#medusapelagia fanfic

[medusapelagia]

Love at first sight

written for @corrodedcoffinfest (Prompt 6: HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG) and @steddie-week (Day 6, Prompt: Dizzy / drunken confessions) Rating: Teen and Up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: none Words: 997

The music pumps in his ears and Steve might have drunk a little bit too much. Not enough to run to the bathroom but enough that he feels dizzy and happy for no reason, so he slams his glass on the bar counter and moves toward the dance floor.

The people are dancing around him like a human tide and all he wants is to go adrift. Someone grinds against his ass but he doesn’t even turn. Steve needs this, a little bit of human contact, the feeling that he’s wanted even if his parents just sent him their last check with a letter saying that from now on he’s on his own.

He should have told Robin, but she was on a date with the pretty barista she had a crush on since forever so he just crumpled the letter and threw it in his drawer, took his keys, and got to his favorite gay bar and started to drink the last money his parents gave him. No better way to spend it after all.

Someone bumps into him too hard and Steve loses his equilibrium. Trying not to fall on the ground he grabs the first thing he can, which apparently it’s a leather jacket.

Fuck.

Leather jackets mean bikers or metal heads, usually closeted ones that will get really angry.

“I’m sorry…” he slurs, “I tripped and…” Steve starts to apologize, but the man that’s looking at him is the most beautiful man he has ever seen. Long curly dark hair, deep dark eyes, and a mischievous smile painted on his face.

“You ok, sweetheart?” He tells him, holding Steve up, “Too many drinks, huh? It happens to the best of us.”

The man chuckles, making sure Steve is stable enough on his feet before turning toward his group of friends, but Steve’s hand is still holding tight on his leather jacket.

“If you could let go of me we could go back to our friends, sweetness,” the man smiles, prying Steve’s hand open.

“No.”

“No? Don’t you want to have fun with your friends?”

“No friends.” Steve tries to explain, and the man frowns.

“You here alone?”

Steve nods, but the sudden movement makes him feel dizzy again. Luckily the other man grabs his arm and stabilizes him once more.

“Sorry… my head is spinning.” Steve apologized, hiding his face behind his free hand.

“Why don’t we sit for a moment, huh?”

“Eddie, come on! This round is on you!” Someone yells next to them, and Steve notices at that moment that he’s not in the middle of the dance floor anymore, but close to the bar counter.

The man grabs his wallet from his back pocket, one hand still holding Steve’s arm tight, “Need to get back to the table. Take what you need.”

“But how can I bring all the beers back?”

“I’ll ask Jeff to help you, don’t whine!”

Steve looks at the dark-haired man and asks, “Eddie?”

“Yeah. That’s me. What’s your name, sugar?”

“Steve.”

“Nice to meet you, Steve. Why don’t you sit with me and my friends for a moment?” he proposes, dragging him toward the bar's private area, “We’re celebrating. We just signed our first contract with a musica label.” Eddie winks, “What about you? Something to celebrate?”

“My parents officially disowned me. And I’m drinking the last money they sent me.”

Eddie hums with a sad smile, “I know a thing or two about shitty parents. But maybe getting drunk in a bar alone isn’t the best choice to deal with things like that. People could take advantage of your state.”

“Are you going to take advantage of me?” Steve asks innocently, “I would let you if you wanted to.”

Eddie snorts, “Thank you for the offer but I’m the kind of guy who prefers full consent to drunk consent. Hey guys! This is Steve! He’s having a bit of a hard day so he’s staying with us until he feels a little bit better and we can send him home safely.”

“Hi Steve, I’m Jeff. Would you like a glass of water?”

“That’s a great idea. Why don’t you get one for him while helping Gareth with the beers? I gave him my wallet.”

“You gave your wallet to Gar?” another man asks, ginning, “He’s going to spend all your money. I bet twenty dollars he will come back with the most expensive bottle he can find.”

“Not my problem, Freak. You know I don’t really care about money.” Eddie shrugs, sitting next to the tall boy who keeps grinning.

“So you found another stray, Eddie?” Freak asks, scooting over to let them sit.

“I can't tell one from another. Did I find you or you find me?” Eddie replies, turning toward Steve who stares at him in confusion, “It’s a line I heard in a love song, always wanted to use it, never got the occasion. Till now.”

“Maybe wait for him to be sober before hitting on him, huh? Don’t worry. Eddie is dramatic like that, but he’s a good guy.”

“I think I love him,” Steve whispers to Freak way too loudly, and the big man chuckles.

“Look at you, Eddie! You just signed your first contract and already found yourself a groupie!”

Eddie reaches out for the glass of water that Jeff is holding and gives it to Steve, “Drink it all like a good boy.”

“I do.” Steve insists, taking Eddie’s hand and putting it over his chest, “Can’t you feel my love for you? It’s like you said. We were meant to find each other.” 

If Steve wasn’t drunk he would feel ashamed of himself, but what he said it’s true. He never believed in love at first sight, but now he would swear by it.

“Ok. Ok. Now drink your water and if tomorrow morning you’ll feel still in love with me,” Eddie says, fishing a chewed pen and writing a number on a napkin “call me.” 

Now with a second part

[spaceofentropy]

Magic AU!!!! ✨

My friend! Hiiiiii! Thanks for the ask! ❤️

This is the thing I'm working on the most at the moment. So far it's 37k words of a world in which Billy has magic powers and some things happened like in canon and a lot of others didn't. Like the fact Neil sold Billy's car before they left California and the piece of junk he buys for Billy in Hawkins is haunted. Or the fact that there are a couple of people hell bent on making friends with the new guy in town. Like one Steve Harrington... 😱

Long snippet? Yeah!

"Sorry to bother you, could you please give a thing to your brother for me?"

"I don't have-"

"Your step brother," Steve amends. "It's for Billy."

God, they're so alike, these two. You so much as forget the step part and they immediately bite your head off, worse than if you accused them of a heinous crime.

Max crosses her arms on her chest and stands her ground, looks him up and down like he's a gnat. Like she hasn't decided yet how to get rid of him, but has a few painful options in mind.

Steve places his folded piece of paper tied with red thread on the top of the nearest box and steps back.

"Just give this to Billy, please. It's nothing bad, I swear. Thanks."

He starts walking away and hears Maxine's steps move from the lawn to the sidewalk, she calls:

"Why should I?"

Sounds like she's insulted by Steve. By his assumption that she will do what he asked her to.

He turns around and walks backwards towards his car, puts a bit of King Steve in his smile as he says:

"Because you're curious to see what it says. What Billy will do."

*eyes fic anxiously* This is gonna be massively long... And with some good ol' cosmic horror here and there because we're worth it!

[hbyrde36]

Fanfic year-in-review-type-thingy🎉

Hello lovely people 🥂 Here's to another great year of fic, fandom, and friendship in the books! And hopefully many more to come!!

