#just. you know. have eddie learn that he is allowed to say no

[metalcorebarbie]

x

[hairmetal666]

After the Russians, Steve learns three important things about himself:

Robin is the best friend he's ever had; the uncontested other half of his heart. His soulmate, the platonic love of his life, his missing puzzle piece.

He's not in love with Nancy anymore. It's really saying something that hearing those words come out of his mouth is the shock of his life. Once the drugs wear off, though, he realizes they were absolutely true. A surprising win for the Russian truth serum

Her bathroom confession...he sits with it for days. Not--not because she's a lesbian, of course not, but because. Well, Robin knows herself in a way he's never allowed himself to. And he thinks that maybe maybe he likes boys in the same way. That he always has, but never let himself acknowledge it, the way his eyes wanted to catch in the locker room, the drunken, fumbling touches between him and Tommy.

The last one...he's not sure, is the thing. How can he be sure? Like, in his mind, his imagination, he's very into it, but what if it's different in real life? And how can he even find out? He tells, Robin, of course he does, and they go to Indy, right, to a bookstore and she throws a few zines at him and he sneaks some porn (he's definitely into the porn), but that's not--it's not practical experience. And he's not ready to go to one of the bars, for sure, so he doesn't--like what's he supposed to do?

It's around this time in his bisexual spiral that the kids start hanging out with Eddie Munson, that he starts thinking about Eddie Munson. He always noticed the long, dark curls and the bright, brown eyes; the slender cut of his waist; the wry slant of his mouth as he shouted insults at the jocks; the glinting silver of the rings on his fingers--fingers that were long and callused, fingers that could grip around Steve's--

Nope, he's not going there. Even though, a little voice in his head says, he cares for Steve's kids and maybe he's not good at school but he's smart and he's also so pretty, with his pale skin and his big eyes--

No. He doesn't have a crush on Eddie Munson. Absolutely not.

And when he picks up the kids from their little dnd club and sees Munson standing against his van, he doesn't feel an electric zing in his chest, the first stirring of butterflies in his stomach; that would be crazy. They hardly know each other. It goes like this every time, and he's almost able to believe he doesn't care.

Until Eddie trips over the threshold of Family Video, stumbling on an untied bootlace and gangling his way through the front doors. The clatter catches both Robin and Steve's attention.

"Welcome to Family Video," Robin says. Steve stares.

"Uhh." Eddie's eyes flit between them, his face getting redder by the second.

Fuck, he's so cute and Steve's saying--without thinking about it, he's saying--"let me help you find a movie, man."

"Yea--sure, yeah." Eddie's hands are stuffed in the tight pocket of his jeans.

Steve takes a few steps down the closest aisle. "So, what--uh, what are you looking for?"

"Horror? Nothing in particular."

They make their way to the horror section, and it's like some insane, deeply horny demon takes over. He starts grabbing movies off the shelf, no rhyme or reason, doesn't even know what most of them are.

Eddie's staring at him with wide eyes and a raised eyebrow, and Steve just keeps grabbing tapes, is sort of doing a running commentary on titles and tag lines, and he can't stop, why can't he stop? it's like smoke is coming out of his ears. Robin is watching him from the counter with her mouth hanging open, gummy worm dangling down her chin.

"You know," Eddie grabs something from the shelf, "I think I'll just do Friday the 13th again. Can't go wrong."

And he leaves Steve standing there with half the horror section collected in his arms. He stays there while Eddie pays, face burning. It's been--well, a really long time since he's struck out so hard, and he wasn't even really trying.

As Eddie's walking out the door, his sad pile of movies shifts, then tumbles to the floor.

"You have a crush on Eddie Munson." Robin accuses.

"No!" He ducks down to collect the tapes, hoping to hide the crimson of his face.

"You do." She points an accusatory finger in his direction. "I haven't seen you this pathetic since Scoops."

"It's nothing."

"You know," she crouches down with him, "you could just, like. Try to hang out with him."

"After that? Are you kidding? I'm surprised you don't already have a new You Rule/You Suck board going."

"Oh, I do, it's up front." She jumps to her feet. "But still. You should try. And you have an easy in with the kids."

He glares at her in response, starts re-shelving all the dumb movies, and then they get busy, so the topic is dropped. He thinks about it thought. He thinks about it and he--

Instead of waiting in the car for the kids to get done at Hellfire the next time, he goes in.

[johanna-swann]

I think a pattern with Buck is that he needs validation from his friends, but he doesn't know he needs that. Which can be difficult, it can even be annoying, but it's not worse than any other character "flaw" like, Idk, making too many movie references or being a perfectionist or whatever. It can be endearing too. Noticing this about a friend and watching them light up when you find things to praise them for, building up their self-esteem. That's what friends are for.

But what happens a lot with the firefam is that the other members talk about Buck behind his back - not in a gossipy way, often actually in a positive way. They say things like "despite making fun of him I know he's not actually an idiot", "well think about it from his perspective" or "I'm worried about him". They say things to each other that express how much they care and how they appreciate him for all he is, but they very rarely say any of that to Buck's face.

For someone like Buck who grew up assuming there's for some reason something unloveable about him (shout-out to the Buckley parents) that kind of stuff doesn't go without saying. He won't just assume his friends love him and think about him in their freetime. And no-one seems to realise that, not even Buck himself.

Worse, they kind of re-inforce his self-esteem issues. They tell him he's stupid for worrying about losing touch if they aren't a team at work anymore, they make jokes at his expense (which is also normal among friends, but Buck seems to be the butt of the joke an awful lot), tell him he's exhausting or selfish or immature, anytime there's any sort of fight between Buck and someone else there's no-one who just takes his side.

They don't seem to understand how insecure Buck is behind his daredevil attitude. He's confident in his career, he's a confident flirter, he's a loud and out-going person - but he is extremely insecure about the space he's allowed to take up in the firefam's personal lives. And because he himself doesn't even understand why it throws him for a loop so much when it seems like his friends haven't considered him or don't take him or his concerns seriously, he doesn't just outright speak up about it either.

This dynamic isn't new, but it feels like in earlier seasons the writers were more careful to balance it out whereas lately they isolated Buck and dialed up the firefam's lack of care. Maddie's "you're lonely? learn to be alone then", the fight with Eddie, everybody supporting Hen turning down the promotion but saying nothing about Buck wanting to transfer, Buck being excluded from a lot of the Buckley-Han & Wilson outings even after both his boyfriend and best friend left him, Bobby's death, everyone ignoring Buck and his grief - that's not normal or good unless it leads somewhere and I doubt it does. This is not the kind of show where things mean anything.

And I think that's what's driving every Buck fan a little insane right now. The writers didn't take care of him, neither did his family, but it's portrayed as normal and Buck's insecurity about these kinds of things is a long established character trait and the combination is terrible. Every character went through it in season 8, every character went through losing Bobby, but only Buck went through all of it alone while also having deep rooted fears about being left behind by his family.

[strangererotica]

EXPLICIT CONTENT | MINORS DNI

Dom!Eddie Munson x Reader

Includes: oral & vaginal sex, cum play, spanking, somnophilia, Eddie comes on Reader’s bush, thigh riding, & a bit of degradation

Eddie’s voice is calm, as if pinning you against his lap is an effortless action. For him, it probably is. “You can squirm around all you want,” he murmurs. “I’m not lettin’ go of you anytime soon...”

You believe him. There are few things stronger than Eddie’s grip, except maybe his love for you.

The steady blur of interstate traffic rumbles outside the motel window. Eddie brought you here as a little treat. It’s nothing fancy; nothing ever is with Eddie. He’s a simple man. He knew how much you needed a change of scenery, even if it’s just a few nights staying in a cheap hotel on the other side of the highway. It’s easy to please you, Eddie has learned. The only thing you really want from him, he gives in abundance: his love. Apart from that, everything else is just material, superficial. Not having expensive things like designer clothes and jewelry doesn’t bother you, especially since when you’re with Eddie, you’re usually naked anyway...

He bounces his knee, and you along with it. Eddie won’t let you sit on his cock, not yet…not when you make such pretty sounds on his lap like this, your naked cunt spreading a little damp patch on his thigh. Eddie gives you his cock as a reward; you’ll have to earn it. And the way to earn Eddie’s cock is to show him what a good girl you can be by controlling yourself and not disobeying him by coming on his lap. Tonight, you’re only allowed to come on his cock.

Your eyes shift to Eddie’s erection, where it rests against his other thigh. He’s hard as a rock, leaking precum onto the hair covering his leg, his cock rising now and then as it pulses. You bury your face again in the safe space of Eddie’s neck, your lips parting to taste his skin. His big hand presses against the small of your back, holding you in place as he gently rocks you forward and back on his knee. You coo against his neck, soft little sounds that force Eddie to touch himself. His eyes close in pleasure as he strokes himself, three slow pumps from his base to his tip, but no more than that. Eddie isn’t just edging himself; he’s saving his cum for you.

He tilts his head to yours, nuzzling your cheek. “How bad do you need it?” Eddie asks, his breath soft and warm against your ear. He lets go of his cock and brings his hand to your lips, feeding you the slippery precum collected on his fingertips. You moan around his touch, sucking the pearly liquid off his skin. One finger isn’t enough, Eddie decides. He needs to see your mouth full, just like it is when his cock is buried inside it. Eddie presses a second finger between your lips, and then a third, feeling the pad of your tongue curve as you’re forced to make room for him, the softness of your inner cheeks spread by his fingers.

Being so full of Eddie in this way reminds you of his cock, and you begin to feel your self control faltering. You know you’re not supposed to come yet, and you’re trying hard not to, honestly…But it feels too good on Eddie’s lap, your pussy weeping gently onto his thigh, his fingers pumping shallow thrusts between your lips as you suck them, wishing they were his cock…

You grind down against Eddie’s thigh, scooting back and forth at a deliberate pace. Eddie knows that you’re trying to come, and he won’t stop you, even though it’s ‘against the rules.’ He knows you’re well aware of what awaits your disobedience.

You come on Eddie’s thigh, whimpering and gurgling around his fingers, your body trembling in his arms. He lets you finish, then spanks your ass hard, once. “Did I say you were allowed to come?” Eddie asks, his tone full of authority. Your voice is breathy and strained as you drift down from your climax. “N-no Eddie, I’m sorry-.”

He spanks you again, harder than the first time. You wince, giggling immediately after the sting subsides.

*spank!* You bite your lip, stifling another giggle. “Somethin’ funny?” Eddie growls. “You think making a mess all over my lap is something to laugh about? Answer me-.”

*spank!*

“Mm-no, I d-don’t,” you reply, your brain fuzzy and stupid. “Just feels so good when you hurt me; can’t help but smile about it…”

“Hmm,” Eddie nods. He lifts you off his lap, placing you on the floor between his knees. He pats his thigh, the sound of your wetness audible. “Go on,” Eddie gently commands. “Clean up your mess, and if you do a good job, maybe I’ll let you sit on my cock...”

