#little robin buckley

[italiansteebie]

also on ao3 // little steve and little rob

Steve was getting ready for Robin to come over, she was little, and Nancy had a job interview so she wasn’t available, and she only called Steve instead of Eddie because Robin was asking for him. He hopes she won’t be disappointed that he’s not little, too. (And maybe if he was honest with himself, he was feeling little, but he spent the last two weeks at Eddie’s, and he didn’t want to bother him again. He could hold off being little while Robin was here, right?)

Not too much longer after Steve had finished making some PB and J’s, he heard the telltale sound of Nancy’s car door, and there was the ringing of the door bell. He heaved a sigh, and willed himself to stay big, he could do this.

He forced on a smile and trudged over to the door. “Robs!” He sang, as he swung open the front door, “Stevie,” she answered, bouncing on her heels, backpack jingling and clinking with the sound of beads and markers. He opened the door wider so she could enter, smiling at Nancy who was waving from her car, shouting a quick, “Thank you!” 

Steve shut the door and whirled around to face Robin who was staring at him quizzically, “Not little?” She questioned, raising an eyebrow. Steve shook his head, “Nope.” He gave her a toothy smile. “Sure? Call Ebby?” She asked again, lisp coming through as she shook her backpack towards him. “‘M fine Robs, I feel a little fuzzy but not little, I can handle it, okay?” He said, voice soft, almost pleading. Robin finally let it go, shoulders slumping a little before she sauntered over to the coffee table where she proceeded to dump her back upside down, letting the contents spill over the table. 

She patted the space next to where she had plopped down, “Come make bracelets, Stevie.” She giggled, before grabbing some beads and stringing them on to the thread. Steve shook his head fondly, pushing down the fuzziness and sitting by Robin. “Can I make you a bracelet, Robs?” He asked, not planning on taking no for an answer. She nodded her head wordlessly as she focused on her bracelet, tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth as she strung another bead. 

They sat for a few minutes, quietly focused on making their respective bracelets, before Robin stood, “Finished!” She sang, shaking the bracelet in Steve’s face, it was colorful and sparkly, and just at the sight of it Steve had to fight the urge to regress. “It’s beautiful, Bobs!” He gasped dramatically, watching as she giggled at his antics, “For you,” she said simply before laying the bracelet on his lap and scurrying away. “I’m hungry, Stevie!” She shouted as she walked away, making her way to the kitchen. 

Steve rocked for a minute, zoning out, before he shook his head and stood. He could be big for a day, he could be big for Robin. He let out a heavy breath before following her into the kitchen, thanking his lucky stars he had the thought to pre-make lunch, he doesn’t think he could handle that right now if he was being completely honest, which, yeah. It was worrisome, but he was… Somewhat confident that he could stay big for Robin’s sake. He shook his head once more, hoping that the motion would shake away the feeling of being little. 

Robin was looking at him again, the same look she had on her face when she first got here. There was no doubt in Steve’s mind that she knew Steve was having trouble staying big. “Call Ebby?” She asked again, tone gentle. “‘M fine, Bobs. Lets get some lunch, kay?” he suggested, shifting the topic off of him as he reached into the refrigerator to grab the plate of sandwiches. 

He was about to place the plate down, but he miscalculated, and it landed on the floor. Pieces of porcelain and sandwiches went everywhere. “Oh no!” He heard Robin shout over the water that seemed to be filling his ears. He stared at the broken plate and the ruined sandwiches, before silently bending down to clean up his mess. He could feel the tears running down his face, and he knew his losing battle with the fuzziness was coming to an end. “Stevie,” Robin said, he looked up to meet her, and he crumpled. “Robbie, need Ebby, pease,” he wailed, wincing as he scratched himself on the broken porcelain. Her eyes widened at the sudden littleness, and scampered over to the phone, wary of the broken plate. 

She dialed Eddie’s number as fast as she could, carefully punching in the numbers her fuzzy brain struggled to remember. “Munson’s, this is Eddie,” 

“Ebby!”

“Robin? Are you little? Where’s Steve? Nance told me she left you over at his.”

“Ebby, Stevie needs help, hurt.”

“Is he little too?”

“Mhm, mhm.”

“Shit- Shoot, I mean. Stay there Robbie, I’m on my way.”