In 2024 I completed 3 fics I began in 2023:

The Crawl (WC: 23,009)

Life is a Game (and True Love is a Trophy) (WC: 73,419)

No Vacancy (WC: 58,586)

I also completed and posted:

Burnin' For You (WC: 7,130)

Honey, You're Familiar (WC: 2,998)

Hellfire Ink (WC: 10,359)

I Don't Think We're In Hawkins Anymore, Big Boy (WC: 17,561)

Times Like These (The Anniversary Edition) (WC: 76,654)

It's Only Forever (WC: 43,574)

As well as various other ficlets, drabbles, and microfics

In 2025 I'd like to complete:

Midsummer Nights (WC: 6,858 and counting)

Fuggi Regal Fantasima (WC: 8,784 and counting)

Caught In The Undertow (WC: 32,564 and counting)

Forever After (un-posted sequel to It's Only Forever)

In 2025 I'd like to start:

haha, nice try 🤫

But really, my WIP ideas folder overfloweth still, even this many years in. I know the Steddie hyper fixation has come and gone for some but i'm still here baby, and I couldn't be happier.

No pressure tags 😘 @penny00dreadful @pearynice @firefly-party @sidekick-hero @devondespresso

@dreamwatch @thefreakandthehair @vegasol @griefabyss69 @momotonescreaming

@tinytalkingtina @little-annie @steddiecameraroll @thisusernameisunavailable01 @medusapelagia

@eriquin @rocknrollsalad @spectrum-spectre @mugloversonly @mentallyundone

I didn't want to tag TOO many people so please, if you'd like to play along with any sort of New Year post, consider yourself tagged!

Happy New Year, besties, mutuals, and all! 💜

[suotar]

Questions for fanfic Authors

Tagged by @dragonflylady77 and @shieldofiron 💜 (technically Guin tagged me on my sb but I'll post this here)

How many works do you have on AO3? 51

What's your total AO3 word count? 432,744 (wow)

What fandoms do you write for? Stranger things for now. I've also written for Preacher (the AMC show) and Witcher

Do you respond to comments? Yes, always if the comment is nice. Negative comments and stuff that points out mistakes gets deleted.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of. I once found a fic that was very close to mine though, but different enough not to be based on mine.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? I'm currently writing two fics with Aggressiveviking. The Family Values Program has already a few chapters out :)

What's your all-time favourite ship? Without a doubt it's Harringrove, even though Cassidy & Eccarius is close number two

What are your writing strengths? I think I'm pretty decent in writing long and detailed descriptions for scenes when I get to it. And smut.

What are your writing weaknesses? Coming up with everything that happens in between major plot points A and C.

First fandom you wrote for? It was RPF but not going to say who.

No pressure tags @disdaidal @medusapelagia @spaceofentropy @black-isthecolour @weird-an and everyone who sees this and wants to do this 💜

[thatgirlwithasquid]

Ask game for writers:

Very low-pressure rules: Tell me which fic of yours was the MOST FUN TO WRITE (if you want to). Like, which one did you have a BLAST writing? Feel free to share, to rec, to tell us WHY they were fun, etc etc

Tagged by @harringroveera (which I'm only just getting to, whoopsie! thanks for tagging me xx)

Probably had the most fun working on my Detroit: Become Human fanfic Thirium Pooling in His Chest (Bleeding Different, Feeling the Same)-- which I am just now seeing has gotten over 500 kudos????! What the hell, when did that happen? Dead chuffed with that because I think that's my best written fic. I'm so proud of it, and I had so much fun writing from Connor's POV and playing with the android side of that. Also just had a great time with it because, as I'm sure most fans of the game will agree, there should have been an opportunity to deviate there; it would've been so cool. Plus I just adore the dynamic between Connor and Hank so, given that the fic centred around them, it was just such a blast :D

And while it's not finished, and I've not picked it back up in a little while, I adore Dear Moor Monster of Mine. It is really no secret that I am still Wolfblood obsessed--fell in love with the show at age 8, and am honestly and unapologetically still besotted with it now that I'm 20. So getting to play around and bring two of my favourite things together to make my Harringrove Wolfblood AU is just so amazing. When I have less on my plate I will be back to finish off that last chapter and continue the series <3

I genuinely do not think I could separate these fics to pick one I enjoyed working on most. They're both so dear to me.

No pressure tags (sorry if you've already been tagged!!): @medusapelagia @origamiplushie @brightside-of-the-upsidedown @bigdumbbambieyes @billyhargrovesupsidedownshadow

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

15 people, 15 questions

I was tagged by @firefly-party, thank you 😊 ❤️

1. Are you named after anyone?

One of my first names is the same as that of a great aunt (my granddad's sister) who died as a child, but that was a coincidence according to my parents. 

2. When was the last time you cried?

At my grandfather's funeral some three weeks ago. I cry super easily, though, it's my standard emotional overwhelm response.

3. Do you have kids?

Yes, one. She just turned 5. ❤️

4. What sports do you play/have played?

Riding, equestrian vaulting and Judo as a kid, and then I had a really intense fitness/gym phase in my 20s. Lately just kid wrangling. 😅

5. Do you use sarcasm?

So much! Sometimes ppl will look at me and be like “really? 😳”

6. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their sense of humor. 

7. What’s your eye color?

Hazel.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Both? Both. Both is good?

9. Any talents?

I'm good with words, I think? 😅

Generally, I have an elephant memory for languages and texts. I played the Viola in my school's production of Twelfth Night and had my text down in a week or so. I also still know poems and shit from first grade.

10. Where were you born?

Germany

11. What are your hobbies?

Laptop. My hobby is just laptop. 

Joking aside: reading, writing, all the artsy stuff (doodling, painting, crafting, knitting, photography … you name it, I've probably tried it)

12. Do you have any pets?

Four cats. 

And also one elderly cockatiel lady. 

13. How tall are you?

172cm

14. Favorite subject in school?

English and German 

15. Dream job?

Being paid to write smutty fanfic would be a dream. 🤣

But I actually do like the job I have, for the most part. I'm in internal communications, so I do a lot of text creation and always know the hottest gossip about what's going on in our company.

15 no-pressure tags:

@house-of-the-moving-image, @medusapelagia, @theheadlessphilosopher, @cranberrymoons, @rainbow-nerdss, @t-boyeddie, @rozzieroos, @lexirosewrites, @becomingfoxes, @farahsamboolents, @griefabyss69, @matchingbatbites, @ithinkicouldloveher, @pukner, @penny00dreadful

[dragonflylady77]

last sentence tag

rules: post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence

I did it last week but I found another one so if I already tagged you, I'm sorry. My sentence this time is way shorter than the last one that was like 26 words...