You release your lip from between your teeth, scooting forward slightly so your head is suspended over Eddie’s thigh. You place your lips to his skin, kissing and sucking at the moisture your orgasm left there. Eddie clutches your hair inside his fist. He presses your face into his leg, smearing your nose and lips with your own cum. “Gotta treat y’like a fuckin’ dog, don’t I honey?” Eddie muses. “Have to rub your face in your mess just to teach you a lesson…”

Eddie guides your head sideways and places your face against the underside of his balls. You continue to lick and suck; Eddie’s cock bobs against your nose and forehead. “Open your mouth wider,” Eddie says, and you oblige. With his hand still bunched in your hair, Eddie eases his balls inside your mouth, as much as you can take, anyway. “Stay still,” he instructs, spitting on his hand and wrapping it around his cock. “Keep my balls warm for me while I stroke it.”

You feel Eddie’s fist moving above you, pumping along his shaft. Drops of precum land on your forehead and in your hair as he fucks himself. You stay on your knees dutifully, holding as much of Eddie’s balls in your mouth as you can fit, while he masturbates above you. After a few minutes, Eddie can tell he’s getting close. His voice is huskier when he speaks, his breath shallow, needy. “You’ve been such a good girl for me,” he praises. “Go ahead and climb back up on my lap, angel.”

You spread your legs around Eddie’s waist, sinking onto his cock. His chest dips in a deep exhale of relief, of gratitude, as your pillowy walls hug his cock in a perfect fit. You hum softly against Eddie’s neck, little tears forming in your eyes because the sensation of him filling you after you already came so hard is overwhelming. You’re sleepy and horny all at once, snuggled in Eddie’s arms, cuddled from the inside out as he bucks you gently on his lap. He holds you tightly, knowing how sleepy and needy you are. “You can relax baby,” Eddie murmurs at your ear. “I’ll do all the work from here on, alright?”

A happy little tear drips down your cheek and lands on Eddie’s shoulder. You nuzzle against his neck, feeling sleepier and sleepier by the second. Eddie humps up into you gently, tenderly, letting you fall asleep in his arms. When he realizes you’ve drifted off, he carefully hoists you up, carrying you to the bed with his cock still nestled inside you.

He lowers you onto the mattress, your body limp and pliant beneath his, a contented smile on your face as you softly dream. Eddie hovers over you, admiring the beautiful angel in his arms, pressing kisses to your cheeks, your neck, your breasts. He strokes your hair, fanned out across the pillow, his cock pulsing deep inside you. Eddie knows he’s going to come any second. He’s afraid he’ll disturb your sleep if he finishes inside you, so very carefully, he pulls out.

Eddie strokes himself over your body, teasing apart your labia with the head of his cock. He spreads your cum up and down his shaft, using it as a lubricant. With the head of his cock aimed between your legs, Eddie ejaculates into your pubic hair, covering the soft tuft in milky white. The image of your hair covered in his cum is unexpectedly beautiful to Eddie. With a delicate touch, he ghosts his fingers over your pubic mound, spreading his cum inside the hair there.

The glossy liquid shimmers in the fading light of evening, a lavender sunset visible through the motel window. Eddie doesn’t know if he’s ever seen anything as beautiful as you wearing his cum this way. He’s finished on your face and your back countless times; but there’s something so intimate and private about seeing this part of you covered in his cum that has left Eddie awestruck.

He lowers his face to plant a tender kiss between your legs, and then another, and another…because now that he’s gotten a taste of your pussy, Eddie can’t stop. His tongue wakes you, a sharp gasp leaving your lips as he catches your clit just right. “Eddie…” you purr, arching your back against the bed. “I fell asleep; I’m sorry.”

He smiles up at you from between your legs, his expression assuring you he’s not upset. “I know, angel,” Eddie replies, his lips wet with you. “It’s okay. I told you, I’ll take care of everything.” He licks a fat swipe up your center, prompting your entire body to seize in a shiver of pleasure. “And now,” Eddie adds. “I’m gonna take care of you…”

He sinks his mouth over your lips, sliding his tongue inside you. Looking between your legs, you can’t be sure where your pussy ends and Eddie’s mouth begins; he’s eating you up like a dessert. His mouth searches your most sacred space, making love to your pussy with every stroke of his tongue. The sheets are balled in one of your fists, while your other hand is in Eddie’s hair, locking him in place between your thighs.

A string of incoherent words leaves your lips as you climax around Eddie’s tongue. You can feel yourself squirting, cum gushing against his mouth and dripping down your ass to the bed. He murmurs praises against your cunt, words neither of you can hear over the sound of your moaning Eddie’s name. He eats you through your orgasm, and the one after, and the one after that, till you’re so sensitive you’re begging him to stop.

By this point, Eddie is hard again. He climbs up between your legs and enters you easily. “Such a greedy little cunt,” he grunts as he sinks inside. Sweat and cum drip off his chin and onto your tits. As he fucks you, Eddie feels his previous ejaculate rub against his belly, now cold and sticky where it’s matted in your pubic hair. When he’s close to coming, he pulls out of you and presses his tip against the coarse hair below your belly. You both watch his ruddy tip empty into your pubic hair, a deep growl leaving Eddie’s lips as he relieves himself onto you.

He uses his finger to scoop some cum from your bush, bringing it to your lips, feeding it to you. “Such a good girl,” Eddie praises. He kisses his way up your body, pausing for a moment at your breasts, tugging your nipple lightly between his lips. You reach for Eddie and he lets you pull him close, resting his head against your breasts, his breath warm on your skin. “Sweet dreams, Eddie,” you whisper, watching his eyes go heavy, stroking back his hair. Eddie falls asleep with his head against your heartbeat, and the taste of your cunt on his lips…

[alchemistc]

you know what is currently Wrecking me about all this? buck's whole thing this whole show has been that people keep leaving him. abby, ali, maddie, eddie, tommy. but this time, bobby asked HIM to leave, and he did. the one time it's permanent, buck's the one who left. because bobby asked, of course, but still. he left bobby there, and bobby died.

Hey nonny? Hey?

With absolute love and adoration in my heart, fuck ALL THE WAY OFF.

"I think I need to, like, talk to him?"

Tommy's already reaching for his keys, like he understands, like he's there in the same place as Buck, like -

Buck wishes he knew who Tommy had lost.

It's been a month, and this anger has surfaced out of nowhere - he's been short at work, mean on calls, he was an asshole to Jee yesterday, and he just spend twenty minutes absolutely tearing into Tommy.

Buck hadn't even told him what 'he' he meant, but it's not like Tommy wasn't - there, or hasn't been here since. Everything lately distills down to Bobby.

("I just want it to get better."

"It doesn't really get better, sweetheart. You just...learn to manage it. Learn to appreciate what you had, and be grateful for the time you had it."

Buck had been so pissed off by the idea of being grateful that he'd picked a fucking fight about Tommy's habit of romanticizing things instead of living in them.)

The ride is quiet. Tommy doesn't say anything, doesn't defend himself from all the -now that he's had a second to think about it - truly rancid shit Buck just spewed at him. He keeps his hands at ten and two and his eyes on the road and he doesn't complain when Buck leans forward to turn off the radio, NPR fading out into a silence that doesn't seem as heavy for Tommy as it does for Buck.

"He made me leave," Buck says, three minutes out from the long lines of headstones, the gated swaths of green and grey. "He made me leave, Tommy."

Tommy's eyes don't leave the road - it's close to rush hour, and LA roadways are insane even without that added rat trap - but his right hand reaches out, palm up across the center console. Buck grasps it like the lifeline it is.

---

"Did you really kick his headstone, or was I imagining that?"

Evan has the grace to look abashed. "It's, uh... solid. Good handiwork."

"Do we need to make a stop at Urgent Care before we head home?"

Home, he says, and tries to remember when that had sent him into a panicked tailspin. It's still there, simmering, waiting for him. Waiting for the time he decides he can take a break from being the only solid thing in Evan's life besides his captain-cum-dad's headstone.

Evan eyes him carefully, red rimmed eyes and swollen nose, beautiful in the dying rays of sunlight. Tommy wants to crack open his ribcage and tuck him inside. Keep him safe. Keep him warm. Allow him to shove his way through all the viscera to cling to the center of him. "Are you staying, again?" he asks, cracked voice and tentative hope, and Tommy had left him to his private rage, stayed in the cab while Evan paced and gestured and yelled and knelt to trace the curves of a bold B. So he doesn't know, exactly, what Evan had said to Bobby. What he needed so desperately to get out.

There'd certainly been some context clues, though.

"You'll have to make me go," he says, and Evan's face is a whirlwind - pain, fear, disbelief, understanding. It settles somewhere around hope.

"You, uh... You don't mind? That that's never gonna happen?"

Evan's had that mantle ripped from him in the worst way possible. Maybe it's Tommy's turn to bear the weight of it, until they can share it together.

Tommy curls a hand around his neck, awkward though it is in the space of the cab. He's choosing to allow himself to read into the way Evan's whole body relaxes. "I don't mind at all."

[dodgeballstuckonthegymceiling]

Hi! I hope ur day is going well!

I remember there was a earlier post where frank finds out about more humans and there life span, I wonder how the other characters find out when frank accidentally or intentionally told them about it and all collectively start losing it! Like the more they learn about y/n the more they realize how “fragile” they really are and maybe they slowly but surely get a little protective or paranoid of their well being😮🤔

Frank would do that! Probably without thinking things through.

If you like my work, please consider commissioning me or leaving a tip on Ko-fi (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

Learning how fragile you can be

★ Humans are fickle creatures. They can withstand many conditions. From losing an entire limb to standing in water. But, at the same time, they are incredibly fragile. All it takes is one mix up and you could break.

★ You need water. But drink the wrong kind and it hurts you. You could take a sip from a stream near Home, and Frank can only watch as you double over coughing. What do you mean water should be boiled first? His plants drink it, so why can't you?

★ "Don't eat that!" You shout to Wally. Who freezes mid-motion as he goes to hand you a colorful mushroom. "That's bad. Put it down." The seriousness in your voice scared him. So he did. You're usually calm, but right now you look genuinely afraid.

★ Poisonous mushrooms are hard to find around Home. But most of the ones you see are vibrant. And that's a red flag. In your world, bright colors could mean poison. Wally doesn’t understand it. Though he tries his best to keep them away from you.

★ Every time Howdy touches you, you're warm. It's something he finds soothing. But at the same time, you can overheat like an 8-track player. In the summer heat he might notice you swaying a little and get worried. "Hey there! don't go melting on me." Rushing to grab you a cold drink.

★ These things don't just scare them. It terrifies them. So many things could go wrong and you still find the courage to get up in the morning. Frank described you as "a machine with no manual or spare parts" in his notes.

★ For the sake of her mental health, you don't tell Poppy about these things. Never mentioning how your own immune system could turn against you. Or how you could get scars that never fade. But she knows you're hiding something.

★ Poppy sees how you look at your skin after bumping into things. But only when you think no one is looking. How you begin to tremble after working too hard. Thankfully, she doesn't see you bleed often. As she prefers to stay inside.