She hung up the phone, “Kay, Stevie. Called Ebby.” She called over to him, hearing him whimper in response. “You ‘kay, Stevie?” She asked, worried about her little brother. “No, wan’ Ebby.” He replied, sniffling as the tears ran down his face. Robin frowned, she knew Stevie wasn’t okay when she first got here. But Eddie was going to come and make things better, right?

Eddie was there in a matter of minutes, and if Robin weren’t so little, she'd think about how many laws he’d have to break to get there in the time he did, but that doesn’t matter because he’s here now and he’s gonna help. Robin was able to open the door for him and let him in. He squeezed Robin into a hug, “Hey, Robs. You okay? Where’s Steve?” He asked, rubbing a hand up and down her back. She took a breath and started babbling out the story. 

“And then the plate fell and went boom! ‘N now Stevie’s in the kitchen and he’s real sad, Ebby.” She finished, shaking her head and pointing to the kitchen, where now that he thought about it, he could hear the soft whimpers Steve was letting out. Eddie sighed, “Okay, why don’t you go sit in the living room and turn on some cartoons. See if you can find Scooby doo, hm?” Robin nodded, smile slowly returning at the mention of cartoons, and wobbled off to the living room. Eddie made his way to the kitchen, relaxing slightly at the sound of the TV turning on.

“Ebby,” 

“Oh, Stevie baby.” 

The sight was pitiful, Steve was sitting on the kitchen floor, eyes big and round and shining with tears. There was shattered pieces of plate all around him. “I’m comin’ baby, hang on.” Eddie said as he stepped over the mess, watching as Steve held his arms up, waiting for Eddie to come get him. He made grabby hands for the metal head in front of him, melting once he was in Eddie’s warm embrace. “What happened, baby? Why didn’t you call?” Eddie’s chest rumbled as he spoke, and Steve buried his head further into his chest. “Din’ wan’ bother you. Wanna be big for Robbie.” He cried. 

“Oh my love, I’ve told you, taking care of you does not bother me. Okay? You could’ve hurt yourself really badly, Stevie. I’d rather be here with you and keep you safe than have you try and be big, especially when you’re feeling so small.” Eddie soothed, squeezing him tighter, letting that deep pressure set in. 

Once Steve was calm, and the mess was clean, and everyone was settled in on the couch, Steve had fully regressed, and it was evident in the way he was chewing on Eddie’s shirt while watching cartoons with half lidded eyes. “Hey, Bobs. Can you do me a huge favor?” Eddie asked quietly, smiling when she jumped up and nodded enthusiastically. “Can you go and get Stevie’s paci from his nightstand? He had a big day with lots of feelings and you’d be making him really happy if you did that.” Eddie convinced. He knew it wouldn't take too much, little Robin was always up to the task, especially if it meant helping Steve. 

He watched as she bounded up the stairs before shifting his focus back onto Steve. “How you feeling, baby?” He asked softly. “Little,” Steve murmured, slurring around his words. “That’s okay, my love. Bobs is getting your paci for you. Isn’t that so nice of her?” 

“Mhm.”

At that moment Robin came bouncing back down the stairs before presenting the soft purple item in front of Steve. “Tanks, Robbie,” Steve lisped as he slipped the item into his mouth. Robin beamed at him before flopping back down onto the couch, cuddling into Eddie. “You did so good, Robs. Thanks for helpin’ out.” Eddie praised, smiling as Robin giggled. “Next time you and Stevie are alone, make sure you tell him it’s okay to be little. No matter how long, ‘kay?”

Robin nodded against his chest as she curled up on the plush couch. “I like when Stevie is little with me,” She lisped. “I know you do.” The metal head said, rubbing her back. The calming sound of Steve suckling on his pacifier, and the quiet cartoons flickering on the TV, made for a perfect impromptu nap, that none of them could fight. Eddie smiled, watching the eyes of his littles slip closed, they deserved this. 

[lazylittledragon]

mombin pt 6 and look who showed up

(1)(2)(3)(4) (5)

[strawberryyyenthusiast]

“Wait, so you’re telling me that I have fans? I’m not even famous— I’m so confused, baby.” Steve looks up at Eddie with scrunched eyebrows. He is currently making a demo project to show his kindergarteners for their art activity on the first day of school and multitasking is not something that Steve can handle at the moment. “I mean, I’m your boyfriend who was in the back of one tik-tak—”

“It’s TikTok, babe—”

“Whatever. Can you make them stop?”