I was tagged by @lorifragolina, @fizzigigsimmer, @robthegoodfellow, @bigdumbbambieyes, @makeadealwithdean, @lazybakerart @disdaidal @lovebillyhargrove (and possibly others)

Maybe following Billy was a mistake.

no pressure tag: @medusapelagia @destroya2005 @spaceofentropy @shieldofiron @thiswasinevitable-rwrb @jad3w1ngs

[lorifragolina]

My 2023 in Fanfics

Thanks to @medusapelagia who always gives me a chance to enter in tag games :) I already said that I can acceed more easily to tumblr this year so I think I'll more active.

I have a little fics and many months without any post, but I'll try to put down my favourites. I started posting in April.

4. April - Although I participated to @mungroveweek, and I love the works I wrote, I'll choose the Munver short The miseducation of Jason Carver - 3552 - complete. Because who doesn't want to use a little smut?

5. May - I started a Harringrove series of little one shot ficlets about our sweet Californian lovers and I absolutely love it, I have a lot of ideas but no time to put them down... Harringrove series Harringrove droplets - 3 works so far - WIP

6. June - nothing. A lot of work for upcoming events

7. Juy - another smut for @eddiemunsonbingo, I love it because I wrote it at the beach in a single afternoon! Mungrove Jailbird - 1415 - complete

8. August - the entire series Sweet Pie I wrote for @mungrovebingos, I tried to put all the prompt together in a series. It slowly converted in a Metalsandwich. Sweet Pie - 8 parts - complete. BTW my favourite is the Prologue.

9. September - It's difficult to choose between the few ficlets I posted (I like ficlets, but my mind pushes me to infinite word count XD) but I'll choosethe Steddie The last campaing - 999 - complete

10. October -I have just one fic posted in October but it happens to be one of my favs, althogh I think I can revise it and make it better. For @kinktober, prompt Lingerie, Harringrove The glimpse - 2621 - complete.

11. November - I like all the fics I post in November! But finally I choose a sweet little Harringrove A little Sweat - 1347 - complete.

12. December - for December is realy difficult as I participated to a few exchanges and I like all the fics I exchanged with my fellow authors! I'll choose two fics, one from my first real Big Bang published, for @st-rarepairbang, a Bommy (Billy/Tommy) Hot fot teacher - 13453 - Complete; And the fic I wrote for Steddie One-shot Exchange Pretty Big Boy (Pretty woman AU) - 10497 - complete.

I have other two Big Bang ready to go in 2024 and a few project, but I wish I could concentrate more on not-event works! I as usual leave here a few non pressure tag, feel free to complete the list if you see this post! @artaxlivs, @eriquin, @dragonflylady77, @jad3w1ngs, @ihni

[medusapelagia]

14 The betrothal

written for @steddieangstyaugust (prompt: Lake), @augustwritingchallenge (Prompt: prince and princess ), @aug-kissed (prompt: Hand Kiss) Rating: Mature Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: omegaverse, Omega Steve Harrington, Alpha Eddie Munson, Beta Robin Buckley, violence, blood and injuries, vomit Words: 1563

If Steve was a proper omega he wouldn't be on that stupid carriage, to be shipped from Loch Nora's Kingdom to Forest Park like an unwanted pack.

A proper omega would honor his family, stay home, cross-stitch animals and flowers, and learn poems and music. But Steve never was a proper omega and after he rejected his last suitor his father told him that he wasted his last opportunity to choose a proper alpha and that he was going to find one willing to take in a rebel omega like him.

Male omegas are a blessing and a curse: they are very rare, so Steve's father was able to ask for a high dowry from whoever wanted to marry him, but there weren't many alphas willing to tie their life to a male omega. 

Steve has heard talking about Forest Park. A lot. And never in a good way.

They have a very bad reputation, but they are rich, so Steve has no doubt that his father got a really good dowry for selling him to those people. Well, not selling, betrothing him.

Thankfully, Robin is coming with him. Moving from one Kingdom to another and being completely alone would have been terrible, at least his beta best friend is trying to make him laugh by making silly comments and distract him from the long journey.

Even if the carriage is big and cozy, spending hours sitting on a carriage isn't that comfortable, and Steve's royal ass is in pain.

He doesn't even have enough space to stretch his long legs because in the carriage with them, there are the two guards King Munson himself sent to escort the future bride.

The guards are heavily armed, as they were expecting something to happen, and Steve isn't totally surprised. After all, Forest Hill has a terrible reputation. Their King was an outlaw before he rebelled and became king by killing everyone and conquering the castle, so Steve isn't really looking forward to moving in the same bed with a notorious assassin. But it’s not his choice anymore.

Savages, that's the kindest word Steve’s mom used to define those people, while what everyone thought but none dared to speak out loud was that King Munson was the new Warlord.

A warlord. Not a high-born, just a man with enough power and money to hire the strongest knight and mercenaries to help him keep his power. And Steve is going to get married to a Warlord’s son, or nephew, he's not really sure. Bloodlines are mixed in their Kingdom and they don't give a fuck about dynasties and the only blood that they care about is the one the blood spit by their enemies.

Steve has heard terrible stories about how cruel and violent those people are. One of Steve's servants has told him that Prince Munson killed his first wife with his own hands because she wasn't too sick to give him a child.

Being a male omega Steve knows he can bear pups, even if his heats are irregular and it's harder for him than for other omegas, but he never thought that the ability to bear a child or not could have been the cause of his premature death.

His scent gets sour and acrid while he thinks about the monster that he's supposed to wed. Maybe he should have been more pliant with his previous suitor. Lord Hagan wasn’t that bad after all. A little bit too presumptuous for Steve’s taste but he doubts he would have had him killed if he wasn’t able to bear a child.

"You ok? Do you want to take a break? Stretch your legs a bit?" Robin proposes, drawing soothing circles with her thumb on Steve's hand.

"Yeah, that would be nice." He confirms, rubbing a hand through his hair.

"No break and no stretching. We are still in hostile territory." One of the guards replies without even looking at Steve.

"Couldn't we stop just for a moment?" Robin insists, "We have been on this stupid carriage for hours!"

But an arrow flying through the window and ending his journey a few inches from her face makes her shut up.

"Stay down!" One guard yells, yanking Steve toward the carriage’s floor so abruptly that he falls badly on his own wrist, spraining it, but he doesn't have time to yelp because the carriage stops in the middle of the woods.

"Stay inside!" The first guard yells, jumping out of the carriage and drawing his sword. For a moment Steve catches a glimpse of a bloodied body staring blankly at him with a long arrow in the one eye socket.

"It's ok. It's ok." Robin tries to soothe him, releasing beta relaxing pheromones, but the other guard stops her, complaining that he can't afford to get relaxed by her pheromones, so Steve and Robin hug each other, trying to hide themselves from the attackers.

"He's here!" Someone yells, kicking the carriage door open, but the second guard is quick to pierce the intruder from side to side, what he wasn't expecting was someone else opening the door on the opposite side and grabbing Steve with no kindness, yanking him by his hair.