★ Frank let it slip that we have a limited time to live. It was an accident. He was listing off the lifespans of certain animals. And included humans without thinking about it. "The average fly lives 28 days. Domestic cats usually live for 15 years. Humans, about 70 to 100 years depending on..." Trailing off as he realized what he did.

★ Puppets live for as long as their stitches hold. You don't have that luxury. Humans don't have stitches, they have expiration dates. Eddie denies it. "Nope. Nope, that isn't right." Maybe Frank is wrong? He usually isn't. But this is different.

★ Sally tells you that you're not allowed to die. Ever. Even if you're supposed to someday. She says "I forbid it!" While pointing a finger at the center of your chest. It sounds like a joke to you, until you see the seriousness in her eyes.

[steddieas-shegoes]

the taste of you

for @steddielovemonth inspired by the quote "there is never a time or place for true love. it happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single, flashing, throbbing moment." - the truth about forever by sarah dessen

rated m | 1717 words | cw: blood, canon adjacent events | tags: eddie lives, steve has a crush on eddie, first kiss, getting together, post-vecna

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

The sky is red. It’s dark, the air is damp, and Steve hates the Upside Down.

This place genuinely sucks.

It sucks even more when he can hear Dustin yelling, but can’t see him.

It sucks the most when he finally sees why Dustin is yelling.

Steve’s heart stops, but his legs don’t.

He runs.

He runs so fast, his legs nearly give out.

They do, when he sees how bad it is.

Eddie’s dying. He’s bleeding too much.

Dustin knows it, that’s why he sounds like he’s in pain. Dustin’s seen enough near-death and death alike. Steve’s not letting him see it now, not with this guy he looks up to.

Steve starts CPR, wipes blood off his lips before he starts compressions. It’s a taste he’ll never forget.

When he thought about tasting Eddie, it wasn’t like this.

He keeps going, and the time keeps ticking, and Eddie’s heart doesn’t quite beat right, but he is breathing. Steve has no idea how he’s going to keep him breathing while they get him out. He can’t think about that when he’s trying to maintain his own oxygen levels to keep Eddie alive.

He’s keeping Eddie alive.

“Somebody get us out!” Steve manages to yell before he starts giving Eddie the air from his lungs.

Nancy is yelling and Dustin is screaming about not leaving them, but then Robin’s hand is on his back.

“Let me take over for a minute,” she says, voice shaking with nerves. She knows CPR because Steve insisted she learn after the Russians. He insisted everyone learn, but he hasn’t been able to teach everyone yet. He leaves her space to take over.

Nancy is tugging Dustin back to the trailer. He knows she’s coming up with a plan.

He wipes blood from his lips.

Nancy is gone for long enough that Steve starts taking over again with CPR. Robin is keeping an eye on things, making sure she doesn’t need to tap in again, making sure no rogue bats are coming back for seconds. Or thirds by the look of Eddie’s mangled body.

A warm hand touches his back as he’s trying to keep the life inside Eddie’s chest.

He pulls away. He wipes blood from his lips.

“C’mon kid, I gotta get him out of here,” Hopper is nudging him away. He doesn’t know how or why Hop is here. He doesn’t ask. He just needs him to save Eddie.

Hopper takes Eddie into his arms, lifts him up, and starts walking to the trailer.

Robin is holding his hand while they follow behind.

Eddie’s eyes open as they walk and Steve sees it, feels it.

There’s a zap of electricity between them.

Steve tastes blood again.

He wipes his mouth, but there’s nothing there.

Eddie’s eyes close again, but Steve doesn’t look away.

****

Steve’s head is pounding, but he refuses to leave. Robin brought him water and a sandwich about an hour ago, tried to convince him to go home and shower, take some Ibuprofen. He refused.

He wipes his mouth. There’s nothing there.

He wants to taste Eddie without blood in the way.

He wants to know Eddie without the fear of the police arresting him or Vecna cursing him or bats eating him alive.

He wants to touch Eddie with soft hands, knowing that he’s breathing on his own.

He wants to know what it’s like to love Eddie.

But Eddie’s still in recovery from surgery, and no one is allowed to see him, not even his uncle. Wayne is soft spoken, kind, but won’t take any nonsense from anyone. He gives Steve a nod every time a nurse gives him an update, a silent confirmation that Eddie’s still alive.

It’s enough for him for now, but his chest pulls tight at the thought that the only time he’d have Eddie close is when he’s dying.

“Mr. Munson?” A doctor calls for Wayne.

Steve knows better than to walk over there, but his ears tune in as much as possible.

“He’s in a room. I’d be shocked if he wakes up anytime in the next 24 hours. It was touch and go for a while, but we managed to find all of the internal bleeding and stop it. The external wounds are stitched up, but the scarring will be extensive. He had a skin graft done on his side, and that will be a painful healing process for the next few months. He currently has a fever, so we’re monitoring for infection. Whatever attacked him did enough damage that I am concerned he may have permanent muscular damage. It’s hard to know until he wakes up exactly how functional he will be, but be prepared for the worst,” the doctor explains. He’s straightforward, facts only, and Steve kind of appreciates it.

“The worst being?” Wayne asks.

“We don’t think he’ll be paralyzed, but enough damage has been done to his left side that he may be unable to walk. His neck had enough damage that speaking may be very painful or impossible for him. We aren’t going to know about his ability to hear or see until he wakes up, but his left ear was bleeding, which leads me to believe his eardrum is damaged enough for some hearing loss to be present. We just want you to be prepared.”

“Right. Anything else?”

Steve is standing much closer now, hadn’t even realized he moved until he was practically right behind Wayne.

“Not at this time. You may go back to sit with him, but I do ask that you don’t touch him. We don’t want to increase the risk of infection, and we don’t know what parts of his body are hurting at this time.”

Wayne nods. The doctor tells him the room number and general directions and walks away.

Steve wipes his mouth.

“Well? You comin’?” Wayne asks him.

Steve jumps. “Huh?”

“I expect you wanna see the boy after all you did to make sure he lived,” Wayne is smiling at him.

“But they said…”

“I heard him. I’d like to see ‘em stop us. They got a lot goin’ on right now anyway. Won’t even notice.”

So Steve follows Wayne to Eddie’s room, which is dimly lit and at the end of the hall, out of the way of a lot of the chaos happening around them. Wayne hasn’t asked questions, almost like he knows he shouldn’t. Steve won’t be able to answer.

Eddie’s asleep, and a lot of his body is covered in bandages. What isn’t still looks dirty, his skin caked with remnants of mud and dirt, with dried blood.

Steve wipes his mouth, grateful there’s no blood on his lips.

Wayne sits in the chair next to his bed. Steve stands by the door.

He feels like he’s guarding him, doing everything he can to protect him while he rests.

****

Eddie wakes up four days later.

He can move, but it’s extremely painful. He can hear, and see, and mostly talk, though his voice is raspy from disuse. Steve’s been in and out at Wayne’s insistence.

He sleeps at home for a few hours, showers, eats, then comes back.

No one comments on his presence, not even Eddie.

Not at first.

He stays in the background while the kids visit and find normalcy where they can. He stays out of the way when Wayne visits, happy just to see Eddie giving him a hard time from his bed. He keeps quiet when the doctors and nurses and Hop all sit down to talk to him about his progress.

Eddie doesn’t seem bothered by him hanging around. If anything, he seems to be trying to entertain him, maybe keep him here longer. Steve feels a fondness settle in his chest, and it stays there, makes a home in his lungs and his heart.

Eddie is reading, alone for the first time all day and enjoying the quiet. Well, he’s alone in the sense that Steve is sitting off to the side, not bothering him.

Steve wipes his mouth.

“You do that a lot,” Eddie says without looking up from his book.

“Do what?” Steve didn’t think he did anything. He’s just sitting, making sure Eddie’s alive.

“Wipe your mouth. I don’t remember you doing that before,” Eddie sets the book down on his lap. “You’ve done it six times in the last hour.”

“Oh,” Steve frowns. He doesn’t remember doing it that much. “Sorry.”

Eddie searches his face for something. He nods when he finds whatever it was.

“Come here,” Eddie sets his book on the table that’s still holding his dinner tray. They haven’t been by to pick it up yet.

Steve stands and walks closer to the bed.

“Closer.”

Steve leans in.

Eddie grabs the back of his head, firm but pulling him in gently. Steve could pull back if he wanted to.

He doesn’t want to.

He doesn’t know what’s happening, but he doesn’t want to stop it.

Eddie’s lips brush his. It’s enough pressure to be considered a kiss, but it’s over so quickly, Steve isn’t sure he registers it right away.

“There.”

“There?” Steve asks, resisting the urge to immediately lean in for more.

“It’s just my lips now. Nothing else. Nothing to wipe away.”

Steve blinks. Did someone tell Eddie about…?

“Robin told me about the CPR.” Eddie smirks. “Well, actually she said that she had to taste my blood and she would never forgive me for it, which led to me asking why Wayne told me you performed CPR. Then she explained and I noticed your little nervous habit.”

Eddie’s thumb brushes against his bottom lip. No one’s ever touched him like this, so soft, so gentle.

“I’m here. There’s no blood where it shouldn’t be. You saved me. You and Robin saved me.”

Steve’s lips part, his breath catches.

“Can I check?”

Eddie smiles. “Yeah, Stevie.”

Steve kisses him, feels his lips moving against his, and it’s different. All he tastes is Eddie’s spit, the garlic from the mashed potatoes he had for dinner, and the hint of something spicy, maybe the soda Wayne snuck him after the nurse left earlier.

No blood.

No dirt.

No sweat.

Just Eddie.

And that moment is all Steve needs to know he loves the taste of Eddie.

[partial-prints]

If you love vampires, listen up!

Do you enjoy vampires, 80’s music, a healthy dose of homoeroticism - all with a theatrical flair? Well look no further, for I submit to you Dance of the Vampires.

(More cool pictures at the very bottom)

What is it you may ask? It’s a musical about a vampire who seduces a girl and invites her to his midnight ball - an offer she simply cannot turn down. The whole thing sorta gives Phantom of the Opera vibes, but like, wayyy less creepy (despite it being a literal vampire). I will say now that yes, Tanz der Vampire (the original title of Dance of the Vampires), is in German, but there is a full recording with English subtitles on youtube, so please don’t let that prevent you from watching it. Now if you’re still reading, allow me to elaborate on the 80’s music and homoeroticism that I previously mentioned.

Let’s start with the tragic gay romance, because I’m sure that’s what you want to hear about first. While not a main part of the musical, the main vampire’s son falls in love with - gasp! - the vampire hunter’s apprentice. They dance together, and with stage magic involving a mesh screen and an actor on the other side dressed identically to the apprentice, it appears as though the vampire has no reflection in the “mirror”. Of course, the feeling is not mutual, as the apprentice is only at the castle to rescue the girl, who he is in love with.