Eddie sits down across from Steve. “Stop what, baby?”

“Stop them from making edits of me!” Steve is exasperated in a silly way, slamming his paintbrush into the cup of murky water next to him. “Robin keeps sending them to me and it’s just the same clips of me setting up my pump. Apparently my ‘arms are sexy??’”

“Your arms are very sexy, my love.” Eddie pauses. He moves to sit next to Steve and turns Steve’s chair to face him, cradling his face in his palms. “I’m not sure I can stop a bunch of people from making those videos, but maybe we can make a video together where you explain what diabetes is?”

Steve seems to question it at first, but then he starts to smile and nods his head. “That sounds like a really good idea, babe! You’re so smart. I love you.” Steve leans forward and kisses him.

“I love you, too.”

They sit in comfortable silence before Eddie’s phone beeps with the dexcom notification saying that Steve is either too low or too high. He quickly checks it while Steve ignores it and his eyes almost bulge out of his head.

Eddie stands quickly and grabs an apple juice from the fridge. “Drink this, Steve. You’re at 72.” He uncaps the drink and slides it over to Steve.

“You’re the best, you know that, right?” Steve says after a sip of his juice.

Eddie just smiles, the fondness seeping from the crinkles by his eyes and the dimples in his cheeks.

[discocandles]

one thing about steve harrington is that he sucks at doing nothing. like he has to be doing something with himself lest the guy waste away. this has led to him being very good at fucking around with things especially when its something relatively quiet. the loudest steve will let himself keep his hands busy while stuck idle is tossing whatever's in his hand to himself and catching it, which usually bodes well for sports practice after coach learned that just because he was moving didnt mean he wasnt paying attention(usually the opposite).

he learned how to flip a pencil around his thumb in middle school and seeing someone in one of the meetings he sat in on doing it. he'll twirl anything he can around in his hand, especially while he was working in the mall. the scoopers were perfect for it. and any way youve seen a drummer/percussionist fiddle with a drumstick, steve knew he had to replicate it.

but even with all this movement and the fact the guy was barely ever not moving, it seemed like no one noticed it ever. a fact that nearly drove eddie insane when they were in high school together. because he did have the reputation of being restless, and in a constant state of movement. and he probably fucked around with random shit less, so how did steve "the hair" harrington not end up with the same reputation? the answer was just that he was way more quiet("and sneaky" -eddie) about it. and if the teacher hated when their students fiddled and futzed he'd be sure to try and keep the movement below his desk.

but it not that he only has to keep his hands busy. no no no, if bored or stuck waiting, and that won't suffice, steve harrington will pick up anything with words just to read it. anything. outdated newspapers, ingredients lists, magazines of any topic. he just mindlessly grabs for whatever and starts fucking reading. Robin could swear under oath to a court that her best friend has read the back of every vhs in family video. hell, she's seen him reading drugstore novels, like the fucking grandma smut and books with cover art of nicely dressed ladies running from a castle. and its her jock best friend reading it, instead of some repressed suburban woman who hates her husband. yes, this information is the bane of robin buckley's exsistance because its not like anyone would believe her.

idk just give me steve being restless but doing it quietly enough that no one really picks up on it.

[2jihiir0]

they’re both pining hard 〰️❤️💌

I missed drawing them all together 🥹

[phoebebuggers]

she's gonna clock his tea so fucking hard

[morganbritton132]

I made this post forever ago about Robin finding out that she has a twin and then roping Nancy into helping her find her twin only to learn that it’s Steve Harrington.

And that’s it.

“You’re not going to tell him?”

Robin gives Nancy a look like she’s growing eye stocks out of the top of her head because, “Why would I do that? I can’t do that! He doesn’t even know he’s adopted much less twins with a - a freak! He’d - he’d-“

He’d be disappointed. Disgusted…embarrassed. She doesn’t think she can handle that from her twin. Not after the letter, not after looking so hard.

“You’re not a freak,” Nancy lies, rolling her eyes at all Robin’s flailing dramatics. “I think he’d like to know.”

