care.

 “Yeah, actually, I do.”

 Steve tilts his head, his eyes locked with Danny’s.  “Okay.” He nods.  “Okay.”

 “That’s it?”

 Steve leans close and brushes his lips across Danny’s mouth.  “Yup, boyfriend, that’s it.”  He sits back. “I didn’t know it was important to you. You should’ve said.”  All defensiveness drops from his expression, and he looks soft.  “I want us to be together, Danno.  You make me happy, and I want to make you happy.  That’s how I feel.  I know I haven’t been good about saying it, and I’m sorry.”

 Before Danny can absorb the impact of Steve’s unusual sincerity, Steve drops to one knee, a mischievous expression on his face, and Danny spares a fleeting though that maybe Steve still has the ring Harry made him use on the op in Laos.  “Danny Williams, will you be my boyfriend?”

 It’s cheesy as hell, but Danny kind of asked for it.  Steve’s words send a little tingle through his entire body.  “I will, you goof.”  Danny tugs at Steve’s shoulders and kisses him properly, letting Steve wrap his arms around his waist and hold them close.  Danny’s rather pleased at their progress.  

 As the night wears on, Steve shows no sign of heading home, and before long they’re half-asleep in front of the television, a cooking show droning on in the background.  Steve starts to rouse himself, looking at the time.

 “So what is Grace up to tonight?”  Steve is trying for casual, but his parental-like worry clearly shows through. Danny understands – ever since her accident, it’s hard to be nonchalant about his daughter’s whereabouts on a Friday night.

 “She’s home with Rachel, a few of her friends are staying over with her.  No driving, no parties.”

 “Good, good.”  Steve sits up, stretching.  “That girl, Annie, from our case this week?  Kinda reminded me of her.”

 Danny has heard all about what he missed, including the very interesting fact that Flippa’s friend Luka was a counselor for LGBTQ kids, and no one on their team had blinked an eye. More than that, Five-0 had unanimously supported Annie’s need to get away from her intolerant parents, clearly understanding that who you love can’t be “treated” out of you.  It gives him hope for how the team might react to learning about him and Steve.

 But that’s not a conversation for right now.  Danny’s pushed enough for tonight.  “She reminds you of Gracie?” he prompts.

 “Yeah.  Sure of herself.  Not afraid to stand up for what she knows is right.”  Steve turns to Danny.  “You raised a good kid, Danno.”

 “You might have had something to do with that,” Danny says.  

 Steve shrugs, a little embarrassed.  Danny knows he’s proud of how Grace looks up to him, and what an important part of her life he is.  He should be. Grace is a better person for it.

 He stifles a yawn, and glances at the clock.  It’s late. “You gonna stay over?”  Danny asks.

 “Is that a boyfriend thing?”

 Danny groans.  Steve is going to milk this as much as he can. “Sure, whatever.”

 Steve is nodding, but then he rubs his face and grimaces.  “I need to feed Eddie.  Want to come to mine instead?”

 Now, that really is a boyfriend thing, right there.  Because it’s already almost midnight, and their date, such as it was, is truly over. In fact, it might be past boyfriend stage, and well into old marrieds.  But curling up with Steve in his big comfortable bed sounds amazing.  Danny doesn’t even mind the sound of the waves anymore; it just means he’s home with Steve.

 As Danny predicted, they pass out almost as soon as they get under the covers, and he doesn’t mind a bit.

 In the morning, Steve gets out of bed with the dawn, off to do his usual imitation of an overachieving fish.  Danny rolls around in bed for a while, but can’t really fall back asleep.  He finally gives up and gets out of bed, pulling on shorts and a t-shirt.  He puts the coffee on and dozes at the table while it brews, then fills two mugs and heads outside.  Sitting down by the beach while Steve does laps has become something of a morning ritual for them.  It’s soothing.

 The sun is just starting to warm the air, and Danny is wishing he was wearing something warmer, when he realizes that Steve isn’t actually swimming.  Instead, he’s conked out in the hammock.

 Danny leaves the mugs on the lanai table and walks slowly towards Steve, not wanting to wake him. He’s got on an old sweatshirt and his swim trunks, his feet bare, and he’s curled up on his side, one hand tucked under his head.

 “Steve?”  Danny whispers, and there’s no response. Danny’s chest aches with concern. He’s noticed how tired Steve has been lately, even though Steve tries to hide it.  It shows around his eyes, and on his face.  He’s pretty sure it took Steve days to recover from that crazy free dive, although of course Steve wouldn’t tell anyone.    It’s too important to Steve to be everyone’s protector, the superhero Seal they can all count on to swoop in and come to the rescue, no matter the personal cost.

 Danny doesn’t like to think about whether it’s just a natural consequence of getting older combined with Steve’s general penchant for extreme physical activity, or something more serious (don’t think about radiation poisoning, he chants to himself). Either way, in contrast to all that exhaustion and stress, Steve looks downright peaceful there on the hammock, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair.  Danny wants to wrap his arms around him and never let go.

 So he does.  Or, more accurately, he tries.  Steve mumbles at him when Danny climbs into the hammock, and there’s a moment when Danny worries that he’s going to tip them both over, but after a minute they get their balance back and Steve shifts so Danny can curl up against his chest.

 Steve’s warmth chases the chill away, as do the sleepy kisses Steve plants all over Danny’s face. “Love you, Danno,” Steve breathes out.

 “Love you too, babe.”

 It’s a damn good start to the day.