Now, onto the 80’s music. Surely you’ve heard of the song Total Eclipse of the Heart, or the singer Meatloaf (even if it was just his role as Eddie in Rocky Horror Picture Show). Well, the man who wrote that song and a majority if not all of Meatloaf’s work, was Jim Steinman, who composed the musical. The soundtrack contains a decent amount of electric guitar, even a bit of synth at parts, and all around just sounds awesome. However, he only had about a month and a half to compose it all, so he reused some stuff he previously wrote, including a couple Meatloaf songs and Total Eclipse of the Heart, a song he originally wrote for a Nosferatu musical that ended up not getting produced. It was actually originally titled “Vampires in Love,” so what better song is there to fill the place of a big love duet between the girl and the Count?

Tanz der Vampire is my favorite musical ever. I’ve loved it ever since Count von Krolock appeared on the screen and first began to sing, and you may love it too. So I implore you. Please do yourself a favor and check it out. I’ll provide a link of a full recording with English subtitles here, but it should also be the first result on youtube when you search “tanz der vampire english subtitles.” (That production also has Drew Sarich as the Count, my personal favorite.) I should add though, do not watch the broadway production because it’s terrible.

If you’re still not sold, I’m not sure what else I could say to convince you, but hopefully you at least found this interesting and learned something new. If you want to know more about Tanz der Vampire or would like to hear about other musicals about vampires, please let me know and I can answer any questions. (If even one person watches it because of this I’ll consider this a success, and if you do watch it please let me know because it would really make my day.)

And now I’ll leave you with some pictures of Tanz der Vampire as a last resort to convince you how awesome it is and that you should watch it. (I also put in the alt text the song each picture is from for anyone interested)

*ooo the set design and costuming have hypnotized you… you want to watch it now… do it for the vampires…*

[munsonsmixtapes]

It'll Take Time

dad!eddie x mom!reader

You and Eddie get your daughter to bed as you adjust to your new life in a new city that the three of you are having trouble with.

It’s 7:30 in the Munson home which means that it’s time for Emma to go to bed. Eddie’s already given her a bath and when you come into the bathroom to check on them, she’s already got on her pajamas and he’s got her sitting on the sink as he brushes her hair. 

This is a routine that they’ve gotten down. Eddie picks her up from school when he gets off work and then he makes sure the checklist you’ve made for both of them gets done because it’s so easy for the two of them to get distracted, especially when they’re with each other. There have been nights where you’ve come home and the two of them will be passed out on the couch, both snoring as the TV blares that cartoon show Emma likes.

Every time you see them next to each other, you’re reminded of just how alike they look. She’s got his curls, his eyes, his smile, and when they share matching ones as they turn in your direction, your heart melts as they hold so much love for you. 

“Mommy!” Emma exclaims and Eddie is quick to help her off the counter before she races towards you, her arms immediately wrapping around your shoulder as you scoop her up into your arms. She can’t help but let out a string of giggles as you pepper her face in kisses. 

“Daddy got you all ready for bed, hm?” You ask as she rests her head on your shoulder. You lock eyes with your husband as he heads for you, pressing his lips to yours in a brief kiss. 

It’s been a long day at work and this is all you’ve been looking forward to, the little thing that got you through your shift at the hospital. You haven’t even bothered changing out of your scrubs. You always get there just in time for bedtime and for some reason, that’s when Emma seems to have the most energy. You’re pretty sure it’s the soda he always lets her have with dinner.

Eddie feels his heart warm as he watches his girls all snuggled up together. Emma may look like him, but she’s got your personality. She’s nothing but a sweetheart and he sees you in her all the time. When she smiles or waves at strangers in the grocery store, she’s like a spitting image, somehow looking just like the photos of you when you were around her age. You can claim that she looks like him all he wants, and maybe she does, but she’s one hundred percent you in his eyes and that’s actually what he prefers.

“Mhm,” she nods. “Are you gonna tell me the story again?” She asks as you carry her to her room, Eddie following closely behind. You sit her on her bed and Eddie settles on one side of her while you get in on the other. The three of you snuggle up under the covers just like she likes while Eddie grabs the book you both read to her last night. 

“Not that story,” she says with a roll of her eyes. That she definitely learned from Eddie. “The one where you and daddy met.”

“Oh, that one,” You respond and shoot Eddie a look. You swear you’ve told her that story more times than you can count but it warms your heart knowing that she loves hearing it so much. 

So you recount the tales, not leaving out any details, because even though she’s six, she remembers everything she hears. Even the swear words that have fallen from Eddie’s lips on more than one occasion that you have to remind her often that she’s not allowed to repeat. She falls asleep before you’ve even finished and you stare down at her where she’s got her head on your chest. Her mouth is open just a tad and you can hear her soft snores falling from her lips. It’s such an adorable image that you wish you could take a photo to carry around with you everywhere. 

You gently lie her head on her pillow as both you and Eddie slowly slip out of the bed, hoping not to disturb her then both sneak in a good night kiss to her forehead before tiptoeing towards the door. Once it’s closed, you both high five, priding yourself on yet another successful night of both getting her to bed on time. 

“Another success,” he says. 

“Well, it will be if she actually sleeps through the night.” It’s been hard since the two of you moved out of Hawkins. You know she misses her friends at her old school, but you’re sure that she misses Wayne the most. The two of them talk on the phone the second she gets through the door after school and they make conversation until he has to go to work which is conveniently right before Eddie serves dinner. 

Emma has no idea that Wayne is picking her up from school tomorrow and spending the night at his house while you and Eddie go on a much needed date. She needs time with her great uncle and you and your husband haven’t been out just the two of you in a while so really, everybody wins.

“She will,” he says, resting his hand on your cheeks, pressing another kiss to your lips. You know that you’re worrying for nothing and that she’ll eventually adjust, but you just worry. As her mother, you just want her to be happy and you sometimes feel bad for pulling her away from your old house to one that she doesn’t like very much. 

Eddie has been very good about comforting you through this whole thing. The move has been hard for you too with your new job. He’ll meet you for lunch when you’re on your break since it’s been hard for you to make friends with the other nurses. He’s proved time and time again that he’ll be there for you no matter what and you’ll always be grateful for him.

“Yeah, because you always let her sleep in the bed with us and then the two of you stay up all night giggling.” You glare at him before pushing past him to head to your shared room. Eddie is right behind, loving to invade your personal space and you always let him.

Because he knows exactly what you need without even having to ask, he’s running a bath and you head into the bathroom to get undressed, letting him help you into it before hurrying to the kitchen for a bottle of wine, pouring you both glasses and handing yours to you before removing his clothes and joining you in the tub. You clink your glasses together and enjoy each other’s company as you talk about your days, how your new jobs are working out and as you realize that you’re both struggling with your changes, you’ve decided to accept that it’ll take some time to get used to, but at least you have each other.

[spectral-phases]

The Night Blüdhaven Exploded

I don't see enough people talking about what the Chemo attack on Blüdhaven must have done, as just everything was going wrong for Bruce and his boys that night.

For starters, Bruce is already fighting his dead/ressurected son who came back as a crime-lord villain who has been blowing up so, so many goons/criminals in Gotham for a while.

Then he sees Blüdhaven explode in front of his very eyes, and Jason then taunts Bruce, saying that Dick must be dead and insists on forcing Bruce to choose between killing Jason and killing the Joker not 2 minutes later. Bruce, as we all know, refuses to allow either, and stops Jason with a Batarang to the neck/shoulder, depending on your angst factor (or possibly aiming for Joker, but Joker moves and gets it to hit Jason on purpose/by accident ymmv).

(Batman 1940 #650)

And then, after all of that, the Joker sets off some explosives, surely killing Jason/the Joker (This makes the second explosion the Joker is going to no-clip his way out of, and Jason's learned that skill this time as well)

(Batman 1940 #650)

But wait! There's more! I know in the Batman comic they only mention Bruce being concerned for Dick, but Tim was living in Blüdhaven at the time too! Tim was fresh off of his father/girlfriend dying and didn't want to be adopted by Bruce, so he invented a fake Uncle Eddie (hiring an actor to play the role) and moved to Blüdhaven, where his comatose step-mother was being treated. Tim is only out of the city at the time of the explosion because the Titans came and said something was wrong with Conner, so they needed to leave to help save him. On their way out of the city in their jet, they only get far enough to avoid the blast, but not far enough that they avoid the resulting shockwaves as it renders their navigational systems offline, and likely their comms too. So not far enough that Bruce, who has been chasing Jason and Black Mask all night, could reasonably be aware of this fact.

(Robin 1993 #147)

So Dick and Tim very well could have been in that explosion and then Jason gets exploded! Amazing! That's 3 for 3 remaining Robins possibly killed in an explosion in one single hour.

We have no idea where Jason gets to, but we'll assume that he is unable to find the body because of the new no-clipping into the backrooms skill Jason must have (Jason was meant to die here, again. In another explosion set off by the Joker, so Bruce will have to assume Jason is dead even if he turns up alive later. How? Who the fuck knows).

Speaking of ol' Richard "Dick" Grayson, aka Nightwing, how is old boy wonder doing? Well, he's been having a rough go of it the past six months, between Blockbuster targeting him and destroying everything he cares about, Tarantula killing Blockbuster after successfully convincing him to just let her kill Blockbuster (while he walks away and has a panic attack...and...other things happen...TW: SA if you look it up), and then basically playing "suicide by cop" through the job following that and being a double agent of the group that just nuked Blüdhaven, uh...he is straight-up not having a good time by the time Chemo blows up Blüdhaven, and he's only getting worse. He tries to go to the center of the explosion, and Superman, fortunately, arrives on the scene to save Nightwing and put him up on the shelf to avoid dying (I love how Superman keeps trying to save Nightwing from himself in this era and Nightwing is just...no, thank you).

(Nightwing 1996 #116)

Unfortunately, this is the "Flying Grayson" himself, so no shelf is high enough to prevent Dick from going in there, and his mental state is so bad that certain death while saving others is probably more tempting to him at the moment than a deterrent. He "Duly Noted"s his way back into Blüdhaven, helps get the police to control the panicking crowds of survivors towards an escape route, saves the few remaining friends Blockbuster didn't kill recently, and goes directly into the most radioactive area of Blüdhaven to try and save some rouge who might have been there. We see Superman fighting Chemo's core in the background throughout his rescue attempts, so Dick's close the entire time to this heavy radiation. Dick notes that this is the first time he's able to breathe easy in months, saving people from the ruins. He's eventually taken out as a door explodes with the Chemo green gasses while trying to locate the rogue while reflecting on his recent failures.

(Nightwing 1996 #116)

I do think the appearance of Batman as Dick passes out isn't real, Bruce was in Gotham, either reeling from the explosion or looking for Jason or something. There's no way he got to Blüdhaven already, and the legs of Batman are hazy, blending into the smoke.

I also think after Chemo is stopped that Bruce probably still hasn't heard anything about Nightwing, because I don't imagine he took the time and resources to call the Veteran in a communications blackout (who has been historically trying to poach Batman's Robins, and nearly got Tim killed trying to convince Tim to leave Batman and join up his forces. Batman and the Veteran are not on good terms, is what I'm saying) just for Tim's step-mother and fake uncle.

(Robin 1993 #147)

By this time, he is talking about Tim as if he's alive, so he's probably gotten something from the Titans base confirming that Tim's alright, so he's gotta be taking the time and effort to call the Veteran for Dick.