“Well, he’s not going to,” She snaps. “Only three people have the right to tell him. His dad, his mom, or me. And none of us are going to. And you aren’t either.”

And she doesn’t.

Her and Nancy drift back to their normal lives. Steve graduates. Robin gets a summer job. Nancy is going to hell because Robin knows she has something do to with her walking into work and finding Steve Harrington talking to her supervisor.

And look, Robin doesn’t intend on being mean. Okay?

She honestly thinks she can use this arrangement to quell some of the guilt she feels for not living the life her birth mother wrote about in her letter, but Steve is so… Steve. And it pisses her off that she has this big important life changing secret that she can’t do anything with because he’s Steve Harrington.

So, no. She doesn’t intend on being snarky and rude, but it turns out Steve has a big life changing secret of his own and they are probably going to die together strapped to a chair a million miles under the mall so-

“I’m your sister.”

There’s a beat where Robin swears she can hear the congealed blood in his eyelashes pull apart, “Huh?”

“You’re adopted, I’m your sister, we’re twins,” She rushes out, “And we’re probably going to die, and I never told you because you’re Steve Harrington and I’m just a-“

“Hey, Robin,” Steve cuts in, leaning his head back against hers. “I always wanted a little sister.”

Something like relief floods her and she smiles in such a scary place, “I think I was born first actually.”

“No way!”

[toktopus-art]

i drew something similar last year but this time Eddie's there :)

[m00npiez]

Modern Steddie AU

“Oh she’s cute.” Robin points over to a table near the bar.

Steve follows her finger and the blonde in the pink pleated skirt is, in fact, very cute. “You should go talk to her.”

Robin gives him a look, “Literally everything about her screams ‘straight’ so no thanks,” she takes a sip of her cocktail, “Don’t feel like getting humiliated today.”

Steve rolls his eyes, “I doubt she’d humiliate you but suit yourself.” He stands and fluffs up his hair a little, “If you won’t, I sure as hell will.”

Before his friend can protest, Steve’s strutting over to the girl’s table. She looks up at him when he stops and leans slightly against the chair opposite from hers.

“Hi!” she greets before he can say anything. Her whole face lights up as she smiles. She’s definitely cute, but not exactly what Steve had in mind for the night.

“Hey,” Steve flashes his own smile, “I was just telling my friend how cute you are and wanted to know if I could maybe buy you a drink?”

Her face goes pink, but her smile falters slightly and a small frown forms. “Oh that’s so nice of you, but I’m actually a lesbian,” she seems genuinely upset at having to break this news to him. “I’m really sorry, you seem lovely.”

Steve’s eyes widen slightly, but his smile remains, “Oh, god, sorry I should have asked,” he laughs, “That’s totally my bad.”

She shakes her head and leans forward in her seat, “Not at all, sweetheart!” there’s a slight southern accent slipping through and her smile is back. “You couldn’t have known, I know I don’t exactly look the part.”

“Well, since I’m already here,” Steve smirks, glancing over his shoulder to where he can see Robin watching the scene unfold. Her eyes snap away once she realizes he’s looking at her. “My friend over there is single and also extremely gay.”

Chrissy looks over and her smile turns coy, “Now she’s cute,” her eyes snap back to Steve. “She’s the one who told you to come over?”

“The opposite, actually. She thought you were straight so, I came over instead.” Steve explains.

Chrissy nods, glances over her shoulder and then stands. “Well, I’ll just have to go over there then.”

Steve smiles, “I’m Steve, by the way.”

“Chrissy.” The blonde extends her hand and Steve shakes it. “Thank you for letting me know the girl I’ve been eyeing is queer.”

Steve gives her a two-finger salute and goes to walk away, but she grabs his wrist to stop him.

“Do you like men, by any chance?” Chrissy asks, her smile alluding to something.

“Is it that obvious?” Steve laughs.

She gives him a once-over, “The tight shirt sort of gave you away.”

“Fair enough. Why do you ask?”

Chrissy points over to a curly-haired guy covered in tattoos, who’s ordering at the bar, “You should go talk to my friend, Eddie, he’s been blabbing about the hot jock in the polo since you walked in.”