Robin screams, reaching out toward Steve, the guard turns his head just for a moment and another attacker takes his chance to stab him in the leg while Robin keeps screaming, but the clenching of the metal armor is so loud that Steve almost can't hear her.

A strong hit on the back of his head makes everything turn a warm black and he loses consciousness.

***

When he opens his eyes, Steve is surprised to find himself resting with his back against a big oak tree. In front of him the bluest lake he ever saw.

He puts down his hand, trying to get up, but immediately desists when a bright pain makes him whimper.

"I would stay put if I were you. Your wrist is sprained and you took a nasty hit to the head. Are you feeling dizzy?"

Steve startles, looking around himself, and finally finds a tall man with dark eyes and a nasty scar on his face staring at him with an amused smile.

His kidnapper!

The omega tries to crawl backward, but the unknown man is right, his wrist hurts too much and he still feels lightheaded.

"I think I'm going to puke…" he mutters, before turning on his side and emptying his stomach on the green grass.

Surprisingly, his kidnapper is quickly at his side, holding his hair out of his face, whispering encouraging words while he holds him to his chest with one arm.

When Steve's body gets limp into the kidnapper's arms, he takes a moment to breathe in his scent.

Embers and earth.

An alpha.

A proper omega should never be left alone with an alpha who's not family!

Steve tries to wriggle out of the stranger's hold, but he gently chuckles and pushes Steve's neck closer to the scent gland on his neck, "You're fine, omega. Nothing to worry about."

"I'm betrothed." He objects in a soft voice, while the alpha pheromones make him pliant and docile.

"That's what you're worried about? your honor?" The unknown alpha chuckles. 

He has a nice laugh, Steve decided in his drugged state of mind, and he smells delicious. No other alpha ever smelled so good to him.

Steve must have said something because a very pleased rumble comes from the alpha's chest.

"You don't smell bad yourself, sweetheart." 

Steve should be ashamed of himself, but the alpha's sturdy body is holding him tight and for the first time in his life he feels safe in an alpha's embrace.

"That's good. Come on, sip some water for me to wash away that bad taste."

The omega prince doesn't really know if the alpha is using his alpha's voice, or if he's already scentdrunk or whatever, but the only thing he wants to do is obey this alpha.

Steve spits a few times to clean his mouth from the horrible taste and then drinks some water, while the alpha keeps holding him tight.

The man’s wearing a beaten armor, stained with blood, and for a moment Steve wonders if he will kill him, but the way he keeps holding him makes him think that he’s affected by Steve’s scent as he is from his.

They aren't left alone for long. When Steve turns his head someone is riding toward them. Too many people.

Steve turns toward the alpha with eyes wide with worry, "You have to go. My future husband will kill you. He's a warlord! He won't be pleased you kidnapped me!"

"Kidnapped?" The alpha asks, staring with confusion at the omega, feeling Steve's head with gentle fingers, "How badly did they hurt you, omega?" he asks worriedly, and this time is Steve's turn to frown in confusion.

“I might not look so but I’m a prince. And I was on my way to wed the Forest Park’s Warlord's son. If they catch you, they’ll kill you.”

Eddie bursts out in a loud laugh, shaking Steve who quietly complains of being jostled by the huge Alpha's body.

"Let me introduce myself," the alpha says, grabbing Steve's uninjured hand and kissing the palm of his hand in the most chivalrous way, "I'm Edward Munson, King Munson's nephew, your betrothal." 

[spaceofentropy]

Thanks for the tag, @ihni!

Here's my fanfic write bingo card, with amendments and a couple of comments because, you know... *shrugs*

I did the math and my sexually explicit fics have 42-43-45-46-57-59% private bookmarks. Could be worse, right? :D

And if anyone's curious about the vertical note, well, before Christmas I posted chapter one of a story and said "I'll be writing during the holidays and be back with the rest soon!" I've still not gone back with the rest. I'll have to go full penitent when I manage to post the rest of that story 😬

Anyway, no pressure tag for @medusapelagia @bigdumbbambieyes @fizzigigsimmer @callieb and whoever wants to do this, and you can find rhe clean card under the "keep reading" cut!

[cranberrymoons]

last sentence tag

rules: post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence

i was tagged by @spoookysix @wormdebut (and also @satanssugar like a WHILE back and i don't think i ever followed through KLDFJSDF)

“Not discussing the election in a boardroom somewhere, I assume.”

(this does make sense in context, i swear 😭)

no pressure tags (10?) – @stardust-walker @penny00dreadful @sourw0lfs @the-redcrate @vegasol @klausinamarink @theheadlessphilosopher @medusapelagia @hbyrde36 @subbaculture

[medusapelagia]

Serenade

written for @corrodedcoffinfest (Prompt 17: This one's for you) and @astrangersummer (Week 12: Forgotten) Rating: Teen and Up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: none Words: 1000

(So... this entry for the Corroded Coffin Fest and the Steddie week got A LOT of attention and people asked me for a sequel So this can be read as a stand-alone or a sequel of Love at first sight.)

Steve can’t suffocate a whimper when the curtains of his room open unexpectedly and Robin turns toward him with a grin.

“Raise and shine, baby! We have another incredible shift at Target!”

“Fuck you, Robin. I’m sick, I can’t go to work.”

Robin lifts an eyebrow, and points at the glass of water and the Advil pills on Steve’s night table, “Not sick, babe, just in hangover, and given the fact you decided it was a good idea got wasted without me I think that spending your hangover with me dealing with customers is the right punishment.”

Muttering that he feels he’s been punished more than enough, Steve gulps down water and pills, grabs the wrinkled clothes he finds on his chair, and follows Robin into the kitchen, where a warm toast and a cup of coffee are already waiting for him.

“Still hate you, but you’re the best.”

“I know you do, dingus. Now, want to talk about last night?”

Steve tilts his head frowning in confusion, “What do you mean?”

Robin grabs her phone, opens WhatsApp, and plays an audio message in which a really drunk Steve stutters something about having found the man of his dreams.

“I’m going to marry him, Rob! Will you be my bestwoman?” Steve’s drunken voice says.

“So… who’s this mystery man?”

“Who? I have no idea who you are talking about.” Steve shrugs in confusion, “I was obviously drunk. I don’t remember a thing.”

Robin scrutinizes him for a long time before nodding to herself, “Ok, fine. But this is another reason why you’re not allowed to go out drinking without me!” She declares, pouring two glasses of orange juice for both of them.

“What about your date? Is Chrissy everything you were looking for?”

“She is not.” Steve sighs, ready to comfort her when Robin adds, “She’s way better! She is fun! And beautiful! And when she laughs she snorts so adorably… and we’re fucking late! Let’s go!” Robin says, grabbing Steve’s arm and pushing him out of the door while she keeps telling him about the amazing date she had the night before. 

When they get outside the crispy air makes Robin shiver, so she reaches into Steve’s jacket’s pocket to warm herself, but she retreats her hand with a gagging sound, “Didn’t your mom teach you to throw away used tissues?” she asks, making a disgusted face.