Bruce, being Bruce, gets into a fight with Dick as soon as Dick is brought back to the Batcave and wakes up, while Dick is being treated for severe radiation poisoning/burns. I am willing to forgive this because he's had a time of it, even if he's being hostile and pissy and unsupportive. Definitely not winning the Father of the Year award for this, I'm afraid (Worst Father of the Year award is going to Deathstroke, for embedding a known radioactive carcingenic material into his daughter's eye, but Bruce is in the running for this and Jason).

(Nightwing 1996 #117)

I am awarding this to Bruce for trying to reassure Dick.

But. Anyway. Yeah.

Rough night for everyone involved. Absolutely everything going wrong all at once.

[ashwhowrites]

Hi! Can I request an Older! Eddie x reader (can you do another Hargrove! or Carver! Reader one?) but maybe more fluff/smut? Like Reader being in a secret relationship with Eddie, so her dad doesn't know, but Eddie teases her a lot, he tells her what If you father knew about us? and he knows she'll get nervous bc he hates Y/N's father (you can add more things!!)

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it! Thank you for requesting ����🏻

Daddy's girl

When Y/N and Eddie met for the first time, a year ago, neither knew how complicated the relationship would become. Y/N was an adult, allowed to make her own decisions. And dating the older man she met at the bar wasn't a regret. Eddie caught her eye as he sat at the bar, having a beer. His dark hair, brown eyes, and chiseled jaw, coated in dark facial hair, looked memorizing underneath the downtown lights.

A few drinks in and she made her way over to him. A few more drinks and she was in his backseat, steaming up the windows as she clawed at his seats. His hands on her hips, his mouth on her back, and his cock buried in her.

They hooked up for months before they realized how deep their connection was. The complication occurred when Y/N learned her father was Eddie's enemy. She knew her dad was a dick, and wasn't surprised to hear that he made Eddie's life hell in high school.

Eddie couldn't help but feel smug about the fact he was dirting up Carver's daughter. He wished he could see Jason's face when he connected his precious baby girl called Eddie Daddy all night long. But also to shove it in his face that after all these years, someone fell in love with him. He wanted to brag and brag that someone as amazing as Y/N wanted to be with him.

But Y/N did not want her dad to know about the relationship, which Eddie understood. Jason wouldn't hesitate to destroy the relationship they created. Plus forbidden love was always a turn-on.

~~~

"You're so hot," Eddie mumbled against Y/N's lips. They stumbled into his house, lips locked and their bodies heaving.

"So are you," Y/N said as she shut the door behind them with her heel. Her hands worked on Eddie's belt as he unbuttoned his dress shirt.

"What time do you have to meet your dad for dinner?" Eddie asked as he dropped his shirt to the floor.

"In an hour, but it's at that gross pizza shop he knows I hate," Y/N rolled her eyes as she tugged Eddie's pants down. He stepped out and kicked them to the side then removed his socks.

"Better make sure daddy's good girl is well-fed then, huh?" Eddie smirked as she whimpered at his words. Her stomach flipped and her thighs clenched.

She dropped to her knees and watched as Eddie took off his boxers. His hard cock inches from her face and she drooled at the sight.

"Ready?" He asked, his thumb swiping across her bottom lip, her obedient eyes watched his every move. He loved how submissive she was when it came to him. Just one snap of a finger and she'd run away from her life and follow him.

"Yes," she said and opened her mouth. She clenched her thighs as he gripped his cock, he placed his lip on her tongue. She moaned at the familiar feeling as he pushed himself down her throat.

He pulled her hair back and held it, he moaned as she began to move her head up and down as she sucked him off.

~~~

Y/N sat in the hot car as Eddie filled up the car with gas. A road trip ahead of them to the beach, bags packed in the back. A romantic getaway that she could not wait to start.

She smiled as the door opened and Eddie jumped in. His tattooed arms glistened in sweat from the short time outside, his tank top sticking to him. He started the engine and the AC blew and released them of the hot weather. He pushed his sunglasses into his hair and pecked her lips.

"Oh look it's your dad!" Eddie said, pointing straight ahead. Y/N snapped her head to look through the windshield, her dad stood filling his tank.

"Oh my god," Y/N whispered, she quickly ducked her head down and hid.

"I think we should go say hi," Eddie teased with a smirk as he looked down at her.

"Not funny," she snapped, slapping his thigh. She jumped when Eddie honked the horn, a growl leaving her lips as she smacked him again.

"Oh, he's looking! Say hi to your daddy, don't be rude." Eddie teased again, loving the way she looked up at him terrified, yet pissed off.

She didn't move a muscle, she watched as he flipped her dad off and quickly grabbed his hand.

"He's gone," Eddie said, Y/N slowly peaked over and sighed when her dad was gone.

"You are such an ass," Y/N shook her head as she buckled herself in.