Steve swallows, he’d seen the guy when they walked in, but hadn’t allowed himself to look. He was the kind of hot and scary Steve usually avoided due to their usual disdain for preppy guys like Steve. But surely if he kept Chrissy around, he couldn’t be all bad.

“I don’t exactly seem like his type.” Steve points out, giving Chrissy a nervous glance.

She laughs, “Oh please, pretty boy with big eyes and a great body? You’re everyone’s type.”

“Not yours.”

“Trust me honey, if you were a masc lesbian I’d be all over you right about now.” Chrissy winks and Steve can feel his face heating up.

“I don’t want to bother him…”

Chrissy rolls her eyes, “Just use the same line you used on me, he doesn’t bite.” she pauses, “Unless you ask really nicely.”

Yeah she isn’t exactly easing his nerves with these little jabs.

“He looks like he carries a knife.” Steve’s just stalling at this point.

“I know he seems kinda mean and scary, but he’s really just a big ol’ softie, trust me,” she pats his shoulder, picks up her drink and starts walking towards Robin, “Now I’ve got a pretty lady to talk to, so get! Go make a move on the scary metalhead, Steve!”

Steve watches her go, his amusement growing at the sight of Robin’s panic when Chrissy plops down at their table.

Mustering up the courage to walk to the bar, he turns but immediately bumps into someone. The person manages to steady their drink and somehow prevent Steve from falling on his ass, grabbing him around the waist.

“Shit sorry!” Steve finds his footing, only to nearly lose it again when he looks up to find his face a few inches away from the aforementioned friend of Chrissy’s.

Eddie smiles, squeezes Steve’s waist once before releasing him, “Don’t sweat it, sweetheart.”

Steve’s face must have been bloodshot at that point. Two people had called him sweetheart within the span of a few minutes. At this rate his brain was going to malfunction entirely.

Eddie studies him for a second, his eyes twinkling, before looking over to the now unoccupied table. He frowns, looking around the bar.

“She’s over there.” Steve points to where the two girls are deep in conversation.

Eddie’s eyes look from Steve to Chrissy and back again. “Were you heading back there?”

“Uh, no, actually,” Steve clears his throat. Why was it so hot all of the sudden? “I was told to go talk to the scary metalhead?”

Eddie’s grin returned, showing off his dimples. Steve was allowing himself to stare at the man now, and god was he stunning.

“Scary? That’s rich coming from the girl who literally carries a knife with her.” Eddie sits down at the table and looks at Steve expectantly, “I don’t bite,” he gestures for him to sit, so he does.

“Apparently you do if I ask nicely,” Steve says, then feels his face heat up again when he hears what he said.

Eddie laughs, loud and beautiful, “God, she really knows how to play wingman, huh?”

[sarcasticassian]

Eddie finds out Steve loves "the teddy bears" from Star Wars so he buys him an Ewok stuffed toy he sees in a random shop one day and Steve loves it, he was so excited when he realised what it was and he calls it Teddy, named after Eddie but also because its a teddy bear and Eddie is feeling pleased with himself until they're round at Steve's and Dustin finds it

Eddie thinks Dustin is about to make fun of Steve but instead he kicks up a fuss that he introduced Steve to the Ewoks and he loves them just as much as Steve does and Eddie can see Steve reluctantly gearing up to offer Teddy to Dustin so Eddie swoops in and says he'll get one for Dustin too

Robin happens to be around when Eddie manages to hand one over to Dustin and she sees Dustin squeeze his to his chest and Steve had brought Teddy down to the living room because they were all going to watch Star Wars together and she half joking demands to know where hers is so Eddie sighs and agrees to head back to the store tomorrow

He hands over Robin's stuffed Ewok and before Erica can even open her mouth to complain about how the rest of the Scoops Troop has their own Ewoks so where's hers Eddie presents one to her and announces that nobody else will be getting one because his wallet is empty so they are a Scoops Troop exclusive

whenever they hang out as a group at Steve's or Eddie's their Ewoks sit in a little line all together and they had to get little accessories so they always knew who's was who's after Robin accidentally took Teddy one day and Steve nearly had a meltdown

[taeiris]

the queer yearning squad

tender, emotional music plays…. and then-

prints, stickers and posters already up in my inprnt!!! shop here

close ups⬇️

[italiansteebie]

hi friends! i want to write someone little stevie for my ao3 series, y'all know the one (and if u don't go visit my ao3 @ lilac_cc !)

send prompts ??