Steve frowns and puts his hand in his pocket, retrieving a crumpled napkin with some pen’s shaky signs. He opens the napkin to get a better look and finds a telephone number and a name: Eddie.

“Holy fucking shit! You did meet someone!” Robin grins, “Are you sure you don’t remember him?”

Shaking his head, red with embarrassment, Steve confirms he doesn’t remember anything.

“Ok. Only one thing to do.” Robin grabs Steve’s phone, “Call him.”

“What?! No! What if he’s a psycho? Or if I made a fool out of myself? It’s better to forget about it.”

“Ok.” Robin shrugs, turning her back to Steve who glares at her with suspicion, it's not like her to surrender so easily.

“What…? Robin! No!" He says trying to grab the phone, but she’s already dialing the number, “Robin what the fuck!”

“Hello?” A warm voice replies after a couple of rings.

“Oh… Hey… Eddie? I… I’m Steve.”

“Oh, Stevie.” Someone in the back makes a satiric comment while the man on the phone opens a door and moves somewhere quieter, “Are you feeling better? Did you drink a lot of water like I suggested?”

“I… yeah… I did… but…”

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

That word triggers something in Steve's mind, a blurred memory of a group of men wearing leather jackets and talking loudly.

“I… Look… I know this sounds bad but I don’t remember what happened last night and I wanted to apologize if I made a fool out of myself.”

“Oh. Ok. Not what I was expecting, but it’s fine.” The voice sounds disappointed and it makes Steve’s heart ache.

“I’m so sorry…”

“It’s fine. Listen I have to go, the guys and I have a little concert and we’re in the middle of the soundcheck.”

“Oh. Yeah. You signed a big contract, right?”

“So you do remember something.” The man points out, amused, “You know what? Why don’t you come to see us? Tonight, at the HideOut, I promise not to let you drink until we talk.”

“At the HideOut? Tonight?” Robin grabs Steve's arm and points at herself, “Can I bring a friend with me?”

“Sure. See you there.”

When Eddie closes the call and goes back to the stage, Jeff is grinning, “So, is he still in love with you?”

“Don’t think so. He doesn’t remember me.”

“Oh, this sucks.” Gareth says, stopping the cymbals, “So what are you going to do?”

“The only thing anyone in his right mind would do: serenade him in front of a crowd!” Eddie chuckles while he grabs his guitar and adds a new song to their track listing and Freak winks at him.

“Bold choice.”

“I’m not going to chicken out. He said he loved me, right?”

When the doors open it isn't hard for Eddie to spot Steve, who is wearing a bright yellow sweater and stands out like a sore thumb in an ocean of dark jeans and black t-shirts.

They play the single they have just recorded and the crowd explodes, but Eddie’s eyes are pinned on Steve when he announces “Stevie, this one's for you.”

Eddie moves around the stage, getting back to back with Freak while playing, but he gets closer to the audience, searching for Steve's eyes when he sings, “And, want to treasure the rest of your days here, and, give you pleasure in so many ways dear.”

Once the concert ends, Eddie asks to bring Steve backstage and when he sees him, he winks, "I think we're doing things the other way around, but... would you like to go on a date with me?"

[medusapelagia]

One. Big. Step.

written for @steddiemicrofic (Prompt: one | 1111 words) and @steddie-week (Day 2, Prompt: Touch Starved) Rating: Teen and Up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: none Words: 1111

The anticipation is what makes Eddie antsy. 

When someone starts to walk toward him, his heart starts beating faster and louder, his ears buzz, his breathing gets too accelerated (air hunger, as his mom used to call it), and he begins to sweat, profusely, leaving a dark damp stain under the armpit of his t-shirts, which is the main reason he always wears black t-shirts. Or t-shirts with black sleeves. 

When the person walking toward him is Steve the Hair Harrington, well, it's even worse. 

Eddie's tongue gets entangled in his mouth and when he's finally able to speak a few words, the ones that come from his mouth are either stupid or cruel. But even if Eddie hates himself for that, in some ways it works perfectly well because Steve freezes, a sad smile painted on his face, and mutters, "I'll see you around, Munson," before turning and leaving Eddie alone, which is exactly what he wants. Because Eddie the banished has only one big fear: being touched. 

It's a fear that comes from afar and even if Eddie is ashamed of it, it’s not something Eddie will overcome easily. 

In his entire life touch meant hurt. Every time Al Munson came home drunk, every time a policeman caught him stealing some food, every time a teacher dragged him to the principal office, their touch meant hurt. And pain. And blood.

Those people left a wound in Eddie’s soul; a wound he’s not sure it will ever heal.

It doesn't help that the only person he trusts is not very outgoing either.

Wayne never hurt him, but never tried to touch him either.

And now he’s untouchable.  

None in the Hellfire Club dares to hug him, not even Gareth, who has been his best friend since they were kids. To be honest, Gareth is his shield, the best one he could have ever asked for. He's the one who detects Eddie's anxiety and puts himself between the threat and his best friend and in Eddie’s opinion, that’s fucking metal. 

It doesn't matter if most of the time the threat is just a girl asking for a pen during English class or a boy getting too close to Eddie in the cafeteria. Gareth is there, ready to lend a pen or step between Eddie and the rest of the world.

Gareth is the person who knows Eddie intimately. He knows about his past, that he deals to make ends meet, and that there's a kind spirit hidden under the metal jewelry and the fake attitude. What Gareth doesn't know, it's that even if Eddie is scared of touch, he has finally met someone who makes him feel butterflies in his stomach and almost makes him wish for things he never thought were possible for him, like holding hands or even kissing. And that person is Steve Harrington.

Eddie knows that there's something between the two of them, a kind of opposite attraction they both feel, but how can he surrender to the pull he feels when even the idea of getting close to Steve makes him shit his pants?

"Maybe you should start gradually." Gareth wisely proposes when Eddie finally confesses his tribulation to him, "Choose someone you trust and ask him to touch you or something like that."

"Wouldn't that be weird? Like… Hi, can you hold my hand for a moment? Don't worry if I freak out, it's a normal reaction."

"You could start with Wayne." Gareth replies, gulping down his soda in the hot Indiana summer, "He knows you're weird."

"Why didn't I think of that? Hi Wayne, can you hug me? Yeah, I'm weird and I'm also gay and I need some physical contact before I try to hold hands with my crush. Very subtle and not suspicious at all. He won't kick me out of the trailer. No sir."

Gareth sighs, slouching on Eddie's broken couch, "You know he wouldn't. He had so many reasons to kick you out and he never did, but if you don't want to ask him, I get it. What if I volunteer?" Gareth asks, reaching out with one arm.

He gives Eddie the time to stop him or move away, but the metalhead swallows all his fears and gives him a little nod.