"Yeah, but you love me"

~~~

"I'm going to grab the beers," Eddie said, pecking her cheek as he rounded the corner in the store. She pushed the cart and grabbed hot dog buns from the shelf. She grabbed a few more things before she went to the next aisle. She froze when she saw the back of her dad's head and Eddie's huge smirk.

"I see you didn't become a rockstar," Jason scoffed as he glared at Eddie. "Life must be so unfulfilling. No wife, no kids."

Y/N was mouthing "no" but when did Eddie listen?

"I am so glad you brought this up!" Eddie exclaimed as he smacked Jason's shoulder. "I am not married, but I found someone who will be."

"Yeah right," Jason mumbled, pushing Eddie's hand off of him.

"It's your daughter," Eddie said, his eyes flashing to Y/N's horrified face and back to Jason's shocked face.

"I'm shitting with you man, but you should see your face," Eddie laughed, smacking Jason's chest before he walked off. Y/N raced to hide behind the corner, slapping Eddie the second he was in sight.

To Eddie it was a fun little game, giving his girl a heart attack kept him a child at heart. But the ring in his nightstand reminded him he was all grown up.

Tags!

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37 @bellaisswagger @arlxt

[lostintheuniverseslies]

Part 1 is here

The oil and grease on Tommy’s hands make him feel accomplished as he wipes them off with an old rag. He was long overdue for an oil change and finally got around to it, only to realize that his funnel and oil pan were missing.

Technically, not missing if he let someone borrow them and that someone never returned them. Not that he’d be calling to ask for them back. No way in hell. He has a feeling Eddie wouldn’t be too happy to hear from him.

So while he was out buying oil, he added a new funnel and oil pan to his cart. Changing the oil shouldn’t have taken long—he could do it with his eyes closed—but he took his time, dragging out the process.

Because if he didn’t, he’d have too much free time.

Too much time for his thoughts to wander.

Too much time for memories to creep in of bright, beautiful eyes, a sweet, sincere smile, and a birthmark Tommy loved to kiss.

Too much time to remember the choice he made.

The choice he hated but knew he couldn’t—shouldn’t—take back.

With a sigh, Tommy tosses the rag into the corner of the garage and picks up his phone.

Five missed notifications. It’s nothing unusual but then he sees a single missed call from Evan thirty-five minutes ago and a voicemail.

Tommy stares at the screen, his stomach flipping.

What could Evan possibly have to say?

It’s been two months, almost three, since the breakup. For weeks, Tommy had thought—hoped—Evan would call. If he had, Tommy would’ve folded so damn fast he’d have told his future self good luck with the inevitable heartbreak.

But the call never came. And Tommy had to remind himself why he left. Evan deserved to learn who he was without being shackled to him.

Hell, maybe he’d already found someone new. Someone who knew the gift that Evan Buckley was. Who could love him with every morsel of their being because he deserves nothing less.

Tommy swallows hard, his grip tightening around the phone, and sinks down into the folding chair near the door.

Maybe this voicemail is a thank you. Maybe Evan is saying he found the one and wanted to thank Tommy for not letting him be stuck in a relationship he was no longer happy in.

Whatever it says, Tommy knew he wouldn’t be able to move on without hearing it, no matter how much it may hurt.

The voicemail is one minute and thirty seconds long.

It’s not a long time but it also feels like an eternity. There’s so much that could have been said in that timeframe.

Against his better judgement, he hits play and lifts the phone to his ear.

At first, there’s just silence.

Then, the soft patter of rain. The distant hum of a voice—frantic, urgent, but too garbled to make out. A sound that might be a wheeze.

His brows knit together. Maybe Evan forgot to turn off his phone while on shift. A butt dial. Maybe Tommy just got his hopes up for nothing.

But then—

“Tommy.”

The air is sucked from Tommy’s lungs.

A sharp chill rushes over his body, the kind that makes his scalp prickle, his arms break out in goosebumps.

His stomach drops.

Because Evan’s voice doesn’t sound right. It’s raspy, weak, broken, and there’s something else. A whistling in his breath. A struggle.

Something is wrong.

So, so wrong.

“Don’t shut them out, okay?”

No. No, no, no.

His gut twists violently, a nauseating weight settling in his chest. He knows this voice. Not just Evan’s—but this voice.

He’s heard it too many times in the back of an ambulance. The sound of someone slipping away.

How many times has he transported a patient just like this? Breath shallow, voice unsteady, fighting through the pain just to say goodbye.

How many times has he heard someone’s last words?

Tommy knew it. He knew it in his bones.

Evan Buckley is dying.

And Tommy is just sitting in his garage, helpless.

“You’re allowed to let them be there for you. Please—please let them be there for you.”

Tommy swallows hard, but it doesn’t stop the sting in his eyes.

God.

He doesn’t want to listen. Doesn’t want to hear it. Wants to skip to the end and see if Evan is okay.

But he can’t.

He can’t move.

He is glued to his seat, stuck in the worst moment of his life, listening to every agonizing, stuttering breath of the man he loves with his entire being.

“I love you.”

Tommy’s vision blurs. The first tear slips free before he can stop it.

“I hope you know that. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”

His chest aches like his ribs are caving in.

Evan doesn’t sound like himself. His breath shakes, his words so soft, so unsteady. It’s taking everything in him just to speak.

And yet, he chose to call Tommy.

Not Maddie. Not Bobby. Not Eddie.

Tommy.

Tommy, who left him.

Tommy, who doesn’t deserve this.

The voicemail keeps playing, but his ears are ringing.

“You deserve to be loved.”

Evan’s voice cracks. Tommy’s world does too.

“I really hope you find the person you’re meant to spend your life with. No matter what you think, I’m grateful. So grateful. That you were my first, and my last.”

Tommy rubs harshly at his face, swiping at his cheeks like that will somehow stop the flood of tears.

If he could go back in time, he would shake himself.

Don’t walk out.

Don’t break his heart.

Don’t break your own.

Because a world without Evan Buckley… God, it hurts too much to even imagine.

The line grows quiet.

Rain. Voices in the distance.

Tommy strains to listen, searching for any sign that someone is helping him. That he’s not alone.

But all he hears is Evan’s breathing. Weak, wheezing, slowing.

Slowing.

And then…

Silence.

The voicemail cuts off.

Tommy stares at his phone. Stares at Evan’s name, at the stupid little heart emoji next to it.

He put it there because he felt like a teenager again, falling in love for the first time.

Now, he’s staring at it like it’s a gravestone.

His hand shakes violently as he wipes at his face.

He needs to know.

Needs to know if Evan was alone when it happened.

Needs to know if anyone found him.

Needs to know he wasn’t alone and scared.

Tommy fumbles to his contacts, barely seeing the screen through the blur of tears. His hands are unsteady as he calls Howie.

It barely rings before it picks up.

“Howie—Evan—” He tries to breathe, but it comes out shaky, strangled, barely a whisper.

“Hey, Tommy.” Howie’s voice is soft, careful but not broken. He sounds worried, not grieving.

And that’s when something shifts.

Tommy stills.

Howie is worried, but he isn’t grieving.

Why isn’t he grieving?

“Maddie and I just got to the hospital. He’s in surgery now.”

Surgery.

Tommy goes rigid.

Surgery?

The word rings in his skull. He blinks, but it doesn’t register.

“What?” He’s too afraid to hope.

“You’re calling about Buck, right? How did you find out so quickly anyway?”

His grip on the phone tightens. He can’t let himself believe it.

Not yet.

“What do you mean he’s in surgery?”

“He’s in surgery,” Howie says, slower this time, like Tommy’s the one not thinking straight.

Surgery.

Not dead.

His chest constricts painfully.

“He’s alive?” Tommy whispers.

Howie exhales. Soft. Almost confused.

“Yeah—wait, did someone tell you he was dead?”

Tommy squeezes his eyes shut. He can’t hold it in anymore. His voice breaks.

“No. He called me. He left a voicemail. He—I could hear him slipping away. I-I thought he died.”

The last word is barely more than a sob. Tommy presses his fingers against his eyes, hating himself for how raw he sounds. But Howie doesn’t judge.

“No, hey, Tommy,” Howie says, voice dropping into something gentler. “He’s alive. It’s bad, but he’s alive.”

Tommy lets out a breath so shaky it hurts.

He’s alive.

Evan is alive.

And suddenly, the only thing that matters is getting to him.

“I’ll send you the hospital info and floor,” Howie continues. “He’ll want you here. We all want you here.”

Before Tommy can answer, Howie hangs up.

A second later, a text pops up with the address.

Tommy stares at it, hands still trembling. He wants to drive. Wants to be there now. But his mind is racing too fast, his body shaking too much.

So he orders an Uber.

And for the first time since pressing play on that voicemail, he breathes.

Should I write more?

Part three!

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Epic Buddie Fic Rec | February 17th-23rd 2025

I got braces put in last week - for the second time in my life mind you! - so it's been a pretty miserable week for me 🙃 so I started a 9-1-1 rewatch to cheer me up 😄 (and because I'm in 9-1-1 withdrawal, only 10 days to go!!!!)

I also want to rec a 9-1-1 rewatch podcast I've been listening to, Tales From the 118! They don't have a tumblr so I'll just link to their first episode. I've really been enjoying it!

Complete

love bite by Tizniz/ @tizniz (Werewolf Eddie, Established Buddie | 1,8K | Mature):

“It’s okay, Eddie.” Buck soothes, “This is okay. You’re allowed to give into these instincts. There’s nothing wrong with it. You can bite me all over if you want.”

just hold on until the sun comes up tomorrow by thelikesofus/ @thelikesofus (Post-S4E14: Survivors | 2K | Teen):

“Buck,” Eddie says Buck’s name like a promise, like a prayer. “You're having nightmares and I'm not sleeping. If we're both going to be awake all night we might as well be awake together.” OR Why should either of them have to face the darkness alone when they have each other?

Love Language by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Post-S8A, Getting Together | 4K | Teen):

When Eddie reluctantly reveals he can speak Swedish, Buck ends up learning a lot more about him than he bargained for.

i wanna feel you from the inside by shortndiaz (Vampire Buck, PWP, S3 | 4K | Explicit):

Starts with ‘wanna go for the title?’ and ends in some blood and sex

Eddie 2.0 by bellabrady (Eddie Moves to Texas | 5K | Not Rated):

Or: After Eddie moves to Texas, Buck adopts a stray cat and names it Eddie.

🔥 The Great Valentine's Day Debacle of 2025 by giselleslash/ @gigi-gigi (Valentine's Day, Getting Together | 5K | General):

Eddie books a couples Valentine’s Day weekend for him and Buck. Except they’re not together. Eddie is an idiot.

tell me that you'll never let me go by farfromthstars/ @farfromthstars (Eddie Goes To Texas, Getting Together | 5K | Teen):

From the apartment, he calls Buck, who picks up after two rings. ���Hey, did you make it okay?” Eddie leans back against the pillows on his bed and closes his eyes, wishing he was at home on his couch with Buck next to him. Or that Buck was here with him, at least. “Yeah, just got back from my parents’, actually.” “How’d it go?” Buck asks. His voice is warm, even through the phone. “Did Chris talk to you?” “A little bit,” Eddie says, and allows himself a smile. “Buck, he– he hugged me and told me he missed me. Of course, then he remembered that he was mad at me, but for a minute–” “That’s– that’s awesome, Eddie,” Buck says. “Hey, uh, I gotta run, but keep me posted, okay?” “Sure,” Eddie says, confused at being cut off so quickly. “What are you d–” But Buck has hung up already. ~ Eddie goes to Texas. Buck is being weird. It only takes them both five days to crack.

this life that we make by farfromthstars/ @doeeyeseddie (Post-S8E8: Wannabes | 5K | Teen):

Eddie stares at his bottle of beer and grits his teeth. He has to go, he knows it’s the right thing. He’s going to go. Why does he want Buck to ask him to stay so badly? “Why did you never ask me to stay?” Buck makes a sound, a mix of a hiss and a hiccup, and when Eddie turns to look at him, he suddenly looks as if he’s in pain. “Eddie, I–,” Buck rubs his hands on his thighs. “Did you want me to?” “I want you to be honest with me,” Eddie says. “And I guess I hope you’re not actually this…unbothered by my leaving.”

🔥TRUST! by pairofraggedclaws (PWP, Quarantine | 8K | Explicit):

“I get used to it, I guess. Kind of. After a while,” Eddie says. Then, very quietly, “I’m just, uh, sensitive.” “Oh,” Buck says. Eddie's just sensitive. Eddie, his best friend, who he has now seen when he comes. Who comes in under a minute if he isn’t getting some on the regs. This is – this is – interesting. * Love and premature ejaculation.

Good Job! by pretty_boy_buckley (Post-S8A, Getting Together | 8K | Mature):

Buck begins giving Eddie little star stickers to encourage him, Eddie really loves them

I don't wanna miss you like this by rainbow_nerds/ @rainbow-nerdss (Eddie Moves To Texas, Love Letters | 9K | Teen):

Once he was home—or, as Chris puts it, back in his stupid, shitty apartment, he sat down, poured himself a drink—then another, once he downed the first—took out his laptop, and started to type. It was surprisingly easy, once the alcohol hit his bloodstream, to write it out. To put himself in the mindset of someone who loved Buck and couldn’t keep it inside anymore. Eddie Diaz was living in El Paso—miles away from his best friend who needed him, struggling to cross the invisible distance his son was keeping from him. There was no quick fix for either—but he was working on it. And in the meantime, he could do something to help Buck feel better from afar.

I lose my feet in my father's shoes by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Post-S8A, Chris Coming Home | 12K | Teen):

Just as Eddie is planning to move to El Paso, Chris gets into a fight at school, and Helena and Ramon decide they've had enough, sending Chris home.

The Pieces of You (I Carry With Me) by Kwills91/ @kwills91 (Post-S8E8: Wannabes, Getting Together | 12K | Teen):