[lazylittledragon]

mombin™ has me in a CHOKEHOLD right now

[every-aj-needs-an-angel]

Okay this one's been stuck in my head all day but I have absolutely time to write it so please share this vision with me

Try as they might, Steve and Robin couldn't get tickets to Chrissy Cunningham's arena tour, but they could get tickets to a festival she was playing.

The last thing Steve ever wanted to do was go and stand in a muddy field for sixteen hours while they waited for the headline act. But he was pretty sure Robin was in love with her favourite musician, and he wasn't about to deny his best friend a chance at love.

So he helped her make personalised t-shirts because honestly all the other bands in the line-up kinda sounded like they sucked.

His read, "Only Here for Chrissy" on the front and "I'm Steve" on the back and Robin's read "Chrissy, Will You Be My Girlfriend?" on the front and "If Lost, Please Return To Steve" on the back.

And it turned out, as they stood against the barrier in a not so muddy field, on a lovely, warm, but overcast, May day, that even bands that sucked could be fun. Even if it was only because they spent their day with earplugs in, so their eardrums wouldn't combust, bitching about each artist's lack of ability to put notes or an outfit together.

During the lunchtime intermission, the pair made friends with the lesbian couple next to them, Kayla and Jess, who were also eagerly awaiting Chrissy's set and similarly liked to mock those who committed crimes against sound and fashion. Steve was glad to have met them, they were really nice, and he felt better about leaving her to use the bathroom or to fetch food, knowing Robin was in safe hands.

He also felt better about letting her wander off, not that it stopped him from stressing out when she and Kayla had been missing for over fifteen minutes. He spread himself out to keep their places against the railing with his back to the stage, watching the crowd intently. Jess wasn't quite as chatty once they were alone, but she seemed content enough, bobbing along to the band that'd appeared on the stage.

Steve didn't turn back around to face the stage until he spotted the girls heading back towards them, he gave them a wave and turned around to look at the guys who hadn't been attempting to destroy anyone's hearing and was met with the face of the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen. Pretty face, long curly hair tied up in a bun, muscle tee showing off his many tattoos, piercings and chains and glittery Docs; Steve felt himself owl blink and blush.

God's gift to mankind was kneeling centre stage, guitar in hand making the most beautiful sounds Steve had ever heard as his fingers flew over the strings, and it was only when the rest of the band kicked back in that the man looked up, winked directly at Steve, and then jumped back to his feet, spending the rest of the song bouncing around the stage.

Steve only realised his mouth was agape when Robin finally arrived next to him and elbowed him hard in the ribs, giving him the same look she did whenever he was embarrassing in the club. He watched the rest of the Corroded Coffin, according to the backdrop, set in awe. Screaming and clapping along when they wished everyone a great day, throwing picks and drumsticks into the crowd and taking a bow; patting each other on the back as they wandered offstage.

As soon as it was quiet again, Robin wanted to know what the hell was wrong with his face and honestly, he couldn't answer her. He didn't even believe in love, not for himself at least, and he certainly didn't believe in love at first sight. It didn't stop him from spending the next couple of hours watching the faces at the sides of the stage, hoping to catch a glimpse of his new favourite guitarist, though.

As soon as Chrissy hit the stage, Steve got lost, between filming the set and watching Robin trying not to hyperventilate when Chrissy spotted her t-shirt, pointed to her, and giving her a coy little wink, blew her a kiss.

"An old school friend is here with me tonight, and I'd like him to help me out with this next track. Especially for the beauty in the front row, this is Girlfriend!"

The crowd went wild as the beat kicked in, but Steve was still watching Robin because it looked like she'd stopped breathing altogether. That was until she gasped loudly and started smacking Steve in the way she always did whenever she got overly excited; pointing wildly at the stage, and it was only when he looked over he saw Corroded Coffins guitarist bouncing up and down next to Chrissy.

Instead of the black muscle vest and skinny jeans he'd been sporting earlier in the day, he had changed into pale blue board shorts and a baggy white t-shirt that read "Hey Steve!" written in black sharpie with a giant winking smiley face underneath that could only really be seen when he swung his guitar around his back to copy Chrissy's dance moves.