The contact between Gareth's calluses hand and Eddie's elbow it's not pleasurable, but it doesn't make him jump out of his skin either.

"You ok?"

Eddie nods, quietly, focusing on the feeling and identifying every single sensation. The warmth of Gareth's skin, the roughness of his hand, the steadiness of his arm. Eddie closes his eyes, takes a few deep breaths, and then he whispers, "Stop."

Gareth immediately releases his soft grip, his eyes pinned on Eddie, "Still ok?"

"Yeah. I got a bit overwhelmed." Eddie confesses, turning his attention towards a dog barking a few feet away. Noticing Eddie's attention the dog starts to pull at the chain even harder barking in his direction and Eddie wonders why a barking dog is less scary than a friendly touch.

"We could do a little exposure therapy if you want. Here at the trailer, where you're more comfortable and none can see us.”

With a snort, complaining in a low voice that exposure therapy seems even more complicated than dealing in a small town like Hawkins, Eddie begrudgingly agrees to do a few cuddling sessions, as Gareth mockingly calls them, every day after band practice.

Maybe it's not a lot, but sitting close to each other on the same bench, or brushing their fingers while sharing a joint seems to be really helping, and after a couple of months, when Dustin invites them to see a movie at Steve's place, for the first time Eddie seats on the couch, not on the bean bag as usual. Dustin stares at him open-mouthed, but a stern look from Gareth is all it takes to get his attention back on the screen.

When Steve gets back with a couple of bowls of popcorn, the only empty seat is the couch where Eddie is already making himself comfortable, putting his feet on the coffee table while yelling something against the movie director.

Turning toward Steve, Eddie simply asks "Aren't you going to sit?"

Steve gives the biggest bowl to Dustin and puts the small one in the middle of the couch, to keep some space between them, and when their fingers brush above the popcorn bowl and Eddie doesn't retreat, Steve gives him the best smile ever.

Maybe sitting on the same couch watching a movie with the kids isn't the most romantic thing ever, but it's a step. One. Big. Step.

permanent taglist: @katyawriteswhump

[medusapelagia]

12 Nothing left

written for @steddieangstyaugust (prompt: Terrible Things – Mayday Parade ) and @augustwritingchallenge (Prompt: animagus ) Rating: Mature Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: mention of plane crash, mention of Steve’s parents death, suicidal thoughts, magic Words: 1735

The grumpy black cat shows at his door for the fifth night in a row, demanding loudly to be fed the fancy tuna Steve’s mom used to buy in the bio shop.

He has never had an animal and even if the cat is definitely a stray with no collar and probably full of fleas, he doesn’t seem eager to get a family. He wants his fancy tuna, nothing more.

Steve sighs, goes into the kitchen to grab a little dish and the can of tuna then he gets back and grabs some water too, and goes back to his backyard. The black cat is still there, staring at his reflection in the water like it was something unusual, but his pointed ears flinch when he hears the door slide open and turns toward Steve with a soft mew that makes Steve chuckle.

He doesn’t step closer until the food and the water are neatly positioned on the plates and Steve has moved away, staring at him from one of the deck chairs. The cat eats quietly, always very aware of Steve’s presence, and when he’s done he licks his thick black fur and then he blinks at Steve with his eyes so dark that they seem to hold all the secrets of the universe and then he disappears through the woods.

Steve sighs, realizing that the cat visits are the best moment of his day. In the last two weeks, his entire life was destroyed. He lost his place as the alpha male at school and his parents… 

He puts his hands into his hair and pulls until he chokes back the tears.

His parents are dead. The plane they rented to get on that stupid island never made it. They are dead somewhere in the ocean. No flight data recorder, no plane, no emergency call. Nothing. Just Cindy, his father’s secretary, calling him to give him the news.

And that’s not all. 

His father wasn’t the great businessman he pretended to be. He had so many debts that Steve would have to renounce his inheritance if he doesn’t want to drown in his debts. Still, he’s feeding a stray cat the best tuna in town and pretending that everything is fine.

The news of the accident didn’t make it on the news to protect Steve from debt collectors so none knows that he has nothing left. None knows that some days he wonders if it wouldn’t be easy for him to just put an end to his misery.

He was having those kinds of thoughts the first time the cat showed up. Big, furry, and loud. He has mewled until he got Steve’s attention and since that day he has shown up every night, at the same hour, when waves of despair fill Steve’s lungs, making breathing an unbearable task.

It’s just a coincidence, Steve isn’t so naive to believe that a stray cat is trying to save him, but he has found himself waiting eagerly for the elegant animal to come to visit. 

While Steve cleans the little plates he reminds himself that he should try to find a job, but that would mean that the entire town will know that he has nothing left and his stupid pride won’t let him. He sighs loudly. He has one week to leave the house, then it will be put on sale and he’ll have to start living in his car like a homeless guy at nineteen.

That’s not the life he thought was waiting for him.

A scratch on the door attracts his attention, and the big black cat is back, holding a lizard in his mouth.

Steve chuckles, opening the door to let him in, “Come on. I don’t bite.” Steve chuckles, while the cat weary gets inside, leaving his bloody prey on the Persian carpet. Steve will put it in the trash as soon as the cat leaves, but it’s nice seeing that at least he has a friend left.

“Milk?” he asks the cat, not really waiting for an answer but pouring some in a little plate while he grabs his beer, “You must be thirsty after your hunt.”

Steve cracks the beer can open while the cat slowly laps the milk.

“I’m having a hell of a week.” Steve complains, drinking his beer, “My parents died in a plane crash. They didn’t even have a funeral because there was no body to retrieve. They asked me if I wanted a commemoration ceremony but it didn’t make sense to bury two empty caskets in old Lord Harrington chapel, you know?” he drinks some more, “Oh, and I’m full of debts. And I’m going to lose the house soon. Hope the new owner will be kind to you. You’re a good guy. You even brought me a lizard.” Steve chuckles, grabbing another beer, and another until he’s too drunk to stand and he simply sits on the Valentino’s tiles his mom personally chose when they moved.

“I won’t even be present at the graduation ceremony. The Principal told me he’d have my diploma delivered where I wanted. But I have no idea where the hell I’m going to stay. Not here, that’s for sure, but I don't know how comfortable my car is for sleeping. Had a few hookups but never slept there. Not even once. Maybe I should have tried ahead. To be ready. And you have to take care, little friend.” Steve sighs, “I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things. You can’t know it but I used to be sort of good at school, I was rich and famous and had the prettiest girl in school. Then another boy came and claimed my crown. My friends left me. My parents died. And all I’m left with is a car and a stray cat that loves my mom’s fancy tuna.”

The cat steps closely so slowly that for a moment Steve thinks that he’s imagining it, but after a few moments the cat is standing next to his feet, his dark eyes pointed at Steve like he had understood his entire discourse and he was sorry for him.

Those eyes are dark, so dark, almost magnetic. But he’s just a cat and Steve has drunk too much. He should go to bed.