Eddie makes Buck a baby box and chickens out of giving it to him, leaving it in his closet for years and trying his hardest to forget about it, and what it might mean. Until Buck is helping Eddie pack for his move to El Paso and happens to find it.

disappearing into the distance by bucksclipboard/ @endofthedaymp3 (Eddie Comes Back From Texas, Getting Together | 16K | Teen):

Eddie wasn’t sure why he and Maddie weren’t close. It was strange, considering her little brother was the most important person in his life. Still, when the door opened, tight hugs were exchanged and cheerful welcome homes rang in his ears. “Does Bobby know? I gotta call Bobby!”, Chimney yelled. “Could you wait a minute?”, Eddie interjected. His eyes darted between them for a moment and landed on Chim, deciding he was his best bet. “Maybe first explain to me why I went to see Buck and his loft was empty. Am I missing something? Did he move?” or: eddie comes back from texas – only to find that buck has left los angeles

WIP

🔥 Gentle On My Mind by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon Divergent, Shannon Lives, Buck/Eddie/Shannon | 16/? | 96K | Explicit):

In which Shannon lives, tells a lie, and sends hers, Eddie's, and Buck's lives down a very different path

🔥 Doe & a Drop of Golden Sun by ohstars/ @oh-stars (Canon Divergent, Dad Buck | 13? | 58K | Teen):

Buck doesn't mean to keep secrets from everyone, but he also can't talk about the pain he experiences on a day to day basis. With his nine-year-old living across the country and his custody limited to one monthly visit, Buck doesn't know how to share this part of himself. How does he tell his team of six years that he's had a kid this whole time? How does he tell his sister? How does he tell his Edd-- best friend? It's fine. The universe isn't going to give him a choice in the matter when the worst thing imaginable becomes his reality.

Podfic

🔥 [Podfic] Paralytic Narcolepsy Guy Hates Buckley & Diaz by oRóisín (oKathleen) // fic by eightpackdiaz (Outsider POV, Canon, Getting Together | 30-45min | Teen):

Paralytic Narcolepsy Guy is forced to listen to Buckley and Diaz talk to and about each other in his unconscious presence over the years. He insists he fucking hates them. But then he also accidentally helps them get engaged.

[chronicowboy]

Eddie isn't entirely sure how he ends up on Tommy's doorstep. One minute, he's stuffed into the corner of his couch, staring at the two empty cushions beside him, trying to will joy out of thin air. The next, he's grabbing his keys and knocking on a familiar door. But it's not too familiar a door. It's not the right door, he thinks. It should be Buck's door. But this feels safer somehow.

Buck's door is joy. Buck's door opens into a room filled with sunlight. Buck's door is a portal to all the good things Eddie has never found himself worthy of. He's still learning to trust the good things, joy. And whilst he trusts Buck implicitly, intimately, instinctually. He still doesn't quite trust himself.

Tommy's door is... Well, Tommy's door often opens on casual camaraderie. Tommy's door mainly leads to the sparring mat in the garage. Tommy's door is just a door. Eddie doesn't know if he's there to see it open or seal it shut.

It's been a week since. Since Eddie had danced around in his house in a pair of tighty whiteys he'd forgotten he'd owned. Since an intoxicatingly simple joy had buzzed through his veins and filled him with a glowing pink light that had almost burst out of him when he'd looked through the peephole. Since Buck had offered him a beer and stuffed himself into the corner of the couch to drink in stony silence between sniffles. Since Eddie had resisted the urge to make himself small and had instead spread his legs, so he could feel the warmth of Buck's knee burning into his bare thigh. Since both of them getting drunk enough on beers and each other that they'd danced around Eddie's house until they collapsed on the living room floor. Since they'd laid there on the carpet, staring up at the ceiling, and Buck had finally mumbled his way through a recital of his breakup.

It's been a week of Eddie biting down on his reflexive guilt at seeking out joy whilst Buck wallows in despair. Of Eddie plastering himself to Buck in every spare moment because, even when he's down in the dumps, he gives off joy like a spaceheater throws out heat. Of Eddie allowing himself to bask in it without the whispering warning voices in his mind for the first time ever. Of Eddie allowing himself the simple pleasure of Buck without fear of ruining him.

Eddie startles a little when the door opens, but it's alright because Tommy startles too. His whole face stretches in shock then scrunches up with a wry little laugh and a shake of his head.

"Guess I probably should have expected this, huh?" he says.

And Eddie thinks that's odd. Hadn't expected it himself. Doesn't know why he's here. Doesn't know what he's going to say. But he opens his mouth anyway, lets whatever is in his throat claw its way out, and what he says is,

"Buck is worth the risk."

Tommy blinks. Eddie blinks back.

Something pools in his chest. Something warm. Something hot. It's the warmth of Buck's knee against his thigh and the heat of boiling anger. It's scorching. Eddie can't tell which one burns worse.

"Okay," Tommy replies evenly.

"Buck said that you said you couldn't move in with him because he'd break your heart."

"I did."

"He's worth that risk," Eddie repeats. Doesn't know how else to say it. "Don't you get it? He-he's so smart and passionate and kind and full of love. His head gets a little messy sometimes, but he's still so so full of love. Why can't you see that? He's beautiful inside and out. And he's worth the risk. You can't not take the risk with Buck. He's worth a hundred broken hearts, don't you get that?"

Eddie's chest heaves. A thousand more words crowd his mouth, but he can't wrap his lips around any of them. His brain is flying a mile a minute, everything slipping through his fingers just when he thinks he's grabbed a hold of it. And Tommy is just staring at him in that slightly disconcertingly blank way he stares.

"Eddie, I think maybe you should try giving that speech to a mirror." His voice is still even, but there's an edge to these words that makes something in Eddie sing, makes him want to press against it until it draws blood.

"What?"

"I think you think Buck's worth a hundred broken hearts because you and him have been breaking each other's over and over for the past six years."

Eddie flinches.

"What? I would never—"

"Just because you didn't mean to doesn't mean you didn't." Tommy sighs and drags a hand down his face. All the defensiveness melts out of his posture as he leans against the doorframe. "Okay, let's talk about me, yeah? You wanna know why I didn't take the risk with Buck?"

It's a rhetorical question. Still, Eddie says, "yes."

"Because." He shrugs. "Six days, six weeks, six months, six years. He'd never mean to, but. He was always going to break my heart, Eddie. And he was always going to break it for you."

There had been this moment when he'd first sat down in the confessional between the click of the door closing and Father Brian's greeting where the whole world had seemed to fall silent. It was a crushing thing. In that moment, twenty-three years of sins had fallen upon him like a helicopter. It was as if the booth itself was trying to swallow him whole. Now, Eddie feels it again. Feels it so vividly he almost thinks he's back in that stifling little wooden box. Feels it like a whole new confession, unforgivable and yet inevitable.

"And you were always going to let him, right?" Tommy doesn't even leave room for an answer. Just nods to himself. "You can be angry with me if you want. I hurt him, I know that. But I took the risk when I started this. The writing was on the wall from the beginning. I knew I was living on borrowed time, but... Well, I don't have to explain to you why he was worth it, do I?"

"W-what do you—"

"God, Diaz," he groans, and presses his forehead against the edge of the door. "He was never trying to get my attention. Jesus. He spent that whole game pulling your pigtails."

"No, he was jealous of—"

"Of me because I had your attention." Tommy shakes his head. "I'm not doing this. I can't. Please leave."

And well, Eddie's never needed all that much of a nudge when it comes to running away. He's halfway to his truck when Tommy's voice stops him in his tracks.

"Hey, Eddie?"

"Yeah?" He turns, watches something complicated break across Tommy's face.

"He's worth the risk."

The door closes. Another opens.

[hairmetal666]

Eddie Munson gets famous at fifteen, after a YouTube video goes viral.

He's the kind of famous where he can't leave his house without being mobbed; where his name is plastered across grocery store tabloids and every fifth Pop Crave post; who has to make special arrangements with stores, whose body guards have body guards, who's forgotten what it's like to be normal. He's the kind of famous with well-chronicled stints in and out of rehab

And he thinks, at thirty, why not do a reality show? Why not let everyone in the world into his life because they're there anyway?

There's this guy on the crew, beautiful as a fucking sunrise. He's all golden-tanned and chestnut-haired, with these big hazel eyes that makes Eddie stomach swoop deliciously whenever they happen to meet his.

His name is Steve.

And Eddie, well. He's learned his lesson about jumping into relationships. So, Steve is nice to look at, and that's all there is to it.

---

They're at the studio, and Eddie, he only smokes when he's recording but he's "not allowed" to do that inside. So, he steps out into the alley behind the building, eyes falling shut as he hands search his pockets for his pack of Camels and his Zippo.

"I didn't realize you smoked," a deep voice says from the darkness.

Eddie startles, eyes flying open. Steve is leaning against the brick of the building, cigarette perched between his pursed lips.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I'm Steve. With the crew."

"Eddie," he answers by instinct.

"I know," Steve chuckles. His hazel eyes are golden in the yellow streetlight.

"Oh, right." He lights his cigarette and inhales deep.

"I really like what you're doing in there." Steve nods his head towards the studio.

"You a fan?"

"Never listened to you much before. Not really a metal kinda guy, but I like it."

People aren't usually honest with Eddie. It's refreshing.

"Glad you're getting into it! How's your--uh, job going?"

Steve laughs. "First assistant camera, that's my job." Eddie's expression must read a total blank, but Steve only smiles. "I make sure everything's in focus while we film"

"Is that--hard?"

"Sometimes," Steve agrees. "How do you like being the star of a reality show?"

Eddie huffs out a breath. "It's more fun than I expected. Like, sure it's weird to have you guys follow me around, but at least I invited you, you know?"

Steve's dark eyes are fathomless in his perfect face. "You'll let me know? If anything happens that you don't like?"

Eddie nods, taken aback by the serious line of Steve's pretty mouth. Before he can respond more, the back door creaks open, Gareth's backlit shape leaning into the alley. "Eddie? They're ready for you."

"Duty calls." He smiles at Steve as he stomps out his cigarette. "See you around."

---

Eddie goes to a house party in the hills. It's just a handful of people, all of them he's known for years, no cameras in sight.

Someone asks how things are going with the band. Eddie doesn't think anything of it. Why should he, among friends? Why should he when they already know the resentment that Gareth, Jeff, and Freak have for him? Eddie got signed and not his band. The guys--they never really forgave him, think he could have tried harder.

So, he says--he says--"I wish they didn't resent me so goddamn much still. To this day! They're millionaires and they're pissed at me? Fuck that. I got them here. I got us all here."

They're filming the next day at Eddie's house. He's working on a new song, engrossed in his acoustic and his notebook.

He's so in the zone, it takes him a second to register when Gareth bursts into the house.

"Fuck you, Munson," Gareth screams. "What the fuck is this shit?" Eddie's own voice pours from Gareth's phone, and Eddie's stunned speechless for dozens of seconds as he tries to comprehend what's happening.

"I didn't--" he tires. He raises his hands placatingly, but his minds a whirlwind, thoughts a tangle, heart a mess of betrayal and hurt and fear.

"We should be fucking grateful?" Gareth yells. "You spoiled piece of shit, fuck you!" He lunges towards Eddie, but Steve darts from behind the camera, moving to block Gareth's path.

"Stop filming," Eddie shouts. He lifts his arms to block the shit. "Get out," he snaps at the crew. " Now!"

He and Gareth scuffle towards a set of double-doors, heated words low and unintelligible.

"Don't come in." He tells the crew. "Steve, I mean it. Tell them to stop."

Eddie shoves Gareth into the other room, slamming the door behind him. Still, the mics pick up the screaming fight between the two men.

Hours later, Eddie finally makes his way back to the main part of the house, finds Steve standing at the kitchen island.

"Why are you still here?" He's too exhausted from the fight to put any inflection into it.

"I was wo--I wanted to make sure everything was okay," Steve says. He relaxes against the island. "Are yo--is everything okay?"

Eddie's laugh is humorless. "Something like that."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

The tears he kept at bay with Gareth prick at his eyelids until they burn. "Not really, no."

Steve nods. "We could--you wanna watch a movie?"

This startles a laugh out of Eddie, one that has tears flooding his eyes and he has to blink fast, look down, anything so Steve doesn't notice.

"You know what I want?" he says. It's soft enough that maybe Steve, across the kitchen, wouldn't hear.

"What?"

"To have friends who won't sell me out for a couple thousand bucks." The tears start falling, his throat choked with emotion.

He wants to stop, embarrassed to be crying in front of Steve, but now that he's started, sobs shake his shoulders and he can't keep quiet.

Steve reaches for him. "Is this okay?" he whispers, hands rubbing circles against his back.

Eddie nods, cries for a while as Steve makes soothing motions against his back.

"I just wish I was normal," he mumbles when he has words again.

Steve's hold on him tightens. "I'm sorry, Eddie."

Shame hits him then, too hard to ignore, and he steps away. "I'm gonna--I'm gonna go. I--Thanks again."

He ignores the sound of Steve calling him back.

---