The song ended, and the friends hugged, Chrissy waving him off the stage and calling out, "Eddie Munson everybody!" letting the crowd go wild for her friend before launching into the rest of her set.

By the time Chrissy had actually left the stage, Robin looked exhausted, having screamed and sung and danced herself out. They hung around a bit, said goodbye to Kayla and Jess, wishing them a safe journey home, and they were just taking one last look at the now empty stage when he heard someone yell his name...

[munsonfamilyband]

I have no time right now to elaborate too deeply on this thought but I just had a brain worm and I need to write it down before I forget. Who knows, I may elaborate and make this a whole thing with dialogue tonight, we’ll see. TW for depictions of Steve’s injuries post s4, vomiting, gore(?)

Steve refuses medical treatment at the end of s4, they drop off Eddie and he hides in plain site until it’s time to take Dustin and Robin home.

They stop at Dustin’s first, both he and Robin getting out to get Claudia Hugs (I just know she gives INCREDIBLE hugs). He drops Robin off at home with her promising to keep her walkie on their frequency. And then he goes home alone.

He tries to shower, it hurts his feet and back too much. He tries to change the “bandage” but just gently tugging almost makes him black out from pain. So he collapses on his bed and passes out.

Days go by, he’s trying to act normal, like he isn’t always running a fever and his sides are itching and starting to smell under the cologne he practically bathes in. It works for a few days at least, but Claudia gets suspicious by day 3 post earthquake when Steve shows up for lunch with flushed cheeks. 2 days later he doesn’t show up.

She drives over alone, Dustin is at the Wheeler’s, and she lets herself in with the key Steve gave her and Dustin after last summer. She calls his name, doesn’t get an answer but something smells off. She’s a nurse, she recognizes the scent of disease.

She hurries upstairs and finds Steve in bed, only wearing boxers and the filthy scrap of cloth wrapped around his stomach. He’s sweating and has vomited on himself at least twice, recently too. She immediately knows that he is what smells, she can see the pus and blood on his abdomen. He’s delirious, mumbling to himself and part of her wants to shut down and cry, to go cradle this boy, her son in all ways but blood, but she can’t. She steels herself and walks to his bedside to feel his forehead, almost recoiling from how hot his skin is.

As she keeps checking him over, she grabs the phone on his bedside table and calls 911, cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder to keep working. When the operator answers she explains who she is, where she is and what’s happening.

It’s a blur after that until she’s sitting in the hospital waiting room and she realizes that 1. her shirt and her hands reek of Steve’s blood, and 2. she’s completely alone in the waiting room. Swallowing her tears, Claudia goes over to the payphone and fishes out some coins to call the Buckely’s. Robin’s father picks up but quickly hands it over when Claudia mentions Steve.

She will never forget the choked off sound of pure distress Robin makes when she hears what’s happening.

Hours pass, Robin had arrived shortly after the call and her and Claudia have been curled up together in the waiting room every since. They haven’t called anyone else, haven’t even thought about it, too worried about Steve. Later, Claudia will remember the other kids who adore Steve, Hopper who treats Steve like a son. But in that moment, still not knowing if her boy is okay, she can’t.

Finally, a doctor steps out, clearly fresh from surgery, to speak with them. She explains that Steve had a very severe infection in multiple wounds, especially the ones on his side. They had to debride the wounds, which is what took so long. He was lucky that she found him when he did and that he hadn’t picked up any truly terrible bacteria. He hadn’t gone septic, thankfully, but he was going to be on seriously strong antibiotics for a while. She explained that he was in the ICU and they aren’t supposed to let anyone but family see him.

Claudia wanted to scream and sob and go find the Harringtons and get them to come see their son, but before she even says anything Robin explains that Steve’s parents had all but disowned him and her and Claudia were both in his emergency contacts, not his parents.

The doctor lets them see him. They have to wear face masks and gloves, but they can see him. Claudia had never seen him look so small. And there, in that ICU room, her and Robin both broke and started crying. That was how Jim Hopper found them when he arrived shortly after, the nurses having called him. He’s wearing a mask and gloves but his eyes are wild and scared. He nearly falls over when he sees Steve.