“Yes, you should.” the cat says, and Steve giggles.

“Cats don’t talk. God I drank too much.” he decides, standing up and wobbling toward his room, moving one leg after the other but feeling that it's not him who’s ordering his limbs to move.

Bullshit.

He’s just drunk.

***

When he wakes up the next day the sun shines too brightly and he curses himself for drinking too much. On his night table, there’s a big glass of water and some Advil. At least past him foresaw that he was going to need them in the morning.

He slowly steps down the stairs, but he freezes: someone is singing in his kitchen. Steve grabs an umbrella from the umbrella rack and steps quietly into the kitchen. In front of the fires, cooking some eggs and bacon stands a beautiful man with long black hair and deep dark eyes.

“Good morning.” He says, smirking, and his teeth look a little bit too sharp.

“Who the fuck are you?!” Steve asks, holding the umbrella tight to his chest.

“Are you threatening me with an umbrella, Steve? For real?”

“How do you know my name?!”

“I know many things about you. And I know you had an awful week and that you need to eat something more than chips and candies. Sit down. It’s almost ready.”

“How did you get in?”

“You invited me.”

“I never did such a thing.”

The man turns with a little smirk, and his tongue flickers on his lower lips just for a moment in a very familiar way.

“This can’t be true. I must be still asleep!”

“What can’t be true?”

“You… your tongue… the cat… it’s not…”

“I need my opposable thumbs to cook, but I guess I can indulge you for a moment.” the man winks, and with a puff he disappears.

“Where the hell…?”

But when Steve circumnavigates the table the big black cat is staring at him with the same smirk the man had.

“Do you prefer this form? My uncle says I’m cuter like this.”

Steve startles and falls on the ground, hitting the floor harshly, while the cat steps closer to him, climbing his legs with ease.

“Hi, Steve. I’m Eddie. Nice to meet you. Now can you tell me where are you hiding that incredible tuna? I really enjoyed it.”

Steve points a shivering finger toward a kitchen cabinet, and Eddie gets down from his lap and turns back into a human to open the kitchen cabinet, “Here it is! I’m going to miss it when we move.”

“We… what?”

“My uncle is coming to visit soon, he’ll decide if you are one of us, but I already know you are.”

“One of you?”

“Animagus. Mages that can change into animals.”

“Am I?”

“Yes, you are, Eddie confirms, putting some eggs and bacon on a plate and offering it to Steve, “That’s how I found you.”

“I… I didn’t transform into an animal.”

“No, you didn't.” Eddie replies, nudging the plate closer to him, “But you almost did. I smell the stench of your despair from miles away. I just had to make sure before calling Wayne, don’t want to make the old man travel so long for a false alarm, you know?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Eat, Stevie.” Eddie insists, taking a chair and putting the tuna on a little plate but eating it with a fork this time, “Phoenix burn themselves when they’re desperate.” Eddie says, licking his lips, “And you almost did.” He explains, holding the fork and gesturing with it while he talks, “I thought you were a grumpy old man tired of living between normies. You can easily understand how surprised I was to see a young phoenix with no training abandoned in a huge and empty house.”

A knock on the window interrupts them and when Steve turns the biggest eagle he ever saw is staring at him with his head tilted to the side.

“Oh, that’s Wayne.  He’ll explain it better. Anyway, if he says you’re one of us you’re coming with us.”

“Where?”

“Home.”

[medusapelagia]

Sea Storm

written for @steddiemicrofic (prompt: Top, wc: 510) and STWG Daily Drabble (prompt: Mermay) rated: T TW: no one

When Eddie asked the wizard of the sea to transform him into a human he thought he knew what he was asking for. In reality, he didn't.

He exchanged his voice for a pair of legs, renounced seeing his uncle Wayne anymore and now he can’t touch the water if he doesn’t want to be turned back in a merman. Still, the man who he did all of this for isn’t considering him.

Yeah, Steve took him to his castle, fed him, but that’s all.

Every time Eddie tries to spend some time with him, someone drags him away. And it would almost be funny if it wasn’t for the fact that Eddie needs a kiss: the sea wizard gave him three days, and two of them are already gone. 

If only Eddie had his voice, he could talk to Steve, telling him it was him who saved him from the storm weeks ago. But he can’t. So he sighs, sitting on a rock, waving at the two boys that are playing on the beach. At Eddie’s side, hidden between the rocks, his crab friend reminds him that making a pact with a sea wizard it's dangerous.

As if Eddie had ever had any other chance.

Steve kneels on the ground and grabs a few colored pieces of glass that shine in his hand when he turns toward Eddie to show him his treasure. 

The sad smile Eddie gives him it’s not enough, so Steve steps closer to Eddie asking him what’s wrong.

At that moment big black clouds appear from nowhere and the waves start to get bigger and bigger. 

Steve turns toward Dustin, who is on top of a big rock, just a moment before a huge wave crashes and drags him away.

Steve yells, running toward the rocks, and jumps in the water, screaming his brother’s name. 

From the shore, Eddie freezes. His eyes wide with terror while the waves get bigger and bigger. He glares at the waves’ white foam and then steps into the water.

“Go back to the shore!” He orders Steve when he gets to him, ignoring his questions about his magically regained voice, “I’ll find the kid. I promise.” He assures him, and then he dives into the water splashing Steve with his red tail. 

Eddie finds Dustin unconscious and brings him back to the surface where Steve is still waiting for them. He takes his brother out of the water and starts to breathe into his mouth until the boy wakes up coughing. 

Once Steve is sure that Dustin is ok, he turns toward Eddie who is hiding behind a rock.

“You talk!” He exclaims, and Eddie nods quietly, “Good. Because you have to explain so many things to me.”

“Aren’t you horrified?” Eddie asks, hiding half of his body behind the rocks.

“Horrified at the person who saved both me and my brother? No. I’m grateful. And maybe even a little bit in love.” Steve declares, stepping in the water before cupping Eddie’s face and kissing him under the rain.

[medusapelagia]

06 The celebratory tour

written for @steddieangstyaugust (prompt: Who did this?" ) and @augustwritingchallenge (Prompt: reality show) Rating: Mature Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: violence, hospital, blood and injuries, dark Eddie Munson, homophobia Words: 1605

When Eddie decided to agree to his manager's proposition and film a reality show about his life he was way too naive.

Steve tried to talk him out of that idea, but Corroded Coffin hadn't released a new album in five years and they were ready to publish a celebratory album with a couple of new songs and the reality show seemed like the perfect way of rekindle their fans' enthusiasm by giving them a glimpse of their lives.

What Eddie hadn't taken into account was that if Gareth and Jeff had lovely families, two children each and a wonderful wife, Eddie's and Freak's relationship status was… different.

Freak was always looking for the right woman, changing girlfriends like they were clothes, and that wasn't exactly a good look. Many feminist reporters criticized Freak's attitude toward women, but that wasn't the worst part.