Eddie's playing a show. He's playing a show in a small club, something he hasn't been able to do for years, but he's doing it right now. It's electric, vibrating through his body, the crowd screaming along with every word.

So much of this is because of Steve, and Eddie can't think about it, because men like Steve aren't for guys like Eddie.

As he plays, his eyes scan the small crowd, find Steve easily. He's gazing at Eddie, lips slicked pink and parted, eyes shining. Eddie knows this look; the naked desire obvious. A heat he never lets himself feel for Steve blooms low in his abdomen, but--

He wails into his mic, forcing his thoughts away from that path. He has a show to play, one that's pumping his veins full of satisfied adrenaline. Nothing can ruin it.

When the show ends, Eddie is high, endorphins and adrenaline pounding through his bloodstream.

Eddie, the band, and the film crew make their way out the club's backdoor. There's a car idling close by, but they only get a few steps in before there's shouting; the ear-shattering click of dozens of camera shutters; overwhelming burst of flashes.

Eddie is disoriented, dizzy; the rapid shift from the best night he's had in years, to this, mobbed by paparazzi, people screaming his name, crowding their small group. He stumbles, black spots still obstructing his vision.

Arms catch around him, holding him steady. "You okay?" Steve asks.

Before he can answer, one of the paps yells, "Munson's wasted! Can't even walk!"

"C'mon, Ed, I've got you," Steve says.

"Just get into the booze, Munson, or someone had Molly too? Maybe a little coke? That used to be your thing, right? Snort a little blow and do a show?"

Eddie tenses, almost stops, but Steve keeps him going.

The crowd surges around them, more voices yelling, more flashbulbs popping, the guy saying, "He can't even stand without help! You got a real problem you know?"and he just--can't anymore. He whirls out of Steve's grasp, lunges for the guy.

"What's your fucking problem, man?" Eddie hisses. "What did I do to you, huh?"

"Real tough, Munson, huh?" The man sneers. He shoves Eddie hard, knocking him back a few steps.

Eddie's vision fuzzes out, brain buzzing. He snarls, knows he does, knows he's losing it, can't make it stop.

Strong arms wrap around his waist, pull him off his feet. He fights it until he's pressed into a wall, until cold hands cup his face.

"Baby, baby, you have to calm down," Steve murmurs. "You have to breathe, can you do that for me?"

"I want--he can't--I--"

Steve presses harder against him, bodies joined. "You're having a panic attack, yeah? Can you breathe with me, baby? Match me?"

Eddie nods, tries, wants to be good for Steve.

He calms, as much from the breathing exercise as being held by the most beautiful man he's ever seen. Pressing his face against Steve's neck he says, "why are you always around for my worst moments? I'm such a fucking mess."

"I don't think you're a mess," he says. "I think you've gotten hurt, you've gotten cornered. And your reactions are normal."

"Why do you even care?" Eddie asks.

Steve doesn't even pause. "Cause I like you, Eddie." His hold tightens for a second. "I like you a lot."

Eddie scoffs. "Yeah, you like Eddie Munson, the hot rockstar. Not the loser who cries in your arms"

Cold air hits Eddie as Steve steps away to meet Eddie's eyes. You want to know something? I didn't expect to like you at all. I admit, I bought into all the stories on the internet. But you were never anything like that, Ed. Not even once."

Steve takes a deep breath, turning away as his cheeks grow pink. "And you--you're always going out of your way for people. The day I knew I was gone for you? Three weeks into filming. There was this kid interning. You didn't know a thing about him, just some twenty-year-old, and you sat down and talked to him. Were genuinely interested in everything he said."

"Steve," Eddie's voice breaks. He has to cover his mouth, lips a wobbling mess.

"I want to give you normal, Eddie, as much as I can. If you'll let me."

The moisture tumbles free from his eyes, streaking down his cheeks. Eddie laughs. "God, Steve, you're--I like you, too."

Steve brushes the tears away. "So, you'd go on a date with me?"

"I think I would really like to go on a date with you, yeah."

Steve leans in, slow and gentle, placing a soft kiss at the corner of Eddie's mouth. It lights him up like a fresh struck match, nerve endings on fire. He thinks it's so much more than like already.

"Take me home, sweetheart," he says.

"Getting fresh with me, Munson," Steve smirks. "I won't have you using your rockstar wiles to seduce me."

Eddie's laugh echoes off the brick of the surrounding buildings. "Oh, sweetheart, my rockstar ways will destroy you."

"That a promise?"

---

Six months later, the first and only season of Welcome to Hell premieres. Instead, of chronicling a rockstar's debauched and wild lifestyle, it's a soft and charming love story. It shows Steve and Eddie growing closer, Steve working late into the night, to give Eddie the hint of normalcy he's so desperate for, to make him happy. It shows Eddie's eyes track Steve across a room, something like sadness crossing his face. It shows a concert that Steve arranged, the fight with the pap outside the venue, brief glimpses of Steve and Eddie in the aftermath, the gentle kiss.

In the last interview of the season, the producer asks Eddie if there will be a season two of Welcome to Hell.

Eddie smiles, glances off camera, which pans to find Steve in worn jeans and a Metallica hoodie, hair messy and wearing glasses. He gazes at Eddie, smiles this soft, aching thing.

"Nah, I don't think I need it anymore," Eddie answers. Throwing the camera a smile that matches Steve's.

[lenaboskow]

i'm bored at work so here's an updated list of everything tommy kinard has ever said or done that makes him a bad person who hasn't changed/learned from his mistakes (even if he's not being inherently/explicitly racist anymore) (before you come at me for saying people can change, here's my previous pinned post from 7x05 that explains how he hasn't. i go into it more here about the back half of the season, but all of these points still stand)

season two

chimney begins

the first thing tommy says to/about chimney is "did you forget to tip the delivery driver?". if it wasn't for the fact that they had asian food delivered and chimney is asian, this could've been passed off, but instead they chose to have the first act of racism/general harassment be done by tommy, not the racist captain.

then when they return from a call and see chimney dutifully cleaning, tommy says to chimney: "you're still here?". not inherently racist, but still rude

we get some montages of chimney being left out/harrasef, and tommy is always at the forefront. it culminates in the locker room scene where tommy says "i don't think about you enough to hate you", which again isn't inherently racist but it is rude.

at the end, the only way chimney manages to earn a semblance of respect from tommy is by saving his life, which is fucked up. you shouldn't have to save someone's life to he treated with dignity. but fine, maybe tommy learned his lesson, right?

wrong

hen begins

at the beginning, tommy, chimney, gerrard, and a few others are standing up in the loft while hen walks in. gerrard says a few racist/sexist words, and chim stands up for her. tommy just stands there, not even looking like he might want to say something. not saying something when it happens is almost as bad as doing, and obviously chimney, who'd been there a shorter time, was brave enough to stand up for her.

then tommy, during a meal, tommy says about hen: "new york bitchiness is a compliment?". there's no non sexist explanation for this comment

actually that entire meal, he ignores chimney's attempts move the conversation away, which says a lot

again, general enabling of the racism and sexism

during hen's "see me" speech, tommy looks pissed off to be there, and then proceeds to look annoyed when he apologizes to her at the end of the episode (if you can even call it that)

post begins episodes

now, we don't know a whole lot about how hen and chimney interacted with tommy after the events of their begins episodes, but we do know they weren't close enough to keep in touch after. chimney loses touch for two years immediately after he leaves, and by season seven hen forgot that tommy worked at harbor. i don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like behavior for people who worked closely for ten years.

season seven

7x04

this episode was from buck's pov, so it's actually the time where tommy is the most tolerable. that doesn't mean he doesn't have his moments, though:

calling buck "kid" and "evan" is a weird way to introduce a love interest. tommy calling him "kid" shows that tommy is aware of the age difference, which as i explain here is at least the same as buck and abby's (and here why that screenshot of tim saying he's 40 is irrelevant). also, tommy calls buck "evan" with no on screen explanation, and we know that lou was explicitly told tommy isn't "allowed" to call him buck. you know the only other characters who aren't allowed to call him buck? his parents. that's all I'll say.

we don't really see much of tommy again until the basketball scene, and then it's focused on buck and eddie anyways, so the next time we see him and buck really interact is the loft scene (which is telling about who buck was trying to get the attention of, but that's a different conversation). in this scene, tommy makes a condescending remark about how "we weren't trying to make you feel left out" and "eddie can have more than one friend", which... again, brings us back to the age difference because it sounds like (in context) that tommy is reprimanding a child. having them kiss right after that was definitely an interesting choice (in terms of their relationship)

7x05

oh the date. i have so many feelings about this. we know that tommy knows buck isn't out, because buck told maddie they purposely picked an out of the way spot, and despite the face tommy made at the comment, he didn't seem surprised when buck told him it was his "first date with a dude" (it seemed more like a "i already know this, you don't have to repeat it" face). because of this, the way tommy acted when eddie showed up and freaked buck out has no excuse. the closet comment? even if tommy didn't know buck wasn't out and decided he didn't want to date someone who wasn't out, he shouldn't have made that comment knowing it could out buck to his best friend, who he clearly wasn't ready to tell. lucky for buck, eddie's an idiot (affectionate) with a one track mind (buck) and didn't register the comment.

then we have tommy leaving buck at the curb. leaving the date isn't the problem, it's the fact that he didn't tell buck until he got in the uber, which obviously upset buck (though he was admittedly more upset over lying to eddie). the rest of the episode is spent on buck coming out to eddie, and we don't see tommy again until buck is apologizing for the date, which... why should buck have to apologize for not being ready to come out? buck did nothing wrong on the date. if you just figured out you were queer and hadn't had the chance to tell your best friend before they accidentally crashed your date, you'd react the same way, don't try to tell me otherwise. it was tommy who should've apologized, plain and simple.

7x06

the bachelor party. tommy's excuse for not dressing up made no sense to me... he was obviously going to have to change anyways, so why not put in a little effort for your date? i see people saying that only eddie put effort in, but henren was dressed too, just more subtly. tommy chose not to dress up, and made a half hearted excuse of "they had henleys in the 80s" (which you would know, wouldn't you, 70s baby?)

then we have tommy leaving, which fair he's on call, and we don't see him again until the hospital kiss. this is the only time we see tommy look remotely interested in buck the entire episode (every other time he has an rbf face, even when they're hugging).

7x09

we only see tommy during the medal ceremony, and he still manages to say something to piss me off. "enjoy it while it lasts" because he can't indulge his boyfriend for two seconds. it's becoming a pattern, i'm afraid

7x10

the date scene was a weird way to end their s7 relationship. buck was opening up about his trauma, tried to find middle ground by saying "so we both have daddy issues" (nothing in the context made it seem sexual, in fact i didn't realize until tommy made the joke, so it's possible buck didn't either) and then tommy says "i don't" despite admitting that he did only a few seconds before. buck says with a slightly resigned (barely there, but still there) tone, "but you think i do" and tommy responds with "god i hope so". any other context and it would've been fine, but buck had just been talking ahout how his father figure literally died and came back to life. there's a post somewhere (pretty sure it was an ask someone sent me actually, if i can find it i'll link)that talks about how buck has a habit of going along with his love interests to avoid causing waves, and how that's exactly what buck was doing in 7x10, and it makes perfect sense. if buck had a problem with it, he wouldn't immediately say. he'd sit on it for weeks before even considering bringing it up (like natalia and death, and how he avoided taylor in s5). even if he wasn't uncomfortable, it doesn't take away from the fact that the timing was weird and buck wasn't in a good headspace to respond properly.

in conclusion

tommy is repeatedly a bad person. just because he hasn't said anything racist or sexist since season two, it doesn't negate this. you'll notice that almost all of his scenes are here, if not all. the writers have chosen to have him repeatedly look bad and like someone who only cares about himself (with the way he constantly tries to defend his actions by blaming gerrard, and how he only cares about his feelings about being out), but the bt stans are too excited at the prospect of two white men kissing (or just two men and they don't care who, thus dumping eddie, it depends on the bt) that they choose to look past it and hate on ryan/eddie instead.

these last three months in the fandom have felt so different compared to the rest. the fandom i knew pre s7 would never act this way. is it because lou is a nepo baby? i know it's not because of his looks. but either way, i'm disappointed, and hope s8 treats us (fans who actually care about the characters and don't actively want less for them) better

(if i missed anything, let me know and i'll edit the post to add it)