Steve is unconscious for almost two weeks, though the first four or five days or so were due to sedatives - the doctor wanted him to rest and let the antibiotics work. After he was taken off the sedatives he was moved out of the ICU, to a regular room where other people could visit. The kids came and decorated his room, even brought something Eddie had “commissioned” from Will (it looked like Steve ripping one of those creepy things from that alien movie apart, which she really didn’t get). Joyce brought him the quilt from her couch that he always enjoyed at movie nights and Robin came in every other day with his shampoo and conditioner to wash his hair for him (on days she didn’t come to wash his hair, she would come do something else with him. One day Claudia walked in on her painting his nails and her heart felt like it was melting).

The day he finally woke up was the first day Robin hadn’t been able to come. Her parents had forced her to take a break and get some sleep, so Claudia was there on her own just reading a book. She was so engrossed in it that she dropped it in shock when she heard the person on the bed in front of her make noise. Her eyes instantly went to Steve and she could see him scrunching up his face and groaning.

Claudia was by his side in a heartbeat, gently grabbing his hand and brushing a hand over his cheek, speaking softly to let him know she was there. His eyes slowly squinted open, clearly struggling to get the energy to move at all. Their eyes locked and his mouth twitched, like he wanted to smile at her. Then, as she was watching him with tears in her eyes, he opened his mouth and spoke for the first time in weeks.

“Mom….”

[spirit-meets-the-b0ne]

God I love Dustin Henderson so much man, I know Will is in love with Mike because only a deeply down bad homosexual would be able to say Mike “is the heart” when Dustin is alive and in the party. Dustin is the one constantly mediating in S1 between Mike and Lucas, he’s even insecure of his own newness to the group when he conciliates. Because even though the party are all HIS best friends he is able to rationalize why they might have a hierarchy based on seniority. Mike makes it clear that isn’t the case. It’s partly why Dustin is quicker to accept Eleven and partly why he’s so open to including Max “as the new kid” because that was him once. Dustin’s iconic “she’s our friend and she’s crazy!” Dustin and Lucas having parallel deviations from their code of honor in ST2 and Dustin being (so dramatic ik) literally ready to fall on the sword for his misdoings. Dustin basically involving Steve out of necessity but then cultivating that relationship to make Steve a good friend, Steve who had the shittiest friends in high school and attention for all the wrong reasons. Steve never had a true friend in his life and then some 12 year old basically gave him a crash course. In ST3 when Dustin earnestly challenges Steve’s socially conditioned need to be seen as cool only for Steve to become bffs with a band geek. A band geek who is also a lesbian that Steve would rather be seen as a rizzless hack of a womanizer than out her to anybody, even Dustin. All of Dustin and Steve. Dustin going from calling Steve a douchebag, to Eddie saying the kid worships him and thinks he’s a total badass. Dustin who in ST4 is once again demolishing social norms of high school vs middle school because FUCK, his friend is in middle school! His friend Erica, his comrade Lady Applejack, is a black girl in junior high and he dgaf what anyone thinks about it. ALL OF DUSTIN AND ERICA. Dustin teaching Erica to embrace her inner nerd, to Erica staunchly declaring “I’ve bled with him!” When asked if she knows Dustin. Dustin who is the FIRST person that Max goes to when shit hits the fan in ST4 because god damn dude Dustin is the heart. Dustin’s unwavering support of Eddie even when the evidence is stacked against him, Dustin always believed in Eddie Munson. Dustin is the only one who truly offers Wayne condolences. He is the friend of all friends. Dustin is constantly carrying the party through crisis and discomfort, he’s dedicated, he’s unabashedly caring, and he’s the character that is able to socially move across the board in every direction. I fuckin love this little curly haired drama king because these geeks would be LOST without him!!! If Dustin isn’t the heart; he’s the Central Nervous System, he’s the nucleus, he’s fucking vital to not only the party but every other tertiary character of importance. He’s constantly inspiring and providing direction. He’s a goofball, he’s wise beyond his years, he’s a lover and he’s a fighter, he always has a plan and he always has a bad idea, he’s the voice of reason and the resounding falsetto alarm of things gone wrong, he’s never done anything wrong ever in his life, one time something ate his cat but besides that. He’s my heart of the show damn it!