The worst part was that Eddie was in a lovely and fulfilled relationship with another man. And if many of their longtime fans already suspected that the famous Steve, who was always helping backstage, was something more than a good friend, having their relationship filmed and broadcast at eight o'clock in the evening was a huge disaster.

Numerous homophobic parents sent complaining letters to the producer for showing in prime time something disgusting as a homoerotic relationship between two men, and Steve's job as a middle school teacher was deeply affected by the media frenzy.

His principal was very sorry when he told him that he must let him go because numerous parents were worried about having a homosexual teacher in their kids' classroom even if Steve was the most loved teacher in the entire school.

And to make things even worse, Steve never complained. Not to the principal, not to Eddie. He just shrugged and closed himself in his room for the night and came back with a fake bright smile the next day, ready to shoot the second season.

"I'm not ashamed of who I am, and I'm not ashamed of you," Steve told Eddie, while one of the numerous cameras hidden in their home recorded the exchange, "And I won't let anyone let me feel bad about loving someone so deeply as I love you."

That exchange became the most famous clip of their entire reality show series. It was posted on every social media, causing a huge fight between queer rights fighters and homophobes.

T-shirts with the sentence, 'I'm not ashamed of who I am, and I'm not ashamed of you' started to appear at every pride in the County, and some people even tattooed that phrase on their bodies.

Eddie and Steve did their best to avoid the mediatic circus around their relationship, and while Gareth tried his best to move the attention's spot toward himself and his newborn kid, the third and finally a girl for his wife's happiness, but somehow in every talk show sooner or later someone started to talk about them and their relationship, and the circus starts again, and again, in an infinite circle.

Thank god in a couple of days Eddie is going to start the celebratory tour with the Corroded Coffin, and Steve is going to take a deserved holiday with Robin to relax a bit.

Eddie is in the kitchen, stirring the secret sauce Steve's granny taught him, when he hears the door creaking open. Turning his head toward the clock he realized that’s pretty soon, Steve went on his daily run just fifteen minutes ago.

"Did it start to rain?" Eddie asks from the kitchen, stirring his sauce to make sure it won't explode, and stain the entire kitchen with tomato sauce, but Steve doesn't reply.

"Sweetheart?" He tries again, looking out of the window, but even if it's cloudy the streets are dry.

"Steve?" Eddie calls a third time, anxiety crawling up his skin.

Their room's door slams close and Eddie turns off the gas, not caring if it will compromise his sauce, and walks toward their room, knocking softly on the wood.

"Hey Steve, are you ok? I thought you were going for your run."

"Can you leave me the fuck alone for once?!"

Eddie freezes. Steve never yelled at him in a twenty-year-long relationship. Something is wrong. Something is deeply wrong.

"I’m coming in, ok?"

"Don't!"

"I just want to talk and I can't talk with you behind a door, can I?"

There's a long moment of silence before Steve moves toward the door, unlocking it, "Just... don't freak out, ok?"

That sounds even worse, now Eddie is definitely panicking, but he does his best not to slam the door open and rush inside. The room is dark and the only light comes from their ensuite bathroom, where some balls of cotton stained with blood are resting on the counter.

"What happened?" Eddie asks, stepping closer to Steve slowly, not to startle him.

"Nothing."

"Steve..." Eddie calls his name softly, making him turn towards him and he sees it: a big cut on Steve's eyebrow is gushing blood, his right eye is a dark purple and is getting swollen by the moment.

"Who did this?" Eddie asks, grabbing Steve's chin to turn his face and taking in all his injuries.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not fine. Someone punched you in the face and we're going to the ER right now, but I want to know who did it!"

"I'm good. I don't need to go to the ER." Steve replies, tapping some cotton with antiseptic on the cut on his eyebrow.

"Sweetheart, that cut needs stitches, at least three, and you have a history of concussions so I'm not going to take any risk. Now, you can get into the car and let me drive you to the hospital, or you can put up a fight and make me call an ambulance. What's going to be?"

Steve glares at him with the only eye he can keep open and begrudgingly follows him toward the garage.

If there's something that having four, now five, nieces and nephews has taught Eddie is that the secret is to remain calm while comforting the injured part, so he gently pats Steve's knees, reassuring him that they will be out of the hospital in no time with some cool stitches.

"Do you want me to call Robin?"

"No. She'll panic."

"She'll panic anyway. Don't you think it would be better if we call her so she can see you and assess the damages?"

"I'm not an object." Steve snarls back, his face turned toward the window.

"Wanna tell me what happened?"

"Got into a fight."

"With who?"

"People."

"People? More than one person?" Eddie yelps.

"It's fine. I'm fine. I'll get my stitches and everything will be ok."

Eddie nods, parking the car as close to the hospital as he can, and getting to the ER. When the woman at the counter recognizes him he's not ashamed of using his fame to help Steve see a doctor faster without him knowing it.

When the nurse guides Steve on the other side of the sliding doors Eddie calls Robin, telling her what happened and asking her to join them as soon as she can.

He's still wondering what happened when Gareth sends him a WhatsApp, "Is Steve ok?"

Eddie frowns, wondering how he knows it, but his questions are quickly answered with his second message, a link to a blurry video of three men surrounding Steve and hitting him, screaming slurs against him.

One of the men yells that he's disgusted the school let a faggot like him teach to his kid, while he kicks him in the stomach.

Eddie immediately hides the phone when he sees that Steve is getting out. A mild concussion, three stitches, and two cracked ribs whose only cure is a lot of rest and some painkillers.

When Robin joins them, Eddie asks her to drive Steve home, while he goes to grab his medicines.

Steve stares at him as if he knew that Eddie is hiding something, but he's high on painkillers so he doesn't complain too much when Robin gently grabs his arm and drags him toward his car, while Eddie quickly grabs Steve's meds and calls Dustin.

"Can you find me an address?"

"Eddie, it's a crime and…"

"Someone assaulted Steve when he was on his run. I think one of them is the father of one of his kids."

"Oh my god, is he ok?"

"The address, Dustin."

"Fuck. Ok. Tell me what you know."

***

Before becoming famous Eddie had lived in the trailer park with his uncle for years, and even if he never really got into trouble, he definitely learned a thing or two about threatening people and handling weapons.

He makes sure the man is home alone before breaking in from the window and pushing him against the wall, a switchblade at his neck.

"Listen to me carefully. If you or any one of your friends put a hand on my husband again, I'll make sure that's the last thing you'll ever do."

"You can't do that. I'll report you and…"

"And what? Will you admit that you assaulted an unarmed man who was running down the street? And what would your friends think of you if they knew a fucking faggot got you against the wall and threaten you?" he hisses slowly, pressing his blade just enough to make him bleed a little.

The man stares at him with wide eyes, sweating profusely.

Eddie kicks him the balls for good measure, before leaving from the window to get back to his husband.

The celebration tour will have to wait.